Bring in Spring!

After a winter storm with lots of wind & ice, my daughter found these broken branches on the ground at the park. We brought them home in hopes of forcing some blooms & after 2 weeks of waiting they are just about ready to pop! 

It is evidence that spring will be coming soon! Not only has it been fun to watch the process, but they look beautiful too {at all stages}.

Homemade Twix Bars

I came across this bolg, Not Without Salt, and saw an enticing photo of a homemade Twix Bar & thought this would be the perfect valentine's treat for my kids to share at school. While I'm an avid baker, I've always had this fear of candy making- so face that fear is what I did and the candy making began!

I followed the recipe {almost} exactly and ran into a challenge with the caramel.
The recipe says a key moment is when the sugar syrup turns a "golden brown". Well, I used organic sugar cane and by nature the color started as a "golden brown". Nervous, I watched intently until I got to 300°F. In the end, the caramel wasn't as "solid" as I think it should have been & the taste wasn't as smooth (it tasted a little over-done, but the texture was a little underdone?? I need more practice on this one).

The rice in the recipe was awesome. It added a nice crunch, definitely don't omit it.

The recipe calls for bittersweet chocolate, I used 1/2 milk chocolate, but it still tasted like dark chocolate. I think the next time I'll go all in on the milk chocolate.

In the end my taste-testers gave it a 2-thumbs up!

Carrot cupcakes

If you're in the mood for carrot cake, try these super moist & easy cupcakes from Martha Stewart. I made 2 batches & got rave reviews! This is a definite keeper for the recipe box! 

Living in the Tao of the Seasons (my logo design)

THERESE SIBON, M.S., LAc., is a licensed acupuncturist with private practices in New York City and New Paltz, New York. She has also led classes at SUNY New Paltz, teaching RNs (registered nurses) about acupuncture, complementary medicine and how they work with western medicine. Therese teaches seminars in New Paltz, NY and New York City on self care, Chinese Medicine and living in the Tao.

Therese's blog Living in the Tao of the Seasons has a wealth of information on health and well-being. You will find many lessons, recipes, and even a pattern for a hot water bottle! Subscribe to her blog today!!

Another "Thank You" Project

I like adding a personal touch to my handmade cards. Here is a "thank-you" card I recently made with my lifestyle craft letterpress machine. My literal interpretation of "many thanks"!

 On the opposite side of this bronze card I will write a personal note.

I tucked my "many thanks" in a brown craft box. I re-purposed an old catalog to make a filler. The "filler" was make in my vitamix blender! I figured if it can chop-up an avocado pit, it could surely do paper. It worked perfect!