A Weekend Project...Dandelion Jelly!

I have never considered myself to be very adventurous in the kitchen however, I was recently inspired. Back when I had just given birth to Jacob, a family in my church brought over a delicious meal and in that meal was a jar of Dandelion Jelly. I had never heard of Dandelion Jelly before and was mesmerized by this little jar of sweet, golden colored jelly. When I tried it, I was addicted...and the jar lasted maybe a day. It was that good!! To me, it tasted like honey and that first taste was forever in my mind. Well, the lawn at our new house has an amazing ability to grow dandelions and as soon as I saw those pesky weeds shooting up out of my lawn I had an idea. I went to visit my favorite addiction site Pinterest and began to look for recipes for Dandelion Jelly. It didn't take me long before I had found a relatively easy-looking recipe and I vowed to make some this year.

The perfect day came and I had extra helpers (I was babysitting some older children) so I sent all of the children outside to pick me some dandelions.

So, to make your jelly, here is what you will need...

2 heaping cups of fresh dandelion petals (see note below - you'll need to gather about 4 cups whole flowers)

2 C boiling water

1/4 C well-strained, clear lemon juice

4 C sugar

3 oz liquid pectin (I've used SureJell and also Certo...both work well)

yellow food coloring (optional)

NOTE: Look for fully opened flowers, the bigger the better, for ease of preparation. Of course do NOT use any dandelions that have been sprayed with fertilizers or pesticides!

Once you have picked all your flowers (I made sure I just got the heads of the flowers, no stems) you will need to cut off the petals only. You will get some green in there...just hold the flower by the base and snip off the yellow petals. 

When you are done, you will have a nice fluffy bowl of yellow softness. :) Measure out 2 heaping cups of petals and pour the 2 C. of boiling water over them. Let them steep and infuse. You can let them sit for up to 24 hours but be sure to refrigerate if you are not using them right away. I let mine go until the water was room temperature, about 2 hours.

So, now that you have steeped your petals, strain them. I first strained them through a strainer to get the big pieces of petals separated and then put a coffee filter in my strainer to get the itsy bitsy pieces separated from the water. You are NOT using the petals, just the liquid.

To make the jelly, stir lemon juice (I have used lime also and it worked quite nicely!) and sugar into reserved infusion in a two-quart nonreactive or stainless steel pan. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add the liquid pectin and continue to boil two minutes, skimming any foam that may rise to the surface. At this time, you can add up to 20 drops of yellow food coloring. This is done because the actual infusion is a brownish color and because you are making DANDELION jelly, having your jelly look yellow just makes sense. I added the coloring and it made my jelly VERY pretty. :)

While you are cooking your jelly, this is a good time to prepare your jars. Place jars and lids on rack in pan or stockpot deep enough to cover them with about two inches of water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, keeping the jars hot until ready to fill. I didn't have a rack to use so I just put a dishtowel in the bottom of my stock pot and that worked just as good.

Ladle quickly into jars to within about 1/8 inch from the top; clean each rim and threads of the jar as it's filled, and place flat lid and ring on each before filling the next. Screw band on tightly and invert jar on tea towel for about five to 10 minutes. Jars should seal and lids should pop shut within 10 minutes as they cool (I could actually hear mine popping). If they do not seal, you can place them in a hot water bath for 10 minutes or place in the refrigerator. Sealed jars will last up to one year in a cool, dry place and any unsealed jars can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Seriously, this stuff if amazing. It really tastes like honey and the lemon juice adds a very subtle yet pleasant lemon flavor. I am very pleased with this recipe and if you would like more information, you can see where I adapted my recipe from by clicking HERE. Just something fun that I did recently and am THRILLED with the end result. Let me know if you try this out and how it works for you! Happy canning!

Almondina Cookies Review & Giveaway

Summer time snacking has begun!! Today I went outside and mowed the entire lawn. By the time I was finished, I seriously needed a snack. I wasn't starving, but I was craving something and having just mown our entire lawn, I needed something semi-healthy. With the warmer weather comes many opportunities to sit out on the back deck in my lawn chair with an ice cold lemonade, the iPad and something to snack on. My children love to play outside and I love to sit and watch them from the comfort of my deck. I am a crunchy-snack lover and will take just about anything that is sweet, crunchy and satisfying. 

Recently, I was introduced to a company that makes gourmet cookies that are crunchy, all-natural free of cholesterol and no added fat or salt. Oh, and these cookies are only 30 calories each! Almondina is owned and operated by Yuval Zaliouk, a world renowned musical conductor and his company has been in business for the past 20 years. Here is a bit more about Almondina...

