Sunday, August 21, 2011

Monogramming Made Easy!!

It has been a while since my last post.  So much has happened in the past few months, moved into a new home, traveled to LA to play a show with Saliva! We also had a huge and fun CD release party to officially introduce our new CD to the world, and so much more.  I will still be very busy for the next few months with lots of gigs all over the state, but I hope to get back to writing here more now that we are settled in our new place.  So I thought for my first post in so long time I would share some pics and an idea that I used from my wedding a few months ago....

Sometimes personalizing somethings in your home is nice.  It says this is the home of the...let's say McConnell's!  However my idea was not orginally intended for my home.  When we got married one of the things I wanted to incorporate was the "M".  Being such a do it yourself gal I made all most everything for our wedding including our monogram napkins and gift boxes.  After buying an "M" stamp and not getting the results I wanted I proceeded to hand paint the letters.  Then my genious husband suggested..."Why don't you just get a stencil and do that instead?"

Light bulb moment...I can just make my own stencil!

Here is the great part I used a plain old paper plate to do so.

All you need is the design to trace on the paper plate. Once it is on the plate cut the letter out using an exact-o knife.  Then you are ready to start stenciling. I used a pouncing sponge.  I would like to point out this stencil will not last forever it will start to absorb the paint, but I got at least 25 impressions from just 1 plate.  And since it was free I could easily make this as many times as I needed.

Sneak Tip: I ordered my napkins online( I don't remember from where, so do a little Google research to find a good company).  I ended up only spending $2.99 for a set of 5 linen napkins. I ordered 5 packs for a total of $14.95. Or if you like $0.598 per napkin. That is way cheaper than you can find in any store. Then I bought some gold fabric paint at the craft supply store for $3. That was it.  My homemade monogram napkins cost less than $0.65 to make, just renting linen napkins alone are $1 a piece. I not only did I get to keep my napkins, but I can now use them when we have guests over for dinner or for a special occasion!

This technique would also work well on any flat surface or to monogram sheets.  It will not work on towel's because of their fabric.  But get creative with it and I'm sure you can find a bunch of things to personalize!
Here are a few pictures of the project from our wedding that I hope you enjoy that my wonder friend and photographer took. You can't really tell from these angles but the red napkin's under the gift boxes were monogrammed as well.

P.S. I did all of the table designs myself, and the fabulous runners I used were... Wrapping Paper!!!

Have fun being creative - Amber

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Garlic Monkey Bread

Bread making does not have to be hard.  Even without a bread maker you too can make great bread at home.  If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer it is super fast and easy with the dough hook attachment.  But you really don't need one, you will just have to mix with your hands for a little longer.

I came up with a great no fuss recipe that came out better than any store bought garlic monkey bread.

Ingredients:

3/4 cups water
1/4 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of butter
3 cups of flour
1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 garlic salt
1/2 minced garlic
1 tablespoon of pesto (store bought, saves time and is delicious and keeps well in the fridge)
1 package active dry yeast

Combine  water, milk, butter in sauce pan and warm up, (do not boil!). Combine all dry ingredients, spices and yeast in bowl  (reserve 1/2 cup of flour). Slowly add the warm liquid. Mix together then add the last 1/2 cup of flour until completely combined into a nice dough ball.  On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough about 10 times.  Take a large bowl and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, cover and let rise for about 1 hour.  The dough should double in size. Take dough out of bowl and punch down.  Next divide the dough up and roll into 1 inch balls. Gently place in a bunt cake pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.  Let the dough rise in the pan for another hour. Lastly bake for 30 minutes at 400°F. Turn out of pan and let the bread cool.

Pull apart add butter if you like and enjoy.

Not only is making bread easy but it makes the whole house smell good while its baking!

I hope you will try and make your own bread every so often. Even if it isn't this recipe, there are a lot of great and easy recipes just waiting to be tested. - Amber

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Trust Me Ladies You Need These!

It is now graduation season and with summer parties all around I recently found myself in a predicament.  I went to a graduation and when I arrived I had to park almost a mile away.  You guessed it I was wearing heels and by the end of the night I was in such pain I wanted to soak my feet in ice water.  I had seen these neat little things called instant flats in the grocery store and had wanted to get them.

