Such a cute use of leftover candy canes! 

Just place your candy canes together in a heart shape on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Place in a 300 degree oven for 3-4 minutes.  Just until soft enough to press together for the heart to take shape.  Be careful…you don’t want to melt them.

Stick a lollipop stick down the bottom of the heart (press firmly and get some of the candy canes to cover the stick), place in a small bag without a stick to give as a class gift or use mini canes and place the hearts as a cake or cupcake topper(s).  So many ways to have fun with this one!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Posted February 14th, 2011 by Colleen in Colleen, Kid Fun, Valentines Day | No Comments »

Share/Bookmark

Snow Painting!!

When my kids were younger, we always waited with great anticipation for the first snowfall. 

We would build a fort, which at first looked more like a pile of snow that was dug out on one side.  When we were done, I would break out the spray bottles filled with “Snow Paint”, and we would decorate our fort, snowman, snow angels,castle or whatever my kids had dreamed up.  If  it snowed more, the rebuilding and repainting would begin. 

As my kids  got older, the snow paint would be spread across the entire front yard.  They would make designs, draw pictures, or write notes treating the snow paint almost like sidewalk chalk.  One year, my in-laws went out of town and it snowed….big.   While my husband and I were clearing their driveway before they  returned to town, the kids made their grandparents a picture and left a note across the front lawn of smooth snow.  Needless to say their grandparents were thrilled!! 

Most people had snowmen in their yards, we had art!  UInleash your childrens imagination and creativity with this Winter!

What you need:

3-4 spray bottles (from the dollar store)

Food coloring, buy an entire box.  It comes with three or more colors

Water

Salt

Mixing and storing

Mix about half of one of the food coloring containers into a large spray bottle.  I add a teaspoon of salt and then water.  The salt will lower the freezing point of the water (called a Colligative property, it’s a chemistry thing) so the snow paint doesn’t freeze up in the bottle and clog the sprayer.  I make one color per bottle so they can have options.  If you have more than 4 children painting, you may want to get extra bottles. 

When we are finished, I store the bottles in the garage.  They can also be stored inside, just don’t leave them outside.  The salt will only help to a certain point, then the nozzle will freeze and the bottle might crack.  I rinse the nozzle off with warm water to remove any excess residue so it does not clog before the next use.  At the end of the snow season, I dump the excess down the drain, rinse the bottles with water, and store them away for next year.

The best part about the food coloring is that it won’t harm the grass, poison the animals, or make the snow look “odd”.  For less than $10, you can entertain kids for a longer time outside, then when they come in they can admire their work!

Happy Painting!

Posted January 31st, 2011 by Colleen in Amanda, Family time, Kid Fun | 3 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

Say Hello to our first Junior Chef of 2011…..5 year old Sander from Virginia!!!

Did you know that the first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia?  Most peanut farms in the US are family owned and operated, and 2 of our Presidents have been peanut farmers.  

Who were they? Our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson (from Virginia) and our 39th President, Jimmy Carter (from Georgia).

Sander likes to cook, he even like to pretend cook!  He helps out in the kitchen often with his Mom who happens to have a food site.                                                              

Check it out http://foodie-isms.com/

Sander says:

My favorite food to eat is: Crepes

My favorite thing to make is: Lemonade & smoothies

 Why do you think cooking is fun? Because you can try new things

What do you want to be when you grow up? A coach for basketball

What is the next thing you want to cook? Cupcakes 
 
I love this Strawberry N’Cream sandwich me and my Mom make!  Here is a link to the recipe:  http://foodie-isms.com/?p=1010

Sander also wanted to share his recipe for play-dough as show in his above picture!  http://foodie-isms.com/?p=464

Enjoy those cupcakes Sander….and Happy Cooking!

Posted January 22nd, 2011 by Colleen in Junior Chef Spotlight, Kid Fun | 2 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

Meet 2 1/2 year old Audrey who just so happens to be our youngest Junior Chef to date!