Almondina® is the inspiring success story of a man whose great loves include both music and wonderful food. For generations his family loved his grandmother Dina’s most secret cookie, which she called Petit Gateau Sec. Yuval Zaliouk, an internationally known symphony conductor and gourmet chef, always had a special place in his heart (and stomach) for this exquisite, crispy wafer with the delicate flavor of roasted almonds and the natural sweetness of plump raisins.This all-natural, crispy almond cookie has no cholesterol and no added fat, salt, or preservatives. It is wonderfully crunchy and does not have to be dipped. It is a delightful accompaniment for coffee, tea, soft cheeses and fine light wines. The rush to eliminate fat from gourmet foods too often has also eliminated most of the flavor, a fact which is in sharp contrast to this enticingly delicious cookie.

Since the introduction of the classic Original flavor, eight more distinctive variations have been introduced, all of which continue to be packed with roasted almonds. A recent innovation, Chocolate Cherry, combines the almonds with dark chocolate and plump cherries.

I love stories like these because it shows the timeless treasure of loved recipes and traditions. Not only that but those recipes are shared with us so we too can enjoy the taste and love of generations gone by.

So, for this review I was sent 7 packages of Almondina Cookies to try and when they arrived, I was SO excited! I wasn't sure what to expect and this was certainly a pleasant surprise!! The flavors I received were:
Choconut, Sesame, Gingerspice, Cinnaroma, Chocolate Cherry and two packages of the Original flavor.

Each tray is 4 oz and contains quite a few cookies. I was expecting thicker cookies but these are very thin.

As you can see, these cookies are very thin but to me, that is what makes them unique and adds to the deliciousness of them. If you are looking for a small treat, these are the cookies for you! Just enough flavor and crunch to hold you over until your next snack attack.

Oh goodness...don't they look heavenly?? I did try each and every flavor that I was sent and my oh my...they are divine. I love how you can break them apart or keep them whole. They are super easy to eat and I guarantee you that once you eat one, you will be eating more. My favorite flavors were the Gingerspice  as it tasted just like gingerbread and also I loved the Chocolate Cherry. Cherries taste so good with chocolate and these were wonderful!!

The other "perk" of having these around are that they are FANTASTIC for my teething one year old!! :) I would give him a cookie and 20 minutes later, he was still chewing on it. Now, you do need to watch your child with these are they are super crunchy and break off into small pieces but if your child is an independent, whole foods eater than you should be good to go. My Isaac LOVES these cookies and they keep him busy and quite for a long time. Ahhhh, works great for me!

To purchase Almondina cookies you can buy them online directly from Almondina's website or you can find a store near you. Simply click on their Store Finder to find a retailer near you. Almondina is also on Facebook and Twitter so be sure you stop by there and keep up with their promotions, news and announcements.

So, in my opinion...Almondina Cookies are such a delightful way to unwind at the end of a busy day or simply to snack on throughout the day. Each cookie is crunchy, sweet and totally good for you...it is hard to eat just one! I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who is looking to satisfy a craving for something sweet. Like I said before, you will not be able to put the package down once you have tried them!

Almondina has offered to giveaway 7 packages of cookies to one of you! The winner will receive the same sampler I received. Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I did receive a free Almondina Cookies for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Almondina website and email. Prize is provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Check out Kidorable's ADORABLE Hooded Towels! {Giveaway}

The weather is getting warmer and the sun is getting hotter. This means one thing...pool and beach days are just around the corner! Today it is really warm here and my children filled their turtle sandbox with water...and jumped in-----clothes and all! Oh boy. My son's little Kidorable Rain Boots were full of water and are now sitting in the sun to dry. My daughter was completely soaked and had to totally change her clothes. When they get into messes like these, they try to hide the evidence from mommy. So, when they got into the water, they immediately ran upstairs to get some bath towels to dry off but I caught them right in the act. HA HA!!! THIS mommy does have eyes in the back of her head. :)

So, when it comes to drying off after a dip in the pool, a sudsy and bubbly bath or a day at the beach, you just have to check out Kidorable's Hooded Towels! Soft and fluffy, they are PERFECT for any wet child to dry off with! Here is a bit more about these fun, cotton hooded towels...

This is one product that really comes alive when wrapped around a child. Our absorbent, soft cotton towels make lounging by the pool and beach, or drying off after a bath, extra fun. These quality towels come in two sizes, newborn to two years, and ages three to six.

