Happy New Years

Just wanted to say to you all out there HAPPY NEW YEARS. Hopefully it is better for us all than the last year.

System Saver II Softener Salt Review

I have nothing but good to say about this. I usually just use the regular cheapest salt you can find. I didn't really see a difference but the price. I finally tried something new. I love it. My water is cleaner and my skin and hair is so much softer. There really is a difference! (besides the price) System Saver II was $4 a bag at Walmart and I am so glad I tried it. I will make this my regular brand unless I just simply can't afford it.

Bissell EasyVac Lightweight Bagless Vacuum

I was so excited to get a nice little vacuum. Small enough to store in small unseen places and light enough to cart around the house. My dreams were shattered. It can't vacuum to save it's life or mine. I have to vacuum the same spot at least 4 times to pick everything up. I have to stop around every 2 or so minutes just to unplug the hose. It is very easy to unplug anything that may get caught, but EVERYTHING gets caught, except maybe the fine sand that is on the carpet. It really does work, just takes 3x the time it usually would. Unfortunately I am stuck with it until we get our tax refund around February. You can be sure I will be buying a bigger, more expensive one. This one cost about $40.00 at Walmart.

My Towels Finally Smell Good Again

Ever get that yucky smell on your towels that won't go away no matter what you have tried? I finally got mine smelling nice again. Took around 2 1/2 months, but finally there. White vinegar did the trick. Everyone said thiers started smelling better right off, but mine took some time. Quit using liquid fabric softener. I always thought the more the better but I was wrong which may have been why mine took so long to respond to white vinegar. The softener has chemicals in it that actually stay in the towels and that is what ends up with the yucky smell. Guess it goes moldy or something. Mine just have a clean smell now nothing fancy like the softener. I do use dryer sheets. Anyway, white vinegar really does work, just takes some time.

Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies..Healthy Too!

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

1 c. Shortening

1 c. Peanut Butter

1 c. Evaporated Cane Juice

1 c. Sucanat

2 Eggs

1/4 c. Milk

2 tsp Vanilla

3 1/2-4 c. Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, peanut butter, cane juice and sucanat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2 in, apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Approx. 5 dozen

I used the sprouted wheat in place of regular white flour to make them gluten free again. Turned out really well, although with sprouted wheat (or regular whole wheat), there is always a different texture.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

My Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies were a Success! They were not chewy, a little more cakelike, due to the agave is my guess. But they were absolutely delicious. The only refined sugar at all was the coconut and the chocolate chips. The is a great gift idea for Celiacs and those who are wheat intolerant as they have sprouted wheat. My sister in law is Celiac so I experiment with alot of recipes to help her enjoy yummy treats.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. Butter, Softened

1 1/2 c. Agave

1 tsp. Vanilla

Cream together:

2 Eggs

Beat eggs in one at a time.

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Baking Soda

2 1/2 - 3 c. Flour (you can use white, wheat, or sprouted wheat)

Mix in with the rest. Add

2 c. Chocolate Chips

1 - 2 c. Nuts (optional, but make it way better)

1 c. Coconut

Spoon out onto sheets and bake at 375* for 9-11 minutes. I did 9 and they turned out perfect. Should make about 5 dozen.

If you need directions on how to sprout wheat please let me know. Quite a process but worth it for those who cannot tolerate wheat.

Etsy it up Give away

I just came across this in my web journeys today.

It's a Good Day

Got my coffee, the older ones off the school. Most everything taken care of, for now (until my 2 year old goes on a rampage). I can sit and relax. Everyday is a good day, some days better than others, but today is a good day. Happy Holidays to you all.

Dry Skin Treatment

My skin is so dry right now, around the knuckles are deep little cuts that hurt like mad. If you have and great ideas, please let me know, meanwhile I will be googling some remedies. Ouch!

