Category: Recipe

Very Hungry Caterpillar Party -4

This girl likes butterfly and she has memorized the book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. We decided to use this for her 4 year old birthday party. I found this fun little butterfly wings at the Dollar Tree for the girls to wear, they love them!

Butterfly/ Caterpillar Dress

Storm wore her Very Hungry Caterpillar dress with her butterfly wings and I wore my Very Hungry Caterpillar t-shirt. Storm wanted to play with water balloons so she got a new pink butterfly swimsuit to wear. These girls are obsessed with water balloons.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Decorations

We had sidewalk chalk and water balloons to play with at the party. I also put up some Very Hungry Caterpillar Balloons and the Butterfly, 4th Birthday Balloons.

I used red and Green Party Paper Fans to make a caterpillar. I also used red and green paper plates to make a caterpillar and used my Cricut to spell out Storm’s name. I created a sign with my CANVA program that says, “Storm is a beautiful butterfly!”

I took a large box and painted a big red circle on it, then I cut a whole for the caterpillar’s mouth and added eyes and ears. The kids could toss the fruit into the caterpillar’s mouth. Storm and I also looked through all of her toy food and found some from the book to feed the caterpillar box as well.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Food

I used my CANVA program to make some labels for the food table too. I also served salami and cheese sliders and hot dogs for lunch as well.

I served much of the food in these Palm Leave Serving Trays.

“A little egg lay on a leaf.” I made deviled eggs and placed hem on a lettuce leaf.

“He ate through one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, five oranges.” I placed the fruit out with the sign sticking up with a picture from the book attached.

“one piece of chocolate cake” I made these Buckeye Brownies…

Buckeye Brownie Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • 1¼ cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Chocolate Spinkles
  • Cherries

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Prepare your dish by lining a 9-inch square pan with heavy-duty foil then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Place a cup of water in a small saucepan and place it on medium heat. Place a glass bowl on top of the saucepan with the hot water in it and combine 1½ cups chocolate morsels and ½ cup butter in the bowl. Turn off the stove once the water starts bowling, be careful of the steam. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth.
  4. In a mixer you can add sugar and the chocolate, stirring to combine.
  5. Add eggs, 1 at a time; add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring well.
  6. Mix in the flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir for several minutes.
  7. Pour into the 9×9 baking dish.
  8. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  9. In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, remaining ¼ cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, milk, and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring until blended.
  10. While brownie is slightly warm, spread peanut butter mixture over top in a smooth layer. Set aside.
  11. In a small saucepan, heat cream until almost boiling. Remove from heat, and add remaining 1 cup chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Pour over peanut butter layer, spreading into a smooth layer.
  12. We added chocolate sprinkles.
  13. Refrigerate for about 4 hours, until chocolate layer becomes firm.
  14. Using edges of foil as handles, lift whole brownie from pan. Carefully remove foil, and place brownie on a cutting board. Press down firmly in one motion to cut into individual brownies, about an inch apart.
  15. Add the cherry if you choose.

“one ice-cream cone” I filled the cones sitting on the table with pink cotton candy and later we ate strawberry ice-cream in our cones with the cake. I was able to hold up the cones with Cone Holder.

“one pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami”

“one lollipop” We found these blue swirl lollipops for the girls.

“one piece of cherry pie” I just bought a pie at Walmart this time.

“one sausage” I used hotdogs as the “sausage”.

“one cupcake” We actually made banana muffins with blue cupcake liners.

Ingredients:

  • 1 eggs
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 overripe bananas
  • 1 cup flour
  • ¾  tea. Baking soda
  • ¼  tea salt
  • ½  tea. Vanilla
  • 12  Muffin Cups

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix the eggs, butter, and brown sugar.
  3. Mash in the bananas.
  4. Blend in flour, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.
  5. Place muffin cups in 12  muffin holders. And fill ¾ full with batter.
  6. Bake for 16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

“and one slice of watermelon.”

“The caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf” I made a salad with cucumber and tomato slices arranged on top to look like the caterpillar.

Butterfly Nectar

Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake

I used a strawberry cake mix and strawberry icing for her cake. I sliced kiwi and strawberries to place on the top to look like a caterpillar. Storm also found some fun pink and green sprinkles to put on her cupcakes.

Happy Birthday my little Butterfly!

