2016 Summer Bucket List

Yay!  Summer is here again.  We've planned some fun things to do.  What have you planned?

Play Wal-Mart Bingo 

Explore Aviate 

Enjoy Urban Air

Sleep Over!

Bowling

Roller Skating

Play Checkers at Cracker Barrel
Visit the Wichita Art Museum

Host a Tasting Party

Visit the Humane Society and bring NO animals home

Swim at the lake

Show at the health food store with the Owens.  Get the healthy food tips.

Swim at the pool

Wii family game night

Go fishing

Go to Exploration Place

Prepare all the recipes in Greg's cookbook

Visit the zoo

Walk around Botanica

Paint with water guns (canvas or shirt)

Enjoy the amenities at Watson Park

Tie Dye

UFO day - finish a project

Play basketball

Baseball game

Camp out

Water balloon fight

Kids make supper

Backwards Day

Visit the Valley Center Historical Museum

Paper Airplane party

Build a blanket fort

Pick peaches

do Random Acts of Kindness

Well, that sounds like enough to do in summer!

Christie's Magic Muffins

My friend Christie passed this recipe to me.  I was surprised to discover the fudgy muffins she fed me had no flour!  The muffins mainly consist of pumpkin and peanut butter.  So here we go with the recipe.

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups peanut butter (I only used 3/4 cup)

1/2 cup raw honey (I used sugar)

1.5 cups pumpkin puree (that's a whole can)

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup of chocolate chips (I used mini M&M's)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray the muffin pan or cupcake liners with nonstick baking spray.  In a big bowl, mix all the ingredients except the chocolate chips until the dough has an even consistency.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  Fill the muffin wells about 3/4 full.  This recipe makes 12 muffins.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Test for doneness with a toothpick.   

Greg eats pumpkin without knowing it!

Faboulous Body Butter

I don't know why I haven't tried making body butter before.  It's so easy!  It's a nice alternative to lotion.  If you are sensitive to certain ingredients, this is a great way to create a lotion to meet your needs without spending a fortune.  We made two different blends.  I need to give a little warning before we start.  This body butter will be preservative free.  You should try to use it up within 6 months of making it.  Also, a given container should be used by only one person.

Recipe #1 is on the left, lovely helper in the middle, Recipe #2 on the right

Body Butter Recipe #1
Yielded a softer, fluffier butter.  It resembles whipped shortening.
1/3 cup shea butter (I order mine from this site http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/)
1/3 cup coconut oil (I prefer the raw or less refined version that give a coconutty smell)
1/3 cup olive oil (the lighter the better)
1/2 teaspoon vitamin e oil (or break open 10 capsules of vitamin e)
10 drops clove essential oil (or essential oil of your choice)

Body Butter Recipe #2
Yielded a firmer, richer butter.  It smells like chocolate!  We tried using lavender essential oil with it, but the chocolate smell of the cocoa butter covered it.
1/3 cup cocoa butter (I order mine from this site http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/)
1/3 cup coconut oil (I prefer the raw or less refined version that give a coconutty smell)
1/3 cup olive oil (the lighter the better)
1/2 teaspoon vitamin e oil (or break open 10 capsules of vitamin e)
10 drops peppermint essential oil (or essential oil of your choice)

We followed the directions in this video from TheSquishyMonster.com  After the cocoa/shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil were melted, we added the vitamin e and essential oils.  Then we whipped them with an electric mixer.  The stand type mixer worked better and faster, but a hand held mixer worked fine too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyt2t02qf8