Little things we've done lately...

Trying to beat the Winter Blues, we've done a couple things lately that the kids found fun.
First we made Banana Men for our "Family Night" treat. Basically you cut the banana in half and decorate it with chocolate chips, candies, whipped cream for hair and mustaches, etc. And please don't be jealous of the fine china we use at our house. :)



Then, for dinner one night I let the kids make their own pizzas. I made up some pizza dough, rolled out individual sized circles, and let them pick from a variety of toppings. Fun for everyone.


Also, here is another little trick I used this week. Red food coloring and corn syrup mixed and brushed onto a bandage and then dried overnight makes awesome blood!


I'm not really into gory Halloween costumes, but our school does a "Fake an injury day" for part of our spirit week. This works great for some fake-out blood!

Just when I resolved to eat less sugar...

Can you tell that I love the Prepared Pantry and love using different flavors for things?

They just came out with flavored Rice Krispie treats! Check it out:
Strawberry Lemonade
Apricot
Huckleberry
Lemon

What are you waiting for?

Lemony Sunshine Popcorn

Inspired by the popcorn handbook, I decided to create my own version. We had the Prepared Pantry's natural lemon flavoring on hand, so I decided to try a lemon version. It is so yummy. The perfect balance of lemon and sweetness. Gotta try it! I'm not sure what plain lemon juice would do. Let me know if you try.

Lemony Sunshine Popcorn

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1/8 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons lemon flavor
Yellow food coloring.
Yields 14 cups of candy popcorn. This recipe can also be doubled successfully.
1. Pop the popcorn kernels. Set aside in 2 large bowls.
2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium sauce pan.
3. Add the corn syrup and water. Stir.
4. Add the sugar. Make sure not to let any sugar stick to the edges of the pan. If one
grain of sugar is left undissolved, it can cause the whole batch to crystallize.
5. Bring to a boil and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 235-245 degrees.
(Please use a candy thermometer). It is important for the mixture to reach this
temperature, if it doesn’t the candy will not harden properly.
6. Add the baking soda and stir quickly as the mixture begins to bubble. Once bubbly
and frothy, remove the pan from heat.
7. Add the flavor and food coloring until mixed in.
8. Pour over the popped popcorn in both bowls. Fold into the popcorn until evenly
coated.

Popcorn Lovers

If you like popcorn at all (or have a loved one who does)-- you have to check out this link for a FREE popcorn handbook from the Prepared Pantry.
You will find mouthwatering recipes like Bubba’s Friday Night Root Beer Popcorn or Banana’s Foster Panama City Popcorn just to name a few.

After you put in your name and e-mail address, it will send you to the PDF version.

It just might make your Wednesday a little happier just reading the recipe names!

My new favorite....

Is it just me, or is one of the best moments of the day when the kids are all finally settled into their beds? I always like to grab a little snack and flip through the boob tube for a few minutes and just veg.

Growing up we had ice cream more nights than we probably should have. If you are like that, this treat is definitely going to take the place of that. And the best part-the whole thing is about 100 calories. (Yogurt=80, 1/2 cup strawberries=25)

It is key lime pie yogurt (Walmart now sells a Great Value 4 pack that is cheaper than the name brands and tastes just as good) mixed with about 1/2 cup or so of frozen chopped strawberries. I recently got a flat and froze them myself.

It is soooo good. I know it sounds really simple, but trust me you won't turn to the ice cream for awhile. This doesn't taste like you are trying to eat healthy. YUM!

Edible Easter Nests

This is one of my favorite treats to make at Easter. When I taught Kindergarten I made these with my students every year. They loved it! My oldest is finally getting to where she can do things like this. It's so fun and super easy! Enjoy!

1 - 11oz. bag butterscotch chips

1 tbsp butter

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

3 c. marshmallow creme

1 - 12 oz package chinese noodles

coconut

green food coloring

jelly beans or other Easter candy

Melt and mix the first 4 ingredients. Stir the noodles in. Lightly grease muffin tin and drop by spoonfuls into cups. Form cups like nests with your fingers. Put some coconut in ziploc bag with green food coloring and shake until coconut is green. When the nests have cooled, remove them from the muffin tin and fill with green coconut. Garnish with jelly beans and other Easter candy.

Easy Hamburger Cookies

Spring is starting to tease us around here. It was 40 yesterday and I didn't even wear a jacket to run errands! So, it is getting my in the mood for summer foods and parties. Here is an easy treat that I've been making since I was about 9. I got a BHG Kids Cookie Cookbook for Christmas and this recipe came from there. Except, they called for york peppermint patties. Trust me, grasshopper cookies are way yummier.* It is always a hit at BBQ's and better yet, you can sit back and let your kids make the whole thing.

Hamburger Cookies

Few drops water

Few drops green food coloring

1/2 cup flaked coconut

48 vanilla wafers

24 grasshopper cookies

sesame seeds or poppy seeds

Turn over to 350. In a small screw-top jar combine the water and the green food coloring. Add coconut; cover and shake until all of the coconut is tinted. Set aside.

Place half of the vanilla wafers, flat side up on an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each with a grasshopper cookie. Place in the oven for about 1 minute or just until chocolate begins to soften.

Immediately sprinkle each with a tsp. of tinted coconut. Top with another vanilla wafer. Press gently. Brush the top vanilla wafers with just enough water to moisten so the sesame seeds will stick.

Sprinkle each cookie with a little sesame seed and serve.

*Make your own grasshopper cookies. Find out how here.

Easy fruit smoothies

When you just can't get to Jamba and need your smoothie fix-here is an easy one. It only has two ingredients:

One cup pineapple-orange juice

One heaping cup of frozen strawberries

Blend together.

Yum!

Of course this would work with any fruit/juice combo.