Giveaway!!!

We are so excited that we have reached 100,000 views!!!  We want to celebrate by having another GIVEAWAY!  This time it is going to be a Halloween Package.   This will include 3 of our new Halloween products, a Glow in the Dark Ghost, a Trick-or-Treater, and a little pumpkin.

To be a winner, you have to: 

1.  Follow us on this blog (if you already do, it's a free entry)

2.  Follow us on Pintrest

3.  Like us on Facebook

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again for all your support and looking at our stuff!  We will announce the winner 9/14/13.  Good luck!

~The Sissies~ 

Glow in the Dark, Halloween Ghosts

I love Halloween and I am trying every year to add cute decorations to my collection.  These are the cutest ghosts!  I am so excited to add them this year.  I know it is a little early for Halloween, but why not get prepared early.

This is a fun project to do with your kids.  For the project you will need a 3' X 36" cheesecloth pack, fabric stiffener, glow in the dark paint (in the craft section), a 2 L bottle, 2- 16oz bottles, a 3" Styrofoam ball, and E-6000 glue.

1.  First you will take the cheesecloth out and unfold it all the way out.  Next, fold it into thirds.
2.  In a medium sized bowl, mix 8 oz of fabric Stiffener, and 4 oz of the glow in the darkFill paint together in the bowl.  Crumple up the cheesecloth into a ball and stick it in the mixture.  Stir it around until the cloth is completely covered.  Let it set for 30 minutes.
3.  Take the 2-L bottle and cut 2- 1 1/2 inch ovals in the front towards the middle.  (You will attach the arms there so cut them where you think the arms would look the best).  One will be at 10" up and the other at 9".
4.  Attach the 2- 16 oz bottles into the holes and secure with hot glue.
5.  Fill the 2-L bottle about a 1/3 of the way with water.  Attach the styrofoam ball on top of the bottle.
6.  After 30 minutes, squeeze the cheesecloth out as much as you can.  Spread it out and on top of the plastic bottles.  Move the cloth around the arms and head so you can see some definition.  Also spread the bottom out so it will be able to stand on it's own once dry.  Allow to dry over night or several hours.
7.  Using black or dark card stock, cut out 2 oval eyes.  Attach on the inside of the ghosts head using E-6000 glue.
8.  Light it up or leave it under the lights for a little bit and then turn off your lights and let it glow!!!

We will also have these listed in our More Sister Stuff Shop, if you would rather just buy a finished product!

~Stacy~

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Ok, this recipe is one of our favorites, and I got it from one of my favorite sites...Our Best Bites!  We have a revolving "Kid of the Week" schedule, and with that schedule the "kid" gets to help with the meal planning and prepping.  Last week my daughter was telling me that this year she wants to always choose to eat hot lunch on the days they are serving "Crispitos"  (my kids only get to pick 2-3 days a month they eat school lunch).  When I asked what that was she started describing Taquitos.  I said, "How about we make some this week?" "Really?  You can help me do that?"  "Of course," I respond, "I am Super Woman, remember?" Ha ha!!  I am not, I wish I were, but I am not!  But I can make taquitos with the help of Our Best Bites!  :)

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

1/3 C. (3 oz) cream cheese

1/4 C. green salsa

1 T. fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, or garlic powder

3 T. chopped cilantro

2 T. sliced green onions

2 C. shredded cooked chicken

1 C. grated pepper jack

corn tortillas (I use flour if that is what I have on hand)

Kosher salt

cooking spray

Heat oven to 425.  Line baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.  Heat cream cheese in microwave for 25-30 seconds, so it is soft and easy to stir.  Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic.  Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions.  Add chicken and cheese and combine well.  You can prepare up to this step ahead of time and just keep in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. Usually 20-25 seconds will do.  

Place 2-3 T. of chicken mixture on the lower third of the tortilla, keeping it about a 1/2 inch from the edges.  Roll up the tortilla and place seam side down on a baking sheet, not touching each other.  Spray lightly with cooking spray or brush with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.  Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.  Serve with sour cream.

