Grandma's Butter Mints- Delish!

Every year at Thanksgiving we make homemade butter mints using my grandma's candy molds. She worked at Anthony Thomas candy factory in Columbus Ohio after raising seven children. She was famous for her delicious homemade candy. She told us that they used to throw the candy molds out in the snow for people to walk on so they wouldn't slip, and she decided to bring a few home!

They are the best candy molds I have ever used, and I have looked all over for my own candy molds, as these live at my mom's house! They are thick rubber, and make the most beautiful candies. I have looked everywhere, and all I find are cheap plastic molds! I have made these before at my house and rolled the individual mints into balls. It could also be rolled out and cut with tiny cookie cutters.

Butter Mint Recipe

1/2 stick unsalted butter cut into slices, at room temperature
1 pound confectioners sugar (about 4 cups)
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cold water
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Food coloring

In a large bowl, cut butter into sugar. Add 1 tablespoon water, and peppermint oil, and toss with a fork. Press mixture into a ball; if it seems crumbly, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until dough presses together easily. Turn dough out onto a work surface and knead until it's smooth and satiny, 3 to 4 minutes. Press into candy molds. Chill candy molds in freezer for an hour before popping mints out.

Store in the freezer.

NEED: Toy Vacuum

So Dyson makes a toy vacuum that really works. Sweet baby girl is going to need one of these asap, and I hope it becomes her favorite toy.

http://www.pearlekids.com/Dyson-DC14-Toy-Vacuum-Cleaner-16808.asp

Gratitude

In my yoga class this week we talked about gratitude. With Thanksgiving on the horizon and Veteran's day not far past it is the perfect time to think about everything for which we should be thankful. My teacher reminded us to practice a meditation each night, and think about the things we have to be thankful for, big and small.

She talked about being in the moment, and feeling gratitude for the simple things. I am thankful for the sweet baby girl asleep upstairs, my warm cuddly pajamas and my warm cuddly doggie. I am thankful for the strong man that sits beside me on the couch every night. I am thankful for the freedom provided by our troops, past and present, especially those I hold dear. And I am thankful for yoga and the balance it provides.

Homemade Baby Sweet Potatoes

So I decided to give making my own a baby food a go. I'm not sure where I heard it, but heard that sweet potatoes were a good place to start. So I bought a sweet potato, baked it, and threw it in the blender. First, I couldn't figure out why every time I tried to blend it the lid was flying off and spewing sweet potatoes all over my tiny galley kitchen. My husband came to my rescue like always and informed me that the steam was forcing the lid off. Ah, I see. Thanks babe. So I waited until they cooled off a bit.

When they were cool, I pureed and pureed, adding water until I thought the consistency was close to Gerber's sweet potatoes. They didn't taste the same though. Even though the only ingredients listed on Gerber's Organic Sweet Potatoes are: Sweet Potatoes and Citric Acid (for color) or something like that. But they are sweet. I think they sneak something else in there.

Sweet baby girl was not sure at first taste. She gave me the confused, furled brow where are my bananas look before reaching down to play with the strap on her booster seat and pretend I didn't exist. She busy. Too busy for sweet potatoes.

I was lucky to grow up with a mother that baked homemade bread weekly. She tells a story about my brother going to spend the night at a friend's house and coming home marveling about the bread he had. Wonder bread. I smile at the memory and try try again.

Sweet baby girl reluctantly indulges me. After about half of the container is gone, I give in and let her switch to bananas. Out of a jar. She could not be happier.