DIY - Working Out Your Slow Cooker

Meal planning has been wonderful for my family, but I have to admit - I'm very lazy about it. I plan with easy days in mind, and knowing full well that there will be day in which a) I don't feel like cooking, or b) my son decides he is not at all interested in what I've made. This means that, regardless of how organized I am, there will be days that I cook on the fly, or need a back up plan, and quick. Slow cooker to the rescue! This thing can make volume, and if you learn how to use it, it can be the ace in the hole you need to survive the age old question "what's for dinner?"

Not just for your aunt's meatballs - just about anything can be made in a slow cooker. From soups and stews, to juicy meat dishes, and even breakfast casseroles! You can come home to dinner ready multiple times a week with enough planning. No time in the morning? Stock it up on your lunch break, or mid-way through your Sunday, to have your time free for other things. 

Before you start:

Although using a slow cooker is very, very easy, there is a bit of a learning curve. The first few time you use it, I would suggest being at home so that you can stop by periodically to check for liquid levels. Long cook times have a tendency to cause more evaporation than you would cooking stove-top, and you might need to compensate a little. Also, things like rice and pasta definitely cook differently than in the oven or in a pan. Stick to recipes meant for slow cookers until you're confident that you can accommodate the differences. Trust me, I've burnt a few chillis in my day. The smell is horrendous.

Need a few ideas?

Here are some great looking recipes you might want to try at home! I've tried a few, and can't wait to try more.

• Breakfast
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Pumpkin Custard Oatmeal
• Lunch
• White Chicken Chili 
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Dinner
• Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies 
• Lasagna
• Vegetarian Enchilada Quinoa

Do you have a slow cooker obsession like I do? What's your favourite recipe? 

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DIY - Time Killing Crafts for the Un-Crafty

If you spend enough time on the internet, you start to think that you are the laziest human on earth. How are these moms turning pallet wood into castles and old onesies into gorgeous memory quilts? I mean, who has the time? I love baking and crafting as much as the next person, but even if I had a few hours to devote to being creative (which would truly be luxurious), I do not have the talent of some of these artesian mamas out there. The good news is, you don’t need hours or mad-skills to create some fun and festive decorations for your home. You, and your eager kiddies, can do some great traditional crafts while waiting for dinner to cook, or even while watching Rudolf before bed.

Cut Paper Crafts:

· Snowflakes – Easy and beautiful, all you need to do is fold paper several time on to itself, cut out little chunks and shapes, then unfold to reveal your unique creation! You can round off the edges, or add glitter to take it to the next level.

· Christmas Trees – Cut a basic tree shape from green cardstock or construction paper, and then embellish your design with coloured shapes taken from old cards or Christmas wrap! This is a fun way to make a Santa list too, using a catalog for the presents. 

Bead or Link Crafts:

· Pasta necklaces – That classic accessory of parenthood; design a piece for granny, or a special accompaniment to your holiday outfit. Use colourful ribbon or yarn to start, and add paint to really show off your style.

· Paper chains/popcorn garland – Is there anything more traditional than a great garland for the tree, or to decorate a play space? Try adding fresh bay leaves or cranberries with your popcorn for the scent and colour! If you are worried about your child with a needle, there are plastic crafting ones available at most big box stores. 

Mold or Form Crafts:

· Dough ornaments – Use this recipe as your base, then add a small amount of food colouring, or paint afterward. If you have trouble thinking of shapes, us cookie cutters as a mold. Don’t forget a small hole using a toothpick, so you can add string!

· Candles – a favourite craft from my childhood, they are way easier than you think! Using wax granules from a hobby store, melt slowly in a pot on the stove to a liquid consistency. This is a great way to use up some old, broken crayons as colouring! 

Tip: Tie a wick to a straw so it doesn’t fall in to your shape! You can line a toilet paper tube with wax paper, or find a cute jar from the dollar store!

DIY - Baby Footprint Art

Kids crafts are so much fun to do, and getting art work home from school is especially great at this time of year. Delicately cut snowflakes, snowmen made of cotton balls, and sparkle embellished stockings to hang on your fridge. For kids not yet in school, their "talents" are still limited, but their lack of skill allows mommy to be more involved in the process. You've no doubt seen some amazing ideas for hand and footprint art on social media and wonder how to create it yourself. Count on us for tips on the right supplies, and the right techniques, to pull off one of those adorable gems for yourself!