Audrey showed an early interest in what was going on in the kitchen which led her Mom to begin a site showcasing the creations Audrey helps cook up! 

Visit In The Kitchen With Audrey.

The header picture on the site is just adorable! I wonder just what Audrey was thinking while holding that chicken?

Audrey’s Mom asked her these questions with no coaching involved – just love her answers!

What is your favorite food to cook?   Chocolate!!

Who taught you to cook?   Mommy

The food that is most fun to squish with my hands is… cookies ( I am thinking she means the dough/batter – and I agree!! lol)

What do you want to be when you grow up?   The President

A favorite recipe of Audrey’s is a Baked Pancake from a Williams Sonoma Cookbook

Baked Apple Pancake

1 small apple

 4 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 large eggs

1 cup milk

3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp confectioners’ sugar

Posted November 29th, 2010 by Colleen in Breakfast, Junior Chef Spotlight, Kid Fun | 1 Comment »

Share/Bookmark

These oh so easy and tasty  pretzel treats show up at the holidays every year in various forms…usually a chocolate disk or white, brown, red, blue or green and a festive M&M.  I would love to know who is credited with first making these little gems.

Next time it’s your birthday (or your brother, sisters friends etc) and you need a treat for school (mom and dad take note) why not make these.  

My kids  love making  many variations..allowing their creativity to shine!

Mom, Dad, Grandparents, aunts and uncles – want to show a little extra love just because for the kids in your life – whip up an adorable batch of these as a surprise the lunch box, as an after school treat or at visit time…all you need is 20 minutes, pretzels, chocolate, decorations and a dash or two of creativity!

Pretzel Treats

Pretzel Snaps

White chocolate melting disks (I use Wilton)

Decorations like, M&M’s, nerds, dragees (edible silver balls and little girls favorites), sprinkles, jimmies, candy…you name it!

On a baking sheet, place pretzels in a single layer. Put one white chocolate disk in the center of each pretzel. Place in a 350 degree oven for approx 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is shiny but not melted or falling through the pretzel.
Remove from the oven and decorate immediately. Cool in your fridge or cold garage for 20 minutes and they will remain hard until ready to eat. They keep well for a week in a sealed container.

Happy Cooking!

Posted November 8th, 2010 by Colleen in Candy, Colleen, Desserts, Kid Fun, Lunch, Lunch Box, Snacks | 1 Comment »

Share/Bookmark

Looking for a  quick Halloween treat to make with your kids for a class party or treat bags?  Something cute to surprise nieces, nephews, grandchildren or neighborhood kids?  These are it! 

Your kids can make these by themselves – mine did…these were made by a 9 year old boy and 6 year old girl…they had a blast and can tell their friends proudly  ”I made these for you”!  If you want to make your own marshmallows click here for a recipe.

Just walk them through the steps and watch over them  as they create and have fun!

These are just as easy as the Edible Eyeballs – Which you and your kids can whip up in a snap!

Marshmallow Treats

1 bag of marshmallows

1 cup of chocolate chips

Decorations of your choice

Lollipop sticks (optional)

Place a piece  of parchment or wax paper on a baking sheet.  Set the number of marshmallows you wish to dip on the sheet.  If you choose to use lollipop sticks (which you do not have to, these are just as cute on a plate) insert them now..push down and “screw” them in…to about the center of each marshmallow, while gently holding them in your hand.  Replace on baking sheet.  Have small bowls ready partially filled with the decorations of your choosing.   Melt the chocolate chips in your microwave for 45 seconds to a minute, give them a stir.  If they melt and become smooth you are good to go.  If not microwave for an additional 15 seconds , stir until smooth.

Holding the sides of your marshmallow, one at a time dip them into the chocolate, coating  just the top, then “tap..tap” into your decorations.  Place on baking sheet. 

Once finished,  place baking sheet in your cold garage or refrigerator for 15 minutes or until firm.  You can bag them individually with ribbon and a tag to give out.

Happy Halloween!   Have fun and be safe!

