Butterbeer

By now I hope you all realize that I am a fan of Harry Potter. Remember the totally awesome cauldron cakes? Or the finger puppets? Yeah, well here's a post to add to my love of Harry Potter. In the books the tween and teens frequently get a drink called butterbeer. My mom and I knew we had to make it for our Harry Potter Marathon. We searched the internet for a good recipe and came up with the one listed below. If you like hot white chocolate then I think you might like this drink. It is quite yummy!

Butterbeer
1 liter cream soda
2-3 tbsp butter
2-3 tbsp brown sugar
200ml single cream
4 or 5 Werther's Originals

1. Put the cream soda in a pan to boil.
2. Melt the butter and sugar together until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Pour the butter and sugar mixture into the pan of boiling cream soda (make sure the soda is boiling, or the butter and sugar will solidify).
4. Add the cream.
5. Add the Werther's Originals and stir continuously until they melt.
6. Serve hot! (we added some food coloring to get a more orange color like in the movies.)

Cauldron Cakes

My sisters and I love Harry Potter (except maybe Jordan...Jordan needs to read them still.) My mom and I had a Harry Potter marathon where we watched one Harry Potter a night for a week plus some days. We decided to make some Harry Potter recipes. This one was by far my favorite! These are SUPER yummy! These were even good without frosting. (I can't remember where I got the recipe from but you can find this recipe on several websites if you want to find some variations.)

Cauldron Cakes

•  2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup softened butter or 1/2 cup softened margarine
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Mix eggs, sugar, butter, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla in large mixing bowl on whip for 2 minutes.
3.  Mix other solid ingredients and milk in gradually in the large mixing bowl.
4.  Put batter in muffin tins filling them about half full. These shouldn't be too full, more authentic of course. Bake for 25 minutes.
5.  Decorate with sprinkles and frosting if desired.

Harry Potter Finger Puppet

I really like Harry Potter. So does most of my family. We're still trying to convince Jordan that she NEEDS to read the books. I didn't read them until about a year and a half ago and I really want to know why I didn't read them sooner! Since tonight I'll be busy at the midnight showing, I thought to myself, "What craft should I do this week, duuuhhh Harry Potter!" Today's craft is Harry Potter finger puppets. Quite simple to make really. This was my first try and I'm satisfied.
Materials:
Felt
Thread and needle
Permanent marker
Craft glue (tacky glue)

First, measure the felt of the body around your finger. You'll want to add a little extra fabric since we'll be sewing it and will lose some of the width. For the length, you should cut a little less than the length of your finger. Next, sew the two edges together making a tube.

Turn it right side out and now you have the body. Next, cut out a circle for the head. I traced a thread spool with a permanent marker and found it to be the size I wanted.
 
Now for making Harry's head I used layers. He had the back of his hair, his face, and his bangs. I cut out a circle larger than his head to make the back of his head. Then I cut into it and made it look like messy hair. For the bangs, I cut a half circle and then also cut into it and made it look like messy bangs. Then I glued the layers together.

The arms were tricky to figure out. There could be a better way to do it but I just guessed. I cut 2 vertical slits into the side of the body. I then slipped a rectangle through the holes and sewed the rectangle down at both holes to the body from the inside of the tube. Then I added a ring around the top of the neck for a scarf...because I put the arms too high up. I sewed small stitches on the outside and made sure my knots were on the back. Trim if necessary.

I decided this ring will be a scarf. I cut out a rectangle and cut out some red pieces on a diagonal. I then glued the red pieces onto the golden rectangle. I glue two pieces on one side and two on the other and folded the piece in half.

As I went across and sewed the ring shut, I sewed the scarf and head down as well. I just went horizontally across and made sure to sew down everything. I made small, close together stitches for durability. I overlapped the scarf a little bit onto the chin to make sure the head isn't going anywhere. I drew a face on him with permanent marker. Make sure the marker has dried before you touch his face because it will smear. Slip the little guy onto your finger and now you have a Harry Potter puppet!