The Rolston's

Homemade Eye Make Up Remover

2012-01-26T11:27:00.004-05:00

I don't normally buy "eye makeup remover" for my daily routine. But I must admit, I wear waterproof mascara and many mornings I wake up looking like a raccoon! So i decided to give this product a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the results and will continue to use it!

RECIPE:
1 c. warm water
1 Tbsp. Baby Shampoo
1 tsp. Oil (i used baby oil - but some people don't like to put that around their eyes. You could also use canola or even olive oil).

Mix all ingredients together. Transfer to dispenser of choice (I used an old hand soap dispenser that I washed very thoroughly).

Yes, it's that easy!

No Bake Freezer Granola Bars

2012-01-25T13:27:00.009-05:00

This week's focus for the 52 Week Organization Challenge is your Refrigerator and Freezer Space.

So, as I work on creating a freezer inventory, I thought I would share a new recipe with you all: homemade freezer granola bars! I don't make these because the are necessarily cost-effective... I make them because I feel like I am feeding the kids an ingredient list that I can actually pronounce!

As usual my notes are in red:

(photo credit)

No Bake Freezer Granola Bars

2 large overripe bananas
1 cup oats (I used old fashioned)
1/2 cup crunchy cereal (I used rice krispees)
2 tbsp pure maple syrup(or any other sweetener you use)
2 tbsp peanut butter or other nut or seed butter
2 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips (I recommend mini chips, or giving your regular chips a quick run through with a knife)
2 tbsp dried cranberries or other fruit (I omitted these, but I think raisins would be delicious!)
2 – 4 tsp cocoa powder (I used 2 tsp. and they were plenty chocolaty... actually next time I might try adding even less than that)

Line a muffin pan with paper liners, or use a silicone muffin pan for easy removal. Mash the bananas. Add wet ingredients and cocoa powder and mix well. Add all other ingredients, mix well then press into prepared muffin tin. Freeze at least 60 minutes before serving.

My kiddos love them right out of the freezer. But I'm sure others may want them to thaw out a bit.

Homemade Baby Wipes

2012-01-24T12:41:00.007-05:00

My kids are getting older, and better at being potty trained, but I still love keeping a container of wipes at the kitchen table for after meal.s.. and in the each of the vehicles... oh and in my purse too! Boy, I must confess, I use the wipes almost as often as the kiddos do!

(photo credit)

RECIPE:
(Yet again I found this idea on pinterest).

1 roll of quality paper towels
2-1/4 cups of water
2 Tbsp. baby bath or shampoo
1 Tbsp. baby oil

Cut the roll of towels in half (an electric knife works great). Place one half in a container (a large plastic coffee can or a Rubbermaid container works well). Mix all liquid ingredients together and pour over top of the towels. When ready to use, remove the cardboard center and pull the towels from the middle.

A FEW NOTES:
These are not wipes that I would tote around with me, but they are great for stationary spots (like the kitchen, van, etc).

DO NOT flush these wipes! Remember that they are wet paper towels and will clog your toilet!

I purchased nicer quality paper towels, that are also cut into smaller sheets (this makes each wipe smaller - and in my opinion, a more appropriate size for what you're using them for).

When choosing a container, remember that the wipes will shrink up at bit and be a bit flexible after you add the water solution.

These only took 5-10 minutes to make. The most time consuming part of the recipe is cutting the paper towels in half (which is a job I gave Justin - he loves using the electric knife - ha!). Plus, in the future, I will cut a dozen or so rolls at once, so I always have some in stock!

COST COMPARISON:
I normally buy wipes from Sam's club - 9 packs for $14.48 = $1.61 per package.

I've also purchased packs ndividually at Walmart for for around $1 per pack (but the quality is not as good).

Homemade Wipes
$0.62 for 1/2 Roll of Paper Towel
$0.04 Baby Oil
$0.03 Baby Shampoo/Bath
TOTAL = $0.69 per container

That's a savings of $0.31 - $0.92!

Note: I did have to purchase a couple new pieces of tupperware to store the wipes in (the ones I had on hand were not the right shape or size), so the initial investment cost me a bit more. But in my opinion, totally worth it!

If only I would have stumbled upon this idea 4 years ago! The money I could have saved!

