Are you ready for dessert? I think it’s for time for some dessert…how about a delicous Pineapple Upside Down Cake? All of this week’s recipes have been easy-to-make in tin foil packets…very family friendly! Monday was about making a delicious hot dip for a snack or appetizer. A Lumberjack Breakfast was Tuesday’s recipe. Wednesday’s tin foil packet was a Potato Boat Dinner. And today…behold the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. For this recipe, you will need: Pineapple chunks, fresh or canned Poundcake, cubed {you can also use plain cake donuts, or donut holes} Butter Brown sugar Whipped Cream or ice cream, if desired Read More »
Potato Boat Dinner with Ham, Cheese & Bacon in Foil Packet
Hi there & welcome to Day 3 of Camping & BBQ Recipes Week! Today’s tin foil packet recipe is for a Potato Boat Dinner with ham, bacon & cheese. My son loves this dinner because it includes 2 of his favourite food groups…ham & bacon. {Be sure to visit 2 of my popular posts ever on camping here and here.} This meal is so, so easy but it does require some planning and a bit of prep…it’s a great idea to bake the potatoes before you leave home and wrap them in tin foil to take on the camping trip..and keep Read More »
Lumberjack Breakfast In Foil Packet
Hello everyone! Welcome back to Day 2 of Camping & BBQ Recipes Week. Today I am sharing a recipe for a hearty Lumberjack Breakfast made with sausages, hash browns, eggs, cheese and whatever other toppings you desire. This camping recipe made in a tin foil packet is easy, fun and takes very little time. {If you missed yesterday’s post, it was a delicious tin foil recipe for Warm & Melty Cheesy Dip…a great appetizer or snack to serve anytime.} {Be sure to visit 2 of my most popular posts ever on camping here and here.} Twice a year I allow my kids to have Read More »
Warm & Melty Cheese Dip in Tin Foil
Happy Monday! Now that it’s June, we are in the countdown for summer vacay. This means we can finally think about our upcoming summer camping trips…Yay! In celebration, it’s Camping & BBQ Recipes Week here at Echoes of Laughter. This week, I will be sharing the ultimate in easy camping food….tin foil recipes. Easy tin foil recipes for an appetizer, side dishes, main dishes and desserts that take mere minutes to prepare and can go on the barby in a jiffy jiff. Let me introduce you to the the best friend of easy camping recipes…tin foil packets. Tin Foil = No Read More »
A Pretty In Pink Picnic
I think it’s time for another picnic, don’t you? I live in Northern Alberta where the winters are cold, cold, cold; so when the weather is warm enough for flip flops..it really is something to celebrate! Today I created this pretty picnic for myself and a friend, and I went with my all time fav colour….pink. I used some simple white paper doilies, polka dot straws and some little flowers from my front porch pots to jazz up some pink lemonade bottles. These little deli boxes, which hold paninis and salad, are tied up with pink twine and topped off with a Read More »
Easy Apple Turnovers…
A few weeks ago I was looking for a quick and easy somethin’ somethin’ to make for dessert for our Sunday dinner. While pawing through the fridge I noticed we had apples and crescent rolls….so I made up these superliciously easy apple turnovers. Who doesn’t love an apple turnover…it’s the adorable cousin of apple pie. I roughly diced 4 apples and placed them in a frying pan with butter and brown sugar. I cooked the mixture until the apples were soft and the mixture was thickened. When the apple mixture had cooled, I cracked open the crescent rolls and added a generous tablespoon of Read More »
Make Fun Pinwheel Cards
Today I am getting together with 2 of my very favourite girlfriends for a fun & creative ‘card day’. We are meeting for a few hours so we can make cards. Each of us must come up with a design for the group to make. After pouring throught some magazines and books for ideas, I decided to design cards that included a fun & whimsical pinwheel. I came up with 3 different colour combinations…blue, orange & green. Pink,gray and green. Blue, orange & yellow. And I added a birthday greeting since it’s the type of card we use most often. Read More »
Mini Broccoli & Mushroom Frittatas
I have been working away in the ‘Echoes of Laughter test kitchen” again…this time trying out yummy things made in a muffin tin. Yes…a muffin tin! It’s an amazing way to cook….it allows you to make perfectly portion-sized food! I am not new to muffin tin cooking. Back when my daughter was a toddler in 1997 and 1998, I used to regularly make food in muffins tin so we could have ready-made homemade meals in the freezer for her. Her favourites were homemade mac and cheese, and rice & chicken casserole. I used to make these dishes in muffin tins, place Read More »
