menu icon
go to homepage
  • Christmas
  • DIY
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Christmas
    • DIY
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home

    Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

    January 6, 2014 By Brandy Leave a Comment

    Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
    This is our favorite peanut butter cookie. Moist and perfectly balanced with oatmeal.  The texture and consistency is absolutely perfect. They flatten nicely while baking and stack just right.
    Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
    1 cup butter
    1 cup packed brown sugar
    ¾ cup white sugar
    1 cup peanut butter
    2 eggs
    1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    2 teaspoons baking soda
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 cup quick-cooking oats
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the oats until just combined.
    IMG_7328
    The dough is a soft blended dough. Not your typical peanut butter cookie dough. You will need to drop using a tablespoon or a medium cookie scoop instead of rolling out into balls.
    IMG_7338
    Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until just light brown. Don't over-bake. Cool 5 minutes before transferring to a rack and store in an airtight container.

    Candy Cane Forest Peppermint Ice Cream Cake

    December 20, 2013 By Brandy 2 Comments

    A candy cane peppermint ice cream cake is just right for a winter birthday! Inspired by the movie, "Elf" this candy cane forest cake is delicious and oh so festive!

    peppermint cake on cake stand

    When your birthday is the week before Christmas you can either shun all things Christmas related, or embrace them. Aaron decided to embrace them this year and asked to have an "Elf" birthday party. Not only is that one of our favorite Christmas movies, but it is also such an easy party theme!

    paper elf shoe gift bags

    We ate waffles for dinner with syrup and marshmallows, watched "Elf", played "Elf Yourself" and enjoyed this delicious Candy Cane Ice Cream Cake. If you are missing the relationship between Elf and this cake, read on...

    "I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel."---Buddy the Elf.

    This is where the inspiration for a Candy Cane Forest cake came from. This cake was delicious. I loved having a frosting-less cake. Call me crazy, but I'm not big on frosting. Ice cream and cool whip were perfect substitutes. And not just ice cream, but PEPPERMINT ice cream. One of my favorites!

    peppermint cake with candy canes on top

    Two round Devil's Food cakes, each cut in half and filled with a half a gallon of peppermint ice cream. Frosted in Cool Whip, sprinkled with holiday Oreos and adorned with candy canes (still in their wrappers to keep them from getting sticky).

     

    chocolate cake stacked without frosting

    The process was messy!

    The key is to making this peppermint ice cream cake is to work quickly and freeze the cake in between each step.

    Lots of quick freezes to keep it COLD and it quickly began to take shape. As you can see, by the photo above, I didn't work quickly enough at first.  I was able to smooth out the ice cream and it froze completely.

    frosted chocolate peppermint cake

    I did a quick layer of cool whip and then froze it again (each freeze was for about 15 minutes) before adding a final layer to cover all of the crumbs.

      peppermint ice cream cake on white cake stand

    A minty, decadent cake. Simple and inexpensive to whip up and a hit with everyone at the party!

    You might also like...

    stack of chocolate peppermint cookies

    Triple Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Cookies

    bag of peppermint bark candies

    Chocolate Peppermint Cups

    mug of peppermint hot chocolate

    Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe

    You might also like these ice cream cake recipes!

    Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa

    December 16, 2013 By Brandy 1 Comment

    ghirardelli hot cocoa

    My husband makes the best hot cocoa. Our kids call it "Santa's favorite".  And...it is. We like it as much, if not better, than Starbucks. That's saying a lot because I am a huge Starbucks hot cocoa fan! Rich, creamy, full of Ghirardelli chocolate flavor, and super easy too! It only takes 3 ingredients.

    green mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream

    I think what makes it so good is that he doesn't use cocoa powder. Just chocolate.

    ghirardelli hot cocoa recipe

    Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa

    To make your own you will need:

    2 cups whole milk

    ⅓ c.  Ghirardelli chocolate chips (OR dark chocolate melting wafers)

    whipped cream (optional)

    Chocolate chips work perfectly, but I usually buy a lot of the melting wafers for my English toffee around the holidays and like to use them in cocoa too.

    ghirardelli hot cocoa recipe

    Heat milk into a sauce pan until it begins to simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

    Remove from heat and pour in chocolate chips.

    ghirardelli hot cocoa recipe

    Stir until chocolate has melted completely.

    mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream

    Top with whipped cream and any seasonal spices you'd like. As it cools, the chocolate will start to create a film over the cocoa. If this happens to your pot of hot cocoa, just warm it up again and the chocolate will melt smooth again.

