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Blooming Good Day Platter

Blooming Good Day Platter

Blooming Good Day Platter

 

4 strawberries

1 slice of watermelon

2 kiwis

1 slice of cantaloupe

2 slices of mango

33 mini candy eyes

50 grams dark chocolate

curved sprinkles

 

Slice the fruit into equally thick pieces. Cut 6 petals and 1 round center for each flower you make. Melt the dark chocolate. Once the chocolate has cooled down a bit, add it to a piping bag and pipe out the stems onto parchment paper. You can add a few chocolate leaf details, too. When the chocolate has set, arrange the flowers and top with candy eyes and a curved sprinkle for the mouth.  To make the bee, use a small petal-shaped cookie cutter and mango. For the wings, I used a metal straw and for the stripes a tiny bit of plum peel (you can use chocolate too). Top with a small candy eye.

Magic Fairy Fruit Wands

Magic Fairy Fruit Wands

Magic Fairy Fruit Wands

 

1 small watermelon

1 pound red grapes

½ pound blackberries

½ pound strawberries

2 rolls fruit leather (we used Fruit by the Foot)

heavy duty skewers

star or heart-shaped cookie cutter

 

Cut the watermelon. Cut the watermelon into 1-inch rounds. Using a star cookie cutter, cut out pieces of watermelon and set them aside.  (Cut any leftover watermelon into cubes to snack on later.) Slice. Using a pizza cutter, slice the fruit leather into 10 to 12-inch pieces, then into two strings per piece. Build the wands. On each skewer, add pieces of berries and grapes leaving about 2 inches from the top.  Tie the fruit leather “strings” to the skewer in between the top of the berries and below the watermelon. Place the watermelon star on the top of the skewer without the top poking through. If making these for small kids, trim the pointed part of the skewer before placing the watermelon star on top. When selecting fruit for the wands, pick fruit with skin or that isn’t very ‘wet’ to the touch like strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and grapes. Use heavy-duty skewers or two thin skewers per wand as the watermelon toppers can get a little heavy once all the fruit is stacked on the skewer. If making these in advance, wait to add the fruit leather ribbons otherwise the moisture from the fruit will make them sticky and wet while the fruit wands sit.

No-Bake Minions Cookies

No-Bake Minions Cookies

No-Bake Minions Cookies

 

Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies (any flavor)

Yellow candy melts

Blue candy melts

Black candy melts

Small candy eyes

Large candy eye

 

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Melt the yellow candy melts according to the package instructions. Dip one flat side of each cookie into the candy melts then place it on the baking sheet. Refrigerate the cookies for 5 minutes until the candy melt has fully hardened. Melt the blue candy melts according to the package instructions. Dip the lower one-third of each cookie into the candy melts then return it to the baking sheet. Transfer a portion of the melted candy melts into a piping bag, snip off the tip and pipe the straps of the overalls. Refrigerate the cookies for 5 minutes until the candy melt has fully hardened. Melt the black candy melts according to the package instructions. Transfer the candy melts to a piping bag, snip off the tip and pipe a variation of mouths (smiling, frowning, scowling, etc.) onto the cookies above the overalls. Next, pipe a variation of hairstyles at the tops of the cookies, then pipe a line (below the hair) across each cookie and immediately place two small eyes or one large eye on each cookie. Refrigerate the cookies for 5 minutes until the candy melts have fully hardened then serve or use as a cupcake topper.

Vegetable Garden on a Plate

Vegetable Garden on a Plate

Vegetable Garden on a Plate

 

6 carrots

1 cucumber

18 mini candy eyes

carrot cookie cutter

250 ml sour cream (1 cup)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. dill

1 tsp. onion powder

sea salt to taste

 

Cut carrots and cucumber into slices. Use the carrot cutter to make the veg cutouts (you can cut by hand, too). Use cucumber peel to make the leafy tops. Make a hole to insert these with a toothpick. Top with candy eyes. Dip instructions: Mix all the ingredients and add salt to taste. Arrange on a platter.

Fruit Ice Lollies

Fruit Ice Lollies

Fruit Ice Lollies

 

1 kiwi

2 slices of watermelons

1 slice of cantaloupe

100 grams dark chocolate

1 slice of Galia melon

2 slices of mango

piping utensil / bag

ice lolly cookie cutter

rectangular cookie cutter

oval cookie cutter

ice lolly sticks

 

Watermelon and Cantaloupe Lolly:

  1. Cut slices of watermelon and cantaloupe. Try to ensure they are the same thickness.
  2. Use the ice lolly cutter to cut the top piece of watermelon, as well as the bottom piece of cantaloupe. You may need to trim the midsection straight so they fit together.
  3. Stick them onto a lolly stick.