You might enjoy some of my other party posts:

Chocolate Freezer Pies -14

My Sweet Boy is not 14! He loves Jesus, Lord of the Rings, spending time with family, computer games, and watching The Big Bang Theory. He is getting ready to start a big new adventure- High School!

Chocolate Freezer Pie

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Hershey’s bar
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 16 oz. Cool Whip
  • 2 Prepared 8 inch Graham Crust
  • 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

  1. Heat the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted.
  2. Beat the cream cheese and add the remaining milk. Add chocolate mix and beat until smooth.
  3. In a bowl, fold the chocolate mix into the cool whip and blend until smooth.
  4. Spoon the mix into the crusts. I decorated the pies with some extra cool whip and shaved chocolate bar for my son’s birthday.
  5. Freeze for 4 hours.
  6. Add the Birthday Candles and enjoy!

He got a Nerf gun for his birthday and his little sister was al about helping him open it! She also helped me wrap the gift in her Pink Minnie Mouse wrapping paper! He loves her so much, he has been her primary babysitter every summer since she’s been born!

He informed me that it is technically not a Nerf Gun, and that it is better than Nerf.

He is turning into such a handsome young man! He has the sweetest heart, and the most empathetic teenage boy that I know. He brings joy to whomever he comes into contact with each day. I love you, My Sweet Boy!

Here are a few other birthday parties posts that you might enjoy:

Kids Homemade Breadsticks and Pretzels

The kids have been baking bread this winter. We read the Walter the Baker by Eric Carle and then they wanted to make pretzels. We also tried a Little Caesars Breadsticks.

Bavarian Soft Pretzels

Dough Ingredients:

  • 3 tea instant dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 Cup warm water (100-110 degrees F)
  • 2 TBS granulated sugar
  • 4 Cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tea salt

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup water
  • 2 tea basking soda
  • Coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 Cup butter

Directions:

  1. Combine warm water, sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it set for about 10 minutes.
  2. Add in flour and salt and knead in the mixer.
  3. Grease bowl and place dough in the bowl. Cover it and leave it in a warm place for 30 minutes to let it rise.
  4. Preheat the oven 25 degrees F.
  5. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and toll each part into a 2 foot rope.
  6. Form 8 pretzels and set aside.
  7. Combine water and baking soda in a shallow stovetop pan and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and submerge each pretzel in the water for a second and place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt and bake for 11-12 minutes.
  8. Melt the butter and use a basting brush to spread the melted butter onto the warm pretzels.
  9. Eat with nacho cheese sauce.

Little Caesars Breadsticks

Dough Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 tea instant dry yeast
  • 1/4 Cup warm water (100-110 degrees F)
  • 1 TBS granulated sugar
  • 3 Cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tea salt
  • 1 Cup hot water

Basting Ingredients:

  • 1/4 Cup melted butter
  • 1/2 tea garlic salt
  • 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and prepare 2 2 baking sheets.
  2. Combine water and sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it set for 10 minutes.
  3. Mix in 2 cups of the flour, salt and hot water.
  4. Mix on low in your mixer and slowly add 1 more cup of flour until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  5. Dump the dough on flour surface and cup into fourths, then cup each piece into 3 equal pieces making 12 pieces.
  6. Roll the pieces into 10 inch ropes and place on the baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 11-12 minutes.
  8. Mix the melted butter and garlic salt and the brush it on the sticks. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Olive Garden Breadsticks

Dough Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 tea instant dry yeast
  • 1/4 Cup warm water (100-110 degrees F)
  • 1 TBS granulated sugar
  • 3 Cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tea salt
  • 1 Cup hot water

Basting Ingredients:

  • 1/4 Cup melted butter
  • 1/2 tea garlic salt
  • 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and prepare 2 2 baking sheets.
  2. Combine water and sugar and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it set for 10 minutes.
  3. Mix in 2 cups of the flour, salt and hot water.
  4. Mix on low in the mixer and slowly add 1 more cup of flour until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  5. Dump the dough on flour surface and cup into fourths, then cup each piece into 3 equal pieces making 12 pieces.
  6. Roll the pieces into 10 inch ropes and place on the baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 11-12 minutes.
  8. Mix the melted butter and garlic salt and the brush it on the sticks.

