Homemade Frosting, WAY Cheaper

I have a confession... I don't buy frosting due to the price and how gritty the sugar is in them. I make cinnamon rolls, sweet bread, cakes/cupcakes, BUT I put my own frosting on them. People will ask me every time for my recipe, so here it is my friends.

Ingredients:

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup room temp/ softened butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2- 2  tablespoons milk

In a bowl or mixer put the confectioners' sugar first, then mix in butter, then add the milk. Once you have the mixture thoroughly mixed then add the vanilla extract.

Side note: If it is a little too sweet add the extra 1/2 tablespoon of milk.

Enjoy

What a Great Gift and A YUMMY One, Too.

Cinnamon Honey Butter Recipe

yields 3 half pint jars
Ingredients:
1 cup Honey
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
3 half pint canning jars

• Combine all ingredients in bowl. Using whisk attachment on mixer blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

• Use rubber spatula to pour mixture in to a large pastry bag (or Ziploc® bag), cut off tip and squeeze into half pint jars. (tip: place bag in tall glass for support, or have someone hold the bag while you pour)
• Keep refrigerated.  Serve room temperature
• Credit: http://tidymom.net/2010/cinnamon-honey-butter-gifts-in-a-jar/

Send along with a homemade bread or dinner rolls for a perfect pairing if you ask me :)  Enjoy!

Christmas Cards

Cards are so expensive anymore, and they seem to be a waste of money... most of the time. So, this Christmas I will be using the kids stored up energy to make our cards. I will post a  picture that I found on Pinterest.

Purchase card stock and cut in half and that will give you two cards per piece of paper :) If you prefer to send postcards, cut them in fours and decorate each side. Make some homemade finger paint (recipe below) to decorate them with. Cheap, fun, and easy!

Loanable items = $$$$

I saw this website and thought it was worth letting my friends know. We all typically have so much stuff laying around that could make us money.  What better time to make some extra money? Go check it out and see what you think.....

http://www.loanables.com/

Homemade Italian Sodas

So, my story goes....over the weekend with my parents I began to feel bad. I went in search of something to drink that sounded good. My mother had bought a Central Market grapefruit Italian soda. This sounded excellent to me so I opened it. Man! it was so good.  In fear that I would finish off her beverage, I asked her what she thought was in it. She figured we could buy some Ruby Red grapefruit juice and some club soda and we would have it. Well my friends, she was right! The possibilities are endless and what a great way to water down juices for little ones who tend to drink too many of them. Also, it is like they are drinking a soda BUT it is not! Wow a win/win!  :)
I filled a juice glass or small glass with about half crushed ice, then poured half full with grapefruit juice, and finally topped off with the club soda. Give it a stir and Voila!

Try using other juices like apple, grape, any fusion juices, or more. Like I said the possibilities are endless.

Enjoy!

Once again, sorry for the break.

I had an opportunity to go out of town and jumped on it :) I wasn't able to post to the blog while I was gone, and apologize. Everywhere I went while gone, people were telling me how much they love the blog. Well, here is my response....

Keep enjoying, because it is here to stay :)

Thank you to all the "likers" and keep checking the blog out.

Homemade Liquors, Great Christmas Gifts

What an awesome gift! or really just for yourself :)

Coffee Liqueur
1 (2 ounce) jar instant espresso coffee powder
3 1/2 cups white sugar
2 cups boiling water
1 pint vodka
1 whole vanilla bean
Mix coffee and sugar. Add boiling water and stir until dissolved. Cool.
Add Vodka and pour into two 26 ounce empty bottles. Split vanilla into 4 pieces and add to bottles.
Close bottles tightly and keep in a cool dark place for one month.
Fall Spice Cordial
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/4 cups apple juice
1 tsp real vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp dried, chopped orange peel
1 cup white brandy
1/2 cup 100 proof vodka
Bring brown sugar, white sugar and apple juice to a boil over medium-high heat. Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and orange peel. Boil for 4 minutes and remove from heat. Let stand until just warm. Transfer to a clean 1 qt aging vessel. Add vanilla, brandy and vodka. Cover tightly and let stand for 1-4 weeks. Filter out solids before bottling.
Almond Liqueur (like Amaretto)
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups vodka
2 tablespoons almond extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Combine water and sugars in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the mixture is boiling, and all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.
Stir vodka, almond extract and vanilla extract into the mixture. Store in a sealed bottle.