Spring Trash Candy- An extra sweet and salty treat!

Today is the first day of spring and my kids wanted to make a spring treat. We LOVE the Classic White Trash Candy that I shared with you seven years ago, so we decided to add our own spin to it to make it more spring-like. My kids came up with this recipe- Spring Trash Candy.

We used pastel-colored M&Ms, pastel-colored spring sprinkles, and substituted the corn chex cereal with Fruit Loops, which makes the classic sweet and salty candy treat EXTRA sweet.

Spring Trash Candy

1 c. pastel colored M&Ms

1 1/2 c. Fruit Loops cereal

2 c. pretzel sticks

1 c. cocktail peanuts

1 oz. pastel-colored/spring sprinkles

14 oz. vanilla almond bark

Mix the first five ingredients together in a large bowl. Melt the vanilla almond bark in the microwave, and pour it over the mixed ingredients. Mix well without breaking the cereal and pretzels and spread it thin on wax paper. Let it cool off and harden then break into chunks and place in cute containers. This makes great Easter gifts for teachers, neighbors, family, and friends.

Enjoy this super simple but highly addicting treat,

Click here for the Classic White Trash Candy Recipe.

Spring Inspired Snacks for Kids

Hello spring! Our family has been waiting for you to arrive. We are ready to jump in our pool and hit the nearby beaches. 

This week my boys, Colton and Coen, shared some springtime snack ideas for kids on FOX 4's Mom Squad. The first treat they shared was this Classic Dirt Cake Recipe that makes kids grin from ear to ear.

Watch the segment Spring Inspired Snacks to learn how to make dirt cake that kids (and adults) go crazy over. It is always a hit no matter where we bring it!

For the entire recipe, click HERE.

We also shared a cute craft idea that you can use to add some SPRING BLING to your child's everyday snacks.

On Spring Inspired Snacks, my kids demonstrate how to decorate a clothespin with markers, paint, or glitter and then hot glue googly eyes and pipe cleaners for the antennae. Next, fill a snack baggie with your favorite snack, such as: goldfish, trail mix, cereal, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, or carrots. Pinch the baggie in half and clip it with a clothespin. So simple and cute!

Kids will love opening up the fridge or their lunchboxes and grabbing one of these adorable butterfly snacks.

Enjoy these springtime snacks!

You may also like my post- The cutest spring & Easter treats Click HERE for more FUN recipes for your family and scroll down.

Click HERE for more Mom Squad segments and scroll down.

Summer sand dessert is a huge hit!

I have been enjoying this summer with my kids. We've been on several vacations, spent lazy days reading, and had lots of cooling off in the pool. I recently made a dessert for the neighborhood kids and they went crazy over it. I think it was all due to the presentation, even though the recipe does rock. The kids loved the idea of serving the "summer sand" in a pail and scooping it out with a shovel. It really does look like sand!
I made my kid's favorite banana pudding, which is a combination of my sister's recipe and Paula Dean's famous recipe. My second son has been hooked on banana pudding since he was one year old, so I have tried many different variations over the years and we finally have the one recipe that will stick around.
Banana Pudding A.K.A. Summer Sand

2 large instant French vanilla pudding

3 c. milk

Beat 2 min.

Add 1 c. sour cream

8 oz. cool whip

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Beat until mixture is thick.

Layer pudding with four sliced bananas. Crumble vanilla wafers on top. (We have also used Pepperidge Farm's Chessmen Cookies or Golden Oreos for the top.) Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Summer Sand can be made with a Dirt Cake/Dessert recipe for those of you who may not like bananas. Just use vanilla pudding in lieu of the chocolate pudding if you choose to make it this way. If you'd like your sand to look more realistic, add a couple of crushed Oreos to the vanilla wafers and mix altogether.

For the next pool party or party with a beach theme that I host, I plan on getting these adorable mini-buckets for individual servings. The kids could even take these home as a party favor.

