I saw The Moody Fashionista's "Donut Seeds" a few weeks ago and thought they were just adorable! Plus, isn't her daughter the cutest?!
So, when the time came to make a snack for Little C's class, we knew what it should be! They're inexpensive and easy to put together for a large group. Perfect!
We added some Fruit Loops for color and made our own Doughnut Seed (or Donut...tomato, tomahto...:)) labels that you can download here. You can choose larger labels (4 per page) or smaller labels (8 per page--this is a large file because the graphics are high res, so be patient!)
Doughnut Seeds Ingredients: Cheerios Fruit Loops Ziploc Baggies Large or Small Doughnut Seed Labels
Directions: Put desired amount of Cheerios & Fruit loops in each bag. Print and cut out labels. Tape a label on each bag. Gobble. Here's Little H in "ready to gobble" position... Here's our sea of donut seed bags ready to go to school! This is also a great Letter D snack!
As I have been hosting the "Make to Impress" Side Dish Challenge at The Real Women of Philadelphia this week, I've been blown away by everyone's creativity! If you're looking for great entertaining and Holiday recipes, look no further! You can see the whole gallery here. Get ready to blow your guests away!
Can you believe it's getting close to Halloween time? I love this time of year! We have some spooktacular treats and tricks for you so let's kick it off with Peanut Butter TruffleEyeballs
I had so much fun doing the Cereal Spooktacular last year that wer'e going to do it again! I justify making all the treats since cereal is vitamin fortified....;)
Peanut Butter Truffle Eyeballs Ingredients: 1 1/2 C. crushed Reese's Puffs Cereal 1 1/2 C. Peanut Butter 3/4 C. Butter, softened 4-6 C. Powdered Sugar White Candy Melts Red Candy Melts Chocolate Chips (about 1/2 C.) Wax paper toothpick Sucker Sticks, optional
Directions: In large bowl, combine crused Reese's Puffs Cereal, Peanut Butter and butter. Mix well. Add powdered sugar, a cup at a time, until you have a firm dough. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on wax paper.
Now, you can make these eyeballs stand-alone or put them on sucker sticks. We like making them into suckers, it's easier for the kids to dip them and they're fun to eat! If making suckers, dip each stick in a little bit of melted white candy melts and push one into each peanut butter ball. Place in fridge for about 5 minutes to harden. (Tip: put your wax paper on a cookie sheet, then it's easy to transfer your treats to/from the fridge!)Dip each ball into melted White candy melts and set on wax paper to harden (about 5 minutes). When set, dip one side into melted red candy melts. Using a toothpick, drizzle some extra red around the edges to look like the eyes are "bloodshot". Press one chocolate chip, pointed side down, into the center and let set completely. Here's an example of the "bloodshot" eyes! Thanks, Big C!:) Little H wasn't sure which way her eyeball was lookin'... Enjoy! We'll be featuring all kinds of Spooktacular fun throughout September and October!
Disclosure: I was given a $50 gift card from General Mills for ingredients to make creative cereal treats for Big G Halloween. I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own.
I am having such a great time being the Side Dish host for The Real Women of Philadelphia! For Make to Impress Week, I created a recipe that's a new family favorite and I know you'll love it, too! Can't you see these at your Fall dinner parties?It looks fancy but is honestly oh-so-simple to put together. Plus, the kids love weaving those veggie strips! Here's my video tutorial: (as a side note, cooking videos are waaaaay harder than I thought! I have new respect for those Food Network folks!)
Basket Weave Stuffing Pockets Serves: 6, Prep Time: 25 minutes, Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 box Stove Top Stuffing Mix, Pork flavor 4 oz. butter or margarine 8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese 12 oz. package uncooked sausage 3 large carrots 3 medium zucchini Parchment Paper Thyme springs (optional, for garnish) Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Prepare Stove Top Mix with butter or margarine as directed on package. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage and drain. 4. Return sausage to pan over low heat. 5. Microwave Philadelphia Cream Cheese for 30 seconds and add to sausage, stir until incorporated. 6. Add Stove Top to sausage mixture and stir gently to combine. 7. Using a potato peeler, slice carrots and zucchini into thin, long slices (see picture) 8. Drop zucchini and carrot slices into boiling water, cook for one minute. 9. Remove slices from water, drain and rinse with cold water. 10. On a 10” x 10” piece of parchment paper, line up 5 zucchini pieces next to each other. 11. Weave 5 carrot slices, one at a time, with the zucchini, forming a woven square. 12. Place ½ C. sausage stuffing mixture on top of woven carrots and zucchini. Spread to form a rectangle. 13. Wrap ends of zucchini & carrots around stuffing mixture, forming a rectangle (vegetables will not completely cover the stuffing mixture) 14. Tightly fold parchment around stuffing pocket and place on baking sheet. 15. Repeat with remaining zucchini/carrot slices and stuffing mixture. 16. Bake pockets at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, until warm throughout. 17. Remove parchment paper and place pockets on serving tray. Garnish with thyme and lemon slices, if desired.