Posted October 27th, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Halloween, Kid Fun | 2 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

Have your kids been introduced to ribs yet? 

Here is a perfect way to make eating ribs easy for small hands…plus you know what?  It’s fun too!  These little guys are great for parties…they make the ribs go further and are much less messy to pick up and eat.  Your kids can help you prep these too…easy peasy!

1 slab of ribs (get your grocer or butcher to cut them right down the middle, they will re-wrap them after)
Your kids favorite BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cut the ribs apart and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 1 hour.  Remove from the oven,  pour off any grease, brush with some of your sauce and cook for another hour to and hour and a half. It really depends on the ribs you end up with…how big, how fatty etc. Just check them after 2  hours…are they cooked to your liking?

Remove from the oven, brush with more BBQ sauce and tent with foil, let them sit an hour or overnight in your fridge.

Prior to serving, fire up the grill. You just want to warm them up and give them some nice grill marks. Brush with sauce along the way, then once more prior to plating.

You can throw a few of these in your kids lunchboxes as well, just be sure to toss in a couple of towelettes!

Serve with raw veggies and dip and you have a “Finger Dinner”…just pick up what you want…no utensils required!

Happy Cooking!

Posted October 25th, 2010 by Colleen in Appetizers, Dinner, Entrees, Kid Fun, Lunch Box | No Comments »

Share/Bookmark

                              Have you ever been “BOOED”? 

My kids are 8 and 6 and we first got “Booed” 4 years ago and let me tell you, it has been such fun ever since!  

When Iwas a kid it was all about Soap Night and Mischief Night (an no I did not participate thank you).  

These days it’s about planning your list of “victims” to BOO, then creating something fun to leave behind and giggling as a family as you do it.  Seriously folks…THIS is FUN!!

First you type the note: 

                                     BOO!

                    Today we left you a treat

  The tradition is fun and we hope you will repeat

               Tape this ghost to your front door

  To let the others know you need be ghosted no more

           Now it’s your duty to pass on the surprise

            To three more families we must advise

          Gather some treats and deliver them soon

                Within two nights under the moon

          Include a ghost with each package you give

          Along with this poem for the tradition to live!

                                Happy Halloween!

Along with the note have your kids draw and cut out 3 separate ghosts to include in the package you leave behind.

My kids LOVE coming up with what to put in our packages…Halloween Stickers, candy, home made cookies, our signature

Edible Eyeballs and any other small trinket we come across.  This year we painted some canning jars orange, painted black features to mimic a jack o lantern and put tea lights inside for a cool glow…that is what we are leaving behind along with a sweet treat! 

When the big night comes, usually a few nights before Halloween, we dress in black…my husband pulls his big black truck slowly near (but not to close) to the target home, he turns off the headlights then slowly rolls into a hiding spot.  Next the kids and I spring into action!  My daughter and I hide in the bushes, my son (the oldest) runs up to the front door, rings the doorbell and runs like a crazy man to a hiding spot…we watch as the porch light comes on, the door is opens, folks look around (and sometimes don’t look down and close the door lol) then if it was a parent…they call for their kids when they realize what has happened…the kids come…ecstatic…and peek all around trying to guess “who did it”, then claim their “prize” and head inside…when it is “safe” the kids and I run back to the truck, laugh and tell Dad the story of how it all went down!  Then we prepare for our next stop.

Oh…and I have to admit…we do more than 3…it’s just to fun!

Hope you enjoy trying this fun family activity with your neighbors, friends and family!

Do you have any Halloween traditions?

Posted October 17th, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Halloween, Kid Fun, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

This is a craft and a treat rolled into one!

Bring out the Picasso in your kids as they “paint” and design their own ice cream cones.

Recently I did a kid swap. I exchanged my daughter for my nephew for a night.
My son and nephew (8 and 9) helped prepare a fun treat for a family barbecue I was hosting the next day. Not only did the boys have a blast making these, they custom made one for each of their cousins, and family members. Then, when the time came, they so very proudly handed them out, one by one!

