That's how we roll

Although summer is almost over, I still like a cold treat whenever I can get one. This frozen log of love (oh yes, it's a log and it is full of love) is good in any weather.

Homemade Ice Cream Cake Roll (MIL recipe):

1 chocolate cake mix

6 eggs

2/3 cup water

2 half gallon blocks ice cream any flavor (Blocks are hard to find. I had to use the cylinder and it has less ice cream in it.)

Beat the eggs a couple of minutes then add the water. Beat the cake mix into egg mixture till light and fluffy. Cover to jelly roll pans (cookie sheets) with waxed paper. Divide batter evenly and spread out on pans. Bake 16-18 minutes at 325 degrees.

While cake is a warm from the oven, sprinkle a plain cotton dish towel with powered sugar. Turn warm cake upside down on sugared towel. Peel of wax paper and roll the cake with towel.

Let cool. This will help prevent big cracks from forming when you roll the ice cream and cake.

Cut ice cream into slices.

Place slices onto unrolled cake.

Using the back of a large spoon press ice cream and smooth in cracks.

Roll up length wise.

Some cracks will occur. No worries. Just wrap tightly in plastic wrap and cracks will disappear. Freeze until firm. It helps the rolls quality to also wrap a couple of grocery bags around finished roll before freezing longer than a couple of days.

Slice and serve. You could also drizzle with your favorite topping.

Remember: this recipe makes to Ice Cream Cake Rolls, so there is enough to share or enough to last through your favorite TV show.

Mod Podge Some Birthday Cake

I have been working on making homemade Warm Delights with a box cake mix. (recipe here) I thought it would be fun to give as birthday gifts for friends, neighbors and co-workers. So I put this mix in a jar. To make the gift wrapping fun and to re-use what I have I grabbed small jars. You can use half pint or pint depending on recipe size.

Cut a 2 1/2 inch circle out of scrap scrapbook paper. Mod Podged onto a used, but washed canning lid.

I just Mod Podged the edge.

Then covered the top in Mod Podge. (Let's see how many times I can use the words Mod Podge in this post.)

Tie a ribbon with a candle. Include directions on tag.

Microwave cake right in jar.

Let cake cool before adding candle.

Here are a couple of other Mod Podge posts for this month. Click on photo for full post. (The bread box post is one of my favorites. Be sure to check it out if you are new to my blog.)




Be sure to check out other Mod Podging nuts at Xazmin's Mod Podge Mainia @ This Is The Year.

Use your noodle

A couple of nights ago I was late getting dinner going and needed something quick. The kids were already disappointed that we were not going to be eating out, so I needed something fun. When we do go out they frequently order Mac and Cheese which really irritates me. I don't like paying $4.00 for half a box of something sitting in my cupboard at home. So, I decided to to take a cue from my children and serve Mac & Cheese, but make it a little fancier than normal.

I used the packet of cheese from the box.

I bagged the regular noodles. Replaced it with 1 1/4 cup mini bowtie noodles. (next time I will increase the bowties to 1 1/2 cups.)

Follow directions on box.

I served crystal light in fancy goblets.



There you have it. It's the same, but different.

Best Bread Sticks

I found this bread stick recipe a couple of months ago on another blog. I have tried to find what blog I got it from and I just can't seem to find the right one. However, I found numerous blogs with the same recipe. I thought it might be fun to include a couple of links:

Farm Chick Kitchen (I recognized Lisa in the follower list. She is also a follower here on Bloggin' it. What fun.)

Real Mom Kitchen

Both of these gals had the same recipe. As for me. I have made a few changes. I don't want to just repeat what other blogs do. So here goes.

Pizza Hut Style Bread Sticks

1 1/2 cup hot water

2T sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup non fat dry milk (I omit dry milk and use skim milk in place of water.)

1 T yeast (I use SAF)

3 Cups flour

1/3 cup melted butter

Topping:

2 T dry Parmesan cheese

1 T garlic powder

1-2 tsp salt

1 T oregano

And/Or

Sugar and Cinnamon blend

Dissolve sugar, salt and dry milk in hot water or in hot milk. I dissolve it in 1 cup hot milk and then add 1/2 cold milk to cool the mixture. Add enough flour (1 cup) to make a thin mixture. When the it has cooled till warm add the yeast and stir well. Add the rest of the flour. You may need to add a bit more until the dough is no longer sticky, but not stiff. Knead until smooth.

Press dough into rectangle on a greased baking sheet. ( I use butter flavored crisco for extra butter flavor and cut down on the amount of melted butter or you can just use half of your melted butter to coat the bottom of the pan.)

