One more Moore

Oreo Pops

Move over Thanksgiving (okay you've already officially moved over) it's time to break out the holiday  goodness (yummy treats that is). I fear I will not be posting any wholesome dinner recipes for this holiday season, as I have soo many delicious sweet recipes I want to share, but I will try my hardest!

My dear friend Betsey taught me how to make these scrumptious Oreo Pops last weekend. She learned how to make these from her husbands "Crazy Aunt Mary". I have heard many, many stories about crazy Aunt Mary, but I must say this. She has totally redeemed herself with this genius little recipe. Thank you CAM (Crazy Aunt Mary)! These are so simple to make and would make darling gifts for your friends & neighbors this Christmas Season. It's also a perfect treat for kids to help make, too!

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 package of "Double Stuf Oreo Cookies" (they must be double-stuf or they won't work)
• 1 package of melting chocolate (these are sold in bags & they look like giant chocolate chips)
• 1 package of sucker sticks*
• 1 package of small cellophane bags*
• Candy/Decorations for outside of the pops. Any candy works- crushed peppermint sticks, coconut,  toffee, candy bits, etc.,.

* The melting chocolate, sucker sticks, small cellophane bags and decorations are all available at cake/candy supply stores.

Directions:

1. Place one sucker stick directly through the center of the Oreo (through the white fillling in the middle) and stop just before it comes out the other end. You may need to gently press the cookie together after the stick has gone through. Continue this step for as many oreo pops as you want to make.
2. Place the oreo pops onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with wax paper. Place in the refridgerator to cool for 15-20 minutes. By cooling the cookies, it aids in helping the chocolate stick to the cookies easier.
3. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate according to package directions. Place the chocolate in a glass liquid measuring cup or other tall container (it makes it easier for dipping).
4. Remove the Oreo's from the refridgerator and dip each Oreo into the chocolate, just covering the Oreo. You may need to use a spoon to make sure it is evenly covered, shaking off the excess chocolate into the container. Place back onto the wax paper to dry. 
5. Have your decorations close at hand because it only takes about 30 seconds before the chocolate starts to dry. I would suggest dipping 2-3 cookies, adding the decorations and then continuing to dip the remaining cookies. 
6. Once all the cookies have been dipped & have their decorations, place back into the refridgerator to cool (make sure the dipped cookies are on the wax paper). They only need to cool for about 10 minutes before they can be wrapped in their cellophane bags and tied with ribbon. If you live in an area where it's warm, you may want to store these in the refridgerator. Otherwise, they will last fine at room temperature.

I know it sounds like a lot of directions- but they are so very simple and can be made rather quickly. The chocolate can be purchased in a variety of colors, red, green, white, which make these pops perfect for any holiday.

EDITED: I've received many e-mails as to the size of the sticks & bags, so here goes. The sucker sticks are 6"x 5/32" and the bags are 2.5" x1" x 6". Hope this helps!

I have an abundance of sucker sticks & cellophane bags and am happy to sell them to you at cost if you don't live near a cake/candy supply store or simply don't feel like tracking them down. If you are interested, e-mail me at [email protected]   SOLD OUT

Enjoy!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Aside from being grateful for the annual feast that is Thanksgiving, I am grateful that Henry is still young enough that he will wear a little turkey hat made by his Mama (thanks for the inspiration PBKids!)

I hope you all get to eat lots of pumpkin pie, green bean cassarole, yammies with mallows and all the other delicious delights that are Thanksgiving. We all truely do have so much to be grateful for.

May all your turkey coma's be light.

xoxo

Soft Blocks & Holiday Pillows

Up for Sale: 2 Sets of Childrens Soft Blocks. Each set contains 18 different fabrics. Each fabric panel measures approx. 4" x 4". These overstuffed A-B-C blocks would be a wonderful gift for any little darling in your life.

Set #1 (pictured at left)

 

Set #2


$28.00 per set $4.00 s&h

Holiday Pillows

Holiday Pillows are $22.00 plus $4.00 S&H.