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Christmas Fireplace & Crafts

Christmas Fire Place

I wrapped diaper boxes and pizza boxes in brown packing paper. Then I mixed red and black paint and used a sponge to put it on the paper to look like bricks.

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Gingerbread Christmas Tree

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups flour
  • ¾ Cup melted butter
  • ¾ Cup sugar
  • ½ Cup Molasses
  • ½ Cup water
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 TBS Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients.
  2. Once dough begins to form, dust generously with flour.
  3. Cover dough with plastic and chill for 4 hours.
  4. Dust surface with flour and roll out dough to ¼ inch thick.
  5. Use a cookie cutter and place pieces on sprayed cookie sheet.
  6. Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Christmas Day Snacks

Fruit Dip Wreath

Fruit dip is made with cream cheese and marshmallow cream.

Vegi Tray Wreath

Vegi ranch is made with sour cream and a ranch packet.

Christmas Cookies

We made cookie boxes for our teachers and coworkers this year.

Chewy Sugar Cookies 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 1 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 1/4 Cup Flour
  • 1/2 tea baking powder
  • 12 tea salt
  • 1 tea Vanilla
  • Colored Sugar for Rolling

INSTRUCTIONS:

Sugar Cookie Swirls 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 1 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 1/4 Cup Flour
  • 1/2 tea baking powder
  • 12 tea salt
  • 1 tea Vanilla
  • Red and Green Food Coloring
  • Christmas Sprinkles

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar.
  3. Add egg and mix well.
  4. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla.
  5. Divide into 3 portions and dye 1 portion red and another portion green.
  6. Chill for 1 hour.
  7. Roll out the 3 doughs and stack them on plastic wrap.
  8. Roll them up into a cylinder and chill for 1 hour more.
  9. Take off the plastic wrap and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Roll slices in the sprinkles.
  10. Place cookies on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

Almond Joy Cookies

 Servings 3 dozen

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 14 oz bag sweetened coconut flakes
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup chopped lightly salted almonds
  • 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325F.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl combine coconut, chocolate chips, almonds, and sweetened condensed milk.
  4. Stir until combined.
  5. Scoop out dough with a cookie scoop onto prepared baking sheet.
  6. Moisten the tips of your fingers with water and shape into discs. Pat the tops flat.
  7. Bake cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until tips of coconut are just starting to turn golden brown.
  8. Let cool on baking sheet.
  9. Store cookies in an airtight container.

White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Servings: 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup shortening
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup crushed candy canes
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips 

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl beat together the butter, shortening, white sugar & brown sugar until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  3. Add in the vanilla extract & peppermint extract, then mix in the eggs 1 at a time.
  4. Turn the mixer down to low speed and mix in the flour, baking soda & salt.
  5. Mix in the crushed candy canes & white chocolate chips.
  6. Form the dough into balls about 1 tablespoons and place 2 inches apart on the lined cookie sheets.
  7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the tops look just set.
  8. Cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes, then continue cooling on a wire rack.

Gooey Red Velvet Cookies

Makes 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 ¼ cups of flour
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 8oz of softened cream cheese
  • 4 tbsps of softened butter
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp red liquid food coloring

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In a bowl mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt and put to one side for later.
  2. In another larger bowl cream the butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth. Then beat in the egg and the food coloring.
  3. Add to this mixture the dry ingredients you set aside earlier. Mix it all together until dough is formed.
  4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave the dough to chill for around 2 hours.
  5. Place the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Separate the dough into 1 inch balls and roll each ball into the powdered sugar. Place dough balls onto a greased baking tray.
  6. Bake cookies in an oven pre heated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
  7. Leave cookies to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled store in an airtight container. They should keep for 3 days.

Hot Chocolate Cookies

Servings 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 4 packages hot cocoa mix
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 Cup mini marshmallows

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with standing mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
  2. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Gradually beat dry ingredients into butter mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
  3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop 2 tablespoons dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets lined with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  4. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; remove to wire racks and cool.

Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 cups flour
  • ¾ Cup melted butter
  • ¾ Cup sugar
  • ½ Cup Molasses
  • ½ Cup water
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 TBS Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Combine all ingredients.
  2. Once dough begins to form, dust generously with flour.
  3. Cover dough with plastic and chill for 4 hours.
  4. Dust surface with flour and roll out dough to ¼ inch thick.
  5. Use a cookie cutter and place pieces on sprayed cookie sheet.
  6. Bake 350 degrees for 8 minutes

Milk Chocolate Nut Melts

INGREDIENTS:

  • Milk Chocolate Chips
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Candy Molds

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
  2. Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
  3. Put the chocolate in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
  4. Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
  5. Spoon the melted chocolates into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
  6. Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and place in the chopped nuts.
  7. Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Melts

INGREDIENTS:

  • Dark Chocolate Candy Melts
  • White Chocolate Candy Melts
  • Crushed Candy Canes
  • Candy Molds

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
  2. Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
  3. Put the chocolate in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
  4. Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
  5. Spoon the melted chocolates into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
  6. Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and place in the crushed candy canes.
  7. Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.

Christmas Candy Melts

INGREDIENTS:

  • Red and Green Candy Melts
  • Tiny Christmas sprinkles
  • Candy Molds

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
  2. Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
  3. Put the candy melts in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
  4. Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
  5. Spoon the melted candy into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
  6. Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and sprinkle in the Christmas sprinkles.
  7. Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.

Peppermint Bowls

I just cut out the red portion of 1 bowl and then placed it onto the other bowls one at a time while I spray painted them red. Then I wrapped them with clear wrapping.

Family Teen Halloween Festivities

The kids are growing up so we tried some more activities geared toward teens this year!

Campfire

Fall Foods

Hot Cocoa & Apple Cider

Carmel Apples (red, green, yellow apples) with mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and sprinkles

Roasted Hot Dogs

S’mores

Chili with cheese, crackers and corn chips

Homemade Chili Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Chili Brick
  • 2 lb. ground beef
  • 3 cans of kidney beans
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • 1 Cup water

Directions:

  1. Brown the beef and drain.
  2. Mix all of the ingredients in a big pot and bring to boil.
  3. Lower heat and simmer until chili brick is dissolved, at least an hour, stirring occasionally.

Pumpkin Carving

Candy vs. Chocolate

This was one of the kids favorite activities this year!

Storm Trunk -or- Treat

Goodnight Moon Tot School

One of the favorite books for all of my toddlers over the years has been “Goodnight Moon”. The simple rhyming and repetition is calming for my little ones.

Abeka Curriculum

I was able to incorporate several of our Abeka nursery lessons into this unit as well. Following are some of the specific books with links that are used in this Farm Tot School Unit:

Goodnight Moon Sensory Tub

Tot Tub

Color: Red

Shape: Crescent

Number: 2

Letter: M (moon)

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“In the great green room”

Paint with green paint.

“There was a telephone”

Play with toy phone.
Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“And a red balloon”

Play with a red baloon.

S reviewed his colors by coloring the balloons on page 2 of this download the color that I told him.  Then I cut it out and folded it into a book.

“And a picture of—”

Paint a picture.

“The cow jumping over the moon”

Hey Diddle Diddle

I got this printable from Homeschool Creations.  I added a craft stick to them so I could make the cow jump over the moon.

“And there were three little bears sitting on chairs”

Three Little Bears

I cut out the bears and chairs for S to sort them by size. Then she wanted them to have a “bowl of mush” too.

“And two little kittens”

Color 2 little kittens.

I printed the 2 Little Kittens printable for her to color.

“And a pair of mittens”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“And a little toy house”

Play with a toy house.

“And a young mouse”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“And a comb and a brush”

Comb doll’s hair.
Brush doll’s hair.

“and a bowl full of mush”

Play dough…
bowl of mush.

“And a quiet old lady who was whispering “hush””

Night night hugs
put baby to bed.

“Goodnight room”

Goodnight Room Coloring Page

I printed the Goodnight Room Coloring Page for S.

“Goodnight moon”

Paint a yellow crescent moon.

“Goodnight cow jumping over the moon”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“Goodnight light”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“And the red balloon”

Paint a red balloon.
Red pom pom balloons in star ice tray.

“Goodnight bears”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“Goodnight chairs”

Sit teddy bear in the chair.

“Goodnight kittens”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum
3 Little Kittens

I found this 3 Little Kittens for her to match mittens with the kittens.

“And goodnight mittens”

Matching Mittens

“Goodnight clocks”

Toy wooden clock.
Hickory, Dickory, Dock

Here is the Hickory, Dickory, Dock coloring page.

“And goodnight socks”

“Goodnight little house”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“And goodnight mouse”

Color mouse house.