Cut with pizza cutter. Don't worry about cutting though the edges all the way. (I use a baking stone that is smaller than a cookie sheet.)

Let rise 10-15 minutes.

Sprinkle with topping. Okay, so this is my creative part of the recipe. Non of the others use Cinnamon and Sugar. Plus, I do some of both in one batch.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Serve with warm marinara and frosting. I use the basic water and powdered sugar frosting.

This recipe is so quick and easy. I love to serve it with homemade freezer soup.

Eatin' Asphalt

We like Winger's Asphalt pie. We just don't like paying for it or taking the wild monkeys in and having people stare at our totally awesome kids just because they are excited to be there.

Here is my version. You will need:

Oreos

Mint ice cream ( I suggest using a different brand than I did.)

Oreo pie crust

Chocolate sauce

Carmel sauce

Cream ( Use the kind in a can. It looks better.)

Microwave ice cream for 30 Seconds. Spoon ice cream into shell pressing firmly. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
Slice and top with cream, sauces and crushed Oreos.

Eat like a love starved Momma.

Homemade Bookmark

This is a fun east activity for kids. Your child may want to make a whole bunch of bookmarks to give-a-way to friends for school or even simply gifts to Aunts and Uncles.

You will need:

Paper

Clear Contact Paper

Scissors

Markers, paints, stickers or whatever you can find

You can cut the paper into strips or have your child color the entire paper first then cut into strips. You can also use existing art work.
Color.

Cut 2 pieces of contact paper for the front and back of you bookmark.

Adhere to paper. Smooth out bubbles.

Trim edges. There you have it. A homemade book mark.

You might even want to read books with your child before or after your craft or even take a field trip to the Library.

Once S'more

Every summer I cover the inside of a shoe box with foil. The kids and I then make s'mores out in the sun. We talk about reflection, outside temp., solar power and such. We try it at different times of the day so the kids can get a feel for how the temperature rises and falls. Anyway, it's mostly just for fun now, but when they are older I will help them look up answers on the Internet.

Another sideways picture. Ahhhh, I swear it was fine 2 seconds ago.

So if it is still hot in your region of the world, find a shoe box and give it a try. It works better if you let the marshmallow sit a few minutes in the sun first. It doesn't take long for the chocolate to melt.

Easy as pie

This honestly is the easiest pie to make and it's the perfect dessert to cool down your hot days.

You will need:

1 can frozen juice, almost thawed (my favorite is limeade)

1 lrg. Cool Whip, almost thawed (you can use reg., light or even fat free)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (you can use fat free)

2 graham cracker crusts

Mix together first 3 ingredients.
Pour into shell.


Cover and freeze until firm.

Let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Eat fast so you can have seconds.

S'more ideas

I was inspired a long time go by Lisa @ OneGirlieGirl. She had posted about her gourmet s'more. Instead of chocolate she used Andies Candies. So of course I had to try. Except I used Dove Chocolates. Carmel and Peanut Butter. I think the Ghirardelli squares would be perfect. I am going to have to try the mint as soon as I can get a hold of some.

Why is it some pictures look completely normal in the file, but as soon as they are saved to a post they end up sideways?

I just used the broiler. I placed 4 Marshmallows on 4 crackers and broiled them for about 1 minute. (just until slightly toasted) The I added the crackers with chocolate on top. Next time I will use two chocolates per s'more. Broil with Marsh mellows 30 sec. or so.

Place the two halves together and well you know what to do.


I will be back later today with my Trash to Treasure for this fine Tuesday.

Great Cans

Every week I think I am going to be ready for Trash to Treasure Tuesdays with Kimm @ Reinvented. Yet every Tuesday seems to come a little faster than the last and I am caught of guard. Next week I will have a piece of furniture ready to go. This week is a fun activity for the family using soup cans.

All you will need is:

Empty clean aluminum cans

Hammer

Nail

Water

Fill your cans with water and freeze over night. The ice will give you cans needed strength.

Place cans on their side on top of towels. Punch holes into cans using your nail and hammer. You can plan a design or use a random approach. You would like a lantern look, punch two holes across from one another at the top and add a wire handle.

Place cans upside down outside or inside your kitchen sink. You can run hot water over them is you are in a hurry.

Once they are dry you are good to go. They are great for camping or a beautiful center piece for a great summer meal.

I think we all know by now that I am not photographer and my camera is a bit outdated.

Another great way to use your trash.