Theresa's Mixed Nuts: January 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

Butter Beer Drink & Cupcakes

My husband has never seen the Harry Potter movies. He hasn't read the books either. But, he was really impressed when we visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in November, my daughter was able to convince him that each Saturday we would all watch one of the movies together. We just wrapped up the 4th movie this weekend, and my husbands reaction- These movies suck. I don't understand how she made that much money off them. (He doesn't say this to our daughter though lol.)

However, we have found a few Hogsmeade recipes that have managed to make him sit happily through each movie. We did a very long search online for a good butter beer recipe. We narrowed it down to two. The most popular seemed to be the recipe from Tablespoon.com, but we thought that one was overly sweet. The other came from Mugglenet. This one had fewer ingredients and seemed a lot closer to what you would get at the park. However, we like our Butter Beer cold, and when we added ice cubes, the melted butter we poured in solidified and we were left with chunks of butter floating in our cups. I ended up omitting the real butter and added imitation butter flavoring instead.

(I would not recommend making and eating these together. The calorie count in each is pretty high, but one at a time on occasion for a little treat will let you indulge your inner wizards sweet tooth without too much guilt)


drink, beverage, harry potter, wizarding world, recipe, cupcake, frozen

Butter Beer

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (8 oz) cream soda (we used A&W)
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons imitation butter extract

Directions


Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter flavor into a 16 oz glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.

Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in cream soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.

Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses.

* We actually love the frozen version you get from the park, so I freeze these, then give them a quick whirl in the blender for a frozen drink variety.







I found this Butter Beer Cupcake Recipe from Pastry Affair.  If you like butterscotch, you are going to love these!

Butterbeer Cupcakes

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cream soda


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a cupcake tin with baking cups.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and butter flavoring.

Fold in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then the buttermilk, 1/3 of the flour mixture, cream soda, and then the remaining flour. Folding in these ingredients will prevent over-mixing and will result in a fluffier, less dense cupcake. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 of the way full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the cupcakes are golden and spring back when touched. Cool completely before frosting.

Butterscotch Ganache

11 ounces (1 package) butterscotch chips
1 cup heavy cream

In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt the butterscotch chips into the heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using.

Butterscotch Buttercream

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup butterscotch ganache (recipe above)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
Pinch of salt
3-3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Splash of heavy cream (as needed)

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the butterscotch ganache, vanilla, butter flavoring, and salt. Beat in the powdered sugar for 2-3 minutes, starting with 3 cups and adding more only if necessary. Add the cream a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Appreciation

I went out to lunch with a friend not too long ago. Even though we are neighbors, our busy lives don't allow for us to spend too much time together. So, we try to do lunch every few months for what we call "gripe sessions". We both have teen aged daughters, who happen to be best friends, and they sure do give us some material to gripe about!

Our girls had been particularly trying on our patience and nerves then, so we hopped in her car and went out to lunch to blow off some steam and bounce ideas off each other on how best to handle them. It was a lovely few hours! As she pulled into my driveway I started to gather my things. She then turned to me and simply said- I Appreciate You.

I kind of sat there a little dumbfounded for a minute. That's not something I hear often, if at all. Sure, I hear I Love You all the time from family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I never tire of hearing that. But it made me think, how often do we tell others we Appreciate them? I know I am guilty of not saying that to others. We often overlook all of the little things others do for us. Their routines become expected, and those little things taken for granted. Mom's, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about!

Those 3 words filled my heart with joy! It was so beautiful to hear, I have made a vow that I am going to let those in my life know that not only do I love them, I appreciate them too :)


friendship
photo source




Thursday, January 24, 2013

Team Gale

Allison has a small obsession with The Hunger Games. She hasn't read the books, but she has seen the first movie quite a few times. She received a Barbie sized Katniss doll for Christmas. Unfortunately they don't make the other characters in the large size, so she has kind of had to improvise with her other dolls.

"Which of my boy dolls looks most like Peeta?" she asked the other day.

I pointed out one and she seemed pretty pleased to have a Peeta look alike to play with. I figured she must be smitten with Peeta. That is until I came in the kitchen and saw her dolls set up like this:



doll, Peeta, death, kill, arrow, dead, movie


I guess she's Team Gale.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Wordless Wednesday~ 1 or 2?

Allison is going to be a jr. bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. She is having a hard time deciding between 2 dresses and would love opinions on which you like better. Keep in mind the dress will be black and since she is so tiny, we have to have the smallest size altered to fit a little better :)


davids bridal, bridesmaid, children, girls
#1

davids bridal, bridesmaid, children, girls
#2~ Picture this one in black

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Wordless Wednesday~ One of the Girls

Poor kid only has female cousins, so he is always getting sucked into the girly games.


multicolored fake nails

Monday, January 14, 2013

Monster High Cookies!