“Goodnight comb And goodnight brush”

Paint with a comb or brush.

“Goodnight nobody”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“Goodnight mush”

Oatmeal for breakfast.

“And goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush””

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

“Goodnight stars”

Star stickers on black paper.

“Goodnight air”

Draw moon and stars with a white crayon and paint water colors over it.

“Goodnight noises everywhere.”

Abeka Nursery Curriculum

Chewy Sugar Cookies

Cookie Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1//2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cookie Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray
  3. Cream together the butter and sugar.
  4. Add the egg and mix well.
  5. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla.
  6. Form dough into a large ball and place in a bowl to refrigerate for a hour.
  7. Roll the cookie dough onto a floured surface about 1/4 inch thick.
  8. Cut out the dough with cookie cutters and place them on the pan.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  10. Cool and add the buttercream.

Buttercream Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Buttercream Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
  4. Color with yellow food coloring.

Snow White Disney Dinner

The Little One has been watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs lately, so I decided to have a German Snow White themed dinner for family movie night!

Appetizer:  Bavarian Pretzels

Dough Ingredients:

  • 3 tea Instant dry yeast
  • 1 ½ Cup Warm Water (100-110 degrees)
  • 2 TBS granulated sugar
  • 4 Cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tea salt

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup water
  • 2 tea baking soda
  • Coarse Sea Salt
  • ¼ Cup Butter

Instructions: 

  1. Combine yeast and warm water and sugar.
  2. Add in flour and salt (knead or use mixer).
  3. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and place in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven 425, grease baking sheet.
  5. Divide dough into 8 equal parts. Roll each part into 24 inch rope to form the pretzel.
  6. In a shallow bowl, combine the water and baking soda.  Submerge each pretzel in water and place on the baking sheet.
  7. Sprinkle with sea salt and let sit for 10 minutes.
  8. Bake for 12 minutes then brush with melted butter.
  9. Serve with cheese sauce.

Entrée: Gulaschsuppe (soup)

Ingredients:

  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 lb beef, cubed into bite sized pieces
  • 2 T. balsamic vinegar
  • 2/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 6 med thin skinned potatoes, peeled and cubed into bite sized pieces
  • 32 oz beef broth
  • Water
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 T. paprika
  • 6 oz. tomato paste

Instructions: 

  1. Cook onion, carrots, celery and garlic in olive oil until the onion is caramelized. 
  2. Scrape pot and add beef, browning well. 
  3. Scrape the pot again and add the wine and balsamic vinegar, let it simmer on low until the wine has almost entirely evaporated.
  4. Add broth, bay leaves and paprika, and let simmer for about an hour to tenderize the beef. 
  5. Add potato cubes and enough water to cover plus about 1 inch above, and bring to boil. 
  6. When potatoes are tender, add tomato paste, lower to a simmer and let cook for about another 15 minutes.

Fruit: Apple Dumplings

(I got this idea from the Disney Princess Cookbook.)

Dough Ingredients:  

  • 1.5 cups of flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • 6 TBSP of cold butter
  • 1/2 cup of milk

Filling Dough Ingredients:  

  • 2 peeled apple (cut into quarters)
  • 1 TBSP butter (cut into quarters)
  • 3 TBSP of brown sugar 
  • 1/4 cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

Syrup Ingredients:  

  • 1 cup of hot water
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 TBSP melted butter

Instructions: 

  1. 1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.  Butter a 9inch square baking pan.
  2. 2. To make the dough, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl.  Cut 3 tablespoons of butter into small pieces.
  3. 3. Use your hands to knead the butter and flour together.
  4. 4. Stir in the milk.
  5. 5. Flour a surface and knead the dough until it holds together and dust the top with flour.  Roll out into a 12 inch square.
  6. 6. Cut the dough into four equal squares and place two quarters of apple in each square.  
  7. 7. Place 1 quarter tablespoon butter one quarter in each square. 
  8. 8. In a small bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg.  Spoon equal amounts of mixture in each square.
  9. 9. Gather three corners of dumpling together and pinch together.  Put all four in the baking dish an inch apart.
  10. 10. Combine hot water, the remaining brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of butter, melted.  Stir and pour over the dumplings in the pan.
  11. 11. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
  12. 12. Spoon more syrup over the top, and serve warm.