Kidorable is my FAVORITE brand for clothing and accessories for my children and honestly, the quality is wonderful. My son has been wearing his rain boots constantly since I received them for review over a year ago and they are still in great shape!

So, if you are looking to make a splash this summer make sure you have a Kidorable Hooded Towel on hand! Your child will love the colors, designs and comfort that these towels provide and I guarantee that you will LOVE seeing your child wrapped in soft, fluffy warmth after a chilly water encounter!

Kidorable's Hooded Towels retail for $38 and right now, you can get 20% off your order simply by entering the code STAYDRY22 at checkout. So, don't wait...get your order in today and be ready for summer water fun!

Kidorable has offered to give a Hooded Towel away to one of you!! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Kidorable website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

My MakIt Plates Came + Discount for You!

So as promised, my plates that my daughter and I designed from MakIt have arrived and I wanted to share the finished product with all of you! I took pictures of each plate individually so you could see that the plate designs are EXACTLY what was drawn on the templates. By the way, these plates are dishwasher safe which is great. :) Here they are!

 Pictured above...my favorite Bible verses!

This is the plate view from the side. It is a good sized plate that can actually be used for food purposes! What a great way to preserve memories that will be used on a daily basis.

I would also like to mention that I chose to have the shipping expedited so I received my plates very quickly after sending in the templates. I love that they came so fast. 

Just a quick reminder that I do have a MakIt Prepaid Art Plate Kit giveaway going on right now so you can head over to that post by clicking HERE and get your entries in. Also, if you would like to buy a kit you can do that and also get $5 off your order by following THIS LINK. All you would do is order a plate through that page and the discount has already been taken off the price of the plate. This discount is good until June 1st, 2013. 

So, I am really loving my plates that I received from MakIt! The process was very easy and the finished plates are so pretty! Check them out today and also, be sure to enter my giveaway! Have a good day! :)

NEW McDonald's Premium McWrap Review & Giveaway {4 Winners}

From the time I was little, McDonald's was a huge hit around my house. My parents loved taking us there because it was always reasonably priced and the food was kid-approved. Having 6 children meant that they were always trying to save money here and there and those golden arches were known and loved by each of my siblings and I. In fact, when we used to travel, we could spot the McDonald's sign from miles away and learned to spot them on road signs. So, if we were hungry, we made sure we pointed out where the next McDonald's was located along our route. Now that I have children, we often frequent McDonald's and my children just adore their Chicken McNuggets. My husband is pretty partial to the nuggets as well so they always get the same thing when we visit. Oh yes, and there is also a PlayPlace at a location near us so that makes visiting McDonald's an extra special treat for my little ones. (We won't mention the time my 2 year old went up in the tubes and wouldn't come down so mommy had to crawl up through the maze of tubes and slides to rescue him...yeah...that was an embarrassing moment fun.)

So, when I heard that McDonald's had a new menu item I, of course, was very excited. McDonald's now offers a NEW Premium McWrap! That's right, a healthy wrap that is bursting with freshness. Healthy and McDonald's never seemed to fit in the same sentence for me...until now. Before I tell you all about this McWrap, here is a bit more interesting information about McDonald's!

Since 1955, we’ve been proud to serve the world some of its favorite food. And along the way, we’ve managed not just to live history, but create it:  from drive-thru restaurants to Chicken McNuggets to college credits from Hamburger U and much more. It’s been quite the journey, and we promise this is just the beginning-we’ve got our hearts set on making more history.

I learned something else that I found really interesting when I read about McDonald's history...did you know that the first McDonald's drive thru was created near a military base to serve soldiers who were not permitted to get out of their cars while wearing fatigues? Wow, I never knew that before today! How neat is that?!? Anyway, when I found out that I was going to get to try the all new Premium McWrap, I was very excited.

So, for this review I was sent some coupons to try the McWrap for free and also was sent some extra coupons to give away to you! My coupons arrived the other day and today when I was out running errands with the children, I stopped by my local McDonald's to grab a McWrap for my lunch.

First of all, the McWraps in general are HUGE. They are made with a full-sized tortilla and so they are definitely a meal in themselves. You have probably tried the breakfast burritos from McDonald's but these are waaay bigger than them.

There are three different flavored McWraps that you can choose from and all of them are amazing. You can try the Chicken & Bacon, Sweet Chili Chicken or the Chicken & Ranch. For today's lunch run I chose to try the Chicken & Bacon. Wow. My McWrap had huge strips of crispy chicken, juicy tomatoes, lettuce, strips of bacon, creamy garlic sauce and cheddar jack cheese. It was very tasty and really filling too. Retailing for just under $5, it is definitely a wonderful and healthy lunch option!

