Homemade Chocolate Syrup

This is one of my favorite things to make! One jar of chocolate syrup can be used for lots of yummy things in our house. We use it for iced or hot coffee, in almond milk, & on top of homemade banana soft serve and ice cream. This chocolate syrup recipe is so clean and very simple. No high fructose corn syrup, preservatives,  or artificial flavors. You can't say that about most store bought syrups!

 

Here is what you will need:

*1 c. water

*3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa

*1 c. sugar

*1 tsp vanilla extract

*a pinch of salt

(I found that the batch I made with regular white sugar was

delicious, but the batch made with organic sugar what a

little thinker. I don't know if it is because the organic crystals are a

little bigger, but from now on, I use organic sugar.)

 

In a medium sauce pan, whisk the sugar, cocoa, and salt.

 Add water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

As you whisk, the mixture will absorb the water and start to thicken slightly

Once boiling, reduce heat and cook for one minute.

Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Let the syrup cool for a little bit before pouring into your container.

Let cool completely before storing in the fridge. 

Ready to pour on pretty much anything! Yum!!

 

I use reusable jar lids by Ball for food that I don't put through the canning process. These lids are also great if you want to store craft items, pantry items, school supplies, or small items for a tool chest (nails or screws).

 

Sips of Sunshine

I love to start our days with a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Rachel really enjoys helping me gather our fresh produce and drop them in the juicer.  I suggest leaving you countertop produce in the fridge over night so it gets cold before you juice. You can put your juice in the fridge after you make it, but if you want to enjoy it right away,  I suggested prepping your produce the night before.

 

Our "Liquid Sunshine"

*Oranges

*Grapefruit

*Kale

Babywearing while juicing. Tess is such a big helper. Y

 

  Mommy's & Rachel's

  

 

 

Wipe Container Makeover

Anything that can make diaper changing more
enjoyable or "fun" for both me and my stinker is great.
I was tired of looking at our not-so-lovely wipe containers,
so I decided to put some extra fabric to good use.

 

I purchased a bulk box of wipe containers on Amazon.com. I paid $16 for eight wipe containers using their Subscribe & Save option. Two dollars per container and they were at my house in two days.

I'd say that's a win-win!

Wipe Containers on Amazon.com

(The price may have gone up or down since I purchased mine) I knew I wanted to decorate a few for myself and give some away, so the bulk concept was perfect. We use cloth wipes and fortunately, they fit perfectly in a disposable wipe container.

 

Here are the materials that you will
 need to cover your wipe container:

 

*Fabric of your choice

*Scissors

*Mod Podge

*Sponge Brush

*Pen

Start by cutting a big chunk of your fabric into a long rectangle. You won't need tons of fabric, so starting with a nice sized piece will leave you with plenty. (Sorry, I don't have exact measurements for the fabric used in this craft; I just eyeballed it.) If you are buying by the yard, I would get one yard so you have the option to make a few.  

 

Line the edge of your fabric up to the top of the container, tucked underneath the lip of the lid. Next, cut the fabric a couple of inches below the bottom of the container.

  

Use the Mod Podge and the sponge brush to coat the container as you go. smooth the fabric around the container and add Mod Podge along the way. I started in the back so that the front didn't show the overlap of fabric.  

 

Start at one corner, fold down the fabric, and

glue to the bottom of the container. 

 

Cut a small rectangle of fabric
to fit over the open space.

  

*Let the bottom dry before doing the next step

or it will stick to whatever you put it on.*

Cut another small piece and fit it over the top of your container. Trace along the flip-top part of the lid.

Cut around your trace and glue to the top.

Voilà! 

 Here are a few others we have around the house.

 

 Our decorated wipe containers make our changing stations look so much cuter and personal! Try looking for fabrics that match your nursery or changing area. It also might be fun to find a print with movie characters or your child's favorite colors, and have him or her help you decorate your containers. This might encourage  your little one to sit still during changes.

Check out my post All About Cloth Wipes!
Let me know if you have any questions!

♥

Bread & Butter Pickles

 I made pickles for the first time! Bread & butter to be exact (bread & butter pickles are sweeter than dill pickles). I have been looking for "pickling cucumbers" for a long time and finally found some at a farmer's market in San Diego.

 

I followed a very simple recipe that produced three jars of delicious pickles! Usually when I can a certain food, I put in through the caning process (setting the jars in boiling water and setting them sit on the counter to seal) so that it can be shelf stable. This recipe was for "refrigerator pickles" meaning that the canning process is not required. This kind of pickle is very tasty, but has a time limit for when they need to be eaten. Unlike a shelf stable pickle that can last a while in your pantry until opened. Next time I might try processing them so that I can make a larger batch that will last. It will also be better to process them for gifts.

 

Here is the link to the recipe I used:

 

http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/07/20/bread-and-butter-pickles/

 

The only thing that I did differently was use 

red onion instead of white.

Red onion is my favorite. 

♥

Welcome!

Hi there! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I just started working on it so please come back in the next few days to see my first posts. I look forward to sharing al kinds of fun things! Thanks! :)