Homemade Oatmeal Packets

2012-01-23T09:36:00.012-05:00

Pantry Organization Challenge - Part 3
(52 Week Challenge)

If you know my children, you know that their absolute favorite food is oatmeal. They eat it 4-5 times a week (they even request it for dinner!). For the sake of convenience, I often buy individual packets. But I am always saddened by how much they cost.

But then the idea hit me... what if I made my own? So as part of my pantry organization last week I decided to give it a try:

RECIPE (for our favorite, cinnamon raisin)
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For one packet:
1/3 c. oats (not old fashioned)
1 tsp. instant dry milk
dash of cinnamon
2 tsp. raisins
optional: sweetener of your choice
- you could add a spoonful of brown sugar (amount depends on the size of your sweet tooth!)
- you could use 1 splenda or other sweetener packet for a sugar-free version
- Personally I like adding maple syrup to our oatmeal after it cooks, so I leave the sweetener out

Mix all ingredients together and store in snack or sandwich sized ziplock bag.

When ready to prepare, pour contents of bag in glass bowl. Add 1/2 c. of boiling water (I love using our teapot to heat water for oatmeal), stir, and let sit for one minute!
-----------------------------
For 12 packets:
4 c. oats (not old fashioned)
1/4 c. instant dry milk
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon (honestly I don't measure - I just shake it in until it looks about right)
1/2 c. raisins
optional: sweetener of your choice
- you could add 3/4 - 1 c. brown sugar (amount depends on the size of your sweet tooth!)
- you could use 12 packets if splenda or other sweetener for a sugar-free version
- Personally I like adding maple syrup to our oatmeal after it cooks, so I leave the sweetener out

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl. Measure by the slightly heaping 1/3 cupful and store in snack or sandwich sized ziplock bag.

When ready to prepare, pour contents of 1 bag in glass bowl. Add 1/2 c. of boiling water (I love using our teapot to heat water for oatmeal), stir, and let sit for one minute!
---------------------------------

Above is a photo of my newly added "oatmeal bin" in the pantry!

COST COMPARISON:

A 10 pack of Quaker Oatmeal packets is $2.88 = $0.29 per packet

My homemade version
0.06 oats
0.08 raisins
0.01 dry milk
0.02 bag
0.02 off brand splenda packet
TOTAL = $0.19 per packet -- $1.90 per 10 pack

Total Savings = $0.98 per 10 pack (WOW! Totally worth it!)

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This project got me to thinking about what else I could make in individual packets. So I decided to make some handy snack bags for the kids in another drawer of my pantry. This is not necessarily a cost-saving idea, but instead a time-saving one! This enables the kids to grab a snack without mommy's help. Plus it is a great convenience when I have to pack a lunch for Leah on the fly!

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Homemade Mircrowave Popcorn

2012-01-21T11:56:00.007-05:00

Pantry Organization Challenge - Part 2
(52 Week Challenge)

When I first heard of the idea of making homemade microwavable popcorn, I was skeptical. But to my shock and surprise it works!

RECIPE:

1 brown paper lunch sack
1 piece of tape
1/4 - 1/3 c. popping corn
salt
(optional: olive oil spray or melted butter)

Simply pour the popping corn into the paper sack, seal with tape, and place in microwave. All microwave times are different, but in our home, one bags takes 2 1/2 minutes.

Open paper sack. Pour in bowl. Top with salt.

Justin likes to melt a Tbsp of butter and pour over top of his. I like to take some olive oil and spray it on mine (what a great use for my pampered chef kitchen spritzer!)

COST:

Paper Sack: $0.02 (100 count pack at Walmart = $1.87)
Tape: $0.02 (roll of scotch tape at Walmart $0.97)
Popcorn: This gets a little tricky...
$0.08 Great Value popping corn from Walmart (pictured above)
(yes, this popcorn is cheap, but in my opinion you get what you pay for with this popcorn)
$0.17 Orville Redenbacher's popping corn ($4.28 for a jar that make 24 microwave bags)
(we love this brand, pops up light and fluffy!)

TOTAL = $0.12 - $0.21 per bag

PRICE COMPARISON:

The cheapest package of microwavable popcorn I found was priced $5.00 for 24 bags = $0.21 per bag (and again, we are not big fans of this popcorn).

