DIY Large Track and Tunnel

The weather turned cold for a few days a couple weeks ago.

(It's currently snowing so we might have to dig out some crafts today too!)

So, Grizzly and I had to find something crafty and fun to do.

We were both tired of all his same old toys.

Well, I'm not buying new toys so I thought we better make some old toys more fun.

We set to work cutting up old boxes and covering it with blue Duck Tape.

My friend Josie has a good saying for duck tape but I'm not sure it would be appropriate to say it here.  Oh. . . ok, you twisted my arm.

"If you can't fix it Duck it.  If you can't Duck it @$#% it. :)

Anywho, on to the kid project!

 A Big New Car/Truck/Train Track slash Airport Runway slash Zoo.

It had to have a tunnel of course!

Woody was in charge of keeping all the vehicles clean, fueled and running smooth.

Have you ever made anything out of cardboard? Duck tape?  If not, I highly recommend it!  I think I had as much fun if not more than the boy!  It kept us busy all day and he still plays with it!


~ Jess

Homemade Applesauce

This was my first shot at making applesauce and I have to confess that I really had no idea what I was doing.  BUT, it turned out great and it was pretty easy.  It would have been a lot easier if I didn't have to mash all the apples by hand but live and learn I guess!

I was hoping to use only apples from our trip to the orchard but we must have been one of the last ones to visit because all of the trees were bare.  We came home with a few small Red Delicious.  The rest are a variety from our local HyVee.

I used about 20 apples.

 I left the skins on and just used the apple slicer to cut them up.

I ended up dividing them between 2 pots since I had more than anticipated.

 I added about a 1/4th of Simply Apple apple juice to each pot and then added enough water to cover the apples then cook till apples are soft.

 I don't have a tool to help me with this so I had to smash them through the sieve by hand, dis-guarding the skins along the way.  Lets just say my arm and wrist hurt a bit after this was all said and done.

 Ended up with four jars to give as gifts with just enough left over for us to enjoy some.

 After I did a taste test to make sure it was up to par, I recruited my grizzly bear to give it a try.

 Mmmmm! Mom tested Grizzly Bear approved! 

I would love to know if you have ever made applesauce and if you have any good tips or tricks I should try for next time.

~ Jess

Death by Chocolate Cake

Who wouldn't want to die by way of Chocolate Cake?  It's how I want to go!

This cake was pretty simple and pretty amazing, especially with some vanilla ice cream!!

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CAKE:

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 6 o.z cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. half & half
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 Tbsp. Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In large bowl, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one. Add half & half, blending well; then stir in cocoa powder and mix well. Add the flour and blend well; then fold in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. Put batter into the prepared 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 65-75 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan about 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely (you may need to loosen the upper edges of the cake a little with a knife; then the cake will come out of the pan very easily). While the cake is cooling, you can make the frosting…

CHOCOLATE BUTTER CREAM FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp. half & half
• 1/4– 1/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, for garnish

Cream the softened butter and powdered sugar. Then add in the cocoa powder and blend well. Add 1 Tbsp. half & half and mix well (if you’d rather have a thinner consistency, just add more half & half). When pound cake is completely cool, spoon all of the frosting on top of the cake and spread out to cover the top–you’ll have a nice thick layer of frosting! Then garnish with the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, sprinkling down the center of the cake.

Adapted  from This Recipe

Enjoy!!

~ Jess

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispies

I found this recipe on, where else but Pinterest!  I may be addicted to pinning but we'll leave that issue for another day, er week whatever.  Today we are focusing on ooey, gooey peanut butter cup rice krispie bars!

 

 

Specifically these babies, mmmmm.

They consist of five layers. Yep, five.

The first layer is peanut butter rice krispies.

The second layer is peanut butter fudge.

The third layer is mini peanut butter cups.

The fourth layer is regular rice krispies.

And the fifth layer is chocolate peanut butter ganache (chocolate chips and peanut butter melted together).

These were SO good.

Next time I make them I think I will half the ganache though. It got a little too thick on top.

I love how you can see the PB cups squished right in there.

For the full recipe go HERE!

~ Jess ~

My Greatest Project

Is 2 years old today!!!

Happy Birthday Grizzly!

I know everyone says it, but really where did the last two years go?

You are an amazing little guy who makes me smile everyday.  We are SO blessed!

From this:

To this:

Happy Birthday Buddy!

~ Jess ~

A Cute Hoodie

Although we call him Grizzly, he doesn't actually have fur.  So he needs clothes.  

Warmer clothes now that it's Fall.

So when I seen the pattern for this hoodie from Heidi and Finn I knew Griz could use it.

I used super cheap fleece for the outside and knit for the lining.

It turned out pretty cute but the sleeves were a little long and a bit too tight so I would probably adjust that next time.  The bottom was also a bit long but I think it looks cute, it was fairly easy and hopefully he will grow into it.

~ Jess ~

Back to the Blog

We are back from our summer blog break!  We had a wonderful summer full of travel, water fun, new babies(not ours :), parades, birthdays, baseball, fish, ice cream, boats, new puppy(ours!), wonderful friends and family and pure exhaustion!  It was a pretty great summer.  I hope you all had a great summer as well and are settling into this Fall weather.  Here are some of the summer highlights.  I will be back tomorrow with a craft.  Yep, a real craft! :)

My brother and sister-in-law's new GIRL.  Look at all that hair!

Grizzly and his best bud.

Getting ready for the parade with Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy.

4th of July

Mmmm, The Windmill Ice Cream. The. Best. Ever.

Grizzly's first shish

Introducing Griffin.  Look at those eyes.  How could we not bring him home? 

Here's how it works around here buddy.  Now give me a kiss.

 Good-Bye Summer.  You will be missed but remembered fondly.

It's great to be back!  See you all tomorrow!!!!

~ Jess ~