Peanut Butter Muffins

I love peanut butter!!!!!  This is a great muffin for breakfast, just spread a little butter and jam on the muffin.  This is not a sweet muffin!

Making the Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 firmly packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup chunky peanut butter

1 1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped peanut

1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Butter tins or line with paper.  This recipe makes 16 muffins.  These also make adorable mini muffins. 

Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.  In another bowl, beat the peanut butter until smooth and gradually add the milk.  Beat in the melted butter and eggs.  Stir in the peanuts and add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tins.  Bake muffins for 15 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into top of muffin comes out clean.

Printable Candy Bar Wrappers "Teachers Pet"

School is just about out!!!!  YAY!!!  My two daughters were stressing last week about what to give their kids teachers now that school is coming to a close.  Of course I think CANDY and CANDY BARS!!!!  Who wouldn't love to get a candy bar?  It was so easy to download these candy bar wrappers HERE at Parties and Patterns.  It took just seconds to download, print, cut and attach to a candy bar. 

These candy bar wrappers fit a large Hershey size bar

(3 1/2"x7).  There are fifteen different wrappers to choose from. Wrap the candy bars in a cellophane bag and tie with a big ribbon and you are set to go.

Birthday Activity "The Present"

If you have a large present that can't be wrapped this is a fun activity to prolong the present opening experience and get some laughs along the way.

This year we implemented "The Present" with my son-in-law's birthday and it brought a lot of laughs.  Wrap a token present that gives a hint of the actual gift.  In this case we wrapped a grill brush but the actual present was a BBQ.  Wrap the present multiple times in graduating boxes or several layers. On each present is taped an actitivy that has to be done before the next layer can be unwrapped.

The packet includes sixteen different activities. All you have to do is download the packet, choose your activities, copy and start wrapping your present.  Have fun making these ideas your own! 

Download this pdf birthday activity packet 

HERE at Parties and Patterns

"Stuff 8 marshmellows in your mouth and sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

 

 

"Eat five soda crackers and whistle"

'

Do fifteen push-ups.  (Kids on the back are optional.)

"The Present"

Lazy Pecan Toffee

Putting the Toffee Together:

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
40-48 soda crackers (depends on how big your cookie sheet is)
2 cups chocolate chips
1-2 cups pecans, chopped

Boil the butter and brown sugar for 3 minutes.  Arrange the soda crackers on a cookie sheet lined up against each other, but not overlapping.  Spread the butter and brown sugar mixture over the top of the crackers. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.  Take out of oven and immediately cover with  chocolate chips.  Let chocolate chips melt and spread evenly. Sprinkle the pecans on top of the chocolate and put in fridge until chocolate sets.  Cut into pieces.

Everyone loves these and they are so easy.  Just don't tell anyone you used soda crackers.

chili

We are close to the end of May.  It has been raining outside for the past week and is supposed to rain into next week.  There are 18 new inches of snow in the mountains.  I am making some chili and sitting by the fire!!!!

Putting The Chili Together:

1 lb hamburger   (I also like to use left over roast beef.)
2 cans black beans
1 can chili beans
1 can  tomatoes with chilies
1 can jalopeno  hot  chili
1 can thick chili
1 large can tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
1 cup water (add more if you want thinner chili)
1 tbsp. chili powder (or to taste)
1 tsp. cumin
Salt and Pepper to taste
Hot pepper flakes (optional and to taste)

Fry hamburger or shred left-over roast beef. Put meat in a big pot and  add the remaining ingredients.  Heat through.  Serve with sour cream, cheese and chips.

Printable Birthday Coupons

In our family we are big on coupons.  We give coupons for everything.  We give coupons out at Easter, Christmas, birthdays, you name it.  It has become a popular family tradition.  

We would like to share this tradition with you.  This packet includes printable birthday coupons that you download from your computer, print and wrap with a token gift.  We have included ideas for token gifts to go along with the coupons, plus there are some blank coupons for you to personalize.  You can download the printable birthday coupons HERE at

Parties and Patterns.

Of course there is always a twist to our birthday celebrations.  Not only do we have fun coupons, but then we hide the gifts.  Along with hiding the gifts, but we play the hot and cold game.  While the person is looking for their gifts we shout HOT if they are getting close to a gift.  If they are far away from the gift we whisper COLD.  You get the idea.  You may think we do this for kids only, but no.  It is so much more fun with adults and brings out the kid in all of us.  Below are pictures of my daughter searching for her gifts on her 30th birthday. Enjoy!!!!

In An Emergency!

"In An Emergency"  is fun  to give as a present for graduation.   To make this gift just print off the page style you want, attach the money and put it in a frame. I just use cheap document frames.  I give this gift every year to the graduating seniors and they love it.  I have also given it as a wedding gift.  There are seven page styles to choose from and you can download the pages HERE at Parties and Patterns.  This is also a great birthday gift, house warming gift, wedding gift or retirement gift.

Birthday Ideas "Cake In A Cone"

This is an easy treat to make that both kids and adults love.   They are  fun to eat and  always a hit. Surprise your kids on the last day of school with these cool treats?

Making the Cones:

Approximately 24  cones  (cones need to have a flat bottom)

1 cake mix (any flavor)

Frosting recipe (below)

Sprinkles and decorations

Make cake mix according to package directions.  Grease muffins tins.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with cake batter.  Set one cone in each cup evenly over the batter.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  Remove immediately from pan.  Cool cones,  frost and decorate.

