Eliminating Onion Tears

Have you ever wanted to just wear a pair of googles while cutting an onion?  I sure have.  I hate cutting into an onion and then getting those insta tears.  Not just the tears, but it really does burn.  Well guess what?  You don't have to cry over cut onions any longer. 

The next time you cut into an onion, first go and get a candle.  Yep you heard right.  If you light a candle while cutting in onion you will eliminate the tears.  The flame from the candle absorbs the fumes the are released from the onion.

I won't guarantee this will work for you.  However, it did work for me today.  I am going to continue to do it as long as it continues to work.  I did feel a little bit of a burn for a second, but I am using in a teary mess when I am done cutting an onion so a little burn was no problem. 

Happy Chopping

Don't Take the Hook {My Family Monday}

It has been awhile since I've put a Family Home Evening Lesson on the blog.  I thought I would share with you our lesson for tonight. The timing worked out great because we just got home from camping where we also went fishing.

Lesson:

*How do you fish? - let the girls tell you - (get a fishing pool, put something on the hook, real worm or fake worm, then they cast it into the water and reel in the lure so it moves around so it looks like food etc...)

Did you know that Adapted Fisherman will study the trout’s/fish behavior, the weather, the water currents and type of insect they like to eat. They knows those artificial insects embedded with tiny hooks need to be perfect deception so the fish don’t see the slightest flow and reject it.

Did you know that Satan is a master “Fisherman” he has some pretty good tricky lures, Satan uses artificial lures to fool and catch us too, he tempts, deceives and tries to ensnare us, only he doesn’t catch you and release you, he likes to keep you. He likes to make bad look good, he has been fishing for many years and has already hooked a lot of people. He knows what artificial lures look good to us.

- Story: Chip gets hooked

There was a fish name Chip, all of the older fish had taught him and gave him warnings to stay away from worms, his head was full of advice. One day Chip was out swimming alone when all at once he seen a worm and he thought how could that be? How could this worm be so bad for me? It looks so good. He thought for sure the older fish were just trying to scare him. He thought I’m going to eat that worm, I see nothing wrong with it. Just as he was about to eat the worm one of the older fish pushed him away and said CHIP did you not see the hook? Chip did not see the hook he only seen the yummy worm.

This older fish took Chip to the shoreline to show him what happens to fish who take a bit. Some of the fish were barely alive, some had their jaws ripped opens, some just hanged around close to shore and the birds would eat them. Everything he seen was horrible. He thought well maybe they are not as smart as me, I would be smart and only take worm with out getting hooked. Well one day he thought he would give it a try and he took a big bite and he thought this does not taste good, it taste like plastic, then he stared to feel pain in his mouth, he tried really hard to get away but he couldn't he was caught.

* Satan tries to tempt us everyday and sometimes we don’t see the whole picture, you girls need to have faith and listen to your parents and leaders, Satan wants to drag us away from our Heavenly Father. He will always try new bait and temptations, he doesn’t care if you get hurt.

We are all like fish swimming around that worm hook – tempted to take a bite and Satan knows our weakness.

What are some things people get hooked on? (drugs, lying, cheating, stealing, drinking, smoking,gossip, dress unmodest, etc…)

So how do we know if something is good or that it is one of Satan’s hooks? (if it doesn’t agree with Heavenly Fathers commandments, we should stay away, if we ask our Heavenly Father for help he will show us the way out) (1 nephi 15:24) (1 cor 10:13)

---Super easy, fast, craft----- to remind them not to get hook by Satan

Activity: Don't Get Hooked Bracelet
The original idea was to make a bracelet out of fishing swivels.  However, I could only find ones that contained lead.  I didn't think it would be a good idea to have the kids wearing lead bracelets.  So I came up with another idea.

You will need: bracelet braiding cord and little fishing corkies.
I just braided a bracelet and every so often added a corky.  


Lesson idea came from Sugardoodle

Homemade Samoas Cookies {MMM Girl Scout Cookie Goodness}

Homemade Samoas Cookies

shared from the kitchen of

Once Upon a Plate

Read Before Making:  These cookies do take some time and there are many steps to it.  However, you will not be dissappointed.  They are well worth the work.

Cookies ~ Homemade Samoas

(also known as Caramel de-Lites)

Makes about 4 to 4 1/2 dozen

Let the 4 step process begin:
1. Make the cookie Base
2. Top with Caramel-Coconut mixture
3. Dip bottom of cookies in melted chocolate
4. Drizzle tops with melted chocolate

The Cookie (base):
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
up to 2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350F.
Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, next, the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk only as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (you may not need any at all). The dough should come together into a soft, pliable ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough seems sticky.

It's easiest to roll the dough out in 2 or 3 batches (between pieces of wax (or parchment) paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or a little thinner) using a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined (or on silicone mat) baking sheet and make a hole in the center. I used one of those big plastic straws.  You know the ones that your kids blow into and they drive you crazy with that whistling sound.  However, this part is really not necessary.  Next time I don't think I will do it.  They will give you the Girl Scout look, but the flavor is still the same. Repeat until the dough is used up (it's okay to re-roll, this dough is shortbread-like and very forgiving.)

Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are very lightly golden brown around the edges. All ovens are different so I actually did mine for 9 mins. and they came out perfect.

Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, to allow them to firm up slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Topping:
3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
12-ounces good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
8 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips will do, however, I found that when I made them with the chocolate chips they melt in your hands even after setting up.)
(If you prefer milk chocolate use it.  I used semi-sweet and JBody wishes I would have gone with Milk.  He is a huge milk chocolate guy though.)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F)

Spread coconut evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Watch carefully, especially near the end of toasting time; the coconut toasts very quickly once it begins to become golden.

