Leftover Halloween Candy

A few years ago, we significantly overestimated how much candy we would need for Halloween. 

I bagged it up to use it over the next few months: some went into packed lunches, some to work with my husband and son, and the rest went into the freezer. 

A few items wouldn't freeze well, so I put them in the candy dish in the living room for guests to enjoy. 

Throughout November, December, and January, I delighted my friends and neighbors with an assortment of unique,  sugary treats. 

 Rollo Cookie Cups

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies, similar to Peanut Butter Blossoms

Twix Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

I was surprised by how quickly the candy disappeared. After  Christmas, we toss the last few pieces- no guilt, just gratitude that we had been able to use so much of it. 

What do you do with your leftover Halloween candy?  Share your tips and tricks in the comments below. 

Menu for November 1- 7

Happy First week of November. The holidays are almost here! It can be hard to think of what to cook when it gets dark so early, and we come home tired.

On the menu this week:

Sunday- was tacos from Costco and cinnamon rolls

Monday- Chicken, Roasted potatoes, cabbage salad

Tuesday- Burrito Bowls

Wednesday- Cabbage rolls, salmon, and roasted squash

Thursday- Pasta with fresh veggies and meat sauce

Friday- Tortilla Chicken Soup

Saturday- leftovers and sandwiches

What are you eating at your house this week? Leave a comment below.

A little more about Real Life Home Ec

 

I wanted to introduce myself again. I am a stay-at-home mom of 25 years, an author, and someone who enjoys the rhythms of everyday life. I love home and family. 

I love cooking, baking, and having a welcoming home. I am a big fan of the holidays. On most days, you will find me immersed in genealogy, paper crafts, cross-stitch, or sewing. I enjoy traditions that bring people together and the little things that make special days more meaningful. 

This blog is a place to share ideas on managing a home, honoring the stories and legacies passed down from our parents and grandparents. I don't have all the answers, but I believe there is a lot of wisdom in listening, learning, remembering, and sharing what we learn along the way. 

At my blog, you will find daily and weekly home resets, recipes, craft project ideas, home decor tips and tricks, and a few stories thrown in for good measure. 

I heard someone say they wish that one generation would share their knowledge with the next. What worked, what didn't, and how we learn from our experiences.  I hope you find that here. 

I am glad you are here. I hope you feel at home. 

Tell me a little about yourself and what you are hoping to read here over the next few weeks. 

--Carrie Lynn

Test Kitchen Recipe: Runzas

This is one of the recipes featured in my upcoming book. 

My grandma used to make this at least once a month. It is a German handpie. Very filling and great for fall or winter evenings. 

First, I proofed my yeast. It was new, so it proved quickly. 

Then, I added the dough ingredients and kneaded it until it reached the desired consistency and activated the gluten. I was a bit concerned because the dough turned out to be a bit heavy and stiff. However, by the time the dough had risen to double its size, it had softened and was much easier to roll out. 

While the dough was rising, I created the filling.

The mixture smelled so good. 

My circles weren’t perfect, but they worked.

I generously filled each runza, leaving half of it empty so that I could fold it over. 

They were ready for the oven (I had two pans of Runzas). 

I had a bit of filling left over. This is something that can happen. I put the leftovers in the fridge, and by evening, they’d been eaten as a snack. 

They turned out golden brown, and the aroma of them baking made us hungry!

I ate mine with ketchup, and Hubby ate his with Ranch dressing. 

You will find the step-by-step recipe in my upcoming book. 

 

Owl Cards for Fall

I love making my own greeting cards. 

Here is what I made recently:

I created this card with heavy-duty construction paper, lightweight cardstock, and a page from an old book.  The eyes are pearl-like embellishments. 

No fancy materials! 

I made 4 matching cards. 

The inside of the card features a blank white base for writing down a quick message. 

I secured them with twine, so I have a complete set. I’ll store these in my gift box for later use. 

These will be great for next fall or as a gift for an owl enthusiast, whether it’s a friend or a family member. 

Happy Crafting and Creating!!

Elf on the Shelf Halloween Edition

For the past couple of Christmases, I’ve been doing an Elf on the Shelf in our home. I love coming up with antics for the elf. 

During October, I transformed my elf into “Wednesday Elf”. A black skirt and more crazy adventures. 

Here are a few photos I have taken this month:

Dancing the Goo Goo Muck

Having a taste of pumpkin cake

Encountering the "house beast"

A little bit of Halloween crafting

I have had so much fun!!  My email list has been filled with laughter and silliness. 

I’m taking a break in November, and the elf on the shelf will return in December. 

 I highly recommend making the most of the holidays, even as adults. While candy and costumes can be expensive, the joy of a mischievous doll can bring laughter to even the most serious adults. 

You have been boo-ed.

A few years ago, we lived in a neighborhood where everyone was passionate about Halloween. We enjoyed a friendly tradition of "booing" one another. 

During one of these exchanges, we found a delightful gift basket on our porch filled with an assortment of candies, pencils, a soda, and other treats.

After we received our basket, we proudly displayed the sign you see in the bucket on our porch. It let your neighbors know we had already been "booed" and were no longer receiving gifts. However, they were welcome to deliver a basket to anyone who didn't have a sign displayed. 