This is one of those dishes that I like to make a double batch and freeze the leftovers for another meal another day.  They freeze up great! 

~Rachel~

Best Oatmeal Cookies Ever

When Heather and I were in college, we had an RA come by one night to check on our apartment and she brought us these cookies.  They were honestly the best oatmeal cookies I'd ever had.  They had chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in them.  We HAD to get the recipe from her.  A few weeks ago, I was visiting in Colorado and had the privileged of eating these DELICIOUS butterscotch  cookies at a cookie store.  They reminded me so much of the recipe I now have and I had to make them again.  Hopefully you can enjoy them as much as I did!

1 C. Butter
3 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 C. Shortening
3 C. Brown Sugar
2 C. Sugar
3 Eggs
1 Tbsp Vanilla
5 C. Flour
3 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Salt
2 1/2 C. Oats
2 C. Chocolate Chips
2 C. Butterscotch Chips

Mix butter, shortening, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl until creamy.  Add dry ingredients.  Add the chips.  Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 350° for 11 minutes.

~Stacy~

Chicken and Broccoli

It is getting to that busy time of the year again (oh wait!  Did it ever slow down?!? Not here I guess)

Anyway, it is just about time for school to start here, and that always means my life as a Mom becomes very hectic.  This year I think it is going to be even more so with the hubby opening his own practice (next week!!) and three kids in piano, homework, basketball, softball, one wishing for gymnastics, activity days, throw in a few nights of me giving massages and you have a very hectic schedule.  I usually set aside the busiest day of my week as "crock pot day."  It helps my life become a little easier, with one less thing to worry about.  Last school year it was Thursday.  I would get the kids on the bus and then as I was cleaning up breakfast I would also start dinner.  I just found it easier to only have only clean up time.  Some recipes like this one only require a few hours and I would start them as I cleaned up lunch.

I love the easiness of crock pot meals.  They are for the most part, quick and easy, and then you get to smell them cooking all day long!  YUM!

I call this one Sunday Chicken and Broccoli because it only needs to be in the crockpot for 3 hours, and since church for me is 3 hours, it is perfect!  But we have it on all different days and it still tastes just as wonderful!  In fact, I made it last week and my little family of 5 1/2 (Oakli doesn't eat much) ate the entire crock pot full in one sitting!!

Sunday Chicken and Broccoli

2 to 3 C. cooked rice

3-4 cooked chicken breasts, diced

1 bunch of broccoli, steamed and chopped

2 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 C. Mayonnaise (we like Miracle Whip)

1 T. lemon jiuce

1 1/2 shredded cheddar cheese

Pour rice in bottom of crockpot.  Layer the chicken and broccoli on top of rice.  Make a sauce with the remaining ingredients and pour over the top of everything.  Set crock pot to low for 3 hours (or while at church).  

~Rachel~

Camo Cupcakes

My son just celebrated his 5th birthday.  He is my only summer b-day in the family and I was so excited to make him an ice cream cake, but he didn't want one.  He wanted cupcakes!  Cupcakes? Really?  And then I remembered that my friend had made some darling camouflage cupcakes for her oldest sons birthday this year.  Well, my little guy loves camo everything, so I knew they would be a hit!

My girls were very excited to help me with this adventure, and we ALL love how they turned out.

Here is what you will need...

Chocolate cake mix
White cake mix
All the ingredients that go with the two cake mixes (eggs, oil, water, ect...)
Green food coloring
four mixing bowls (can be small)

Make your cake mixes according to directions, DO NOT BAKE.  :)
In the four bowls you will need 1. just white, 2. just brown, 3. will have white with a dash of brown and green food coloring to your liking, and 4. will have equal parts of both chocolate and white.
so again...
1. white
2. brown
3. green
4. tan
I hope this is not confusing.  :/

Line your cupcake pan.  Preheat the oven according to the directions on your cake mix boxes.
Now for the fun part!! Have one teaspoon for each bowl.  I used our cereal eating spoons.  My girls were each in charge of one bowl and I had two.  Then we just started putting a spoonful of our color into each cupcake liner.  Fill them until they are about 2/3 full.  Bake.
I made my basic Cream Cheese frosting and just added a little cocoa to make it tan.  My son LOVED them!