Pillow #1 is made of 4 different fabrics and ribbon is used for the tree base. The pillow is made from a heavy fleece.

Pillow #2 is a green fleece with fabric and ribbon trees. (Similar to pillow #1) SOLD

Pillow #3 is a red fleece with red & green ribbons sewn onto it.

If you are interested in the blocks or pillows, e-mail me at [email protected] and indicate block set 1 or 2 or which pillow you are interested in. Also I have some boy-themed blocks that have wonderful browns & blues that I'll post up soon.

xoxo-

Good things & Pseudo shop

Goodness- there is a lot of great Christmas stuff out this year! I have been reading about everyones wonderful holiday stuff, so I thought I would share a few great finds. I have to tell you, my heart skipped a little beat when I saw those gorgeous tins! Where did I find these gems? Of all places, I found them at Joanns! AND they are on sale. Really good sale. Check them out- they had a good selection- but I think these were definately the winners in the bunch. I made a trip down to Walmart last weekend. I don't usually go to Walmart. I think of myself as more of a Target gal, and the Walmart here is so far so it's not worth it to go. However, they are one of the few places that carry the "King Leo" brand of peppermint sticks every Christmas, and it makes it worth the trip. They are these incredibly soft sticks that just about melt in your mouth! They remind me of those wedding/baby mints- you know what I am talking about? Those pastel-y ones? Anyway- I of course, could not avoid going to look through all the Christmas garb, and was so glad that I did. How darling is that little reindeer bell? I'm telling you. It's cute. Even cuter in real life. Not fake life. And it's Walmart, so that little guy was only $1.97. You can't beat it. It would be very cute tied to the top of a present or hanging on ye olde Christmas tree. Its got a little hole punched out-  so it'd be a cinchy cinch! And the candles are just dreamy. They came in a set of 3 and are gorgeous all lit up.

On to shop news: Last weekend Etsy decided to upgrade their shop and it looks like they are having more problems than they anticipated. Hence the delay in the shop opening. I also wasn't planning to sell Christmas stuff, but I've been bitten by the Christmas....elves? bug? reindeer? And been working away... so if Etsy is not up & running in the next day or so- I will start selling directly on the blog this weekend. Items will be first-come, first-serve. Hope everyone is having a  lovely day! 

Oh one  more thing. I have to share this hilarious picture. Chris got up early with Henry a few weeks ago  and when I got up & came out, this is what he was wearing:

The belt ON TOP of the pajamas... HILARIOUS. He looks like a little old man, his belly just popping over the belt. It makes me laugh so hard everytime I see it. So so funny-

Have a good day!

xoxo

Baked Ziti

I am long over-due for posting a recipe for you. This is a recipe for Baked Ziti that I have made countless times over the years and I know you will love. Whenever a girlfriend is having a baby- this is the meal that gets made. It's increadibly easy and relatively quick to make. I originally found this recipe on the side of a cottage cheese container (can you believe it?) I normally double the recipe below and put it in a 13x9 inch pan. Also, this recipe freezes great. Just make it as called for and put in the freezer instead of the oven. This recipe has changed a bit over the years, but I think you'll really like it. Let me know how it turns out if you decide to make it~

Baked Ziti
8 oz Ziti
1/2 lb extra lean ground turkey or beef (optional)
2 onions, chopped
1/2 Tbsp. garlic, diced
3 cups Spaghetti Sauce
2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2-1 Cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 qt baking dish (9x9 pan) with non-stick cooking spray. Cook ziti according to package directions and set aside. In a medium sautee pan on medium heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add meat and italian seasoning and cook until cooked throughout.  Add spaghetti sauce to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley  & garlic powder. Mix thoroughly. Add Ziti to cottage cheese mixture. Spread 1/3 of meat mixture on the bottom of the pan. Spoon Ziti mixture into the pan and add remaining sauce to the top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and add the cheese & cook another 4-5 minutes (with no foil), just long enough to melt the cheese. Enjoy!!

