I don't know about your kids but mine love play-dough! The problem is, it can get expensive because they keep accidentally letting it dry out. Simple solution: make your own for much cheaper. Personally, I like the homemade stuff a little better anyway. Here's what you'll need: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 cup water 4 Tablespoons oil food coloring Step 1) Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in the pot. Step 2) Add the water, oil, and food coloring. Food coloring is to desired color. (At this point in time my camera ran out of batteries and I was not about to leave my 5 and 3 year old alone by a hot stove to find new batteries. Excuse the lack of photo(s) for the next part.) Step 3) Cook on medium heat until the mixture is able to remain a ball in the middle of the pot. The mixture will be liquidy and clumpy at first (and you'll wonder how in the world it is going to turn into play-dough) but it will get firmer as it … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Make a Thankful Tree
Thanksgiving is around the corner (at least it is in the U.S.) and what better way to get your kids in the spirit than to create a Thankful Tree together. I saw something similar at a local craft store and they wanted $100 for it....my entire cost $2.97 Here is what you need: A tree branch (preferably one with lots of twigs) A bucket or pot to put the tree in Sand (or I used a foam ball) to secure the tree in the pot Spanish Moss to cover the base of the tree A marker Hot glue gun Construction paper leaves (or foam leaves, like I used) Step 1: Cut out leaves using construction paper (or cheat and purchase foam ones at a craft store). Ask your kids to list things they are thankful for. Write them (or have them write on it if they are able) on the leaves, using one word. Step 2: Secure tree branch to bucket or pot using your sand or foam ball. Step 3: Cover the base of the tree with Spanish moss. Step 4: Glue leaves on the tree. (Make sure the adult does … [Read more...]
Healthy alternative to pop/soda
Do your kids love pop/soda? Do you worry about the amount of sugar and calories they are consuming because of pop/soda? Try this healthy, fun alternative! You'll need: Seltzer water (not tonic water or club soda--seltzer water) Any kind of fresh fruit or 100% fruit juice Small strainer (optional) Small blender (if using harder fruits such as strawberries or apples) The easy way of making pop/soda alternative: Mix 100% fruit juice and seltzer water to taste. That's easy isn't it? The fun way of making pop/soda alternative: 1) Squeeze citrus fruits into the seltzer water. If you're like me, squeeze them over a small strainer to avoid pulp in you "pop/soda" (I HATE pulp!). 2) Smash semi-hard fruits through the strainer so that the juice goes through. Above, I used a kiwi. (Yum! kiwi/lime was good!) 3) Puree harder fruits such as strawberries or apples in a blender than smash them through the small strainer to the juice goes through. (Sorry, no … [Read more...]
Dishin’ Up Delicious
“Mom, this was the best day ever!” declared my five-yr. old boy. I agreed, as I whipped off my bike helmet and gently uncurled my sleeping toddler away from the pumpkin she was “taking care of.” We had really loaded the bike trailer down with a 25 lb. toddler, two large pumpkins and various other ingredients we purchased at the fresh produce stand. My husband was the brave soul that pedaled all that weight through the bike trail outside our home. We really look forward to this day – the day we bring the pumpkins home! I was thoroughly pleased that my boy was satisfied with our conquest of securing our chosen pumpkins and returning home, however our family tradition includes a couple more hours of kitchen fun! “Addison, don’t you remember that now we get to roast the pumpkin seeds? THAT makes it the best day ever!” My eldest daughter never forgets anything. In order for my kids to have a vested interest in what they’re eating, we try to get them involved with the process of … [Read more...]
Homemade fruit leather
Who doesn't like a fruit leather (a.k.a. fruit roll-up)? They're a huge favorite at our house. But if I am being 100% honest I can't stand that the first ingredient in them is HFCS (high fructose corn syrup)....in fact it really ticks me off (ahhhh- Jamie will wanna slap me if I go to "crunchy mama" on you so I will leave it at that). I did a great deal of searching on the web to find a recipe that actually works AND tastes good and I think I may have a keeper. Want to make your own fruit leather? It's super easy! Here is what you need: 4 cups fruit of your choice (we love raspberries, strawberries and even mixed berries) 1/2 cup water 2-3 Tablespoons sugar (this is 100% optional, when the fruit is sweet and in season I don't even add it) Measure out your berries or fruit and place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour your puree into a sauce pan and bring to a boil (to cook the fruit a little). Simmer for about 10 minutes (not … [Read more...]
Creative lunchbox ideas
Creative lunchbox ideas...yeah that's what I said! Are your kids picky eaters? When you send a bag/box lunch to school with them is half of it uneaten? I might have the cure for you and your picky eater. My quest to get my kids to eat more all of their lunches started with the growing list of things I COULDN'T pack in their lunches. The school they go to has all these "rules" about things that you can and cannot pack in their lunches, yet they offer no school lunch program. (Nothing that needs to be heated up, no peanut butter (or any nuts for that matter), under the age of 4 no carrots or celery (choking hazard), blah blah blah). I found myself, and my kids, were getting bored with the same old standby of a meat and cheese sandwich. So......I thought to myself "hmmm, what can I do to livin' up the lunches?" I did a little searching on the internet and found some great blogs and ideas of things to do to jazz up their lunches. I can say, it takes a bit more time (a few minutes) but it … [Read more...]
