Carnival #87

This week the carnival is at Lighter Side. This week is a slightly smaller than normal carnival. I heard that Blog Carnival was down over the weekend. Just remember if that happens submissions can always be sent to makeitfromscratch at ymail.com .  There are still plenty of delicious recipes and cute crafts to see. Check out the complete carnival for yourself, but here are a few that I found particularly interesting. 

Honey can you run to the store? I need chili powder.

A how to make your own chili powder and a delicious looking recipe to use it in; enchiladas. 

Old Boots Become a Punk Planter

Love this!

Chicken and Dumplings

Warm comfort food is so appealing on these chilly days we've been having here!

Enjoy the carnival and please join us next week!

Make Your Own Crackers

Crackers are a traditional New Year's Eve favor in the UK. They are becoming increasingly popular in the US and these days and you can even find pre-made Christmas Crackers in some stores.

Crackers add a lot of fun to any occasion. Kids love to make them as well as open them. Since they hold less, they can be a frugal alternative to the traditional birthday party treat bag. Some other ideas:
~Tie on to a package/gift bag or add to a package in place of a bow.
~Make several for a classroom treat.
~Make as party favors using one color tissue for children and one color for adults.
~Use as a creative way to give cash as a gift.
~Include two in your child's overnight bag when they spend the night with a friend.
~Keep several on hand for last-minute treats or unexpected guests.
~Hide them and let guests search for them like an Easter egg hunt.

Here's what you'll need:
Cardboard tubes (from T.P., paper towels, gift wrap or make your own from card stock)
Small trinkets that fit inside tube (see list below for ideas)
Tissue paper to match your occasion
Double-sided tape
Ribbon
Scissors

Step 1- Fill your paper tube with the items you have chosen.

Step 2- Place a strip of double-sided tape down the length of the tube.

Step 3- Cut a strip of tissue paper about 5 inches wider than the length of your tube.

Step 4- Place the edge of the tissue paper on the strip of tape to secure it to the tube. Place another piece of double-sided tape on top of the edge of the tissue.

Step 5- Roll the tube up in the tissue.

Step 6- Cut two 6 inch pieces of ribbon and use to tie the tissue paper closed at each end of the tube so that the finished piece resembles a giant piece of candy. Curl ribbon if desired.

Ideas for cracker fillers:
Whistles, erasers, candy, crayons, supplies to make a beaded bracelet, hair accessories, small flashlights, toy cars, lip balm, stickers, money, small bottle of bubble solution, rings, earrings, necklaces, nail polish, movie tickets, small gel pens, markers, colored pencils, glow sticks, fruit snacks, blow-out party favors, small action figures or Army men, super bounce balls, marbles, magnets. Can you think of any more?

Homemade Rolls at your Thanksgiving Table

Just thinking about fresh from the oven homemade bread makes my mouth water. It is just so good! Buying frozen dough or rolls from the bakery for your Thanksgiving dinner can be a close substitute, but they just don't quite achieve the taste of homemade. 

Below I will share some tips and a favorite recipe for using your bread machine to make your rolls. Making your own rolls for the big day really is easy, if you have a bread machine. Of course, you can make yeast rolls without a bread machine, but if you don't have a bread machine, and don't want to do all the kneading and waiting by hand, I will share a roll recipe that is a easier than traditional yeast breads. 

If you are making yeast rolls with a machine or without, make your dough up to a week before Thanksgiving. Shape the dough, and place on cookie sheets. Then cover in waxed paper and stack the cookie sheets on top of each other in the freezer. On Thanksgiving morning, or the night before, if you have an early meal, pull the dough out to thaw and rise. Bake the rolls and enjoy them warm with your turkey and dressing.  

One of the best recipes I've tried is Buttery Bread Machine Rolls. I first came across this recipe at Motherload: The Mom Advice Blog. These rolls are light and delicious. Last year, I made three batches of these. The first I made as stated in the recipe. The second batch was made with half wheat flour, and the third with half rye flour. It made for a nice variety and a colorful bread basket on the table. 