After this last incident of pain I decided to get them! I found mine at Save Mart of all places and they were very reasonable. I really love the fact that they come with their own little bag and they fit very easily into my purse.  You can get them online too! Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats, Size 7/8.

If most of you don't know I am also a musician and I often wear uncomfortable shoes for a long period of time.  But now I have my little slip on shoes with me at all times to keep my feet from hurting and getting blisters.  It beats the fuzzy slippers I usually wear to and from gigs! I have no idea how long these will last or how many uses you can get out of them.  But for $10 a pair, even if they only last a few times it will be worth it.

How I have happy feat - Amber

Friday, June 10, 2011

Super Quick Healthy Turkey & Black Bean Chili!

For quite sometime I have loved to take classic favorite recipes and tried to make them healthy.  This post is going to be dedicated to my mother.

I can always remember her trying to make sure we ate healthy things. She was the kind of mom who always bought whole grains and wheat bread even before it was popular.  Our breakfast cereals were usually a choice between Cheerios, Shredded wheat, Cream of Wheat, Malt-O-Meal and unfortunately Grape Nuts(sorry mom still hate that stuff).  It was only so often that we got a real treat like Lucky Charms. There was always fruit and a glass of milk to go with it. Vegetables were always present and I don't remember eating out a lot growing up.

She was and still is the busiest mom I've ever know, not only was she a teacher, she was getting her masters and then her doctorate all while never missing a softball/baseball game or a band performance! So Thanks to my mom who started my love of food and healthy living! I'd like to think that is why I now take it to the next level.

Now for the tasty stuff.

This recipe is just one of my many chili varieties. This one is great because it is super fast and it only needs one pot! Time is saved by using a few canned ingredients, which help keep the dish moving. This one is packed with good stuff for you too!

Topped with cheddar cheese and a bit of sour cream!
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 can rinsed black beans
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 yellow onion diced
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 green bell pepper diced
2 tablespoons chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large stock pot brown the turkey, then drain if needed.
Then on medium heat add the onion, peppers, and garlic to the turkey.  Let it cook for about 3 min. Then just add all the canned goods and spices.  Let it all cook together for about 15 minutes turn heat down if it starts to boil too much.

Then serve!

Quick Extra Tip; What is chili without cornbread?
I love to have warm buttered cornbread with my chili.  So I always have a box or two of the Jiffy Corn Bread mix in my pantry.  Yep that's right I love Jiffy mix!  It's quick and easy and you can make cornbread muffins or pan style in just minutes.  And rather than try to track down the best cornmeal (the good stuff is hard to find) I buy this box mix for around $1.

Happy Chili Day - Amber

Sunday, June 5, 2011

What Happened to The Art of Letter Writing?

Technology is a great thing if you don't let it control your life.  I think one of the negative effects technology has had on us is the loss of good old fashioned letter writing.  I still love to write hand written notes and cards, it says I took a little extra time to think about you.  I have collected stationary for a long time and every time I have a chance to write a card or letter I do.

Today I am posting about the lost art and how you can bring it back with little effort and a little extra personalization.

I love the dollar bins at Michael's! I can get great stuff and a ton of inspiration for just a few bucks.  I had in my stationary box a pack of blank ivory cards I found a while back.  So I decided to get the glue, paint and what ever else I could find to use and get my creative brain working.


Here are a few that I have made.  Trust me when I tell you these will make someone feel much more special  instead of the ones you pick up last minute at the gas station.

When we were kids we always made home made cards and our mothers loved them and treasured them forever.  So why does that have to stop as we become adults?  It doesn't. I'm not suggesting you get out the box of crayons and color away.  But there are beautiful ways to decorate them yourself.

Hope you get inspired to write a thoughtful note soon - Amber

Saturday, June 4, 2011

You Can Make A Closed Door Look Nice Too!