To begin any craft, especially if your baby is mobile, start with a "destruction zone" - an area that is prepared for the havoc of paint and mess. I suggest an old tarp or bed sheet for the floor under your table and a disposable table cloth from the dollar store or some old newspaper to cover the surface. Make sure you've set up all the craft supplies, gone to the bathroom, have baby wipes ready, and have filled a sippy cup to minimize distractions from the task at hand. Your child might be in to this, but be prepared for an unhappy customer and get your ducks in a row.

Supplies for these crafts vary from minimal to elaborate lists, so have a good read through what's involved before you get your heart set. You will most likely need water-based paint such as Crayola Washable Finger Paint. The texture is creamy for easy application, and it wipes off clean with minimal effort. From hands and feet that is - don't dress in your Sunday best while you're creating. Having a sponge or some small craft brushes for decorations are helpful and possibly markers for final details, names, and dates. Finally, a cute surface to stamp such as card stock, paper plates, gift bags, or unglazed pottery.

This is a version of my son's first footprint craft!

Once you're ready for the craft, you might want to have a "ring buddy" handy. You know, the kind you tap in to grab a cloth, untangle the tight grasp on your hair, or salvage the print before baby examines it too closely. Older siblings might have fun in this role, especially if you let them have a hand in the creative process. If you're a mom to one, or the others are busy with their own activities, invite another mom to do the craft with you! We gathered about 6 together last year to take turns making either reindeer or mistle-toes. 

Remember to leave plenty of time for items to dry in a safe place. Certain areas will be thicker with paint than others, so it could take hours to be ready to frame, bake, or mail to granny! With the mail being especially bogged down at this time of year, if you intend to send your gift, you should probably try sooner rather than later! Besides, you'll want time to take pictures... and decide if your creation is too cute to part with!

Need some inspiration? Here are a few great ideas I found on Pinterest this week:

Perfect to hang in your window or decorate your office space. Who wouldn't want a little sleigh! This is definitely advanced level stuff though. I don't think I could free-hand a Santa like that! Thewhoot.com has a whole page of everything from clay ornaments to ribbon enhanced canvasses. If only I had more time!

Good for the whole season through, why not try these fantastic penguins!  The paint work is a little harder, so it might call for a more patient (read: immobile) baby, but the details from mom are that much easier! You could really do a lot with the background by layering some white and light blue card. Check out the tutorial at Crafty-Crafted. 

This last one is probably my favourite. You can take it in so many directions, and really make a special family keepsake. Older children can pick the colours they gravitate to, or keep it simple with 3 seasonal picks (red, white, and green / white, grey, and blue). You could even make a family strand with each member using their favourite colour or birthstone colour! The supplies are minimal, and you can read all the steps at Beneath the Rowan Tree.                                    

Picture from: http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com.au/

Have you had made some amazing holiday artwork? We want to see it! 

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DIY - Scratch Pumpkin Tarts

I absolutely love to bake - when I'm in the mood. You see, baking is a commitment. A commitment of your time, a commitment to cleaning up the mess when you're done, and a serious commitment to keeping your little one away from the oven. Last year, to satisfy my need for pumpkin in a cost effective way, my little one and I made two ingredient pumpkin muffins. Of course, he was 6 months old at the time, so I pretty much just baby-wore and mixed. Those were the days... This year, since I offered to host my family for dinner, I decided to put in a little more effort. I love to roast squash for a delicious fall dinner, so I thought, making my own pumpkin purée couldn't be that hard.  I'll tell you, I was right. There were a lot of steps, but the results were fantastic!

I began roasting my pumpkin before I even had a recipe in mind. Risky, but I figured I knew what I was doing, and could use the 45 minutes to scour Pinterest for the rest of the process. I halved one sweet pie pumpkin, cleaned the inside, and placed them face down on a foil lined cookie sheet in the oven at 425F. 20 minutes in, I carefully turned the pumpkin halves on to their backs to finish the process. They turned out beautiful, and I let them cool a long time before handling them.

While the pumpkin cooled, I cleaned the pumpkin seeds I had harvested, drizzled them with a little olive oil and salt, then roasted them for about 12 minutes at the same heat. You have to watch them so that they don't over cook. Man, were they delicious. My family almost missed out on this side treat because I snacked on them all day as I cooked.

