Homemade Peanut Butter

4LBs shelled, roasted and salted peanuts (you could also roast and salt them yourself, after you take the time to shell'em).







After about 3 minutes, it starts to get a somewhat smooth look.



Just like that - Peanut Butter!

Savings too! This cost me $5 for the peanuts (and I still have about 2 cups waiting to be used), store bought is about $7.

I have all these recipes running threw my head on what I can do with this other than a PB & J.

The hardest and most time consuming part was cleaning the processor.

Does it still count as a watermelon...

...when it's only 4" round?



Yeah, it's the size of an orange.

I had left it in the garden in hopes that it would get bigger and nuthin'.



The boys liked it. Hubs, not so much...he isn't a watermelon fan, never has been (and he calls himself a Southerner - laughs).








It was ok. A little sweet, but not overwhelming. Definitely wouldn't have to salt it like grandma taught me.

Sweats = Costume

I love to use regular ol' sweats and transform them into a costume, it helps that they are cheap.



I free handed all this with fabric paint (minus the heart that is made out of felt, check another post, Sept '10).



No, it isn't perfect and Yes, that is bothering me (I'm a perfectionist when it comes to creativity).




I took strips of white felt to cover the front part of the ribs (kind of a 3D look).



Hoss wanted to be bloody (I guess it's his age...7 yrs). I added waaay more blood than I thought I would (was completely against blood and gore).



I LOVE how the shirt came out!
Unfortunately, he wont be able to wear it to school, but around town will be ok.

'tis the Season

For the corn maze &



searching for the Great Pumpkin (in our case, we found 4).









All in all, enjoying a fun time with great friends.

Cheese Crackers

It started out a couple weeks ago. I tried making cheese crackers (goldfish, minus the 'fish'). I figured I could do it like our grandmothers did umpteen years ago, by hand, with a bowl, a wooden spoon and elbow grease = fail. Were crackers around back then? I only ask because it was just so difficult.

So, determined Not to waste...I covered the dough I did make and stuck it in the freezer til I was able to get my hands on a food processor.

That day was yesterday. :)

I pulled the dough out of the freezer and let it come to room temp.

I assembled my new 'toy' (after washing). The hardest part was assembling the dang thang (southern twang, sorry...that's how I say it in my head).

I put in the machine and had to add extra water to get it to ball up like it was spose too.

2 c flour
2 c cheese
touch salt and pepper
3-4 TBS water til it balls just right.
Put in the fridge to rest for 24 hrs.
Pull out, roll (I had to do mine in several batches).
Cut to desired shape.
Sprinkle w/ salt.
Bake 350 for 16 min.











They kept puffing up like little pillows, so I stabbed them with a fork.



Tasty, huh?



They are good, but could be better. Add a little more cheese. Sprinkle with salt before baking and I think they would be PERFECT.

Everyone Needs One of These, Right?

Nuh-uh!

When hubs came home for lunch, I took off to go junking (I am lucky that I have 2 thrift stores within walking distance of our home, but I drove being that he didn't have a lot of time for lunch).

Anyway-----------

Same store I went to yesterday, thinking 'what are the chances of finding things 2 days in a row'? I looked down the first isle and nuthin'. Go down the 2nd and tucked inside a larger bowl I see a square, my first thought was 'nuh-uh' (community college education right there).

So, I picked it up for a whopping $.75 and hubs says 'it's a keeper'.