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  • Elf on the Shelf: Week Four

    Elf on the Shelf: Week Four

    Sadly, this is the last week for the elf. We have had a ton of fun looking to see what mischief he would get into.   On Friday, we found Bob playing in the wreath. We were in the middle of moving, so I did something quick and easy.  Saturday, Bob had caused himself to go into a chocolate coma. Too many sweet treats! Sunday morning, Bob was trying to pump some iron to get ready to help lift all the toys onto Santa’s sleigh. On Monday, Bob had pulled out the Bible and turned to the Book of Luke. He was trying to teach Vincent the true meaning of Christmas. Tuesday, Bob has been missing the cold weather lately. The south has been so warm this December. He built himself an igloo to feel like he was back at the North Pole.  On Wednesday, Bob thought he would go skiing! It took me so long to glue together that igloo the day before, I thought I might as well use it for something else as well. On Christmas Eve, it was the last day with Bob until next year. It was sad to see him go. Vincent had so much fun looking for him everyday. And I must admit I’ll miss set up fun scenes each day. Bob wrote the boys a note and brought out the “Night Before Christmas” book to read. In the note, Bob allowed Vincent to hug him that day to tell him goodbye.

    It’s been a blast having fun with the Elf on the Shelf. Until next year…Merry Christmas Everyone!

  • Cookies for Santa

    Cookies for Santa

    On Christmas Eve night you must have cookies waiting for Santa. It’s not always easy to have time to bake on Christmas Eve with family visiting, church, and trying to getting the kids tired enough to go to sleep for Santa to come. These cookies take no time to throw together and I know Santa would approve.

    Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Prep Time: 10 mins 

    Cook Time: 12 mins

    Total Time: 22 mins 

    Yield: 24 Cookies

    Ingredients

    2 1/4 cups of Flour

    1/2 tsp of baking soda

    1/2 tsp of salt

    12 Tbsp of butter, melted

    1 1/4 cup of brown sugar

    1/4 cup of sugar

    1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

    2 tsp of vanilla extract

    1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet and set aside.

    Mix together flour, salt, and baking soda.

    In a medium bowl, use a electric mixer, mix butter and sugars until combined.

    Beat in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until combined.

    Stir in dry ingredients until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips.  Drop cookie dough onto cookie sheet. Bake for 12 mins. Let cookies sit for 5 mins after you take them out of the oven.

    Enjoy! Merry Christmas!  

  • Snickerdoodle Muffins

    Snickerdoodle Muffins

    Christmas is full of sweet treats and homemade surprises. I love Christmas brunches during this season. These muffins would be a great addition to any brunch or breakfast. They are super quick to whip up as well.

    Snickerdoodle Muffins

    Prep Time: 10 mins

    Cook Time: 20 mins

    Total Time: 30 mins

    Yield: 12 muffins

    Ingredients

    2 cups of flour

    ½ tsp of salt

    2 tsp of cream of tartar

    1 tsp of baking soda

    2 tsp of cinnamon

    1 stick butter, softened

    3/4 cup of sugar

    2 eggs

    1 cup of milk

    2 tsp of vanilla

    1 Tbsp of sugar + 1 tsp of cinnamon to sprinkle on top

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease or place paper muffin cups in a 12 cup muffin tin.

    In a  large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, baking soda and cinnamon.

    In a mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar.

    Add the eggs, milk and vanilla and mix until well combined.

    Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.

    Fill muffin cups 2/3 of the way full of batter.

    Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar on top of each muffin cup.

    Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

    Enjoy!   

  • Elf on the Shelf: Week Three

    Elf on the Shelf: Week Three

    We are on week three. Bob the Elf has had some adventures while living with us. My toddler has enjoyed every minute of it. Every morning he’s so excited to see where Bob is at.  On Friday, Bob got into the shaving cream and decided to paint.

    Tip: Shaving cream, food coloring, and a paintbrush are a great way to keep your toddler entertained in the bathtub. Mix the shaving cream with whatever food color you want to use and tada! Instant Bath Paint! Saturday, Bob thought it would be fun to roll the den. Vincent loved it. I only spend $2 on steamers and he had a blast playing with them all day. Talk about cheap entertainment!  Sunday,  we woke to find Bob made a snow angel with flour. My toddler and I took it as a hint to bake. We decided to make Candied Gingerbread Muffins that morning. Click the link for the recipe.  On Monday morning, Bob and his buds got together for a round of Cooties. My toddler absolutely loves this game.  On Tuesday, Bob had made my sweet pea a surprise. He looked in the fridge to find Jello Jigglers. Needless to say, they were gone in a day.  Wednesday morning, Bob had found the dog treats. He was not impressed and let a tip to not leave these out for Santa. On Thursday, Bob had worked all night long in Santa’s Workshop to make all the toys for the good little girls and boys. He was worn out. My little one kept saying “shhh!” when he would walk by him.

    So, yet again we have had a fun-filled week of seeing what Bob would be up to each day. Please feel free to comment any ideas you have done with your elf on the shelf. Stay tuned til next week! It will be the last and final week of elf on the shelf until next year. And if you are just tuning in here’s what happen on Week One and Week Two. Happy Holidays!

