Add a little bit of whimsical and fun twist to homemade caramel apples this fall season. Instead of popsicle sticks or wooden skewers for the handles, I decided to use apple branches. To give height and attention to this yummy grouping of caramel apples, the branches were cut a little longer with some leaves still attached. This is a wonderful idea to use as a centerpiece on a table or as a part of the decoration.
It’s summertime and an afternoon of fun activities outside, swimming in the pool or playing in the sprinkler are great pastimes for the kids to do. In between activities is a good time to bring out refreshments and sweet treats. I decided to put together a little refreshment center for them to have and share with friends. To make it festive and summertime, I decorated the empty picture frame to look like water. I used tissue paper cut in strips with scallop edges layered together with double sided tape to look like waves. A decorative flag banner {diy here} was added to the top of the picture frame.
A local candy shop, The Confectionery was the source for gummies and chocolate treats. Not everyone lives nearby, so I included internet sources at the end of the blog post. Other than treats, bubbles are always fun, and the BEST bubbles that will last a long time before they pop are the ones sold by Gymboree.
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A sprinkling of barbecue flavor brings out the taste of summer.
Our little Weber grill is out in the backyard and is being put to use again. This Father’s Day weekend will be filled with many activities for us as a family. Starting early Saturday morning, Dad and the kids will be running in a 5K race, followed by our little town parade, then four soccer games {Saturday & Sunday}, and a Father’s Day barbecue dinner will end the weekend nicely.
Father’s Day Menu
grilled salmon
grilled marinated flank steak
grilled vegetables
{green peppers, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms}
crusty rustic bread with dipping sauce
watermelon and Rainier cherries
S’mores
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A bouquet of lavender leaves and rosemary flowers.
These precious hands {Hannah} held a sweet and simple herb bouquet for Mother’s Day. Clay pots that were once filled with dried herbs and lavender have new purposes as containers for fresh herbs. To see and photograph my children holding and preparing these bouquets were as much of a gift as it is to receive them.
The scent of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, molasses, chocolate, vanilla, and peppermint have been swirling around my kitchen for the past week. Dozens of cookies baked, packaged, and given out as gifts. One of the recipes I made was Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies. A wonderful chocolate cookie topped with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies. It’s a basic chocolate cookie recipe that could easily be changed for other occasions by replacing crushed peppermint with toffee, peanut butter morsels, white chocolate chips, or other toppings.
