Cowboy Birthday Party

Back in the Spring my son turned three.  We decided he was old enough to appreciate a birthday party, so we threw him his first one.  Since it was his first real birthday party ever I wanted to make it big & special.  We had a ton of people over & the day was full of busyness.  My boy is absolutely obsessed with cowboys, go figure, so of course he wanted a cowboy party.  I found it increasingly hard to get affordable cowboy party ideas, I waded through tons of websites.  So I compiled some ideas & pictures here for you in case you have a little buckaroo's party to throw.

First the cake.  This is one of the things I really wanted to do up.  I made two 9 by 13 inch white cake layers with chocolate in between & two 9 inch chocolate cake layers with raspberry in between.  I froze the cake layers before I started assembling it.  This made them easy to trim & work with.  I frosted the bottom layer with white first & then outlined the black print with a frosting bag.  I filled in the black area using a knife.  The top layer was frosted all denim blue & then I put white star shapes around the top.  I made a red stripe around the middle using my frosting bag & then decorated it with whit & black shapes like a bandanna.  Green dyed coconut made the "grass" around the entire cake & chocolate licorice is the rope around the base.  A toy cowboy & calf adorn the top & the fence pieces are also toys.

Guests were asked to where their cowboy gear & I placed extra stuff I had on the porch for anyone who needed more accessorizing.  Each kiddo received a bandanna upon entering the party.  I got bandannas real cheap from Oriental Trading Company.

Party favors were put in brown paper lunch bags & tied with a piece of bailing twine.  Bags were filled with a sheriffs badge, gold coin gum, a piece of fruit leather, a toy plastic horse, mini cowboy notepad, Hershey's Gold Nuggets candy, and a cowboy magnet craft.  I got most of this stuff from Oriental Trading Company, they are a great resource for parties!

The name tags I found in Google images.  I printed them off in business card size & then hand wrote each child's name on it.

I set sidewalk chalk out on the patio for a little extra something to do.  But kids had plenty to do...

We had a pile of dirt in the yard to fill in some holes.  I hadn't gotten to this landscaping project before the party so I just threw some kid shovels, rakes & buckets on the pile.  It was a big hit.

We had stick horse races.

And at the end each rider won a ribbon.  We have buckets of these from horse shows, but I be you could find generic ones online.

Our friend is a team roper so he brought out his ropes & roping dummy & gave all the buckaroos a lesson.  The kids loved it!

And when the dummy was being used for roping it made a great bull for riding.

There was a branding lesson as well, & each kid got to take home a block of wood that they branded themselves.

Of course there were horseback rides.

And we played Hunt in the Hay.  Coming from a long line of dairy farmers & ranchers this game was a staple kid game at our family reunions.  Basically you take a bale of hay & break it up & then hide a bunch of goodies like little toys, candy, & such.  On three all the kiddos run to the pile of hay & dig through to find whatever treasures they can.  It's kind of like a western version of the pinata.

For grub I put out snacks in metal camping dishes & mason jars.  There was trail mix, licorice, chips & salsa, & peanuts (still in their shell of course).  For lunch I served pulled pork sliders, baked beans, coleslaw, & homemade mac & cheese.  I got great cups, plates, & table clothes from Birthday Direct.  I used outgrown cowboy boots, hats & bandannas to decorate with.  I folded bandannas in half & tied the ends together to make a cowboy banner across the front porch.

Hope this helps in your party planning endeavors.  Cowboy up!

Super Easy Roasted Potatoes

I love dishes that are easy to make, taste delicious, make large quantities, & cost very little.  Thus, I love these potatoes.  My Mom made these while I was growing up & we always gobbled them down as fast as we could.  They go great with anything & if your asked to bring a side dish to a pot luck these are the ticket.  Here's how you whip up the easiest hearty potato dish ever...
Ingredients
6 medium Russet potatoes
1 package of onion soup mix
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Wash potatoes & cut in half, then cut in half again, then cut in thirds.  This should give you about one inch cubed potato squares.  Place cut up potatoes & remaining ingredients in a large Ziploc bag.  Seal the bag very, very well & then start shaking it around until all the potatoes are evenly coated.  Pour potato mixture into a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.  Place in preheated oven & cook for about 1 hour or until potatoes are fork tender.  Serve immediately & enjoy!

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

I adore chocolate chip cookies, especially the dough phase of the cookie making process.  Whipping up the dough is no problem for me.  Mostly because I eat spoonfuls of it as I go.  But when it  comes to dropping those cookies on the baking sheet & popping them in the oven over & over I'm not as enthusiastic.  Often to avoid this process I make cookie bars instead.  But they are a little more cake like & sometimes ya just want that good old crispy, gooey cookie instead.

