Cute as a Button Sandwiches

I'm thrilled to have made some new friends at Ziploc and will be featuring a few fun projects for you over the next few weeks!

How about an easy sandwich idea that is perfect for school lunches or baby showers?
My kids loved these "Cute as a Button" Sandwiches!

They are great simply put in a Ziploc Sandwich Bag or you can click the image below to download and add on the bag toppers that I made. I love the space on the back to write your own personal note! What a fun thing to send in your child's lunch! Cute as a Button Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Ziploc Sandwich Bags
Bread
Your favorite sandwich fixins'
Large drinking glass
Chopstick
Sandwich bag label (optional)

Directions:
Spread two slices bread with your favorite sandwich fixings. Our kids love PB&J!
Using a large drinking glass, cut your sandwich into a circle. Let the kids snack on the scraps, or place them in a separate Ziploc Bag for eating later.
With a chopstick, poke four "buttonholes" in the top layer of your sandwich. Place in Ziploc Sandwich Bag and serve! You can also use the optional "Cute as a Button" sandwich baggie labels, download them for free here. Enjoy!

For more fun and great ideas, visit the Ziploc Facebook Page!
Disclosure:This post is sponsored by Ziploc. I received monetary compensation for my participation, but my review and opinions, as always, are my own.

Celebration Sandwich

What reasons have you had to celebrate recently? A new job? Birthday? Anniversary? Just a great day?

At our house, we have a new Kindergartener!
So, I made her a special lunch to celebrate the first day of school...

This easy sandwich would also be so cute sent to school for a birthday lunch!

Celebration Sandwich "Cake"
Ingredients:

6 slices bread
your favorite sandwich fillings
1 pretzel rod
1 yellow starburst candy
1/2 orange starburst candy
shredded carrots (or whatever you want to use for garnish)

Cups or circle cutters of various sizes

Directions:
Make sandwiches. Find cups, lids, or cutters of 3 different circle sizes & cut out sandwiches.

Microwave one yellow and 1/2 orange starburst candies for about 7 seconds to soften. Place orange candy on top of yellow, smash together and form a "candle flame" shape. Push onto the top of a pretzel rod.
Stack sandwiches with the largest one on the bottom and press pretzel rod "candle" through the sandwiches (you can cut the pretzel if it's too long). Serve with shredded carrots or any other fresh fruits & veggies. CELEBRATE!!:) We don't like to be wasteful, so I served the extra sandwich "scraps" on a little plate on the side.

Congratulations, Big Girl! We are proud of you!

Fairy Dust Sandwiches

Do you have 2 extra minutes today to turn an ordinary lunch into something magical? This brought out lots of smiles and giggles.....it seems that Tinkerbell came by and took a bite of the girls' PBJ's!

These would also be SO EASY and cute for a fairy birthday, disney birthday, or tea party!

You can download and print the poem/sandwich signs I made here. Simply print, cut out, and tape on a toothpick.
The poem says:
"I was flying by and needed a rest...
What did I see but the lunch I love best!
So I took a few nibbles then went on my way.
I left you some pixie dust, enjoy your day!"

Fairy Dust Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Your favorite sandwich
Pink icing (we used Betty Crocker cherry icing)
Quart-sized ziploc freezer baggie
colored sugar (any kind, for pixie dust)
toothpicks

Directions:
Print and cut out Tinkerbell poem then tape to a toothpick (one for each sandwich). Make sandwiches then carefully cut out a half circle shape from one side. Put icing in baggie and snip a small piece of one corner. Pipe out "footprints" across the plate and sandwich. Sprinkle with colored sugar and place toothpick in sandwich. Serve and watch the giggles fly!:)

Notes: Little C, always the investigator, wondered why Tink left footprints when she can fly......
While I was thinking about that one, Big C saved the day and said, "She only gets so much pixie dust every day so they walk whenever they can to save it!". Nice job, Big C!

PBJ Sushi

When I want to have a special lunch, I LOVE to pick up some good sushi. The problem is that my kids will eat it, too, and to be honest, sometimes I don't like to share. :) It's expensive!

I found a little "project" that they love just as much and we're both happy...
Introducing PBJ Sushi!

I think they just love smashing bread with a rolling pin...but hey, who wouldn't?!?

You can substitute turkey/cheese, hummus, anything you want. Peanut Butter & Jelly just happens to be a favorite around here.
As a side note, we are working out the logistics on a super-fun community service project for our family to do this year (food-related, of course!:)). It should be worked out next week and I can't wait to tell you all about it! We'll be posting our adventures on it throughout the year.

PBJ Sushi (or "Kid's Mock Sushi")
Ingredients:
Sliced Bread
Peanut Butter
Jelly
(or, your favorite sandwich fillings. Pepperoni and cheese is another favorite of ours)


Directions:
Lay a slice of bread on a cutting board and let your child roll it flat with a rolling pin or plastic drinking cup. Smashing bread is the best part!!:)

Spread a thin layer of peanut butter and jelly over 2/3 of the bread. You can also cut the crusts off if desired.



Roll it up, starting with the end spread with peanut butter/jelly, and press edges to seal.
Slice with a sharp knife and serve.Little H couldn't wait for the slicing, she devoured her first roll before I could get my hands on it to slice it up!

Mini Cupcake Sandwiches

On our last day staying with our friends the McWhorters, we had a little tea party. Among all the fancy frou-frou cookies and tea, we made these from La Fuji Mama. You can get the recipe here.

