Color Game

Ava is all of a sudden starting to talk so I am excited to teach her all about her colors and letters. We have books which is good but since she is a 2 year old her attention span is about 30 sec. So I wanted to make an interactive game that we could do often so she can learn her colors. So I mixed in a bowl a bunch of colorful enticing snacks, to keep her attention. I put some Fruit Loops, chocolate chips, pretzels and marshmallows in their own bowls. The object of the game was to match all the colors in each cup. Who ever finished first was the winner. Of course Hanna was the winner but both girls loved it. After I did it I thought why did I not use veggies or fruit! Oh well next time.

Flower Headbands and Clips

I came across a blog that added cute felt flowers to pillows and loved it. I never had a chance to dress any pillows up but then I came across a friend who was wearing a cute headband with a flower on it and I figured I could make some cute headbands and clips for the girls. These are really easy and the possibilities are endles! Here is the link to an awesome DIY blog. From there you can watch an instructional video and download the template.

http://www.thediydish.com/2010/02/how-to-make-chic-pillows-thediydish-on-studio5/

Sunday Baking

So I have been MIA this week. I have been very busy with taxes but see a light at the end of the tunnel this week. Yesterday the girls and I made some brownies for our Sunday baking. They were more willing to bake with me this time :) Here is the recipe:




Chewy Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. COMBINE sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixt ure. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan.(Note: for chewy brownies do not overmix or they will be more cake like)
   
3. BAKE for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

   

Sunday Baking

I love to cook and bake and hope that my girls will enjoy it as well. I decided that every Sunday I would bake with the girls. I really want them to know how to cook and bake whether they enjoy or not is up to them:) Funny thing is usually Hanna is always asking me to make cookies so she can help but yesterday when I asked the girls if they wanted to help they both said no! They were actually playing good together and having too much fun so I didn't push it. Hopefully next week! So this week I decided to try and turn a cinnamon roll recipe into a cinnamon bread recipe. It was really yummy but it did not look pretty there was to much cinnamon filling and when I cut into the bread the filling just started oozing out. It was prettty tasty though. I am determined to perfect this recipe and have it turn out so I can make french toast out of it. Sorry I did not take pictures of the steps but next time I make it I will include them.

Cinnamon Rolls.....maybe bread
For the dough:
1 cup of milk
1/4 cup of sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tblsp unsalted butter
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 c bread flour
1 package or 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
1 large egg beaten

For the filling:
4 tbls unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbls cinnamon

For the icing:
1 c powdered sugar
2 Tblsp milk - add more if need to be thinner
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine the milk , sugar, salt and butter in a microwave safe dish and haet until hot about 1-2 mins. Set aside and allow the butter to melt and the mixture to cool until it is just warm.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine and mix flours and then stir in yeast. Stir in the beaten egg in to the milk mixture and then pour milk mixture into the flour mixture.Stir until the mixture forms a softy dough.

3. Transfer the dough onto a floured surface. Sprinkle with more flour and pat into an oval shape. Fold the dough in half and knead with your knuckles. Fold and kneed for about 10 min, add flour as necessary when kneeding. The dough should not be sticky , it should be smooth and elastic.

4.Oil a clean bowk and set dough inside. Cover with a damp cloth and place it in the oven at 100 degrees with the door cracked. This could be dangerous with kids running around around so you could also try and find a warm spot in the house. It needs to double in bulk about 45 min to an hour.

5. Meawhile make the filling . Combine the softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon with a fork until well blended.

6. When dough is done transfer to a floured surface and roll out with a rolling pin. Roll to a 12x16 rectangle.

7.Sprinkle the filling over the rolled dough enough to cover the surface. Leave 1" uncovered on the short sides. Roll the dough up and pinch the ends and the seam closed with your fingers.

8. For cinnamon rolls cut the rolled dough into 12 pieces. For bread you can cut in half and make two loaves. Place in an oiled or butter baking pan, cover with a damp cloth and let it rise for another 45 min.

9. Heat oven to 375 bake until light brown usually 18-20 min and then cool for about 15 min.

10. For the icing whisk together sugar milk and vanilla.drizzle on top of rolls or bread......yum!