Now That's a Party! - My Little Pony Party

For Themed Party planning details and Formula:  see link here

I Have boy/girl twins who both love MLP. So I wanted to make their party as gender neutral as I could.  I got several ideas from Pinterest and I made up several of my own.

My Little Pony Party

The Formula

Step 1. My Little Pony Theme

Step 2. Small group of my twins Friends and Parents

Step 3. The Framework
We had the party at our house

I used a Facebook event for the Invitation

Step 4. The Inner workings

We had a great time! An absolutely fabulous was to celebrate a 4th birthday!

Now that's a Party!

To see all pictures and ideas click here

Pasta La Vista, Baby! Mac-n-cheese 3 ways

Who doesn't love Mac-n-cheese?  This is a great recipe that is smooth and creamy, with variations.  Sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

Creamy Classic

1. In a saucepan over medium heat melt 1/2 stick of butter. 

2. Add 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese and stir until melted and gooey

3. Add 1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper.

4. Stir until creamy smooth and set aside

** This makes 2 small 8x8 pans or 1 large 9x13 (I freezes well, so you can save the other half for later)

5. Prepare your favorite pasta to al dente and place in you baking dish

6. Pour on the cheese mixture and stir well

7. Crush some cracker crumbs and sprinkle over the top, drizzle with melted butter 

8. Bake at 350 for 30 min. 

BBQ Chicken

1. Using a smoked whole chicken: remove skin, remove meat from bones and chop up. 

2. Place the meat in a bowl mix with your favorite BBQ sauce

3. Stir into the creamy classic recipe, top with cracker crumbs and butter and bake 

Seafood Medley

1. Prepare you seafood of choice (I used lobster tail and canned crab meat, but you could use shrimp or scallops or whatever you like)

2. In the cheese mixture I used gouda cheese instead of cheddar but that is optional

3. Mix together, top with cracker crumbs and butter and bake. 

Kids in the Kitchen: Baking

This is another video I did for Twiniversity Magazine.  The original article can be found at the link below. 

http://www.twiniversity.com/2015/07/kids-in-the-kitchen-baking-video-demo/

My kids have grown quite a bit since I made this video! 

I have great memories growing up being in the kitchen with my mom. I love to share that time with my kids as well. Being a former Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, I know the importance of teaching your kids to know their way around the kitchen. There are many skills that can be learned from cooking, such as reading, math skills, science principles, and so much more. Spending time with your kids is the best part, but there are also educational opportunities if you look for them. 

Russian Tea Cookies

1. In a mixing bowl, cream together ¾ cup shortening, ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ cup granulated sugar
2. Add 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp almond extract and mix
3. Sift in 1 ¾ cup flour, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp baking powder and mix
4. Add ½ cup chopped pecans and mix again
5. Roll a small amount of dough into a ball and place a chocolate kiss in the middle. Form the dough around the kiss and place on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 9-12 min in a 350 degree oven
7. Let cool completely, then roll in powdered sugar

S’mores Cookie Bars

1. Cream ½ cup of softened butter and ¾ cup granulated sugar
2. Add 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix
3. Sift in 1 1/3 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt and mix
4. Crush a package of graham crackers into crumbs and add ¾ cup to the bowl and mix
5. Take ½ of the dough and flatten into the bottom of a greased 8×8 baking dish
6. Break apart 4 Hershey chocolate bars and place over the dough
7. Place a layer of marshmallows over the chocolate
8. Spread out some of the remaining graham cracker crumbs and roll out the remainder of the dough. Carefully place it on top of the marshmallows.
9. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 mins or until lightly brown. Let cool and cut into bars.

Sugar Cookie Pizza

1. Bake refrigerated sugar cookie dough according to the package instructions (or make your own)
2. Mix together 1 package of softened cream cheese and 1 container of marshmallow cream and spread over your cookies like frosting
3. Dice up a variety of fruits (bananas, blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, mandarin oranges, etc.) and decorate your cookie pizzas with them

Now That's A Party - The formula for throwing an amazing themed Party

I'm starting a new subsection of my blog devoted to throwing an amazing party.  I love themed parties and I'm sharing my foolproof formula with you.  After this first introductory post, I'll be using the formula to show you specific themed party ideas, but for now here are the basics.

The Formula (see video above for details)

Step 1. Choosing a Theme

Step 2. Determining the Audience

Step 3. The Framework

Step 4. The Inner workings

Step 5. Capturing memories 

Take the Cake Tips and Tricks

See Kristi's Facebook page for ordering info

https://www.facebook.com/KristiBakesCakes/

And Follow her on Instagram @cakesbykristi_stl

Basic Buttercream Frosting

*Cut recipe in half for sugar cookies

*Make full recipe for cupcakes & cake

1 stick softened butter

4 cups powdered sugar

up to ¼ cup water

1 tsp vanilla extract, clear

food coloring

1.     Mix butter, vanilla and powdered sugar in mixer with whisk attachment

2.     Add small amounts of water until you reach desired consistency

3.     Add color and mix until dispersed

Chocolate Frosting 

1. Melt 1 stick butter and stir in 2/3 cup cocoa powder

2. Transfer to mixing bowl

3. Add 3 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla

4. Mix in up to 1/3 cup milk little bits at a time until you reach the desired 

texture. 