It also works to fill each ice cream cone half full of cake batter.  Set the cones on a cookie sheet and bake 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes.  Cool cones, frost and decorate.

These need to be made and eaten on the same day.  Do not make them the day before or you will have some droopy cones.

Making the frosting:

3 sticks of butter softened

2/3 cup shortening

5-7 tbs heavy cream

2 tsp vanilla

2 lbs powdered sugar

1-3 tbs corn syrup

Mix shortening and butter together on medium until smooth.  Scrape down sides.  Turn mixer to low and add cream and vanilla.  Scrape down sides.  With mixer on low, slowly pour sugar into the mixture (you might need to increase the speed as you go.)  Once the sugar is mixed, scrape again and mix in corn syrup.

You may need more or less cream.  The corn syrup adds elasticity and shine to the frosting and is optional.

Lady Bug Garden Themed Luncheon

Lady Bug's Garden Themed Luncheon is a fun way to get your friends together.  A couple of years ago I put together some luncheons for the gals in the neighborhood. 

It was always so much fun to get together and they always loved my themes. 

The packet includes recipes, printable candy bar wrappers, printable candy bag labels, place mat pattern (for those of you who sew) and more.  

You can download this packet HERE at Parties and Patterns.   

Don't forget to save the download  to your computer.

Mother's Day Breakfast - Easy Pleasy Pecan Buns

It's Mother's Day!  Isn't it great to wake up to a special breakfast. 

Right now we have my two daughters, their husbands and kids living with us while they are all in transition.  There are fourteen of us.  It's a FUN household! 

It was great this morning to see all the men  in the kitchen  whipping up a storm.  They whipped up several things, some of which have already been  blogged. Easy Pleasy Buns was a big hit.  See recipe  below.

Surprisingly they left the kitchen spotless!  Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

What You Will Need:

1 cup pecans (halfed)

48 oz. pakg. frozen dinner rolls

3 1/2 oz. cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix (do not use instant)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, melted

Putting The Buns Together:

Evenly spread pecans in the bottom of a 13"x9" pan.  Place the frozen dinner rolls on top of the pecans.  Mix dry butterscotch pudding with the brown sugar and sprinkle over the rolls.  Mix together the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top.  Evenly pour melted butter over all of the ingredients.  Cover the whole pan of rolls with plastic wrap and set on cupboard to rise overnight.

When ready to bake,  remove plastic wrap and place in oven.  Set oven at 350 degrees and leave rolls in oven while temperature is rising.  When oven temperature reaches 350 degrees set timer for 40-50 minutes and bake buns until bottoms are golden.

To serve:  place a platter or cookie sheet (needs to be bigger than the pan of rolls)  on top of the rolls and flip pan so that the rolls are on the platter and the pecans are on top.

Easy enough for anyone to make!!!

Quillow Patterns - Pillow Quilt "Bleep"

Quillow Patterns - Pillow Quilt "Bleep" is my latest quillow pattern.  My grand kids can't choose between "Bleep" or "Ruffing it".  These patterns really do work up quick.  The quilt measures aprox. 60"x70", just right to  stick your feet into the pocket and wrap around a little body.  You can download the pdf  quillow pattern  HERE at Parties and Patterns. 

Earring Frame

What You Will Need:

One plain frame any size

Fabric (fabric should be 2 1/2" bigger than frame on all sides)

Batting (cut the same size as the fabric)

Tulle (cut tulle 1" bigger on all sides than the inside of your frame)

One decorative button

Staple Gun (We used just a regular stapler.) 

Glue Gun

Putting the frame Together:

Cut fabric and batting 2 1/2" bigger than frame on all  sides.

Cut out center of fabric and batting 2 1/2" from the inside frame edge.

Clip inside corners (Do not clip all the way to the frame. Clip 1/2" away from frame.)

 

Starting from the inside wrap the fabric and batting to the back of the frame and staple in place.

Wrap the fabric and batting on the outside edges to the back of the frame and staple in place.

Staple the tulle on the back of the frame over the opening of the frame.

Flower:

Rip a piece of fabric 2 1/2"-3" (depends on how big you want the flower to be) x 21". 

Cut a piece of tulle the same size. 

Layer the tulle and fabric together and sew a running stitch along one long side. Pull thread and gather the fabric into a flower shape.  Glue flower shape onto one corner of the frame. 

Rip another 1 1/2"-2" x 21" piece of fabric for the inside of the flower.  Sew a running stitch along one long side.  Pull thread and gather the fabric into a flower shape.  Glue the small flower shape on top of the larger flower.  Glue a fun button in the middle of the flower.

My daughter Megan made this fun earring frame. She has it hanging in her bedroom and it is adorable.  It is such a great way to display and find your earrings.   It's also a fun accent for your room. 

Now go find all your earrings and hang them in your frame! 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Our family loves muffins and this is one of our favorite recipes.

What You Will Need:

1 2/3 cup flour

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
½ tsp. cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
2 large eggs
1 cup canned plain pumpkin
½ cup  butter, melted
1 cup chocolate chips


Putting The Muffins Together:

 Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tins or use paper muffin cups. Mix flour, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

 In another bowl, break eggs and add pumpkin and butter. Whisk until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour into dry ingredients and gently fold together with a rubber spatula until ingredients are moistened. Be careful to not over stir.

 Divide batter evenly into muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until springy to touch.
Makes 12 muffins.