Friday, May 27, 2016

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!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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!

Monday, May 23, 2016

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