    My kids love peppermint cocoa too so I think I need to go buy some Torani syrups. Besides peppermint, what other flavors are worth trying? Mint? Hazelnut? I'd love your flavor combo suggestions!

    Meet Toby: the newest member of the family.

    December 14, 2013 By Brandy 20 Comments

    boy with puppy

    Meet Toby! He is our 10 week black lab puppy. After being married for almost 12 years and being asked to get a dog, relentlessly by the kids, for the past 8, we are first time dog owners. We were on the hunt for a shelter dog, with little results. We wanted a family friendly dog that would be a good fit for us and this little guy kind of fell into our laps yesterday!  And for not being a "dog person" he is kind of growing on me.

    black lab puppy

    He was still living with his parents. The last puppy from the litter who was going to go to the owner's sister, but that didn't end up working out. They had already began training him and treated him like he was their own. He is very submissive  and sweet, and so great with the kids.

    black lab puppy face

    Since we are one of the few Americans who haven't owned a dog, I thought I'd skip the crafting today and ask for some info and advice from you fabulous ladies!

    Crate:

    He is crate trained. We are thinking of having his crate upstairs in the hallway (we have a big landing). Good idea? Bad? Do crates generally go in a main living area?

    Toys:

    My sister gave me some great suggestions that they use for their mastiff. Any recommendations specifically for labs who chew on everything?

    House:

    This has been my main hang up with getting a dog. I don't want my house to smell like one. Most of my friends are probably sitting here with their jaw dropped hearing that there is a dog in my home. He is going to be an outdoor/indoor dog. So  I'm hoping that keeping him brushed will help with the hair.

    What products would you recommend for my carpet? He is almost potty trained so I'm looking more for fresheners. Nothing that gives off a cheap air freshener vibe, just something that deodorizes and absorbs. Thoughts?

    I'm looking at getting another steam vac. Our other one only lasted a year. I'd love suggestions on those too.

    I think that's all for now, but I'm sure I'll be back with more questions! If you have any advice for raising a lab, I'd love to hear it!

     

    30 Minute Microwave Peanut Brittle

    December 12, 2013 By Brandy 8 Comments

     

    small cups of peanut brittle

    Growing up, one of my favorite things to receive at Christmas was homemade English toffee from my Aunt. My mom would also make microwave peanut brittle from a recipe she found in a  Country Christmas recipe book  in the 90s. We loved it!  I also enjoy making candy for friends and family during the holiday season. I've shared our toffee and caramel corn with you before so today I want to share our microwave peanut brittle recipe! The exact recipe my mom used is no longer around, but I found one that was just like it (with a few minor adjustments). My mom always used Spanish peanuts, but I couldn't find those so I used unsalted dry roasted.  Make a batch and bring it to your Thanksgiving gathering!

    I would HIGHLY recommend clicking through the link below that I gave credit to  and reading the comments about different timing settings for microwaves. My first batch ever scorched, but once I figured out the timing for my wattage of microwave it was fine.

    small cups of peanut brittle

    30 Minute Microwave Peanut Brittle

    adapted

    (original recipe for a 700 watt microwave. My instructions below are for a 1000 watt microwave)

    2 c. raw Spanish peanuts (or roasted unsalted peanuts)

    1 c. sugar

    ½ c. light corn syrup

    dash of kosher salt

    1 T. butter

    1 tsp. vanilla

    1 tsp. baking soda

    cooking spray

     

    sugar and peanuts in bowl

    Lightly spray baking sheet cooking spray. Set aside. In large glass bowl, combine peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Stir to coat peanuts evenly. Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir. Microwave another 2 minutes. Stir.

    square of butter in peanut brittle mixture

    Add butter and vanilla. Stir. Microwave for 1 ½ minutes.

    teaspoon of baking soda

    Add baking soda. Stir.

    Pour mixture out onto baking sheet. Gently smooth into an even layer of peanuts. Let sit for 15 minutes. Break up into pieces and store in an airtight container.

    peanut brittle on pan

    Fill bowl with hot, soapy, water and let sit. This will make it easier to clean. If you are making multiple batches, having another glass bowl is nice.

    small cups of peanut brittle

    Makes 1 pound of peanut brittle.

