Peppermint Marshmallows

Peppermint Marshmallows

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
¼ cup water
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops peppermint oil

1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
½ cup corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt

Spray a 9X13 pan with lots of cooking spray.

Fit a stand mixer with the whist attachment. In the mixer bowl combine ¼ cup water, vanilla and peppermint oil. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid to soften.

Combine the sugar, salt, corn syrup, and remaining water in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil with the lid on without stirring. When this mixture is at a boil, remove the lid and continue to cook without stirring until it reaches the soft-ball stage (240 degrees)

With the mixer at medium speed, pour all of the hot syrup slowly into the mixing bowl containing the gelatin mixture. Be careful not to splash. When all the syrup is added bring mixer up to full speed.

Whip until mixture is very fluffy, white and stiff- about 8-10 minutes. Add a bunch of red food coloring if desired. Pour marshmallow into the sprayed pan and smooth with a rubber spatula that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Allow mixture to sit uncovered for 10-12 hours.

Sift powdered sugar generously over the rested marshmallow slab. Turn the slab out onto a cutting board and dust with more powdered sugar. Slice with pizza cutter into desired shapes. Dip cut edges into powdered sugar and shake of excess powder.

Handsome Weston

Weston got a new outfit from Grandma Cristy and Grandpa Calvin. He wasn't doing a good job of smiling for the picture so I brought out his Curious George. This was his reaction when George popped out from behind daddy and the camera.

Tagged: 7 Things

1. I eat apple sauce on toast. Really, toast up a piece of bread, add butter and then pile on as much apple sause as can fit. YUM. And don't recommend apple butter to me. I want them separate- and then together, thank you.

2. I am an emotional basket case while pregnant. My most recent episode: I cried while watching "The Simpsons".

3. I only like movies that leave me with 'warm-fuzzies' at the end. If there isn't a happily ever after- I'm not interested.

4. I am absolutely head-over-heals for my husband. I don't think a better man/better fit for me walks this Earth.

5. With the exception of stocking stuffers, I am ALL DONE Christmas shopping.

6. Speaking of Christmas- we are going to spend this year up to our elbows in snow in Park City, Utah. I am going to be so homesick for Florida. Really! What is Christmas without shorts, Palm trees and being able to walk around the neighborhood at night without FREEZING to look at Christmas lights. And how can you have Christmas day without going to the beach and building a sandman?

7. Can anyone argue with the fact that "The Sound of Music" is the greatest movie of all time???

If you can read this: consider yourself TAGGED!

BIG FIRE!

This is our funny of the week:

We are at some friends house for Thanksgiving. Weston comes running down the hall from the kids room and says to me "FIRE"!
Me: *nervous laugh* There better not be.
Weston, tugging on my hand: BIG FIRE!!!

He then drags me down the hallway and points into the closet where there is a big fire truck that he can't reach. Whew!

An Army Of Turkeys!

This is my Thanksgiving Tradition! An Army of Turkeys. I remember making them as a kid. They still make me laugh all lined up there ready for battle.

Weston's Halloween

Weston had fun discovering Halloween for the first time this year. For Family night we carved his first pumpkin.

For Halloween, Weston was a monkey. For those of you who remember the previous blog about Weston and his monkey costume- Weston gladly stepped into his monkey suit when I told him we were going to Julie (our next door neighbor's house) for treats.

We invited Weston's bestest friend in the world, Nicole, over for some trick or treating. The 2 of them had a blast. We joked that it was the happiest day of their lives when they realized all they had to do was say "trick or treat" and complete strangers would give them candy. They practically dragged us through the neighborhood.

Of course, when we got home it was time to dig in. Nicole has 3 open lolly pops in her hands and mouth. Weston ate some, but had more fun playing in it- he doesn't get that from me.

Remember trading candy with your friends/family?

The other day I was sneaking a star burst in the kitchen. When Weston heard the noise of a candy wrapper, he found me and said "trick or treat".

No words needed

Weston the thrill seeker: Part 2

We got a new camera for "Christmas". The new camera takes great video. I love this feature especially now so I can share some of our fun times with everyone- and everyone that doesn't live close (aka- family) can watch Weston grow.

Mommy can't keep a secret:

The NC State Fair

We took our first trip to the NC State fair yesterday. Weston had a blast. If you ask him what he did he will tell you: Animals. Pony. TRAIN! He loved the choo choo train. He rode two different trains.
When it was time to ride the merry-go-round he refused to get on the horse. Crazy. So we sat on the bench- which he loved just as much.

Weston vots for The Man with the Yellow Hat for President!

Weston in Time Out

Tis the Season...

To make Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!!!

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil (or apple sauce)

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

2-3 drops of red and yellow food coloring

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl

In separate bowl, combine:

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 3/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture, mix well.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1 teaspoon milk and mix into the batter.

Add 2 cups chocolate chips (optional 1/2 cup chopped nuts)

Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Also try:

Pumpkin Smoothie

Combine in a blender:

1 cup soymilk

1/4 cup canned pumpkin pie mix with spices

2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt

1 cup ice

Pour soymilk in blender. Add pumpkin pie mix, frozen yogurt and ice cubes. Blend until smooth with a thick consistency.

Enjoy the season. I AM!

Weston the thrill seeker

Can you think of a better activity for a Friday night? We strapped Weston into his car seat and Mike flew him around like a roller coaster. Weston was having a blast, shreeking and giggling the whole time. He cried when it was time to put the car seat back in the the car.

Weston saying "whoa".

This is Weston crying when daddy said we were all done with the car seat roller coaster ride. I'm pretty sure that if we get into a car accident now Weston will think it is a fun game.

I don't wanna be the monkey!

We bought Weston a monkey costume for Halloween this year. I tried to put it on him the other day and he would have nothing to do with it. So last night Mike literally forced Weston into the costume while he kicked and screamed about it. (I wasn't home to rescue my poor defenseless boy) So after Mike got the costume on he snapped some pictures of Weston pouting. I think they are hilarious.

As you can see, Weston did eventually come to accept the monkey costume.

Get your hand out of the yogurt!

Weston is usually really good at feeding himself with a spoon. I have left him unattended with his yogert cup before. But not any more...

Silly kid- he is doing one of those forced 2-year-old laughs. He is learning his colors. Just the colors of his legos for now. They are 'boo', 'geen', 'bed', and 'ye-ow'. He is talking so much. When the logos don't do what he wants he yells "hewp" or "do it".

Another new development in his life is taking off his diaper. I snapped these pictures a few days ago while he was watching some Curious George on TV. Then the other day after I got out of the shower, Weston was innocently playing- nothing out of the ordinary. Upon further investigation (since innocence is rare) I found his diaper on the living room floor. Which means he unzipped his PJs, took off his diaper, and then zipped them back up. *sigh*

ROBIN KINNEY FOR PRESIDENT!!!

******Click Here******

Look out Obama!

Updates on the family and the garden

Another fun picture of Weston and his best friend George. I love his little hand curling around George's head.

This was just a fun picture I snapped of Weston. You can see my jeans in the background. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture of him running around with the pants over his head.

Look at my fabulous gardening skills. This cantelope was DELICIOUS and fresh picked from my back yard!

Now check it out, with some perspective.
*sigh*

An afternoon at the lake

How's the breeze, Weston?

Some tubin'

Some skiin'

MIKE! Where'd you go?