Marina Delio's Blog, page 38

Elf on the Shelf Ideas & Free Printable

Hilarious and easy ideas for your Elf on the Shelf. Free printable Elf on the Shelf notes included.  We're well into the second week of December and starting to run low on creative Elf on the Shelf ideas. Our girls are 3 and 6 and completely enamored with our little elf friend. I know this phase, so full of wonder and belief in Christmas magic won't last long, so we are trying to have as much fun with it as we can. But... there are many nights I finish putting the girls to bed, washing the dishes, maybe getting around to a shower, that elfin creativity is the last thing I'm feeling. I've been so thankful for my friends posting their elves' antics on facebook to give me some inspiration. If you're like me and could use a few more Elf on the Shelf ideas, here's the mischief our little guy has been getting into... 
1. Pictured above. Daily piano practice is just more fun when an elf asks.  
2. The Arrival. On Thanksgiving my husband went for his long bike ride. When he got back he casually mentioned to the girls that he felt something strange on his back, and felt especially quick, while riding home down the mountain. The girls' jaws dropped when he turned around and they saw the elf in his cycling shirt pocket. 

3. My friend Kaeley posted this idea on facebook and I loved it so much I had to do it with the girls. It's a 2-day project. On day one, your elf leaves "Elf seeds" aka tic-tacs, and a note instructing the kids to plant them in bowl of sugar. The next morning baby candy canes have sprung up! 
4. Who wouldn't want to swing from a chandelier from candy canes? 
5. Elf making copies of himself. I think I found this idea on Pinterest. It cracks me up every time. 
5. S'mores elf! Another idea my friend Kaeley posted on facebook. I thought it was hilarious and had to copy. Dollhouse furniture is great for elves.


6. Loom Band Elf! Our 6-year-old loves making these popular rubber band bracelets. And she is sure she is the only one in the house who knows how to make them, so she was amazed to find our little elf had made his own band bracelets in the night. *Hint: elves can learn to make band bracelets by watching YouTube tutorials. 

7. Animal elf parade. 
8. There's no denying elves like sugar. This guy stuck in the gingerbread house reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.



Elf Mail Elf on the Shelf printable notes:
It's fun to leave little notes from your elf or Santa. Feel free to print this page of notes I made. Click here to download.


What are your favorite Elf on the Shelf ideas? 

Homemade Gift Ideas with Craftsy

Recently amazing looking crafting and cooking classes through a website called Craftsy have caught my eye over on Pinterest. From photography classes to artisan bread making and artisan cheese making, I want to take many of these classes. You have got to check out all the class offerings. They make me want to start creating fun things like homemade croissants and cute crocheted baby mittens immediately. So I was thrilled to be asked to review Craftsy and find out more about it.
 I chose to take the Sweet & Savory Food Gifts class to get some gift-giving ideas. I was first impressed with the look of the the Craftsy website - I love the modern design and beautiful photography. Navigating the site and finding exciting classes was easy.  Maybe too easy, as I am getting a little carried away with all the classes I want to take! I was able to start my class right away - no waiting for downloads, and the videos are available all the time. This is key for busy mamas like me who only have 10 minutes here or there to actually sit down and look at the computer/tablet.

Once I started my class I was able to jump right to the lesson I wanted to see. I simply scrolled down to Famous Holiday Pecans. The video lesson for the pecans recipe was easy to follow and nicely produced. What surprised me about Craftsy is that it offers so much more than just the video. There are fun resources like printable recipe cards for gift giving, cute packaging ideas, and printables. It's also interactive - you can ask questions, upload photos, and get personal answers.