OR I could use clear cups with those cute cocktail umbrellas on top for adults. The options are endless! I wish my summer days were, too. {sigh}

UPDATE:

My sister made this adorable Olaf cake using the summer sand concept.  Some tips she had was to add blue food coloring to make the pudding look like an ocean and to divide up the cookie and pudding part. Totally cute!

Have FUN with creating your own summer sand,

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake- so refreshing and tasty!

Summer is officially here! The only way I like being outside in the afternoon in SWFL is if I am in the pool or cooling off with a refreshing treat. 

Today Coen and I made a tasty treat that you are sure to love on Fox 4's Mom Squad- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake! My mouth is watering as I type this because it is SO incredibly delicious. My kids prefer making our own ice cream cake over the store bought kind, and they even request it for their birthday cakes. In fact, I have one sitting in the freezer for Colby's fourth birthday party this weekend.

Make sure to check out in this video all the different ways you can make this summer treat- cookies and cream, mocha, mint chocolate chip, and Reese's peanut butter are a few to get started with.
HERE are the step-by-step directions to make this yummy treat.
Click HERE for more Mom Squad segments (or you can click HERE and keep scrolling down.)
Enjoy keeping cool!

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Don't miss out on these recipes!

A few years ago I wanted to make potato soup with my kids for St. Patrick's Day. I found a few great crockpot recipes and then tweaked them into one delicious recipe that I knew my family would enjoy. I thought we'd make it together to celebrate the holiday and then I'd file away the recipe to possibly use again on a future St. Patrick's Day. But this is what happened.....
The potato soup was SOOOO incredibly tasty that my kids said they couldn't wait a year to eat it again. So I added it to our family recipe book, and it became one of our favorite meals that we make often. A few years ago, I wrote about the potato soup on this site in case others wanted to make it for an Irish treat with their kids, too. Then along came Pinterest.....
Someone randomly pinned that recipe about a year ago and suddenly I had more people visiting my blog for this one recipe than any other of my posts. Sometimes thousands a day- for over a year! I find it quite comical that a recipe post attracts more readers than my 400+ teaching tips posts (esp. since this is not a cooking blog but a teaching tips blog). But hey, kids are reading recipes, following step-by-step directions, and practicing math skills (measurements and fractions) as well as learning the very important life skill of cooking so it's all good. :) When Fox contacted me to film a St. Patrick's Day segment on the Mom Squad, I knew exactly what to share. So here it is..... The Best Crockpot Potato Soup Ever! and Lucky Lime (a St. Patrick's drink for kids) {CLICK HERE} if you'd like to see this recipe. I will forewarn you that you'll be making this a lot once your family tries it so remember I told you so. Enjoy!

For more recipes-

{CLICK HERE} and then scroll down to see all posts.

For more St. Patrick's Day activities-

{CLICK HERE} and then scroll down to see all posts.

President's Day Activities Kids Enjoy

President's Day is quickly approaching so here are some ways you can make it meaningful and FUN!

My kids like to write a letter to the president using these recommendations. They were thrilled to receive this packet back.

Notice there were interesting facts about the history of the White House, including a colorful map, and lots of other goodies, even a photo of the president's dog. The kids loved reading everything. Shhh! Don't tell them that they were learning during their letter writing assignment and while reading all the great information that was sent to them. They were having too much fun. :)

I am using some of the terrific free printables from Education.com to make "fun learning packets" on President's Day.

My incredible friend Shannon at Technology Rocks Seriously has seriously done it again! She created another site with her top picks of President's Day sites, games, videos, printables, and apps. President's Day Fun is a BIG time-saver for me trying to find the best resources on-line, and I'm at peace knowing a mom/teacher has already reviewed the sites to see which ones are kid-friendly. My kids will be having some fun on this new site learning about the presidents.

I'm excited to share one of my family's favorite desserts with you, which is perfect for President's Day since it has lots of cherries. (See George's Washington's story about the cherry tree. I don't know if that legend is true or not, but I like to celebrate honesty anytime I can.)