Spray Painted Bucket Planters…
There`s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza. Anyone else recall that song? I learned it from Sesame Street when I was just a little tyke in the 1970’s and it was 1 of a very few kids programs on TV back then. But anyhoo…there are no holes in the buckets I picked up from the dollar store for $2 each. I had been looking around for some new planters for my front porch and I was so discouraged by both the prices and colour choices of what I saw. While in the dollar store picking up some things, I saw Read More »
Father’s Day Project: Midnight Snack Attack Pack…
Are you ready? Today is the day we are putingt the condiments we have been busy making this week to good use! On Monday, we made Ocktoberfest Beer Mustard. Tuesday’s project was Caramelized Onions. Wednesday was about making easy 5 second Spicy Ketchup. And today…we add the ‘meat’ of the project…literally! For packaging, I decided to use a plain cake box{any box will do} from the local bakery, lined with polka dot paper for the 3 condiments and…. Hamburger Sliders and Mini-Sausages! These small-size versions of bbq classics are perfect for the midnight snack attack! Already cooked, they can be heated easily in the microwave and then all sassed Read More »
Spicy Ketchup
Hello there! Welcome back to day 3 of Homemade Condiments for our Father’s Day project. On Monday we made Ocktoberfest Beer Mustard. Tuesday’s project was Caramelized Onions. And today the easiest recipe in kitchen-making history…spicy ketchup. So easy the kids can make it on their own…no stove required! This mixture is easy because 2 grocery store items are mixed up to become… Spicy Ketchup. It’s easy and it works! {Just add in a teaspoon of hot chili sauce to your fav ketchup} And now we have 3 jars of homemade condiments for sassing up burgers, dawgs and whatnot. Please Read More »
Sweet & Tasty Caramelized Onions
Welcome back to the 2nd part of our Father’s Day project. Yesterday was about making Ocktoberfest Beer Mustard….you can check it out by clicking here. Today is about making another thing my man loves on his burgers, dawgs and steak….caramelized onions. Whenever I fry up onions in the frying pan…the smell always brings my man and the junior into the kitchen….wondering what’s cookin’. It starts with oil and onions in the frying pan on medium heat. The onions cook for about 30-40 minutes until they are nice and soft. And then the heat gets turned up to medium high so that Read More »
Homemade Beer Mustard
So this week at EOL, I am starting a special Father’s Day project. As I was trying to think about a special gift for the Dad in this house, I made a list of all the things that he truly enjoys…and one of the things he really loves is his condiments…ya know..spicy mustards, onions and all the other accouterments that can be eaten with burgers, dawgs, pepperoni, etc. Robert Rose Inc. very kindly sent me the “Complete Book of Home Preserving” to review. There are so many great recipes inside…everything from spreads to chutneys to pickles…I can’t wait for the local farmers’maket to open Read More »
Sweet Strawberry Mini Pies with Basil Whipped Cream
Over the weekend I had some fun in my kitchen making some fruit pies….but not any regular fruit pie…sweet strawberry mini pies with basil whipped cream. Heaven let me tell ya!This escapade in the kitchen was for the purposes of reviewing the adorable little book ‘Mini Pies’ by Christie Beaver & Morgan Greenseth. These ingenious ladies founded the Seattle-based Mini Empire Bakery which specializes in artisan-created bite size baked goods. As I poured over this gem of a book, I had a difficult time deciding which treat to make….because really I wanted to make them all! I love small sized portions….even more so when Read More »
10 Gifts To Make For Mother’s Day
Well, one of the most important days after Christmas and Easter is just a few days away…Mother’s Day! {haha) I went through the Echoes of Laughter archives and thought I would share these 10 projects that would be great for any special woman in your life. Yes….there is still time! Click on the title to take you directly to the project! 1~Vacation Shadow Box~This pretty momento requires a shadow box {found at HomeSense, Home Goods, or Michaels} and a few photos from any special vacation and a few scrapbook embellishments. 2~Strawberry Butter~Delicious butter that takes only a few minutes to Read More »
Strawberry Lemonade Mix
