Some of our Favorite Posts from 2012

Happy New Year!

Where did the year go?!?!  2012 was both good and bad for my family.  My kids and I had lots of adventures and new discoveries, which was wonderful.  My Grandmother passed away, which was a pretty tough blow for my family.  

We're hoping for a calmer year in 2013.  One filled with lots of laughter and love and lots more new adventures!

Here are some of our most popular and favorite posts from 2012   We sure loved making them and we appreciate your comments and pins and shares and everything!  

Unicorn Poop Cookies was one of our favorite "fun" cookies.  

How about this simple but way cook experiment to do with your kids?  It's a Soap Explosion!

Next time you go camping (or if you have a fire pit in your back yard) you don't want to miss this post.  Campfire Eclairs.

These Soft Pretzel Bites were amazing.  Definitely a recipe worth making (over and over!)

We made Homemade Lava Bottles and the kids loved them.  Easy and fun - the perfect combination!

Recycled Pringles cans were used to make these Giant Pencils.  We filled them up with candy and they made the perfect teacher gifts.

This was one of my favorite desserts - Mini S'more Hand Pies.  Delicious!

Does this really need any explaining?  Apple Fritter Bread. OMG!

I had fun with this Magic Banana Trick.  My daughter LOVED it!

Here's to an amazing 2013.  We can't wait to amp up our baking and crafting.  So stay tuned....

 

Peppermint Shortbread - This One's a Keeper!

 

I can hardly believe Christmas has come and gone.  We had a great holiday this year.  My kids are still grinning from ear to ear from all the wonderful things they received.  And now we get more than a week to relax and hang out before we have to go back to work and school.  I think this will be the best part - hanging out with my kids and relaxing.

 

Santa brought my daughter an Easy Bake Oven.  Is she my daughter or what?

 

 

And my son hasn't taken off his light glasses.  Is this a hoot?

 

 

Shortbread is my favorite cookie.  I'm pretty sure I could eat it everyday (and love every minute of it!)  And this recipe?  Delish!

 

This is the same shortbread I made for our Samoas Fudge.  If you missed our Samoas Fudge - go check it out right now because it was AMAZING!!!!

This recipe was delicious and I decided it will now be on my "to make" list every winter.  I loved it that much!

I did change one thing.  I used Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips instead of Candy Cane Kisses.  I'm addicted to Andes Peppermint Crunch.  I love it.  It loves me.  We're all good.  We used them in our White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge,  Candy Cane Pudding Cookies, Andes Peppermint Crunch Chunkies, and our Chocolate Peppermint Snowballs.  See, I told you we have a thing.  And this one did not disappoint!

 

 

Peppermint Shortbread

Source:  Something Swanky

* 1 cup butter, softened

* 1 cup sugar

* 1 large egg yolk

* 1 tsp. vanilla

* 1/4 tsp. salt

* 2 cups flour

* 1 cup milk chocolate chips

* 1 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch chips

* 2 ounces white chocolate

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg, vanilla, salt and flour and mix well.  Press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25 - 30 minutes (until it is golden brown and slightly puffy.)

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with your chocolate chips.

 

 

 Let the chocolate sit for about 3 minutes until it is melted and then spread over the shortbread. 

 

 

Immediately sprinkle with the Andes Peppermint Chips.

 

 

Melt the white chocolate and drizzle over the top. 

 

 

Now here's the hard part... let sit until cool and don't cut into them and eat the entire pan.  Good luck!

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

I'm linking to the parties on my sidebar.

Zucchini Bacon and Cheese Quiche

I figured since this had zucchini in it it was healthy. Right?  Anything with zucchini is healthy.  =o)  And I do love quiche.  So I decided to make a quiche using zucchini.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I've never had a quiche with zucchini in it but I felt adventurous today.

Zucchini Bacon and Cheese Quiche

Adapted from: Food Network.com

* 1 9 inch pie crust (refrigerated or homemade)

* 10 strips of bacon, cooked

* 1 cup shredded mozarrella

* uncooked, sliced zucchini (enough to cover the bottom of the crust)

* 4 eggs

* 1 cup milk

* 1/2 tsp. salt

* 1/2 tsp. dry ground mustard

* 1/2 tsp. pepper

Place a layer of zucchini in the bottom of the pie crust.

Top with crumbled bacon and cheese.

In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour into pie crust.

Cook in a 375 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes (until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.)

Now that's my idea of healthy!

 

I'm linking to the parties on my sidebar.

Rise & Shine Breakfast Kit Giveaway

GUEST REVIEW by SO CAL COUPON MOMMY

 

Here is a little about Learning Resources From Their Site :“Learning Resources® is a leading global manufacturer of innovative, hands-on educational products trusted by teachers and parents and loved by children. The Company’s 1100+ high-quality products are sold in more than 80 countries, serving children and their families, preschool, kindergarten, primary, and middle-school markets. Among the Company’s brands are Pretend & Play®, Smart Snacks®, New Sprouts™, Gears! Gears! Gears!®, Primary Science, now!Board™, simple technology, Hands-On Standards® publications, Rainbow Fractions® and Reading Rods®.” This time we received the FUN and CUTE - Pretend & Play - Rise & Shine Breakfast Set. 