My niece's 6th birthday is coming up here in a few days. We decided to have her birthday party on Saturday. She's kind of had a rough couple of days and I wanted to do something a little extra special for her birthday. She is a huge Monster High fan, but between my mom and her mom, she has all the dolls, clothes, and accessories. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do until my mom was complaining that she could not find a Monster High cake for her birthday. Here's where my light bulb moment turned on. What about Monster High cookies?

I have to admit, I have never tried decorating cookies before. The extent of cookie decorating for me is grabbing a butter knife and slapping some Betty Crocker frosting on top and calling it a day. I didn't even know what flood icing was until a few months ago when I saw it on Pinterest.

I found this Monster High Template from Mighty Delighty. Saved it to my computer, then resized it to fit my cookies. I went to Wilton's website and found a flood icing recipe and off to work I went.

Here was the finished product:

diy, cookie decorating, skulls

They aren't perfect by any means, but even I impressed myself for a first time cookie decorator!

And the birthday girl was super excited to receive them!

cookies


Any cake or cookie decorators out there? What's been your favorite design to put on confections?

Friday, January 11, 2013

Oh, Yes I Can!

Some of my long time readers have heard me talk about my youngest daughters Ebay obsession. While most kids her age are playing on Disney and Nickelodeon websites, she is surfing Ebay looking for one of a kind items. I really hope she never hears about Etsy!

Around Christmas she found some earring that she just HAD to have. I scoffed at the $10 price tag on them and told her no. My older daughter said "Allison, why would you want mom to spend that much money on earrings when she can make some just like that for a lot cheaper?" (Gotta love that thinking kid!)

"Oh, no, mom can't make these. I have to have these right here! She won't get them right!"

Now I'm thinking "Oh, Yes I Can! I'll show you silly girl!"

I am not ashamed to admit, I bribe my kids. It's the only way to keep peace here sometimes. I struck up a deal with Allison. If you can keep your room clean for x amount of days, I'll get you some earrings like that.

DEAL!


This isn't the exact pair she wanted, but you get the idea:
diy, craft, one direction, jewelry
Source


Off to Hobby Lobby I go to make her these earrings she just couldn't live without. I stocked up on supplies:


Printed and cut out my photo, then glued it to the metal stamping blank.



I inserted the earring hooks, then applied a few layers of Dimensional Magic Mod Podge to the top. The finished product was exactly what she wanted off Ebay.

diy, craft, one direction, jewelry

Did I pass them off as an Ebay purchase to her? Yes, I did. And I don't feel one bit guilty about it either ;) And the grand total was less than $2!


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Wordless Wednesday~ Posters

My decorating is no longer acceptable to my teenaged daughter. Did your room look like this as a kid?




Monday, January 7, 2013

Taco Soup & Corn Cakes

If there is one good thing in my mind about winter, it has to be soup. I love soup and could eat it every day! I am always on the lookout for new and flavorful soups, so when one of my husband's co-workers sent me this Taco soup recipe last week, I knew I had to make it asap! I have never even heard of Taco Soup, but the ingredients intrigued me enough to make it Sunday night, which is a day I never cook on. I decided to pair it with an old recipe I have for corn cakes, which are one of my husbands favorite sides to eat with any Mexican dish. This soup is hearty and flavorful, and it really hit the spot on a cold winter night!

recipe, mexican, corn, chili


Ingredients

1 lb ground beef OR ground turkey
1 large bottle V8 Hot and Spicy
2 cans white kidney beans, drained
2 cans chili beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 taco seasoning packet
1 ranch dressing seasoning packet


Directions

Brown beef (or turkey), and drain. Return back to pot. Place the V8, beans, corn, and seasonings all into the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Let simmer for 1 hour.

Once finished, garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, or tortilla chips.


recipe, mexican,


Ingredients

1/2 c butter, softened
1/3 c masa harina
1/4 c water
1 1/2 c frozen, whole kernal corn, thawed
1/4 c cornmeal
1/3 c white sugar
2 tbs heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

 Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In medium bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add masa harina and water. Beat until blended.
Using a food processor, process corn, but leave it chunky. Stir into butter mixture.
In a separate bowl, mix cornmeal, sugar, cream, salt, and baking powder. Add to cornflour mixture. Stir to combine.
Pour batter into an ungreased 8x8 pan. Smooth batter and cover with aluminum foil. Place 8x8 pan into a 9x13 pan filled 1/3 of the way with water. 
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.


recipe, mexican, food

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Wordless Wednesday~ Charlie Brown Tree

I have managed to kill off another houseplant. At least I was able to decorate it for Christmas and pass it off as a real life Charlie Brown Tree.


real life, house plant, dead