For those who do not have a bread machine or do not want the work of yeast rolls made by hand, Spoon Rolls are a good alternative. My sister in law, Delilah, gave me this recipe a few years back. This dough can be made ahead of time, and the rolls can be baked Thanksgiving day. 

Serving fresh homemade bread at your Thanksgiving table adds a delicious touch. Serve your rolls with real butter and homemade jam or apple butter for an extra special treat. Whether you choose yeast rolls, or a quicker version, like Spoon Rolls, the majority of the work can be done in advance, leaving you tend to the other necessary prepartaions Thanksgiving day.

More from scratch Thanksgiving:

Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin Pie

Stuffing

Photo credit: musicpb

Carnival #86

The carnival this week can be found at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven. You are going to love the visual feast presented there. Please enjoy this excellent edition of the carnival. Here are some of my favorites this week. 

Blow-the-Diet Cake by "Sherry"
Anything with chocolate and peanut butter is worth blowing the diet for in my opinion.

-Mason Jar Soap Dispenser by "The Organizing Blog"
I love these dispensers. How perfect for a home with a country decor! And easy enough that even a non-crafter, like myself, could make!

-Weed Soup (Literally) by "Out of Debt Again"

I have to include a recipe that can make something delicious out of the weeds in the garden! 

Hope you enjoy the carnival! Won't you join us next week? The carnival will be at Lighter Side. Submit your post via Blog Carnival. 

Lollipop Ghosts

These cute and friendly ghosts will be a sweet addition to any Halloween function! Make enough for your child's class or make just a few to have at home. Fast and simple is the name of the game here. I'll be you even have the materials on hand right now!

Kids love to help with these. Older children can cut the paper and tie them off while the smaller kids can wrap them up and draw on faces.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Scissors

Lollipops or suckers

Tissue paper or facial tissues

Ribbon or string

Black marker

Step 1: Cut a piece of tissue paper to the desired size for your lollipop.

Step 2: Lay the piece of tissue over your hand and stick the lollipop in the center upside-down and wrap the paper over the top.

Step 3: Gather the tissue around the stick just under the candy and tie with ribbon or string.

Step 4: Draw on a face. The face can be traditional (as shown), funny or cute. Use your imagination and you'll come up with many faces for your new spooky-sweet friends!

We've been Nominated

A big thank you to Miss Jocelyn over at A Pondering Heart for nominating Make it from Scratch. She is nominating us for the Best Variety category. We need three nominations to make it to the polls. Please take a moment to click on the button above and second (or third) the nomination. Thanks! 

Pumpkin Pie

What is Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? That slightly spicy and sweet pie topped with a bit of whipped cream is the perfect ending to your Thanksgiving feast, or perhaps it is the perfect snack a few hours later when you've recovered from the main meal. 

Pumpkin pie filling is easy to mix. Honestly, I have not found a recipe that is better than the classic Libby's Pumpkin Pie that is right on the can. It is simple. It is delicious. That is my kind of recipe. 

To make your pies extra special this year, I encourage you to make your crust and your whipped cream from scratch. Did I hear groans at the mention of homemade pie crust? I used to be among the ranks of those who cowered at the thought of making pie crust from scratch. I promise you that the recipe below is one that you will have success with. 

You can make the crust now and freeze until you are ready to make the pies. Pies can be made a few days before Thanksgiving and stored in the refrigerator. 

To make real whipped cream, chill a small mixing bowl and your beaters in the refrigerator. Pour cold heavy whipping cream into the cold bowl, and begin beating at a low speed. (If you start out on high speed, you may end up with cream all over your kitchen.) As the cream begins to thicken turn the mixer up. Beat until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat, or you will get butter. When the cream is whipped fold in sugar to taste ( a tablespoon or so should do,) and vanilla, if desired. Whipped cream will only keep for an hour or so in the refrigerator before it begins to separate. It can be whipped again if this happens. 

Pumpkin pie is a must for Thanksgiving. Make it extra special with homemade crust and whipped cream.

More Made From Scratch Thanksgiving

Homemade Stuffing

Homemade Cranberry Sauce