Orville Redenbacher's 10 ct pack of movie popcorn was priced at $4.88 = $0.49 per bag

Total Savings = $0.09 - $0.28 per bag!

A great deal, plus my kids love to help fill the bags of popcorn.

So as part of my pantry clean out, the kids and I made up a large batch of popcorn bags and put them in a drawer in the pantry:

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Pantry Organization #1 - 52 Week Challenge

2012-01-20T11:50:00.006-05:00

This week's challenge was to organize your pantry, spices, and food. Now I know I've done posts in the past about my tiny pantry, but it was great to revisit this job. I cleared everything out, wiped the shelves, and added new labels. Click here to see the post on how to make these "chalkboard labels".

Tub and Shower Cleaner

2012-01-19T15:58:00.005-05:00

I decided to try this recipe because my store-bought bathroom cleaner worked great, but I couldn't stand the fumes! Every time I cleaned the bathroom, I would have to hold my breath, clean at lightning speed, then run out of the room coughing!

So I tried this homemade recipe (which again I found on pinterest)and have been using it for the past 2 weeks. I actually love the smell of it and my tub and shower are whiter than ever!

1 part warm white vinegar
1 part liquid dawn detergent
(the original recipe says "blue dawn", but I used what I had on hand

I put my vinegar in a glass measuring cup and warmed it in the microwave. Then pour both ingredients into an empty spray bottle. Shake well. Spray down tub and shower. Scrub with wet cloth or cleaning brush. Rinse clean.

COST:

I spent around $3 for my name brand bathroom cleaner (I know there are others out there cheaper, but I go for quality on cleaning products).

My homemade recipe costs:

$0.20 for the vinegar + around $1.50 for the dawn = $1.70 per bottle!
(if I wasn't sold by the improvement in smell, the savings is an even bigger push!)

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SOPA ?

2012-01-18T21:52:00.003-05:00

TED Talk about SOPA

OR there is an explanation on SOPA

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Homemade Fabric Softener

2012-01-16T16:56:00.008-05:00

I must admit that I was skeptical of this recipe at first... but wow was I ever pleasantly surprised! This homemade softener works great, takes 2 minutes to make, and is super cost effective!

(note: in the picture I only made half of a recipe - I wanted to make sure i was happy with the recipe before making an entire batch)

RECIPE:

6 cups hot water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups Suave Refreshing Waterfall Conditioner (this ends up being end being about all of the bottle)

Mix together conditioner and hot water, until conditioner is well dissolved. Add vinegar and mix well. Store in large container (I used an old milk jug). Pour around 2 T per load of laundry (or just use a Downy ball).

COST:

A bottle of fabric softener can cost anywhere from $3.99 - $6.00.

Cost of homemade softener:

Vinegar: around $0.35

Conditioner: $0.98

Water: $0.00

Total savings: at least $2.66

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52 Week Organized House Challenge

2012-01-16T08:38:00.003-05:00

I found this link on Pinterst, and as you can guess, this type of plan is right up my ally! A year long strategy for getting your home more organized. Of course I signed up immediately!

So, in addition to my regular blog posts, each Monday I plan to post my progress in the 52 week challenge.

Click on the link above for more details. And pray about joining me!

Homemade Furniture Polish

2012-01-09T12:21:00.007-05:00

1/2 c. Olive Oil

1/4 c. Distilled Vinegar

3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle (I didn't have any empty spray bottles when I made this up, so I used a canning jar for the time being). Shake vigorously (you'll need to do this before each use as well). Spray wood furniture and wipe with an old cloth.

I'm really happy with this recipe! It doesn't smell quite as pleasant as name brand furniture polish, but it does just as good of a job.

Above is a picture of a wood bench in our dining room. I cleaned the left side with my homemade product and the right side with the last bit of name brand furniture polish I had on hand. I can honestly tell no difference! I actually think my homemade side turns out less greasy!

Cost Difference:

I figure that my homemade version costs around $0.40 to make (and that's rounding up for sure). Even when I purchase off brand furniture polish, it still costs over $2.00. So that's $1.60+ In savings!

Enjoy!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

2012-01-04T10:37:00.006-05:00

After making our own laundry detergent, Justin and I were inspired to research other homemade product recipes. What we've found has transformed our home cleaning routine and grocery list. So for my next series, I plan to focus on frugal and homemade household products.

