Coconut Toffee

Now that Nascar season is over, the hubs and I are at a loss for what to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Usually we end up on Food Network - I like to cook, the hubs likes to eat; it's a win, win. One of the shows we really like is "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," which is basically a bunch of Food Network stars describing the best things they've ever eaten. For the holidays, they had them do a twist on it and share "The Best Thing I Ever Made" - but it was all holiday related. The hubs and I were watching and he saw Aarti Sequeira make "Coconut Toffee" and he was in love. I knew I had to attempt it.

Now this toffee isn't toffee in the way that we think of it. It is more of a sweet coconut candy, but hey - I didn't name it.

I found the recipe on foodnetwork.com and got to work.

Here's what you need:

• Baking spray
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut (also called finely grated)
• Pinch ground cardamom
• Drop pink food coloring, optional

Note: Ground Cardamom is expensive. Like $10 for a small bottle. But you could actually taste it, and I think it would be noticeable without it. I don't think that I've ever used another recipe that called for cardamom.

Spray an 8x8 square baking pan with the cooking spray and set it aside. 

Next combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat. This mixture is going to go through some textural stages and you're going to want to keep stirring it so the sugar doesn't crystallize along the sides of the pan. 

Cook until the mixture reaches the soft ball consistency or 235 degrees F on a candy thermometer. 

Unless you're magic, you're going to actually need the candy thermometer. On my first attempt, I thought I could just eye ball it - what resulted was a jelly mess that wouldn't set up. I went and got a $4 candy thermometer and the result was pink crystal perfection. Once it has reached 235 degrees, mix in the coconut, cardamom, and a drop of pink food coloring. Stir and pour into the baking pan, pressing firmly into the corners. If you've done it correctly, this mixture will immediately start to thicken.

If it sits there like a soupy pile (like my first attempt) then you didn't heat it to a high enough temp. Let your toffee harden (this takes a few hours), then cut into delicate little pieces and enjoy!

Overall, this recipe was simple, but attention to detail was necessary (the candy thermometer)! It was also really fun because watching the sugar and water solution go through different stages was like performing a science experiment. Also, the finished product looked just like the finished product on Food Network. Plus, the hubs approves. :)

<3 M

Simple Color Pop Picture Frames

Lately, I've been very into bright pops of color and contrasting colors. Color definitely perks up the place, and adding color is also a great way to give something old some new life. I've seen some adorable brightly painted picture frames at Hobby Lobby, however the price was definitely not adorable. I decided to create some of my own.

I started out with some ugly  picture frames that I had found on rummage sales. I'm pretty sure I paid 50 cents for the gold one and 75 cents for the other one. You'll want to find frames that have some carving or design imprinted on them.

Ugly right? :) 

I then took them apart - removed the back and the glass and spray painted the frames. I chose a bright aqua color. I didn't use a primer, and the paint on the frames has held up. I did choose the $5 spray paint over the cheapy 97 cent spray paint - in the past I've found that the cheap kind doesn't really cover  much of anything well.

 

Here's how they looked after the spray paint - the color is kind of washed out in these photos - it's much brighter in real life. I used 2 coats of spray paint on these.

After they've dried completely, add photos and enjoy!

I chose to use black and white wedding photos in mine. After doing these, I really want to do a variety of black and white photos in colored frames - I'm thinking a mustard yellow, hot pink, and orange! I'll definitely be on the lookout for more ugly frames at yard sales and thrift stores! You could also do chalk board or cork board in the frames. 

Simple, cost-effective, and adorable. Win, win, win.

<3 M

On Guns, Rights, and Responsibilities

Friday, December 14, 2012 marks a terrible day for our nation. The loss of so many innocents (the majority of which were children) is a tragedy.

I really should stay away from Facebook, because I just keep seeing things that piss me off. The majority of which are people that are blaming anything except anything to do with guns for this incident. And yes, I realize this may be more of a rant than anything, and it might be fueled by emotion. No one reads this blog anyway, so at least maybe it will make me feel a little better.

Let's be clear: I DO NOT want to take away people's guns. I enjoy going to the range and shooting. The big argument is that it is our right to bear arms. With any right comes responsibility. The lack of responsibility required with owning or using a gun is absolutely appalling. In life, when you want to do things, there are steps you need to take. There are licenses or certifications you need to get. Some examples:

• If you want to purchase a car, you must license it and register it. 
• If you want to drive a car, you must complete a series of tests to get a license. Once you have a license to operate a motor vehicle, you must also renew that license periodically.
• I listened to a lecture from a falconer yesterday. You need a license to have a falcon and practice falconry.
• If you want to drive a bus, you need a special license.
• In Memphis, you need to purchase a $10 permit to panhandle.
• Some city require permits for residents to hold a rummage sale. Some cities have limitations on how many rummage sales one person can have in a period of time.
• Most cities require you to register your dog. We have to purchase new dog tags every year.

This list could go on and on... one obvious thing missing? Owning a gun. Really, all you need is some dough. If you go to a public dealer, you'll need to go through a background check (which, unless you're a felon, you're good). If you go through a private dealer, all you need is the dough.

WTF people? You have to go through more hoops to adopt a dog from a shelter - are you going to spay or neuter the dog? No? No dog adoption. Do you have a fenced in yard? No? No terrier adoption. A lot of shelters do home visits to ensure the dog is in a good home. 

There are public records of many things in a person's life - birth, marriage, death, titles, etc. But no gun registry. Why is that? Because Hitler did it, it's an invasion of privacy, (insert some other stupid reason), etc.

Do I want to take away guns in general? No. However I do think that in order to operate a gun, you should have to pass a gun safety course and get a license (much like learning to drive and getting a drivers license). I think that in order to own a gun, you should be mentally stable (to the best of anyone's knowledge), you should need to have a background check done (regardless of where said gun was purchased), and your gun should be registered with the state. Owning and operating guns should be no different than owning/operating cars. 

