Homemade Fall Potpourri & Oreo Truffle Balls

This week we tested out the homemade fall potpourri pin and Oreo truffle balls pin.  We decided to test out the fall potpourri first so that we could hopefully enjoy its sweet aromas.

To make this you will need:

• one whole orange or just the orange peel
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1 Tbsp. whole cloves (we ended up using ground cloves since that is what we had)
• 3 sticks of cinnamon or a small handful of small pieces of cinnamon
• a bit of grated nutmeg if desired

To start, we poured water into a small saucepan and allowed it to heat a little bit before we added anything to it.  We then cut the orange in four pieces and peeled it.  The pin claims that you can use just the peel or the whole orange but for aesthetics sake (and because we felt that the peel might be a little more effective), we only used the peel.  We added the peel to the water as well as the cranberries, cloves and cinnamon.  For this batch we did not add nutmeg.

Just so you all know, when the cranberries heat up they pop which was not something we had expected at all.  It was startling at first but only lasted a few minutes.  As this seasonal combination heats, it gives off a wonderful aroma that literally goes everywhere.  After a while we would walk from room to room and could smell it wherever we went.  You can leave it on the lowest setting and let it do its thing. Just add more water whenever necessary and stir occasionally just to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.

As we started the Oreo truffle balls we were certainly feeling the seasonal with the spice and citrus scent wafting through the air.  We were very happy with the way that this fall potpourri pin turned out and we will definitely be making it again while we are home for the holidays.  

Onto the Oreo truffle balls!

For this no-bake pin you will need:

• 1 (18oz.) package of Oreo cookies
• 1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese
• 4 oz. of white, milk or dark chocolate bark 

To start we put all of the Oreo cookies into a food processor and ground them up until they were very fine.  Again, we wouldn’t advise using a cheap blender due to the fact that it doesn’t do a very good job.  We ended up having to break up what the blender couldn’t get by hand.  Next, we added melted cream cheese to the finely ground Oreo cookies and blended them together in the blender until it was thoroughly mixed and had a dough-like texture.  Chill for 15 minutes then form it into small bite-sized balls and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Again, chill for another 15 minutes.  While they are setting, melt the chocolate so that when the time is up you can dip each ball into the chocolate and let set for another 30 minutes.

We jazzed up the pin a little bit by adding melted chocolate as well as crumbled pieces of Oreo cookie to the outside. They not only looked good but they tasted delicious too. Yet another recipe that we will be adding to our list of easy holiday treats.  They were very rich but proved to be worth the wait in the end.  To change it up a little bit you can also buy different types of Oreo cookies like the mint, peanut butter, birthday cake or chocolate cream filled ones.  You can also add anything to the outside like nuts or sprinkles. 

Have you tried out this pin, what were your results? Did you do anything differently? We want to know! Make sure to post a comment below! 

- Autumn & Jenessa 

To listen to our podcast from this week and weeks prior go to: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-the-pin/id720732966?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Copycat Starbucks Frappuccino

Welcome to the truth about the pin where we test some of the most popular pins on Pinterest to see how amazing they truly are. Each week we test out a popular Pinterest pin and include you in on the process. We will take pictures, record our thoughts and show you the final product. You also have an opportunity to be involved. We want you to give us suggestions on what pins to test out next. If you have a pin you would like us to test out, comment below in the comment box!

Autumn: This week we tested out the copycat Starbucks Frappuccino pin! I am a photographer and student so you will often find me in a Starbucks editing, doing homework and catching up with friends. But that can really add up - their drinks are definitely not cheap or very healthy either. This copycat Frappuccino comes up to only $1.00 and is much healthier for you!