Living in an apartment can really stifle your decorating creativity.  I'm not sure how it works in other parts of the country but where we live walls are never painted anything other than white or light beige and you aren't allowed to change them. That is just one of the many irritating things that come with living in an apartment. But none of this means you can't have a cozy place to call home, and if you are creative you can make it look better than it really is.

I got today's idea from another blogger that I love Kandee Johnson, she comes up with lots of great stuff. So thanks to her my own creativity was sparked.  She recently did a post about a D-I-Y flower ball.  I have seen them online and in stores for $7 or more. I have a lot of art supplies, so I had everything I needed at home already including a lot of left over silk flowers in my closet.  I decided to take Kandee's how to and make a smaller version with some added ribbon to hang on my hall closet door.  It was very easy, and it really added a nice touch to my bland hall way.

All you need is a styrofoam ball.
A glue gun with some extra glue sticks
Some ribbon and flowers.

I glued the ribbon on first so I could cover the ends with flowers. Then I started to glue away.  (Tip: take off all the the stems and leaves)  Once I placed the flower I also pushed a little so the back of the  flower head went into the the ball to give it an extra sturdiness.

Here is the final result. Hope you like it as much as I do !

- Amber

Friday, June 3, 2011

That stuff is really stuck on...

If you're a daily cook, or even a once in a while cook, you know about the yucky burnt on food that gets stuck to pans. It doesn't matter what kind of pan either it happens to them all.  Since I cook with special stainless steel it happens quite often. I'm not talking about burnt food either, it just happens with certain foods.

(If you are wondering why I use stainless steel pots it is because of the health advantages. If you have ever seen a non-stick pan get over heated and start to fume that is a bad place to be.  Those fumes are toxic! Those pots and pans release chemicals into your food as well not just when they smoke.  Take a good look at one of yours if you have one. Are there any scrapes and scratches? Most likely the answer is yes. I'm not trying to sell you any new pots and pans, this post is not about that but I want people to know that those are bad news.)

Now for my tip of the day!  How to get that stuck on stuff off your pan.  I have to give this great tip up to my grandmother who I saw use this method for years without understanding why she did it.  My Grandmother to this day still uses cast iron pans for everything, plus she is almost 80 years old and has been cooking for longer than everyone who reads this blog has been alive.

And the magic secret is


TA-DA, Soap and Water.

Haha hehe you thought it was going to be a miraculous revelation?  But in all seriousness.  These are all you need, but it is how you use them that will make all the difference in the world.

Before shot with last nights dinner still stuck on
Start by keeping your pan on the stove burner. Add enough water to the pan so that you get about a 1/4 inch of water in the bottom.  Squirt a few drops of liquid dish soap and then turn the burner on low and let the soapy water slowly heat up the pan to a simmer.(you will probably need to find something else to clean for few minutes) then I use an already dirty spatula to gently scrape the bottom of the pan. Presto-chango it will all come up.  Next just wash the pan like you normally would.


The After!!
As I mentioned before I had watched my grandmother do this for years until one day I asked her why she always had the pan on the stove heating up soapy water.  I am sooo glad I asked, because now it saves me a ton of time

Have Fun Not Scrubbing - Amber

Thursday, June 2, 2011

I don't need Mc Donald's, BK, Wendy's or Carl's Jr

I have met very few people in my life that dislike fast food.  We might all know that it is bad for us and blah, blah, blah.  But we all still grab that burger and fries every so often, dig into it and enjoy every bite! When we get the urge for the burger run, I instead stay home and make it myself.  I am not only saving about 50% of my $ on  the deal but I can also control how it's prepared and what goes into my dinner. I will admit I still cave into the occasional In & Out Burger though.

I'm not going to list out every single thing I do for my homemade fast food but here are a few ideas:

Use wholewheat buns you by in the store, I'm sure I don't need to tell you why these are better for you. I pile my burger with fresh tomatoes and I can either grill the meat or when its to cold to grill make it on my indoor griddle. I can also use any cheese I want.  Now for the real treat, I often make my own french fries, but last night was an extra special treat with my homemade onion rings. Let me tell you these are way better than any restaurants and I can pick a much healthier oil than what is used when you run through the drive through.

So let me tell you how to do it.