I'm all for people having guns - sane, mentally stable people that can pass a background check and don't purchase their guns at Wal-Mart.

<3 M

Santa Maybe...

Today one of my friends posted on Facebook that they can't believe that people lie to their kids about Santa Clause. Their main point was that it is never okay to be that deceitful to anyone, at any age, so why is it okay to do that to your kids. Many people agreed with this post and said that they never did the Santa stuff with their kids. There was a lot of passive aggressive comments about how they are honest with their kids and don't want to teach their kids to be deceitful.

Although I see their point, the post made me really sad. The belief in Santa is such a magical thing, at least it was for me. I actually clung to the belief in Santa long after I knew the truth, because I wanted to believe it so badly. Losing Santa was like losing some part of my childhood. I never saw it as my parents lying to me, or being deceitful. Even at the time, I thought they were just trying to keep the magic alive, and they in turn asked me to keep it alive for my little sister. I was sad, because I wanted Santa to be real, but never once was I upset or mad at my parents about it.

I guess if I had never known about Santa, maybe I wouldn't have missed him. If my parents had raised me all along knowing that Santa is make believe, I wouldn't have experienced the let down when I found out the truth. I think I would have felt left out when my friends talked about Santa, and I probably would have spoiled that magic for them with the truth.

But I wouldn't have experienced the magic. I wouldn't have felt that excitement when Santa had eaten the cookies we left out, or took the carrots for the reindeer. I wouldn't have wondered how Santa could have possibly snuck in our house without anyone hearing him. I wouldn't have almost wet myself because I thought I saw Santa's sleigh and reindeer in the sky (while listening to the radio that was tracking Santa's movement), and I wouldn't have felt that thrill when Santa "accidentally" dropped one of our packages outside.

When the hubs and I have children, Santa will visit our house. We will leave out cookies and carrots, we'll listen for hooves on the roof, we'll write letters to the North Pole, and we'll listen to the radio and Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Eve. When it's time, we'll explain to our children that although we are the ones leaving presents, that Santa lives in everyone, spreading magic and Christmas cheer.

<3 M

Revamped Vintage Christmas Lights

A fairly productive stay at home day - some Christmas shopping, wrapped 12 presents, picked up my bonus check, paid 2 bills, and I revamped some vintage Christmas bulbs. I had seen this project on Pinterest and I decided to give it a try.

Here's what you'll need for this project:

Mod Podge, an old paint brush, glitter, vintage Christmas lights, and something to dry the bulbs on - I used a paper plate. I also have paper to try to contain the glitter mess. :)

I started out with some old vintage Christmas lights that I had laying around. These belonged to my grandma, and although I didn't want to part with them, I also didn't know what to do with them.

I started out by applying Mod Podge on the bulbs with the old paintbrush.

I then spooned glitter over the Mod Podge. Note: If the bulb is a different color than the glitter, you're going to have to go over some spots twice.

 Then I let the bulbs dry for a little while - this didn't take too long, maybe a half an hour.

I then put them in a jar, tied on a bow and enjoyed the new addition to my holiday decorating!

This picture doesn't do it much justice, but it really is cute in person (I promise)! Overall, this project was super easy, a bit messy, and the finished project actually resembled the finished product in the original tutorial. <3 M

All I want for Christmas...

The hubs tends to forget to get my Christmas present until the 23rd or 24th. He's then rushed and ends up shopping in town, and usually ends up with a gift card or something that is maybe more of a gift for him than for me. I used to hint at things I liked, but eventually realized that was futile. I then started flat out telling him things I liked. However, he usually forgets. Back in the day though, he used to put quite a bit of thought into it and kind of rocked out in regards to gift giving. So here it is, my Christmas wish list... although I'm sure even this won't help.

1. Women's Columbia Bugaboo Jacket... b/c hey, it's freaking cold in South Dakota.

2. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer (white)

3. Sexy Little Things Noir by Victoria's Secret

4. Mint Green Fossil Maddox Flats

5. Canon Powershot S110 (yeah, this one's not happening... spendy, spendy)

But honestly, I'd be just as happy with a hand written love letter and a day with his full attention. :)

<3 M

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

So, believe it or not, sometimes I do other things besides atheist related stuff. Especially now that it's Christmas time.

Wait... what? I'm an atheist - I can't celebrate Christmas, right? Wrong. I love this time of year. For some reason, I'm feeling especially Christmas-y this year. I don't know what it is this year but the songs sound better, the holiday smells are more aromatic, the Christmas tree is more magical, the lights are sparklier... even the hubs has caught the Christmas spirit this year (that Grinch's heart has grown 2 times bigger already this year). To clarify, I'm not into the baby Jesus stuff or any of that, but I enjoy the music, the baking, the gift wrapping, the decorating, and spending time with family. To be fair, most of the Christians I know don't really do anything different, other than dragging their ass to church on Christmas Eve. Oh, and make corny references to Jesus being the reason for the season. Wrong bitches - axial tilt is the reason for the season.

One of the things I love (and hate) about this time of year is the music. If it's done well, I'm aces and you'll find me singing and bopping along in no time. However, a lot of it is awful. Awful, awful, awful. Do you know what's not awful (and coincidentally is also one of the best Christmas albums I've heard)?

A Very She & Him Christmas

This album is fan-fucking-tastic. The combination of Zoey's vocals, the ukelele, and M. Ward's guitar = AMAZING. I've listened to this album 4 times in the past 24 hours. I'm sure I will be listening to it many, many, many more times before Christmas. Added bonus - it's a totally secular album. Check it out. Now!

<3 M