Fun Stuff for Kids ~ Finger Paint & Play Dough

Finger Paint



3 T sugar

1/2 c cornstarch

2 cups cold water

food coloring



Mix sugar and cornstarch and add water. cook over low heat, stirring constantly until well blended. divide into 4 - 5 portions and color as desired.





Play Dough



1 c flour

1/2 c salt

1 T vegetable oil

2 T alum

1 c boiling water

food coloring



Mix flour and salt. Then add oil and alum. Add water and knead thoroughly. Color as desired. Store in airtight baggies between use.

Baked Scrambled Egg Casserole

2 tablespoons margarine
1 1/2 cups cooked ham -- chopped
1/2 cup green onions -- sliced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
12 eggs
4 ounces cheddar cheese -- shredded
1/2 cup half & half

Heat oven to 250~. Grease 2-qt casserole. In large skillet, melt margarine. Saute onions until crisp tender. In large bowl, beat eggs; stir in half & half and ham. Pour egg mixture into skillet with onions; mix well. Cook over medium heat. As mixture begins to set, gently lift cooked portions with spatula so that thin uncooked portions can flow to bottom. Avoid constant stirring.

Cook until eggs are thickened throughout; spoon into prepared casserole dish. Pour soup evenly over top. Bake at 250~ for 30 minutes; sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake 10-15 minutes longer.

Rachael Ray 3.5-qt. Enameled Cast Iron Round Covered Casserole, Green In fewer than five years, Rachael Ray has radically changed the way America cooks dinner. Her perky-girl-next-door swagger, her catchphrases for techniques, and her dinner ideology of simpler, less expensive and just in time have sold billions of books and placed her at the top of the talent heap of food television personalities. Designed to perform on the stove or in the oven, this covered casserole features a large cooking surface to brown meats with room to add ingredients for a one-dish meal. The lid fits snugly to lock in moisture and flavors, making this pan perfect for the long, slow braising of a tender pot roast. Large handles make it easy to transfer dinner from the stovetop or oven to the table. Cast iron construction provides even heating and excellent heat retention. The enamel finish means you don't have to pre-season (or re-season) your cookware

Basic Pot Roast

4 to 5 pounds beef roast
1 tablespoon shortening
salt
1/4 cup water
1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup diced rutabaga or turnip
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1/4 cup sliced celery with leaves
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
salt and pepper to taste

In Dutch Oven or heavy kettle, brown meat on all sides in hot shortening. Sprinkle with salt. Add water and sliced onion. Cover and simmer for 3 to 4 hours. Add remaining ingredients; simmer for 30 minutes more, or until vegetables are done.

Remove meat and thicken liquid with flour and water paste To thicken: Stir a few tablespoons of water into a few tablespoons of flour and stir until smooth. Stir hot liquid while adding small amounts of flour paste until thickened as desired. Taste and season pot roast with salt and pepper to taste.

Hand Made Chocolate Confections

Nothing is better than hand made chocolate confections! Yummm. I found a site that has the most scruptious looking edibles!


Corina's Confections

Here you will find Cookies, Brownies, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Favors for that special occassion, Theme Tins, Cookie Club and you can even purchase Gift Cards!

How 'bout a Spot of Blooming Tea?

I came across this awesome product I have to tell you about! Full Bloom Tea!

To quote the website, "Our hand tied Artisan teas "bloom" before your eyes into amazing drinkable floral bouquets. We use rare Silver Needle White Tea and premium flowers rich in antioxidants."

Each of these unique tea blooms are hand tied and wrapped in protective packaging that helps to keep moisture, light and air out, and locks in freshness, taste and aroma.

When you steep the ‘bloom’ in boiling water, the tea bloom twists, turns, moves and appears to “bloom” right before your eyes into a floral bouquet! Talk about a unique way to make tea!
According to the site they contain the finest rare Silver Needle White Tea leaves rich in antioxidants and are infused with beautiful dehydrated flowers such as Jasmine, Globe Amaranth and Marigold just to name a few which give additional flavors and health benefits.
These are mild teas and each tea bloom can be re-steeped up to 3 times each. And once you are done steeping and drinking, you can put the used bloom in a clear glass bowl with clean water and enjoy it as a centerpiece for an extra day or two.

They offer a really cool unique gift idea as well as a wholesale option for those with retail establishments.

I can hardly wait to order my own bloom!