Popcorn Ornament Tutorial

These fun ornaments hang on the little tree on the ticket counter at our local movie theater. I made them last holiday season and the customers just loved them, and many of them asked me for the secret to getting the popcorn inside the glass ball. I'm going to share that secret here with you:

Supplies:
clear glass ball ornaments
unpopped popcorn (don't use the pre-packaged microwave corn that includes grease)

microwavable dishes

hot pads

First remove the metal top on the ornament and set aside. I rinsed the glass balls with vinegar and water and let dry overnight.
Put popcorn kernels in the ball - the amounts I used varied with the size of the balls. I think I counted out between 40-60 kernels per ornament.

Set the glass ball inside the microwavable dish. (Some instructions I've read say to use a paper bag, but that didn't work so well for me. I like being able to see the ornament and monitor the popping of the corn.)
Microwave on high until the kernels no longer pop. Each microwave is different, so I hesitate to put a length of time in my instructions. I just watched and listened, and when there was a count of 10 after the last pop I heard, I removed the ornament.

Keep in mind that these dishes and ornaments will be HOT when you remove them from the microwave. Use the hot pads and let everything cool before you handle them. I also had to take a few breaks and let my microwave cool off. Be warned, also, I did have a few of the glass balls break. Have some extras handy and please HANDLE WITH CARE.
Once they're cool you can shake out any unpopped kernels, then put the metal hanger back on and embellish as you desire. We added colorful candies from the theater concession stand, and hung them using ribbons.

I confess that I don't know how these fared over the year they've been in storage. I suspect the popcorn has dried up, but the good thing is that they can easily be emptied and refurbished if we need to.

These are an easy way to have somewhat old-fashioned decorations on your holiday tree, with a modern-day twist. Enjoy!

Last minute gifts tutorial every day

Happy Halloween

4th of July

Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is probably the most important national holiday in the United States. It commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The declaration is a powerful statement of the American colonies’ intention to become an independent nation.

The Fourth of July was declared a legal holiday in 1941, and today it is celebrated each year in all states and territories of the United States. It is a reminder of the ideals on which the United States was founded, and on July 4 Americans celebrate their freedom and independence with great fanfare -- it is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks.

A display of fireworks illuminates the sky near the Statue of Liberty as seen from Jersey City, N.J. on July 4, 2004. Parents from throughout the State of New Jersey bring their children to Liberty State Park on July 4th to enjoy the Independence Day festivities and see the New York City fireworks. (© AP/WWP)

Happy Memorial Day

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

Christmas from Yesteryear

This is from Time Magazine December 27, 1948. I just loved the illustration of "The Night Before Christmas." I doubt that TIME magazine would dare to post such a picture in today's time.

Basket of Balls

Just an updated picture with a new type of fabric ball. These are just in time for Easter!

Fabric Balls Tutorial

Fabric balls are the ideal spring and Easter decorations. They are very easy to make and a good way to use scrap pieces of fabric. And, when you are tired of them, just unwrap and use the styrofoam ball for another project!

Step one: Gather supplies: You will need 3 inch styrofoam balls, straight pins, buttons, fabric, and ball point pins. Cut the fabric into 3/4 - 1 inch strips. (If you do not want to use pins, you can simply hot glue the fabric to the styrofoam ball and hot glue the button on to the fabric. This is especially important if you have small children or pets that tend to get into things!)

Step 2: Using a straight pin secure the first piece of fabric to the styrofoam ball.

Step 3: Pull the strip of fabric taunt as you wrap the strip around the styrofoam ball. You want the fabric to conform to the shape of the ball. As you run out of one strip, just pin another strip to that one using a straight pin.

Step 4: When you finish wrapping the ball, secure the strips with a button and ball point pins.

Step 5: Place in basket with other fabric balls for a lovely spring/Easter decoration! These can be adapted to any season depending on the fabric choice! Have fun making your own!

Are You Gonna Eat All of That?!

Every time I fix this meal, my husband always asks when the rest of the people are coming to eat it! But in reality, he is secretly pleased that he will have several small dishes of it to take to work over the next week. Here is the recipe:

1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cans (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup Sour Cream or more if you like
1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained (I use the carrots, corn, peas, and green beans mixture

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.
Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with the stuffing.
Bake 40 min or until chicken is cooked through. (It calls for 30 minutes, but I usually go 40 and still check the chicken before I say it is done for good)!

Enjoy!!

Placemats from the Stash

Alas, I did not get to finish the two placemats that are not yet done, but I wanted to show you a photo of the first one I made. The green jeans were cast-offs from my SIL to Jessi, but J never wore them. I used most of the green denim in the TV blanket on the couch, and instead of throwing away the scraps, thought I'd try my hand at patchwork. This is the result: Anyone else have "stash project" photos to share?

Linzer Cookies

"The great acts of love are done by those
who are habitually performing small acts of kindness."

~ Author Unknown

Whenever I see Linzer Cookies I'm always reminded of an old friend and co-worker. She absolutely loved them, and would often stop for one at a wonderful old New York City bakery on her way into the office. This recipe produces a cookie similar in taste and texture to the delicious ones I remember from that bakery. Our daughter found this recipe from one of our cookbooks or magazines several years ago, and I love to ask her to make them as a treat for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day :)


LINZER COOKIES

1-1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 14-ounce package blanched almonds, finely ground
3-1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
seedless raspberry jam
Confectioners sugar

~ In a large mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Stir in ground almonds. Set aside.

~ In another mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually add this to the creamed mixture, stirring well after each addition.

~ Divide dough into fourths; cover and refrigerate overnight.

~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~ Between 2 pieces of waxed paper, roll one portion of the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place cookies on a lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheet. Repeat this procedure with the remaining portions of dough.

~ Cut out small hearts from the center of half the cookies, saving the cut-outs.

~ Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool, and sift confectioners sugar over the cookies with the small heart removed. (These are the "tops".)

~ Spread a small amount of jam on each solid cookie. Place a "top" on each. Make sandwich cookies from the small heart cut-outs by placing a spoonful of jam between two and sprinkling the top with powdered sugar. OR, melt some chocolate, and dip half of each cookie in the chocolate. Place on rack until chocolate is hardened.

~ Store the cookies in an air-tight container.

Welcome!

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”

~ Amanda Bradley