Life-us Interrupt-us

 Life has been crazy for the last while.  It has been a roller coaster of stress, fun, change, fear, relief, happiness and pretty much every emotion possible.  It has also totally gotten in the way of blogging, crafting and experimenting in the kitchen.  Without recounting every detail of the last couple of months, I will just say, I am grateful to on this side of them, am totally blessed and ready to reacquaint myself with my blog! 

Truffles and Teachers

V and I found a good use for all the paper boxes that we had hanging around.  We put homemade chocolate truffles in them and took them to school for V's teachers as it was Teacher Appreciation Week.    

I love Victoria's school.  I have never met such an amazing collection of truly passionate and caring teachers and support staff.   We are blessed. 

It was so much fun delivering them to her various teachers.   There was Mrs Johnson, her regular teacher; Mr. Woodworth, her music teacher; her P.E. teacher, her computer teacher, the principal, the librarian, the school counselor and one of the para-educators whom Vicki has a bond with.

 I am kicking myself for not taking the camera with me!  

The really cool part was that Victoria would tell her teachers that they were homemade truffles in a homemade box.  I'm not sure which part they were more impressed with.  And when she told them that, yes, she helped make the truffles and yes, she made some of the boxes, she beamed with pride.

Now I suppose I should share my truffle recipe.   Well alright then.  Bend my rubber arm.

Chocolate Truffles

3  cups semi-sweet chocolate chips  

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

In a heat safe bowl, melt chocolate chips over hot but not boiling water, stirring constantly.   Remove from heat as soon as melted and smooth.  Stir in the vanilla and sweetened condensed milk.  Chill for 2 hours or until mixture is easy to handle.  Shape into 1-inch balls.  

Roll in coconut, sprinkles, cocoa or crushed nuts.

The pictured truffles were made with 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 cups dark chocolate chips and rolled in a cocoa and powdered sugar mixture.

Paper Boxes

Darin recently taught the girls how to make paper boxes.  They used varying weights of paper stock and made origami style boxes without any cuts to the paper.   

I would post a tutorial, but I didn't get to play with them as I was busy in the kitchen.  Maybe I can get him to show me as well and then I can post the tutorial.

 

First Darin and Samm made some, while Victoria and were out one day, then they showed Victoria the next weekend.  We now have many, many boxes.

 I am proud of how well V did with her boxes also.  She was very precise with her folds!

Hers are the smaller brightly colored boxes.

It looks like fun.  I want to make some, too!

I may have to buy some more card stock!

Awesome!

Life has been in the way of posting, but I wanted to share this with you...  You should have this.  Where you live.  Where you work.  Where you create.   Everywhere!!!

Agreed?

source:  One Kings Lane