This is a 21 piece set with everything your little one needs to make a fun and exciting breakfast. The set includes:

*2 plates (6" in diameter)

* spring-loaded toaster

* griddle

* spatula

* variety of foods—toast, waffle, pancakes, egg and shell, bacon, orange juice cup, strawberry pieces, blueberry cluster, and 2–piece muffin

   

I love all the little detail and how amazing everything is. the toaster actually pops like a real toaster. The strawberry has Velcro so it can be a whole strawberry of two halves. The bacon is actually think and wavy. They really made sure this was an awesome kit! The muffin top comes off to revel blueberry inside, the egg "cracks" open and has an over easy egg inside. This is a perfect addition for a play kitchen that might be under your tree or left by Santa tonight. Even if your little one does not have a kitchen this kit has everything you need for them to be able to "make" breakfast while they play. I have not been able to get my daughter away from this set. She is in love with it and has made plate after plate of food. This set was intended to, "Engages children as they crack open the egg, flip pancakes, fill the muffin with fruit, pop the toast into the toaster, and create a delicious meal" 

 

 The set is $19.99 and well worth it. I have looked at other play food sets and this one is by far the BEST that I have seen. You will be VERY happy with the quality and how easy it is to clean when your children are done. 

The Pretend & Play Rise & Shine Breakfast Kit can be purchased on their website. You can also check them out online via facebook and twitter. 

Now for the BEST part. One LUCKY winner will receive a Pretend & Play Rise & Shine Breakfast kit. 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over. Enter in the rafflecopter below. 

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclosure: I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. MAKING MEMORIES WITH YOUR KIDS is not responsible for shipment of prize.

Dockside Market Cake Giveaway

GUEST REVIEW by SO CAL COUPON MOMMY

 

Here is a little about Dockside Markets from their website, "Dockside Market baked their first cakes at Ocean Reef in Key Largo over 30 years ago and sold them seaside at the local Dockside Mart. It was natural that the Florida Key Lime was the inspiration for the first Dockside Cake. Baked one at a time, using the only freshest ingredients and genuine Key Lime Juice. Dockside Cakes were so moist, so rich in taste and texture that their fame spread far beyond the shores of these tropical islands. 

More than thirty years later, Dockside Market continues to put homemade goodness with a tropical flair into all of their delicious desserts. And now, Dockside Market has created a spicy new collection of sauces, salsa and hot sauces, a flavor fest for your taste buds, the perfect complement to all of your island foods and moods." I received a box of their AMAZING Coconut Crunch Cookies which had chocolate Chips. And one of the most wonderful Key Lime Cakes. The cookies were WONDERFUL and I opened them up for my family and I to give them a try and before I knew it we ate the entire box. They are addicting and WONDERFUL. I really liked them with a cup of coffee. Now for one of the BEST Key Like Cakes I have ever had. 

 

This cake retails for $19.50 on their website, and "The perfect balance between sweet and tart makes this luscious moist cake our original recipe and best seller. Created over 30 years ago this cake is filled with 100% all Natural Key Lime juice. This beautiful cake will certainly be enjoyed by anyone who receives it. A Dockside Key Lime Cake will take you to the tropics any time of the year. 1 pound 8 ounce bunt cake." I was amazed at the quality and flavor of this cake. It was so moist, easy to cut and even easier to eat. It looks amazing on a brunch buffet. 

This is going to be a must have for all our brunch parties. It was a huge HIT and I can't wait to try some of the other amazing flavors, like the Cabana Banana, Key Largo Lemon, Island Rum, and Honeybell Orange Zest, Calypso Coconut, Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Captains Chocolate Chip. It makes me so hungry to read about them. 

If you are interested in trying them all at once, they have an amazing sampler were you receive 4 oz cakes, the 8 pack is $31.95 and you can get more information HERE. For more information or to place an order be sure to check them out online via their website, facebook and twitter pages. 

Now for the BEST part. One LUCKY winner will receive an AWESOME Bunt Cake from Dockside Market. Oh man - how incredible would that be?!?!  

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over. Be sure to enter in the rafflecopter below. 

GOOD LUCK! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Making Memories With Your Kids is not responsible for shipment of prize.

If I Had Cookie Decorating Talent, This Is What I Would Make

I am not a cookie decorator. I try, but I inevitably fail. So I decided to enjoy everyone else's amazing decorated cookies.  If I had any talent, these are the cookies I would have made this holiday season.

Munchkin Munchies Cup O' Cocoa Cookies

The Baking Sheet's Reindeer Cookies

Gwen's Kitchen Creations Gingerbread Snowmen Cookies

Glorious Treats Christmas Cookies

Betcha Can't Eat Just One's Snowglobe Cookies

Haniela's Christmas Gnome Cookies

Klickitat Street's Latte Cookies

 

 

 

Lizy B's Fun Christmas Cookies

And I couldn't resist.

Sugar Swings! Serve Some's Super Hero Gingerbread Cookies

Do you now have cookie decorating envy?  I sure do.  BTW - if anyone wants to send me beautifully decorated cookies, I'll send you my address =o)

We hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas!

 

Zachary is Back!

Two years ago we introduced you to Zachary, our Elf on the Shelf.  Last year we showed you how much fun he can be.  He's back again this year (for the 4th Christmas) and has been making my kids smile since Thanksgiving! 

Each morning my kids search the house for him and he's been in some fun places!

Hanging out in the dining room.

 

Hanging out in the living room.

 

Everyone needs to brush their teeth!

 

And notes are always a good thing.

 

My daughter thought this was pretty funny with Zachary in her doll's high chair.

 

Zachary reading with the Barbies.

 

He even delivered the kids some yummy cake pops one day.

 

Santa giving Zachary some Christmas lovin'.

 

Hanging out with his pals.

Zachary can crochet!

 

Even Zachary needs some hot chocolate!

We've had so much fun with Zachary.  Do you have an Elf?