* To make them even more fancy, we added a cherry tomato sliced in half on the top to look like a cherry.
* Also, we used an empty water bottle instead of a bottle lid to make the sandwiches. You simply press down to cut out the shape, then squeeze the bottle to pop out the bread/meat/cheese, etc.. That provided serious entertainment!

When I get my computer back, we'll post the pictures I took. Thanks for a great visit and delicious food, McWhorter Fam!!

Leprechaun Lunch

I've dressed-up a lot of our quickie lunches, but I think this one takes the award for the easiest fun lunch EVER! All you need is a little icing, green food coloring, a ziploc baggie and an optional gold coin to make the cutest St. Patricks Day lunch! Leprechaun Lunch
Ingredients:
Your favorite sandwich, sides, etc. (whatever you're having for lunch)
White icing, any kind
Green food coloring
small Ziploc bag
Chocolate or toy gold coin, optional
Directions:
Mix a small amount of food coloring into icing. Put in to baggie and snip a small corner off the bag. Take a small bite or cut out a little piece of the sandwich. Using the icing, make small ovals starting at the edge of the plate and up onto the sandwich for "leprechaun footprints". Tuck the gold coin into the sandwich (optional). For extra green fun, put a drop of food coloring in your child's milk.

Here are the reviews:

Little C: "Wow! How did Leprechaun's mouths get so big?"
Big C: "That's funny!! Hmmm...It looks a lot like mommy's bite...."
Little H: "Fawsing! (frosting!)"

Beary Much in Love

We have been in a whirlwind of Vanentines treats for the kids, I'll post a fun cookie tutorial tonight or tomorrow.

I'm taking a break from the treat craziness and making this super fast and easy Valentine Lunch for the kids. The uber-fabulous Kellie over at Little Nummies made these simple bear sandwiches, how cute are they?

Whip them up then print out my "I love you Beary Much" cards (with space to write your "beary favorite things" about your Valentine:)) and you've got one special lunch in 5 minutes. You can download the cards here.
Beary Much in Love Sandwiches from Little Nummies
Ingredients:
Bread
Marshmallows
Peanut Butter (or jam)
Chocolate Chips
Crackers (round)
Bear Cards (download and print here)

Kellie's directions:
I cut the tops off of two pieces of bread. Spread peanut butter on them and put them together as shown in picture. Spread some peanut butter on the ends of ritz crackers and stick them to the back of the “head” for the ears. Cut a mini marshmallow in half and stick mini chocolate chips inside for eyes. A reg chocolate chip for his nose. Use the other two pieces to make a half sandwich.
notes: After downloading the cards, cut along the dotted lines and fold on the pink line. Write your "beary favorite things" about your child and place with lunch.

Crazy Cool Sandwiches

We've never featured another blogger before, but I am in love with all of Kellie from Little Nummie's sandwich ideas! Here are a few of our favorites, but she had a ton on her site and adds to it regularly! Happy Sandwiching!:)

Sheepdog:
Cut corners off sandwich, tip up to resemble ears. Spread peanut butter (or cream cheese) on top of sandwich, top with popcorn, olive eyes, and a fruit snack tongue.

Lion:
Use diagram below to see how to cut it out. Mane is shredded carrot and facial features are raisins.

Please Tell us about yourself: My name is Kellie Strickland and I am a stay at home mom of three beautiful little girls. They are 5, 4, and 2. They really keep me busy!! I am also a pastor's wife and in the beginning stages of planting a church in Boston, MA. YAY!! We will be moving there in July of '09 which we are ridiculously excited about!! Little Nummies has been somewhat of an experiment for me. I started the Little Nummies blog to share the photos of my creations instead of cluttering my own blog up with the pics. The response has been so exciting!!

Hedgie the Hedgehog:
Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut a heart shape out of a sandwich. Break a handful of pretzel sticks in half and stick them into the back of the cut out shape (as shown). Use shorter sticks for the ones right behind the eyes. Take 3 regular chocolate chips and using peanut butter for the glue, glue them on for the eyes and nose.

Where do you get your inspiration?: I got tired of making my kids the same 'ole stuff for lunch everyday. I noticed that they ate more when they were eating creations. It all just kind of evolved from there. A lot of the food out there for kids is great, but most of the creative food were in cupcake or sugar form. I wanted to create fun new ways to make sandwiches, which is what the average mom makes for their kids on an everyday basis. I wanted to create a place where the food was fun, simple, basic, and with lots of substitution ideas so that you felt comfortable enough to get in the kitchen and start playing with your food!!

Mr. Hoot:
Make any sandwich you would like and then cut the sides off as shown. Take the pieces and flip them backwards to make them fit as shown. Cut a large marshmallow in half for the base of the eyes. Cut a raisin in half for the eyes, and another raisin for the beak.

Daily Blogs: I have my main blog kelliestrickland.wordpress.com which is really my outlet during the day. I have my daily loves which consist of my friends, and new blogland friends. I LOVE the creative, vintage, handmade, crafty blogs which give me lots of ideas for decorating and creating.

Jack-0-Lantern:
Cut a Jack O’Lantern face out of a slice of bread. I used a simple knife to cut out the shapes. Spread whatever you want on another slice of bread. I used Peanut Butter and Honey. Seemed irredescant and to sort of glow. Use what your child will eat though!! Next, stack the cut out piece of bread on top. How easy is that?!? Tips: if sending them in a lunchbox for school, use a little peanut butter or cream cheese to adhere the decorations and embellishments.