Santa Hat Pretzels

Here's another fun holiday snack!  Click here for the tutorial...

Smores on the Go!

Love this idea to treat the kiddos!  Not sure where it came from, the link was corrupted but the image still has a great idea. 

All you need:

• Golden Grahams
• Mini Marshmellows
• Chocolate Chips

Scarecrow Cupcakes

Here we go, for a cute, cute dessert.  FamilyFun has the full tuturial for the cupcakes.  Click here for more detail.

 

Ingredients:

• Cookies (ours were about 2 1/2 inches in diameter)
• White frosting
• Assorted sugar wafers (ours were about 2 1/2 inches long)
• Candy corn
• Mini chocolate chips
• Bran cereal (we used Kellogg's All-Bran Extra Fiber)
• Chocolate sprinkles

Edible Tepee

This picture is from familyfun.go, now spooful.com.  They made this tepee by surrounding a cupcake with a fruit roll-up.  I wonder if you could just make it with orange fruit roll-ups and large pretzel rods.  Probably not the same effect.  Click here if you want the actual link.

Since this was posted, the main link and craft have changed.  It started with fruit roll-ups and is not sugar cones.  Guess that means you get to be creative!  The link to click on, above, will take you to the new link.

Cookies & Cream Pudding

from: click here for one version of recipe

 

So, I've tried "Jell-o's" version of this and just didn't think much of it.  But we went to a kiddy pizza place today and I found this on the salad bar.  I thought I'd treat our little one to some of this, and my husband and I thought it was pretty tasty ourselves.

 

I asked the restaurant what their recipe was.  I'll share with you below.  I have also added a recipe, to go along with the picture above.  I've not tried the recipe above, but it seems almost like the one we had.  Although, I have to say, what made it so wonderful were large pieces of soft oreo, rather than crumbled oreo. 

 

 

Here's my recipe below (as told by the restaurant staff):

• Cool Whip
• Vanilla Pudding (or you could by the "Cookies & Cream" pudding)
• Oreos (in halves)

Mix the pudding as directed.  Fold in cool whip and oreos.  Let set over night, for oreos to soften a little.

Homemade Kool-Aid Taffy

My goodness, doesn't this taffy look delicious!  I was drooling the minute I saw this picture.  This is a must make in my book.  And the kiddos will love it too!  Our little girl calls dessert, "coco", in effort of saying "cookie".  The term now extends to all dessert.

She is going to love trying this.  I can't wait to eat some myself.  Click here for the full tutorial.

Carmel Apple Bites

from: pinterest

So, I've not made caramel apples in forever... but I'm guessing all you need to do here is SLOWLY melt your carmel (if it is like chocolate at all) and dip in your apple bites.  I love this cause I hate caramel apples for the fact that they are too hard to bite into and too much.  This is a perfect remedy!

Ingredients:

Apple (cut into small bites)
Toothpicks
Caramel

Owl Cake

I have to confess my new love of owls.  I have not really decorated a kids room as we have lived in small rentals since we had our daughter.  However, I could very easily be tempeted to make her a room with owls, were I to have the chance right now.  So, why not settle for her next cake?!

This cake template is awesome.  How helpful to know how to make one.  Click here if you want to see the full tutorial and the final picture.

Corn Dogs Muffins

from: http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/30/super-bowl-recipe-week-mini-corn-dog-muffins/

Don't know why I didn't think of this.  I would use a Jiffy cornbread mix.  (Following oven temp, cooking time, just adding pieces of hot dog to the muffin mix.)  They are inexpensive and so good.  If you are a cornbread connoisseur, Jiffy is a little sweet.  I initially did not prefer the hint of sugar, but I actually might like it more than the savory recipes.  Key word being, "might".  I still haven't decided.

If you want a homemade recipe that will take longer, you can go to the website where the picture is from.  Just click the link above.

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

from:  picture from Pinterest and recipe from Food.com

(This low calorie, weight watchers recipe varies per website.  I have seen it with the yellow or spice cake mix.  And with our without water.  My thought is that with water it would be more moist and that the spice cake mix would add the spices you'd want.)

Ingredients:

     * 1 box Spice Cake Mix
     * 15 ounce Can of Pumpkin
     * 1 cup Water

Directions:

     * Mix all ingredients in mixer
     * Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes
    

Graham Cracker & Cool Whip Sandwiches

from: http://www.southernplate.com/2009/07/low-sugar-ice-cream-grahamwiches-and-a-hamilton-beach-mixer-giveaway.html

Try a healthy spin on ice cream sandwiches.  Looks so good; I'm drooling right now!  The ingredients and tutorial are at the website above.

If you try it, follow up with a comment.  I'm curious if this would make the graham crackers soggy.  I did not see any concern of this in the tutorial and they were made, so it must be fine.

Orange Pumpkins

from: not sure where... but not my picture

Look at these little cuties.  How fun.  It's a perfect way to let a kid decorate their own pumpkin, just without a knife or a mess.  Try making orange or tangerine pumpkins this October.

Then eat these "pumpkin" oranges for a healthy snack. Make fruit fun for your kiddo.

Jello Orange Tutorial

from: http://sugarsoiree.deviantart.com/art/Jell-o-Oranges-Tutorial-208112749

The tutorial can be found at the link above.  Pretty creative and fun for a new kiddo snack.  Please tell us how it goes if you try this out.

