Red, White, Blue & Vodka

Election Day is tomorrow. Often people recommend avoiding political conversation with people you do not know or even with family and friends. This election year it may appear more obvious why this is advised. The anticipation through out this year's presidential election has had us all on the edge of our seats during each debate, news conference, what have you. The nation has been going wild all throughout 2016.  So for everyone's sake, no matter who you are voting for, what party you belong to, what race, religion, or gender you are, I have just the thing.

How about a red, white, and blue JELL-O shot? This will do the job both leading up to and/or after our 45th President is announced. Slurp 'em up folks. Hopefully this takes the edge off, and lastly, God Bless America! xo RCN

What you Need: 

1 Cup Vodka of choice

1 Box Cherry or any red JELL-O flavor of choice (3oz)

1 Box Berry Blue JELL-O (3oz)

2 Cups boiling water, 1 per box JELL-O

1 Cup cold water, 1/2 cup per box JELL-O

1 Pack 2oz clear tasting cups (will use about 20)

1 Can Whipped Cream 

Red & Blue crystal sprinkles

Gold & Silver metallic pom poms

Toothpicks

Mini USA flags

1. Boil cup of water.
2. Empty red JELL-O powder into a large mixing bowl and add boiling water.
3. Keep stirring for about two minutes or until the JELL-O powder is dissolved.
4. Add 1/2 cup of cold water and 1/2 cup of vodka.
5. Stir until mixed and pour into 2oz. cups filled 1/2 way.
6. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or less, until red JELL-O is firm.
7. Repeat steps 1-5 with Blue JELL-O, pouring the blue JELL-O on top of the red JELL-O filling to the top of the 2 oz cups.
8. Refrigerate JELL-O cups while finishing the decorative toppers.  

Toppers:

Stick pom poms onto top of toothpicks, make enough silver and gold, one of each for each cup of JELL-O.  Once JELL-O shots are firm and chilled, squirt a spiral of whipped cream on top.  Sprinkle with red and blue sugar sprinkles and stick a mini flag, and both pom pom toothpicks into top center.  Be sure to keep in fridge until serving or whipped cream will melt and flatten.

Perfect for any red, white, and blue kind of celebration, cheers!

Eye Love Halloween

There are countless great things about Halloween.  Creating original costumes, replicating favorite super heroes, carving pumpkins, eating lots' of junk food.  I love it all.  Here is a quick treat and template to make and decorate some very creepy Halloween Eyeball Cookies.  They are perfect to share with the kids and adults for any Halloween celebration.

My eyeball cookies partly belong to Pillsbury.  After all, the dough did come from a box, Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Mix.  But, who am I kidding acting as if it's a bad thing.  Pillsbury dough and mixes are wonderful and when I am in a pinch for time it is my go to baking brand. 

Step 1:  Bake cookies and let cool

Step 2:  Create foil template for red dye veins, template below

Step 3:  Use stencil for veins on all cookies 

Step 4:  Use green icing to pipe circles in center of each cookie

Step 5:  Place candy eyeball in center of each green icing circle

Step 6:  EAT!

Here is what you need...oh, and aluminum foil and a pencil too!

Rice Crispie Watermelon Slices

I love Rice Krispie treats and I also love watermelon.  I first saw a version of this from Teen Vogue on Instagram, and shortly after saw another version on cookingclassy.com, one of my favorite food blogs.

Here is my version, pretty much the same as Cooking Classy, but with a cute touch of bakers string and twine for the win.   These are not difficult to make, a little sticky, and adorable.  I am pretty sure all kids and people will like these!  Click source link below for original recipe.  xo RCN