Once it has rested enough to peel, it separated so evenly, I was surprised. The flesh already smelled great, so I knew it was going to turn out really well. I mashed it lightly with a pastry cutting tool, then I followed the instructions for making the purée into filling.

I didn't have time (read: didn't want to bother) making my own crust, so instead I opted for frozen tart shells. They were really easy to use and are a good thing to keep on hand. The shell itself is unsweetened, so they could easily enough be turned in to quiche or pot pie shells for an easy mid-week meal. I will definitely look for these on sale again.

The recipe I ended up using was this one for Pumpkin Pie. It's pretty thorough, and I followed it relatively well... I have a bad habit of mixing things together before reading the order of operations - a dangerous game in the chemistry of baking - but it seemed to come together well and it was smelling fantastic. I poured it into the pre-baked tart shells, and cut the cooking time for a pie in half. They were set perfectly, and I let them cool on a wire rack while we ate dinner.

They came out looking amazing! I was really proud of myself. We whipped up some fresh whipped cream to serve on top, and I was thrilled with the results! I'm not sure I could taste a huge difference from canned, but they did taste incredibly fresh and delicious. It was a little more work than canned, sure, and took a little pre-planning. With the oven going all day, it didn't bother me in the slightest. Plus, it was only $1.25 for my pumpkin and the cans seem to sell for around $3 - not to mention they are oft sold out at this time of year! I declare it a baking victory!

How did your Thanksgiving meal go? Any successes? Major failures? 

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DIY - Nursery Artwork

Back in September, we did a Mommy Money Matters post about decorating a nursery on a budget (see it here) by planning ahead, concentrating on must-haves, starting early,  and  making the most impact with pieces that offer function and style. The nursery space has an important emotional appeal when preparing for a baby, but it can be difficult to justify certain expenses above and beyond the essential furniture and fabrics.

Wall colour is the first big decision, but once you've painted, you may feel overwhelmed by the empty vertical space. Large, bare walls can make a room feel incomplete. You’ll most likely be spending a lot of time in the nursery for multiple daily dressings, feedings, and diaper changes, so consider adding some artwork to the walls to set a relaxing or fun tone to the room. It’ll be nice to have something to look at from the rocking chair at 3am while baby eats (or cries).

Artwork is a non-essential, though, isn't it? Prefabricated art - whether stretched canvas, poster, framed print, or other - can be expensive and the bigger the scale the bigger the price tag. I suggest making your own nursery artwork. You get the the double bonus of saving money and having a one of a kind space. Here are some suggestions for adding those finishing touches without going into debt. (As a bonus, you don't even need to be particularly crafty to pull these off!)

Fabric
If you want to make a big visual impact it logically follows that you need to hang something big. Including one large piece can really anchor a room, but they can easily cost you hundreds of dollars to buy. An inexpensive alternative, that still packs the same visual punch, is to stretch a bold printed fabric over a canvas. Fabric is sold by the yard, so the price will vary based on which pattern/material you choose, and how big you decide to go. Something like this, this, this, or this, would look really sharp on a nursery wall, for a fraction of the cost of a large print or canvas.

Book Illustrations
You can pick up a beautifully illustrated classic or modern children's book for under $10 at a used book store and select three or four of your favourite images to put in frames from the dollar store or Walmart. You'll easily find artwork to complement any theme, and to set any tone from peaceful to silly. Try a modern space or underwater theme, or go for a classic Beatrix Potter or Winnie the Pooh theme.

Scrapbook paper
Just like fabric, scrapbook paper comes in an abundance of patterns and textures and you can pick up multiple 12x12 sheets for cheap. Michael's often has 3 for a dollar sales, and they have a selection of colours to choose from. I used two different kinds of scrapbook paper, and six $2 frames from the dollar store to  spell my daughter's name above her crib. Cheap (under $20) and easy! You can use it in other ways, too, though. Buy a stencil of your choice and paint it in the centre of a sheet of scrapbook paper, or frame and hang a bold print on it's own.

Adding the finishing touches to complete the nursery doesn't have to put you over budget. If you have a little extra money, a little time, and a little bit of vision, you can have a nursery you'll be itching to show off. (If you can keep it clean once baby comes!)

