Gingerbread Caramel Corn

I came across this recipe in a Taste of Home circular and had to give it a go!! It was a total hit, supremely delicious, and so easy! Gingerbread Caramel Corn has definitely made my list of things to make this Christmas! It is a perfect spin on typical caramel corn for this Holiday Season and it packs well; making it perfect for snacking during holiday road trips, while driving around enjoying Christmas lights and yard decor, or for gift giving!

What you will need:

• 14 cups popped popcorn
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

 What to do:

1. In a nonstick saucepan, add brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, molasses, spices, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil WITHOUT stirring for 5 minutes (NO CHEATING!)
2. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda and vanilla (mixture will become foamy). Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well. I tossed mine like a salad... it seemed to work better than trying to "stir" it.

 3. Transfer to a large roasting pan or two 15x10x1. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Yields 3 1/2 quarts...but I promise you will want to make more.

Menu Plan Monday: I am so Thankful!

Good morning All!!! I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!  We ended up with the stomach bug in our house and couldn't travel to see family, but none the less we celebrated our blessings at home. We have so much to be thankful for: Our Lord and Savior, Healthy Family, Loving Home, Sweet Boys, Wonderful Marriage, Supportive Husband,  Compassionate Friends... the list goes on and on. I am also very Thankful for each of you!  Thank you for coming back, post after post to share these snapshots of my life and my journey as a writer, cook, and mother.  I love you all and would love to get to know you all better!  Please feel free to leave notes and comments anytime or find me on Twitter!  @cupofdaisies  Until then, here is our menu plan for the week!  ~Audra

Monday:  Bball Game
Whataburger!! with the team!

Tuesday:
Cobb Salads & Cheese Toast

Wednesday: 1st Wednesday at Bay Area Fellowship (come join us for amazing worship!!)
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit Salad, Chips

Thursday:
Turkey N Dumplings with green beans (using up that left over turkey!)
  Yes I saved the carcase to boil  for broth, did you?

Friday: Family Movie Night!!
Pizza, Popcorn, Strawberry Peach Smoothies(recipe below)

Saturday:
Breakfast: potato, egg, & cheese burritos
Lunch: Pimento cheese Sandwiches
Dinner: Tamales, Queso Flamado Dip, Salad

Sunday:
Breakfast: Kolaches
Lunch: Out
Dinner: Taco Soup, sliced avocados, tortilla chips

Recipe:

From Stacy @ Texas Neals

Strawberry, Peach Slushies2 c. frozen Strawberries
1 c. frozen Peaches
1 c. Water
1c. raw baby spinach
Honey to taste

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until slushy!  YUM!
Bonus Tip: I have also added raw yellow squash and purple cabbage to our smoothies and the kids drank them just the same.

Science Fair Project: Skittle Color Count

A few weekends ago, William worked his little heart out on a Science Fair Project for school.  We were so proud of him! He worked so hard, and that hard work paid off.  He ended up placing 3rd!! Great Job William!!


Project Run Down:  

Does each bag of skittles contain the same amount of each color?

William's Little Helper! 

 (Always wear your safety Goggles when doing Science!)

William Counted and Recorded stats on 10 bags of skittles. And through it realized that not only does each bag of skittles not contain the same number of each color, but it also does not contain the same amount of overall skittles.  (Hmmmm....  are we getting jipped on skittles?) :)  Note: There is usually most red skittles and least green skittles in a bag.  (It would work that way... Green is my favorite!)

Do your kids participate in School Science Fair?  What were your project topics?

I got a new camera!!

On my birthday this year, Michael and the boys gave me a new camera!  I love it and I am having so much fun learning a new skill.  I wish I knew more. But here are some fun pictures I caught the first day I got to play with it!  Of course, I took pictures of my three favorite subjects... the brothers! :)

Hot Apple Cider

Over the last week, we have finally had a couple of  "cool fronts" move through South Texas; cooling us down to a freezing 70 degrees. Well, I think we have to make the best of it, so I jumped on the chance to make the first batch of Hot Apple Cider for the year! And oh my.... It was wonderful!!!
 For this recipe and other great holiday drinks visit me at Blissfully Domestic.

Purple Cow ... MOOO!

Purple Cow

• Grape Soda **
• Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream

1. Fill medium sized glass 1/3 full of soda
2. Using an icecream scoop, place 4 scoops vanilla ice cream in the glass.
3. Fill the rest of the way with soda

** Grape Juice can be substituted for the grape soda. I love the tangy flavor of the juice with the sweet creamy flavor of the icecream, but the rest of my family prefers the soda. :)

Get it.. Purple for the Grape... and Cow for the "milk"/ ice cream! :) haha... makes a Purple Cow, and a might yummy one at that!

Cade = Cheetah One

I don't think I have ever shared how much the brothers like to play dress up! We have an entire bucket of pirate hats, super hero capes, fake muscles, animal ears & tails, ties, caps... the list goes on and on.

But there is one costume that will always outweight them all... you see, Cade also has a huge interest in Big Cats! Especially cheetahs! Which explains the picture.   I had to capture these pictures to share the wonder and amazment that my sweet boy has for God's creation.  He spends his days, drawing pictures of animals, reading books about animals, and quizzing me on information about animals, I'm learning more and more every day! :)

A little bit about Cheetah One, aka, Cade.   Cheetah One has a Supersuit complete with cape, mask, and ears.  Cheetah One's super powers include, super speed (of course), bravery, kindness, and firecly sharp claws! He also has some(imaginary) friends that come togther to complete his superhero "squad".. Their names are Turtle One, Hippo One, Saber Tooth Tiger One (seen below), and Snake One, each complete with their own set of unique powers.  I love to listen to his stories and imagination run wild, litteraly!

 Cade got his little brother to join him and be a Saber Tooth Tiger One... Isn't this the most ferocious lil thang you have ever seen! :)