Caramel Apples Turn Monday Into Fun Day

Although I was so tired tonight, I had to give in to my child's plea to make caramel apples.  I had told her we would, and I had purchased the ingredients at the store today.  In the past, I have unwrapped the caramels and melted them to make the apples.  However, it is ultra easy to make your own caramel, no unwrapping necessary.  You just cook 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup light corn syrup over medium high heat for about 8 minutes until it is amber colored.  Then take it off the heat and slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (the liquid kind).  Then stir in 2 tbsp unsalted sweet cream butter, 1-2 tsp vanilla, and a dash of salt.  Put the sticks in about 8 washed apples, and dip the apples in the caramel mix.  Then, put them on wax paper sprayed with cooking spray, so they don't stick.  Naughty mom that I am, I let her eat hers at 8:30 at night.  I couldn't resist though, as she was such a good helper, and there was a gleam in her eye when she looked at them.  She even shared a bite with me and I almost died and went to heaven.

Picnic in the Park vs Picnic in the Yard....

This was our setup under the shade tree in our yard today.

At storytime this week, the kids heard it was National Picnic Day.  They rushed home to tell me, and asked if we could have a picnic.  I thought it sounded like a brilliant idea.  It didn't turn out so brilliant.  We brought our picnic basket, but drove through KFC to get our food (I was feeling blissfully lazy).  We got to the park, laid out our blanket and basket, applied bug spray, and took out our food.  So much food was missing from our order.  Being the hungry bear I was, I grouched at the kids for starting to eat without me and grouched at them to get in the car asap.  I later apologized for aforementioned grouching.  We had to drive back to KFC, and they gave us our missing food, but didn't say sorry or offer any discounts.  Well, at least we had our food.  Then we drove back and relaid our blanket, and resumed our picnic.  It was one o'clock by the time we finally ate, and you have never seen anyone eat so quickly as we did.  Then, I come to find out after searching the internet, National Picnic Day is actually April 23rd.  

Now, for the perfect picnic story which happened today...

It doesn't have to be National Picnic Day to have a picnic.  Every day can be a picnic day.  I have even been known to set a blanket on our living room floor in the dead of winter to have a picnic.  There is just something so unconventional about sitting on the floor or ground, eating out of a cute little basket.  Today, while enjoying the beautiful weather, I was inspired to make a picnic lunch.  It is so easy to pull together yourself as long as you have the fixings for a sandwich and some easy sides.  Or, you could do something simple like crusty bread and jams and cheeses.  Today, I decided on pasta salad and BLT's.  

 Nothing special, just from a box...

I was getting hungry while making these beauties.

In order to make it special, I did gussy up the sandwiches by wrapping them in wax paper, and tying curling gift ribbon around the paper.  Then I curled it with the scissors.  I also cut some wild roses from a nearby bush, and put them in a vase to add a touch of glamour to our picnic.

 Our spoils look pretty and yummy

 My boys are eagerly awaiting their food.

Remnants of a well had picnic...my husband and kids even took the dishes in the house for me.

In this round, the yard picnic definitly won.  It is kind of nice proximity if you forget anything.  However, I will still attempt the park picnic again.  I'll just make sure to check the contents of the food bag next time.  Better yet, maybe I will pack my own.  Have a picnic today with someone special.  It really is a fun way to brighten your day.  Also, please let me know any fun picnic stories or suggestions in the comments.  Linda

Yummy Yummy PBJ Pie In Their Tummies.....

Pretty little lunch

Last week, after snowfall, snowfall, snowfall, my cupboards were getting bare. The nearest store is 20 miles away, so I hadn't braved the roads. I had to pack the kids lunch, but there was no bread to be found.  I baked a savory loaf to pack them, but it was gone in a day.  Therefore, I thought it would be fun to look outside the "loaf", and bake peanut butter and jelly inside something like bread.  I looked online, and to my enjoyment, I found the yummiest recipe on the following blog....http://www.mamaharriskitchen.com/2013/01/peanut-butter-and-jelly-pop-tarts.html

I want to make sure this lady gets all the credit for the recipe, so go to her site to see it. The only thing I did different was make my own pie crust.  We had a snow delay, so I had until 10am to get ready for school.  It was perfect to have the extra time to make these little devils.  I thought they were so cute, and the kids at school were totally envious of my kiddos lunch.  The kids liked them, but I wouldn't make them everyday, as pie crust is probably unhealthy to have every day.  Thank you Mama Harris for the creative, delicious idea.