DIY - Start Your Own Article Club

Let’s face it: we’re all super busy. Too busy to get to the gym. Too busy to have a date night. Too busy to even fit in a shower some days. So no matter how much you may crave adult discussion, or new stimulation, or time to ruminate on ideas, you may feel like you simply do not have the time. 

I'm part of a book club that meets every two months or so, and I really like the chance to discuss literature, and the inevitable transition into others topics, over tea and treats. It's hard, though, to read novels like I used to. First of all, when I get a moment to myself that would be suitable for reading, I probably have a list of other things to accomplish: shower, dishes, get dinner ready, or sit and stare at the wall while holding in sneezes so as not to disturb the baby. Chances to read a page or a chapter are sometimes so rare that I get completely taken out of the story and forget where I left off or important plot points. I love reading so I will continue to find ways to reincorporate it into my life, but I totally understand if you think a book club would be impossible for you right now. If you want the discussion of a book club without the struggle of reading a novel, why not try starting an article club?

What is it? It's the same general idea as a book club, but the required reading is much less time consuming. Choose between one and three magazine or newspaper articles (or blog posts) on a subject to read and discuss as a group. It's a great choice for time strapped parents looking for a social event to host. You can choose parenting articles if you're incorporating it into weekly play dates, or you can choose other topics of interest if your group is more diverse.

Here are some tips to starting an article club of your own.

• If you can, find two articles that take opposite stances on an issue so that everyone comes to the discussion knowing what both sides are saying.

• Pick a timeline. Are you going to meet once every month or quarterly? Articles may not take as long to read as books but getting together can require lots of scheduling mastery.

• Set some guidelines. Does everyone have to have read the article in advance or can people who didn't have time attend without shame? 

• Make it clear that discussions must be respectful. No matter the topic, there are bound to be opposing views, so keep the debates light.

• If you're hosting, consider hiring a baby sitter to tend to everybody's children in your basement play area or den. Parents get to bring their kids along, saving money and anxiety, but don't have distractions during grown up discussion time.

If you choose the parenting theme, here are some article suggestions to get you started:

(October, 2014) The New York Times: A Cure for Hyper-Parenting - Pamela Druckerman

(August, 2014) Philly.com: Siri, Can you Make Me a Better Parent? - Jane Scott

(October, 2013) Forbes: The 5 Most Important Money Lessons to Teach Your Kids - Laura Shin

DIY - Easy Guilt Free Desserts

Trust me, this won't be a post to show off my awesome food staging skills, or to brag about my prowess in the kitchen, because I have neither of these things. What I do have is a constantly waging war between my huge sweet tooth and my lingering mommy tummy that I wish to be rid of. I actually hate to bake, because it always involves several tedious steps and so many things to clean up afterwards, but I also want to avoid store bought treats as they are full of fat and sugar and other undesirables. What is a girl to do?

Research! That's what! I have taken to the Internet to find easy, healthier recipes that will give me the hit of sweet I crave every night without adding an extra roll of fat to my figure. Allow me to share with you what I have discovered. Come along on this journey with me...

Flourless Brownies

I was immediately intrigued by this recipe on Delighted Momma because of how simple it looked. I've decided to research the Paleo diet to see if I can incorporate any of it into my own eating habits, but that was not what led me to this recipe. My mother is gluten intolerant, so I like the added bonus of it being gluten free, but mostly it just seemed like a really healthy way to enjoy brownies.

My husband was not so sure. He all but begged on hand and knee that I make regular brownies instead, and he made a scrunched up face of disgust when I handed him the first bite to sample, but then he promptly ate 3 brownies and sang their praises. These brownies are good. Very good. Light and cake-y with a serious punch of chocolate. Plus, they take no time to make (which is important with an impatient infant). I threw all the ingredients into one bowl, stirred it, and poured it into a pan. Forty minutes later, brownies were cooling on the counter. I can deal with cleaning one bowl! I really don't feel guilty eating this tasty combination of zucchini, almond butter, and honey (which is kind of dangerous because I have to stop at some point). They aren't as good as regular brownies, but they're darn good!

If I had to come up with a downside of this recipe, it would be the cost to make it. Almond butter is pretty expensive and raw honey can be, too. (Though, I used regular honey.) I always have almond butter in the house already, but it takes 3/4 of a $10 jar to make. Still, it's a small price to pay for such a tasty, guilt free treat.