The one thing that I absolutely love about the McWrap is that the container is designed to leave you with a way to actually hold your wrap without losing the contents. This is sooo great, especially if you are eating while driving. No messy hands and no filling falling all over your lap. Just like everything else at McDonald's you can "tweak" your wrap to fit your likes...different sauces, crispy or grilled chicken and leaving out anything you may not like.

I have also tried the Chicken & Ranch McWrap and it too was sooo good. When it comes to good food, I think that McDonald's is one of my top favorites. When I was pregnant with Isaac, I craved their double cheeseburgers and their breakfast menu is so yummy...who doesn't love a hot Egg McMuffin every now and then? To find out more about the NEW McWrap, check out McDonald's online and also be sure to visit them on Facebook and also on Twitter!

So, in my opinion...If you are looking to satisfy even the slightest of hunger pangs, check out McDonald's NEW Premium McWraps! They are packed full of yummy ingredients and will be sure to fill you up in no time at all. The three varieties will leave you with choices too and that is always a good thing. :)

Now, I have some coupons to giveaway...four of you will each win three coupons to try out the NEW Premium McWrap for FREE!! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive Free McDonald's McWrap coupons for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the McDonald's website and email. Prizes are in coupon form and will be mailed by myself. This blog is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes and in this case, I am not responsible for replacing coupons under any circumstances.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Cate & Levi Hand Puppet Review

My children LOVE to play. Recently, I have discovered that they just love to play with puppets and better yet, they love to see me make a puppet move and talk. I find that using a puppet helps with home school and my daughter really enjoys taking instruction from a puppet rather than mom. Go figure. It is odd, but works well and helps take the monotony out of our school day. Sometimes, using a puppet helps my children do simple chores...encouragement from a puppet is much more motivating and they will do anything to please a cute puppet!

Several weeks ago I was made aware of the fact that Cate & Levi (an online store that carries toys, clothing and accessories for children) had come out with some new hand puppets! I was so excited about these puppets simply because I know how much fun they are for my children and how great it is to use them for tools of encouragement. Before I continue though, here is a little bit more about Cate & Levi...a Canadian based company...

The Cate & Levi Collection is HANDMADE at my studio in Toronto, Canada. Together with my talented production team, I oversee every aspect of this collection. All the materials are sourced as close to home as possible. This process cuts down on shipping and reduces our carbon footprint. The choice of reclaimed wool reduces demand for new materials that require both water and oil for production. My goal is for these items to leave the softest possible pawprint on our planet.

No two Cate & Levi products will ever be the same. Each one is made from reclaimed wool whose colors and textures are individually selected. Not only is this process environmentally responsible, but it ensures that each animal is truly a one of a kind creation never to be duplicated. Each item is as unique as the child who adopts it.

It is important for me to set a good example for my child, to work in a highly creative and responsible fashion, and to produce long lasting items that can be today's plaything and tomorrow's keepsake. I am building a company my family can be proud of. Ten percent of my profits will be donated to funds that help children in need.

~Joshua Title, Owner and Dad

I don't know about you but I love it when parents take the bull by the horns and start businesses like this one. It just makes it that much more valid and authentic. I truly have a deep appreciation for companies like Cate & Levi that are started out of a need for something better. 

So, for this review I was sent a Duck Hand Puppet and while it is a bit unusual looking, it has grown on me and my children and is actually quite cute. :) To me, he kind of looks like a dinosaur, doesn't he?? I know he is a duck though but his coloring truly makes him look like a dinosaur. Ha ha!

Anyway, this hand puppet is made out of reclaimed wool and is very soft. It stretches to fit any hand and the beak is slightly floppy for extra character. We named our puppet "Fred" and he helped us with school today...he even wrote on the white board with a marker! :) Oh, how wonderful it was to have the extra help today. It was a tough day at school until Fred showed up. 

After school, Hannah was VERY excited to have a chance to play with Fred and it was really cute to hear her making him talk. Her and Jacob took turns with him until it was lunch time and let me tell you, getting them to put him down so they could eat their lunch was a chore. It is nice to have toys, but to have toys that the children don't want to stop playing with is wonderful!! 

Each Hand Puppet from Cate & Levi retails for $25.00 and you can choose from many different animals. Their newest puppets are a shark, horse, dragon, elephant, kangaroo and of course, the duck. I think all of these puppets are cute in their own, unique way and am really digging the duck right now. He's super cute!

