Cheap and Easy Recipes for the Kids

My intent for the past week was to post daily on different  ideas to keep them busy while on winter break. Each day I planned to share different recipes for kids that were fun for the kids to help bake or create.

I only succeeded in getting one days worth online. Our house seemed to somewhat fall apart on Monday. My parenting skills were totally hidden under a mean mommy face with no patience to be found no matter how hard I tried.

So considering the fact that gas prices are so cheap right now, my kids and I went on daily road trips. I had to get out of the house and the kids needed a break.

Each day we loaded in the family van and with no particular destination in mind we drove. I packed snacks and a lunch and I have to admit what started off as a week from hell ended up being pretty great.

We sang, we talked and when the kids got a little to loud I turned the radio up louder.

The kids head back to school on Monday so now I can focus on my work again. I wanted to quickly post some of the great recipes kids like to create with my kids and share with my readers.

Slime

The Kids Need:

  • 1 1/2 cups of water
  • 1 cup white glue
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 tsp. Borax
  • food coloring

Okay MOM it’s Your Turn:
Mix 1 1/2 cups water with 1 cup of glue. Add color if you want. In another bowl, mix 1 cup hot water and 2 tsp. Borax until Borax is dissolved. Add slowly to glue mixture. Mix and let stand for 1 minute. Store in air tight containers or Zip-lock bags.
Now The Fun Part:
Give each of the kids some slime and keep some for yourself. As a stay-at-home mom I find myself running around to get housework done, bills or whatever and I don’t play with my kids as much as I should. This would a great time to just sit down, get your hands dirty and create a mommy moment with your kids.

****************************************************************************************************************

Now once the kids help get the mess from the slime cleaned up now together you and the kids can make a YUMMY snack. My kids love to help cook and if I would let them help more, I would have a lot less chaos because they actually behave well in the kitchen. Here are some simple cooking for kids recipe’s the kids will have fun making and even more fun eating and mom there not too messy!

Purple Cow

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup grape juice
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 banana sliced

Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Makes 4-6 small servings.

Nuts and Bolts

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of bite-sized shredded wheat
  • 1/3 cup margarine, melted
  • garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 cups stick pretzels, broke in half
  • 1/2 cup peanuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Spread shredded wheat in a baking pan. Cover with melted margarine and sprinkle with garlic powder to taste. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Add pretzel sticks, peanuts and raisins. Store in an airtight container or Zip-lock bag.

Bird Nest Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 1/2 cup crispy chow mein noodles
  • mayonnaise
  • peas or grapes
  • lettuce leaves (optional)

Mix carrot and chow mein noodles with enough mayonnaise to moisten. For each salad, place a mound of the mixture on a plate and push the back of a spoon down into the center to form a “nest.” Add peas or grapes for the eggs. If desired, form each nest on top of a lettuce leaf. Makes two salads.

Marshmallow Spiders

Ingredients:

  • 6 large marshmallows
  • 12 M & M’s
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • string licorice (16 inches for each spider)

Poke 8 pieces of 2 in string licorice into each marshmallow for legs. Melt chocolate chips over low heat. Set spider on wax paper and pour a spoonful of melted chocolate over each marshmallow so that it is coated thoroughly. Add 2 M & M’s for eyes. Allow to cool before eating.

Have fun with the kids. These recipes are cheap and easy to prepare for those little hands that are always willing to help out. To all the parents out their trying to keep their sanity – God Bless!

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What do Play Dough and Dog Bones Have in Common?

With one more week of winter break left for the kids, I am starting to go crazy. My kids are so bored. It’s too cold to play outside and considering the fact that we were all sick during Christmas I’m not eager to let them play outside. They have have all the new toys Santa brought them yet they cannot seem to be entertained for more than 5 minutes at a time making it nearly impossible to accomplish anything during the day.

I needed a plan. I needed a creative way to get them busy so I could work. So I found some great recipes kids like. Each day this week I will dedicate different recipes including slime, play dough and even some treats. These recipes are kid friendly, mom approved and just plain fun to make together.

So the question:
“What do play dough and dog bones have in common?”
Answer:
MOM’S SANITY FOR AN HOUR OR SO!!