Chocolate Chia Pudding

There are quite a few recipe iterations of this dessert to be found online, but I can only speak for the one I made (found on Oh She Glows). Other than the forethought of making almond milk ice cubes, this recipe could not be easier or faster. If you need a hit of chocolate right away, this pudding has got you covered.

Some people might not love the texture of this treat. It is definitely thick and creamy like a pudding, but the chia seeds give it a bit of a grainy texture (which I didn't mind). My blender was not really up to the task, though, so I had big chunks of dates in some bites. Not horrible, but not ideal. While I definitely thought this tasted good right away, the flavour started to annoy me after a few bites. It is actually *too chocolatey* maybe? It's hard to describe what exactly bothered me about it. I won't give up on this treat, however. I am going to try a few different recipes to see if there is a combination of ingredients that will please my pallette more, because I love chia seeds, I love pudding, and I hate feeling gross after indulging in a sweet treat.

Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas

Note: These are not MY frozen bananas.
I didn't get an acceptable picture of mins so I borrowed this one...

Yum. You can't actually go wrong with bananas and chocolate, right? This recipe (which I pretty much just made up as I went along) is truly simple but requires advance thought. You need to allow time for the chocolate to cool in the freezer. I made them simultaneously while I made dinner and we enjoyed them at around 8 pm. They were pretty good, but they don't feel decadent or special. I used dark chocolate chips and Smores flavoured sprinkles as a topper. I think it's an easy go to treat on a week night.

All in all, this week I learned that there are options for me to satisfy my sweet tooth without sacrificing my healthy eating plans, but I will have to allow for a more traditional, (ie. bad for you) dessert once or twice a week because these alternatives aren't quite as good. I'm interested in expanding beyond chocolate based "healthy" desserts, so if you have any suggestions for me to try, please tell me about it in the comments below!

DIY: Easy, Healthy, Fun Snacks

New Year's Resolution: Cleaner, healthier eating.

Feeding your family can be an added stress in your life. From coming up with what to make for dinner every night to dealing with food allergies, eating can sometimes feel like a burden rather than a pleasure. Snack time is often overlooked when it comes to eating; a throw away cheese and crackers addition to a busy day. It doesn't have to be so! (At least, not every day.) Just follow these three tips when putting together snacks for your kids, and you can't go wrong.

1. Keep it simple. (Easy)
2. Make it colourful. (Healthy)
3. Give it a little flair. (Fun)

Keep it simple:

It is so tempting to reach for that box of fish shaped crackers and a glass of juice when your little one wants a snack in the afternoon. When you're tired from running around all morning (and possibly not sleeping through the night) anything bite sized and/or ready to serve is an understandable go-to. If at all possible, however, you should make it your goal to avoid filling up on sugar, salt, and bleached flours. Healthy snacks don't have to be hard, and a balanced snack will result in a more satisfied toddler or preschooler. As a bonus, you'll be more inclined to snack healthy if you're already putting it together for your son or daughter. To keep it simple, all you need to do is pick two (or all three) of the following - Vegetable/Fruit, Protein, Whole Grain and voila! a healthy snack that will leave you and your child feeling full longer.

Try:

*Apple slices (fruit) and almond butter (protein)
*Yogurt (protein) and mixed berries (fruit) and low fat granola (whole grain)
*Whole wheat pita (whole grain) and hummus (protein)
*Cottage cheese (protein) and peaches (fruit)
*Celery (vegetable) and peanut butter (protein) and raisins (fruit)
*Tortilla (whole grain) with cream cheese (protein) and cucumbers (vegetable)

You get the point, so moving on...

Make it colourful:

The easiest way to ensure that your child is getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need is not one of those gummy supplements, it's eating a rainbow of produce every week. When you're at the grocery store, try to buy at least three different colours of fruits and veggies at a time and switch the colours up each week. The one consistent colour should be dark green (spinach, kale, broccoli, etc); try to include it every time as it packs the most nutritional punch. You might feel that it's next to impossible to introduce bright, colourful vegetables into the diet of a toddler who lives on mainly chicken fingers and plain noodles, but don't give up. Set a one taste rule and continue to serve the same vegetables and fruits often (prepared in different ways), and you will succeed in broadening LO's palette. Meals and snack times aren't war epics, they're action adventure films!

