Cheesecake Cupcakes (Gluten Free)

Backstory:
I wanted to make mini cheesecakes for a coworker's birthday. However, I work with a couple of people who do not eat gluten. So, I found this recipe and adapted it to their needs. The cheesecakes could not have come out more phenomenally! I had never made cheesecake before and these ones were absolutely fantastic. I work at a restaurant, and both the owner of the restaurant and the head chef made a point of telling me how much they liked the cheesecakes. If that's not a compliment, I don't know what is! To this day the chef has been asking me repeatedly to please make them again soon, and I brought them in about a month ago! I hope you have as much success with this recipe as I did!

Original Pinterest Inspiration:
http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/04/cheesecake-cupcakes/

Materials (Crust):
2 1/4 cups of gluten free shortbread cookies, finely crushed
3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
7 tablespoons of margarine, melted
24 cupcake liners

Materials (Cake):
4 8-oz packages of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
3 tablespoons of gluten free flour
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons of gluten free vanilla extract
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of heavy cream

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed shortbread cookies and 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
3. Add the melted butter to the cookie mixture and stir until well combined.
4. Line 2 standard cupcake tins with the liners.
5. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of cookie mixture into each of the 24 lined cupcake cups, using all of the cookie mixture.
6. Firmly press the cookie mixture into each cup so that it is even within the liner.
7. Bake the crusts for 5 minutes.
8. While the crusts are baking and cooling, whisk 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 3 tablespoons of gluten-free flour together in a small mixing bowl.
9. In a standing electric mixer (to ensure a smooth mixture), add the softened cream cheese.
10. Pour the sugar mixture over the top of the cream cheese and blend on low until smooth.
11. One at a time, add the eggs, mixing until just combined.
12. Add the vanilla, sour cream, and heavy cream, again mixing until just combined.
13. Tap the mixing bowl against the counter several times to release air bubbles that may be trapped within the mixture.
14. Pour portions of the cream cheese mixture over the prebaked crusts, filling the liners nearly to the top.
15. Bake for 20-23 minutes. The centers should still juggle slightly. Any signs of cracking indicate overbaking.
16. Allow the cheesecakes to cool for 1 hour at room temperature.
17. Cover the cakes loosely with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
18. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Mason Jar Apple Pie

Original Recipe Inspirations (Pie Crust):
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/scrumptious-apple-pie/a41b6992-efb5-4b8a-998c-26d25f05e05a
Original Recipe Inspirations (Pie Filling):
http://baking.food.com/recipe/3-ingredient-easy-oil-pie-crust-294521

Materials (Pie Crust):
4 cups of flour
1 cup of canola oil
10 tablespoons of water
12 half-pint mason jars

Materials (Pie Filling):
1/2 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon of salt
6 cups of diced peeled tart apples (5 medium apples)
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine

Procedure:

1. First the pie crust: Mix the canola oil and water in a medium bowl.
2. Add and mix in the flour until completely combined.
   
3. Pack small handfuls of crust into the bottom and sides mason jars, only up to the fill line, making sure that the crust does not get too thick.
   
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
5. Now the filling: Mix the sugar, flour, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
6. Add the apples and mix well, until the apple slices are completely coated in the sugar mix.
   
7. Scoop the apple mixture into the prepared jars of crust, until the apples just about fill the jar (further than the crust).
   
8. Top each jar with a small amount of butter.
9. I didn't do this, but I think I should have. Cover the jars with foil.
10. Arrange the jars on a cookie sheet and cover the bottom of the sheet with about 1/4 inch of water, to prevent the jars from cracking in the oven.
11. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
    
12. Remove from the cookie sheet to allow them to cool.
13. Enjoy!

Mason Jar Banana Bread

Original Pinterest Inspiration (Recipe):
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/janines-best-banana-bread/detail.aspx

Materials:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 half-pint mason jars
cake pan

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lightly grease all mason jars.
3. Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
   
4. Beat in the egg and bananas. I know, it looks gross.
   
5. Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt, just until everything is combined.
   
6. Scoop or pour portions of the batter into the mason jars. I used a soup spoon. Only fill the jars about 1/2 of the way, so that there is room for the bread to rise.
   
7. Add water to the cake pan so that the water is about 1/2 inch deep.
8. Put the mason jars into the cake pan and put the whole thing in the oven. The water is to prevent the mason jars from heating up too quickly and cracking.
9. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out cleanly when inserted into the middle of a bread loaf. The outside of the loaf should be crispy while the inside stays moist and chewy.
   
   

Colored Mason Jars

Backstory:
My stepmom and I wanted to make candles in mason jars, but we thought it would be much more exciting if the mason jars were colorful! So I went about making a couple of them pretty!

