Easter Treat: Rice Krispie Bird's Nest

This is great for little kids, but I've got to be honest, they taste pretty darn good too! But I'm kind of a sucker for rice krispie treats. 

We made this today with our little joy school group. The kids were so excited putting the grass on and the eggs. They were adorable. 

Enjoy!

{RICE KRISPIE BIRD'S NEST}

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1/4 c. butter or margarine

1 (10.5 oz) bag mini marshmallows

6 c. Cocoa Rice Krispies (I usually do less, because I like them gooey)

Frosting (make your life easier by just using canned)

Shredded Coconut

Green food coloring

Jelly Beans  

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter for 30 seconds. Add marshmallows and stir until they are coated in the melted butter. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until marshmallows and butter are melted and fully incorporated.

Form rice krispie treats into muffin pan. After they sit for a few minutes, go back and push down the centers to form a bowl shape for the nest.

In a small mixing bowl, stir the green food coloring into the shredded coconut to color it green. 

Put a dab of frosting in the bowl of the nests. This acts as a "glue" to keep the grass in place. Sprinkle the green coconut (grass), on top of the frosting.  Finish with jelly beans for the eggs.

Witches Brew Party Activity & Drink

Halloween party time is upon us! Are you ready? I have always loved Halloween and Halloween parties. I think it started with my grandparents who would always get a HUGE pile of sawdust and hide candy and money in it. We got to search for our treasures. I always thought that was the greatest.

But I love all Halloween activities, hay rides, pumpkin carving, carnival games, costumes. All of it. My son is really getting into it this year. And much to my dismay started insisting on picking his own costume. How did he already out-grow my picking a "cutsie" costume for him? Ugh, he's barely three and still in diapers for heavens sake! He's insisted on being a motorcycle driver. And honestly, it doesn't get scarier than that for a mother! 

Anyway...back to the Witches Brew. We did this at the family Halloween Party last year. My sister-in-law Angie is AMAZINGLY creative. She came up with this Witches Brew and it was a BIG hit. 

WARNING: You'll want to do this outside because little witches don't have the best aim when contributing to the brew.

We gave each child a mason jar of an ingredient. The older kids had the drink portions. I think we did grape soda and strawberry soda. And we called it things like "bat juice" and "blood." But I was thinking lemon-lime with green food coloring would be fun with the grape also. 

The other jars had things like plastic vampire fangs, rubber rats, spider rings, plastic frogs. You get the idea. Get creative. 

We had some of the drink already in the "witches brew" with some dry ice so it was smoking and bubbling. Then each child got to add their ingredient. Then as we served the drink, we made sure each child got a special "ingredient" in their cup. Their squeals of delight were priceless.

Let me know if you try it and what you do differently! Enjoy!

{WITCHES BREW}

Punch Bowl or Witches Brew bucket

Mason jars

Dry ice

Grape soda - "Bat Juice"

Strawberry soda- "Blood" (or your choice of sodas)

Vampire fangs

Rubber rats

Spider rings

Plastic frogs

Any other Halloween party favor or toy

Frankenbite Cookies

 

I made these little cuties last year and I've been waiting to post them! They were SO quick and easy it's almost a joke. You have to make these for your Halloween parties this year. This is also a really cute way to let your kids help!

After these cooled they were so tasty because the cookies softened from the chocolate coating. They were really a lot more delicious than I expected. I was just going for the cute factor.  But don't worry if they look a little demented and scary. They're FRANKENSTEIN! They're supposed to look monsterous. That's the best part! You can't mess it up.

You can find melting wafers at craft stores like Michaels.

Enjoy!

{FRANKENBITE COOKIES}

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1 pkg. sandwich cookies (Oreo type cookies)

1 pkg. green chocolate melting wafers

1 pkg. brown chocolate melting wafers

Chocolate sprinkles

Purple Nerds candies

Honey Nut Cheerios

In separate bowls, melt the chocolate wafers. You can do this with a double boiler, or by nuking them in the microwave. Be sure the stir after every 30 seconds until they are completely melted.