My big trick for these is... I don't use a deep fryer...I use a WOK.. It heats up hot and fast and I don't need a ton of oil.  I also like the fact that since it heats up to a high temperature my food soaks up less oil. Plus every house and average cook already has one on hand.

Ingredients:
1 onion (peeled and cut into super thin rings, just my preference)
1/2 cup milk(non or low fat)
1 Tablespoon of fat free sour creme
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 cup of bread crumbs(pre-made store bought)
1/4 teaspoon of paprika
1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1 cup of  vegetable oil

First start heating the oil in your wok. Then mix your milk and sour cream in a small bowl combine flour, breadcrumbs and spice in a different dish. Working in small batches soak onions in milk mixture and dredge in flour mixture. After they are well coated drop in the in wok (carefully).  Once golden brown take them out and lay on paper towels to let the oil drain the rest of the way off.  Then eat up.

Surprisingly 1 onion will make enough for two people. Then multiply the ingredients if you are making it for 4, 6 + people

Now for a bonus tip:

I made my own apple crisp for dessert and to really jazz it up I added low calories caramel dipping sauce to my apples before baking. Plus it has oatmeal crumble topping. The oatmeal is another bonus of its own. Then served it up with Dryer's Slow Churned Pralines and Cream ice cream (1/2 the fat and low cal)  and with a dab of Nutella on the top.  It was stop traffic delicious.

Happy Noshing - Amber

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Afternoon Siesta Snack!

Chips and salsa are probably one of the most commonly served appetizers in our neck of the woods.  But it's also a common snack. Growing up I think my brother ate them every afternoon.

I have a great way to not only lower the calories of your common chips but also help you realize what a serving should be.  I think everyone can relate to opening a bag of chips and the next thing you know half the bag if not the entire bag is gone!

This snack/appetizer only take 15 minutes max to make and you will feel way better about eating this because the entire thing is less than 250 Calories!

Ingredients:

Chips
2 Carb Light flour tortillas(Mission brand are good, plus you can by the wheat version to get that extra bit of nutrition)
Vegetable spray
Salt

Dip
2-3 tablespoons of store bought salsa
1 tablespoon of fat free sour cream

Start off by preheating your oven to 350* F. Then grab a cookie sheet. Spray the cookie sheet with vegetable spray.  Then Take two of the tortillas(stacked on top of each other) and cut into wedges.  I cut mine into 12 wedges that make 24 chips.  Then put on the cookie sheet in a single layer.  Spray the tortillas with the vegetable spray and sprinkle with salt. Bake them for 10 minutes depending on your oven, and check on them every so often to make sure they don't burn. While the chips bake, mix your dip.  After taking the chips out of the oven let them cool for a few minutes. Then serve!  Super easy.

If you are really hungry you can eat this entire plate guilt free, or to cut the calories even further half it with a friend to bring it down to around 125 calories.  I will admit I ate the whole thing by myself and had to make a second batch for someone else :)

Happy Snacking - Amber

P.S. Yesterday's post mentioned my cat Teddy sneaking a taste.  Here he is at it again!  He really loved my Turkey Meatball and Tortellini Soup

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

One Pot Turkey Meatball & Tortellini Soup

I'm a big fan of 1 Pot dinners.  So is my husband since he usually does the dishes. This recipe was inspired by several other similar ones.  However I think I have simplified it to a simple 30-40 minute home cooked one pot meal.

I also love to make homemade soups and stews. They are hearty, healthy and filling.  Plus they are good for you, if you pick the right ingredients that is.  Plus if you are like me and are continually trying to find more ways to get vegetables in your diet these work great.  I personally have a hard time with the leaf greens. Just like a kid, other than salad, I try to trick myself into eating my kale, spinach and other green veggies.

Besides a large pot you will only need a bowl to mix the meatballs in and a cutting board for the veggies. Now I truly believe a good base has to start off a meal and this is no exception. So it all starts with making a tasty meatball.  I don't scrimp on them either, make them from scratch instead of pre-made, the taste is worth it!

