Search Results for: blog make your own chocolate cups

Putting Your Preschooler to Work

Nothing makes preschoolers happier than helping their parents.  Studies show that young children are wired to get pleasure from pleasing their mom or dad.  So, instead of ignoring your four-year-old when he offers to help you make the beds, fold laundry or put away groceries, allow him to exercise his independence by lending a hand. In some cases, a preschooler’s attempt at helping is more of a hindrance to parents; however, with a little patience you can turn these heartfelt efforts into teachable moments. When my now 8-year-old daughter was a preschooler nothing delighted her more than being able to … Continue reading →

Frugal Food: Make Your Own Chewy Granola Bars

My kids are crazy for those chewy granola bars. They love to take them with their school lunches or to the park when they might need a snack. They are very convenient to have. Unfortunately, the price of chewy granola bars has been rising, all while the amount you get in a package has been shrinking. Combine that cost with the unsavory ingredients in some of them (“natural” versions are even more expensive), it only makes sense to create my own homemade version. I experimented with a number of recipes but wound up settling on one that uses honey as … Continue reading →

5 Things to Make From Scratch to Save Money

Homemade is usually best, especially when it comes to saving money. Here are five things you can make from scratch to save money. They include homemade cleaners, food prepared from scratch, baby items and more. Pizza Pizza dough is quick and easy when you make it in a bread machine. Even with loads of toppings, two large (restaurant large, not supermarket large) thin-crust pizzas will cost you around $4. For a little more money, you can buy prepared dough, but of course making your pizza completely from scratch means a lower cost as well as a lack of preservatives and … Continue reading →

1 Recipe 2 Ways: Chocolate Chip or Cinnamon Scones

Photo credit: momtastic.com I always thought that scones were too hard to make. Then I discovered that it is okay to cheat a little bit. You can produce yummy scones that take just a few minutes to produce. No one will ever know, unless you tell them! I started with a basic chocolate chip scone. My family loves chocolate chips in everything. Having chocolate chips somewhere in breakfast is a real treat. While we don’t do it all of the time, we will have the occasional chocolate chip muffin or chocolate chip pancakes. One time I even incorporated them into theme … Continue reading →

Picking a Pod Coffee Maker

Pod coffee makers are very popular right now, and more manufacturers are making them. How do they compare to the more traditional kinds of coffee makers and how can you choose the right pod coffee maker? Here is some information that will help you decided if a pod coffee maker, also called a pod coffee brewer is right for you. Pod coffee makers make one cup or mug of coffee at a time, although most pod coffee makers let you choose the size of your cup. They work by using pods, or little cups filled with coffee grounds that are … Continue reading →

Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies

My kids would eat a dozen of these in one sitting, if I let them. Because of the high butter content, these cookies will spread if the dough isn’t chilled first. Just stick the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer. Personally, we don’t mind flatter cookies, but I thought I would warn you about this. These cookies melt in your mouth. Here is a tip: Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized cookies that are easy to drop on the cookie sheets. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) … Continue reading →

Low Fat Chocolate Banana Bread

Are you looking for an indulgent snack to sit beside a hot cup of coffee in the morning or in the afternoon? If you want to snack but do not want the calories then try the Low Fat Chocolate Banana Bread recipe below. Think about bringing this to Christmas parties. You can also make these in mini loaf pans and give as homemade gifts to friends and family. They will enjoy having an alternative to the high sugar and fat food Christmas normally involves. If you do not want a loaf you can make these in a muffin pan for … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Rid Your Home of Halloween Candy

Sure, you can donate your leftover Halloween candy to hospitals, food pantries, churches and shelters. You could also send excess hard candy (chocolate melts in the desert) to troops based overseas. There are even some dentists and retailers who are buying kids’ Halloween loot. However, none of those ideas scream F-U-N to me the same way eating does. When I was young I refused to part with any of my sugar stash. After all, I schlepped for three hours collecting all that junk, and by gosh, I was going to devour every last calorie… unless it started with Laffy and … Continue reading →

Get Your Ghoul On

If you haven’t bought your child’s Halloween costume yet, good luck. This year’s selection of costumes is downright scary. Honestly, you are better off making a costume from household items than paying upwards of $50 for the gross getups I’ve seen at big name retailers. The money you save making your own costume can then be spent on hosting a rockin’ Halloween bash. Take it from me; you don’t need a ton of cash to throw a Monster Mash in your home. Just exercise some creativity with these budget-friendly ideas: GAMES Ghost Bingo: Make your own cards that spell out … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Chocolate Cups

Making this gourmet treat is easier than you might think. You can make a real impression with these delicate little chocolate cups that are well worth the very little bit of effort they require. They will look really lovely on your table or given as gifts. A small white paper cup that accommodates four to six filled chocolate cups makes a very elegant present. The cups look expensive but actually cost very little to make. Once you have your chocolate cups, you can add all sorts of fillings to them, from fruit or whipped creme. Or, turn them into yummy … Continue reading →