Marshmallow Fondant

1. Place 1 bag mini marshmallows into a microwave safe bowl with 1-2 tbsp water

2. Microwave for 30 sec. at time and stir until the marshmallows are mostly melted

3. With a spoon or your stand mixer and a dough hook beat in up to 1 lb of powdered sugar 

a cup at a time until it starts to come away from the sides of the bowl

4. Turn out onto counter and knead until smooth and springy, 

using powdered sugar if it starts to stick 

5. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside overnight

6. Knead in desired color and roll out to about 1/8 in thickness

Soup, There It Is! - All Grown Up Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

Tomato Soup

1. In a stock pot or dutch oven place the following ingredients
        2 cans condensed tomato soup
        2 cans water
        2 cups milk
        1/2 cup parmesan cheese
        1 jar of canned tomatoes
2. Add the following spices
        1 tsp onion powder
        1/2 tsp season salt
        1/2 tsp garlic powder
        1 tsp basil
3. Whisk together
4. Cook and drain 1/2 lb of dried cheese filled ravioli or tortellini
 **The dried pasta holds up better in the soup than frozen.
5. Add pasta to pot and allow to simmer while making the grilled cheese

Grilled Cheese 

1. Butter 1 side of a slice of sour dough bread
2. add a slice of smoked gouda cheese
3. add a layer of cooked bacon (or bacon bits)
4. Add a layer of salted tomato slices.
5. Add another slice of cheese
6. Top with another slice of butter bread and grill until both sides of bread are browned and the cheese is melted.
**Covering the sandwich with a lid can assist in melting the cheese

Pasta La Vista Baby! - Lasagna Pasta

For regular lasagna or for a large pan of lasagna pasta double recipe

1. In a mixing bowl combine 1 egg beaten, 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 

1/2 Tbsp parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside

2. Brown 1/2 lb ground beef in a skillet with a sprinkle of garlic powder. Drain and discard grease. 

3. Add 8 oz tomato sauce, 4 oz tomato sauce, 6 oz tomato paste, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp salt.  Allow to simmer for 10 min. 

4. Cook and drain 1/2 lb pasta of your choice

5. In a glass baking dish layer pasta, cottage cheese mixture, sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Repeat until all ingredients are used. 

6. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 min. 

Easy Vinaigrette Dressing

Mix all ingredients and pour over salad fixings 

The Lunch Bunch

This is a video I did for Twiniversity, the online Twins and Multiples magazine. www.twiniversity.com

The Lunch Bunch recipes

By: Courtney Hill of Country Kitchen Approved Blog

Being a mom of twins myself, I know that coming up with lunch ideas that my kids will actually eat can be quite a challenge.  Here are some tried and true recipes that my kids love and I hope yours will too.  Here is my Country Kitchen Approved motto, “Simple recipes with real ingredients that you will actually make”. 

Main Dish #1 Mini Meat Loaves

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Combine:  1-2 shredded carrots

    ½ of a small onion, finely chopped
     1/2 lb of ground beef

1 beaten egg

2 Tbsp breadcrumbs

1-2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp salt

¼ cup finely chopped spinach, sautéed (optional)

3. Mix together all ingredients and form patties

4. Place patties in a glass baking dish and bake for 15 min. 

5. Turn patties and squirt each with ketchup and bake for 15 more min. 

Main Dish #2 Homemade Hot Pockets

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Defrost 16 Rhodes frozen Texas rolls, but don’t allow to rise.  
• Roll each out with a rolling pin until flat
• Add whatever fixings you like 
• Fold and seal dough around the fillings
• Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 min
• Serve immediately or allow to cool completely and store in the freezer in a zip-lock bag.
• Heat in microwave for 45 sec 

Side Dish #1 Cheese Green Beans

• Preheat oven to 350 degree
• In a saucepan combine 1 Tbsp flour and 2 Tbsp butter over medium heat until smooth to create a rue. 
• Add 1 cup milk and ½ tsp of salt, stir to combine
• Add 6 oz. of finely chopped Velveeta cheese and stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce has become thick and creamy. 
• Add ¼ tsp chili powder and stir
• Cook 1 large bag of French cut frozen green beans according to the package instructions and place in a glass baking dish
• Pour on ½ of the cheese sauce and stir to combine

**You can either make double beans for freeze the extra sauce and have more later**

• Sprinkle with French fried onions and top with foil
• Bake for 15 min, remove foil and bake for an additional 15 min. 

Side Dish #2 Glazed Rainbow Carrots

• Peel and evenly slice about 1 lb of rainbow carrots
• Place in a skillet and pour on just enough water to cover the carrots. 
• Add 1-2 Tbsp butter, ½ tsp salt and 1 Tbsp sugar
• Turn heat to medium and allow carrots to simmer until all the liquid is gone leaving a glaze 
• Stir to coat and serve

Side Dish #3 Fruit Slush Cups

• Place a bag of frozen strawberries (16 oz) in a saucepan with ½ cup water and ½ cup sugar. 
• Allow to simmer until strawberries are thawed
• Meanwhile, finely chop 6 bananas and place in a large mixing bowl
• Once the strawberries are soft break them down with a spoon and add (with liquid) to the bananas
• Add:  1 sm can peach nectar

32 oz of any orange juice

1 large can crushed pineapple

• Stir to combine and pour into small paper cups
• Freeze for several hours. After frozen transfer to a zip-lock bag for easier storage
• Place in microwave for 15 sec to get a slushy consistency