Homemade Playdough

It's summertime {yessssss} and I've been hunting for some fun things to do with my kiddies to keep them busy. I found this playdough recipe over at Skip to My Lou and I LOVE it! It's very soft and lasts for a long time if you put it in a container in the fridge.

These little dough balls would be cute to give away as party favors or as an inexpensive gift, complete with little tools to use! Kids love this stuff!

Chocolate Torte from Heaven

If you ever wondered what kind of food they allow you to eat in Heaven, this is it. I'm 100% positive of that and if they DON'T have this there, then I don't even want to bother going. haha.

But seriously, MAKE THIS. This is what my Love Nugget wants for Father's Day tomorrow. (and maybe I secretly planted that little seed in his brain....whispering 'chocolate torte' all over the house...)

We were at Rock-Star Kadie's house a while back and she made this for us and once again, I'm pretty sure I blacked out somewhere because the next thing I knew, after I started inhaling mine, I was laying on the ground rubbing it all into my face. {{embarrassing!!}}

So here's the link - if you REALLY want to taste something good! And that's her photo above ... gorgeous. Makes me want to eat my computer screen. I can't wait to make this!!!

Cooking 101 - Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I'm taking a brief break from snuggling with my little baby marshmallow to share with you the EASIEST thing EVER!!! This is the best summertime dinner to eat out on the back porch. Top it with some yummy cole slaw on some really good bread and you'll be SO proud of yourself!!!

Who doesn't love a good pulled pork sandwich?! (Okay, a lot of people, but they're crazy, alright?)

So this is all you have to do:

1.) Get a pork shoulder, about 7 pounds, with a layer of fat on top. I get a huge, honkin' one at Sam's Club so that I have some to put in the freezer. Tip: When you are looking for your pork shoulder, you won't see the fat layer because they package it facing down, but it's there. (how pretty would that be to package a hunk of meat with a big, white fatty surface?! Not pretty...) If there is a bone in your meat, that's okay. Your meat is just going to fall off of it anyway.

2.) Generously rub salt & fresh ground pepper all over your pork shoulder. Score the fatty surface into diamonds.

3.) Place the meat fat-side-up in a large dutch oven or roaster. Roast at 450 degrees without the lid for about 45 minutes.

4.) After 45 minutes, turn the oven down to 350 degrees, cover the meat with foil or a lid, and roast for about 4 more hours.

After you take it out of the oven, cut off that fatty layer on top and discard it. The meat should just fall apart! It's so beautiful!

5.) With a fork, stir your pork with your favorite BBQ sauce and make it as thick as you want it.

WHAT?! That's IT?!! You just roast it?! Yes. And it's heavenly.

To make some cole slaw: (this would be ideal to throw it all into a food processor)

Shred 1/2 head of cabbage and some carrots, and add some cole slaw dressing. I use that good stuff in a jar in the refrigerated salad section.

Then just assemble your sandwich! Get some really good bread, or make your own, and enjoy!!! I used Kadie's French Bread recipe, added a touch of whole wheat flour, and just made little rolls instead of a huge loaf. It's SO good - you have to try it!!!

Here's my little marshmallow - I could just eat her instead!

Orangey Goodness

FIRST OF ALL: why on earth do I love these?! What's not to love? They're beautiful, scrumptious, juicy, orangey, squishy, and they make my mouth water. {haha...your mouth is totally watering right now thinking about these being tangy! very cool.} The kids and I had some of these to close out a very hot day and it was purely heaven!

Whatever these things are called, they're one of my all-time favorite childhood treats that I'll love forever. Don't you?! (I love you, orange squishies.)

Summertime Dinner

I LOVE SUMMER!!! Okay, well it's still a little more like spring here...but nevertheless - I LOVE IT!!! I get giddy when the sun comes up and it's warm, buttery golden, and my back yard is lush and green with NO sign of winter anywhere!!! Last night we grilled up an amazing dinner and enjoyed being warm - this is heaven!

The Apple Dress

Remember this dress?! It finally fits! Brooke hates getting her picture taken so I had a hard time getting a picture of dress details - but you get the idea. ADORABLE!!!

Too bad I'm tired all of the time - I'd love to make some more cute dresses - so I'll settle on laziness for now!

Vintage Outfits for Sale

Hey Ladies! So check this out. (Mom, don't get mad...but I don't think I need these anymore) My *adorable* mom bought these outfits in 1977 when she was expecting me...but she got a girl...so they were never used. (I would hardly consider myself "vintage" - but it sounds so cool for clothing...) Then she gave the outfits to me to use when I had one of my boys and I just couldn't bring myself to ruin them so I never used them.

NOW I'm trying to send them to a good home (on eBay here) and they're just SO adorable!!! They even have the original 1970's tags on them, the original plastic hangers, AND that crinkly paper underneath the layers!!!! {gasp}

So go get them. I have no idea how much or how little they're worth, which is why I chose eBay to sell them, so here's to hoping they go to a good, loving home!

100% Calorie Free Cupcakes

These are pretty much the only cupcakes I need to have in my life. Aren't they scrumptious?! They're going to be glued to some hair clippies but I couldn't resist showing them off before I finished.

You can make these quickly, using my handy stitch guide, and you'll have a dozen before you know it.

Just glue a piece of felt to the back, clip around the edges, and that's it.

I'll show you the clips later when they're done!

Cooking 101 - Cinnamon Rolls

Okay, YOU ASKED FOR IT! I had several requests for this recipe and I just want you all to remember that I take NO responsibility for the ramifications of eating these cinnamon rolls.

Being a serious food critic, this recipe is the best I've ever had in my life. It doesn't matter what you've had in the past, I can guarantee that this recipe will blow your mind...and your diet....but who cares...

{This recipe originally comes from my beloved soul mate, Paula Deen. Paula...here's to you and all of the butter lovers out there...}

Cinnamon Rolls (adapted from Paula Deen)

(always double this recipe - you'll thank me later.)

Dough:
1/4 oz. pkg yeast
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. scalded milk
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. melted butter (atta girl)
1 t. salt
1 egg
3 1/2 to 4 c. flour (sometimes I'll use a little bit of whole wheat flour...makes a GREAT flavor!)

Filling: (I never measure this part, but if you're not into eyeballing it, here you go)
1/2 c. melted butter
3/4 c. sugar
2 T. ground cinnamon
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Glaze:
4 T. melted butter (can't get enough)
2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla

pinch of salt
canned milk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg. Add 2 c. flour and mix until smooth. Add yeast mixture. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle (not too much flour, though). Knead on lightly floured surface for 5-10 minutes (or in your mixer). Place in well-greased bowl; cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

When dough is doubled in size, punch down dough. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out on a well floured surface into a 15 x 9 inch rectangle. Spread melted butter all over dough. Mix cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle with nuts. Roll up dough and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into slices.

Coat bottom of baking pan with butter. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until doubled - about 30-45 minutes. Bake for about 30 minutes until nicely browned.

Meanwhile, mix butter, powdered sugar, pinch of salt & vanilla. Add canned milk a little at a time until glaze is smooth, a little thick. Spread over slightly cooled rolls.

A Hamburger Dress?! Seriously?!

Okay, this is crochet at it's finest! Who on EARTH would have thought to make a "Hamburger Dress"?! It's absolutely amazing!!! ....suddenly I'm really hungry now...

Here's what I want to know - where can you get some fragrance that smells like a char-grilled burger? Maybe have the dress steamed in the Burger King kitchen?

(Check out more of the dress here.) Unbelivable.