Try:

* Switch to white plates to highlight the bright, beautiful colours of the produce you're serving.
*Try preparing food in different ways (raw, steamed, puréed, in a stew, with a sauce, etc.). Just because your daughter doesn't like the crunch of baby carrots, doesn't mean she wouldn't like a puréed carrot soup.

Give it a little flair:

Food isn't just about taste. Why else do you think Food Network shows give equal credence to presentation as to taste? Presenting food to your child in a thoughtful way helps to make them take notice of different textures of foods. Children love novelty! This doesn't mean painstakingly cutting out every piece of toast in the shape of an elephant and/or making every dinner serving into the shape of a funny face (spaghetti noodle hair, anyone?). What it does mean is taking a little time to make healthy snacks a highlight of your child's day in whatever way works for you. If children think of food as essential AND fun, they're more likely to be adventurous. It might be as simple as eating your snack at the kitchen table instead of in front of the TV to give the food more distinction.

Try:
*Name Game - Read a book before snack time and present the snack according to the theme.
     ie. Read "Armadillo Rodeo" by Jan Brett and serve "Buckin' Bronco Bites."
          Read "On the Moon" by Anna Milbourne and serve "Rocket Fuel."
*Show and Tell - Make an effort to present the snack in a novel way.
     ie. Pour pancake batter in the shape of the first letter of your child's name.
          Serve a yogurt parfait in a tea cup and let your child sprinkle the granola on top using the sugar bowl and spoon and stir.
*Let's Play - Make snack time a game rather than an after thought.
     ie. Pretend to be a waiter at a restaurant serving the snack to your child as customer.
          Put out a blanket on the living room floor and eat the snack at an indoor picnic.

Borrowed from Little Food Junction

Borrowed from creativekidsnacks.com

What's your favourite healthy snack? Let's help each other eat cleaner in 2015!

DIY - Baking for Autumn, A Two Ingredient Fix?

Stylish boots, cozy sweaters and all matter of new treats are arriving at the mall - a common hang out for a mommy needing a fall weather walk. I love to grab a coffee and people watch, taking in more atmosphere than calories wherever possible. I've noticed my fellow caffeine consumers tend to fall in to one of two camps; pumpkin fanatics and pumpkin haters. If you're on the first side of the equation like I am, you are likely thrilled to see the return of Starbucks PSL (pumpkin spice latte, of course) and that tasty Tim Horton's muffin with the nugget of cream cheese and sugar-shock in the middle. If you're trying to fend off some pounds or save some dough (see what I did there?) then home baking might be the ticket.

The problem is: baking is science.  There are important ingredients to be managed and measured exactly.  My mom once made the most delectable pumpkin cinnamon rolls with a gorgeous frosting.  I begged her for the recipe, but when I got it, I was shocked.  Over 3 hours of mixing, kneading, resting, rolling, slicing, baking, cooling, frosting... It's messy, it's time consuming, and honestly, they didn't turn out!  They were more like sticky hockey pucks than the fluffy cinnamon clouds my mom had created!

You need only enter "pumpkin" on Google or Pinterest to be bombarded with thousands of easier recipes, but one stuck out to me.  Two ingredient pumpkin spice muffins.  Now you have my attention.  All I need is a box of spice cake mix and a can of pure pumpkin for a delicious rainy day treat?  Sign me up.  I had seen variations of this before; angel food cake mix plus diet Sprite or classic yellow with a tin of pineapple.  If this worked, I had a whole world of quick treats unfolding ...

I will first mention, my son was in a "mood" while I tried to bake, so I made this entire recipe (other than the steps involving the oven,) while baby-wearing.  Points to the straightforwardness of the recipe for that reason. My kitchen was a little disheveled, but I tried to capture some photos in the interest of science.  You're welcome.

I decided in the interest of simplicity and thorough mixing, to use my amazing food processor to combine the ingredients rather than the good 'ol wooden spoon.  This was laziness and not a necessity.  It did combine quickly and well, however.  The batter was the consistency of warm peanut butter and it transferred to the muffin tin excellently one handed.  Big plus there.  I made sure to use muffin liners for presentation value and to avoid possible difficulties in removing the end product from my pan, but I'm sure greasing the tin would have done the same job.