Ingredients:

Meatballs
1 lb ground white meat turkey
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I buy the pre-made Italian varieties)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon of salt
(I also like to add a bit of my chopped onion to help keep them moist)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Soup
1 diced yellow onion
3 diced potatoes
4 chopped carrots (or to save time buy the baby carrots)
1/2 package of frozen spinach about 1/2 cup (make sure you thaw it and ring out the extra water, frozen gives you more bang for you buck too)
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 package of pre-made frozen tortellini
garlic salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot start with heating the olive oil. In a bowl combine the turkey with the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic and spices.  Mix them up and roll into small 1 inch balls.  Brown the meatballs on all sides, Next add the spinach, onion, carrots and potatoes, salt, pepper and chicken broth.  Bring to a gentle boil and let simmer for 15 minutes until the veggies are fork tender.  Add in the frozen tortellini and cook for 3 or so minutes, until pasta is cooked. Lastly taste to see if more salt is needed. That's it you're done!
Teddy at Christmas!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we did...
My cat thought it smelled good too, he was caught with is paw literally in the pot. After dinner, apparently when I turned my back he snagged a tortellini and made a break for it!

Well guess we can say cat tested, mother approved! -Amber

Monday, May 30, 2011

Are You Stuffed?

Today's post is all about a new recipe I tried partnered with one of my own go to favorites.

I like to flip through my collection of cookbooks sometimes to get inspired for new dinner recipes.  One of my favorite cooks that I look to is Sandra Lee and her book called "Semi-Homemade".  I'd like to think that in my own way I mirror her approach to meals. In flipping through the book my husband stopped me on the page that had a picture of Steak Pinwheels with Sun Dried Tomato Stuffing! You can go to the link below to view her recipe.
sandra-lee/steak-pinwheels-with-sun-dried-tomato-stuffing
Or get the book on amazon

So I decided it was test worthy and here is what the end result looked like!

Now I did not use her recipe for the mashed potatoes. I made my own from real potatoes.
(recipe is below)


I officially give this recipe 2 thumbs up.  It was delicious and filling. Plus it was easy to make!

Now for my addition

Sour Cream and Parmesan Cheese Mashed Potatoes!

Ingredients:
6 peeled russet potatoes (red potatoes are great too!)
3 Tablespoons of Butter or Margarine
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup sour cream ( I use fat free sour cream)
1 teaspoon of parsley
2-3 Tablespoons of milk (non or low- fat)
2 Tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste


Boil the potatoes until fork tender.  I usually cut the potatoes in small pieces so they cook faster.
Drain the water (do not rinse under cold water, you need them to stay warm and yummy), then smash them up.  Add the butter, garlic, parsley, sour cream, milk, and parmesan cheese.  Mix it up and your done!  I usually sprinkle the top of the potatoes with a little more parmesan cheese and parsley.

I estimate this gives you about 4 hearty servings, but that depends on your love of mashed potatoes. 

Overall the dinner was delicious and I plan on making it again.

Sneak Trick: to save money on this meal I bought carne asada steak instead, since it's usually on sale you can do this swap too!

Have a flavorful day! -Amber

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Did you say Muffins?

I love to bake and I love to eat just as much.  However having a sweet tooth or in my case all goodies tooth I like to make treats that aren't completely bad for you.  Who doesn't love homemade muffins? I also like to do what I call pantry/frig purging every once in a while to use up the things that have been left out of my usual cooking and last week was that time.  I had all my usual baking supplies and for some reason a lot of applesauce.

TA-DA I decided it was Applesauce Muffins time!

Since I do try to put extra healthy stuff in our diets these were no exception. (Thanks for teaching me do be this way, Mom! So glad I had a Mom who cared about the healthiness of our food.)

So yummy with my morning coffee!
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (if you use wheat flour they are even better for you)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk (any kind you have)
1 1/2 cups of applesauce!

I'm not a fussy baker so all of this gets combined in one bowl and mixed. You can use the paper liners or just spray some cooking spray in the cups so they don't stick. Next fill your muffin cups to almost full (contrary to other instructions I like large filling muffins).

I make a strussel topping as well in another bowl.