Moments like these are priceless to me!

What You Will Need:
Ice cream cones
Chocolate to melt – I use Wilton melting disks in various colors from the craft store, those are amazing and versatile for so many uses.
Decorations – jimmies, colored sugars, small candies, mini chocolate chips…whatever you think will surprise and delight your kiddos and is small enough to work!!
Pasty Brush, or silicone basting brush
Wax or parchment paper lined baking sheet

Line the cones up on a big piece of wax or parchment paper – one work area for each child.

Parents, melt the chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl (one color at a time) depending on how many your are making cooking times will vary. I suggest 45 seconds to start, check your chocolate, stir a bit then 30 second intervals until smooth and glossy when stirred.

Have your kids dip the brush into the melted chocolate and “paint” the cone tips, then quickly have them sprinkle on chosen decorations.

Make the cones one at a time – The chocolate can harden quickly depending on the temperature if it does, the decorations will not stick.

As each one is made, gently place on your parchment/wax paper lined baking sheet. Once all are made, place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until the chocolate is hardened once again.

Store in an airtight large container if not using within a few hours.

Have fun releasing your inner artist!!

Happy Cooking!

Posted August 8th, 2010 by Colleen in Desserts, Kid Fun, Snacks | 2 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

We go to fairs and amusement parks all of the time with the kids and they always ask to stop at those sand art booths. We must have a hundred different sand art creations in our home by now.

A few years ago, the sugar art booths starting showing up and that was the new “excitement” in our adventures.

The problem was, they were really expensive, and as a chemist I wondered if the food dyes and preservatives used in mass production,(who knows how long that sugar has been in traveling), are safe for my children.
I did some playing one summer, and came up with an easy, inexpensive alternative.
I make these for the fairs at my school, birthday parties, or when I have a group of bored kids looking for something fun to do.

Ingredients – Repeat for each color desired:
1 cup of sugar
5-10 drops of food coloring
1/2 packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid for flavor
1/4 tsp cornstarch
Fun containers

Directions:
Place 1 cup of sugar into a blender or food processor along with 5-10 drops of food coloring (the more coloring, the darker the final sugar).
I pick a color that complements the flavor (yellow for lemon, blue for blue raspberry, purple for grape, etc).
Blend.

Now for the fun: Fill one squirt bottle with a single flavor of sugar (we took our coupon to Michael’s and bought a set of food safe bottles).
Let them squeeze the sugar, in layers, into the container chosen.
We work outside or over a cookie sheet to make clean-up easier.

Choose a container that is fun, but small. I don’t use anything too large or the kids get a HUGE sugar rush.
We have used the sand art bottles from mail order as the vehicle to store and “squirt” the sugars as well as from kits that we had laying around (they must be clean and unused).

If you are not sure if the containers are clean, they can be washed with warm, soapy water a few days before they are to be used (make sure they are dry or the sugar will stick and clump after it is in the container).
I generally use 3-5 flavors and let them “create” a design. The best part is that when they are done, they can eat it. Then, the container can be recycled or even re-used for an actual sand art project.

Note: test tubes can be ordered from various websites that are fairly inexpensive and they look very scientific. Also, the openings are large enough that they don’t clog when the kids are eating the sugar. I have gotten them from “Shot Wizard”, where they run about $35 for 250 tubes and caps (sold separately). This place can even print on the tubes for a special occasion. I do suggest the ½ ounce to ¾ ounce size: they are plenty large enough without being too much sugar all at once.

As for amounts of sugar needed: there are 8 ounces in a cup, so 2 cups of sugar will fill just under sixteen ½ ounce tubes. When you are making the sugar, just do the math but keep in mind that this means total sugar, not per flavor. I had a friend make that mistake and she had to order more tubes just to use all of the sugar.

Posted July 25th, 2010 by Amanda in Amanda, Kid Fun | 4 Comments »

Share/Bookmark