Aunt Bill's Brown Candy

Aunt Bill's Brown Candy Recipe
   November 12, 2018 by Cynthia Ewer

Ready for a unique seasonal taste treat? It's Aunt Bill's Brown Candy!

With unforgettable caramel flavor and bursting with plump pecans, this old-fashioned cooked candy is a Sooner tradition in the state of Oklahoma--and it's been a family favorite in the Ewer household for five generations!

Not for the inexperienced candy-maker, but for those with a good knowledge of candy-cooking, it's a heavenly holiday treat.

Freezer-Friendly Holiday Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

freezer garlic mashed potatoes
   October 29, 2018 by Cynthia Ewer

A little-known trick to calm holiday cooking stress? Make-ahead dishes for the freezer. Cooked and stored ahead of time, freezer side dishes free up time for the holiday cook.

But can you get perfect creamy texture ... from frozen potatoes? Potatoes look watery before freezing, but the water will be absorbed as they bake.

While it is possible to substitute russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes yield a more flavorful dish.

Recycle Halloween Candy: Harvest S'Mores In A Jar!

Harvest S'Mores in a Jar
   October 23, 2018 by Cynthia Ewer

Making seasonal S'Mores In A Jar for any holiday is easy--if Peeps ® brand Marshmallow Candies are available for the celebration of your choice. Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentines Day are on the list, but so far, Thanksgiving Day is not.

Until JustBorn, manufacturer of Marshmallow Peeps, gets with the harvest holiday, we have a work-around for you!

Better yet, it's a frugal way to repurpose extra Jack O'Lantern Peeps left over from Halloween.

These Harvest S'Mores In A Jar are created using the back side of Halloween Pumpkin Peeps. Pointing the Jack O'Lantern faces to the inside of the jar creates a pretty harvest jar gift.

Better still, with Halloween Peeps on sale at clearance prices after October 31, it's a frugal and festive way to say "Happy Thanksgiving!"

To make it easy, our printable gift tag includes the S'mores in a Jar recipe.

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Sand Art Brownies

layered brownies in a jar
   October 22, 2018 by Cynthia Ewer

Looking for a classic "gift in a jar" for holiday gifts?

Sand Art Brownies are easy to make gift in a jar and oh, so pretty! Layered cocoa, brown sugar, chocolate chips and pecans make this Mason jar recipe extra-special.

Welcome a neighbor, thank a teacher or give a homemade Christmas gift with this layered cookie-in-a-jar recipe.

Our recipe includes free printable gift tags to make assembling your Sand Art Brownies a breeze!

Blizzard Bites In A Jar

Blizzard Bites Gift Tag
   December 18, 2017 by Cynthia Ewer

Crunchy and sweet, this no-bake snack mix in a jar is easy to make and fun to give.

Layer crunchy cereal, pretzels and peanuts with tangy dried cranberries and candied pineapple in a Mason jar or canning jar, then add meltable white-chocolate chips.

To make Blizzard Bites snack mix, recipients will melt white chocolate chips and coat the snack mixture with a sweet holiday topping. It's simple ... and sweet!

A great gift for teachers, Secret Santa exchanges or 12 Days of Christmas activities. Make it easy with free printable gift tags!

Candy Cane Bath Salts In A Jar

Candy Cane Bath Salts
   December 16, 2017 by Cynthia Ewer

Looking for an easy, inexpensive holiday gift? Pretty layered bath salts make a perfect gift for teens, co-workers or teachers. Sparked with the holiday scent of peppermint, Candy Cane Bath Salts are a seasonal treat.

Makes 12 gift jars at a cost approximately $1.50 per jar.

Free printable Candy Cane Bath Salts can be used as a hanging tag, or trimmed to fit beneath the outer ring of a Mason jar lid.

Haystacks: No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Unbaked Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
   December 12, 2017 by Cynthia Ewer

Each year, our family would wait eagerly for my grandparents' box of Christmas treats. This recipe was my grandfather's contribution: Haystacks. But we called these easy, unbaked chocolate-oatmeal cookies "Gramps Goodies"!

Chocolate bundles of crunchy rolled oats, crisp coconut and plump pecans, these traditional Christmas favorites are easy to make ... and this candy freezes well if properly packaged.

Easy Gift: Starry Night Melt-and-Pour Soap

Starry Night Soap
   November 29, 2017 by Cynthia Ewer

Transparent soap the color of the sky. A crescent moon and shining star glow through a sweep of glitter stars.

This project teaches how to add cut-out opaque soap inclusions to clear bars. A bonus: free printable gift tags make this a great gift for any occasion!

Makes 1 4-ounce bar.    Read More >>

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