You will need:  

• 2 cups Ice
• ¾ Cup Very Strong Coffee or one shot of Espresso 
• ¾ Milk of your choice
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup or sugar
• Whipped Cream [optional]
• Caramel Sauce [optional]

You want to start out by combining ¾ cup of strong coffee or esspresso (we used Starbucks French Roast) and two tablespoons of sugar (we used sugar in the raw) put that in the blender along with ¾ cup milk of your choice (we used 1%), between 1½ cups and two cups ice, And blend away! You should get a nice slightly sweet and frothy drink; top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce [optional]. This gives you slightly more then a grande size drink.

The Prep time was:  5 mins Cook timewas:  2 mins = Total time:  7 mins

We were not sure if a Starbucks drink could be copied. Once we blended everything together and poured it into our cups it looked like it really came together. We thought it tasted pretty good – it melted really quickly so it tasted like water down ice coffee after a short time. We honestly think that without the whipped cream and caramel it did not taste very good but with everything together it was okay!

We did some research and found that the secret to your drink being and staying thick is a product called carrageenan. It is only used with milk products, its what makes store-bought chocolate milk stay blended and smooth. It’s also used in ice cream and so much more. But we also found that carrageenan is not very good for you. Studies have linked it with stomach problems and also with migraines so if you are prone to those two things you should stay away from this product and try something out like this pin which is carrageenan free and a lot cheaper!

Have you tried out this pin, what were your results? Did you do anything differently? We want to know! Make sure to post a comment below! 

We are getting ready for the holiday season be sure to check back again next week when we make homemade Thanksgiving potpourri and Oreo truffle balls. 

To listen to our podcast from this week and previous weeks go to: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-the-pin/id720732966?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

-Autumn & Jenessa

Inside-Out Caramel Apples & Banana Ice Cream

This week we tested out the “inside out caramel apple” and banana ice cream pin. Fall is in the air and one of the best ways to celebrate the season is to enjoy a good ol’ caramel apple! But they can be so messy! To fix that, we tested out a way you can eat a caramel apple without all the mess!








What you will need:

• Granny Smith apples
•  Caramel 
• A knife and spoon
• Something to place the apples on after filling

We started out by cutting our apples in half then we cored the inside making the apple hollow like a bowl. You can make the thickness of the apple wall to your liking (the more apple, the less caramel and vice versa). We then placed our apples on a cupcake pan and poured the caramel inside. We did just what the most popular inside out caramel apple pin told us to do which was use caramel sauce… like the kind you drizzle on ice cream.  Same flavor but different much more runny.  When we started using it I was very skeptical as to whether it would harden at all. We stuck the caramel filled apples in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and started on our second test.

The actual inside out caramel apple pin that is the most popular is just a picture. There are no instructions or tips on how to do this or even suggestions on what kind of caramel to use. In the picture you can see that the caramel that they are using is Hershey’s so it is nothing too fancy. To see if there were any suggestions from other pinners I researched and ended finding a step-by-step article on how to do this. There were helpful hints like “put lemon juice on your apples after coring them – this will help them from turning brown. The picture pin didn’t say anything like that so as soon as we cored our apples they started to turn.        

We did just what the most popular inside out caramel apple pin told us to do which was use caramel sauce… like the kind you drizzle on ice cream.  Same flavor but different much more runny.  When we started using it I was very skeptical as to whether it would harden at all. We stuck the caramel filled apples in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and started on our second test.

Our next pin that we tested was the banana ice cream. All you will need are… bananas. Start out by peeling, slicing and freezing the banana.  This will take about an hour or two. When they have hardened take them out and stick them in a blender.  Make sure it is a powerful one because the one we had was a $15 single serve blender which had a terrible time blending the bananas together and getting them to the right consistency.

It is also suggested to add either peanut butter or chocolate chips or some other ingredient to give a little bit of a different flavor other than banana.  We didn’t have peanut butter but we did find some Nutella so that was our added ingredient.  If you like bananas and don’t mind it tasting and having the texture of a slimy banana then you would probably like it just the way it is without anything added but sometimes you just need that extra flavor.  In the end both ways (just the banana and the mix of banana with Nutella) turn out wonderfully.  If you are a health nut this one is definitely one to remember when you have those shameful cravings of ice cream yet you don’t have the heart to give into them. Also, because the bananas get so slimy and sticky they tend to stick to the blade which can create a little bit of frustration.  We ended up having to just finish mixing it with a wooden spoon which still didn’t turn out too badly.  

