Air Popped Kettle Corn

Warning! Potentially addictive recipe ahead ;) Quick, sweet and salty popcorn that you can make with your air popper! No need to shake a heavy pot over the stove or crisp in the oven, easy peasy! Perfect for movie night or to take to a party :)

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1/2 cup unpopped kernels

1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

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This recipe works best if you have a large container with a lid, with enough room for the popcorn to be well shaken, or a large paper bag. Pop popcorn in an air popper. Mix sugar, butter, and salt in a small saucepan. Stir constantly until butter is melted, sugar is dissolved, and the mixture begins to simmer. Stir constantly for 30 seconds, the butter and sugar should be fully combined and creamy looking, and it should begin to thicken a little bit. Immediately drizzle over popcorn. Toss popcorn until evenly coated. Keep shaking/rotating the popcorn until it is cooled. This will prevent any large clumps from forming. Serve or keep in an airtight container.

Adapted from https://savorysweetandsatisfying.blogspot.com/2015/08/air-popped-kettle-corn.html?m=1

Rice Kristi Treats (Rice Krispie Treats)

My name is Kristi so I decided I will call them Rice Kristi Treats! I reveal the secrets to amazing rice krispie treat bars ... named brand cereal, more butter, more marshmallows, and a little bit of salt ;)

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1/2 cup butter
10 oz mini marshmallows
1/4 teaspoon salt

6 oz crisped rice cereal (Rice Krispie named brand recommended for best flavor)

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Melt first three ingredients in large pot over medium low, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal with large silicone scraper. Spread into greased 8x8 pan for tall bars or a 9x13 for shallow bars. Lightly press them down with greased spoon or fingers (don't over compress them). Let sit covered for 1 hour before cutting and serving. 

Adapted from original recipe here https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/recipes/the-original-treats-recipe.html

Easy Cream Cheese Danishes

Ingredients

1 can of refrigerated crescent roll dough (do not unroll)

Filling

4 oz (½ package) cream cheese

¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

½ teaspoon vanilla

Glaze

½  cup powdered sugar

1/2 tablespoon milk

½ tablespoon soft butter spread

(may need to add a few more drops of milk or water to achieve desired consistency)

Directions

Using a ruler, mark ½ inch increments across the log of dough and cut slices with a sharp knife (I usually get 15-16 slices out of my roll). Lay out on parchment or silicone baking mat  lined cookie sheet. Use thumbs and forefinger to spread out dough edges a little and make an indent in the middle of the dough. 

Mix cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla with hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Scoop about ½ tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the middle of each slice. Spread out and flatten the cream cheese mixture with a small spoon if needed.  

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. 

Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Drizzle glaze over each danish. Serve immediately. 

 

Princess Ballerina Cake

Tiara came from party section of Hobby Lobbby. Used the extra large petal tip Wilton 127D to do the ruffles (large end of tip on top). Lots of good YouTube videos out there for piping ruffles! Cut the cake topper with pink cardstock on my Cricut. Sprayed it with spray elmers glue and dusted on fine glitter, then sprayed it with clear gloss to prevent the glitter from falling off. Hot glued it to a long toothpick.

Baked Zuchinni Fritters

Great way to use up the abundant summer squash! Good for breakfast, appetizer, side dish, or snack!

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12 oz shredded zucchini
1 teaspoon salt

1 large egg
1/2 cup panko or regular bread crumbs, Italian flavor if you have
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

little bit of water or milk for binding

fresh or dried parmesan for topping
sour cream, ranch, or tzatziki sauce for serving

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Spray parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray and place on a large baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400. Sprinkle shredded zucchini with salt and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes. Place in clean thin linen towel and wring out as much water as you can. Transfer to small mixing bowl and stir in remaining ingredients. Add a little milk or water if needed for binding. Form into 6-8 patties. Bake on the sprayed parchment paper at 400 for 20 minutes. Turn patties over and cook for additional 5 minutes or so, until golden brown. Sprinkle with dried parmesan cheese and fresh cracked pepper. Serve with tzatziki sauce or ranch.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	56
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.3g	2%
Saturated Fat 0.4g	2%
Cholesterol 27mg	9%
Sodium 469mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 8.6g	3%
Dietary Fiber 1.1g	4%
Total Sugars 1.7g
Protein 2.8g
Vitamin D 3mcg	13%
Calcium 30mg	2%
Iron 1mg	4%
Potassium 178mg	4%

ONE Fruit Cobbler

So easy to make! If you can remember the number ONE then you can make this recipe! Options for fruit are endless :) Makes a shallow cobbler in a 9x13, deeper cobbler in an 8x8, or 6 largish ramekins.

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fruit (fresh or frozen), any of the below or mixture:

berries

peaches

cherries

canned apples

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

½-1 teaspoons cinnamon (optional)

1 egg

1 stick salted butter (½ cup), melted

ice cream or whipped cream for serving

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Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9x13, and 8x8, or 6 largish ramekins. Fill bottom layer with fresh or frozen fruit. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon (optional) and egg. Stir with a long fork or hands until even crumbles form. Sprinkle evenly over fruit. Pour melted butter evenly over topping. Bake 9x13 or 8x8 for 40-50 minutes until bubbly and topping is medium golden brown. Ramekins may be done in 30 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. 

Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps

The perfect quick dinner for summer nights or anytime you’re cravin’ some Asian! So easy to make and won’t heat up the kitchen too much! Gluten free with a tasty sauce that resembles a light teriyaki. Just think of them like an Asian street taco :)

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1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons minced garlic

¼-1/2 teaspoon pure sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon dried ginger or ginger paste

1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

For Serving:

steamed white rice

lettuce leaves (butter, green leaf, or iceberg)

chopped peanuts or sliced almonds

shredded carrots

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Brown ground beef and drain any grease if necessary. Add remaining ingredients and stir until heated. Simmer on low to tenderize meat more, but not required. Serve with steamed rice on lettuce leaves. Top individual wraps with shredded carrots and chopped peanuts.  

Variation: If the sauce is too sweet for your taste, half each of the sugars. 

Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats 

http://iowagirleats.com/2017/07/18/korean-beef-lettuce-wraps/

Kristi's Kitchen Hacks #3 - Replace Twist Ties with Dollar Tree Clips

Kristi's Kitchen Hacks #3 - I HATE twist ties because they are a pain to use and ain't nobody got time for that! I get rid of them completely whenever I open a bag. To replace them I am OBSESSED with these fun colorful clips from Dollar Tree! They are coated metal and super durable. You can usually find them near the check out stands. I use them for bread bags, frozen vegetables, chocolate chip bags, and sometimes for cereal and chip bags.

One Bowl Buttery Corn Muffins

The best homemade cornbread muffins I've ever made! Easy recipe that can be made in just one bowl. Makes 12 Muffins**

1 stick melted butter (½ cup)

2 large eggs

¾ cup faux buttermilk*

2 T honey

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

¾ cup cornmeal

1 ¼ cup flour

Preheat oven to 400. In a large microwave safe bowl (glass or ceramic) melt the stick of butter. Stir in eggs, milk, honey, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Sprinkle cornmeal and flour evenly over the top. Stir with long fork or whisk until just combined. Bake at 400 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown and inserted toothpick comes out dry.

*faux buttermilk = scant tablespoon of vinegar plus milk up to 3/4 cup total volume

**I use the red silicone muffin pan from Aldi and the cups are a little bit bigger than the standard muffin tin.

Cute Articles of Faith Printable of All 13

These cute printables of the Articles of Faith are found here but each one has to be individually downloaded. I compiled them into one publisher file so you can edit them for size, etc. and one pdf file if you want to print them all at once as is, full page. These make a cute wall or table framed decoration for a baptism.

Link to Download Publisher File for Custom Edits

Link to Download PDF



Keywords
LDS.org
ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Baptism
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Kristi's Kitchen Hacks #2 - Baby Tasting Spoons!

I keep a stash of plastic baby spoons in my kitchen drawer right next to the stove and it has been life changing! This way I always have a tasting spoon while I'm cooking. I also use them for serving toppings at the table like sour cream, etc. They are just the right size and you aren't using up all your regular spoons!

Cinnamon Streusel Topped Coffee Cake Muffins

Crumb Topping

1/4 cup melted butter (salted)

3 tablespoons white sugar

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup flour

Batter

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup canola oil

Glaze

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1-3 teaspoon milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make crumb topping by melting the butter in a microwave safe bowl, preferably glass. Then stir in the sugars, cinnamon, salt, and flour until well mixed. It will form into small balls. Spread the mixture onto a silicon baking mat or sheet of parchment paper. Spread it into a thin layer and let dry.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together milk, canola oil and egg. Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula or long fork until just combined.

Scoop the batter into 10-12 muffin cups (I have a silicon muffin pan whose cups are slightly larger so in mine it makes 10 muffins). Break up the dried crumb topping with a ground beef masher or spatula edge until it is crumbly enough to sprinkle. Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over all the muffins, using your fingertips to gently press the crumbs into the batter. Bake for 20-24 minutes, or just until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

To make the glaze, combine powdered sugar and milk and stir until smooth and can be drizzled over muffins (adding more milk or sugar as necessary). When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and drizzle the glaze on each muffin. Allow glaze to set before serving.

Slightly adapted from http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/24/coffee-cake-muffins/

Kristi's Kitchen Hacks #1 - Easy and Fast Way to Frost Sugar Cookies

Kristi's Kitchen Hacks #1 - Piping the frosting is the easiest and fastest way I've found to decorate sugar cookies when making for a party or event!

My cookie recipe here and my frosting recipe here!

Easy Sew Easter Egg Bunting Banner

Made this for Easter, super easy sewing project! Only takes 1-2 hours. I glued tiny clothes pins on the back of mine, 1 inch down from the top, so that I could adjust them on the bias tape string and take them on and off. Could also use ribbon to hang them on or twine. Biggest expense was purchasing pinking shears because I didn't have them. Was able to us a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby and got the Fiskar's brand for about 18 dollars total. I used low fill batting and ironed flat between each step. I just printed out an egg shape from the internet. Traced with a marker, sewed in from the marker 1/4 inch. Cut with pinking shears on the pen line. Used double wide bias tape for the string. Picture instructions of each step below.

Inspired by http://kathyscottage.blogspot.com/2015/06/heart-banner-tutorial.html

Just FYI, the HOME letter decor is from LTD Commodities

DIY Water Based Acrylic Stain

Whenever I do small wood projects I just make my own stain out of acrylic paint and water. Costs nothing and doesn't have dangerous fumes! You can use it indoor. You can adjust the color however you want with the addition of black, red, brown, or yellow acrylic paint and water. Just be sure to stir it well and frequently while using. I seal the wood with MinWax Polyacrylic.

Little Einstein's Rocketship Cake

Made this for my daughter's birthday a few years ago. Used my cake paint for the red and blue on top of a white frosting. Colored the red sucker stick with a red sharpie. The wings are made of cut sugar cone and graham crackers. Links to my recipes below:

Cake Paint Recipe

Cake Recipe

Frosting Recipe

DIY Photo Print Hanging Boards with Clips

I take a ton of pictures and I love to print them out ... but I'm obviously not going to cover my walls in frames. So I came up with the idea to make different size boards that have clips I can easily change out the pictures. Item list and picture instructions below.

Item List for Horizontal Board

- from Lowes, they have ridges and interlock. Came in a package for about 1 dollar a piece
- steel cables for string
- ferrule and stop kit from lowes (the most expensive part!), used a hammer to smash them flat on the concrete patio
- tiny clothespins from hobby lobby
- Used my DIY water based acrylic wood stain
- I sealed the wood with MinWax Polyacrylic.
- attached to wall with 3M velcro strips for the individual board, use wire to hang the large board

Item List for Vertical Board
- boards from lowes in craft wood section
- used small finishing nails for vertical board and hung a small metal clip from scrapbook section of Hobby Lobby
- Used my DIY water based acrylic wood stain
- I sealed the wood with MinWax Polyacrylic.
- hung on wall with picture frame hanger

Girl or Boy Baby Monster Cake

Made this for my daughter's first birthday because she is our little Monster. Used a small circle with a half ball cake form on top. Used sugar cones for horns, oreos for eyes and teeth, chocolate chips for the center of the eyes, and sugar pearls from Hobby Lobby for the tops of the horns. Frosting was cream cheese buttercream flavored with crushed freeze dried strawberries. Could make green, blue, or yellow frosting for a boy cake. Link to my cake recipe.

Cream Puff Shells

So easy to whip up, I'm almost afraid to share the recipe :) Filling options are endless! The perfect dessert for special events, book club, or to share at a dinner party!

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1/2 cup butter

1 cup water

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1 cup flour

4 eggs (room temp*)

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Preheat oven to 375 and line cookie sheets with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Combine butter, water, and sugar in large nonstick saucepan over medium heat stirring frequently. Once it comes to a boil remove from heat and stir in flour. Bring pot back to burner on medium heat and stir constantly for 2 minutes with a spatula or wooden spoon, the dough should start forming a ball. Transfer dough to mixing bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Turn on stand mixer or hand mixer and beat at low to medium speed adding one egg at a time until each is well blended in. Once all eggs are incorporated continue to beat for 30 seconds or until the dough is smooth and glossy.

Use a small to large cookie scoop to form cream puff shells on parchment or silicone baking mat lined cookie sheet. Make sure each shell is about 2 inches apart. If desired smooth any bumps on the top with a wet finger. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If you are cooking two trays, switch halfway through. Turn the oven off and open the door to release the heat and steam. Let the shells dry in the oven with the door closed for an additional 10 minutes. Transfer shells to cooling rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container until ready to serve. Fill with fillings options listed below. Can be spooned into after cutting a hole out of the top or piped in with a pastry bag.

Filling Options:

• chopped fruit
• sweetened whipped cream
• sweetened whipped cream mixed with cocoa powder or crushed freeze dried berries
• lemon curd

*Quickly get eggs to room temperature by immersing uncracked eggs in a bowl of warm water or cracking the eggs into a bowl and letting them sit for a few minutes.

Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/amazing-mini-cream-puffs/

Zucchini and Tomato Pasta Sauce

I wrote this recipe as result of the fact that Aldi almost always sells zucchini :) It's a great way to incorporate it into a meal and a nice variation from traditional spaghetti sauce. I make it about once a month. Very quick to prep and it can be paired with any kind of pasta!

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1 pound bite sized zucchini pieces (from approximately 2 medium)

2 T olive oil

2 T minced garlic

1 - 14.5 oz can Italian style petite diced tomatoes, with juice (or regular variety plus one teaspoon Italian seasoning)

1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 T spaghetti seasoning mix

1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

hot pasta for serving

fresh parmesan for topping

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Heat oil to medium low in large frying pan. Add garlic, once it starts to sizzle, stir for one minute. Add the zucchini, turn up to medium heat, and saute stirring frequently for 5 minutes. Add can of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasoning mix. Cover, reduce to medium low. Simmer for 5 minutes or until zucchini reaches desired tenderness. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over hot pasta noodles and garnish with fresh parmesan.