For muffins, the instructions suggested 18-21 minutes at 350 C.  I baked them 18 and the fork came out clean and dry, so I assumed they were done and left them to rest on my cooling rack.  A closer inspection afterwards made me wonder if they could have used a little longer.  I live in fear of burning things, especially cakes, which are harder to judge than cookies or savory dishes. They looked beautiful, smelled great and we were eager to try them.

                                        

The taste is hard to explain.  They were "good", but not "great".  Possibly in part due to under baking, the consistency had a slight moist, pudding quality.  It was definitely cooked through, light and cakey, but the texture was odd.  Full marks for flavour, however.  A yum factor of 8 out of 10.  A light spice with a mild pumpkin in the vein of a coffee cake.  Really nice.

Would I make them again?  The best I could say is a solid maybe.  I don't buy cake mix often, but if it was on sale or I had an event in mind, I might give it a go.  I may have had an allergic reaction to this brand, due to a dye or preservative, so I would look for another kind. I would bake the muffins slightly longer, or perhaps add one egg for some stability.  I would absolutely add another textural element, like walnuts on top to give it more personality.

DIY: Hallowe'en Crafts

Decorating for the changing seasons is a fun way to spend the afternoon with kids, or heck just for yourself. Fall especially is a fantastic time to use natural elements as free supplies. A nature walk might see beautiful leaves, acorns, or small twigs become a wonderful decoration and keepsake.  Unfortunately, autumn weather might also mean colder temperatures and rain (or even snow!) Here are a few fun and simple Hallowe'en craft ideas for what you might already have on hand.

The first clever craft courtesy of the Maven of Style herself (Ms. Stewart for those not yet addicted) is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Macaroni art is a classic activity for kids that I remember so fondly myself and this spooky twist is fantastic. Start with black construction paper, pasta and a quality glue.  You will likely need a liquid such as Elmers for good sticking power. A glue stick might not cut it longterm. Once you have the tools, build a creepy masterpiece in no time.  If anatomy is not your thing, why not a black cat, bats or tombstone shape? This would work well with any shape of pasta you have on hand and especially if you had a couple of boxes with just a little left over.  You could substitute cotton balls or marshmallows for a haunting look.  Or try painting heavy cardboard black for a hang-able creation.

For something a little less scary and more colourful, why not try your hand at one of these adorable tissue box creations. Giggles Galore calls them "Tattle Monsters" and boy are they cute!  Intended as a teaching tool, they make a fun anytime craft for kids of all ages.  You need a tissue box of any brand, an egg carton and the decorations of your choice!  The pictured crew includes some craft paper, googly eyes and some white paper for the pearly whites.  You could also add pipe cleaners for arms and antennas or fur and felt pieces for a great texture. This is a great way to stray from the standard orange, black and white that prevails at Hallowe'en and let your imagination run wild.  You could recreate characters from your favourite movie with greens, teals and purples.  You could use your school colours, or match them to your child's bedroom.  Anything goes.

If your kids are younger, a fun way to craft and be messy without lots of small pieces is the good old fashioned potato stamp.  A staple of the fall pantry, potatoes can be carved in to a number of ghoulish shapes for artwork, costumes and more. To duplicate the picture you will need a few medium sized potatoes (cut in half for carving), craft paint and paper lunch sacks.  Martha suggests this funky skull design for class room treat bags, but you don't need to stop there. How about pumpkins for a seasonal centerpiece, or witch hats for a fun garland? Carvings can be anything your mind can imagine and it will become an activity you will want to do again and again. Don't forget, whatever you carve will be backwards when you stamp!  If you're spelling something, try writing it out on paper first and taking it to the mirror to ensure the best results!

Ghosts are an easy craft to be made with just about anything you have in the house.  Try balling up some paper towel and wrap with tissue paper for classroom friendly scare.  Use a pom pom wrapped in facial tissue and tear the edges. Or take it up a notch as Country Living as done here; small paper cups and white balloons draped with cheesecloth for a more antique look. You can do as little or as much as you like.  Add arms, fearful expressions or keep them simple, it's really up to you. Great to group outside in a mobile or hang throughout your Hallowe'en party, all you really need are 3 basic components; something solid, something gauzy and a black marker. 

Share your favourite Hallowe'en craft or show us how your little Picasso recreated one of our suggestions above!  Message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WIYDB or comment below!