Once we indulged ourselves with the creamy banana ice cream we went back to check on how our apples were doing in the freezer.  The apples had begun to freeze but the caramel was still super runny.  When we cut the apple pieces in half the caramel just oozed everywhere.  What was supposed to be a mess free treat turned out to be more of one.  Don’t get me wrong though, they were SO good.  If we were to do this again, we would definitely have to say that using the caramel sauce wasn’t the best option.  Instead definitely go for the caramel cubes that you have to melt first, pour in the apple half and then refrigerate.  They would still be gooey but definitely not as messy.

I was so excited to have an option for the caramel apple that wouldn’t be a pain to eat and wouldn’t be a huge mess.  Unfortunately this wasn’t the one to go with.  While it was delicious, it certainly would have been even better with the caramel cubes instead. 

Have you tried out this pin, what were your results? Did you do anything differently? We want to know! Make sure to post on our blog at thetruthaboutthepin.blogspot.com.

Thanks for checking us out and be sure to check back again next week when we attempt to recreate one of starbucks most popular drinks... the copy cat Frappuccino. Not only will you get that great taste of a frappaccino but you can get it at half the price… provided this popular pin is true!

To listen to our podcast from this week go to: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-the-pin/id720732966?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

-Autumn & Jenessa  

D.I.Y Yogurt, Oatmeal, and Honey Face Mask & Ombre Nails

This week we tested the D.I.Y Yogurt, Oatmeal and Honey Face Mask and the ombre nail. We were both in need of a spa night after midterms – we were really looking forward to a night of relaxing and pampering.

What you will need for the face mask is:

1. 1 cup of plain yogurt

2. ½ cup of uncooked oatmeal

3. 1 teaspoon of honey

Mix all these ingredients together and you’ve got a facemask! You want to start off by cleansing your face and neck. Apply the mask to your face with clean hands. The Pin suggests using a foundation brush but we would say just use your hands. The facemask is chunky and a little sticky and you don’t want to get it stuck in your foundation brush. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes and wash off with warm water.

We picked this facemask to test because in the description it said it was perfect for all skin types. Oatmeal is highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and helps soften skin. Natural yogurt contains lactic acid and beneficial enzymes that help your skin stay hydrated and radiant. It softens the skin, brightens a dull complexion and helps to remove redness in the face. It cleanses the skin and treats blemishes giving you a clear & smooth complexion. 

As we were applying the facemask we were both apprehensive about whether it was going to do anything. It was cold, slimy, and chunky. But after 10 minutes it did harden! We washed off our facemask and our skin was nice and smooth – this pin was definitely a success!   

The second pin that we tested was the ombre nail. Ombre is such a famous trend right now so we were really excited to try this on our nails! For those of you who don’t know, this is basically a gradient or gradual blending from one color to another color on the nail.

What you will need is:

1. A piece of sponge

2. Two contrasting nail polish colors

3. Toothpicks  

4. Nail polish remover

5. Q-tips

We started out by applying a regular base color coat on our nails. After letting that dry completely we started the ombre process. The following picture is the pin that we were following: 

We were not impressed with our results. If you wanted to spend 2 hours doing this, you could probably get it perfect. But in the end, this pin is not as easy as they make it. The ombre part ended up being bumpy and bubbly after drying. We wouldn’t call this pin a fail but definitely a falsely portrayed pin. 

Have tried out this pin, what were your results? Did you do anything differently? We want to know! Make sure to post a comment below! 

Thanks for checking us out and be sure to check back again next week when we try out the inside out caramel apples and banana ice cream.  It’s gonna be a yummy one!

To listen to our podcast from this week go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-the-pin/id720732966?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Pictures from this weeks test!