Hold one cookie at a time and dip into the green melted chocolate 3/4's of the way. Set cookies on waxed paper and finish dipping the rest of the cookies in the green chocolate.

As they sit on the wax paper and BEFORE they set up completely, place the Nerd's eyes and Cheerio mouths into the green face portion of the cookie.

Then go back and dip the remaining 1/4 of each cookie in the brown chocolate wafers. Now, your cookie should be completely covered. While the brown chocolate is still wet, dip in a bowl of chocolate sprinkles for hair. Continue with the rest of the cookies.

Allow the chocolate to set up for a couple hours before moving.

Sunflower Cake

This is for my beautiful mother. She is my hero, my strength, and my best friend. This was the cake I made for her birthday this year. A few years ago I did the same thing, only on cupcakes. 

It's darling and it goes pretty quickly! Just practice first, ok?

Also, make sure you get a good decorating frosting. Did you know that you can buy frosting from the bakery? Try it! Then, you'll for sure know it's good. 

But you know how I "cheated" on this? I made my favorite chocolate frosting to cover the cake.

And then I used canned frosting. Did you gasp out-loud? I know I'm the queen of "do everything from scratch." But I can't be perfect all the time. That, and I'm learning that sometimes it really is ok to cheat (not on your spouse, just with ingredients--just want to clarify).

Oh, so then I added powdered sugar to the canned frosting until it came to a stiff consistency. See how the sunflower petals stick up? Just stick a spoon in your frosting and tip it. If the peaks stand similar to the petal, you're good to go.

Let me know if you have questions!

{SUNFLOWER CAKE}

Favorite frosting (or canned with added powdered sugar--see above)

Orange & yellow food coloring (I prefer the paste coloring)

Icing Decorating Bags

Leaf tip #67 (or bigger if you prefer)

Oreos

Red MnM's

Arrange Oreos over cake (or one per cupcake) to your preference. 

Color the icing with orange and yellow until it reaches your preferred color. Spoon icing into decorating bag with leaf tip.

Hold tip against Oreo edge and gently squeeze and pull up as you let go to form a petal. Repeat around edges of all Oreos.

Place red MnM's around for ladybugs. You can add small dots to the candies for the ladybug spots.

4th of July Cupcakes

Oh say can you see. 

These are adorable. I got the idea from Kim, actually. She made full blown rainbow cupcakes for us on St. Patty's Day. Very, very cute idea!

But these are adorable too! I called my husband and said, "I just made the cutest cupcakes." 

He said, "And how do they taste?"

I replied, "Honey, if they are the cutest cupcakes, it doesn't matter how they taste. It's the cute cupcake experience."

Plus, how could a cupcake actually taste bad? They're always delicious.

I'll be honest though, I totally cheated and used a cake mix and canned frosting. But I added my own touch to them, don't worry. I can't always be perfect, right? Ya, that's an inside joke, don't really think I view myself as a perfect person. FFFAARRR from, my friends.

I wish I would have taken action shots while putting these together, but hopefully my instructions will be just at wonderful.

Enjoy! And have a very happy 4th of July.

{4TH OF JULY CUPCAKES}

click here for a printable version of this recipe

1 white cake mix {or your favorite white cake recipe}

Red & blue PASTE food coloring {not the liquid stuff, or you'll have pastel colors, trust me. Remember this?}

1 can of white frosting {or your favorite recipe}

Sprinkles

The red jolly rancher stars were an idea from this cute blog.

Prepare and mix cake mix according to the package directions. 

Separate the cake mix into 3 equal parts, in 3 separate bowls. Color one bowl with blue. Color another with red {the trick to a deep red is to add a little bit of blue to it. Not too much, or it will be purple fast!}. Leave the last bowl white.

Place a medium-size ziplock bag inside a tall drinking glass, folding back the top of the baggie over the rim of the glass. Spoon the red cake mix into the bag and seal it. Clip the bottom corner of the bag, JUST A LITTLE SNIP will do. Gently squeeze a little red batter into each cupcake liner. Basically, just enough to cover the bottom. Remember, you still have 2 more layers. 

