Summer Rain Day Activity - Cupcake Decorating

Our luck has it, that the first day of summer vacation it rained :-(  Now how to keep my boys happy yet pull them away from that dreaded wii (I despise that thing, for a number of reason, but when the weather is bad, and my boys are on my back, I sometimes go against my better judgement.)
I suggested cupcake decorating and got a great big sound of approval, and so it was.  I quickly whipped up a small batch of buttercream and took out some cupcakes from the freezer, and an activity was born.
My boys had a fun time, especially when I took out some fondant for them to work with.
My middle child, the non-vegetable eater, ironically, made a vegetable garden.  (and proudly announced that he will eat his vegetables)  My oldest, a boy after all, made the Montreal Canadians logo (Go, HABS, Go!)  My youngest made a fruit patch.
Was so much fun and a great way to spend some quality time away from electronics.  (although they finished only to run back to their video game)

playing with fondant

Thank G-d, after the not such great beginning, we've gotten much better weather for the first few days of this week.  Monday,we went to the waterpark at Kent Park with my sister-in-law and her son, if you're a Montrealer, or someone traveling here during the hot summer months, it's definitely worth checking it out with the kids. 

Tuesday, my kids played outside with neighbors, before heading to he park for a game of soccer.  My middle boy, was enrolled in an organized soccer game with a coach once a week.  This week was the last scheduled game, however, probably because it was one of those days between school and camp so everyone was off schedule, the coach and my son were the only shows.  Oh well!  The coach started some drills with my sons, but then gave up and went home when no one else came along.  

My boys still had a great time playing soccer, tennis and baseball.

The weather didn't keep up for Wednesday and today, but at least the boys have started camp so there is something for them to keep busy with for those 6 hours each day.



Enjoy your summer,

Chanie

Kids In The Kitchen #3 - Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

Now what is a better food combo then chocolate and nuts.  Think of Dellinut, chocolate covered peanuts, Reese's cereal, and of course chocolate peanut butter cups.  Today, my kids and I fiddled in the kitchen to make our own peanut butter treats.  We created a delicious melt in your mouth treat.  These confections have a bit of a crunch, thanks to the rice crispies added to the peanut mixture.

Because the trans-fat free margarine doesn't tend to harden up as much as regular margarine, it's best to serve these straight from the fridge.

This is a recipe easy enough for the children to do on their own.  Turn on the flame for them and take this chance to teach them about safety near the stove. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Prepare a 9"x13" pan by placing parchment or wax paper on bottom.
First Layer

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup J&J trans-fat margarine
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 1/2 cup rice crispies

Second Layer

• 1/4 cup trans-fat margarine
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup icing sugar

Melt peanut butter and margarine on top of double boiler.  Add icing sugar and mix till fully combined.  Stir in Rice Crispies.  Pour into prepared pan and allow to firm (can place in fridge to speed up the process)
Melt margarine and peanut butter on top of double boiler.  Remove from flame and immediately stir in chocolate chips till completely melted.  Add icing sugar, and mix.  Pour over layer 1 and place in fridge till firm.
Use cookie cutters to cut shapes or a knife for bars.  Store in fridge.

Have fun,

Chanie

Kids In The Kitchen #2 - Snow Ice Cream

-10ºC doesn't  seem so cold anymore, after the weather we had over the weekend.  I'm practically searching for my flip-flops and beachwear. With the warmer weather, comes the snow (anyone who lives in a cold climate, knows that if its snowing, then it's not bitter outside.  In fact, if its really sunny outside, when you cant look at anything outside without squinting because of the way the sun reflects off the snow, you know that its a frigid day)  We haven't had a lot of snow, nowhere near you poor New Yorkers, who are once again being hit with a storm (what number storm are you up to anyways?), but we has been a steady flurry all day.  Early in the morning I put a wide rimmed bowl, out on the back porch to collect the fresh snow as it falls.  Today we are making Snow Ice Cream!  This is the perfect snow day activity for the kids, and has delicious results.   Just make sure to catch fresh snow, as it's not an appetising thought to eat that greying snow that fell 2 days ago.  Today we made 2 flavors, vanilla and mint (my 8 year old's favorite flavor of ice cream).  The vanilla version I've made with my kids for the past few winters, I think I found it on the internet years ago.  The mint version was done with my boys creativity.  My boys gave a thumb up for the ice cream, but do eat it fast, as you can see from the picture, it starts melting really quick.
So, to our New York friends, make the best on the snow... make some snow angels and of course some snow ice cream.

Vanilla Snow Ice Cream

• 4 - 5 cups of fresh, clean snow - don't pack it in, keep it loose.
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cups sugar

Mix together the milk, vanilla, and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Slowly add the snow to your mixture, stirring constantly, until it is as thick as ice cream.  You might need more snow then written above, just add one cup at a time till mixture thickens.

Mint Snow Ice Cream

• 4 - 5 cups of fresh, clean snow - don't pack it in, keep it loose.
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon mint
• 1/2 cups sugar
• drop of green coloring

Mix together the milk, flavor, sugar and coloring. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Slowly add the snow to your mixture, stirring constantly, until it is as thick as ice cream. You might need more snow then written above, just add one cup at a time till mixture thickens.

Collecting snow on the back porch.

Adding the ingredients.

Prepared ice cream (the greener real life)

Yum! (started to melt quickly)

Enjoy the weather,

Chanie

Kids In The Kitchen #1 - Kids Can Help Too!

The kitchen is the family hub in my house.  Since I spend so much time there, my kids tend to find their way in there to hang out as well.  Often I find my self tripping over toys one of my boys left behind. (I know, why do I even bother reserving a specific room for toys?)  The kitchen also became the homework room, and also the 'Mommy! I'm bored!" room.  Since it's inevitable that they will end up there, might as well take the opportunity to get them helping out.   Here are a list of ideas that your kids can get you
kids involved.  Feel free to add more ideas in a comment below.

• Set the table. Putting out placemats or tablecloth is easy even for a preschooler.  You can have you older kids set out the glass cups.
• Preparing the vegetables.  My younger boys like to stand on a chair or step stool and scrub the vegetables.  My 8 year old can peel and even chop the vegetables.
• Getting ingredients.  My boys often get the spices and other ingredients from the pantry as needed. They can help put it away after as well.
• Mixing.  Kids love to stir the ingredients.  You can put the bowl on the table or have them pull a chair up to the counter.
• Counting. Was that the second cup of flour, or the third?  Let your kids help you keep track.
• Serving.  Let your kids dish out the food onto each plate and serve it at the table.

You can also take the opportunity to teach your kids about safety in the kitchen.  I will, G-D willing, be writing a post soon about how to teach your children about kitchen safety.

 Most of all, remember to enjoy your time with the kids,

Chanie