Out of the 3 Summer drink mixes I shared this week, this one by far is the easiest…so easy I feel totally silly sharing it, but it’s all about the pretty packaging anyway, isn’t it? {wink} The recipe is {I feel like the Baldwin Sisters from ‘The Waltons’ whenever I say ‘the recipe’. Does anyone else remember those dear sisters talking about ‘the recipe’?} simply this: 3 cups of powdered lemonade mix 1 package of strawberry Kool Aid Mix together. The powder will have a faint pinkish tinge. Mix according to the package directions for the lemonade mix. The Kool Aid Read More »
Iced Cappuccino Mix
If you are a chocolate lover like me, this little drink is a lovely homemade alternative to the coffee shop treat. Our Canadian chain, Tim Hortons, is famous for it’s Iced Cappuccinos…a drink which I love but try to resist buying. This homemade recipe has a great chocolate feel and not a super strong coffee flavour. The taste replicated here is close to the Tim Hortons ice cap I must say…just not slushy like Tims. And like yesterday’s mix for chai tea latte, this takes a mere minutes to make in the food processor. This mix would make such a fabulous gift for Mother’s Read More »
Iced Chai Tea Latte Mix
Welcome to Summer Drinks Week at Echoes of Laughter! At our house, we love special drinks for sweltering afternoons…there is nothing like relaxing with an iced drink in hand.What we don’t love is the price….those yummy iced drinks from the local coffee shops can sure add and hurt the wallet. It started when I told the kids we were not paying crazy prices and buying coffee shop drinks anymore. {I know…meanie!}I began to think of how we could save money and enjoy our drinks this summer. I started searching online for recipes to create our fav drinks at home…and I found Read More »
A Beautiful Book for Mother`s Day: For My Children…
If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you may have come to understand how I love scrapbooking, documenting family life with pictures, and family history. I was totally thrilled to be contacted by Ulysses Press, asking if I would like to review this new book, “For My Children: A Mother’s Journal of Memories, Wishes & Wisdom”. Of course I said “yes” as I have a life-long love of family stories and history. *** I have spent 2 days exploring this new hardcover publication, and I really love this little book and I think it is the perfect gift for any Mom…be it Read More »
A Creative Retreat…
Over the weekend, I had the chance to hang out with 2 of my very favourite people to enjoy some creative time. It was 3 days of bliss! I finally got to create this album for our family spring break vacation last year. I will share more of this album later in the week…but I loved how it turned out! My sweet friend Danine spent her time sewing. This busy mom of four little boys makes the most beautiful handcrafted aprons using vintage materials. Her works of art have been published in 3 issues of Apronology magazine…and we are so proud Read More »
A Mother’s Day Breakfast
I always remind my children that I appreciate small gestures from them much more than big gifts when it comes to special occasions. I don’t care about diamonds, or expensive purses or trendy shoes….just give me little gifts of love any day of the week. A few years ago, my daughter went Christmas shopping for me on her own with her own money, and she bought some Burt’s Bees lipstick and hand salve for me. I loved that she knew that these things were my favourite little everyday things. My son often brings me a glass of water with ice or Read More »
A Mini-Terrarium Project…
Hello my dear blog readers! I am so sorry to have been missing lately, but I have been hosting some special guests at my house, so I have been busy preparing for the visit and then soaking up as much time with my guests as possible. But today I was feeling a little creative, so I worked a few projects that I have been wanting to tackle. I love all of the terrariums I’ve seen around blogland lately, but I don’t have the right kind of glass vessel to create a large one, but somewhere I did see the the idea Read More »
1 Little Cart…So Many Possibilities…
Have you had the chance to look at some of the offerings that Ikea has for Spring? This little piece really caught my eye…a versatile little cart and then when I saw the price at only $29.99, I couldn’t help but to dream up all the things this little cart could be. Ikea shows it here as a helper in the kitchen. But I could picture it as so many other things. I am seriously considering picking this up for my teenage daughter’s bedroom for her to use as a portable little ‘glam’ station….a place for all her makeup, Read More »
A Little Ducky Picnic….