You can use these free printable Handmade with Love gift tags for all of your creations.
Unfortunately I don't have permission to share the amazing Famous Holiday Pecans recipe, but you can take this class at a discounted rate here. As the pecans were baking in the oven, several unexpected guests stopped by, and each time they asked what the incredible smell was. Our family nibbled on them all weekend and I added the last of them to a spinach salad with raspberries.
Here are some great Homemade Gift Ideas from the Craftsy course I took:
Braised Onions to give as part of a soup kitGrill-Master's Spice Rub SelectionChocolate BarkLimoncelloFamous Holiday PecansCranberry Chutney Packaging Your Gifts ideas Even more homemade gift ideas on Yummy Mummy Kitchen to inspire:

Salted Peppermint Bark Cookies Healthy Chocolate Granola (free printable label) Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls Peppermint Hot Chocolate & Mocha Spoons (free printable labels) Scone Mix in Jars 
Take your holiday traditions to a whole new level with Craftsy’s holiday gifting and cooking courses. Craftsy is also offering my readers up to 25% off a full­length Craftsy course! Whether you’re a pie perfectionist or gift­giving guru, Craftsy has something for you. Learn more about Craftsy and how to turn your ideas into reality!Click here to get your special discount on this course! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Craftsy. The opinions and text are all mine.http://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2013...

How to Make a Gingerbread House + Throw a Decorating Party

The holiday spirit hit me in a major way last weekend. You too? Suddenly the fall decorations had to go, we had to get a Christmas tree (okay 2 Christmas trees if you want to get technical), we made a trip out of town to go ice skating, and I got the crazy idea to turn our house into a gingerbread house factory. 
The girls and I decided it would be really fun to invite some friends over for an afternoon of gingerbread house decorating. Since our crowd of 2 to 6-year-olds would have a hard time assembling the miniature cottages I put them together two days beforehand. I'm going to be honest, only a slightly crazy person would bake eight gingerbread houses. I had a lot of fun in the process, but it was a lot of work. I could have bought pre-made gingerbread house kits for $10-$20 each instead of making them for around $3 each. But along with wasting a lot of money, we would have missed out on the house smelling amazing all Sunday long and nibbling on gingerbread scraps.  
These turned out so much cuter than the pre-made, plastic wrapped, inedible kind... don't you think? Each had their own quirky personality. None were "perfect" and I loved all of their unique lumps and bumps. I also loved   - ahem-  Our Elf on the Shelf also loved eating a chimney off after the kids went to bed. 
Perhaps the smartest idea I had was to use a long piece of butcher paper as the tablecloth. The kids (and moms too!) made an incredible wonderful mess and all I had to do at the end was wrap it all up and toss it in the recycle bin. *Please note the candies pictured are serious choking hazards for kids under 4. The moms were sitting with these kids the whole time to make sure none went in their mouths. I do not recommend using these types of candies around toddlers. 
You can of course make your own homemade gingerbread cookie dough. Because I needed to speed up this whole process I used Trader Joe's mix, which was fantastic. 1 box makes about 1 gingerbread house using the template I used. 
Keep reading for the simple instructions! CONTINUE READING THIS POST »

Mini Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Recipe for delicious natural pumpkin pie made without evaporated milk. Happy Thanksgiving! Our house has been a mini pumpkin pie factory the past few days. Yesterday was our kindergarten Thanksgiving feast and I was responsible for 48 mini pies. A fellow room mom made adorable mini apple pies, and parents brought all the traditional Thanksgiving food. The kids were so excited as they marched down the food line wearing their turkey hats. 
Pumpkin pie really has to be the easiest pie to make. I would say that if you have the ingredients at home, it's easier to make the pie than drive to the store and buy one.  I stayed away from the canned milk goop. AKA evaporated milk. Just why? Why use it when you can use organic milk, cream, and brown sugar instead?  Dump the pumpkin, eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and spices into a bowl and whisk together. So easy a 3 year old can do it.  Use a cookie cutter (round or scalloped) to cut mini pie rounds. You should get about 12 (3-inch) rounds per piecrust dough. Press into muffin pan wells and fill right to the tippy tops with the pumpkin batter. I use this tartlet pan. You can use a regular muffin pan or mini muffin pan, just adjust the dough sizes and baking time accordingly. 
 Once cooled and chilled, whip some cream and pipe or dollop on top. 
Keep reading for the recipe!
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Easy Kitchen Update + Pfister Faucet Giveaway!