 

Kiwi, Mango and Watermelon Lolly:

  1. Slice the fruit in somewhat equal pieces.
  2. Use the rectangular cutter to trim three equal rectangles.
  3. Stack them on top of each other and secure with an ice lolly.

 

Galia / Watermelon and Chocolate Lolly:

  1. Melt the dark chocolate.
  2. Use the ice lolly cutter to cut the melon and insert the lolly stick.
  3. Dry the melon with kitchen towel to ensure that the dark chocolate will stick.
  4. While holding onto the stick, dip the tip of the melon into the chocolate. Lay it on baking parchment and allow it to set.
  5. For the watermelon and dark chocolate version, dip the watermelon into the chocolate twice, and use a toothpick to scallop the chocolate a bit.

 

Watermelon and Dark Chocolate:

  1. Slice the watermelon.
  2. Trim it with the ice lolly cutter.
  3. Insert the ice lolly stick.
  4. Dab the melon dry with a kitchen towel.
  5. Melt the dark chocolate.
  6. Immerse the watermelon into melted chocolate entirely (you can hold onto the stick).
  7. Place the lolly onto baking parchment and allow to set.

 

Watermelon Lolly:

  1. Cut a slice of watermelon into a wedge, as pictured.
  2. Insert the ice lolly stick.
  3. Dab the melon dry with a kitchen towel.
  4. Top with dark chocolate chips or blobs.

 

Cantaloupe & Watermelon Lolly:

  1. Use the oval cutter to create equal-sized watermelon and cantaloupe pieces.
  2. Place onto an ice lolly stick.

 

Mango Lolly:

  1. Cut the mango using the ice lolly cutter.
  2. Insert an ice lolly stick.

Notes

If you have any leftover fruit, save all the odd-shaped bits in a freezer bag for your next smoothie, or chop it up and make a mini fruit salad.

Toadstool Caprese Toast

Toadstool Caprese Toast

Toadstool Caprese Toast

 

2 slices sourdough bread

4 T. cream cheese

1 T. balsamic glaze

5 strawberries

5 bocconcini (mozzarella balls)

fresh basil

1 T. mayonnaise

sea salt

 

Slice the sourdough. Spread the cream cheese on top of the bread slices. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and use a knife to smooth over the glaze. Halve the strawberries and cut off the bottom leaves in a straight line across. Use a melon baller to scoop out the inside of the strawberry. Halve the bocconcini. Arrange all the toadstools on the toast and place a basil leaf under each mushroom. Use a toothpick or piping utensil to add the mayo dots to the toadstools. Add more basil leaves if you wish. Sprinkle with sea salt. Serve.

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

Color Changing Lemonade Slushies

 

4 tsp. Blue pea flower tea

2 C. Boiling Water

2 C. Lemonade

 

Steep tea in water for 8 minutes. Strain into 2 C. measuring C.. Pour tea into ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Place tea cubes in blender and crush. Add ½ C. crushed ice into a glass. Pour ½ C. lemonade over ice.

Layered Finger Jell-O

Layered Finger Jell-O

Layered Finger Jell-O

For each colored layer:

1 3 oz package jell-o

1 pack or 1 T. unflavored gelatin

1 C. boiling water

 

For the white layer:

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

4 packs or 4 T. unflavored gelatin

2 C. boiling water

 

Mix each jell-o color separately in containers. Let stand till room temperature, stirring occasionally. Mix up white layer and also let stand till room temperature, stirring occasionally.  Pour first color into 9×13 dish. Refrigerate till firm. Put 1/3 of white layer in next. Refrigerate till firm. Repeat till done. If all mixtures are at room temperature, it takes only about 7 minutes to firm up each layer so you can add the next one. Do not make the Jell-o as directed on the package. Make each package as directed above – for each package of Jell-o, add 1 package or 1 T. of gelatin and 1 C. boiling water. I was skeptical about the taste but when I carefully sliced into it this morning, I popped an end bit into my mouth and was pleasantly surprised.

Bite Size Bees

Bite Size Bees

Bite Size Bees

1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
2 T. butter or margarine, softened
1/2 C. confectioner’s sugar
3/4 C. graham cracker crumbs (about 12 squares)
1 square (1 ounce) semisweet chocolate (or just use store bought icing)
1/3 C. sliced almonds, toasted
paper plates

Cream the peanut butter, butter, and sugar until smooth. Add the graham cracker crumbs and mix well. Chill dough.  Shape into 1” ovals. Place the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high for one minute or until melted. Transfer the melted chocolate to a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in one corner of the bag. Make stripes on bee bodies.  Add almonds for wings and poke a hole with toothpick for eyes.