Vegi:  Crispy Potato Bake

Ingredients:

  • 6 russet potatoes, thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ¼ cup real bacon bits

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Use a mandolin or sharp knife to make thin, equal slices of your potatoes and onions – about 1/8″ thick is ideal.
  3. Grease a round casserole dish.
  4. Use a spiral pattern , arrange the sliced potatoes in your baking dish.
  5. Insert the sliced onions an equal distance apart amongst the sliced potatoes.
  6. Place the butter in a microwave-safe dish and microwave for 330 seconds until completely melted. Stir in the olive oil and then pour the mixture over the casserole.
  7. Sprinkle on your seasoning and bacon bits.
  8. Cover with tinfoil and bake for 45 minutes.
  9. Remove the tinfoil and continue baking for 15 minutes to crisp up the potatoes and bacon.

Dessert: Poison Apple Pie

(I got the idea for my Poison Apple Pie from A Magical Kingdom Called Home Blog.)

Ingredients:

  • 4 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and diced
  • 14oz can whole cranberries
  • Juice from one lemon
  • 2 tsp pie spice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Two pie crusts
  • Egg wash

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 425°. Line pie plate with one pie crust and set aside. Pour lemon juice over diced apples and stir to prevent browning.
  2. In a medium saucepan, bring cranberries, one cup of apples, sugar, water, and pie spice to a boil over medium heat. Then lower heat and simmer 10-15 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and add remaining apples. Let filling cool while preparing the crust.
  4. Lay second pie crust on working area. Using a picture reference and a knife, free hand the Poison Apple face to the pie crust. Paint the crust with egg wash.
  5. Turn pie filling into pastry lines pie plate and then carefully place crust on top. Fold and pinch pie crusts together. Cover edges with aluminum foil or pie crust protector shield.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, remove crust shield and bake for additional 15 minutes.

Drink:  Evil Queen’s Punch

Ingredients:

  • 2 envelopes lemon-lime Kool-Aid
  • 10 cups water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 46 ounce can of pineapple juice
  • 1 quart lime sherbet
  • 2 liters lemon-lime soda

Instructions: 

  1. Combine the Kool-Aid, sugar, water, and pineapple juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  2. When ready to serve, scoop lime sherbet into a punch bowl.
  3. Pour the kool-aid and juice combo over the Sherbet. Follow this up with lemon-lime soda.
  4. Serve immediately.

Storm (X-Men) Party -2

Storm (X-Men) party this year. With rainbows, lightning bolts, and tornados added!

Storm Dress

They all wore their “Storm X-Men” Shirts.

Birthday Girl’s shirt says “TWO NADO”, and mine says “STORM CHASER”.

I tried my very best to give her a zigzag lightning bolt part in her pigtails! She is also wearing her lightning bolt earrings that we got for our X-Men Family Halloween Dress up.

Storm Decorations

I used pool noodles to make a rainbow. White pom-poms for the clouds, then I cut out lightning bolts for the clouds. A cloud table cloth for the background. Then I used a black umbrella with paper rain drops hung with fishing wire.

I used the “Xavier’s School” that I made for our X-men Family dress up last Halloween. Then I printed out X-Men Storm posters and made some “X” symbols with paper.

Crepe paper rainbow with white pom pom clouds. I put in the extra lightning bolts and rain drops that I had.

Cloud and lightning bold balloons.

TWO nado… I hung gray crepe paper from the ceiling fan and then turned it on medium.

Storm Food

We had lots of Storm themed foods!

We had “Rain Water”, “Mini Marshmallow Hailstones”, “Nacho Bugle Tornados”, “Cheetos Lightning Bolts”, and “Cotton Candy Sunset Clouds”!

Rainbow Flavored Drinks

Fruit dip is made with cream cheese and marshmallow cream.

Pizza is made with pepperoni, olives, and cheddar to create and “X” symbol.

Storm Cake

I followed the directions on the white cake box then covered it in my buttercream and then marshmallow fondant. Last I used black buttercream to spell her name and make cracks with the lightning bolt.

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
  • 3 TBSP water
  • 2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
  • Crisco

Directions:

  1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
  2. Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
  3. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the rest of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
  4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
  5. Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
  6. Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
  7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
  8. Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
  9. When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
  10. Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.

Water Play

Rainbow sprinkler and bubbles.