4 oz cream cheese
1 cube butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 C. powdered sugar
Mix ingredients.  You can add a little milk if it is too thick, but you probably want it a little on the thick side for cupcakes.

Enjoy!

~Rachel~

Nicholas Sparks, The Choice

Another great Nicholas Sparks book is "The Choice".  

Travis Parker strikes up a friendship with his new neighbor, Gabby Holland.  All of his friends are happily married with great kids too.  This is what he has wanted too but just hasn't found "The One" yet.  He is hoping the friendship will blossom to something more, but their is one problem, she already has a serious boyfriend of several years.

This is also a very touching book with fun and witty times, a great love story with another heart wrenching moment too.  Be ready for more tears!!  I highly recommend "The Choice" as another good book to read!

~Stacy~

French Dip Sandwiches

   I have always loved French Dipped Sandwiches and have tried to make them a couple of times, but they never turn out like a restaurants...until now!!!  My family recently visited my sister-in-law and she made these for us.  They were absolutely delicious.  I had to make them the very next week at home because I liked them so much.  Just the aroma in the house while it is cooking is enough to set you over the top!!!  My sister-in-law and her sisters also share MANY recipes on their blog Stir Occasionally.  I can't wait to check out more from there!

For the French Dip Sandwiches, you will need:

Ingredients:

4 pounds beef chuck roast

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

3 bay leaves

1 cup soy sauce

6 cups water

Directions:

Place roast in slow cooker. Season with garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves. Pour in soy sauce and water. Cook on low setting for 6 to 10 hours. Unlike most roasts, the longer the better.

To serve, place in hamburger buns or split french bread and top with your preferred cheese if desired. Feel free to dip your sandwich in the au jus left in the slow cooker too!

~Stacy~

Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song

   I have recently finished another series of books and was in search of something else good to read.  I had read a couple of Nicholas Sparks books quite a few years ago and really enjoyed them, so I thought, "What the heck, I'll try another one".  The (ebook) waiting lists for most of his books were REALLY long, so I started with the shortest one on the list, "The Last Song".  

   

Ronnie and her brother, Jonah, have to go to North Carolina at spend the summer with their father who she hasn't spoken to in three years.  She learns who she is and really, what is important in life.  She finds love and forgiveness too.  

   I LOVED this book, but be ready for a HUGE tear jerker.  I was really sobbing at one point, but it was worth it!  Such a good book!  Hope you'll enjoy it too!

~Stacy~

Yummy Bars

This was one of my favorite treats growing up, and we were not even the ones who made them!  Heather's friend would always bring them over for us and they were usually gone in +2 days!  Finally, just before going off to college, we got the recipe from her so Heather and I could make them there, to impress boys there, and it did!  I have made them for friends and my kids now and they love them too.  I made them again today and my kids asked if they were really called "Yummy Bars" or if I just called them that because they are "Yummy".  The answer is, it fits for both questions.

The recipe is as follows:

6 Cups of Rice Crispies
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Caro Syrup
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Butterscotch Chips

(This will fill a 9X13" pan.  If you want a full cookie sheet of them, do 9 cups of Rice Cripsies and 1 1/2 cup of everything else).

1.  Put rice crispies in large bowl for mixing.
2.  In a medium sauce pan, combine sugar and caro syrup on medium heat until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is boiling.
3.  Either turn the burner to low, or take pan off the burner and add the peanut butter.  Once the peanut butter is melted, add to the rice crispies until evenly mixed.
4.  Pour rice crispy mixture onto the pan and pat until flat.  (I recommend you spray your hands with cooking spray to pat flat.
5.  In another sauce pan, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips then spread over the rice crispies.
6.  We have always cut them into 1 to 1 1/2 inch squares to serve.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

A couple of years ago, when visiting my Mom around this time of year, she had made batch after batch of this wonderful zucchini bread.  I could not get enough.  Sadly, she already had homes for most of the loaves.  I could not wait to get home and have a reason for making some of my own, but really, lets be honest, do you need a reason other than wanting a little chocolate?!? And it must be healthy right?  It has zucchini in it!  Anyway, back to this healthy bread...

