We Did It Wednesday: Dollar Tree Cake Plate

I have seen several people talking about making their own cake plates using items from Dollar Tree and a tube of E6000®(which is currently an add-on item on Amazon for only $2.97).  I have no idea who first came up with this, so I am sharing my experience with you.

I made this plate with a green bowl and fun multicolor plate that I found at Dollar Tree.  Due to the fluidity of their products, I cannot promise you will find the same colors at your local store, but chances are you will be able to find something.  When choosing the bowl, be sure to choose a bowl with taller sides and not the shallower cereal bowl.  After you have your products, you simply run a line of the glue around the bottom of the bowl and then center it on the underside of the plate and let it dry.  Mine was dry within 10 minutes, making the entire project super quick.  In fact, I think I spent more time choosing the dishes than I did putting it together.  The fact it cost less than $2.50 to make and can be done quickly makes this a great gift idea for a wedding, Christmas, or just because.  I plan to make a few, pile them with cookies, muffins, or a cake and deliver them to some friends who could use a pick-me-up.

We Did It Wednesday: Horchata (and review of the Best Nut Milk Bag)

(Disclaimer- This post contains affiliate links.  This simply means that if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.  I also received a free product in exchange for this review.  However, all opinions are 100% my own.)

I first tasted horchata a few years ago on a road trip.  I absolutely fell in love with the creamy, sweet, cinnamony flavor and knew I wanted to try making it at home.  I put on my want list, a fine mesh bag or sieve and then never bought one.  Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I received the opportunity to review the Best Nut Milk Bag Now, I had no reason to not try and replicate this yummy treat.  Before I get to the recipe, let me tell you a bit more about the Best Nut Milk Bag .  This bag is great for exactly what its' name implies, making nut milks, and so much more.  On my personal list of things to try in the future are almond milk, Greek yogurt, and Elderberry Syrup, but it can be used for any recipe that requires you to run the ingredients through a fine sieve.  Here are some of the features of the bag:

The Secret to Pulp Free Nut Milks and Juices, Without the Mess, Lumps, Frustration, Waste and Tearing You Get With Cheesecloths or Cheap Nut Milks Bags!

Make Healthy, Deliciously Smooth Almond Milk, Nut Milks, Cold Brew Coffee and Juices While Saving Time and Money with Your Premium, 12" x 10" Vita Nut Milk Bag.

- You Only Have to Filter Once. Ultra Fine, High Quality Reusable Mesh Bag Means No Pulp Gets Through.
- Make More Milk from Your Almond Milk Recipe! Tight Weave and Heavy Duty Fabric Mean You Can Squeeze More Milk Out. No More Waste, and Drier Pulp!
- No Holes, Tearing or Clogging Like You Get With Cheaply Constructed Bags You Have to Keep Replacing. Our Premium, Double Enforced Outer Stitching Lasts Longer and Works Better than Other Bags.
- No Dirty Residue. Durable, Tight Weave Means No Pulp Left Behind After Washing. Your Bag Stays Sanitary for the Healthiest Drinks, Sprouts and Yogurt Possible.
- No Moldy Bags. Elastic Top Bags Dry Flat After Washing, Making Them Susceptible to Mold. Vita's Enforced Drawstring Makes Drying Quick, Complete, and More Sanitary.

FREE BONUS - Recipe E-Book with Nut Milk and Juicing Recipes specially designed for use with the Vita Nut Milk Bag.



I really like this bag and plan to use it many, many more times.  The chopped rice and cinnamon sticks that I used this with had many sharp edges and likely would have shredded cheesecloth, but the bag held up well.  It is easy to wash, and easy to dry.  I suspect it will last for quite a while and through many, many uses.  I also love that I can easily keep the pulp that I strained for other uses.  For example, I am going to use the rice and cinnamon from the horchata to grind into rice flour for snickerdoodle cookies.  Overall, I would highly recommend this bag.

Now for the recipe:

Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 4 cups of water
- 1/2 cup milk (the more fat, the creamier it will be)
- 1 1/2 cups light cream
- 1/2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/3 cup white sugar

Instructions
1) Put the rice, water and cinnamon sticks into a blender and blend for about 1 minute, making sure the rice and cinnamon break apart somewhat.

2) Refrigerate mixture overnight, or at least 6 hours.

3) Strain the water mixture through a fine mesh sieve or The Best Nut Milk Bag, into a pitcher.  Set aside the rice and cinnamon for another use or discard it.

4) Stir in the milk, cream, vanilla and sugar.

5) Chill for 1 hour.

6) Stir.  Serve over ice.

Have you ever had horchata?  What did you think of it?  How else would you use the Best Nut Milk Bag?



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

We Did It Wednesday: Decorated Clipboards

My kids have been wanting clipboards so that they can carry their schoolwork with them and work on it wherever they may be.  In an effort to stop any arguments before they started, I decided each child would have their own clipboard. We decided to decorate them in order to tell them apart.  I am pleased with how easy they were and how inexpensive.  The kids love them, too, so that is a bonus.

First, I picked up clipboards from Dollar Tree and took the kids to Joann's to pick out scrapbook paper and origami paper.  My oldest chose duct tape sheets (penguins) instead of scrapbook paper, but most of the instructions are the same. I also pulled out the Mod Podge, some paintbrushes, a pencil, scissors and old newspapers. 

Second, we traced the clipboards on the blank side of the scrapbook paper and cut it out.  With the extra strip of paper, I drew their first initial freehand and cut it out.  If I had it to over, I would probably use the Cricut, but c'est la vie.

Next, we brushed the back of the clipboard with Mod Podge and applied the scrapbook paper.  We did not use Mod Podge to adhere the duct tape since it did not need any help sticking to the board.  Try to remove as many air bubbles as possible.  We matched up a piece of origami paper to each board and trimmed it to a size that looked good.  (Note- on mine, the one with the "D" on it, we did not trim the origami paper.)  We then used Mod Podge to attach it to the center of the board (some were turned to look like a diamond and others were left square) and then added their initial.  After we were done with all that, we added a layer of Mod Podge over the top to seal it and let it dry.

You can also apply scrapbook paper to the front and add ribbons, which we may do at another time, but we are happy with how they look now, so we may just let them be.

This final picture does not do the boards justice, as they look much better in person.  Seeing the picture makes me wish we had used the Cricut, and we might re-do them in the future.  I also prefer the look of the origami paper better when it is trimmed and turned to look like a diamond.  The one with a "D" also shows the importance of removing the air bubbles, or at least making sure they are as small as possible.  It does not affect the function, but does affect the overall look.  Also, measure your paper twice before cutting so you do not end up with bare edges like a few of ours.  Overall, they were pretty inexpensive to make (about $2 for each one) and everyone is happy with them, so it is a success in my book.