Golden Snitch Necklace

I've been waiting to post this for a while. Isn't this soo cute! I am a huge fan of harry potter, so when I saw this on One Pretty thing, I had to make it. Its a mini little snitch! Isn't it so cute? Its a perfect tutorial, but I did make some changes:

-you don't have to buy special beads. Just paint a regular one with gold paint and cover it with mod podge (I used gold liquid leaf and gloss mod podge) you could also use clay.
-If you do want the beads she used, they sell them at hobby lobby and etsy
-I learned afterwards that instead of adding jump rings to the end, just use pliers to form a circle with the wire while you are making the wing. That would be easier (probably).

My first one (there was no way I was going to only make one) wasn't great, but the second one I made was much better and it only took me like five minutes (unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that one before giving it away). It just goes to show that practice makes perfect.

 Wouldn't it be so cool to have a Harry Potter Halloween party? That's such a great idea. Ohh, I'm in great, I wonder if my mom will let me.  Here is the Harry Potter love: (isn't it the best book ever?!!)

Enjoy! -Maddie

Fried Peach Pies

I am way behind on my blog because of school, and I was planning on posting these a month ago during general conference because thats the only time we make these. And also, as a side note, yesterday was 11-11-11! These would be really good with some cinnamon added for flavor. These are basically huge fruit potstickers. The inspiration came from these fried pies which use dried fruit. The crust is from the original recipe.

To make the dough:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk

1.  In a large bowl, mix together flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Mix in milk and stir until dough forms a ball. Roll out dough and cut into 13 6-inch circles. Set aside. 

To make the filling:

• 1 jar of peaches and juice
• 2 TBSP cornstarch
• sugar to taste
• cinnamon (I've never actually used cinnamon in this recipe, but it sounds like it would be good)

Mix everything together over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Cook until the mixture thickens

1. Place 2 cups oil in a small high-sided skillet. Place over medium heat. Spoon equal amounts of filling into each pastry circle and fold in half. Seal pastry with a fork dipped in cold water.
2. Fry a few pies at a time in hot oil, browning on both sides. Drain pies on paper towels. 

Our counter-top is not really blue. That would be weird. Its just the photo.

 

You can use any filling for these.  We even made pizza ones, and they tasted great! We didn't have any pepperoni, so it was just sauce and cheese (they really needed salt). I just about choked on stingy cheese.

They Taste Great! Just make sure to add salt to the pizza ones.

Maddie

Hydrangea Wreath

It doesn't speak "autumn" to me, but I still think its really pretty. My mom cut some flowers from my grandma's huge bushes and made a wreath out of them.  She's been wanting to do it for years, and I think it's a great idea.  Plus the flowers don't turn brown after they die, they stay the same (they only turn brown when they are still on the bush).  Hopefully there are still enough live flower bunches on your plants to make them (you will need a good sized bush).  You will need:

• metal wreath form
• 14 hydrangea bunches (more or less, depending on the size of the flowers on your bush, and the form)
• string
• pruning shears or scissors
• suction cup hanging thing (from hobby lobby, but it won't work unless you have a glass door)
• Matte spray (we used Krylon's Matte Spray)
• ribbon or fabric to hand it with (optional)

Don't cut all the flowers off at once! Cut them one at a time, leaving some stem to tie it to the wreath form with.

Spray the wreath with the Matte Finish. It should help the petals to not fall off. Take your thick ribbon (at least 3 inches wide) or your fabric and wrap it around the top of the wreath.  
Then attach your hanging device (you can use whatever you want, but the suction cup only work for glass doors, so that is what we used).

 And there you have it! A beautiful fall wreath.

 And now more flowers from grandma's garden:

So far she has produced 2 half color roses. Weird.

Maddie