So I decided to start with homemade dishwasher detergent:

Here is the recipe I used from a link on pinterest. The blog post about this has great step by step instructions and photos: diynatural.com

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup kosher salt

Put all ingredients in a medium sized plastic container with a lid (I used a large yogurt container). Shake vigorously and then let sit overnight. Shake again the next morning and several times that day (this helps to avoid clumping).

Add 1 Tbsp of detergent to each load of dishes. Fill your rice agent compartment with white vinegar and/or lemon juice.

A FEW NOTES:

I am not completely satisfied with the soap. It leaves my dishes just a little spottier than my store bought brand. So now I am doing each load with 1/2 T of this homemade solution and 1/2 T of my store bought stuff. It does stretch a buck a bit, but I'm still undecided about whether it is worth it!

I bought most of my ingredients at Walmart. But I had to buy my citric acid online through amazon (if anyone knows somewhere I can purchase this for a good price please let me know).

Diynatural.com's price analysis is great, but I actually got my ingredients a bit cheaper, so I think each one of my loads ends up costing around $0.04. We run our dishwasher daily so that ends up costing $1.20 per month. I was spending anywhere from $4-6 per month on dishwasher soap previously!

Triple Chocolate Biscotti

2011-12-21T15:59:00.004-05:00

Since it's 4 days before Christmas, here's an early present for you - another biscotti recipe! That's right - two in one day!

This is our favorite biscotti in the Rolston household!

I based the recipe on Martha Stewart's Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti recipe. We don't love pistachios at our house, so I tweaked the recipe for our taste! Enjoy!

Triple Chocolate Biscotti

•6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for baking sheet
•2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for baking sheet
•1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 cup sugar
•2 large eggs
•1/2 cup sliced almonds
•1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
•1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a baking sheet; set aside.

2.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat until well combined, scraping down sides of bowl if necessary. Add flour mixture, and stir to form a stiff dough. Stir in almonds and bittersweet chocolate chips.

3.Transfer dough to prepared baking sheet; form into a slightly flattened log, about 12 by 4 inches. Bake until slightly firm, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

4.On a cutting board, using a sharp serrated knife, cut biscotti diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices. Arrange biscotti, cut sides down, on baking sheet, and bake until crisp but still slightly soft in the center, about 10 minutes.

5. Melt semi sweet chocolate chips. Drizzle on top of cooled biscotti. (another option is to simply dip one end of the biscotti in the melted chocolate).

Banana-Chocolate Chip Biscotti

2011-12-21T10:10:00.007-05:00

Happy Biscotti Day! Or at least that's what today is referred to in the Rolston house. Every year, a few days before Christmas, I spend several hours making multiple batches of biscotti. We then give it out as gifts with coffee (an idea attributed to my coffee-loving hubby!). And enjoy it on Christmas morning while we open presents.

This recipe is from the Betty Crocker's Cookbook - Bridal Edition. This is the recipe I used for my very first attempt at biscotti (6 years ago in Florida). It has just a hint of banana flavor, nothing overwhelming. And as usual, my notes are in red.

Banana-Chocolate Chip Biscotti

1 cup sugar
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup mashed very ripe bananas (1 medium) (I just use one banana, and don't bother measuring it)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips (The grocery store was out of the mini chips, so I used regular ones this time and it worked fine... but the minis distribute out the chocolate flavor a little more)

Heat oven to 350°. Grease large cookie sheet.
Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Beat in banana, vanilla and eggs until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 10 X 3-inch rectangle on cookie sheet with greased hands (dough will be sticky) (We like larger pieces of biscotti, so I use a larger baking sheet and make one large log instead of two).

Bake about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cookie sheet 15 minutes.

Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. (I use a very sharp serrated knife - it's the one I use on bread and sandwiches).

Turn slices cut sides down on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown and dry on top. Turn cookies. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool.

I then like to melt some extra chocolate chips and dip the tip of each piece. Makes them look fancy!

Serve with your favorite coffee and dunk!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent - Follow Up

2011-12-19T11:58:00.003-05:00

Last week I shared a recipe for homemade liquid laundry detergent. I was really surprised by the responses I got from the post. I was shocked at how many people had already been making their own laundry detergent!