My Notes:  20 minutes was too long.  The coconut was already golden at 10 and I had to take it out.

Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.

Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 teaspoons per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it begins to firm up, to make it soft and spreadable once again.

While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching.  Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper (I dipped them and then had them set up upside down before drizzling). Transfer all remaining chocolate into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate.
Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Let me just tell you that you have to try these.  And once you make them hide them from yourself.  Trust me they are addicting.  I have plans to make them again.  I have a cute cookie container idea I found on pinterest.  We are going to give them away as Christmas Presents.  Let me know if you make them and what you think of them.

Recipe credit: Nicole @ Baking Bites.com

 

Homemade Ice Cream in a Baggie

Tonight after having fun playing baseball in the front yard, we came inside to make some ice cream.  We found the idea at 2 little hooligans.  I had all plans to make a picture tutorial to add to this post, but with 3 excited kids, and momma for that matter, it just didn't happen.  If you go to 2 little hooligans you can find the picture tutorial I didn't add.

LET'S GET MAKING THE ICE CREAM

Here is what you will need to make homemade ice cream in a baggie:

2 TBL sugar

1 cup half & half (or light cream)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup coarse salt or table salt

ice

gallon-sized Ziploc bag

pint-sized Ziploc bag

Mix the sugar, half & half, and vanilla.  Pour it into a pint-sized Ziploc bag. Make sure you seal it tight. 

Fill your gallon Ziploc bag half full and add the salt. 

Place the half & half baggie into the gallon Ziploc. 

Now the fun begins.  Shake, Shake, Shake it up!!  The kids had fun with this...for the first 2 minutes.  Then I got the privilege of shaking.  Shake for about 5 minutes (8 minutes if using cream). When solid remove the icecream baggie and clean off the salt.  Then it is time to enjoy!

The kids had fun filling up their ice cream with toppings: cookie crunch, chocolate drops, caramel, and raspberries. 

Hope you get the chance to make your own yummy homemade icecream!

How to Blanch Peas {tutorial}

Are you growing a garden this year?  Do you find that you planted lots of one vegetable and you just can't eat them fast enough?  Do you know how to freeze your vegetables.  Even if you don't have a garden you can still freeze fresh veggies to eat them later in the year when you are craving those fresh garden vegetables. I am going to show you how to blanch and freeze peas for later use.

Go get your peas.  You want them as fresh as you can get them.  The best is to pick your peas right before you prepare them for freezing.  Morning is also the best time to pick your vegetables.  Make sure your peas are ripe, but not too ripe.  You don't want dried out, bruised, or too ripe peas.  They won't taste very good later on. 

What you will need:

A bowl of peas

A pot of boiling water with a lid

A bowl of ice water

A collander

Freezer bags or Vacuum Seal

Wash your peas.  Sorry no picture.  I figured you knew how to wash your vegetables. Once washed Hull your peas. The peas I am freezing have edible pods so I skipped this part.  To Hull press your thumb into the seam and squeeze the pod gently.  It should open up and you can push your thumb through the pod and remove the peas.  If you are not hulling, just pull the tops off.

Next comes the Blanching.  Place your peas into boiling water for 90 seconds.  All you want to do is kill the enzyme (and any bacteria) in the pea that would discolor and change the taste of your peas if you did not boil them. Time yourself.  Do Not Overcook.

Immediately remove from boiling water and place in ice water to stop the cooking process.  Keep in water until completely cooled.  A general rule of thumb would be to keep in water as long as it was in the boiling water.  

Again I have no picture for this step but completely Drain your peas.

Now you are ready to seal.  I love my vacuum sealer.  Things tend to stay fresher and don't get freezer burned.  However, if you don't have one you can place your peas into freezer bags.  Just make sure to get out as much air as you can before placing in the freezer. 

I know three bags isn't that much.  I do still have more in the garden, but three bags is a start.  I am hoping to get another crop started since peas are so quick to mature.  Can't wait to try out peas out this fall.

Take a Walk Through My garden

We are so pleased with our garden this year.  Last year our garden did very poorly.  We expected it to be the same this year.  We redid the whole garden this spring.  Last year we had the fence put up around the whole yard and then a smaller one to box in our garden.  JBody built new raised bed this year.  I love them.  The rock was all given to us by our neighbors and we had just enough to lay on the floor of the garden.  I love how it stays so nice looking.  And I love the green!!!  That means everything is growing.  It is growing so well that we actually had to pull out lots of spinach and feed it to the chickens.  I wish I would have blanched it and freezed it.  We did plant another crop of spinach and I plan to freeze what we don't use of it. 

Some things we grew this year are: peas, beans, turnips, lettuce, zuchinni, squash, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, Sun Chokes, beets, brussel spouts, cucumber, and berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, boysenberries). 

This year I planted onions inbetween our new strawberry seedlings.

Can you see our lovely peas?  I actually got some blanched and in the freezer today.

My poor little tomatoe plants.  They were given to me by a friend.  We will see if they grow.  They have been through quite a bit.  You can also see our carrots.  In the background those really tall things are our Jerusalem Artichokes (aka Sunchokes).  They are roots, but the plant can grow like 6 feet tall.  This is the first year we have ever planted them.

Another look at the peas.  You can see my overgrown spinach and the beans and lettuce as well. 

Did you plant a garden this year?  What did you plant? Are you having success?