Snowman Cookies

Snowman Cookies

Snowman Cookies

Nutter Butter cookies
Vanilla Almond Bark (half a package made 13 cookies for me)
M&Ms
Orange Tic Tacs
Black Decorator Icing

After melting the Almond Bark for 90 seconds, I used a spoon to help cover the cookies when I dipped them. The spoon helped to get them on the foil too, since I didn’t want fingerprints. I didn’t put the Tic Tacs or the M&Ms on until I finished dipping all of them – I wanted the Almond Bark to set a little bit. As for the icing, I just squirted some in a ziploc bag and cut the tip just a tiny, tiny bit.

Popcorn Ball Topiaries

Popcorn Ball Topiaries

Popcorn Ball Topiaries

1 bag (3 oz.) light butter microwave popcorn, popped
1 C. jelly beans
1/4 C. butter
1 bag (10 oz.) marshmallows

Combine popcorn and candy. In saucepan, melt butter. Stir in marshmallows. Reduce heat to low; cook until marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, stirring frequently. Pour over popcorn, stirring gently to coat well. Coat hands with cooking spray. Shape mixture into 2-inch balls. Insert sticks. Allow to cool before inverting in pots filled with candy. Makes 16 to 20.

Fishy Bento Lunch

Fishy Bento Lunch

2 Pieces of Bread
Tuna
3 Carrots
1 Pretzel Rod
1 Twizzler String
Gold Fish Crackers
Blue Jell-O
1 Clementine
Heart Sprinkles (optional)

(This is never going to stay like this if you were really packing a lunch.  You need filler for the sandwich side, and that yellow?  Yikes, what a mess.  Easy lunchboxes aren’t leak proof.  I have several small boxes of different types to fit into the various wells of our multitudinous lunch boxes.   And I would probably exchange the crackers for little fish cut from carrots; I have a cutter for that.  It’s way carb / sugar heavy)

Honey Mustard Minion Dip

Honey Mustard Minion Dip

1/2 C. Mayonnaise
2 tsp. Spicy Mustard
2 tsp. Honey
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
3 tsp. Vinegar
2 Black Olives
1 Cracker
1 tsp. Mayonnaise (To make the eye)

Owl Lunch

Owl Lunch

1 Babybel
2 Raisins
2 pieces of whole wheat bread (sandwich of choice)
2 Baby Carrots
Pretzel Spoons or Mini Pretzel Twists
1 Pretzel Rod
Kale Chips (or you could use green grapes)

Whole Wheat Walrus Waffles

Whole Wheat Walrus Waffles

2 lg. Eggs
1 ¾ C. Milk
¼ C. Oil (or melted butter)
2 tsp. Honey
1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Baking Soda
1 ½ C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/8 tsp. Salt
Cooking Spray or Butter
2 pieces Cooked Turkey Bacon
1 Banana
3 Blueberries

Preheat waffle iron. In large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, honey, cinnamon and baking powder until well combined. Add in flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk just until large lumps disappear. Spray or butter your waffle iron and griddle to the directions of your waffle iron manufacturer. Keep warm under foil until all are cooked. To decorate a waffle, cut two slices from a banana for eyes. Add blueberries for pupils, and a blueberry for a nose. Cut the rest of the banana in half and place to resemble tusks. Finally, lay the bacon over the bananas to make a moustache.

Chicken & Egg Breakfast

Chicken & Egg Breakfast

Chicken Pancakes

Pancake Mix (or favorite homemade recipe)
1 Strawberry
1 Hard Boiled Egg
1 Piece of Turkey Bacon
1 Orange Slice
Granola
1 Chocolate Chip

Start out by pouring your pancake mix in a pan on low heat making a large pancake. Cut around the edges in the shape of a chicken. Cut out the tail & wing from the scraps using kitchen scissors. We cut slices from 1 strawberry for the top. We used an orange slice from the beak. We cut a piece of turkey bacon for the feet and waddle & a chocolate chip for the eye. We place granola at the bottom & then placed the hard boiled egg on top.

