4th of July Goodies!

I love the 4th...  Here are some really cute ideas I came across on Pinterest.  I'm hoping to try a few this year!

Patriotic Pudding Cups

Source: lilluna.com via How Does on Pinterest

Red, White, and Blue Popcorn

Source: bloomdesignsonline.blogspot.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

Punch + Gatorade + 7-Up = Awesomeness!

Source: google.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

and for the flower pots...

Source: thescrapshoppeblog.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate..... Amazing flavored water!

Source: nancycreative.wordpress.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

Don't forget the TABLE...

Source: iheartnaptime.net via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

For the kids (even the big kids love these)!

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

Smores...Yes Please!

Source: myrecipes.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

I like the idea of using a variety of ingredients... Nutella (no brainer), Peanut Butter (of course), Strawberries (I'll let you know). 

What better way to celebrate our freedom's than with family and fun!

Source: landeeseelandeedo.com via Anjane' on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Covet Jewels on Pinterest

4 Ingredient Almond Toffee...

Some of you probably saw this posted on FB but I thought I would post the recipe for fun. 

This is my hubs FAVORITE candy.  I'm excited that I now know how to make it and that it only has 4 ingredients! 

**these iphone pics aren't that great but you get the idea....

Almond Toffee

1 1/2 cups chopped toasted almonds, divided
      (I toasted raw almonds in the oven with sea salt, optional)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
4-6 bars of chocolate (I used Hershey bars)

Directions:

1. Butter a 7x11 pan (or 9x12 for slightly thinner toffee). Sprinkle 1 cup of toasted almonds on bottom of the pan.

2. ***Warning*** This is the ONLY tricky part. Sugar can burn insanely fast! (I burnt it twice before I got it right!) Watch your temperature and pull it off the heat as soon as it reaches the right temp.
  
     In a heavy saucepan (don't use a non-stick pan) at medium-high heat melt butter and add brown sugar.  Stir until gentle boiling.  Reduce heat to medium or medium-low and boil. Continue to stir. It's best to use a candy thermometer. Pull off the heat when it reaches 280 degrees hard-crack stage***. About 10 min. 

***Candy will reach the hard-crack stage at different temperatures for different altitudes.  Find out yours here. We are at about 7000ft. So ours is about 280*

3. After you've removed heat, give it a good stir. Immediately pour hot mixture into pan over almonds. 

4. Unwrap your chocolate bars (mine were just regular sized Hershey Bars) and place them on top of the warm mixture. Let them sit a minute or so until melting, then spread chocolate around carefully with a spatula.

5. Sprinkle with remaining toasted almonds and gently press them into the chocolate.

6. Cool completely, and then break apart into chunks.  Store in a covered container.

HELLO...awesome toffee

that you don't have to pay

$18/lb for!!!

 

New Blog Design!

           I must be the LAZIEST blogger in history! I can't believe I haven't posted anything since Christmas! 

     Actually, I've been wanting to makeover our blog for awhile now and just couldn't decide what to do and I didn't want post until I revamped the blog. It's finally coming along and I love the new design! There are still a few bugs I'm working out so be patient (Like I'm pretty sure all the cute "connect" buttons over there don't work...).  *Update* they work now....follow, follow, follow!

     I think we'll do a GIVEAWAY to celebrate our new blog. There I said it, I shouldn't have.... but it's out now! So, check back soon for details! 

In the mean time here are a few pics of what I have been doing.....