This dessert is called "Dump Cake" since all you do is dump ingredients and spread them out into layers. There is no mixing involved. My kids make this all by themselves since it is incredibly easy. It takes likes a cobbler-cake combination and makes a delicious warm dessert. Side note: this is one of the top requested desserts that people like me to bring to get-togethers, and we also make it every year on Christmas. Yes, it's that good!

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake

1 (20 ounces) can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 (21 ounces) can cherry pie filling

1 (18.25 ounces) box yellow cake mix

1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter or margarine, each cut into 12 slices

4 oz. shredded coconut

Use a standard baking pan. Remember there is no mixing in this recipe. You will only be making layers. First, spread pineapple (undrained) on the bottom. Second, spoon out and spread the cherry pie filling. Third, carefully sprinkle the cake mix. (I only use about 3/4 of the box.) Next, place the butter slices over the top. Last, sprinkle coconut on the top. (I use about 4 oz. but you can add more if your family likes coconut a lot.) I have also seen people add nuts to the top, too. Bake for 350 uncovered for about 45-50 minutes. Remove when the top looks light brown. Serve with ice ream and whipped cream. Be prepared to make it again and again after your family takes a bite!

Enjoy celebrating our country's history!

FUN & Yummy St. Patrick's Day Recipes for Kids

SHAMROCK SHAKE

Blend one banana, two cups of lime sherbet, and two cups of milk.

LEPRECHAUN PUDDINGS

Make pistachio pudding OR add green food coloring to vanilla pudding.

WATERGATE SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O pistachio flavor instant pudding (or vanilla instant pudding and add 5 drops of green food coloring)

1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice (not drained)

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 cups thawed Cool Whip Topping

DIRECTIONS:

Stir the pudding mix, pineapple with juice, marshmallows, and nuts in large bowl until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.

RAINBOW CAKE

photo from Family Fun Magazine

Make a sheet cake and decorate with white icing, jelly beans, and mini-marshmallows. 

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

Add food coloring to scrambled eggs after reading the classic Dr. Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham.

RAINBOW COOKIES

photo from LiveJournal

{CLICK HERE}to learn how to make Rainbow Cookies on a different post.

OVER THE RAINBOW CUPCAKES

These adorable cupcakes were made by the Fickle Pickle.

My kids made these this year and they were fun! But the Rolos we bought were not individually wrapped so we used gold coins instead.

LUCKY LIME SODA

My kids and I just made "Yoda Soda" today, which is also called "Lucky Lime Soda" too! It is with Sprite and sherbet ice cream- so sweet!

SOMETHING FOR THE BIG KIDS, TOO!

And for all you big kids out there (aka adults), {CLICK HERE} for an amazing recipe for the best potato soup ever! Everyone in your family will enjoy this recipe.

You can add your favorite St. Patrick's Day recipe by commenting below. 

Enjoy these yummy treats!

 For more St. Patrick's Day activities, click HERE and then SCROLL DOWN to see all the posts.

EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP

I originally wrote about this delicious recipe several years ago and have republished it a few times since then to share as a fun St. Patrick's Day recipe, but I never expected it to become such a popular post even though the recipe is out of this world. Below is a Mom Squad segment on Fox that I recently filmed on how to make the Best Crockpot Potato Soup Ever!

I like to make potato soup for my family on St. Patrick's Day, and I can't wait to share a recipe with you that I have used for the past few years. If you haven't read any of my other recipe posts, I have to let you know that I LOVE recipes that are easy and delicious and this one is both! Many people say it's better than Outback's potato soup and my family agrees. It's really mouth-watering so get ready to go shopping for the ingredients ASAP!

EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP

1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns

1 can of cream of chicken soup

48 oz. of chicken broth (use less for thicker soup)
Dash of pepper
1 pkg. cream cheese (add last hour of cooking)
optional- 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, sauteed onions and mushrooms

Toppings:
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
green onions
bacon bits
chives
diced tomato
chili
broccoli
salsa
diced chicken
diced ham

 

In a crockpot, combine everything except for the cream cheese. Add any extra ingredients you may like in your soup, such as sauteed onions, mushrooms, and shredded cheddar cheese. My family likes our potato soup extra cheesy so I add it to the soup while cooking.