But... I also got a couple questions that encouraged me to do some major research. I received questions about shelf life and bacteria growth. After much research here is what I found:

The shelf life for liquid detergent is around 2-3 months.
If you opt to make powdered detergent, it has a shelf life of up to 1 year.
If you are worried about bacteria growth in your liquid detergent, you can add up to a 1/2 c. of salt to your mix. Or you could add several drops of essential oils that naturally fight bacteria, such as lavender or lemon (plus the oil will give your detergent a nice scent - but make sure to use essential oil, not fragrance oil).
Adding vinegar to your rinse cycle is a great substitute for softener.

If any of you have any more info about extending shelf life or preventing bacteria growth, please send it my way.

Happy Laundering!

Peppermint Marshmallows

2011-12-12T08:35:00.005-05:00

My Aunt and cousin recently gave me the idea of making homemade marshmallows. I don't know about you, but I had no idea that these could be made at home! I did some research and finally settled on a recipe (Martha Stewart's). I recently bought some "peppermint marshmallow" scented candles as gifts, and thought a bag full of these and some hot chocolate packs would be the perfect pairing.

Now, I'll be honest this recipe is not easy, but the results are awesome. And since many marshmallows bought at the store have eggs, this is a perfect egg-less recipe for our home!

I added my notes (mostly great advice from my Aunt) in red. I also watched a video of Martha making them, which was very helpful. Click Here to view it. Enjoy!

Martha Stewart's Peppermint Marshmallows

Nonstick cooking spray
3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (I used about 1/2 tsp of peppermint. You could also use vanilla or just about any other extract if you wanted to make a different flavor)
Red food coloring (I wanted my marshmallows to be swirled with color to match the candles)
Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for coating

Line a 9x9 pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and, with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes. (I only mixed for about 10 minutes - I would just stand close by your mixer and keep an eye on it. You want the mix to turn white and fluffy). Add peppermint extract and mix until well combined. Spray a rubber spatula or your hands with cooking spray. (I used the spatula, not my hands). Spread gelatin mixture evenly into pan using prepared spatula or your hands. (This is when I added my food coloring. Sprinkle several drops on top of marshmallows and swirl with a tooth pick).
Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place, spray side down, on top of marshmallows. Let stand for 2 hours.

Carefully remove marshmallows from pan. (I removed the top layer of plastic wrap, then flipped them onto a cutting board). Remove all plastic wrap and discard. Cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sprayed a sharp knife (I kept running my knife under hot water after each cut. And make sure it is a sharp knife). Place confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Working in batches, add marshmallows to bowl and toss to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

2011-12-09T11:06:00.005-05:00

Several friends recently encouraged us to start making our own laundry detergent. I must admit, I was skeptical at first. I thought "when on earth do I have time to add yet another task to my chore list - making soap - yeah right!". But with the encouragement of my hubby (and his willingness to make it, if I bought the ingredients), I agreed to give it a try. And oh how thankful I am that I did!

Here are the ingredients we use. I got the recipe from a good friend's blog. I make only half the amount she does, and all of the ingredients I found at Walmart in the laundry aisle. Please refer to her blog for great step-by-step instructions and pictures.

Ingredients:
Water
Fels-Naptha soap
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Borax

We made our first batch 6 weeks ago and we have only used about 1/2 of it! The cost for this batch was under $2 and I'm betting it will last 2-3 months! That beats even the cheapest laundry detergent! Oh and did I mention, it only took about 15 mintutes to make, and works just as well as my previous fragrance/dye free detergent. So much for my theory of it being too time consuming to add to my chore list! Give it a try, you will be glad you did!

Hasn't He Been Good to Us?

2011-11-30T08:44:00.003-05:00

To wrap up this month of gratitude, I thought I would share my favorite "thankfulness song" with you. It's from Sovereign Grace Music and the lyrics are amazing!

Click here to listen to the song on grooveshark

At the end of each post this month I listed out a prayer of things I was thankful for, today, every word of this song is my prayer:

Thank You for the cross
Thank You, Lord, for drawing me
Out of millions lost
Thank You, Lord, for saving me!
Haven’t You been good?
Haven’t You been so good?

Glory to Your name
Glory to Your holy name
Thankfulness and praise
For grace and mercy never changing
Haven’t You been good
Haven’t You been so good to me?