Repeat with the white batter and then top with the blue. 

Bake according to package directions. Allow to cool completely.

For the frosting, spoon the canned stuff into a medium bowl and add powdered sugar to make it a little more stiff for decorating. I probably added 1/2 - 3/4 a cup. It's not like the frosting needs to be sweeter, people. It just needs to be stiffer, or your frosting decor will turn into a blob about 2 mintues after you decorate {this is also something I've learned from experience}.

Decorate the cupcakes with frosting, colored sprinkles and jolly rancher stars.

Then place your hand over your heart and enjoy.

Cutest Train Cake & Best Decorating Frosting

'Tis the season for birthdays in our house. This month is mine and my husband's birthdays. However, this is a cake I did for my favorite little boy's birthday a few months back, and I've been wanting to share this cake idea with you. This was for my son's 2nd birthday. The theme was that our little guy was turning "TWO-TWO," with trains of course.

 

I went to a cake decorating class a few weeks before his birthday. My talented friend who taught the class told me that you can go to a bakery and buy their frosting to decorate with!!! Genius. I actually recommend doing that. But, I've included the recipe I use below, in case you don't go to the bakery or you run out (which happened to me!).

For the train cake, I got a box of graham cracker stix and placed them around the edge for the railroad ties. Then I did two small lines of brown frosting on top, for the tracks. And I used a mini toy train on top of that. So very simple! And absolutely adorable if I do say so myself.

Enjoy!

FROSTINGS

click here for a printable version of this recipe

{BUTTERCREAM} - this is the kind you frost the cake with, not decorate! This just tastes better than the decorative kind, but it's not thick enough to do fancy stuff with.

3 ¾ c. powdered sugar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. butter

Combine all ingredients in mixing bow. Beat with electric mixer or with heavy spoon until smooth and creamy; scrape bowl often. If too stiff to spread easily, beat in a few drops of milk.

{DECORATIVE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING}

1/2 c. solid vegetable shortening

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract (clear would be best)

4 c. sifted powdered sugar (about 1 lb.)

2 T. milk

Makes about 3 cups of icing.

Instructions:

MEDIUM CONSISTENCY

In a large bowl, cream shortening and butter with hand mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored for 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.

THIN CONSISTENCY - for spreading

Add 2 T. light corn syrup, water or milk

STIFF CONSISTENCY

omit butter; substitute an addtional 1/2 c. shortening for butter and add 1/2 tsp, no-color butter flavor. Add up to 4 T. light corn syrup, water or milk to thin for icing cakes.

Source: Wilton

Indoor Mini Golf Felt Set

Well, you all surprised me. I thought you were interested in FOOD recipes. But you all loved the toddler discovery box so much, I've decided to throw some crafts in here and there too.

April showers mean cranky toddlers, right? It's no fun being cramped inside. WE WANT WARM WEATHER! So I'm on the hunt for indoor activity ideas for toddlers and kids.

We created this family mini golf course the other night and I honestly think my husband and I had more fun playing than my 2-year-old. It was so fun! I made these little felt holes in seriously under 10 minutes. SO SIMPLE! 

I took the front room for the "front nine" {which really was 4} and my husband took the back room to set up the "back nine" {really it was 5}. We used our sons toys and anything else we could find around the house to make holes. We used our little plastic golf clubs and balls and went at it. Our rule was you just had to get it on the "green" the black hole was a little ambitious, especially for a little guy.

My professional golf lessons paid off! Whew.

{INDOOR MINI GOLF FELT SET}

1 yard green felt (these are estimates, it depends on how big you make them)

1/4 yard black felt

White fabric

Colored fabric (use whatever scraps you have around the house)

Black permanent marker

Glue gun

Cut the green felt into 9 random, interesting shapes, representing the "green." Cut the black felt into 9 small round holes, large enough for a golf ball to sit on. Cut the white fabric into numbers 1-9 (just free hand it, people!). Cut the colored scrap material into 9 triangles.

Glue black holes, numbers and triangles onto the greens. Draw a black line straight down beneath the triangle flags, to represent the flag pole.

