Nutty-Mellow Popcorn Delight

Last year my culinary crazy neighbor made us some marshmellowy-popcorn-peanutty-sweet yummy something, among twenty other treats (no joke), and I almost single handedly ate the whole thing (also, no joke).  It obviously made a HUGE impression on me because it's all I could think about making this year.  I just didn't think I could go on without it.

Basking in the memory of it's tasty goodness I pulled together a piece here and a piece there to create this amazing concoction.  I will admit.....it's still missing something....some "secret ingredient" (not counting the spiced gumdrops that my husband made me promise I would leave out).  It's just not quite like the baking goddess's but it is still pretty dang good.  I may just have to find a way to get in touch with her and beg her for her recipe.  Until then, perhaps we should just enjoy a bit (or a lot) of this highly tasty morsel.

Think ultra gooey, ultra nutty, and ultra awesome.

Nutty-Mellow Popcorn Delight
(pulled together from Mama Cindy's (aka my mothers) recipe collection and allrecipes.com)

3 bags microwave popcorn**
2 cubes (1 cup) salted butter
2 10 oz bags mini marshmellows
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir-ins (all are optional...get creative):  
1 bag Peanut Butter M&M'S 
1 bag Peanut M&M's
1 jar/canister honey roasted peanuts
1 cup small gumdrops (not featured in this picture)
sprinkles
  

Pop popcorn (**see notes below).  Add stir-ins and set aside.  In a large saucepan, heat butter, marshmallow, sugar and corn syrup on med-low heat until smooth (marshmallows are completely melted), stirring very often, if not continuously.  Remove from heat; add vanilla.  Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and mix until well coated.  Spread onto wax paper until cool.  Store in airtight container or bag.  

**You are looking for the equivalent of about 12 cups popped popcorn (that makes it really gooey.  If you want a dryer popcorn add 1-3 more cups.)  Honestly, we usually use microwave popcorn (the "healthy" stuff with just a bit of butter and salt...yum) but you can used regular air popped as well.  For microwave, use about 3 bags...for air pop you are looking at about 9 TBSP (just over 1/2 cup).  It's really not an exact science...just a good jumping off point.  :)  Try to weed out as many of the un-popped kernel's as possible (no one likes to chomp into a hard kernel after all).  You can do this by collecting the popcorn into a large brown paper sack (or a large bowl) and shaking lightly to "settle" the un-popped kernel's in the bottom.  Then lightly hand spoon the popped corn into a (another) LARGE bowl.   

 To make a beautiful neighbor gift, press cooled popcorn into a cling wrap lined bread pan and form into a loaf.  Wrap loaf with excess cling wrap and continue wrapping until covered.  Add a bow for a fun touch.  

And ENJOY!

DIY: Dry Erase Wall Calendar

I've started decorating my house.  Super Frugal (Pinterest inspired) Style.

You see...while the house we bought may be new to us, it is definitely not new.  It was built in the late 70's.  I really don't mind that, except that in the foreseeable future it will need a few repairs.  (Starting with ripping out the nasty animal/urine stained carpet that was SUPPOSED to have been cleaned professionally.  Never happened.).  So...I need to be saving money anywhere I can on more "frivolous" things. 

That's why I am ecstatic about today's project.  It didn't cost me a thing.  I had all the supplies already (that NEVER happens).

I have been scoping out Dry Erase Wall Calendars on Pinterest and found a few that I liked but didn't LOVE.  So...I used those ideas as a "guideline" and made up my own.  Now...before you all go thinking I am a creative genius, you are wrong.  This took me HOURS upon HOURS to think up...and it really only evolved as I got going.  I'm really surprised it turned out so cute...to tell you the truth.

Supplies used:

*Picture frame (I used an old one my mother-in-law gave me years ago...Walmart has them for cheap)

*Paint for frame (if you want to change the color)

*Polyurethane to seal paint (which I haven't actually put on yet because SOMEONE threw it away during the move....Roberto!)