Twitter

Finally! I have joined Twitter. There I will be posting my Creative Creations endeavors. Seriously getting into the soap and candle making business to keep my site stocked full of hand crafted gifts. Look me up if you want Arvi5214

Another great site

Creation Rewards has been a fun site for me too! Not a huge money maker, but $5 every few days isn't so bad. Here is the link if you would like to try it out.

http://www.creationsrewards.net/?referid=_20_5D_D4_8A_CD_AE_13

Divine Divinity Candy Recipe :)

Finally, my divinity has turn out extremely well. Here is a picture along with the recipe so you can try it out.

Divine Divinity

2 2/3 C. Evaporative Cane Juice

2/3 C. Agave

1/2 C. Water

2 Egg Whites

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 C. Nuts (Optional)

Stir Evaporated Cane Juice, agave and water over medium heat until dissolved. Cook, without stirring, to 260* on candy thermometer (or hard ball stage). In a bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites. Add vanilla; beat until the mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may be too stiff for mixer.) Fold in nuts. Drop from top of buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let sit until completely cool. Enjoy.

Wonderful substitute for white sugar

Cane juice

Evaporated cane juice is a healthy alternative to refined sugar. While both sweetners are made from sugar cane, evaporated cane juice does not undergo the same degree of processing that refined sugar does. Therefore, unlike refined sugar, it retains more of the nutrients found in sugar cane. I works exactly like sugar and measures the same.

Cute, Cute,Cute

My second grader came home from school yesterday and gave me this. I thought it was absolutely adorable. Why did I not ever get to make such cute things in school? The turkey had a pinecone body, feathers and a paper face. Why my picture is sideways...I do not know, it was upright when I saved it. Any ideas how to make it back upright, please let me know. Thanks again for reading.

Finally Finished!

Finally got em done! Turned out really quite pretty. One set of darling painted pillowcases.

Creative Creations

I have given up on Etsy... Too easy to get your items lost in the masses that are on there. Creative Creations is my new store on Shophandmade.com. No listing fees and free stores, a great way to get started. Times are not looking up for us anytime soon, so I am going to be pushing this store as hard as I can to get it going good. Feel free to check it out and give ideas of what you would like to see listed on there. Thanks for everything.

Quick Rewards

I love this site. It is not a huge money maker, but it is fun and if you do alot of online shopping, can stack up really fast. Take surveys, read emails, and shop. Best of all, they have no minimum payout and will pay through paypal. If you want to make a little bit of extra cash, this is a good one.

I love Handcrafting Things

I know, a strange thing to blog about, but I really enjoy it. I have sold my items on Ebay and Etsy. Kinda have to in order to be able to afford it...Anyway, I am working on some handembroidered pillow cases. I will post a picture of them as soon as I finish them. I have one done and am currently working on the other. Turned out beautiful! I will be posting them on either Etsy or Ebay when they are finished.

Wigix

I just discovered Wigix today, and I am so excited. I have listed my first item and hopefully can get some more on. If you are interested in selling online with no listing fee you should check it out. Good Luck and wish me luck.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all! Thank you for the great year and I look forward to another great year.

Just another quick note on Sucanat

Sucanat does have a slightly different flavor than brown sugar, even when cooked up in recipes. It seems to me to that is is not quite as sweet, still testing out different recipes and adding more or less to find the right amount. I will keep you posted on this.

Spray-n-Wash

I just have to say, I could not live without this fine product. Keeps my girls lighter colored clothes clean. I have tried many things, but this has worked the best. A keeper for sure :)

A Note About Sucanat

Sucanat (a contraction of "Sugar Cane Natural") is non-refined cane sugar. Unlike refined and processed white sugar, Sucanat retains its molasses content; it is essentially pure dried sugar cane juice. The juice is extracted by mechanical processes, heated and cooled at which point the small brown grainy crystals are formed. Sucanat is generally accepted as a substitute for brown sugar. Unlike regular brown sugar, sucanat is grainy instead of crystalline. Of all major sugars derived from sugar cane, Sucanat (not a "processed" sugar) ranks the highest in nutritional

value, containing a smaller proportion of sucrose than white cane sugar. However, Sucanat (in common with all sugars) is not a significant source of any nutrient apart from simple carbohydrates. Sucanat may be confused with turbinado sugar, however; the two are fundamentally different. Turbinado sugar contains only a traceamount of its original molasses content, making it similar to refined sugar except with a golden color and a hint of molasses flavor. Sucanat, on the other hand, retains its full molasses content and flavor, thus making it, as stated above, pure dried cane juice. Its grainy form also contrasts with the clear, crystalline form of turbinado.