    Beaded Charm Bracelets

    December 11, 2013 By Brandy 2 Comments

    two charm bracelets on bag

    Today I'm sharing another fun gift idea that kids can make (with a little help). The girls made these beaded charm bracelets to give to each other for Christmas. Ruby loved the one she made for Kaylee. Little does she know that Kaylee made one for her too! They were incredibly easy to make.  Here's a very quick tutorial.

    beads, string, glue and charm backing

    You will need:

    beads

     a bail to glue your charm on (if it doesn't have fitting on it already)

    super glue

    stretchy cording

    sand paper (optional)

    hello kitty charm

    I used a bit of sand paper and sanded the back of our charm and the front of the bail. Just to rough it up a bit to make sure it had a nice firm hold. Then I super glued the charm onto the bail and let it dry for a few minutes.

    You can turn any little resin bead or cabochon  into a charm by adding a bail on the back!

    little girl wearing charm bracelet

    Then we strung it with beads and tied several knots in the cording! Nice and sturdy and stretchy!

    If your cording is slippery you can add a dab of super glue on your knot to keep it in place.

    two charm bracelets on bag

    I think they turned out darling! The charms and beads and little gift bags came from Wholeport. The bails came in a 3 pk. at Michaels in the jewelry section for a few bucks.

    This post contains links to products that I ordered and received in exchange for use in a post on Gluesticks. I picked out each item and each review is 100% my own.

    Paracord Bracelet: a gift that kids can make!

    December 10, 2013 By Brandy 1 Comment

    Make a DIY paracord bracelet! A fun and practical gift that kids can make. Paracord comes in so many bright colors. Mix and match for a custom bracelet. Step by step videos will show you how to make your own!

    collage of paracord bracelet

    Dallin has been a busy bee over here! He has been having fun making paracord bracelets to give to family and friends for Christmas. All of our kids are making gifts this year instead of buying them, and I will be sharing our ideas throughout the giving season with you! Rubber band bracelets seem to be all the rage lately. These fads come and go, just like the silly bands. Remember those? I like these paracord bracelets because they are not just a fashion statement, they are actually functional too! A nice little bonus that got Dallin's attention.

    blue and teal bracelet on wrist

    Dallin is 10 years old, in Webelos, and has a best friend who is into the same things. They are two peas in a pod as they explore our small town on their bikes. It's a fun age, an age of new independence.

    boy with paracord bracelet

    Paracord Survival bracelets are the perfect gift for kids to make (with assistance from mom or dad) because they aren't just a bracelet, they are a tool at the same time. Dallin is all about his gadgets (pocket knife, survival tool, compass, etc.).  Here are 10 uses for paracord survival bracelets!

    braiding bracelet

    I ordered him a big pack of cording and fittings on ebay for a great deal, my husband found a youtube video, and they got started. There are many styles to choose from, but they kept it nice and basic. A one color bracelet and a two color bracelet. These were the best how to videos they found.

    DIY Paracord Bracelet

    Before long, Dallin was tying them all on his own. He is pretty fast at it too!  The ease of making these bracelets depends on your child and their skill level. He needed Dad's assistance with setting up the bracelet and adding the fittings, but once Dad got that going, he could make the ties on his own.

    braiding pieces of paracord

    end of bracelet

    Dad helped with burning the edges of the cording.

    variety of paracord bracelets

    There are so many fun colors to choose from!

    pink and purple paracord bracelet

    This tiny little one he made for 2 year old, Ruby, is one of my favorites. It's so cute! She has no idea that she could use it as a spare shoe lace, an archery bow, a trap, a tourniquet, or a splint. For her it is a pretty fashion statement, but to a scout it's a pretty awesome survival tool.

    You might also like...

    stack of fleece hand warmers

    Homemade Hand Warmers

    tinker bell fairy garden

    Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden

    Homemade Beauty Products to Make for Pampering & Gifts

    December 2, 2013 By Brandy 2 Comments

    bath bombs finished

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products. Perfect for pampering yourself or giving as gifts!

    I love making and receiving homemade beauty products! Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes. Many that I have made, personally, and some that I've handpicked to share from other talented ladies online!

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products. Perfect for pampering yourself or giving as gifts!

     Homemade Melt and Pour Chapstick from Gluesticks

    Lip gloss is one of the easiest homemade beauty products to make. If you can melt and pour, you can make lip gloss. Like Burt’s Bees? You can make your own version of their peppermint lip gloss yourself for a fraction of the price. Prefer something sweeter? Add your own flavorings and scents to create any variation you want!

