Cinnamon Gingerbread man ornaments DIY

This recipe is made with Apple sauce, glue and cinnamon powder and my special secret ingredient.
10 years ago I find this recipe in a Christmas book and this year I finally made it again. All the old ornaments are broken by the kids. This is my favorite Christmas ornament craft. This is also great to give as gifts. I make my own cute little designs on the gingerbread man.


I love the glue in the recipe. I think it keeps the ornaments last longer. 
Cinnamon and cloves Gingerbread man ornaments 

Makes 40 ornaments

4 cups ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup washable liquid white school glue
3 cups Apple sauce.
To decorate:
Tulip slick dimensional paint in red and white.
Ribbon of choice.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Knead until you get a smooth dough.
Wait 30 minutes when the dough is formed. It will make the ornaments smoother.

I use a rolling pin. I roll 2 cups of dough on cellophane wrap and cut the ornaments on it. You want the ornaments to be thick. They will flatten when dry. Cut with gingerbread cutter. Take the extra dough out around the ornaments. With a straw carefully make a whole for the ribbon. Do not place the whole too close to the edge or it will crack. Transfer by sliding the plastic and ornaments on a cookie sheet then to a surface away from kids hands to dry up to 4 days. If the ornaments start to lift up on the edges turn them on the other side. I use Tulip slick dimensional fabric paint in red and white to make the 3 D design on the gingerbread man. Add a ribbon.

This craft is really a must save. It makes my tree smell amazing and they are so darn cute! Great keepsakes.

Agnes and Dora giveaway, coupon code for Christmas

Want to win a perfect pencil skirt, leggings? 

Enter this giveaway and win the item of your choice from Agnes and Dora.

Perfect Christmas gift!!

Get 15% off your entire order with promo code ISABELLE15

Good luck! Winner announced Dec 2nd. US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Official Video] Mary, Did You Know? - Pentatonix

A little bit of Christmas music because after all CHRISTmas is all about Jesus. Beautiful version of Mary, Did you know? from Pentatonix.

Festive flurry ornament kit from Stampin'up!

Festive flurry ornament on my white Christmas tree. Very easy to make and it is my favorite Christmas craft this year. 

I really love paper art and crafts and this kit is amazing. I was able to make these beautiful snow flakes. Since I don't really have the time I love easy and fast projects that can impress and this is perfect.

 The kit has 10 snow flakes and it's plenty enough to decorate your tree or give as gifts. 

Here are the many uses:

Tree ornament, snow flake Paper wreath, hanging on a banner, on a gift, on a Christmas card, Mini tree topper, give the kit as a gift to the paper art lover, on a cloche or jar, on a picture frame, for a Christmas party on paper hats, hanging from the ceiling, on cupcakes, on party favors bags. Etc..

 Festive flurry ornaments used as a banner

 On a gift

On a party favor bag or gift bag and for a Christmas card.

You can find the Festive flurry kit for sale here and the video tutorial how to make them with the kit.

They are gorgeous and so much fun!

Disclosure: I was given a free Festive flurry ornament kit from Stampin'up! in  exchange for a review.

Great Advent calendar

Let's have a great Monday link party! How was your week? Mine was yucky with a sick baby and now a sick teenager. We managed to have my son's birthday Saturday. Nothing fancy since I spend a week with a very sick baby. Fail! Anyways, let's have a great week guys! And a great Thanksgiving!

Last week I really enjoyed this advent calendar idea from Wesens art. Great craft and I have never seen this idea before. Very sweet!

I am starting a new party. It will be up for one month and you get tones of views!

Please link back to Le chateau des fleurs
Grab my button:

If you need a button with HTML Here:

Frenchy buttons

Happy linking!! By Isabelle Thornton

Pumpkin pie and candied pecans topping

Delicious Pumpkin pie with candied pecan topping

I am sharing with you a little secret. I have made this pie many times for Thanksgiving and Christmas and it is my favorite. I love pecan pie but the crunchy candy pecan topping just brings the pumpkin pie to a higher level. The pie dough is the best I have find so far.

Pumpkin pie recipe

I use the recipe on the Libby's pumpkin can for the pumpkin pie recipe:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
• MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
  
  Pour into pie shell. I use this recipe from BHG. This is the best pie dough recipe in the world. It makes dough for 2 pumpkin pies.
  Bake in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
• Candied pecan topping:
• 1 cup whole pecans or chopped,
• 1 cup brown sugar,
• 1/4 cup butter.

Melt the butter in the microwave. In small bowl, mix the butter and brown sugar. Add your pecans.