Favor on my life
Always watching over me
My darkness turned to light
And heaven’s arms enfolding me
Haven't You been good?
Haven't You been so good?

The History of Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T12:36:00.002-05:00

This is a repost from last year: enjoy!

I love our library! I know most of us use the internet to find information these days, but there's something wonderfully unique about checking out a book and bringing it home. I bring this up because the kids and I have had our noses in Thanksgiving themed books for the past few weeks.

It is so awesome to see the expression on Noah's face as he looks at illustrations and begins to understand things about the Pilgrims, Indians, and our nation's beginnings. And to hear Leah repeat words like "Pilggg", "Nindian", and "Mayflow".

I also, love to re-educated myself each holiday. To really examine why our country sets certain days aside as a national holiday. So instead of taking you through the countless pages I've read, I'm going to share a brief video I found that recounts some of the most important facts about the last Thursday of Novemeber:

Thank you Lord for this country that we live in, for the freedom to worship you freely, and for the prosperity and benefits (that I so easily take for granted) that accompany our location on the map.

Brown Sugar Cookies

2011-11-22T09:06:00.003-05:00

Today I wanted to share our favorite fall cookie recipe. I'll be baking these this morning in preparation for Thursday.

This recipe is from one of my most beloved shows, America's Test Kitchen. A friend gave me one of their cookbooks for Christmas a few years back - and oh what a jewel of recipes and cooking info!

Although this cookie recipe is a little more complicated then most, with ingredients like browned butter and dark brown sugar, it is totally worth the effort!

(photo credit)

Brown Sugar Cookies

The most efficient way to bake these cookies is to portion and bake half of the dough. While the first batch is in the oven, the remaining dough can be prepared for baking. Avoid using a nonstick skillet to brown the butter. The dark color of the nonstick coating makes it difficult to gauge when the butter is sufficiently browned. Use fresh brown sugar, as older (read: harder and drier) brown sugar will make the cookies too dry. (Makes 2 Dozen Cookies)

14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter to melt; set aside for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large (18 by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. In shallow baking dish or pie plate, mix granulated sugar and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, rubbing between fingers, until well combined; set aside. Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder together in medium bowl; set aside.

3. Add remaining 1 3/4 cups brown sugar and salt to bowl with cooled butter; mix until no sugar lumps remain, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula; add egg, yolk, and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape down bowl. Add flour mixture and mix until just combined, about 1 minute. Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain and ingredients are evenly distributed.

4. Divide dough into 24 portions, each about 2 tablespoons, rolling between hands into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Working in batches, toss balls in reserved sugar mixture to coat and set on prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart, 12 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but it will take 3 batches.)

5. Bake one sheet at a time until cookies are browned and still puffy and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between cracks and seem underdone; read doneness info below), 12 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Do not overbake!

6. Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes; using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Extra Info: Step-by-Step: Checking Doneness

Achieving the proper texture—crisp at the edges and chewy in the middle—is critical to this recipe. Because the cookies are so dark, it's hard to judge doneness by color. Instead, gently press halfway between the edge and center of the cookie. When it's done, it will form an indent with slight resistance. Check early and err on the side of underdone.

Thank you Lord for this kitchen... my home within my home, the place I spend the majority of each day, for ingredients readily on hand, for lessons learned through each recipe, for the opportunity to serve my family through food, for memories made with messes of flour and sugar, and the the sweet smiles and wide eyes who make all the effort worth it!

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Thanksgivng Week, "6 In a Pinch Cleaning Tips"

2011-11-21T08:02:00.005-05:00

The week of Thanksgiving has arrived... and with it a surge of excitement has spread through the Rolston house. As soon as I opened my eyes this morning, I began my mental to-do list for the week.

This year, as always, we will be spending Thanksgiving at my grandfathers house with the whole family. But something new this year, is that a Thanksgiving dinner will be hosted at my home while I'm away. Yes, you read that right! My brother-in-law/new roomie, will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner in my kitchen with my in-laws while we're away. So.... even though I won't be here when they arrive, let the cleaning and preparations for company begin!