Baked Mozarella Sticks

from:  justaddasliceoflove.blogspot.com

BAKED MOZARELLA STICKS

Ingredients:
     * String Cheese
     * Milk
     * Bread Crumbs
     * Marinara Sauce

Directions:

String cheese chopped into bite size pieces, then dipped in milk and bread crumbs. Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes and serve with marinara sauce. It's baked not fried!

I see some spices on these, anyone want to take a guess at what combination would make these great?  Please share in the comment field below, to help us out.  (My first thought was Basil, Oregano, or Italian Seasoning.)

Next Bake Sale

from: birdonacake.blogspot.com

Hey moms!  Here's an idea for the next bake sale you help with.  Put cupcakes in short, clear cups.  So cute and mess free.  Why didn't I think of this on my own?

Green Grape Catepillars

from: picture from princessandthefrogblog.blogspot.com

I could not find the recipe, but I am only assuming the following would be the ingredients needed for this kids snack...

• Green Grapes
• Chocolate Chips
• Tube of White Frosting
• Kabob Sticks

If you try this and have feedback; I love to hear it!  Just leave a comment in the "Comment" field below for the benefit of others, as well.

Homemade Bread in a Crockpot

from:  article and picture from artisanbreadinfive.com

Form 1 lb of pre-made dough into a ball and place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Lower the dough into the Crock-Pot (Slow Cooker), mine is a 4-quart, but I think it will work in any size.

(Update:  I just mixed up a fresh batch of Peasant Bread Dough, let it rise for the two hours in the bucket, then formed a 1-pound loaf and stuck it in the crock pot.  So, you can use fresh or refrigerated dough.)

Turn the temperature to high and put on the cover. (Not all crock pots behave the same, so you should keep an eye on the loaf after about 45 minutes to make sure it is not over browning on the bottom or not browning at all. You may need to adjust the time according to your machine.)

Bake for 1 hour (this will depend on your crock pot, you may need to increase or decrease the time. If you are using a 100% whole grain dough, you may want to go for a bit longer as well). You will have a fully baked loaf of bread, but the crust is very soft, almost like a steamed bun. To check for doneness I poked the top of the loaf and it felt firm. Before it is fully baked it felt soft and almost mushy when I gently pressed the top.

The bottom crust should be nice and crisp, but the top of the loaf will be quite soft. Some folks desire a softer crust, so you will love this loaf. If you want a darker or crisper crust…

Stick the bread under the broiler for 5 minutes or until it is the color you like, with the rack positioned in the middle of the oven.

Hotdogs & Spaghetti

from:  picture from Pinterest

So, the first time I saw this picture, I thought this surely wouldn't be that great.  What goes with hotdogs and spaghetti noodles.  However, the light went on and I thought, "Why not a little cheese sauce?"  What kid doesn't like mac and cheese with hotdogs.  So I would recommend the following ingredients.  It doesn't get much easier than this either!

INGREDIENTS:    
     * Hotdogs
     * Spaghetti
     * Cheese Sauce

Yummy Little Piglets

from: recipe & pictures from cafechocolada.blogspot.com

If you like easy, like me, I would just get premade pizza dough and make these piglets as little biscuits.  However, if you prefer the actual recipe, it is below...

(Makes about 20 piglets)
Dough:
400 g (13 1/2 oz) all purpose flour
1 package instant dry yeast
1 egg
2 dcl (7 oz) plain yogurt
1 dcl (3 1/2 oz) warm milk
a pinch of salt

Puffed or flaky dough:150 g (5 1/2 oz)flour
100 g (3 1/2 oz)magarine (unsalted)
pinch of salt

Filling:As much as you like: cheese(she used Gouda), tomato (pizza) sauce, oregano;
or something else you would like for filling

Wash:Egg white to use as «adhesive»
Egg yolk and some milk to brush @ the end

First, make first dough by mixing all ingrediens, and let it rise in a warm place. In the meantime, make puff dough with second batch of ingredients, and then mix it into the risen dough (yes, mix'em together), and work it well on a floured surface. Roll the dough and with a round cookie cutter or something else cut out circles about 3 inches in diametar or desired size. Leave some dough for ears and noses :)

Make filling with cheese, tomato sauce (pizza sauce), and oregano. You can be creative and use different kinds of ingredients to make a filling of your own. You can also add ham, or salami, or vegetables.

Place half of circles onto baking sheet (aligned with parchment paper), brush edges with egg white wash. Put some filling in the middle, cover with other half of circles, and press the edges to assure nothing will come out while baking.

Remainder of the dough use to make smaller circles for nose, and for ears by cutting them into quarters. Use egg whites wash as «adhesive» for ears and nose. For nose make somewhat smaller circles. For eyes and nostrils use a toothpick to make little lines and then inside, put cumin, pepper or something similar.

Now that you have little piglets, let them rise again for a little while, and then brush them with a little bit of egg yolk wash mixed with a little bit of milk. Bake for about 20-25 min. @ about 385-405 F.

My note: you can use something else for the eyes if you are concerened about kids biting into peppercorns. Oblakica didn'tuse peppercorns, but other herbs. My kids just took the peppercorns out.

Cleaning Muffin Tins

from: theautocrathaley.blogspot.com

How to clean a muffin pan - with dryer sheets! Soak overnight with a dryer sheet in the water, then baked-on junk will slough off.

I tried to find this on the original blog, since I found it on pinterest but was unsuccessful.  The bold print above is all I have on this...  (And, I am fully aware that this is not a recipe, but I thought moms looking for cooking tips would find this helpful under that label.)