Kangaroo Pancakes

Kangaroo Pancakes

Pancake Mix
Cocoa
1 Marshmallow
Chocolate Chips

Start out by making your pancake mix according to directions. Pour a little bit of the mix into a small bowl. This will be the baby. Pour a little bit of cocoa in the rest of the mix. Pour your chocolate pancake mix into a pan on low heat making 3 medium size pancakes & 1 small pancake. Use the small pancake for the head. Use one of the med. pancakes for the body. Cut another one in half & place that on top. This will create the pouch. Cut out the other features like the ears, tail, etc.. Using kitchen scissors with the other half. We cut the feet & hands out the last pancake using round cookie cutters. You can also just use your kitchen scissors. Cut a marshmallow in half for the eyes. We used chocolate chips for the face, hands, & feet. Pour the rest of your regular pancake mix in the pan & make a small circle. Cut out the baby kangaroo & place in the pouch.

French Toast on a Stick

French Toast on a Stick

1bdd21c00605e098019edcde300965151 cup milk (any kind of milk will work)
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups brioche, French or sandwich bread (cut into 2 inch cubes)
1 tablespoon butter or oil
16 strawberries, stems removed
2 bananas, sliced into 1/2 inch coins
8 wooden skewers

In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, honey and cinnamon. Dip the bread cubes in the milk mixture to coat each side. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the bread for 1 1/2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Skewer the French toast cubes, strawberries and bananas and serve with maple syrup for dipping.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

chefmom-cupacke-ice-cream-cone-interior1 chocolate cake mix
1 1/4 C. water
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1/4 C. applesauce
2 large eggs
30 flat-bottom ice cream cones
1 can (16oz) frosting (any flavor)
candy sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix together cake mix, water, oil, applesauce, and eggs until smooth. Fill each cone with about 2 1/2 T. of batter. Place upright cones about 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet or muffin pan. Bake approximately 25-30 minutes. Cool completely. Soften frosting in the microwave on HIGH 10 seconds. Stir, then spread evenly over cupcakes. Place sprinkles on top, if desired.

Little Peach Cakes

Little Peach Cakes

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2 Wilton Mini Ball Pans
1/2 Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix, 1/4 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk
red liquid food coloring
yellow liquid food coloring
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 cinnamon stick
6-12 fresh peppermint leaves
12 whole almonds
One batch Buttercream Frosting

Ice cream or sorbet, optional
Raspberry sauce, optional

How to Make and Assemble:

You will only need 1/2 of a Duncan Hines yellow cake mix to make 6 Peach Cakes. Mix according to package directions- 1/2 cake mix with 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk, and 12 drops yellow food coloring. Divide evenly among the 12 greased mini rounds- about +1/4 cup batter. Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 2 minutes in pan then remove to wire rack. If you have one pan this can be done in two shifts!

While cakes are baking make the buttercream frosting and add about 12 drops of yellow food coloring to get a bright yellow. Set aside.

In two separate lidded containers, add 1/2 cup sugar and 12 drops yellow food coloring to one and 1/4 cup sugar and 6 drops red food coloring to the other. Cover each container and shake vigorously until the coloring is fully incorporated. Let the children do this! If there is clumping, break up with a fork and continue shaking. You should have a lovely bright yellow and a nice deep pink. You will have leftovers.

sugars

Break the cinnamon stick into small stems by taking a pair of scissors and placing the point into the hollow center of the stick and cutting. You will get both big and small bits, use the prettier pieces.

Frost the flat side of six mini rounds, being sure to get the frosting very think along one edge. Place another mini round on the frosting and press together forming a peach. Run your finger or a small spoon along the frosting to make an indentation that mimics the crease on a peach.

another peach

Dip each “cheek” of the peach into the pink sugar. I am calling each “fleshy” side of the thick portion of frosting the cheek. Then roll the rest of the peach in the yellow sugar without covering the pink portion. Roll the frosting portion in the yellow sugar as well.  At the top of each peach, place a piece of cinnamon stick and a peppermint leaf. Arrange in a pretty bowl or on a platter. Decorate with more mint sprigs if desired.

Perfectly Pink Beet Pancakes

Perfectly Pink Beet Pancakes

IMG_44931 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup beet puree
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Whisk all ingredients until smooth. Butter griddle or frying pan on medium heat. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup drop batter on pan and cook until brown on both sides and cooked through. Serve warm with butter and warm maple syrup.

20 Uses for Kool-Aid

20 Uses for Kool-Aid

 

1. Make Easy Flavored Kool-Aid Frosting

Stir a package of Kool-Aid into a can of vanilla frosting.

