MIKEY MOUSE OREO POPS

Posted by Lori~

This should be the final post for Mur-Man's MICKEY MOUSE themed party (oh...except for the thank you cards), and I have one final tutorial.  

Here is my inspiration:

Inspiration here.

Honestly, you would think they would be easy; however to get a Popsicle stick into an Oreo cookie proved to be VERY DIFFICULT.  My first mistake was not buying double-stuffed Oreo cookies.  According to my girlfriend Karla, that makes the stick slide in MUCH EASIER.

Luckily, my patient husband seemed to master this step and took over.  We ended up making about 24 cookie pops and only went through one package of cookies (the broken ones worked great for snacking).

Steve discovered that it worked great to add a little melted chocolate to the inside of the cookie to make it stick!

Once on the stick, we needed to add the ears.  Initially, I had thought I would use mini Oreos, but actually the candy melt (black) worked GREAT for the ears.  I simply dipped the end in chocolate and inserted them to harden.
 

I also used red candy melt to make Mickey's shirt.  It worked great to use a Popsicle stick to paint it on.
 

For buttons I used pearl cake decorations (already in my stash)...I applied them when the red frosting was still sticky.
 

To see the "after photo" of this project, you will have to watch Mur-Man's birthday video here.  THEY TURNED OUT ADORABLE!

POTATO AND HAM HOTDISH!

Posted by Lori~

I am not sure what you have up your sleeve for Christmas dinner...everyone seems to have a different tradition.  At my house, we typically have prime rib dinner Christmas eve (with Norwegian lefse) and Christmas day is much more low-key with leftovers (we have even eaten out).  You never know.

Some people I have heard eat soup on Christmas eve, others eat pizza, or maybe you will eat ham.  Here's a recipe to turn your left-over ham into a hotdish (you can also use turkey or whatever meat you have from the holidays).
 

Supplies needed:

3 cups frozen O'Brien potatoes (with onion/peppers)
1 1/2 cups of a frozen veggie (we used corn)
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked ham
3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded american cheese (I used whatever cheese I had in the fridge at the time)
1 can cream of _______ soup (I used mushroom)
 

Mix it all together (in a greased baking dish) and bake at 375 degrees for one hour.
 

It was awesome!  Typically, my husband thinks casserole dishes (or hot dish) is too bland, but this hot dish was de-lish!  It was so good, I forgot to take an "after" photo!  We gobbled it right down!
 

MICROWAVE BACON!

Posted by Lori~

My girlfriend and WOM-MOM follower Laura recently whipped me up some bacon on a microwave bacon pan.  Seriously, it was delicious, crispy, cooked perfectly, little mess, and perfection. 

I NEEDED ONE STAT!  She bought it for me.  

This is an example of a microwave bacon tray--I believe this one is Nordic Ware brand!

Laura picked up my pan at Target, but I have seen them at Wal-Mart and other kitchen supply stores.  The pan is under $10.00!

And the steps are SUPER EASY.  
 

Place the strips of bacon on the pan (you can typically make 4 to 5/batch)

Cover with a paper towel.

Microwave for 3-4 minutes (or until done).

Serve (usually on a paper towel to catch grease)!  DELICIOUS!

For me, one of the best parts of the pan is that literally I cannot burn the bacon!  Typically, I ALWAYS BURN BACON!

THANKS LAURA!