Post by Granny Smith on Apr 2, 2008 18:06:36 GMT -5
Cooking With Kids
contributed by riverwalk
Bugs and Dirt
Ingredients:
Chocolate graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles (ants)
Gummy worms
Raisins (beetles)
Directions:
Crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin. Place into a bowl then add the ants, beetles and worms to the "dirt." Place the bowl in the middle of the table with a clean sand shovel and let each child scoop up a cup of dirt and bugs. You can let them eat with their hands or spoons. This is also great for outside at the picnic table, using small paper cups or plastic bags for their treats. The real backyard critters will help clean up the mess on the grass!
Honey Crispies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup multi-colored sprinkles
Directions:
Place a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Combine powdered sugar, honey and peanut butter in a bowl and mix well. Stir in cereal and raisins. Using hands, shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in sprinkles and place on cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Store in a covered container. Makes about 30.
Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Ingredients:
5 cups popcorn, popped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, toffee chips or mini M&Ms
1/3 cups peanuts
2 tablespoons margarine - softened
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Directions:
In a prepared mixing bowl, combine popcorn, candy coated pieces and peanuts. Place margarine and marshmallows in a 4-cup microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave on high for two minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring once halfway through cooking. Pour over popcorn mixture; stir quickly to coat. With buttered hands, quickly shape mixture into balls. Place on waxed paper. Let stand for one hour.
Nacho Popcorn
Ingredients:
1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup melted butter
10 cups freshly popped popcorn
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a small bowl, stir paprika, chili powder and cumin into melted butter. Gently toss butter mixture with popcorn, coating evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss until coated. Makes 10 cups.
Snack Mix Squares
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups broken pretzel sticks
2 cups crispy rice or Rice Chex
1 1/2 cups m&ms or Reeses Pieces
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
5 cups miniature marshmallows
Directions:
In a large bowl combine pretzels, cereal and candy. In a large saucepan, over low heat, melt butter and peanut butter. Add marshmallows and cook, stirring until all is melted and smooth. Pour over snack mixture and stir to coat. Press into a buttered 9~13 pan and cool until firm. Cut into squares. Makes about 24 squares.
Bugs on a Log
What you'll need:
celery stalks
peanut butter
raisins
Directions:
Spread peanut butter onto washed and drained celery stalks. Top with raisins. For children who are allergic to peanuts, try using cream cheese or processed cheese spread in place of the peanut butter.
Cookie Spiders
What you'll need:
black or chocolate licorice twists
fudge sandwich cookies
chocolate frosting
red cinnamon candies
Directions:
Cut licorice in half. Remove the top of each sandwich cookie; press 8 licorice pieces into the fudge center to resemble spider legs. Spread a little chocolate frosting over the licorice; replace cookie tops. Frost the tops of the spider cookies with frosting. Place red cinnamon candies on top for eyes.
Muenster Beetles
What you'll need:
crunchy chow mein noodles
muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
Directions:
Cut cheese into 2 x 1 rectangular blocks. Gently insert three chow mein noodles on each side of cheese block for legs. Using two broken chow mein noodles, insert into "head" as antennae.
Note: Cheddar makes a bright and colorful beetle, but can be very frustrating for little fingers as the cheese is a bit too hard to press the noodles into without breaking. Use softer cheese such as gouda, havarti, monterey jack, or even mozerella.
Peanut Butter Caterpillars
What you'll need:
bananas
peanut butter
grapes
chow mein noodles
Directions:
Peel and slice a banana. Join the slices together by "gluing" them with peanut butter. Carefully poke two chow mein noodles (or break a pretzel stick in half to make two pieces) through the top of the grape. Use more peanut butter to attach the head (grape) to the front of the body, with antennae (chow mein noodles)
contributed by riverwalk
Bugs and Dirt
Ingredients:
Chocolate graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles (ants)
Gummy worms
Raisins (beetles)
Directions:
Crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin. Place into a bowl then add the ants, beetles and worms to the "dirt." Place the bowl in the middle of the table with a clean sand shovel and let each child scoop up a cup of dirt and bugs. You can let them eat with their hands or spoons. This is also great for outside at the picnic table, using small paper cups or plastic bags for their treats. The real backyard critters will help clean up the mess on the grass!
Honey Crispies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup multi-colored sprinkles
Directions:
Place a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Combine powdered sugar, honey and peanut butter in a bowl and mix well. Stir in cereal and raisins. Using hands, shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in sprinkles and place on cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Store in a covered container. Makes about 30.
Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Ingredients:
5 cups popcorn, popped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, toffee chips or mini M&Ms
1/3 cups peanuts
2 tablespoons margarine - softened
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Directions:
In a prepared mixing bowl, combine popcorn, candy coated pieces and peanuts. Place margarine and marshmallows in a 4-cup microwave-safe measuring cup. Microwave on high for two minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring once halfway through cooking. Pour over popcorn mixture; stir quickly to coat. With buttered hands, quickly shape mixture into balls. Place on waxed paper. Let stand for one hour.
Nacho Popcorn
Ingredients:
1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup melted butter
10 cups freshly popped popcorn
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a small bowl, stir paprika, chili powder and cumin into melted butter. Gently toss butter mixture with popcorn, coating evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss until coated. Makes 10 cups.
Snack Mix Squares
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups broken pretzel sticks
2 cups crispy rice or Rice Chex
1 1/2 cups m&ms or Reeses Pieces
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
5 cups miniature marshmallows
Directions:
In a large bowl combine pretzels, cereal and candy. In a large saucepan, over low heat, melt butter and peanut butter. Add marshmallows and cook, stirring until all is melted and smooth. Pour over snack mixture and stir to coat. Press into a buttered 9~13 pan and cool until firm. Cut into squares. Makes about 24 squares.
Bugs on a Log
What you'll need:
celery stalks
peanut butter
raisins
Directions:
Spread peanut butter onto washed and drained celery stalks. Top with raisins. For children who are allergic to peanuts, try using cream cheese or processed cheese spread in place of the peanut butter.
Cookie Spiders
What you'll need:
black or chocolate licorice twists
fudge sandwich cookies
chocolate frosting
red cinnamon candies
Directions:
Cut licorice in half. Remove the top of each sandwich cookie; press 8 licorice pieces into the fudge center to resemble spider legs. Spread a little chocolate frosting over the licorice; replace cookie tops. Frost the tops of the spider cookies with frosting. Place red cinnamon candies on top for eyes.
Muenster Beetles
What you'll need:
crunchy chow mein noodles
muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
Directions:
Cut cheese into 2 x 1 rectangular blocks. Gently insert three chow mein noodles on each side of cheese block for legs. Using two broken chow mein noodles, insert into "head" as antennae.
Note: Cheddar makes a bright and colorful beetle, but can be very frustrating for little fingers as the cheese is a bit too hard to press the noodles into without breaking. Use softer cheese such as gouda, havarti, monterey jack, or even mozerella.
Peanut Butter Caterpillars
What you'll need:
bananas
peanut butter
grapes
chow mein noodles
Directions:
Peel and slice a banana. Join the slices together by "gluing" them with peanut butter. Carefully poke two chow mein noodles (or break a pretzel stick in half to make two pieces) through the top of the grape. Use more peanut butter to attach the head (grape) to the front of the body, with antennae (chow mein noodles)