This is a story of a little ducky picnic. Of how some cute little bags and baskets in a dollar store became an inspiration for something sweet for littles…little people, little sons & daughters, little friends,….little grandchildren. How a simple lunch of sandwiches, veggies & fruit… can be packed into a impossibly adorable yellow ducky bag. And how a mini vanilla cupcake with soft yellow frosting and sprinkles…. can be tucked into a tiny paper basket as a dessert for small appetites. And how cute sillies like a mini-paper windmill and scented bubbles in a cheerful bucket… can become a wonderful Read More »
An Easter Cupcake Gift
I made up a little Easter gift for a friend today and I thought you might like to take a peek! If you are looking for a hostess gift or a small gift for friends or neighbours for Easter, this may be just what you are looking for! It involves two of my favourite things for gift-giving….homemade treats and a recycled container made into a beautiful-looking package. I have seen so many recyled egg cartons made into lovely things on pinterest, I was inspired to create one of my own. I took this empty egg carton… and filled it with Read More »
Style at Home: Trends for Spring 2012
Can you believe that Spring has arrived already ? I am trying to, but we got hit with a little more snow last night. But my day was brightened with an email from Canada’s Style at Home magazine….sharing their 3 top trends for Spring 2012 and inviting me to share their tips with my readers. {Thank you Elaine!} I am a long-time subscriber to Style At Home magazine and being able to work with them as a blogger is so fun! {Just to let you know…I am not receiving any compensation for this post…I am writing it simply because I love Read More »
An Easter Table….
On Sunday, our family will sit down and share our Easter dinner together as half my family will be away on Easter weekend. I was tasked today with creating a fresh tablescape for our dinner. The inspiration for the colour scheme came from the turqouise and green napkins I found at Superstore. I just love those colours together…so fun & fresh. So I pulled out a few turqouise and green things so everyone could party together. I used some small custard cups to stand in as little ‘nests’ and added some paper grass and sparkly eggs. Then I filled some Read More »
Marshmallow Kabobs for Easter
We are preparing to celebrate Easter a week early at our house since my boys will be away in British Columbia for a hockey tournament on Easter weekend. I have been busy in the kitchen creating a few sweeet treats for our special dinner and to share with a few friends. I’ve seen marshmallow kabobs around in stores, and I thought they would be so fun to make at home, so I bought some supplies and dreamed up my own version. This project is perfect to do with little ones too….the marshmallows and the easy ‘melt, dip and coat’ method with candy wafers are easy Read More »
March Break Goodness…
This week is March Break for my children. We are having a budget-friendly ‘staycation’ this year. Last year we were lucky enough to go to Florida, but this year we are hanging around our city doing a few day trips and just enjoying a break from the school routine. One of the day trips we usually enjoy is a trip to this waterpark at West Edmonton Mall. It provides a full day of fun & thrills for all ages. My teenager goes with her friends, but I take my school-aged son and a friend and I stay at the park with them. Read More »
On Weekends I Moonlight as a Chauffeur in Pink Pyjamas…
Yes. It’s true. I cannot lie. Why you ask? It’s simple. I have a teenager in the house. She’s too young to drive but old enough to have a busy life. Her social life would rival Snooki’s. Seriouuuuuusly. I often get texts like this: “me and Jenn are gonna go to hunger games midnight on Thursday & I’m gonna babysit for Amy on Saturday night she’ll pick me up and drop me off but it will be late. can jen and I going skiing on Friday & Saturday morning we wanna go to yoga. and the waterpark on Monday.” Okaaaay. Read More »
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