Happy Birthday my Sweet Perfect Storm!

Mouse Cookie Baking Week

I got to teach a “Baking Week” at our Summer Camp. I had about 20 kids Kindergarten-5th grade. I had 4 groups of kids in the kitchen, each with 1 older child to help the younger ones. Each day we made a food from one of the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” books.

Daily Activity Schedule:

  1. Read Story/ Circle Time
  2. Recess
  3. Divide Teams
  4. Review Kits and Safety Rules
  5. Kitchen Cooking
  6. Activity Time
  7. Lunch
  8. Recess
  9. Quiet Time (Kids Baking Championship – Food Network)
  10. Color/ Activity Sheets from the MouseCookieBooks.com activities page
  11. Snack

Day 1:  If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Jello Cookies

Board Game

Jello Cookies

(24 cookies)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp cream of tarter
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp butter at room temperature
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 tea. Vanilla
  • 3 tbsp flavored Jello
  • 1 cup of Extra sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine the flour, cream of tarter, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the butter and 3/4 cup of sugar to a large bowl and cream together until fluffy about 5 minutes.
  4. Add the eggs and mix
  5. Add the vanilla and mix
  6. Add the medium bowl ingredients to the large bowl and mix together.
  7. Knead in the Jello with your hands.
  8. Place the extra cup of sugar into a small bowl.
  9. Scoop 2 Tablespoons of cooties and roll them into balls, then roll them in the sugar until completely covered.
  10. Place the balls on a prepared sheet pan with 2 inches between each cookies.
  11. Bake in the oven for 10-13 minutes until the tops of the cookies are golden.
  12. Cool on the pan for 3-5 minutes.

Day 2:  If you Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

Banana Muffins

Banana Muffins

(12 muffins)

Ingredients:

  • 1 eggs
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 overripe bananas
  • 1 cup flour
  • ¾  tea. Baking soda
  • ¼  tea salt
  • ½  tea. Vanilla
  • 12  Muffin Cups

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix the eggs, butter, and brown sugar.
  3. Mash in the bananas.
  4. Blend in flour, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.
  5. Place muffin cups in 12  muffin holders. And fill ¾ full with batter.
  6. Bake for 16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Day 3:  If you Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff

Donuts

Make Your Own Donut

Glazed Baked Donuts

(6 donuts)

Ingredients for Donuts:

  • 1 Cup Flour
  • ½ Cup Sugar
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 2 tbsp butter melted
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ Cup Milk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla

Ingredients for Glaze:

  • ½ cup Powder sugar
  • ½ tsp Vanilla
  • ¼ stp Salt
  • 2  tbsp milk
  • Sprinkles

Directions for Donuts:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray donut pans
  2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, stir together the melted butter, egg, milk, vanilla.
  4. Gradually add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined (do not over mix)
  5. Pour the mixture evenly into the donut pans filling each about halfway full.
  6. Bake for 10-13 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

Directions for Donuts:

  1. Whisk together powder sugar and salt.
  2. Then stir in the vanilla and gradually add the milk.
  3. Dip the cool donuts in the icing covering about half of the donuts. Then top with sprinkles.
  4. Let the donuts cool about 30 minutes.

Day 4:  If you Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Cupcakes

The Art of the Cupcake

Chocolate Cupcakes

(12 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Cup granulated white sugar
  • ¼  cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup boiling water
  • 12 Cupcake Liners

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking power,  and salt.
  3. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla into the same bowl.
  4. Mix for five minutes.
  5. Stir in the boiling water last.
  6. Place 12 cupcake liners in the pan, filling each tin or liner about 2/3 full.
  7. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Day 5:  If you Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff

Brownies

Brownies Recipe

(9 brownies)

Ingredients:

  • ½  cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 1 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 eggs
  • ½  cup flour
  • ½  cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a bowl, mix the margarine, sugar and cocoa.
  3. Add the eggs and mix well.
  4. Stir in flour; mix well.
  5. Grease a 8×8 inch pan and pour the batter into the pan.
  6. Bake . for 30 minutes or until the brownies test done with a wooden pick. Cool in pan.

Other Baking Ideas:

  • Pizza
  • Fruit Pizza
  • Pretzels with cheese sauce
  • Pancakes

Kids Baking Shows:

  • Kids Baking Championship – Food Network

Book List:

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