French Fry Flowers

I love making homemade french fries. They are so yummy and easy! I decided to get a little creative this time and make flower shapes from my potato slices. This is also a fun way for the kids to eat french fries.

supplies: 2 large russet potatoes, cutting board, sharp knife, 1 small flower shaped cookie cutter, an icing tip with a large circular top size 12, 2-3 inch deep skillet, veggie oil, salt, metal slotted spoon

First you will need two large potatoes, I used russet potatoes. Peel and slice the potatoes. Cut the potato in half width wise then slice into 1/2 an inch thick pieces.

Once you have sliced the potatoes use your flower shaped cookie cutter on each round slice.

Once you have made your flower shapes then take your icing tip and creat small holes in the center of each flower.

After you have cut all your potatoes then begin heating the veggie oil in your skillet. Pour about 2 inches deep of veggie oil in your skillet and heat on med-high. You will know your oil is ready when you see small bubbles begin to surface. Add your potatoes a few at a time and cook until light golden brown.

When they are done cooking place them on a paper towel lined bowl so that the excess oil can drain off. Salt the fries once they have come out of the oil. Serve with your favorite condiment. ENJOY!



Trick Your Kids Into Healthy Eating

This has got to be one of the coolest cookbooks ever! For mother's who want their kids to eat healthy but have a difficult time getting anything green in their child's mouth, here is the answer.  



With recipes like: French Toast, Pizza, Doughnuts, Brownies, Chicken Nuggets, Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pancakes, Macaroni and Cheese

Of course you see these things and think,  yea right, how can any of that be healthy. Well, this cookbook teaches you how to make all these wonderfully delicious, fattening foods into something healthy and amazing. Would you ever think for one minute of putting spinach in your brownies? Or sweet potato in your pancakes? What about tofu in your chicken nuggets? Or  chickpeas in your chocolate chip cookies? And even cauliflower in your macaroni and cheese?

I can't wait to try some of these recipes on my child to see how he reacts to fun favorites that are deceptively healthy. So stay tuned for my experimenting with these great and healthy ideas.

Family Movie Night

I love having family movie night. It's a great way to connect with your kids, to see things on there level, sorta get into their little world. But it's so hard to find good, clean family films nowadays. Movies have become so perverse and so far from  "family friendly".  Our children already have to deal with the world we live in so our home should be a safe haven for there little minds and hearts. If you are in search of a great family film that's full of fun, adventure, hilarious moments, silliness, heart touching scenes and all around wonderful then, Ramona and Beezus is the perfect choice. If any of you mom's have ever read the Ramona books then you know this movie was based on those. It's rated G, which is General. I love this movie, it totally encourages siblings to love one another and the importance of family. So, when you decide to have a family movie night I encourage you to choose this film. Enjoy!

Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

What could be better than a chocolate cupcake? Please do let me know when you find out....I was going to be really stingy but I decided to share this recipe with ya'll.

WARNING: this cupcake is very addictive and can be seriously hazardous to your health

I dare you to try and eat just one, but trust me it won't happen. 3 or 4 cupcakes later you might wake up from your sugar coma and realize what just happened.

ENJOY!

Ingredients:

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water or buttermilk (I used water)

Put chocolate in a heat proof bowl -double broiler- stir until melted. (You can melt it in the microwave in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 sec.) Cool slightly. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy about 2 minutes. On low speed mix in melted chocolate. On medium speed add eggs one at a time until each is incorporated. Add vanilla, beat until creamy. Mix in sour cream until there are no white streaks. On low speed add half the flour mixture just until combined then add the water (or buttermilk). Mix in remaining flour until batter looks smooth. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Line your cupcake pan with paper cups and fill them with batter, 3/4 way full. 

Pop in the oven for 15 minutes. When they are done, place them on a cooling rack unti they reach room temperature.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

This frosting is light and fluffy. It's not too sweet, it's the perfect balance to a chocolaty cupcake.

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

6-8 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading or piping consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. Icing can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. This makes enough icing for one 2-layer 9-inch cake or two dozen cupcakes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I want to wish all my family and friends a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can't believe it's already 2012, the years just go by so quickly. I pray that in this new year you all will be blessed abundantly! I am praying that in this new year I will draw closer to the Lord and seek His desires for my life. I want so much to be a better Christian, to have a heart filled with compassion and love for others. I know that we have all set goals for ourselves and created "New Years' Resolutions" knowing that we may or may not reach them, but the most important goal we should be setting for ourselves is to follow closely in the foosteps of God. If we allow Him to lead us into this new year, we might be surprised where He will take us. Above and beyond our expectations! I love you all so dearly and wish only the best for you and your family. May God Bless you richly!

Merry Christmas From The Roberts Family

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless you on this special holiday as you gather with your family. Let us remember the most important reason for this holiday. To celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus! He is the reason for the season. I thank God for a wonderful year with so many blessings and wonderful memories. As it comes to a close I pray that we all can look forward to another prosperous and beautiful year, serving the Lord and loving one another. From our home to yours, warm wishes and love, The Roberts.

Homemade Christmas Cards

Christmas can be a very expensive holiday, with all the gifts, decor and a Christmas tree. It adds up! And don't forget, Christmas cards. They run anywhere from $4 - $7 a card, that begins to get expensive, especially if you have a big family. This year I decided to be creative and make my own Christmas cards. I love being crafty and finding new ways to create on a budget. Here is a very simple, inexpensive way to make Christmas cards for family and friends.

Go to your local Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot or any store that has paint samples. Choose a red sample card and a green sample card, you can choose whatever shade of red and green you want. One red and one green sample card will creat one Chrismtas card. Depending on how many family members and friends you mail Christmas cards to, will determine how many paint samples to grab. For example I sent cards to 8 individual families so I grabbed 8 green sample cards and 8 red sample cards.

Start by cutting the edges off (where you can see the name of the paint color), then glue the cards together. The lines do not have to match up.



You wil need colored construction paper to create the back of the card, where you will write your Christmas greeting.

You will also need some Christmas stickers to decorate the front your card. I grabbed these at Walmart for $4.

Place the stickers on the front however you want, using a black or dark green sharpie write Merry Christmas

It's as simple as that and you're done!

Paint sample cards, free. Stickers, $4. Construction paper, $1.67.  A homemade Christmas card from the heart - PRICELESS!