 

2. Frosting for a Jello Cake

Fold in a pack of Kool-Aid into a container of thawed whipped topping. If the frosting tastes a little too sour, add in a little sweetener to taste.

 

3. Make Kool-Aid Lip Gloss

To make a fruity lip gloss put a small amount of petroleum jelly into a microwave-safe bowl. Stir some Kool-Aid in, enough to make it the color you desire. Add a little sugar, then, place the bowl in a microwave oven for about five or six seconds, just enough to soften it.

 

4. Make Sand Art With Kool-Aid

Draw pictures on paper, spread a thin layer of Elmer’s glue over one part of the picture. It’s better to start at the top of the picture and work down. Sprinkle Kool-Aid over the glue and press it down gently. Shake off the excess powder off, and go on to the next color.

 

5. Temporarily Dye Your Hair With Kool-Aid

In a glass bowl mix a packet of Kool-Aid with a teaspoon of corn starch and just enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste to clean, dry hair and let set for five minutes, rinse the paste out.

 

6. Make Spooky Party Decorations

Just place some dry ice- don’t touch it with your hands!- into a glass, and pour a packet of any flavor Kool-Aid into it. Kids will watch with fascination as the dry ice and Kool-Aid bubbles and mists.

 

7. Make Kool-Aid Clay for the Kids

Mix together 1 cup of flour, a 1/4 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar and a pack of Kool-Aid in a pan. Stir in 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Heat over medium heat stirring until the mixture thickens, remove from heat and let it cool. Knead the Kool-Aid clay until smooth. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator until use.

 

8. Remove Chlorine From Your Hair

Use Lemonade flavored Kool-Aid. Pour a little Kool-Aid in your hand, then add shampoo and lather up. Let the Kool-Aid/shampoo set on your hair for fifteen minutes before you rinse it and then shampoo out well. (and we drink this??)

 

9. Kool-Aid Water Colors

Pour Kool-Aid into ice cube tray, one compartment per color. Stir 1 tablespoon of water into each compartment; stir until the powders are completely dissolved.

 

10. Tie Dye with Kool-Aid

You can dye any cotton item such as tee shirts, socks, bed sheets, towels, as long as it is cotton. The article you want to tie dye must be clean and dry. Pour each color package of Kool-Aid into an individual glass bowl. Stir an ¼ cup of white vinegar into each bowl; make sure the powders dissolve completely. Gather the fabric up in several places and secure with several rubber bands. Dip each bunch into a bowl of Kool-Aid. Leave the rubber bands in place and set aside to dry. Once dry, remove the rubber bands and spread it out so it can completely dry. Put it in the clothes dryer by itself and dry on high for 15 minutes to set the colors in.

 

11. Use Kool-Aid to Check for Toilet Tank Leaks (this is funny to me)

Lift the lid off the toilet tank and pour Kool-Aid into the tank. The darker colors work the best. Don’t flush the toilet! Just watch the toilet bowl, if you see the Kool-Aid float through from the tank, then you have a leak. The test can take fro 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the leak.

 

12. Removing Rust Stains

Remove rust stains on your driveway by mixing unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid with just a little water and scrub. (see #8)

 

13. Cleaning the Inside of your Dishwasher

Dump a packet of unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid into the soap dispenser, run the wash cycle. Removes stains and hard water deposits.

 

14. Dyes for Easter Eggs

Mix a packet of Kool-Aid in a cup with 2 tablespoons of vinegar and ½ cup of water

 

15. Kool-Aid Stands

Send the kids out to sell and play–they can sugar up other people’s kids.:)

 

16. Decorating Cookies

Use in place of colored sugars, just sprinkle a little across the top

 

17. Science Project with Plants

Place a stalk of celery in water with Kool-Aid in it to demonstrate how the Kool-Aid is drawn up into the stalk with the water.

 

18. Coloring Flowers

Place carnations, daisies or any white flower in water with Kool-Aid in it and watch the flowers turn colors.

 

19. Demonstrate a Non-Newtonian Substance

Mix equal parts cornstarch and water that has been colored with a pack of Kool-aid. Mix with fingers and observe that this substance fluctuates between solid and liquid.

 

20. Shower Prank (look out, Gourmet Dad!)

This is a simple prank. All you have to do remove the shower head from your shower and pour in the kool-aid packet into the shower head. NOTE: Make sure you are not the next one to take a shower.:)

 

As a side note:

A dab of toothpaste on a damp paper towel cleans up stubborn Kool-Aid stains off both skin and countertops.

 

Yield:

Calories:

Fat:

Fiber: