rainbow Cake

Idea from http://www.marthastewart.com/256688/rainbow-cake
I just used a cake mix since this was our first try at this and we just wanted to see how it worked out. I used 2 cake mixes and 10 inch cake pans. Smaller pans would allow you to have more layers and more colors.

Use Gel food coloring and mix the cake batter to the desired colors. After greasing and flouring your cake pan put just enough batter to cover the bottom. Mine took about 1 1/2 cups. bake for about 12 mins till a toothpick come out clean. Repeat till all your layers are done.

I had to level up a couple of my layers with a knife then layer them up with icing in between each layer I used a homemade cream cheese icing.



Put a crumb coat on and put in the fridge for a few minutes then put another good coat of icing on.

My little guy wanted to add sprinkles but that is not something you have to do.

Watermelon Pops

I found this recipe at family fun http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/dessert-recipes/other-desserts/frozen-treats/whatta-melon-pop-1019501/ and in stead of using sorbet we used "Naked" brand juice, 100% fruit and veggie juice with no added anything. I have already been making pops with this yummy juice so we gave these a try. Mine were not as "cute" but they were a hit with my son and a friends kiddos too.

I started with the Red "naked"juice and added a few chocolate chips, but they were not really noticeable so did not add to second batch. Put in freezer for about 15-20 mins. then added white (I put too much white), then froze for about 15-20 then added the green and the sticks.

Healty Banana Cookies

I LOVED these and my make bars next time. They are not crispy but more cake like. Just sweet enough. We used dried cranberries instead of raisins and they were great. Got this from http://groceryshrink.com/2011/08/healthy-banana-cookies.html

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup dates or raisins

2 cups rolled oats

1/3 cup oil (coconut oil would be lovely)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all and let sit for 15 minutes. Drop by spoonfulls on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

My little helper

Gluten Free Fruity Muffins

1 1/4 cup GF pancake Mix ( I use Pamela's)


1/4 cup water

1 egg

...1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup mashed bananas

1/3 cup mashed strawberry

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips



mix everything together pour in muffin cups makes about 7 large muffins. bake at 350 for 18-22 mins.

Rice Krispie Treats (Kinda)

 1 package of  large marshmellows
3/4 stick of butter
6 cups of rice krispies (or another cereal, I normally use the twice rice cereal which is gluten free, but today we did not have enough we added some rice chex)

Melt marshmellows and butter then add the cereal. and once mixed put in a baking dish. Today we added added a few M&Ms which are also Gluten Free.

Nutty Granola Bars

This recipe is from Everyday Foods magazine March 2011.

 3/4 cup honey
2 TBS butter
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats (I used Gluten Free)
1 1/3 cups slivered almonds ( I used whole cocoa almonds that I had and chopped them up)
coarse salt
1 cup raisins or other dried fruit (I used 1/2 raisins and 1/2 cranberries)
1/3 creamy almond butter or other nut butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar.

 1. preheat oven to 325, in a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup honey and butter over low until butter melts.

2. In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, and pinch of salt. Drizzle honey misture over oat mixture and stir to combine. Spread mixture over a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown about 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Let cool completly and return to large bowl, add dried fruit and stir.

3. lightly butter 8 inch square baking dish, in saucepan combine 1/2 cup honey, almond butter, and brown sugar over meidum. Cook, stirring occasionally until mixture comes to a boild and sugar dessolves. drizzle over the oat mixture and stir until combined. Transfer to baking dish. With spatula, firmly press granola into dish. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, then cut into bars or squares.

 Mine came right out of my baking pan so I cut them on the cutting board and placed each one in a snack sized plastic bag.



Chocolate Cherry Cobbler

I made this last night, with no pictures :( sorry. It was a HIT company liked it, Harrison liked it and John Liked it!!!! It is cheap and easy and so yummy and some ice cream would be GREAT! So Try it NOW   http://stolenmomentscooking.com/chocolate-cherry-cobbler/

Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars

Harrison and I made this  today http://stolenmomentscooking.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-bars/  they are yummy, I did have to make more of the third layer. There are Gluten Free as long as you use Gluten Free oats.

Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars



For the first layer:



•1/2 c. butter

•2 c. sugar

•1/2 c. milk

•1/4 c. cocoa powder

•1 t. vanilla

•3 c. oats

In a medium saucepan, combine butter, sugar, milk and cocoa powder. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and oats. Grease a 13×9 casserole dish and pour the mixture in. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes.