If you would like to learn more about Cate & Levi and the other items they carry in their store, be sure to check them out online and also on their social media platforms...Facebook and Twitter. Stop by and let them know you heard about them here and give them some love. 

So, in my opinion...the new Hand Puppets from Cate & Levi are so great! They each have their own character and I love that. My children are really enjoying playing with the duck puppet we received and I am looking forward to using him in school as a teaching aid...who would have thought a puppet would end up being this teacher's best friend? Check out Cate & Levi today...you will be so glad that you did!

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a free Cate & Levi Hand Puppet for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Cate & Levi website and email.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Still Looking for A Special Gift for Mom? NOVICA Has What You Need!! {Review & Giveaway}

I cannot believe that Mother's Day has come and gone already...I had a fantastic day with my family and hope that your Mother's Day was full of beautiful memories as well. My husband bought me a dozen roses and my daughter picked out a balloon...she was SO excited to give me the balloon too, it was just too cute. She is so precious and it was her that made me a mother for the very first time so it was even more special to receive a gift that she picked out herself. Being a mom is definitely a special career for any woman to hold and one that I cherish. So, it is no wonder Mother's Day is so special...we recognize and express our love for our mothers.

This post was supposed to go up last week but unfortunately, my husband had some surgery that set me back a bit for blogging so I am putting it up today as my "day after Mother's Day" post. I guarantee that it is still a special post that you will love! Just because Mother's Day was yesterday, doesn't mean that we can't celebrate mom every day! If you didn't have a chance to pick something up for your mom yet, don't despair...Novica is a wonderful company that features hand made gifts from artisans around the world! The have some gorgeous unique gifts for mom that will still stun her and make her feel very loved. In case you are not familiar with Novica, here is a bit more about them...

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

NOVICA. The World is Your Market.

I have worked with Novica on many occasions and each item I have received has been simply gorgeous. The quality is wonderful and the craftsmanship is stunningly beautiful. Some items I have given away as gifts and each time, the recipients are so happy with their gifts. So, if you are still hunting for the perfect Mother's Day gift, look no further...Novica is going to get just the right gift in your hands.

So, today's Novica review comes from some artisans named Javier and Efren. These glassblowers hail from Mexico and have been preserving Mexico's blown glass artistry since 1990 and their work is simply stunning. For this review, I chose to receive the "Spring" Water Glasses. I am kind of partial to beautiful glasses and these immediately caught my eye.

I think my favorite part of these water glasses is the cobalt blue accents on the rims and stems. Isn't is beautiful? It adds so much color in just the right places and truly, any beverage would look great in these glasses.

Tall, thin stems are elegant but certainly are not the requirement for beautiful glasses. The stems and bases on these water glasses are short but still lovely. They are also made with blue glass so that is another way that the color just pops out of these.

These shapely water glasses are handcrafted by Javier and Efrén. Each glass is individually handcrafted to bring you the magic of quality Mexican art blowing. These beautiful water glasses will complement any table setting or stand alone with their classic blue rim and base. Because each piece is handmade, shape and size can vary slightly and tiny bubbles may appear within the glass. This exemplifies the hand-blown technique, making every piece a unique example of blown glass craftsmanship.

I did notice some bubbles and imperfections in the glass itself but knowing that it was a part of the uniqueness gave each glass it's own character and I loved it!

Also included in my order was a small card containing information about the artist and a description of the product. This is always a really nice, classy touch that Novica adds when packaging and sending out their products. Each item is given it's own card and you, or the recipient, can read and fully appreciate the story behind the artwork.

This set of 6 "Spring" Water Glasses retails for $45.49 and is available for purchase directly from Novica's website. Also, you will find that Novica carries hundreds of other wonderful gifts for mom and you can check more of those items out when you visit Novica. Please be sure to check out Novica on Facebook, follow their boards on Pinterest and keep up with all of their latest tweets on Twitter! Always something fun going on so don't miss out...visit them today!

So, in my opinion...Novica has some wonderful gift ideas for mom. Make every day Mother's Day and celebrate your mom by giving her a gift she will remember and cherish forever. I am LOVING the water glass set that I received and think that it will be quite an amazing and elegant addition to my dinner table. I would definitely recommend Novica to anyone who is looking for a special gift...whether it be for mom or anyone else!

How would one of you like to win a $50 gift certificate to Novica? You have the chance to do that right now!! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I received a free NOVICA gift code in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the NOVICA website and email. Prize is provided by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.