You can use Sucanat cup for cup as you would Brown Sugar.

Sucanat Popcorn Puffs

Here is a delicious snack. It is a bit different than the original caramel popcorn, but just plain ol' yummy!

1 bag Corn Puffs

1 box Corn or Rice Chex

Mix together in a large bowl

3 c. sucanat

3 cubes butter

1/3 c. half half

1/4 c. honey

Bring to a boil and boil 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add:

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp soda

This will foam and become very fluffy. Pour onto puffs and chex and mix until evenly coated. Let dry for about 30 minutes. *If you let the mixure boil for 6 minutes instead of 4, the candy coating with dry out to be crispy instead of chewy.

Go ahead and give it a try today....and try not to eat it all in one sitting :)

I'm Back :)

I am finally back after the better part of 1 year. My computer crashed in June and with the economy the way it is and whatnot, took me this long to get a new one. I will be posting all my delicious healthy recipes (for the most part....if there is a really good one that is not all that healthy, I love sharing good recipes!). Thanks for checking up on me.

Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding

3/4 c. Agave
3 Tbps Cornstarch
3 c. Milk
4 Egg yolks or 2 beaten eggs
1 Tbps Butter
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
In heavy saucepan combine first three ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat till bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup of milk mixture to the beaten egg yolks slowly. Add egg mixture to milk mixture in saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat and cook and stire for 2 minutes more. (If using whole eggs, do not boil, cook till nearly bubbly, reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes more.) Remove from heat. Stir in Vanilla and Butter. Pour Pudding into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap making sure the plastic lays on the pudding to prevent a thick layer of film on the pudding. Enjoy!

Yum Yum!

I still have not tried the agave in my divity....Not sure if I want to just yet. I did make some delicious vanilla pudding with agave and it turned out real good. I made it with whole eggs, next time I am going for just the yolks. There was little tiny white things in it that made it a bit difficult to eat. My boys just loved it and gobble it all up!

Not Good

My attempt at Divinity was a complete failure. One yucky ooy-gooey mess, no fluffy clouds. This one is going to take some time to figure out. Any ideas are more than welcome. I think the honey is my problem...going to try agave next. Wish me luck!

Another Success!

I have yet another success to add to my list. Almonds Bars. I tried the regular recipe first to make sure I liked it. Wow, were they ever so good. They were chewy like a brownie, but were almond flavored with icing and almonds on top. So, I revamped the recipe, taking out the white sugar and replacing it with honey, and the white flour for fresh ground whole wheat. SUCCESS! They turned out delicious. They were not as chewy, but actually very moist for being whole wheat. I added a cream cheese almond icing and sliced almonds to the top. I had to share them so I wouldn't eat them all.

Any Ideas?

I am trying to clean my baby's cloths which are stain around the neck. Any ideas how to get these cleaner? I have tried, dreft, spray n wash, and soaking in oxy clean. None of these have worked yet. Any great ideas are welcome.

Yummy cookies

Today I tried my luck at Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, which turned out wonderful and yummy too. No sugar, just agave and honey as sweeteners and whole wheat too! With the oats, it is hard to tell they were whole wheat. Chocolate Chip cookies will present a problem when I attempt those:) Another success to add to my book. Too bad I can't post smells too, they smelled sooooo good.

This week's Success

My granola was a great success! I was at first skeptical about it...it has no refined sugar, cept the coconut. It smelled so good baking in the oven.