YOUR recipe could win you $500! Go to Real Women of Philadelphia to learn more! They still have over $20,000 to give away!
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.
Avocado Penne Pesto?Avocado & Peach Coladas? Or, should I just whip up some plain ol' guac? That's always a favorite! I was stumped until I tried my friend Rich's"GreekGuac" recipe. It was amazing and he graciously said I could share it with you all!If you're wondering what "Greek Guac" is, think hummus but on a whole new level! You'll love it and I can't wait for you to try it out!!
I've heard some of you say that your kids aren't just avocado fans. You'll be surprised just how adaptable avodacos are! My friend Lindsay just tried baking it in Mac & Cheese with amazing results! Also, did you know that Avocados from Mexico contain 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including potassium, vitamins B6, C and E, folate and fiber? They also contain the "good" mono and poly-unsaturated fats. PLUS, they're only 50 calories per ounce! So, give them a try in your family's diet--you'll feel great about serving them to your fam.
Greek Guacby Rich Swanson Ingredients: •3 large ripe avocados, peeled and pitted •3 ounce(s) of Philly Cream Cheese, softened •3/4 cup(s) of crumbled feta cheese •2 tbsp. of onion, chopped fine •2 tbsp. of sun dried tomato (oil packed), chopped fine •1 tbsp. of white balsamic vinegar •1/4 tsp. of ground red pepper •1/4 tsp. of sea salt (plus a pinch extra for garnish) •1/2 tsp. of dried Greek oregano •1/4 cup(s) of extra virgin olive oil
Directions: 1.With a hand blender, mix one of the avocados with the Philly Cream Cheese in a small mixing bowl until creamy. 2.Dice the remaining avocados and fold them into the mixture along with the feta, onion, sun dried tomato, balsamic vinegar, pepper and salt. 3.Spoon the guac into a serving bowl and smooth out the top. Sprinkle the oregano over the top. 4.Pour the olive oil over the top and swirl it around till it coats the top surface (this will stop any browning if you make it a few hours ahead of time). Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the olive oil. Let the flavors mingle for at least a half hour before serving. Serve with tortilla or pita chips.
Disclosure: I was given a basket of Avocados from Avocados from Mexico. I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own.
It's time for some fun School Snacks! How about these adorable little Rice Krispy Apple Treats?
Little C and I made these after school one day to share with her school class, they were a hit! She did a great job!
Speaking of those kiddos in the kitchen, I just added the "Featured Little Foodie" of the week to my sidebar! If you have a cooking pic of your kids/neices/nephews/grandkids/neighbors and want to be featured, email me your photos and we'll let those Little Foodies have the spotlight! (If you have a blog, we'll also link to you). I also have a secret for making your Rice Krispy Treats hold together a little better and also giving them a yummy color/flavor! Jell-o!! Add a small package to your batch after you melt the marshmallows. You will LOVE IT! I can't wait to make orang-ey pumpkins for Halloween! I guess it's not a secret anymore...
Krispy Apple Treats Makes 25 Ingredients: 6 C. Krispy Rice Cereal 1 pkg. large marshmallows 3 T. butter 1 small pkg. Jell-o powder, cherry or strawberry flavor 25 small Tootsie Roll Candies Royal Icing, tinted green Baking spray Wax Paper Red Food Coloring, optional optional: you could use fruit roll-ups or those green mint leaf candies instead of the royal icing.
Directions: Place marshmallows and butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave for an additional minute. Remove from microwave and stir in jell-o powder. If desired, you can add a few drops of red food coloring (depending on how "red" your jell-o is). Add Krispy Rice cereal and stir well. Spray hands with baking spray and roll mixture into balls (a little larger than a golf ball) and drop on wax paper. After balls have set for a few minutes, use your thumb to press into the top to make an "apple" shape. Add a small tootsie roll "stem" and using royal icing (or any green candy), pipe on a "leaf". I actually would have rather used some kind of green candy but didn't have any on hand. I just used royal icing and a leaf-shaped icing tip. Serve to your favorite kiddos! These would also be a really fun "Teacher Appreciation Day" snack!
We added some Fruit Loops for color and made our own Doughnut Seed (or Donut...tomato, tomahto...:)) labels that you can download here. You can choose larger labels (4 per page) or smaller labels (8 per page--this is a large file because the graphics are high res, so be patient!)
Doughnut Seeds
Here's our sea of donut seed bags ready to go to school! This is also a great Letter D snack!
It looks fancy but is honestly oh-so-simple to put together. Plus, the kids love weaving those veggie strips! Here's my video tutorial:
Directions:
