Thursday, February 9, 2012

Bouquet of flowers for HIM

I found this idea on Pinterest (Thanks @ashleyccrowe for the repin) and so all credit goes to Christy Brown and her blog: http://christylbrown.wordpress.com/page/2/

 I love this DIY idea for Valentine's day, birthdays, whatever. It's so easy to do! I made a few changes to my version of 'flowers' but essentially it is the same as what is on the blog (see above).


 Supplies needed:
  • ceramic pot (the blog above used a cardboard pot, but I tried and it was way too top heavy for cardboard. you can get these at walmart, target, any craft store for around $1.
  • medium thick ribbon cut long enough to form a bow
  • white styrofoam ball to fit in the pot
  • green styrofoam rectangle (or square, circle) to fit in the top of the top
  • fake moss or grass
  • 6-8 10" wooden skewers (don't go with the longer ones, they're not as stable)
  • scotch tape
  • hot glue gun
  • 5-7 travel size liquor bottles
  • 2-3 cigars

If your recipient enjoys a certain type of liquor then get that kind in all different brands. I wanted to give a good variety so I went with whiskey, vodka, schnapps, tequila, rum, and baileys. The same goes with cigars, if there's a certain type then go for that. But again, I wanted to have variety. I ended up finding $2 cigars, flavored in wine and chocolate (hopefully appropriate for Valentine's Day).

1. Line up a skewer around 3/4 way up the back of the liquor bottle. Get a piece of tape, around 1.5-2" long and carefully tape the skewer at the bottom of the liquor bottle. Use two more pieces of tape to secure the skewer to the bottle. Here's the first bottle I did, it was easier since the bottle is flat. Try to get the tape as close to the bottle as you can when taping around the skewer, it will make it more stable.
 2. Tape a skewer to each liquor bottle and cigar. Make sure to get the skewer in the middle of the back of the bottle. In hindsight I should have gotten bottles that were either rectangular or square to make it easier, but I did alright with the circular ones.


3. Cut off the bottom of the white circle styrofoam. Using a hot glue gun, glue the bottom of the styrofoam into the ceramic pot.






4. Cut the green Styrofoam so it fits on top of the white Styrofoam. This doesn't have to be perfect since it's going to be covered with moss and the "flowers". Hot glue the green Styrofoam to the top of the white Styrofoam.



5. Hot glue the moss or grass onto the green Styrofoam. There's no method to this other than just make sure all the Styrofoam is covered by the moss.

6. Carefully stick the skewers in one by one into the pot. Like real flowers, make sure it's arranged nicely and that the bottles are going in different directions.


7. Attach the ribbon to the top of the ceramic pot. Tie a nice bow and if you'd like, stick a little bit of hot glue behind the bow to keep it from moving.

Viola!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Peanut butter chocolate oatmeal cookies

I love this cookie because it combines my three favorite cookies: oatmeal, chocolate chip, and peanut butter. I didn't have the chocolate squares the last time I made these, so I used mini chocolate chips instead, it turned out great and was easier, too.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 6 (1 ounce) squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
2. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. 
3. Beat butter, sugars and peanut butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. 
5. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate.
 
6. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.

 
7. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool for 1-2 minutes; remove from baking sheets to wire racks.