st. patrick's day: make a minty milkshake!

This one may even compete with you-know-whose. Nothing unique and original about a mint milkshake. This one utilizes the entire blender but you can serve it up into smaller juice glasses for fun. Cut a few straws in half to make it more festive, add a dollop of whipped cream and a few chopped up pastel junior mints (and/or rainbow sprinkles) and your kiddos will be delighted!

We used Breyer's All Natural mint chocolate chip ice cream (about four large scoops) but deigned to add couple o' drops of some green food color just for kicks, we went for the neon green. We added a cup of 2% (reduced fat) milk but then went all goofy by topping each one with a spritz of whipped cream.

Serving it all up in small juice glasses keeps the portion size small and controls ones penchant for over-doing it with toppings and such. Enjoy! 

fun with googly eyes: part two

If happiness came in a bag (and it wasn't chocolate) I do think it may be googly eyes. There is just so much one can do with these little guys. It being fall and all and almost Halloween I think a little extra googly eye fun is in order. Yesterday's post is a perfect example of how easy it is to play with these kooky things. Today, I want to show you how delightful a pack of eyes, a few toothpics, glue and paper punches or scissors can be. Viola...googly cupcake toppers! So, what are ya waiting for? Whip up a batch of pumpkin cupcakes or gingerbread muffins and while they are baking, let your kidlets loose to make all sorts of spooky-fun toppers. It's an impromptu party! Yay for Halloween!

Materials
*toothpicks
*scrap paper, printed paper, newspaper
*paint of your choice
*paint brushes
*cup o water
*glue and/or glue stick
*various paper punches or scissors
*googly eyes
*markers (optional)
To make the same style of toppers I made here, set out newspaper or phone book pages and watercolors or other paint and have your wee ones paint away. Set aside to dry and let them give a stir or two to whatever cupcake or muffin you are baking. I made gingerbread cupcakes from this recipe. Make sure to work in an area that is happy for spills and mess, use a splat mat or wax paper to protect your table top if you need to.Once dry, use a large scallop punch to punch out newspaper shapes, set aside. You can let your kidlets go to town here or you can give your paper a couple of folds and punch out multiples at a time. Use a smaller circular punch to cut out shapes from your printed or scrap paper. A solid page would be better for this but you can use whichever you want. Colored paper would be nice, and/or cardstock. I used an old library brochure.Use the gluestick on the back of the scalloped circles and sandwich a toothpick between two of the. I found it easier to use a large gluestick and to put the circle on the gluestick rather than glob the gluestick all over the back of the circle. If your tots are going to use the gluestick like a pen, use a sheet of wax paper underneath to prevent extra sticking. Next up, repeat the gluestick process with the smaller circles, one circle per topper. You can do both sides but you don't need to.Finally, use a small dab of glue to anchor a googly eye or two to the center of each paper circles combo (try saying that three times fast). Lay flat to dry.When cupcakes are cool and yer ready to serve, plop a google-eyed topper into each cake and admire. Yay for impromptu party fun!

candy corn marshmallow treats

These just may be too much for even the sweetest of you sweet-toothers. Since chowing down on the mixing spoon, I haven't been able to touch another one. Oh the sugar rush! but if you like candy corn, these will totally make your day!
Materials:
*six cups rice cereal
*10oz marshmallows
*1 stick of butter sliced (1/2 cup)
*1/2 cup chopped candy corn plus a handful of whole pieces to garnish
*1/2 teaspoon of sea or kosher salt (optional)
*large baking dish
*large pot
*wooden spoon

First off, chop your butter up for easier melting. Your kidlet can do this with a blunt or plastic knife. Add to your big pan on low heat and stir, stir, stir away. You will want the butter to froth up and then brown a bit for an extra kick of flavor. When it browns, toss in a small bit of sea or kosher salt. while the butter is melting, pass off the wax butter wrapper (or small square of wax paper) to your tot and have them coat the inside of the baking dish.Once the butter is all melted, add your marshmallows and stir away. Mini marshmallows melt faster but large mallows look happier. You decide. I also have to be honest and tell you I added about 13oz of marshmallows as I like my treats on the gooey side. Stir until all your lumps are out or if you are impatient like me, allow for a few lumps.Pour cereal into melty marshmallow mix and give a stir. Before your cereal can soak up all the gooey goodness, make sure to plop your chopped candy corn into the fray. Chopping the candy corn allows for more biteability plus it melts a little so that the flavor can be detected throughout your final squares.

Scoop mixture out into buttered dish and push down with the spoon. If your mixture is too gooey you can use wax paper to flatten it down though I find that if it is too gooey for he hands it will prolly stick to the paper as well (unless of course, there is a non-sticky side, which there probably is but I just can't seem to figure it out).Press a few whole pieces of candy corn to the top for garnish and fun. Allow to set for a moment or too and then slice it all up and serve. You may want to serve it up with a cold glass of your preferred milk beverage. These squares are sweeter than sweet. A little goes a long way so you may wish to cut itty bitty squares.

valentine lurve: sugar buns

While I don't usually recommend always going to prepackaged something-or-others to satisfy the crafty-bakey-I'm-bored need, this quick fix it kinda too pretty and too yummy, not to. Plus, it is super duper easy. My five (and a half) year old assistant did all the prep-work. On her own.

You will need:
*2 oz cream cheese
*powdered sugar
*food color (optional)
*1 pack of crescent ROUNDS (breadstick dough would probably work as well)
*chocolate chips
*bowl, spoon, froster/dull knife
*baking sheet
*oven

scrumdilly-do it:

Wash hands! Plop 2 oz of cream cheese into a bowl and set to soften. Add a tablespoon or two powdered sugar and a drop of food color and stir.

Crack open your tin of dough and separate the pieces. Unwind one roll and let yer kidlet go to work.

Spread a layer of the cream cheese mixture on top of the dough.

Dot with chocolate chips. The more the merrier.

Reroll it up all purdy-like

Place on cookie sheet, repeat.

Bake according to package directions (lick the spoon).

Allow to cool and serve up with a cuppa tea, or milky beverage of choice. Don't fergit to lick them fingers. These sweet buns are the BESTEST!

After we finished chowing down, Miss Za had begun planning her next batch of sweet buns. She's thinking maybe some strawberry jam and happy edible flowers might a good combo. I think we have a new adventure ahead of us! How do you roll?