Fun Food Friday- Orange Fluff Jell-O Salad

Need to bring a side for a Christmas party? I think I've stated before how Dutch people have a different idea of salad than other :). Most people think of salad as containing some sort of green stuff (lettuce, spinach, etc.). If you ask a Dutch person to bring a salad, a lot of times you will end up with something that has some form of Jell-O in it. :) So wither you've been asked to bring a side or a salad, this one works great! :) And it's super easy. And super versatile. Use whatever kind of Jell-O and fruit you want! You could also make it in a fun Jell-O mold to make it nice and pretty. It's also very easy to halve if you're just making it for your family and you don't feel like eating it all week. :) Enjoy!

Ingredients: 2 small boxes of Orange Jello (I used sugar-free), Mandarin Oranges, Cool Whip (I decided to also add a can of diced pineapple)

In a heat-proof bowl add the Jello mix

Add 2 cups of boiling water...

And stir until the Jello is dissolved

Then add 1 cup of cold water

Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until the mixture starts to cool (but not harden)

Add one small container of cool whip...

And stir until all combined

Drain your fruit...

And place on the bottom of a 9x13 container

Pour the Jello mixture over the fruit.  Return to the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours.

And there you go

Add some whipped cream on top for extra goodness :)

The boys enjoyed it :)

 

Orange Fluff Jell-O Salad

2 small boxes orange Jell-O

2 cups boiling water

1 cup cold water

1 (12oz) container cool whip

2 cans mandarin oranges, drained

1 can diced pineapple, drained

Dissolve the Jell-O mix in the boiling water. Add cold water. Cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Add the cool whip and stir until all combined.  Place the fruit on the bottom of a 9x13 container. Pour the Jell-O mixture on top. Chill for at least 3 hours. 

You can use any combination for Jell-O flavors and fruit. Personally, my favorite is strawberry Jell-O with fresh strawberries and bananas.

Life with the Bussis'- 12-17-14

Not a whole lot of things to blog about this week (since my last one was a day late and I didn't really take a lot of pictures this week :)).  We did have a few days of 40 degree weather which was nice except that it was also drizzly and foggy, but we still took advantage and spent some time outdoors and I even was able to take Micah's 4 year old pictures. Which reminded me I never put up Jonathan and David's 2 year pictures so once I get Micah's edited I'll have to do a post with all their pictures. I decided 4 is the best age to take pictures. They listen to what you say, actually do it, and still enjoy making Mommy happy so they'll smile. :) Of course it could also just be Micah's nature, who knows what 4 year old David and Jonathan will be like, but I'm pretty sure David at least will still be a stinker. :) Anyways, here are some pictures from our week:

Color time. Micah loves to color and Jonathan and David like to keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes while they have a crayon or marker in their hand :)

 

Micah was pretty excited about the bat he made at the library

One morning David was really quiet in the other room. I finally decided I probably should check on him and yes, all the ornaments that had been on the bottom half of the Christmas tree were now on the floor :)

Saturday we went bowling with Steve's mom, sister and her kids. We had a great coupon that included 5 meals, bowling, and ice cream! The kids were big fans of all of those components.

Jonathan bowling

 

Micah bowling

David bowling (as you can see Steve stayed busy. He also occasionally had to help our nephew, Bentley, because Bentley wasn't happy with how his mom helped him, not as many pins down :))

Micah was pretty excited he got to wear special shoes to bowl (no idea why he crossed his legs when I said "Micah, let me take a picture of you with your shoes" :))

 

Grandma Hug!

He just wanted me to take his picture :)

Jonathan saying hi to "Baby Morgan"

Micah discovered this week how awesome Snuggies are, you can stay under a blanket and still eat your pistachios!

Enjoying some peanut clusters

Micah got to be my shopping buddy on Monday (to the grocery store). He was so excited to go with me, he told me a number of times "Thank you so much for letting me go to the store with you Mommy." :) He also was very excited to get to wear his sweatshirt "that I can hold hands in the pocket" :)

 

 

Last night we went out to dinner, always an adventure with 3 little boys :)

 

 

It was a sports bar and grill, so there were TVs everywhere, even at our table. I'm not a big fan of a TV right there, but I have to say, it kept our boys very distracted so they weren't unruly :)

 

I love my boys! They really are so much fun!

Fun Food Friday (on Sunday :))- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge with Christmas treat ideas

It's that time of year, the time when you have to figure out what in the world to give those teachers, bus drivers, Sunday School teachers, Pastors :), etc. Last year I did this blog to give you some ideas (Cake Balls, Peanut Clusters and Almond Tarts). Every year I make a treat for the elders and deacons in our church to thank them for serving the church. This year I decided to make fudge. I think I've made fudge one other time in my life :). But who doesn't like fudge? So I made this Chocolate Peanut Butter fudge and it turned out really good. I also made some White Chocolate fudge which was good but a little rich :), and then I rounded it out with some peanut clusters. I found these Holiday Glad containers (at Target) to put them in and voilà, yummy treats!

Now one thing to note about fudge, it takes patience and a little bit of time. Don't just stand there waiting for it to boil, it will seem like forever. :) But I promise, it's worth it! 

Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Light Corn Syrup, Sugar, Butter, Cocoa, Vanilla, Milk, Peanuts

First thing you want to do is butter the saucepan. This will prevent the sugar from crystalizing.

 

To your saucepan add 2 1/2 cups sugar...

And 1/4 cup cocoa

Stir together

Then add 1 cup of milk...

And 1 Tablespoon of corn syrup

Stir together and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

Add 2 Tablespoons of butter and stir until the butter melt.

Bring this to a boil

Cover and boil for 2 minutes

Uncover and continue to cook, without stirring until it reaches 234 degrees (soft ball stage)

In order to know when it reaches this stage :), you need a candy thermometer. You just clip it on the pan and leave it in. This takes quite a bit of time, so be patient and make sure you don't just turn the burner up so it goes faster, that will just burn you fudge :)

Once you reach the soft ball stage remove from heat and add 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of butter...

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter...

1 cup chopped peanuts

and 2 teaspoons vanilla

And just let it sit, without stirring, for 10 minutes

Now comes the muscle part, beat with a wooden spoon for 3 minutes.

Steve was so nice and volunteered to do some of the stirring (it gets really thick :))

 

Line an 8x8 square pan with foil and butter the foil

Pour the fudge into the pan and allow to cool completely

When it's completely cooled remove from the pan...

And cut into squares

I filled Holiday Glad containers with this fudge, white chocolate fudge and then some peanut clusters

I thought they turned out cute

And the containers were awesome because then I could just slap the cover on and not have to deal with plastic wrap or ribbons and bows :)  They were all ready to go!

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cup milk

1 TBS light corn syrup

1/2 cup butter, divided

1 cup chopped peanuts

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tsp vanilla

 

Butter the sides and bottom of a saucepan.  Add to the saucepan the sugar and cocoa, stir until all combined.  Stir in the milk and corn syrup.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves. Add 2 TBS butter.  Stir until the butter melts.  Bring to a boil. Cover and boil for 2 minutes. Uncover, put in a candy thermometer and continue to cook, without stirring, until it reaches the soft boil stage (234 degrees). Remove from heat and without stirring add remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 TBS butter, peanuts, peanut butter, and vanilla. Cool for 10 minutes.  Beat with a wooden spoon for 3 minutes.  Pour into an 8x8 inch square pan lined with foil and buttered. Cool. Cut into squares.