Despite having a sign on our door, a few neighbors continued to exchange gifts with us. Some even went the extra mile by delivering the baskets face-to-face rather than simply leaving them on the porch. Everyone had a wonderful time. 

Boo baskets are fun for children to make, give, and receive-- and adults enjoy them, too. They can be filled with baked goods, dollar-store treasures, or handmade gifts.

Need ideas for your own boo basket? Check out Pinterest for inspiration. 

If your friends or neighbors enjoy Halloween, consider surprising them with a boo basket on their porch. 

Daily and Weekly Cleaning in the Bedroom.

  I’ve found that a tidy bedroom gives me a sense of peace, even when the rest of my house is cluttered. It is a sanctuary where I can unwind between household chores, after preparing a meal, and at the end of a hectic day. 

Here is a list of the things I do daily and weekly in the bedroom:

Make the bed instead of leaving it a mess of bedsheets. Laying the blankets flat and smooth gives the room a sense of order. Fluff a few pillows, and it is a nice place to read a book or take a nap. 

Tidy up your tabletops and get rid of any clutter.  Put your drinking glasses, extra reading glasses, and lotion in their designated spots. 

Put away clean clothes in the closet or dresser drawers. Gather dirty laundry as well. 

Check the flower water. I like flowers in our bedroom.

Put away jewelry or accessories. I have found the quickest way to lose an earring or a sweater clip is to leave it lying out. I invested in a small but easily organized box for all of my "bling".

This entire process takes less than 10 minutes. 

Weekly bedroom cleaning takes a bit longer, but with an already tidy room, it goes quite fast. 

Every Sunday, we remove the bed sheets and wash everything except the comforter. Within two hours, the sheets and comforter are neatly put back on the bed.  I also:

• Wash all throw blankets. 
• Dust all of the bedroom furniture and picture frames.                    
• Organize and tidy up messy dresser drawers.
• Wash other clothes, including the bathrobe, and restart the washing machine. 
• While the bedsheets and blankets wash and dry, do other chores around the house. 

I read somewhere that our washing machines and dishwashers are like household assistants. Keep them occupied while you focus on other tasks. 

The cards you see are taped to the side of my dresser. This way, on days when the mental fatigue is high, I can glance at my list and maintain focus. If I’m sick, my husband and son can easily view the cards and understand my daily and weekly routine. This reduces the mental burden of creating a separate list for them and worrying about forgetting a task.  

Our bedroom stays a pleasant place to rest and relax.  Five small tasks daily and six tasks weekly. Easy peasy. 

What strategies or routines do you use to keep your bedroom a sanctuary of rest? 

In the Test Kitchen : Grandma's Knefla Recipe

A couple of days ago, I attempted my first recipe for the upcoming book. I photographed the cooking process and the final dish.

My grandma made this recipe several times a month when I was a child. It was a huge favorite among all of us. The tender potatoes and the much-desired dumplings were the star of the show, and the sauce perfectly complemented the flavors. I still make this dish for my family, and they devour it without any leftovers. When we visited my grandma before she passed away, my son asked her to make this for our lunch together. 

Here was my process:

I started by chopping the potatoes. 

Then I made the dumplings.

It was a messy but enjoyable job. Getting messy is my favorite thing. 

Next, I boiled the potatoes and the dumplings.

Finally, I added the sauce.  (The photo distortion is the steam rising from the kettle)

This is the finished project.  It was so yummy and filling. 

I like mine with ketchup. 

This recipe will be in my upcoming book. 

New Book Coming Soon

I’ve been writing books for just over a year now.

 I’m writing a book that will share my childhood memories of my grandmother. She was an incredible person and an exceptional mentor.

My grandmother cooked mostly German food, and I am thrilled to share her recipes with you in this book.   I still cook them to this day. 

I will be sharing glimpses into our test kitchen. You can expect to see the first recipe being recreated tomorrow.  

In a few months, you can grab the book and the recipes for your own kitchen. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.

End Table Fall Decor

Last week, I shared a dining room vignette that I created a few years ago. Today, I am sharing how I am currently using one of the decor from that vignette in our living room. 

The wooden "M" is an item that I bought at a local dollar store.  Four years later, it is part of my fall decor collection.

I purchased the plastic pumpkin a few years ago at a craft store's decor department. I spent a few dollars on it. 

The lamp, on the other hand, is a family heirloom. I recall seeing this lamp in various location in my grandmother's home. She gifted it to me when she downsized and moved into assisted living. 

The plant began as a clipping. It is a bit bare but I anticipate that in a few months, it will fill in and releax. So, I am having patience with it. 

I know I have broken the rules with this vignette because it doesn't consist of a group of three or five. However, I find it aesthetically pleasing.

This vignette cost me nothing!

It is fantastic for this space, and the full table prevents the tabletop surface from becoming a landing zone for water bottles and paperwork that would typically accumlate beside this chair. Yes, I am being a bit sneaky!

So there you have it-- a no-cost fall table vignette. I will swap out the fall decor items in a few weeks for Christmas decor. It is a quick and easy changeover.