*Strip of my new favorite fabric (Paisley Floral Cream -by Sophia, purchase at Jellys Roll 2 Go)

*Coordinating Scrapbook Paper

*Permanent Marker

*Wrapping paper (with grids on the back)

Honestly, the HARDEST part was trying to measure and evenly space the boxes.  I may, or may not, have sworn in my head (or even out loud) a few (many) times.  Seriously!  I ended up using wrapping paper that I (surprisingly) had.  I used the grids to help measure the two inch length (my boxes are 2.75 inches by 2 in) so at least a few of my lines would be strait.  :)

FYI...the days of the week ("Sunday, Monday, etc") and "notes" were written directly on the scrapbook paper, the boxes are drawn on the INSIDE of the glass (so the lines stay month after month), and the month ("May") and days of the month ("1, 2, 3, etc") are written on the OUTSIDE of the glass (so you can erase and change them every month).

I'm really REALLY happy with the finished product.  

It's to be the main focal point on the empty kitchen.  I was sure to incorporate all of the colors I want to use in the entire room to draw them all together. 

More Super Frugal (Pinterest inspired) projects to come, I am sure.

Making Whites Whiter!!

I'm here today to talk laundry....AGAIN!  Why?  Because, as a mother of 4 boys, my life revolves around laundry.  My life IS laundry.  Laundry...Period.  :)

As you can see, I've been putting it off for the last few days.  Instead I've been busy painting my living room, cleaning up after painting my living room, teaching aerobics, holding cub scouts, preparing meals, changing diapers.....

Well, when my two oldest came to me complaining for lack of clothing to wear to school I realized the job could be put off no longer.

Here's what I saw after #3 gathered all of the baskets...

And these isn't even all of it.  I already had a load in the washer and the dryer.

GASP!

To make matters worse, I had just emptied my LAST cup of store bought laundry detergent into the washer.  Sigh....

Time to get back to FRUGALNESS!

Luckily I had all the ingredients on hand for my thrifty, nifty Homemade Laundry Detergent.  I tweaked it a bit this time (taking some tips from Why Not Sew).  We'll see if I like it better.

The REAL reason for my post today is because I am trying out a NEW method of making WHITES WHITER!  I found this little ditty on Pinterest (my new best friend) and am totally going to try it out.

In this house, NOTHING stays white for long.  Why should it when it can be stained with grass, dirt, and general muck, right?

Here is the "recipe":

HOT water
1 cup of laundry detergent (I'm using my homemade soap)
1 cup powdered dish washer detergent 
1 cup bleach (or color safe bleach if any color present)
1/2 cup borax

 Fill the washing machine with HOT WATER (you can even BOIL a gallon or so of water on the stove to add to the washer to make it that much hotter). Then add the "ingredients".  Agitate the machine for a few minutes (BEFORE ADDING CLOTHES) to allow dishwasher detergent to dissolve.  THEN add clothes.  Allow clothes to soak for as long as you can (overnight if possible).  Finish cycle.

Because I have some time restraints (aka a million loads to get through today) and didn't have time to allow the load to soak in the washer, I turned to the bathtub.  Yep...I said the bathtub (or a plastic tote would do).

I filled it with hot HOT water (yeah, we keep our water heater up pretty high), then added the laundry soap and bleach.

Next I filled a large pan with a gallon of water, set it on the stove to heat, and then added both the dishwasher detergent and the borax.  By the time the water reached a boil, the detergent/borax had dissolved.

I added the water/detergent/borax to the bathtub and stirred.  Now for the clothes.

(I would have taken a picture of this but I'd rather not post a pic of my unmentionables on the internet, thank you very much.) 

I let the load soak in the tub for several hours (5-6) and then transferred them, in a basket, to the washing machine. 

I ran them through a regular HOT cycle, with an extra rinse for good measure.

The end result was spectacular.

 It truly did make my "whites" whiter.

I think I will make a regular habit of this.  It's very nice to see things "glow" again.  :)