Last year I shared Turkey Day Cleaning Tips: seven daily chores that will spruce up your house in no time. This year I wanted share 6 In a Pinch Cleaning Tips for any last minute sprucing up you need to do this week:

Connect an Extension Cord to your Vacuum.
My hubby always says that the house just seems cleaner when the sweeper has recently been run (and when you can still see the vacuum lines). If you live in a multi-level home it can be time saving to connect a very long extension cord to your vacuum cleaner, so that you can move from room to room, or floor to floor, without having to unplug your cord.

A New Cleaning Supply - The Lint Roller
Don't have time to run the sweeper over furniture? Grab a lint roller and quickly go over your furniture. It easily picks up pet hair, dust, crumbs, etc. in seconds. I also like to use it on lamp shades.

Clorox Wipe, Well Everything
Clorox/Lysol wipes are one cleaning supply that indulge in buying. They're a bit pricey, but just such a time savor! If I'm in a pinch for time, I just grab my container of wipes and walk through the house with them, wiping everything in site: counters, bathrooms, toys, etc. It only takes five minutes and your home will seem so much cleaner.

Hide Clutter with a Laundry Basket
It happens to everyone, a friend calls and asks if they can just stop by. You look at your cluttered house and panic. When you're in a pinch for time, just grab a laundry basket. Quickly go through rooms and grab any clutter that is out of place: toys that need put away, a stack of mail, dirty clothes, etc. Then stash this basket somewhere out of site (I like to use my bedroom or walk-in closet) - somewhere your guests will not go. Then once your company leaves, you can simply pick up the basket and distribute the clutter where it needs to go (dirty clothes to hamper, toys to kids rooms, mail to desk, etc.)

Fill a Sink with Cleaning Water
Don't have time to deep clean a dirty bathroom? Simply plug your bathroom sink and fill it with clean soapy or lysol water. Grab a couple paper towels or rags and wipe down the room: sink, cabinet, toilet, floor, etc. Then drain your sink. It will leave your bathroom smelling wonderful and only takes two minutes. (This same thing can be done in your kitchen).

Burn Spices on the Stove
In my opinion, smell is half the battle with cleaning. If I walk into a fresh smelling house, I tend to easily look past any clutter or dust. When you know company is coming, light a fragrant candle or burn herbs/spices on the stove. I have an herb garden out back, so sometime I like to go out and clip some peppermint, or lemon balm and burn it in a pot on the stove with some water (a trick I learned from my mama). Or, if you don't have herbs on hand, grab some cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, etc. and boil them in some water on the stove. Your house will smell wonderful in minutes!

Hope these last minute tips will help you this week!

Lord, thank you for our house, even in its cluttered and dirty state! No matter its appearance, it is a place of comfort, refuge, and safe haven for us... But thank you most of all for the people who make a house, home: Justin, Noah, Leah, Brandon, (and Tallee).

Jesus Thank You

2011-11-18T08:21:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite songs... and a very appropriate reminder of where our gratitude is to be directed!

Cultivating Gratitude in Our Children

2011-11-17T08:05:00.007-05:00

I read recently:

"Gratitude is not something that is an innate human trait. Because we are all born selfish, it is something that is both caught and taught. As God designed it, babies spend all of their time having their needs met. As children get older they are taught to be more and more self-sufficient. If we are not spending time training our children to have a grateful heart however, they will keep that selfish attitude." (parentingtoday.org)

This challenged me to think of how we are actively and daily training our children in gratitude:

Getting to the Heart of the Issue:

It did not take long for me to notice that often the heart of my child's ungratefulness stems from the fact that we live in a culture of entitlement. The attitude many children and most adults carry around in their heart is "I deserve....". This disposition is full of pride! And the only way to fight pride is with humility, "honestly accessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness" (C.J. Mahaney).

Teach them how to say more than just "Thank You":

Gratitude is more than merely saying "thank you". It is a reflection of our hearts and a fruit of our character. Therefore, we can not deceive ourselves into thinking that we have trained gratitude in our children by merely training them the habit of saying "thank you". We must truly teach them that thankfulness in not just a polite word we say, but a mind set. This is best taught to them by...

Be an Example

Can you say that you are a content person? OR do you find yourself always needing the latest model of a smart phone, a tv that is just a few inches larger, or that new sweater in the department store ad that's on sale.... the list goes on and on. We often demand contentment and gratefulness out of children, but do not model it ourselves. We so easily loose site of the defining lines of a 'need' vs. 'want'. This can quickly get our gratefulness gauge out of wack and our children are always watching us!