Pour the mixture on the cooled pumpkin pie until  it covers the whole top. You might have a little extra.

Arrange the pecans to look pretty if whole pecans.

Place your pie under the broiler until the sugar is bubbling and the pecans are darker brown but not burned.

Let cool

You will get a very yummy and hard shell. Great addition to the smooth texture of the pumpkin pie.

Add whip cream and your favorite vanilla ice cream. Heaven!

By Isabelle Thornton

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Beautiful Pink Christmas wrapping present idea

I really like beautiful gifts and gift wraps. These are very easy and fast. 
I always love a mini ornament with my wrapping and I usually attach it at the base of the bow. I used brown paper and I draw the "From Isabelle" with white chalk. You can recycle brown paper from the store grocery bags or buy a roll of brown paper.  I used simple and bright ribbons. I am going for a pink Christmas theme this year.Chalk is all up in fashion this year and I really love it.

What colors are you going for Christmas?
By Isabelle Thornton

Keep calm Christmas joy chalkboard quote

I am starting up some Christmas cheer. I think I need more than 6 weeks for it. I started getting decorations and getting inspiration.I think this is a cute quote and printable! I am going to frame it. This would also be a cute tag. Christmas really makes me happy. I never spoil myself over the season. I just love the spirit, joy. and happy feelings.

Growing Amaryllis from bulbs

I really love bulbs to decorate and also to give as gifts. Growing Amaryllis bulbs is super easy and fool proof. You just need to keep water in the pot. Nature is such a miracle! I decided to have a pink Christmas this year and pink amaryllis were such a good idea. 

I always have flowers in my house and this idea is very cheap. So you can enjoy flowers for a little price.

You will need a kit or you can buy bulbs and plant them in miracle grow.

The kit includes the pot, bulb and dirt but I usually use my own pretty pots.

I used 3 pots in a wire basket that I got from Tai Pan this summer. I love wire baskets so much and even though I had no idea what to use it with, I got it anyway. Now it is going to look amazing with the Amaryllis plants. I first covered the bottom of the pots with kitchen plastic wrap so the water would not go through the terracotta pots and cause the wire basket to rust.

I planted the bulbs in the pots with dirt making sure the top of the bulb is sticking out. I will weight the pots with river rocks when the plants are bigger and heavier. Keep the soil always moist. It will bloom in 8 to 12 weeks. So the time to plant them is now.

I am so exited for this Christmas! I am planning lots of fun handmade ornaments and decorative idea post!
What colors are you going to use this Christmas? Would you give Amaryllis bulbs kits to your friends? Have you done it before?

By Isabelle Thornton

Original Christmas French Truffles recipe

This is another recipe i taught at my French cooking class. We make these truffles at Christmas time.  I used to make them with my Mother and she would always tell me that without butter it would not taste as good. The original version is with the cocoa powder. It is very strong and not everyone is a fan of it if you don't like dark chocolate. The white chocolate is my twists on it. It is the best ever and a great gift for friends anytime!

Isabelle Thornton French Truffle recipe

Makes 20-30

¾ cup Heavy cream,

10 ounces Semisweet baking chocolate ,

2 Tablespoon butter.

1 Tablespoon extract (Orange, Cherry, coconut) Optional.

Coating:

1 Bag white chocolate chips .

Peppermint candy crushed.

Cocoa powder for other coating choice.

{Cocoa powder for original French recipe }

In a sauce pan, bring the Heavy cream to a boil on medium heat.  Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips. When melted add the butter to melt also. Add the extract.

Strain into a bowl and let cool. Store in fridge over night or for 8 hours.

With a small scoop form the balls. If the chocolate becomes too soft. Chill a little more.

If coating with Cocoa powder roll the balls in a small bowl filled with cocoa powder.

If coating with chocolate. Place your chocolate balls on a parchment paper in the freezer for  1 hour. 

Place your white chocolate chips in a small crock-pot to melt or in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Let cool a little bit and with 2 forks dip into the melted chocolate. Tap one fork on the edge of bowl or crock-pot to remove excess.

Let cool on Parchment paper and sprinkle the top with  crushed  peppermint

Store in fridge for up to 10 days

Use the best baking chocolate you can find.

French Truffles with White chocolate and crushed peppermint sticks.

You might like my French crepes recipe and fillings

Egg nog French toast recipe. The best recipe!!! To die for! *12 days of Christmas*

One of my friend on Facebook said she made some Egg nog French toast and i thought...Hmmm i should try...

I made up my own recipe. Very simple, with things you already had in the fridge.

You have to make this!!