Kool-Aid Play Dough

The Kids Need:
2 1/2 plus cups of flour
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup salt
3 Tbsp. oil
2 pkg. Kool-Aid (same color)
Okay MOM it’s Your Turn:
Mix dry ingredients together.
Add oil and water then add in extra flour for desired consistency.
Now The Fun Part:
Give each of the kids a blob and keep one blob for yourself. As a stay-at-home mom I find myself running around to get housework done, bills or whatever and I don’t play with my kids as much as I should. This would a great time to just sit down, get your hands dirty and create a mommy moment with your kids.

****************************************************************************************************************

Now once the kids help get the mess from the play dough cleaned up now together you and the kids can make a YUMMY snack. My kids love to help cook and if I would let them help more, I would have a lot less chaos because they actually behave well in the kitchen. Here is a fun recipe for Dog Bones (not for the 4 legged friend) the kids will have fun making and even more fun eating and mom it’s not too messy!

Dog Bones

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of dry milk
1 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. of graham cracker crumbs, finely crushed

In a bowl mix the peanut butter and dry milk. Add the honey and mix thoroughly. Divide the dough into six pieces. Mold each piece into the shape of a dog bone. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs on both side.
Serve their Dog Bones with a glass of milk or juice. What a great way to finish off an hour or two of simple and cheap entertainment with the kids.
**CHECK BACK EACH DAY THIS WEEK AS WE WILL MAKE SOME SLIME, A PURPLE COW AND NUTS AND BOLTS WILL HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER.**

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Holiday Shortbread Cookies

As I continue my tribute to a weeks worth of recipes for your

Cheap and Easy Holiday Cooking for me the most important

recipe would be the holiday cookies.

We all know how important cookies are to Santa.

My favorite family tradition is baking tons (literally) of shortbread cookies.

Beside my mom’s best homemade cookie recipes.

I love to purchase and give Walkers Shortbread Cookies

and Stockmeyer Shortbread Cookies.

But with my tight budget this year I have to bake them.

Here are the best shortcake cookie recipes I have found through the years.

Christmas Shortbread

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
Thoroughly cream sugar and butter. Add 2 1/2 cups of the flour and mix thoroughly. Turn out onto a surface floured with remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Knead dough until it cracks on surface. Roll out 1/4-inch thick and cut out with cutters. Prick cookies with fork tines and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 275° for about 45 to 55 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Makes about 2 dozen shortbread cookies.

Scottish Shortbread

Ingredients:

2 cups butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and brown sugar. Add 3 to 3 3/4 cups flour. Mix well. Sprinkle board with the remaining flour. Knead for 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a soft dough. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into 3×1 inch strips. Prick with fork and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

8 ounces butter (2 sticks), room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Combine all ingredients; knead with hands to combine. Press into lightly buttered pans (or roll out to about 1/2-inch on a floured board and cut into shapes). Bake at 325° for about 20 minutes.
Cut into wedges while warm or break apart.

Lemon Shortbread

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice or lemon extract
lemon, zest of
2 cups sifted flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. Scrape sides of the bowl. Add lemon juice, zest and flour and mix thoroughly on low speed. Shape level tablespoons of dough into logs on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes until cookie spreads and is very light brown in color. Cookies may be dipped in soft lemon frosting or melted chocolate on one end. Chill to set chocolate or frosting. Makes about 3 dozen.

Walkers Shortbread Cookies

Although Walkers has their own secret shortbread recipe, the recipe for these Shortbread Cookies tastes very similar to Walkers original shortbread
Shortbread Cookie Recipe
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered or icing sugar)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9″ X 13″ baking pan and set aside. Blend flour, salt and baking powder in a medium sized bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl and preferably with an electric mixer, beat the butter for 2 minutes. Add sugar and beat. Add vanilla and beat again until light and fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Turn mixer to low, and fold in flour, salt and baking powder. Mix just until blended. Press into prepared baking pan. With a bench scraper or sharp knife, score dough into 1″ X 3″ “fingers”. Do not go all the way through, just the top 3rd of the dough. Use a fork and prick the top all over. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-40 minutes, or until shortbread is a lovely shade of light brown and fragrant. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool about 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Place on cutting board and cut through the score marks. Let cool completely before storing in air tight container.

For more great Holiday Cookies Recipes here is a great site : Holiday Cookies For All

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