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate

3 eggs

2 C. white sugar

1 C. oil

2 C. grated zucchini

1 tsp. vanilla

2 C. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease (2) 9 x 5 loaf pans.  In a microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate until melted, stir occasionally until smooth.

In a large bowl combine sugar, eggs, oil, zucchini, vanilla and chocolate.  Mix well.  Stir in the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

I have to admit, every time I have made this, mine stick to the bottom, not all of it, just a few chocolate chips here and there.  I called to complain to my mom and she said she has had the same problem in the past and she recommended that I use a little parchment paper lining the bottom.  I am trying this trick tomorrow, hopefully I get to it, and I will let you know how it goes!  :)

Happy Baking!

~Rachel~

Raspberry Preserves

A couple of years ago I wanted to try something new.  I didn't know what the difference between jam and preserves was, so I decided to test it out.  I made one batch of raspberry jam and one batch of raspberry preserves.  The jam needs pectin, which sets the jam and makes it thicker, the preserves are more liquidy (I know that is not a word, but that is how I roll).  With preserves you don't smash your berries like you do with jam, It does'nt really look like it in the picture, but there are quite a few whole berries in each pint, unlike jam.  I don't mind the seeds, if you do you have have to get rid of half the seed like you do with jam.

At first I was not sure what exactly we would use the preserves for.  Me being one who does not like things to get soggy, definetly did not want them on toast.  What to do??  The first test was vanilla ice cream... umm, YES!!  Delish!  Our next test was pancakes/waffles... WOW!  My hubby and I never, and I pretty much mean never, put maple syrup on them anymore.  Seriously, so good!  When we were down to 2 pints left, my hubby started to get worried!  But don't worry, this year I made two batches, there will be plenty this year.

Easy Raspberry Preserves

8 C. whole raspberries

7 C. Sugar

1/3-1/2 C. lemon juice, depending on the tartness of the berries

PLace berries in a heavy bottomed pan and pour sugar and lemon juice on top.  Set the pot over low heat, stir everything together.  Continue to cook, stirring occasionally.  As soon as you notice the first signs of boil, set timer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat when the timer goes off.  Cool to room temperature in the pan, then transfer to jars.  The preserves will keep in the freezer for up to 3 years, or a few months in the fridge.  

I actually process the preserves in a hot bath so that I can store them in my storage room.  Process them in the hot bath for 10 minutes (after the water comes to a full a boil).

Enjoy!

Rachel

Handmade Satin Flower Hairclips

  The Newest arrivals to our collection of Accessories are these adorable Handmade Satin Flowers!  The look great on ANY age!  They come either Plain or Accessorized with Feathers.  Right now our collection is with Pink, Pink with Pink Polka Dots, Purple, White, Black, Yellow, and Teal.  We will continue to add colors as we find them and hope you like them too!

*Buy 1 for $5.00 and get the 2nd one of the same color FREE!  Just change the cart number to 2 and it will take off the $5.00!!

    

Plain Satin Flowers- 

Colors Available

Pink $5.00 USD Pink with Pink Polka Dots $5.00 USD Purple $5.00 USD White $5.00 USD Black $5.00 USD Yellow $5.00 USD Teal $5.00 USD

Select Middle Accessory

Pearls Clear Gem Pink Gem Blue Gem Teal Gem

Satin Flowers Accessorized with Feathers-

Colors Available

Pink $5.00 USD Pink with Pink Polka Dots $5.00 USD Purple $5.00 USD White $5.00 USD Black $5.00 USD Teal $5.00 USD Yellow $5.00 USD

Select Middle Accessory

Pearl Pink Gem Clear Gem Blue Gem Teal Gem

Colorful Magic Cookie Bars

Colorful Magic Cookie Bars


Can you say YUM?  Don't these look delicious?  I was on the Kellogg's site looking for coupons and just browsed their desserts.  This is one that caught my eye!  What could be wrong with anything that has chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and crunchy corn flakes?  If you want to give it a try, here is the recipe!