*The great thing about this recipe is that you can make a healthier version by using whole wheat pasta, non-fat cottage cheese, omitting the meat (I've made it this way and it's just as good) and getting a low-calorie cheese. Either way- both are delicious!

I have this picture of Henry on my desktop and love being able to look at it everyday. We took this picture when we were in Boston. It was taken out on Route 2 near Concord. It's a farm that we used to go to when we lived there. They have the most amazing selection of pumpkins, gourds, indian corn- you name it. You can pay .25 cents to get fish food and feed the little fish in a pond nearby. I love all these things about Fall... harvests, cornucopias, indian corn, corn husks... although I do have to admit this to you... I listened to some Christmas music today.  Egads! It was a bit strange. Especially because it's been soo hot here. It was 90 degrees on Tuesday and so Henry & I biked over to the pool and had ourselves a swim. It doesn't feel like Christmas when it's this hot.. probably because it's not Christmas. It's not even Thanksgiving yet and I am getting way ahead of myself here. I am excited for Thanksgiving. We have some family that are driving down to see us this year (Thank you!) and we are looking forward to being able to stay home for this holiday. I love that even though Halloween is over, there is still an excuse to keep the pumpkins out. And who can beat the Macy's day parade? (Chris...he can beat it. He's not much of a parade man). I'm still kicking myself for all those years that we lived in Boston and never went down to NYC for Thanksgiving to see the parade. Oh well- luckily for me, I can just watch it from the comfort of my own home. Goodness- I've just realized Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks from today! Must start working on the menu! Have a wonderful weekend!  Now go make yourself some pasta and snuggle up to a good movie this weekend! xoxo~

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Scrub

Hi Friends! What a crazy week. Megan just left tonight, but we had a ball this week (including multiple trips down to Disneyland). The only good thing about Halloween being over is all the marvelous post-Halloween sales! I have my eyes on these gorgeous white pumpkins that say "B E W A R E" and should of snatched them up over the weekend, but will hopefully pick them up this week. (They've got to come down from 30% off to 50% off right??) I've  pulled all the Halloween stuff down. Chris said "Morgs, it's time to break out the Wheat sheaf!" That's about the extent of our Thanksgiving decorations. Do I just go straight for Christmas? Is it too soon? This year, I am bound to do all the fun holiday crafts & projects that I want to do.  No procrastinating here. I must get started now. On a side note, I think I've found my new favorite site for vintage holiday goods, it's here.  Take a look around- they have very cute stuff. I want it all, but must restrain myself. I just love EVERYTHING Wendy Addision. She has such wonderful taste and so unique. You can see her stuff on the above link- just click her name on the left.

I've been feeling like I need to get back in the swing of things and start creating more. Then I remembered, hey I created something yesterday! I decided to whip this up last night and it is dreamy! A few months ago, my Mom forwarded me this link and I finally got a chance to check out the site yesterday and decided to make this  Body Scrub and a Lemon and Sugar soak for your hands & feet. I can't mention it and not share the recipe with you, right? That wouldn't be nice. Here you go!

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Body Scrub

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar 

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, making sure to mix everything well.

To use, scrub all over your body when taking a shower or bath. Store in a sealed container to prevent moisture from seeping in. Do not get water in the container when you're using it (unless you plan to use it all up at once) because introducing water into the product can cause unwanted bacterial growth. This has a 6 month shelf life!


Lemon Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup of sugar (or salt, if preferred)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to hands or feet above the tub or sink. Scrub thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. When done, rinse briefly with lukewarm water and pat dry. Apply your favorite moisturizer. This has a 1-2 week shelf life and needs to be kept refrigerated.

I chose to make these 2 out of all of the recipes, because these are item's that most of us have on hand.  I just used an old lotion bottle and printed out the label on the computer.  Check out the site- lots & lots of great idea's AND with Christmas right around the corner- they'd make great gifts! Enjoy!