Fishing in the kitchen??

My kids did this with Grandma last weekend while she was babysitting.... It was a hit... we had it for snack time today at home!!

Items Needed:
plate
Nutella (or peanut butter)
Pretzel sticks
Goldfish crackers (we used chocolate, vanilla, and graham flavored)

Spread the fish across the plate. Dab a little Nutella on the side. To fish, use your pretzel stick as your rod, dip it in the nutella and catch your fish and eat it. Be careful, sometimes those fish like to get away!

Fluffy Flip Flops!

These were fun, easy, cheap and turned out pretty cute!!
To make them, select some fabric (we got some from grandma's craft room!) and use scissors or pinking shears to cut 1x6 inch strips. (The number depends on the size of shoe... mine were about 28 per shoe, my 8 year olds were about 20 per shoe!)
Using single knots, tie the strips around the flip-flop straps, pushing the knots close together as you go. Keep adding pieces until your new slippers are done.
My girls just used scrap material and made them colorful and funky. I chose coordinating colors and did a pattern, or you could choose 1 fabric and make them all the same. The possiblities are endless! Have fun!!

Cinnamini buns

These were so easy, Kilee (age 10) made them by herself. Quick, easy and I usually have all the ingredients on hand.

Cinnamini Buns
2 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 C. Powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease a large baking sheet. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, mix well.
Unroll dough and seperate into 2 long rectangles; firmly press perforations to seal. Brush dough with melted butter; sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Roll up each rectangle lightly starting from long side; pinch edges to seal. Cut each roll into 12 (1 inch) slices. Place slices, cut sides up), about 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.
Bake about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Blend powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth; add additional milk, if necessary, to reach desired consistency. Drizzle glaze over cinnamon buns.
Makes 2 doz. mini cinnamon buns

Watermelon Sorbet

We usually make this each time we get a watermelon. It is good, refreshing, and fun!

1 C. water
1/2 C. sugar
4 C. watermelon chunks
1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into a 8" baking pan. Puree the watermelon in a blender, then put in with the sugar mixture. Stir in the lemon juice. Place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour. Stir; freeze for 45 minutes. Stir and then freeze through. To serve, thaw slightly, dish out and enjoy!

Take a Dip lunch

Easy, quick lunch. Use whatever you have on hand. Would be great to send to school for lunch too. We used bread, tomatoes, cucumber slices, and carrots.

1 oz. smoked turkey sausage
1 oz. mozzarella or provolone cheese
1 oz. italian or french bread
assorted dippers such as zucchini slices, carrot sticks, broccoli florets, grape or cherry tomatoes.
1/4 C. pizza sauce

Cut dippers into bite size pieces. (if sending for lunch put in a container with a lid or resealable bag.)
Put the pizza sauce into a small container.
Dip and enjoy.

Another Main Dish Success!

Finding Main dishes that my kids like are few and far between. Tonight, my pickiest, Emmie, (who doesn't like alfredo sauce), ate 2 helpings of this. Keeper!!

Pasta Alfredo
Pampered chef recipe

1 pkg. (16 oz.) Uncooked pasta
1 1/2 C. heavy cream
1 1/2 c. milk
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
3 Tbsp. flour
2 C. grated fresh parmesan cheese
salt and ground white pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and keep warm.
Combine cream and milk in saucepan. Heat over Medium heat until warm; do not boil. Remove from heat; set aside.
Melt butter and whisk in flour until smooth. Add to cream mixture all at once, whisking constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer over low heat 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened, whisking constantly.
Remove sauce from heat. Add parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; whisk until smooth. Toss with hot pasta and serve immediately.
* I sprinkled a little italian seasoning on mine too. YUM!!

Quick and Easy, and Yummy!!

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

3 lg. chicken breasts, sliced in half down the middle to make 6 pieces
6 Tbsp. chive and onion cream cheese
6 Tbsp. Margarine
6 pieces bacon, uncooked

Pound the chicken halves to tenderize and flatten, being careful not to tear. On top of each chicken breast, place a Tbsp. of cream cheese and a Tbsp. of margarine. Roll up each breast and wrap with a piece of bacon. Place bacon-chicken in baking dish. cover and cook for 30 minutes at 375. When juices run clear and chicken is done, uncover dish and turn oven to broil. Broil until bacon reaches desired crispness.
When serving pour the juices over the chicken if desired.