Original Pinterest Inspiration:
http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/know/super-cute-super-easy-diy-seaglass-mason-jars-perfect-for-easter-too/

Materials:
Mason Jars (or really any glass jar you want to tint)
Elmer's Glue
Food Coloring

Procedure:

1. Put the glue in a disposable container. I used a paper plate.
   
2. Add the food coloring one drop at a time, mixing each time until the desired color is reached.
   
3. Invert the mason jar.
   
4. Paint the entire jar. Don't worry if it's a little streaky.
   
5. Allow to dry.
   
6. Remove any excess glue from the rim of the glass with nail polish remover.
   
7. Fill or decorate to your heart's desire!

Conclusion:

Mine is a little drippy looking, and I'm not positive why that is. I may have layered the glue too thick or added too much food coloring... I don't really know.

Homemade Daily Face Scrub

Backstory:

This is a face scrub that I've been using for about a month now, and I swear by it. It's absolutely fantastic. It's truly an all-in-one face wash. The brown sugar exfoliates, the honey has antibacterial qualities that fight acne, and the olive oil hydrates. I used to have acne problems, and as I continue to use this scrub, my face is getting more and more clear. Also, I use it occasionally as a body scrub, and it works wonders. Anyway, here's the miracle recipe!

Original Pinterest Inspiration:
http://www.homemademamas.net/2012/09/moisturizing-lip-scrub.html

Materials:
Brown Sugar
Honey
Olive Oil
Half-Pint Mason Jar (to contain it all)

Procedure:

1. Measure 1/4 cup of brown sugar into the mason jar.
   
2. Repeat step 1 with olive oil, then honey.
   

   
3. Mix it all up.
4. Use about one teaspoon to scrub your face.
5. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
6. Enjoy your baby soft skin!

Egg White Blackhead Mask

Original Pinterest Inspiration:

http://darlingstuff.com/2013/01/15/diy-blackhead-removalpeel-off-mask-that-actually-works-yay/

Materials:

Egg White

Tissue (Kleenex)

Procedure:

1. Beat the egg white slightly, just so that it isn't so slimy.
2. Apply the egg white to your face with a makeup brush, being careful to avoid the areas surrounding your eyes and mouth.
3. Tear the tissue up and apply it to your face. It should stick to the egg white. If it doesn't, apply more egg white to your face just before you apply the tissue.
4. Add another layer of egg white over the tissue.
5. Allow the mask to dry completely (20-25 minutes).
6. Peel the tissue off gently, starting at your chin and working up to your forehead.
7. Rinse your blackhead-free face with lukewarm water and pat dry.
8. Don't forget to wash out your makeup brush!

Conclusion:

This mask definitely didn't work as well as I had hoped it would, but it may have been for a couple of reasons. I don't think my egg white layers were thick enough, and I used gauze instead of Kleenex, because I didn't have any Kleenex. I'll try it again some other time with the right stuff, but for now, I'm a little disappointed.

Melted Crayon Art

Backstory:
So, I've been fascinated with the whole idea of melting crayons onto canvas to make designs, etc. I finally found the perfect excuse to! My mom just finished the basement portion of the addition to  her house, and my 14-year-old brother has adopted it as his "man cave." He has a couch and a TV and X-Box, but his wall decor is seriously lacking. He's adorably excited about finding cool things to put on the walls, so I thought I could make him something! That's where the crayons come in.

Original Pinterest Inspiration:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=g1ns5kn6i7o1pt4selal6v4ut1&topic=396529.0#axzz2UdLH9csR

Materials:
Stretched Canvas or Canvas Panels
Crayola Crayons (from what I've read, they have the lowest melting point)
Hot Glue Gun

I got everything at WalMart for about $15.

Warning:
Melted crayon wax is EXTREMELY hot, as are hot glue guns. Please be careful! :)

Procedure:

1. Print out the image of whatever it is you would like to illustrate in crayon. If you're a better freehand artist than I am, feel free to draw the image directly onto the canvas panel and then skip to step 5.
   
2. Turn the image over and draw in pencil over the entire back of the image.
   
3. Place the paper onto your canvas panel so that the pencil is in contact with the panel. Make sure the image is where you want it on the canvas, then go over every line of the image in pen, applying firm pressure the entire time. (The picture didn't do a good job illustrating that. Sorry.)
   
4. The pencil should have transferred onto the canvas, giving you outlines of the image.
   
5. Pick a color to start with and peel the wrapper off of the crayon of that color. I chose black, because that would allow me to best see the general shape of the image.
6. The original post that I saw suggested putting the crayons inside the hot glue gun, so I started the project that way. However, I got the crayons stuck in my hot glue gun, and the hot wax had a tendency to drip on my fingers. (OUCH!) So when I started the next color, I let the gun heat up, then simply held the crayon over the part that was supposed to be that color, and touched the glue gun's metal tip to the end of the crayon. It then drips onto the canvas and can be spread around with the tip of the gun. If you need to color a thin portion of the image, allow the crayon to drip over the outer part of the canvas, then use the small bit left on the gun to color the thin parts of the image.
   
   That wax splatter was completely accidental and actually the result of mindlessly tilting the glue gun and frying my finger. Please don't try to make one of your own. It hurts.
7. Continue step 6 with every color of the image.
8. Go back with the black and darken any lines that were covered up by other colors of wax.
9. Frame or hang and enjoy!