    Also check out: Week Four & Planning Elf On the Shelf

  • Candied Gingerbread Muffins

    Candied Gingerbread Muffins

    Start your morning off right. These spicy and sweet gingerbread muffins will jump start anyone’s day. If you are planning a Christmas brunch, these muffins will bring the taste of the season to the table. They are quick to whip up too. 

    Candied Gingerbread Muffins

    Prep Time: 10 mins

    Cook Time: 20 mins

    Total Time: 30 mins

    Yield: 12 muffins

    Ingredients

    1/4 cup of brown sugar

    1/2 cup of molasses

    1/3 cup of milk

    1/3 cup of vegetable oil

    1 egg

    2 cups of flour

    1 tsp of baking powder

    1 1/2 tsp of ginger

    1/2 tsp of salt

    1/2 tsp of baking soda

    1/2 tsp of cinnamon

    1/4 tsp of nutmeg

    1/2 tsp of vanilla

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 400° degrees F. Place paper baking cups in each muffin cup.

    In large bowl, beat brown sugar, molasses, milk, oil and egg. Mix in flour, baking powder, ginger, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Once combined, divide up batter among muffin cups. Sprinkle sugar on top of each muffin cup. I used coconut sugar for mine, but granulated sugar works great as well.

    Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 mins.

    Enjoy!  

  • Elf on the Shelf: Week Two

    Elf on the Shelf: Week Two

    Our mischievous little friend has been coming back everyday this week. He has had lots of good fun for our family. I have been having a blast setting him up each night.  Last Friday, Bob greeted us with special letterhead to write Santa with. You can write a letter to Santa and get a response. Send it to:

    Santa Claus Post Office

    45 North Kringle Place

    Santa Claus, IN 47579

    It is a nonprofit organization, Santa’s Elves Inc, that has a team of volunteers that help write a response to all the children’s letters.   On Saturday, he greeted us with stockings to decorate. My son and I had so much fun decorating the stockings. It was a truly inexpensive  craft. I got most of the supplies from the dollar store other than the puff paint for the names on the stockings. The next day, we woke to find a snowball fight in the kitchen. Snoopy and Bob had built themselves each a fort and we’re going to town throwing the marshmellows.  Monday morning, Bob had built himself a swing out of a toilet paper roll and string. We were instructed to have a fun evening by jumping in the car to go see the Christmas lights in town. My son had a ball going to view the lights.  With all the leftover marshmellows from the snowball fight. We woke up Tuesday morning to Bob soaking in the hot tub with his best buds, Chewy and R2D2.  On Wednesday, I was truly worn out from the work week. I had planned a couple easier ideas just for days like these. Bob was reading to the toys and brought a new book for my son, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The book happened to be elf-sized as well.  In the spirit of the Peanuts and reading a Charlie Brown Christmas, on Thursday, we woke up to see that Bob had built himself a help stand for all the toys to come tell him about the holiday season and get advice. Snoopy was apparently the first in line. At least the advice was cheap.

    So that is it for this week’s adventures. There are still plenty more days until Christmas so stayed tuned to see what other mischief Bob the elf will get into. Also, if you have any ideas that you have done with your elf on the shelf that you would like to share, feel free to comment.

  • Gingerbread Pancakes

    Gingerbread Pancakes

    Tis the Season! Start your holiday morning off with something scrumptious. These pancakes are easy to make and will satisfy anyone’s holiday taste buds. 

    Gingerbread Pancakes

    Prep Time: 10 mins

    Cook Time: 15 mins

    Total Time: 25 mins

    Yield: 10 pancakes

    Ingredients 

    1 1/4 cups of flour

    1 tsp of baking powder

    1/2 tsp of baking soda

    1/2 tsp of salt

    1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

    1 tsp of ground ginger

    1/4 tsp of nutmeg

    1/4 cup of brown sugar

    2 Tbsp of molasses

    2 eggs

    4 Tsbp of butter, melted

    1/4 tsp of vanilla extract

    3/4 of milk

    For Syrup

    1 cup of maple syrup

    2 tsp of cinnamon

    Directions

    In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

    In a large bowl, mix together brown sugar, molasses, 2 eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and milk.

    Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until well combined. Batter may be slightly lumpy.

    Heat a lightly oiled frying pan over medium high heat. Pour the batter onto the pan, a 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

    For cinnamon syrup, mix syrup and cinnamon in a small bowl. Microwave mixture for 20 seconds. 

    Enjoy!

      
     

  • Cranberry Eggnog Scones

    Cranberry Eggnog Scones

    It’s Christmas time! So let’s break out the eggnog. Even though it’s delicious to drink by itself, it’s even more fun to bake with. These scones definitely bring the taste of season to the table. They are also quite quick to whip up.