Cook for 6-8 hours on low to medium heat until most of the shredded potatoes are dissolved.  Some people prefer some shredded potatoes for extra texture but my family likes most of them dissolved to make the soup thicker. Add cream cheese about an hour before serving and keep heated until thoroughly melted.

Tips:

• Avoid using fat-free and generic cream cheese when making soups because it tends to leave small clumps in the soup. Go with the name brands.
• Even though this soup is great served with bread, especially French bread, my kids really like eating it with tortilla chips. They scoop it up with the chips, which makes it an even bigger hit with them!
• You can cook this on your stove top for about 2 hours if you do not have time to use a crockpot. Just be careful not to burn the bottom of the soup.
• My family treats our potato soup like a baked potato so we love to load it up with toppings. I actually set up a toppings bar and they can choose what they like. This is also a unique recipe to make for guests since people have fun adding their own toppings.

Enjoy!

 For more St. Patrick's Day activities, click HERE and then SCROLL DOWN to see all the posts.

Homemade Magic Shell

Since chocolate and Valentine's Day go hand-in-hand, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for a Valentine's Day treat! This is so yummy. My family loves it!

(1) Melt 1/2 cup coconut oil over low heat.

(2) Stir in 12 oz. of chocolate morsels (or 1 1/2 cups) until completely melted.

(3) Allow to cool to room temperature.

Pour over your favorite ice cream and enjoy!

{Since this Magic Shell recipe was such a hit with my family, I bottled some up to give as gifts for the holidays.}

Ringing in the New Year- Chinese Style!

Here are some FUN ways to ring in the new year Chinese style!

Below are kid-friendly recipes that my family has used to celebrate Chinese New Year. They are REALLY yummy!

Chinese New Year Treats

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate morsels (16 oz.)
1 bag butterscotch morsels (16 oz.)
1 jar or can of salted peanuts
2 large bags of chow mein noodles

(1) Pour all morsels into a microwave-safe bowl and melt.
(2) Add peanuts and noodles into a large bowl. Stir in chocolate until peanuts and noodles are coated.
(3) Drop by teaspoons onto sheets of aluminum foil.
(4) Let them sit a few minutes to harden.

This recipe is enough for approximately 25 children. You can divide the recipe for a family. These are super yummy!


Chinese history is filled with dragons, which is why the dragon is a popular symbol for Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck. So why not make some Good Fortune Dragon Tea?

Good Fortune Dragon Tea

7 cups water
2 tsps. lemon flavored instant tea mix
1 can frozen lemonade
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups apple juice
1 cup orange juice

Heat water and tea. Cool. Add all other ingredients. Chill and serve. Since red is a symbol of luck, this red fruity tea has much good luck for the new year.

My family eats Chinese food with chopsticks for dinner with dragon tea and the Chinese treats and fortune cookies for dessert. I also pass out small red envelopes filled with quarters. My little ones make dragons and Chinese lanterns to decorate, and we play Chinese Checkers together.

This family celebration can lead to many lessons with your children, such as showing younger children where China is located on a map or globe and having older children write a paragraph about the Yin Yang symbol. We make designs with tangrams for math activities. I also like to read my kids the book, The Empty Pot by Demi, which is a beautiful story about always being honest.

My boys are completely hooked on the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne so they enjoyed reading these dragon books-

Dragon of the Red Dawn

 

  Day Of The Dragon-King

If you only get one book on dragons to read with your child for Chinese New Year, this is the one. Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs is based on creation science and teaches fascinating facts and history while exploring the links between dinosaurs and dragons. It had vivid illustrations and interactive pages. Hands-down the best dragon book I've read!

Here is a cute writing activity called "fortune sticks" from Ana at www.Ingles360.blogspot.com. Click on the image to learn about this fun activity. I can't wait to try it out this year!

 Gung Hay Fat Choy!