Set up your golf holes with toys and other house-hold items. Make a fool of yourself, laugh your head off, and enjoy!

HOLE IDEAS:

1- Use building blogs to make curves or bridges.

2-Go through a toy barn to reach the hole.

3-Go over a 3-ring binder.

4-Drape a blanket over your table for a "blind man's bluff."

Easy & Adorable Easter Chick Cupcakes

 

 

I've been searching for easy and delicious Easter dessert recipes {that's my assignment for Sunday}. I wanted a fun and impressive Easter dessert recipe. Luckily,  I came across this idea somewhere and now, for the life of me, I can't remember where! I usually like to give credit where credit is due. But to whomever came up with this adorable idea out there in food-blog-land, thank you! 

It's so cute and SO VERY SIMPLE. If you think you can't "decorate" and are always wondering how to decorate cupcakes, start with this one. You can do it! And people will undoubtedly say, "Awww, so cute."

WHY ARE YOU ADDING DIFFERENT THINGS THAN THE CAKE MIX CALLS FOR?  Adding these "extras" turns a boring old cake mix into a homemade hearty cake. Trust me, it's awesome!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend! Enjoy!

{EASTER CHICK CUPCAKES}

click here for a printable version of this recipe

1 box yellow cake mix

1 c. buttermilk

Amount of oil called for on box {mine was 1/3 cup}

4 eggs {instead of amount called for on box}

1 can of frosting

1 1/2 c. coconut flakes

3 drops yellow food coloring

Mini chocolate chips

Candy orange slices

In a large mixing bowl, mix together cake mix, buttermilk, oil, and eggs. Scoop into lined cupcake pans. Cook according to package directions {I'm going to guess its at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes}. 

Let cupcakes cool completely.

In a small mixing bowl, mix yellow food coloring into coconut flakes until fulling incorporated. Mine still had some pieces that were dark yellow and I think it looks cute!

Frost cupcakes with frosting {yes, I'm usually a HUGE supporter of homemade everything but this is the quickest way and you cover the frosting with coconut anyway}. Generously sprinkle cupcakes with coconut, gently pressing to make sure it sticks.

Place 2 mini chocolate chips on cupcake for eyes. You'll need to press pretty firmly and even clear away some of the coconut to make sure the eyes stick.

Cut the orange slices with scissors, in half length-wise. Then cut each "half" in half again, to create little rounded triangle beaks. Press onto cupcake under the eyes.

Toddler Discovery Box

I don't usually post crafts on my blog. But this is food based and plus I'm really excited about it.

We went to the park the other day and this smarty-pants mom had brought this discovery box to the park. My son definitely had his eye on it and I had to keep ushering him away since it wasn't ours. The sweet mom came over and said she really didn't mind if he played in it. Well, he LOVED  it! In talking to this girl, she told me she runs a pre-school and this is something she uses with her students. What a great idea! I've been so excited to put one together for my little guy ever since. And it was a success!

Honesty check: Yes, you do end up with some spills. I remind my little guy that the rule is everything needs to stay in the box. If he spills (on purpose), then we'll have to put it away for the day. And I figure 2 minutes of vacuuming for 45 minutes of fun with a 2-year-old, is TOTALLY worth it. You toddler-moms HAVE to know what I'm talking about, right? Plus, rice and beans are MUCH easier than sand to clean up.

Let me know if you try it. Enjoy!

{TODDLER DISCOVERY BOX}

1 large tupperware container (make sure you have a lid!)

10 lb. bag of long grain rice (get the generic brand; toddlers don't care!)

8 lb. bag of pinto beans

Measuring cups, scoops & other interesting containers

Cut up manila folder with the letters of the alphabet printed on each

Shapes and other objects to search for in the pile

Note: This wise girl said she also uses oatmeal, spaghetti, and other dried pasta.

Personalized Fortune Cookies for your Valentine

I wanted to post these with enough time for you to plan for your loved ones! I made these personalized fortune cookies last year for my sweet Valentine, my parents, and my in-laws. On each "fortune" I wrote a reason why I love them. It was so fun for them to open the messages, PLUS these taste so yummy. Much different than the ones you get at Chinese Fast Food places. 