1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons of melted butter or margarine

Combine all of these to make a crumbly mixture. Then sprinkle generously on the tops of the unbaked muffins.

Bake at 400 *F for 20 minutes, do the toothpick test to make sure they are done and bake a little longer if needed. Makes 12 muffins.
Here they are, well what is left of them!

These are great for a quick snack, my husband loves to grab a few to take with him to work in the morning. To snack on throughout the day. They taste great a little warm, or at room temp.  You can put butter on them or a little honey for an extra special treat. They have fiber and fruit baked right in so you can feel good about these little "Sneak Treats"

Happy Eating - Amber

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Is that Clean?

I once heard the phrase, "Does clean have a smell?"

When you by cleaners in the store that smell like ocean breezes and fresh linens, most people don't realize that to get that smell a lot of chemicals are added to make it smell that way.  I have looked at all the "green" cleaning sprays and they are often twice as much as the other chemical ridden cleaners. I'm an asthmatic and I know that inhaling a lot of cleaning chemicals can trigger an attack so I always try to be conscious of what I'm using. What is in your home is very important for your overall health, not just the kind of food you eat or how much you exercise. On another note if you have pets and small children those chemically laden products are very harmful to them too.

Call it Martha Stewart inspired if you like, but my homemade all purpose cleaning spray is cheap and healthy. Plus the few ingredients that make it up are usually on hand and are cheap!  Let me also point out the I don't use this spray for absolutely everything, sometimes dirty household jobs still need the "Comet" or "Ajax" cleanser.  But I have found that my spray cleans just about everything else. I use it several times a day to wash my counters and stove spills. I dust with it and it works well on the microwave too!

First you need a spray bottle, easy enough so far
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
and a few drops of dish soap.

Once you pour all of that into the bottle just fill the rest of the bottle up with water...shake...and you're ready to clean up!

Why its good!

Vinegar and lemon have been used to clean for probably 100 years but has taken a back seat over the last 50 years to all the other junk. It's great for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity.  Plus the lemon makes it smell a little nicer.

Dish soap also helps break down the grease.

That's all there is too it...
So even if you're not that type of person who tries to live super "green," at least you can feel good about this little tip.

Happy Spring Cleaning - Amber

Friday, May 27, 2011

Welcome to Sneak Treats!

Hello to everyone out in internet land!

This is the first post on this blog, I'm so excited!

I had the idea to create this blog after getting many inquires about my homemade projects.  Basically I love to create things, anything at all, once an idea pops into my head. Mostly this blog will have my baking, cooking, and what I like to call fun project ideas.  Most of my idea's revolve around how to do things for less $.  But it's also about making little tweaks that I do to food to make it a little healthier.  I also have many idea's on things that look expensive and hard to make, but how they can have shortcuts to make your life a little easier. Sometimes I will probably even post about my attempts at new idea's and together we can discover if they work out or not :)

This first idea is what I call "Put On A Happy Face" Cookies!

I am a very lucky lady in that I have a fantastic Mother in Law, so this idea was a gift for her.  She loves anything Smiley Face related.  So I made her a plate of Smiley Face cookies.  During their creation I could not help but sing "Gray skies are going to clear up, put on a happy face"... I dare anyone to make these cookies and not find themselves in a good mood.  How could you not when you have dozens of Smiley Faces looking at you!?!

What do you think? (Yes, the card was also a Smiley Face that I made)

So here is my "Sneak" trick at making these "Treats"...
You could certainly make your own sugar cookies from scratch, however after comparing the price of the individual ingredients to the pre-made cookie dough in the frozen aisle, I actually saved money by buying the pre-made roll.  Not only did I save $ but I saved a lot of time by doing this.

After baking the cookies I made a simple powdered sugar icing.

2cups powdered sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of milk
and a little yellow food coloring.

I iced the cookies, used matching m&m's for the eyes, a little brown pre-made frosting for the smile and Viola!

For an easy icing bag just fill a sandwich bag in the corner with icing, squeeze out the air, close the bag, snip the corner tip and your ready to draw!!!

I hope you enjoy this first post.
Happy Eating - Amber