For the second layer:



•4 oz. cream cheese

•1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

•1/4 c. milk

•1/2 t. vanilla

Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Add the milk and vanilla and continue beating until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Spread over the no-bake layer in the casserole dish.



For the third layer:



•1 c. peanut butter

•1 T. butter

•3/4 c. powdered sugar

•1 – 2 T. milk

Beat the peanut butter and butter together until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and milk and continue beating until fluffy. Spread on top of the cream cheese layer in the casserole dish. Refrigerate until set and store in the refrigerator.

smore's cookie update

 So I LOVE these cookies ...Smore's Cookies. But Harrison could not eat them. So this week Harrison and Matthew wanted to make cookies and I had a Gluten Free chocolate chip cookie mix. Once I put them in the oven I remember we had a chocolate bar and marshmallows so I added them once the cookies had cooked and put back under broil for a couple minutes.  They were YUMMY and both boys LOVED them.

Elephant Ears --- SO EASY AND YUMMY

I found this recipe in Good Housekeeping and since I can't seem to copy and paste on here any more (if you know how please yet me know) so here is the link http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/elephant-ears-palmiers-recipe-ghk1210?click=recipe_sr These are SO GOOD and SO EASY they will be a staple at our house.

Pumpkin Pie... Well Kinda

I found this Idea in my FAMILY FUN magazine and thought it was too cute not to try. I am always trying to find things to take to dinners that Harrison can eat and everyone else might enjoy too. So I thought I would try this for Thanksgiving. I used a gluten free cookie mix that we LOVE baked it in a pie plate. Made orange icing and added half pecans around the edge to look like a crust. I think it was a it. Here is the link http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/easy-as-pie-939222/ to all the directions.

a few fun Ideas

cup cakes

http://thecurvycarrot.com/2010/09/20/candy-corn-cupcakes/

Fun with Googly Eyes

http://www.livinglocurto.com/2010/10/5-crafts-to-make-with-googly-eyes/

Halloween Paint Cans

http://www.controllingmychaos.com/2010/10/halloween-paint-can-inserts.html

Frank Pops

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/2010/10/craft-o-maniac-monday-link-party-with.html

Candy Skewers

http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-candy-skewers.html

Pear and Apples

Last weekend we put a few apples and pears up...

and here are a couple of our favorite recipes for apples and pears. http://akparkhurst.blogspot.com/2008/09/apples-and-pears.html

Brownie Treat

Harrison and I made these the other day and they were a HIT John and I even really enjoyed this Gluten free treat.

We started with a GF brown mix but put it in cupcakes so we can freeze some for him to take to school for birthday days of his friends. Then we made some incing with a thing of cream cheese, powdered suger, juice of one lemon and a small can of crushed pinapple. Then topped it off with sliced bananas and strawberries.

The GOOD and the BAD

Ok so I have had the above pictures in my blog folder for months. THIS IS FABULOUS!!!! I LOVE IT!!! I discovered Tastefully Simple several years ago and it is all so YUMMY. I even have a friend selling it now so if you need a hook up let me know. But this cake is great by itself, with fresh fruit, or in truffles. IT IS SO GOOD. And you only have to add butter and water which is GREAT when you need something good and don't want to head out to the store.

Now on the OTHER HAND.... this soup mix looked good at the store and one recommendation was to add crab to so I thought it was worth a try (No I have never had luck with soup mixes, and I don't know why I thought this would be any different). So Tonight I fixed it and about about an hour and $15 worth of ingredients...... IT WENT DOWN TO THE TRASH. I did try to eat some but even I could not handle it. Good thing I had leftovers for the boys. Every attempt is not a winner but if we never try we would be eating the same four meals over and over and over again

Marshmellow Ice Cream

This is a new Favorite for Harrison. I found this HUGE marshmallows at Big Lots a few weeks ago and we put them in a gluten free ice cream cone and Harrison has a treat he LOVES and it is not near as messy as real ice cream which I LOVE

Cute Ideas

Here are a few CUTE ideas I have some across lately and thought I would share and this way I can find them easily as well if I decide to do them in the future. watermelon Rice Krispies

baby blankets

canning party