Our kitchen is currently in an "in-progress" state. When we moved into our home a few years ago, we painted the cabinets, replaced hardware, and had new appliances installed. I'm still saving up to tear out the wall between the kitchen and family room, replace countertops... you know, the minor things. In the meantime there has been a glaring simple kitchen update I was not even thinking about - the kitchen sink faucet! A few months ago Pfister faucets contacted me about partnering, and I had that "aha" moment after looking at their website. Pfister sent me the Ashfield faucet and it has made a huge difference to in both the aesthetic and the functionality of our sink area. I don't know why I didn't make this simple and relatively inexpensive update right when we moved in! The quality of the faucet I received is incredible. The top pulls down to reach wherever I need a spray, and one of my favorite features is that it can angle and continue to spray hands-free so I can scrub those tough-to-clean pots. Okay, I lied, my favorite feature is how much prettier it looks than the boring old faucet that had probably been there since the 80's.

If you're in need a little kitchen spruce up, add a nice faucet to your Christmas list. 
The kind folks at Pfister are giving one Yummy Mummy Kitchen reader a choice of faucet up to $300 in value from their website, PfisterFaucets.com! 
Good luck! 


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Minted $250 Giveaway!

Our family has ordered holiday cards and personalized gifts from Minted several times in the past and been very impressed with the quality of all their products. I am thrilled to be able to offer you the chance to win a credit for your own holiday cards, wrapping paper, or gifts. I just got my cards in the mail and they are gorgeous, but I can't share them yet as I want them to be a surprise for family and friends. I absolutely adore the cards and the foil pressed cards at Minted. Swoon!





 I have the hand drawn herringbone personalized calendar hanging in my kitchen and get compliments on it all the time. It would make a perfect gift for grandparents! 



I am in loooove with this customizable wrapping paper. You can add photos, text, and this version is perfect for sharing holiday recipes. 




Head over to Minted and enter the giveaway! Good luck and I promise to share our holiday cards with you next month. 







A big thank you to Minted for generously offering this giveaway to Yummy Mummy Kitchen readers.







 







Disclosure Statement: I was not paid to write this post or host the giveaway, nor did I receive free product. I just really love Minted products and know you will too. I do receive a commission from sales. 

Chocolate Christmas Drop Cookies

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Last week my husband and I attended one of our favorite parties of the year. A pre-Thanksgiving dinner. A Friends-Giving, if you will. There were about 150 guests this year and each couple brought a side dish or dessert to share. I brought these super chocolaty, ooey gooey cookies and they were gone in a flash. Now, these aren't the super healthy, vegan, gluten-free type of cookies I often post here. These are the real deal, perfect for holiday gift-giving, type of cookies. Made with DOVE® PROMISES® Dark Chocolate, these cookies are the best chocolate cookies I have ever had. They are made with melted chocolates, cocoa powder, AND chunks of DOVE® PROMISES® Dark Chocolate. These chocolates are so smooth and creamy and make deliciously rich cookies. My littlest helper loved unwrapping the chocolates. 







                                                                                                                  







[image error] Keep reading for the recipe!
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Huge GIVEAWAY + My Favorite Smoothie Recipe!!!

Oh how I have been looking forward to this day! The holidays are upon us and it's been a fantastic year for Yummy Mummy Kitchen. Not because of me. Because of YOU. So I wanted to say thank you with a special giveaway and I am so excited! And this isn't the only giveaway - there are TWO MORE GIVAWAYS coming this week, so check back daily! I decided I would spring for my favorite kitchen item, the Vitamix blender. Yummy Hubby gave me this coveted counter top item for my 30th birthday and I really don't know how I survived 30 years without it. I use it daily for everything from smoothies to grinding nut butters; pureeing soups to marinara sauces. I'm also throwing in a signed copy of my book, and two packages of Vega protein powder. I have used all of Vega's products and love them. They are plant-based and taste delicious. 