    Cranberry Eggnog Scones

    Prep Time: 10 mins

    Cook Time: 25 mins

    Total Time: 35 mins

    Yield: 8 scones

    Ingredients 

    2 cups of flour

    1/3 cup of sugar

    2 tsp of baking powder

    1/2 tsp of baking soda

    1/4 tsp of salt

    1 tsp of cinnamon

    6 Tbsp of cold butter

    2/3 cup eggnog

    1 egg

    1 tsp of vanilla extract

    1/2 cup of dried cranberries

    For the Glaze

    1/2 cup powdered sugar

    2 Tbsp of eggnog

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

    In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cranberries. Add the cold butter and cut butter into small pieces.

    Make a hole in the bowl of dry ingredients and add the eggnog, egg, and vanilla extract in the middle. Stir until combined.

    Place dough into a greased pie pan. Pat the dough into an 8 inch circle. Use a sharp knife to score into 8 sections. The dough will be very sticky. Do not separate sections. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut all the way through the scored sections. Let cool.

    Stir together the powdered sugar and eggnog. Drizzle over the scones.

    Enjoy! 

       

  • Elf on the Shelf: First Week

    Elf on the Shelf: First Week

    We began the tradition of the Elf on the Shelf this year. He arrived the day after Thanksgiving. I had been reading the story about the Elf on the Shelf to my son about two weeks before he arrived to try to make him understand about the elf. The first day, the elf decorated the fridge to bring holiday cheer and left a message explaining why he came and the basic rules to follow. My son named the elf that day, Bob. So, Bob the elf has been visiting us ever since.   The second day, Bob decided that we should make some arts and crafts together. We made festive holiday crafts that included coloring, painting, and gluing. Since my little one is only 20 months I went ahead and had everything cut out and ready. He had a blast making the Christmas crafts and is so proud to display them on our fridge. Day three, Bob the elf left us the hint to bake. Since November was almost over and my sweet pea loves pumpkin, we made Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast. My toddler loves to help with baking. These cinnamon rolls are a delicious and easy sweet treat to whip up in the morning.  On the fourth day,  Bob went zip lining through the kitchen to drop off poof balls to use on the Thomas Advent Calendar.   He also let my little one borrow a Northpole Communicator that let’s him call the Northpole each day during December to get a special message. He has truly gotten into using the communicator. Other than looking for Bob each morning, calling the Northpole is one of the first things we have to do. The fifth day was the 1st day of Christmas. One of my favorite days of the year. Growing up, my mom would always make this day so much fun and special. She would always have a surprise and note that one of Santa’s helpers would drop off to start the Christmas season. It was a tradition I knew I wanted to continue for my little ones to make that day special for them as well as create our own new traditions for Christmas.  Yesterday, Bob decided to be quite mischievous. He decorated the entire kitchen with bows. My little one cracked me up with his reaction of “Uh-oh!” when he saw the mess in the kitchen that morning.

     Today, Bob the elf came riding in on the express train to bring my sweet pea an angel tag from the Angel Tree. Christmas is exciting and full of fun with your family, but you cannot forget to give back to the community and to help others in need. I wanted to teach my toddler the importance of giving back. We may not be rich but we are lucky to have what we have and to wake up every day healthy and happy. I want my little one to try and bring good will and happiness to someone else in need. 

    This is only the first week with Bob. There are many more adventures to come. Stay tuned and follow to keep up with Bob’s upcoming adventures. I would also love to hear any ideas that you have done with Elf on the Shelf this week or in the past. Happy Holidays!

  • Mad About Pumpkin: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

    Mad About Pumpkin: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

    November is almost over and so my pumpkin craze will have to be replaced with Christmas themed baking. For my last blog of “Mad About Pumpkin,” I decided to go out with a bang. These cinnamon rolls will give a grand start to anyone’s morning. They are super quick to whipped together as well.

    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

    Prep Time: 15 mins

    Cook Time : 27 mins

    Total Time:  42 mins

    Yield: 9 Cinnamon Rolls

    Ingredients:

    3 cups of flour

    1/4 cup of sugar

    1/4 tsp of baking powder

    1/2 tsp of baking soda

    1/2 tsp of salt

    1/2 cup of milk

    2/3 cup of pumpkin purée

    Filling:

    1/3 cup of sugar

    1/3 cup of brown sugar

    1/4 cup of butter, melted

    2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

    1 tsp of cinnamon

    1/4 tsp of ginger

    1/4 tsp of salt

    1 tsp of vanilla

    Icing:

    1 1/4 cups of powdered sugar

    1/4 cup of milk

    2 Tbsp of butter, melted

    1/2 tsp of vanilla 

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat an 8 in pan with cooking spray. 

    In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, and pumpkin purée. Once well combined, knead the dough and roll out flat.

    In a medium bowl, mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. Once combined, evenly spread the mixture over the rolled out dough. Roll the dough into a log, and using a piece of thread slice 9 cinnamon rolls (about 1 1/2 in thick).  Place cinnamon rolls in a greased cooking pan. Cover pan with foil and place in oven for 12 mins. Remove foil and continue cooking for 12-15 mins. Remove from oven and cool for 5 mins.

    In a medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla. Once cinnamon rolls have cooled, pour mixture over the top of cinnamon rolls.

    Enjoy!