Description

It's good that these bars are easy to make--just layer, bake and cut into squares--because they're so delicious that they'll disappear in no time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 48 

Ingredients



• 1 1/2 cups Kellogg's® Corn Flake Crumbs
• -- or --
• 6 cups Kellogg's Corn Flakes® cereal
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1 package (6 oz,. 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1 1/3 cups (3 1/2 oz.) flaked coconut
• 1 can (15 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Measure KELLOGG'S Corn Flake Crumbs, sugar and margarine into
13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Mix thoroughly. With back of spoon, press mixture evenly and firmly in bottom of pan to form crust.

2. Sprinkle walnuts, chocolate morsels and coconut evenly over crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over top.

3. Bake at 350° F about 25 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.


MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

1. Microwave margarine in 12 x 7 1/2 x 2-inch glass baking dish on HIGH until melted. Add KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKES Crumbs and sugar. Mix thoroughly. Press lightly in bottom of dish to form crust.

2. Sprinkle walnuts, chocolate chips, and coconut evenly over KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKE Crumbs crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over top.

3. Microwave on HIGH about 7 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Hope you'll enjoy them too!

~Stacy~

Happy 4th of July!!

    Happy Birthday America!!! 237 Years Old today! What an awesome thing. We hope everyone can have a FANTASTIC Independence day with lots of things to celebrate. This is one of the Sista's favorite holidays, especially remembering our younger years!
    It was tradition in our small town to start out with a pancake breakfast at the church put on by the Scouts. We would venture on "The Square" for the city Parade that would start at 10:00 am, sharp. It was always started with 4 or 5 Air Force Jet planes flying overhead in formation. All of the schools, clubs, and even many stores participated and displayed their floats. The 4-H club always had kids on horses, as well as Cowboys and Cowgirls from the rodeo and different groups. All of the little league and All-Star baseball teams had their groups riding in pick-up trucks borrowed from the local car dealerships! It was so much fun. We were always sad when it was over.
    Next was barbecue or picnic time with our families. We would either go to the Dam our Grandpa worked at or to our cousins home with a pool and just spend the rest of the day playing with our family...LOTS of cousins. It was AWESOME! We would then make our way over to the fireworks and all cram into the back of the car/van/ or truck to watch the fireworks and hear the great 4th of July music that would help us remember all of the people who had made our freedom possible. What a great thing to celebrate! It has been a fun challenge to incorporate old and create new traditions with our growing families, especially with so many of us living in different states throughout the country, but we all do our best to make sure our kids remember what to be grateful for and have great memories in doing this. When I (Stacy) first moved away from little town, Idaho, I was honestly shocked that EVERYONE didn't have parades and things of this nature, but we have tried to make sure to spend the day with family and friends and of course find fireworks somewhere to watch. Whether it is at the end of a baseball game, somewhere in the city, or just doing them on our own, we will be there!!! Here are a couple of ideas to help the celebrations along...

Fruit Flag.  My friend also made a Fruit Flag Pizza last year.  It was delicious!  

Here is a recipe for Fruit Pizza.

Oreo Cookies!  Otherwise known as Decadent Chocolate Truffels.

Here is the Recipe!

Substitute the chocolate chips for almond bark or white chocolate chips so you can color them.  Sprinkle them with blue and white sprinkles as another option!

4th of July Popcicles!  (official recipe at link)

You can also just be creative with juices to make the colors.  One note, make sure they are SET hard, frozen solid, before moving to the next color or you will end up with pink and purple, as we found out this with with our first attempt!  

With all of the fun and family fun, don't forget what it is all about...

Thank you, to all of you.  We will always be grateful!

Happy Birthday, America and Happy 4th of July!

Love , the Sissies!