I've shared several smoothie recipes here on the blog and in my book, but I recently realized I haven't shared my favorite super protein green smoothie recipe. The one I make almost every. single. freaking. day. It packs 30 grams of protein, which is amazing for building muscles after a workout or for vegetarians and vegans trying to boost their protein intake. It tastes like a creamy peanut butter smoothie; nothing like salad. I trick Yummy Hubby all the time by giving it to him in a dark travel cup with a lid. He thinks it's a milkshake. hahahahah, sucker. 




My 3 year old loves it too. For mine I use Vega's All-in-One but for hers I use Vega's Protein Smoothie which is kid friendly since it doesn't have added grown up vitamins. Quick tip for getting your kids to drink green smoothies: remark on how "oh so strong" they look when they drink them, or call the drinks something fun like "Tinkerbell Smoothie" or "Monster Goop Smoothie." 



Since I was just a wee little girl I have been making smoothies, so of course there are a couple in my book. If you win the giveaway I'll sign a copy and add it to the package. Want another chance to win the book? I'm giving away another copy over on facebook, so enter there too!      






I wish you very happy holidays and best of luck in the giveaway. Please share the love by sharing the giveaway with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook.



Disclosure: Vega generously sent me the samples I am giving away, though I already used and loved their products. I purchased the Vitamix package myself using revenue from ads on this site- thank you so much for your support, you've made this giveaway possible. 





Enter using the Rafflecopter box below! 
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Keep Reading for the recipe! 

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Puff Pastry Appetizers

Two delicious and simple appetizer recipes using one box of Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets. 



I love using puff pastry to make appetizers. It's incredibly easy to use and produces impressive professional results every time. Keep a box in your freezer and  you're always ready for an impromptu party. With the holidays coming up, I wanted to share two of my favorite puff pastry appetizer recipes. All you need is one box of  Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets, some cheese, and cranberry sauce and/or onions!



Version one is my take on Baked Brie en Croute. Way more fun in bite sized form, don't you think? The only thing to keep in mind with this version is the pastry should not be filled until it is partially baked or the brie will melt and run out.



These puff pastry bites are so pretty and perfect for the holidays! I love that I can easily make two kinds with one box of Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets.



You're going to want to make the caramelized onion and goat cheese puff pastry bites as well.



Keep reading for the recipes!



CONTINUE READING THIS POST »

Miso Soup Recipe

A healthy and hearty recipe for miso soup with rice noodles, vegetables, and a poached egg. The perfect one-pot meal for cold nights. 






The past couple of weeks our family has been a little under the weather. It seems inevitable this time of year when the seasons change and so many children at school have runny noses and are coughing. A healthy comforting soup always ends up on our dinner table when we have colds. This miso soup with a poached egg is my 6 year old's current favorite. It's packed with protein and veggies and thankfully it's a very quick and easy one-pot meal when mama's not feeling great herself. 

You really only need two ingredients to make miso soup: water and a little scoop of miso paste. Miso paste is found refrigerated in tubs or packets in Asian or soy product sections. Please be sure to only buy NON-GMO or Organic labeled miso paste and tofu if you avoid GMOs like I do. Soybeans are one of the most common GMO crops. 












Miso Soup Recipe

printer friendly recipe



Yield: 2 dinner sized or 4 side soup sized servings



Ingredients: 




4 cups water 
2 1/2 tablespoons yellow miso paste 
1 cup sliced carrots 
1 small handful width rice noodles 
1 cup cubed firm organic/Non-GMO tofu 
2 to 4 large eggs 
sliced green onions 
micro greens 





Instructions: 




Bring water to a simmer in a medium or large pot over medium-high heat. Whisk in the miso paste and add the carrots, rice noodles, and tofu. 
With the soup simmering, carefully crack the eggs and gently place them in to poach. I use these silicone egg poachers to make things easy. Here's a nice tutorial on how to poach an egg if you need help. Once eggs are cooked to you liking, remove the soup from heat and serve in individual bowls. 
Top with green onions and micro greens 





*Vegan option: Simply omit the egg. It's delicious without it!