Don't Demand Thanks with Complaints

We've all done it.

"Noah, it took me 2 hours to make this dinner... while I had an awful headache... now what do you say to mommy?"..... Noah sheepishly looks up to mommy, "Thank you Mommy".

Ugh... I hear myself demand thankfulness with complaints almost daily! This is not getting to our children's hearts, and it is not modeling a good example of gratitude for them to follow. Enough said.

Direct their Gratitude to Glory

Most importantly, we must teach our children where their thankfulness is to ultimately be directed.... to our Lord, the maker and giver of all good things.

The heart of gratefulness is glorifying the Father.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus ~I Thess 5:16-18

At Home Pumpkin Spice Latte

2011-11-12T08:28:00.006-05:00

During the fall, there is nothing I love more than a tall nonfat pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. But at over $3 a cup who can afford it? I have tried several "at home" recipes online and this is what I have fashioned after trying several combinations. It may not taste exactly like the coffee house, but it is still "fall in a cup" to me!

Enjoy!

At Home Pumpkin Spice Latte

1 cup skim milk
1/2 T canned pumpkin
1 packet splenda
1 shot espresso, or equivalent very strong coffee (I get the best results using a french press)
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 t vanilla
garnish with whipped cream
garnish with cinnamon

Place first six ingredients in a small pot on your stovetop. Heat through, stirring often. Ladle into a large mug. Garnish with whipped topping and cinnamon if you'd like.

Note: I often multiple this recipe by 6 or 8 and heat it in the crockpot for a family get-together.

Thank you Lord for cool mornings, a hot drink, my favorite mug, an easy chair, and your precious word to read.

Top 10 Children's Books for November

2011-11-09T08:52:00.007-05:00

As the weather has turned colder, the kids and I have started a new wonderful habit:

Every night after pajamas have been put on and teeth have been brushed, the kiddos love to crawl into mommy and daddy's bed, under all of the covers, to read books with me!

So, in celebration of this, I wanted to share our Top Ten Children's Books for the month of November. All of these book are fall and Thanksgiving themed and found at our local library. My kiddos are age 2 and 4, but at age 27 I enjoy these books just as much, if not more so!

This is the Feast

Author: Diane Z. Shore

Illustrator: Megan Lloyd

By far our favorite Thanksgiving book! I actually purchased this one last year. It is a wonderful story told in verse, retelling the history of Mayflower voyage and first Thanksgiving.

Turkey Bowl
Author: Phil Bildner
Illustrator: C. F. Payne

A story about a boy, Ethan, who has waited his entire childhood to play in the family's annual thanksgiving football game.

The Thanksgiving Bowl
Author: Virginia Kroll
Illustrator: Philomena O'Neill

"When Grandma Grace's Thanksgiving bowl topples off the table and into the lives of others, it becomes a useful found object for all who encounter it."

The Busy Little Squirrel

By: Nancy Tafuri

Noah asks to read this one every day and it has inspired him to feed our squirrels out back. It is a tale of a squirrel who is busily preparing for winter.

That Pup!

By: Lindsay Barrett George

A great book about curiosity, kindness, and counting to 10!

Thanksgiving Treat

By: Catherine Stock

The story of a boy who is "too little" to help with the day's preparations, until Grandpa comes to his rescue with a Thanksgiving Treat!

Thanksgiving at the Tappletons'

Author: Eileen Spinelli

Illustrator: Morgan Cocca-Leffer

A humorous tale of family gathering where nothing seems to go right... until the they learns what their true priorities should be when Grandma says a special prayer.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

Author: Julia Rawlinson

Illustrator: Tiphanie Beeke

A story of a fox named Fletcher who is very troubled by the changes happening to his favorite tree.

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin

By: Tad Hills

A wonderful book for small children. This has been Leah's favorite. I catch her curled up in a corner "reading" it out loud to herself daily! An adorable story of two friends in search of a pumpkin.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

Author: Eve Buntin

Illustrator: Diane de Groat

Mr. Moose and his forest friends are on a search for a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. A cute book with a fun ending!

Thank you Lord for two words: Noah and Leah! Thank you for the joy they bring my life daily and the easy feeling of"young at heart" they bring out in everyone they meet.