Get creative with how you decorate. You can buy different colors of dipping chocolates. Or you can put food coloring in the cookie batter! You could even go back with piping icing and write their name. Send me pictures of what you end up doing: somekindofdelicious {at} gmail.com

I was teaching some friends how to make these a while back and one told me the FUNNIEST fortune. She said her husband always says the same line when he opens a fortune cookie. He says, "Help! I'm trapped in a fortune cookie factory and I can't get out." ha! I love it. 

Enjoy!

{FORTUNE COOKIES}
click here for a printable version of this recipe.

2 large egg whites 

1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
3 T. vegetable oil
3 tsp. water
½ c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
½ c. granulated sugar
Optional: food coloring, dipping chocolate
Cooking Spray

Preparation:

Write or print fortunes on pieces of paper, make sure they are no more than 3 1/2 inches long and  ½"  wide. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray two or three 9x13 baking sheets. 

In a mixing bowl, on medium speed beat the egg white, extracts, water and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar. Add the flour into the egg white mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter. The batter should be thin enough so that it pours off of a spoon, but not too thick that it won't spread easily with the back of the spoon. 

{Optional: if you want to color the cookies, add the food coloring at this point.}
 

Place level tablespoons of batter onto the cookie sheet (make sure you sprayed the pan well), spacing them at least 3 inches apart. Use the back of a round Tablespoon to spread it out a bit. Bake about 14-15 minutes. You want to watch for the outer 1/2-inch of each cookie to turn golden brown and they are easy to remove from the baking sheet with a spatula.

Working very quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand (yes, it will be kinda hot). Place a fortune flat in the middle of a cookie. 

To form the fortune cookie shape, fold the cookie in half, like a taco {yes, this is a picture of a paper towel. I didn't think to take pictures of the process until after. So, please hold your mocking!} Hold the two edges together, but keep the bottom fold rounded.

Then gently place the rounded fold on the edge of a bowl or a muffin pan and fold together the opposite way to form a fortune cookie shape. {remind me never to attempt to enter the world of hand-modeling}

Place the finished cookie in the cup of a muffin tin so that it keeps its shape. Continue with the rest of the cookies. 

I cook only 2 cookies per pan, because you have to fold quickly. If you wait too long the cookies will crack because they harden FAST!

To speed up the whole process, I use 2 baking sheets  and alternate putting them in the oven. I set two different timers to keep the two sides of the oven straight. 

After they're all cooked and cooled, melt your dipping chocolates and dip one side of the cookie, if you choose. Then decorate with sprinkles. Adorable.

Doughnut Hole Snowmen

Now listen, I realize this isn't a "high fashion" looking snowman. I realize I could have made another one that looked more photogenic. But I like this one, because I had a blast building it with my adorable 2-year-old son. 

My son is obsessed with snowmen this year. Me? I'd really rather stay inside than go out in the snow...that's daddy's job. So, we built these cute, little, indoor, doughnut-hole snowmen today. He LOVED it! And so did I. He was so surprised that he could have free reign with candy. It was adorable. 

So, here's just a fun food activity for you and your kids this winter season. Obviously you can use all different sorts of things to decorate, but here's what we used.

{DOUGHNUT HOLE SNOWMEN}

 -Powdered Sugar Doughnut Holes

- Pretzel Sticks

- Chocolate Grasshopper cookies

- Candy Corns

- Pull n' peel Licorice

- Marshmallows

- White Chocolate Wafers

Melt Chocolate wafers in microwave in 30 second intervals until it's runny. Spread a little dollop on your plate and stick first dough-nut hole on top (as the white chocolate sets up, it will be your "plaster"). Stick a pretzel in the dough-nut hole and place the next dough-nut hole on top. Put another pretzel in the middle dough-nut hole just until half is hidden. Stick the 3rd dough-nut hole on the pretzel that is exposed. Spread white chocolate on top of head and anchor a cookie on top for a hat. Decorate with candies as you like! Enjoy!