After trick or treating tonight we were cold and came in for some hot cocoa.  
There is nothing like a mug of homemade hot chocolate on a cold Winter night.  It is really simple to make.  I always use the recipe on the Hershey's Cocoa box.  Serve with whipped cream if you like.   

Favorite Hot Cocoa
Top of Stove - Six Servings


1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
Dash salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract


1.  Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan; stir in water.
2.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.
3.  Stir in milk and heat.  DO NOT BOIL.  
4.  Remove from heat; add vanilla.



Whipped Cream:


Whipping Cream
Granulated sugar or confectioners sugar
Vanilla


1.  Using an electric mixer, whip cream with sugar and vanilla until it reaches desired consistency.  

I use 1/2 to 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 to 3 Tbsp. sugar for each cup of whipping cream.  You can use more or less sugar and vanilla depending on your preference.  Honestly, I don't usuasally measure when whipping cream.

I made the boys homemade trick or treat bags this year.  They have already used them a couple of times for Halloween parties and they have held up well.  I found some templates for pumpkin carving and used them for stencils to make the Halloween designs on the front of the bags.  I bought pre-cut felt letters to make it easy.  I love this owl.  I am going to make an owl trick or treat bag for our youngest (next year - he's still young for candy so I didn't stress out trying to get three of these done).  

I used a stencil to cut out the design for the front of the bag then I used felt glue to glue the design down.  

I bought pre-cut felt squares at the craft store.  I used a whole square for the front and back.  I cut a square in half legnthwise for the sides.  Then I placed the cut side piece on a pre-cut square to cut the correct width for the bottom piece.  

I cut two full legnth strips for the handles.  

Once you have all of your cut pieces you are ready to begin sewing.  First sew the handles to the inside top portion of your front and back panels.  

Next sew the sides together leaving a little room at the bottom to sew on the bottom panel.  

Sew on the bottom panel and you are done.  Happy trick or treating!

Linking up at Create With Joy

My three year old made this in preschool today.  I love how the eyes are a little out of place.  

We made pipe cleaner spiders and hung them from the ceiling.  My three year old is always bringing sticks into the house so I put a stick up on the ceiling and hung a spider from it.  

This is one of the easiest recipes you can make.  We really enjoyed this last night and tonight as leftovers.  This recipe is slightly adapted from The Country Cook.  My husband said this is great gameday food.  I bought Chuck Roast at ALDI that was labeled as boneless Chuck ribs.  It was actually just a cut up chuck roast and worked perfectly in this recipe.  I bought 2 packages about 1 1/2 lb. each.  They were both reduced for quick sale and had $4 off stickers on them.  I was able to get the roast for more than 50% off this way.  If you purchase meat that is reduced for quick sale, make sure to freeze or use it right away.  

1 (3-4 lb.) Rump, Chuck, or Round Roast
1 packet dry Italian Dressing mix
1/2 (16 oz.) jar Pepperoncini Peppers (use more if you like)
1 (10.5 oz) can beef broth or equivalent of homemade broth
4-6 slices Provolone Cheese
Sub Rolls

This is so easy.  Put meat in your crock pot.  Combine dressing mix, 1/2 jar or more of peppers with juice, can of beef broth or about 1 1/4 cup homemade broth.  Pour this mixture over the roast.  Cook on low for about 8 hours.  Remove meat and slice or shred, then return to juices in the crockpot.  

Serve on sub rolls with a slice of provolone cheese.  

This is a great apple pie.  I have made the topping without the oatmeal for my husband and it still had a wonderful flavor, but I think the texture is better with the oatmeal.  This recipe is from the Family and Consumer Science Dept. at Marysville High School.  

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pie

Pie Crust:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup shortening
½ tsp. salt
3 to 4 T. cold water

1.     Place flour, salt, and shortening in mixing bowl and cut in shortening with a pastry blender until crumbly

2.     Add cold water 1 T. at a time.  You may not need the 4th Tablespoon.  

3.     Gather dough into a ball.  Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is slightly larger than your pie pan.  Fold the dough in half and then in half again and lift it into your pie pan.  Unfold the dough and press it into the pan.  Trim and crimp edges of pastry.

Filling:

6-7 apples peeled, cored, sliced or chopped (If apples are really large, use less)
4 T. flour
¾ Cup sugar
Dash of salt
¾ t. cinnamon

1.     Combine ingredients in a bowl.

2.     Add to pastry-lined pie pan.  

Crumb Topping:

½ Cup uncooked oatmeal
¾ Cup flour
½ Cup butter (1 stick)
½ Cup brown sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon

1.     Cut together these ingredients with fork, pastry blender, or mixer until even and crumbly.  

2.     Sprinkle topping over pie

3.     Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

Did you know that you can save up to 40% on printer ink with HP's XL ink cartridges?  They fit in your printer just like regular HP printer ink cartridges, but they hold more ink.  Now you can go to Walmart or walmart.com/HPink for all of your HP printing needs.  I love shopping at Walmart because I can pick up grocery items and so much more. In fact, I always get my oil changed at Walmart because it's so convenient to shop while they are working on my car.  

I received a $75 Walmart gift card to purchase HP's XL ink and anything else I needed.  

My little shopping buddy and I set out to purchase HP's XL ink and see what else we could get with our Walmart gift card.  He loves playing peek-a-boo, but covers his mouth instead of his eyes.  

Here is a picture of our shopping haul.  We got all of this for $75 including tax.  I even bought a beautiful fall mum.  I had two coupons that I was going to use that would have saved $1.40, but I forgot to use them when I checked out.  When the cashier scanned the HP XL ink cartridge, there was a delay because she could not scan any more items so she had to call a supervisor.  The supervisor said that I received a $10 Walmart gift card for purchasing the ink.  It was a special promotion that I was not aware of and in all of the excitement I forgot to use my coupons.  I don't know how long this promotion is going on, but it's a good one.  

One lucky reader will get the chance to win a $20 Walmart gift card so they can stock up on HP’s XL ink too.  Use the rafflecopter form to enter.  Giveaway is limited to United States only.



Disclosure:  I received a Walmart gift card as part of a promotional program with MomSelect.  All opinions are honest and are my own.

There is a new kind of candy hitting the shelves and let me tell you it is awesome. Have you heard of UNREAL?  

UNREAL is on a mission to unjunk our food supply starting with candy.  "UNREAL candies have replaced the junk in candy with good stuff:  double the cacao, more peanuts, real milk, cane sugar, and organic palm fruit oil.  UNREAL candies also have 30% less sugar, 60% more fiber, and more protein on average per serving than other leading competing brands."

UNREAL candy has no corn syrup, no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, and no hydrogenated oils/fats.  

In addition to UNREAL candy being better for you than most of the candy on the market, it is delicious!  

I had the opportunity to try UNREAL candy and share it with my friends.  I invited my friends and their kids over for a cookie decorating playdate and UNREAL tasting party.  The candy was a hit.  The kids used the candy coated chocolates as decorations on their cookies.  I set up three decorating stations and the kids had a blast decorating their cookies and of course eating candy too.  

How adorable is this cookie? 

We had a fun taste testing and cookie decorating party and really enjoyed trying all the UNREAL candy flavors.  I have already determined which flavors are my favorites.  I love the chocolate caramel peanuts nouget bar and the chocolate peanut butter cups.  

UNREAL candy is available at many retailers including CVS and Walgreens and will soon be in Target stores.  



Disclosure:  I was compensated for writing this post and hosting an UNREAL party.  All opinions are honest and are my own.