Christmas morning, For a special diner...Before egg nog is not in the stores anymore.

Frenchy's Egg nog French toast recipe.

5 eggs,

1 cup Egg nog (low fat, Kroger)

Bread (Grandma Emilies's Old fashion white bread)

1 teaspoon butter for the pan,

powdered sugar,

Maple Syrup of choice.

Beat the 5 eggs and Egg nog together.

 Melt a little bit of butter in your pan on Medium heat.

Dip your Slice of bread in Egg mixture, turn it once. let the extra liquid drip out.

Place in pan and cook with a lid on until lightly brown.

Flip your bread on the other side and cook other side too with lid on.

When cooked, place on your plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar, add your Maple syrup. 

Makes 10 AMAZING French toasts.

Gingerbread man tradition *12 days of Christmas*

This is a fun one to do around Christmas. The gingerbread dough is from Pillsbury. It is pretty good and easy since it is already made for you. I use a big Gingerbread man cookie cutter.

350 for 12 minutes. Turn the cookie sheet around half way for even cooking of the cookies.

Icing in plastic bags. I cut the tip. Very easy for the kids to use.

Mini M&Ms, Holiday Nonpareils and cinnamon candy.

The kids always have fun decorating and eating them...

Lots of cookie recipes for cookie exchange parties and Christmas on recipe.com

I find this on recipe.com and thought i would share. If you are out of ideas with cookies this Christmas. Here, are hundreds of them! They also have Diabetes recipes!

Explore all Christmas cookies on  recipe.com

Candy cane thumbprints

Chocolate peppermint sandwiches

I really want to have a cookie party exchange next year...Oh perfect!

Melt in your mouth Chocolate orange cake made in crock-pot *12 days of Christmas*

Melt in your mouth Chocolate orange cake made in crock-pot.

This is truly delicious and if you love chocolate orange candy. You will LOVE this.

This is my recipe...

Frenchy's Melt in your mouth Chocolate Orange cake

1 box Pillsbury German chocolate cake mix,

3 eggs,

1 1/4 cup water,

1/3 cup oil,

2 tablespoon coco powder,

1 1/2 Teaspoon orange extract,

1 cup sour cream,

3 teaspoons grated orange peel, ( for cake batter and 2 for garnish).

Whip cream,

(serves around 6)

In bowl, add to cake mix eggs, water, oil, coco powder, extract and orange peel. Add sour cream.

Mix until smooth.

Pour in a family size crock-pot on low for 3 hours. Check often. Turn off when no more dough is in the middle. Check with a knife. The cake is a very soft, melt in your mouth cake.

Scoop all the cake in pretty dish and let it cool in the fridge.

Top with whip cream and orange peel before serving. 

Be ready for your guest to ask for the recipe!

This is a very special treat for the 12 days of Christmas treats.

Nothing like Chocolate orange flavor to bring back memories at Christmas!

Have a super week!

Just a girl blog

Snow man treat with donuts tutorial *12 days of Christmas*

I am making some fun treats for the kids for the "12 days of Christmas".

You will need:

Sugar powdered donuts holes (small ones),

Sugar powdered donuts (small ones),

Mini M&M's,

Twizzlers candy,

Peanut butter mini cups,

Chocolate cookies (Oreos),

Tooth picks,

Icing.

Assemble your hat:

Place the peanut butter cup on top of Oreo with icing.

Body:

Use 2 tooth picks and icing to assemble the donuts hole on top of Donuts.

With icing place the hat on top of donuts hole,

Use brown mini M&M's for eyes and buttons,

Cut the nose with scissors out of the red Twizzlers candy.

The kids enjoyed making those cute snow man! And eat them!!!

Have a great week-end!!

Chocolate Banana Cranberry and Pecans cookie recipe *12 days of Christmas*

Those are so yummy!

Great for the 12 days of Christmas treats or a cookie exchange party.

Frenchy's Chocolate Banana Cranberry and pecan cookie 

1 box Devil' food cake mix,

3 eggs,

1/2 cup oil or butter,

1-1/4 cups water,

1/2 cup mashed banana,

1/2 cup dried cranberries,

1/2 cup chopped pecans,

1/2 cup chocolate chips,

Heat your oven to 350 F. Prepare sheet with parchment paper.

In large bowl.

Blend cake mix, water, oil, eggs and banana. Whisk or beat with mixer.

Add the cranberries, pecans, chocolate chips.

On parchment paper, scoop spoon sizes of dough. Bake for 15 minutes or until firm enough to the touch.

Great with milk!

Great for Christmas time!