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.

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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!