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Homemade Peppermint Sugar Scrub

    Peppermint, oil, and sugar combine for an invigorating sugar scrub to use on hands and feet.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Homemade Whipped Body Butter from Holistic Squid

    This whipped body butter looks absolutely dreamy! Spoon into a cute jar for the perfect gift.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Homemade Lotion Bars

    Lotion bars are how to cure dry, winter hands. I use this on both my hands and feet to heal cracks and dry skin.


    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.Homemade Poppy Seed Soap Recipes  from Gluesticks

    Melt and pour soap is so fun to customize! Use any scent you'd like and add fun things like poppy seeds for texture.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Homemade Lip Gloss from Cheeky Kitchen

    These lip gloss containers from Cheeky Kitchen are perfectly packaged and come in sweet smelling scents.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Sweet Orange Bath Bombs

    This homemade sweet orange bath bomb recipe is made with simple ingredients. Bath bombs are the perfect luxurious gift to make!


    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Candy Cane Soap from Gluesticks

    This candy cane soap smells as good as it looks! Layers of pink and white melt and pour soap come together for this sweet holiday soap.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Crayon Lip Gloss

    Here is a fun activity for the kids to make! Coconut oil and crayons combine to create a rainbow of colorful lip gloss.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Easy Homemade Bath Salts from Garden Therapy

    Bath salts are one of the easiest homemade beauty products to make and are easy to customize! Package them into a cute jar for a great teacher's gift.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub from Gluesticks

    Lemon mint sugar scrub works great in the kitchen to get rid of odors on your hands.

    Everyone loves to be pampered, but we don't always pamper ourselves. Here are a dozen recipes to make your own homemade beauty products.

    Homemade Bath Bombs from Club Chica Circle

    These cute bath bombs would be a great gift for so many different occasions. Who doesn't like a pampering tub bath at the end of a long day?

    Over 14 Amazing Soup and Roll Recipes for the Winter Months

    November 22, 2013 By Brandy 4 Comments

    collage of soup and bread recipes

    pin it text
    Soup season is upon us so I thought I would share some of our favorite soup and roll {and bread} recipes. Perfect for winter, perfect to warm you up. Complete comfort food. Feel free to pin whatever you like! Some pictures take you 2 recipes. A double feature for you! Just click the title beneath each photo to go to the recipe.

    bowl of chicken avocado soup
    Chicken Avocado Soup
    focaccia bread
     Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread
    bowl of enchilada soup
     Chicken Enchilada Soup
    slices of English muffin bread
    English Muffin Bread 
    bowl of taco chili
     Taco Soup
    mini loaf of French bread
    Homemade French Bread (Loaves, Rolls, or Mini Loaves)
    lasagna soup
     
    Lasagna Soup
    plate of pretzel bites
    Pretzel Bites
    chicken soup over mashed potatoes
     Homemade Noodles Over Potatoes
    pan of rolls
     Breadmaker Rolls
    cabbage and corned bee soup
    Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
    zuppa toscana soup
    Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup and Homemade Breadsticks
    pretzel rolls
     Pretzel Rolls
    turkey chili
    Turkey Chili and Cornbread

    pin it text

    • « Previous Page
    • 1
    • …
    • 136
    • 137
    • 138
    • 139
    • 140
    • …
    • 155
    • Next Page »

    Welcome!

    I'm Brandy! I love to create and share my ideas through easy-to-follow recipes and tutorials.

    More about me

    As an Amazon Associate, I make a small commission on qualifying purchases.

    sew with me kids sewing book
    My Book

    Christmas Posts

    • Christmas stocking on mantle
      Cuffed Christmas Stocking Sewing Pattern
    • Pop tart gingerbread house decorated with candy and mints.
      Make a Pop Tart Gingerbread House
    • hands holding chocolate truffle wreath
      Candy Truffle Wreaths (Easy Gift Idea!)
    • White flannel pajama pants with black dogs on the front.
      Sew Your Own Pajama Pants Without a Pattern
    See more Christmas →

    Latest Posts

    • Chubby gingerbread man cookie with white icing and red candy buttons.
      Chubby Gingerbread Man Cookies
    • No bake chocolate silk pie in glass pie pan.
      Easy French Silk Pie (No Bake Crust)
    • Wire basket of crescent rolls.
      Homemade Crescent Rolls
    • Buttercream frosted ginger cookies with sprinkles.
      Frosted Ginger Cookies

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Gluesticks Blog