Enter the skillet cookie, which I have renamed the Lazy Woman's Cookie.  I love this dessert.  It still taste like the chocolate chip cookie you love, gooey center & crisp edges, but you only have to make one.  Almost too easy.  The presentation of the cookie is scrumptious & home-down looking which everyone loves.  Whenever I make this my guests ooh & ahh at it & think I've slaved over a hot stove.  I love food like that, easy to make but looks like it took hours.  Cut it up like a pie while it's still warm & serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.  I promise this cookie will not disappoint!
Ingredients
1 1/2 sticks softened butter
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 10 inch cast iron skillet with non-stick spray or vegetable oil.
Stir together flour, baking soda, & salt & set aside.  In mixing bowl using electric mixer beat butter, brown sugar, & sugar together until creamy.  Add egg & vanilla & beat until fluffy.  Add in flour mixture a bit at a time & mix well.  Mixing by hand stir in chocolate chips.  Put dough in prepared skillet & spread out evenly to edges using a silicone spatula.  Bake for 20-30 minutes or until top is light brown.  Remove & let sit for 3 minutes.  Cut in pie shape slices & serve warm.

Budget Remodel: Part Deux

 

My mega cheap kitchen makeover for the ranch house is complete.  I did it all for under $50 & I think it makes a huge difference.

I spent most of my money on paint.  Cupboards went white.

The business of the wallpaper was concealed with a relaxing light grey giving the kitchen a sophisticated country feel.

The kitchen is so much more peaceful & brighter.  It's amazing what a little paint can do.  

Hardware was spruced up with a fresh coat of black spray paint.  I also painted the light switch & outlet covers & the heating registers.  

And a new back splash was installed.  The black splash makes a huge difference & is very easy to do.

I used self-adhesive linoleum tiles.  These tiles were only a dollar a piece.

They basically go on like a sticker.  Very easy to use, you don't need to be handy to handle these.  

I cut them in half so they covered twice the distance.  Simply score (which means don't cut all the way through) using a straight edge & a utility knife.  Then bend the tile at the score & it will break off evenly right where you need it to.

The before & after say it all.  You don't need to spend a lot of money to change the entire look of your kitchen.  Just use what you've got & spruce it up a bit with paint.  Also reorganize & de-clutter, this can give your kitchen a whole new feel.  Remodeling doesn't mean you have to break the bank.

4th of July Feast: Meat

I think it's required by U.S. law that we BBQ for the 4th of July.  If it's not a law, it should be.  You can go many routes for your BBQ main dish.

Burgers

Steak

But today I want to share with you my baby back ribs recipe; an excellent all American 4th of July dish.  I love ribs, & I mean L.O.V.E. ribs.  Many people are intimidated by ribs, but they are actually quite easy.  Here's the skinny (or not so skinny if you're mean & scarf down about 10 of these babies):

You got to start by making the rub (recipe below).  This is a combination of seasonings that you literally rub on the ribs before you cook them.  The rub makes the meat wonderfully flavorful.

Now take your hands & rub that rub all over those ribs, both sides please.

Now many people would think you throw them on the grill at this point, but I differ.  If you want a really tender rib don't just go to grillin' them (unless your smoking them, but that's a whole other post).  Cover these babies up with tin foil & stick them in a 350 degree oven for an hour.

In the mean time whip you up some BBQ sauce (recipe below) & get that grill nice & hot.  Remove ribs from the oven & place on the prepared BBQ grill.  Next start slathering the ribs in BBQ sauce.

The ribs are already cooked so just grill it long enough for the BBQ sauce to caramelize & get all bubbly.

And a little charred looking... mmmm!  Now cut the ribs up by simply taking a knife & cutting in between each rib bone.

Eat em' up hot with an extra side dish of BBQ sauce.  Make sure to have extra napkins or wash clothes close by.  Enjoy your yummy Fourth of July!
Rub Recipe
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

BBB Q Sauce
1 onion diced
3 Tbls butter
2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup molasses
1 teaspoon mustard
2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup whiskey
Melt butter in sauce pan.  Add diced onion & cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients & allow to simmer stirring often for at least 10 minutes.  Taste it & add more salt or sugar as desired.  It you like things a little spicy add some chili powder.  So good you could eat it by the spoonful, but I suggest using it on top of ribs.


*recipe for 2 medium size rack of baby back ribs, adjust accordingly for your size of feast

4th of July Feast: Sides

Baked beans are a staple to any Fourth of July feast.  You could make your own homemade... or you can buy these.  I love these baked beans!  Which is saying a lot because in general I do not like baked beans.  The flavor in these Bush's Bourbon & Brown Sugar Grillin' Beans is awesome & the prep time only requires a can opener.

4th of July Feast: Dessert

Do to lack of time I could not make each of these desserts, photograph, & post them.  Therefore I am sending you to other websites for these fabulous desserts (click the picture to get the recipe).  I have had each of these desserts before & they always look festive & are the hit of the party.  Enjoy!

Red, White, & Blue Parfaits

You could substitute raspberries or strawberries for the currents

Flag Cupcakes

This one is too easy.  Make your favorite vanilla or white cupcakes.  Frost with your favorite white frosting.  Add a few red & blue sprinkles if you like & stick an American flag toothpick in the center (you can find these almost anywhere right now, also available at party stores).

Red, White, & Blue Trifle

This is probably the easiest desserts to make.  You can substitute strawberries for raspberries if you like.  Or go the more traditional route & add pound cake.  This is the perfect summertime dessert.

American Flag Cake

We have this every year & it's always a crowd pleaser.  Don't have time to make it homemade?  Use boxed cake mix & pre-made frosting & decorate yourself with blueberries & raspberries (or strawberries cut in half).