Recipes

Boots' Monkey Tail Shake

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Have your kids try this milkshake with a twist (and a tail!) based on a traditional Latin American recipe. With a base of ice cream and a tail of white chocolate chips, it's no wonder this delicious drink is one of Boots' favorite refreshments!

Ingredients

1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Pinch of cocoa powder
2 tsp. yellow sprinkles, tinted coconut, or yellow sugar
1 cup coffee ice cream (or favorite flavor)
1 cup evaporated milk, plus more if necessary
1/2 cup crushed ice
Pinch cloves
Boots' Monkey Tail Template
Cookie sheet
Small, plastic resealable bag
Wax paper
Blender
Boots' Monkey Tail Template
Cookie sheet
Small, plastic resealable bag
Wax paper
Blender

Directions

Step 1: Place the template on a cookie sheet and cover with wax paper.

Step 2: To make the tail, melt the chocolate chips in a medium microwavable bowl until smooth, about 25 to 30 seconds. Stir in a pinch of cocoa powder to tint to an off white. Spoon the mixture into a plastic bag.

Step 3: Snip a small corner from the bag and pipe the tail on the wax paper using the template as a guide. Sprinkle the top end with the yellow sprinkles. Make two tails. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until set, about 5 minutes.

Step 4: To make the shake, combine the ice cream, milk, and crushed ice in a blender. Process until smooth. Add more evaporated milk if necessary. Divide the mixture into two tall glasses. Carefully peel the tails from the wax paper and insert into the shake. Sprinkle the tops with some ground cloves.

Nutrition Info servings: 2
calories: 394
total fat: 18g
saturated fat: 11g
trans fat: 0g
cholesterol: 43mg
sodium: 195mg
total carbs: 50g
sugars: 43g
fiber: 2g
protein: 13g

Team Umizoomi Number Cookies

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:10:00 GMT

Kids will love counting these delightful number cookies.

Servings: 30
Prep Time: 1hr 30 min. plus drying
Cooking Time: 8 to 10 min. per batch

Ingredients:
1 roll (16.5 oz.) refrigerated sugar-cookie dough
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus flour for dusting the work surface
1 box (16 oz.) confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp. powdered egg whites (just whites)
6 tbsp. warm water, plus more for thinning
Assorted food coloring
Assorted sprinkles

Supplies: 2 cookie sheets
Rolling pin
Number cookie cutters or
number cookie template
Toothpicks
3 resealable 1-qt. plastic bags
Wire cooling rack
Parchment Paper

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Knead the sugar-cookie dough and the flour until smooth. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface to a scant 1/4-inch thickness.

Step 2:
Use 3-inch number cookie cutters or the number templates provided, and cut out as many shapes as possible. Transfer the shapes to the prepared cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Re-roll the scraps and repeat.

Step 3:
Bake until the cookies are just golden around the edges, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Step 4:
Make the frosting. Combine the confectioners' sugar, egg white powder, and water in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and thick. Divide the frosting into three separate bowls. Keep the three frosting bowls covered to prevent drying. Tint each frosting bowl a different color with the food coloring.

Step 5:
Spoon each color into a separate resealable freezer-weight 1 quart bag. Snip a very small corner, 1/8 inch, from the corner of the bag and pipe an outline of one third of the numbers. Repeat with the remaining colors on the other cookies. Tape the open corner of each bag of frosting. Open the bag and add a few drops of water to thin the frosting slightly. Seal the bag and massage the bag to blend well. Remove the tape and pipe some of the frosting onto the tops of the cookies with the same color outline. Make sure not to over fill or the frosting will drip over the edge. Use a toothpick to drag the frosting into small corners. While the frosting is still wet, add the sprinkles. Repeat with the remaining cookies, frosting and sprinkles.

Step 6:
Let cookies rest until the frosting is set, about 1 hour.

Hot Mulled Cider

treeadmin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Make this delicious hot apple-cinnamon drink to warm up cold tummies. Or, whip up a big batch and serve in a punch bowl at holiday gatherings.

Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
1 clove
1 tart apple, cored and sliced

Directions:

Step 1
Bring the cider, cinnamon sticks, and clove to a simmer over medium heat in a small sauce pot. Let the mixture simmer for about 3 minutes.

Step 2
Pour into mugs and add the sliced apples. Have your child carefully garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick.

Snowmen Cookies

treeadmin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Have a decorating party featuring snowmen (and women) cookies! Your little bakers will love using all the decorations--frosting, pretzel sticks, spice drops, and sprinkles.

Supplies:
1 roll (18 oz.) refrigerated sugar-cookie dough
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 bag (12 oz.) white-chocolate chips
2 tbsp. vegetable shortening
2 orange spice drops, cut into quarters
1 can (16 oz.) vanilla frosting
Red and blue paste food coloring
White and pink confetti sprinkles
8 small pretzel sticks
1 tube black decorating frosting

You’ll also need:
2 cookie sheets
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
2 plastic resealable bags

Kitchen Tip:
Make sure the frosting is at room temperature. This will make it much easier to work with.

Directions:

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2
Knead the cookie dough and the flour on a clean work surface until smooth. (Kids can help with this part.) Divide the dough in half and roll out one piece to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Help your kids learn about shapes by cutting out and assembling the different parts of the snowmen. Use round cookie cutters of three different sizes for the snowmen bodies (circles) and use scraps of dough to make the hats (squares and rectangles) and snowmen noses (triangles).

Step 3
Transfer the shapes to the sheet pans. Roll any scraps with the remaining dough and continue cutting out shapes until you have eight snowmen.

Step 4
Bake the cookies until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 5
Parents should heat the white-chocolate chips and the shortening in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until just melted. Remove from the heat, but leave the bowl over the pan to keep the chocolate fluid. Carefully dip the cookies to coat just the tops of the snowmen in white chocolate up to their hats. (This is a job for grownups.) Allow the excess chocolate to drip away over the bowl and return the cookies to the sheet pans.

Step 6
Kids can now add the piece of orange spice drop for the nose while the chocolate is still wet. Continue with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes.

Step 7
Tint half of the vanilla frosting pink and half of the frosting light blue with the paste food color. Spoon each color into a resealable bag.

Step 8
Snip a small corner from the pink-frosting bag and help kids pipe a hat and skirt on four of the cookies. Pipe several pink dots for buttons. Add a white confetti sprinkle to the skirt and hat. Use a dot of frosting to attach the pretzel sticks as arms.

Step 9
Snip a small corner from the blue-frosting bag and help kids pipe on a hat and a vest to the remaining cookies. Add the confetti sprinkles and pretzel sticks. Lastly, pipe the eyes and mouth with the black tube frosting. Let the cookies set for at least 1 hour.

Kitchen Tip
An alternative method for adding the white chocolate mixture to the snowmen is to apply it with a pastry brush.

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:21:00 GMT

Pumpkin carving is always a grand family event. Once the pumpkins are lit, gather the seeds and make a sweet treat or a savory snack--both are perfect for little hands!

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:
2 cups separated and dried pumpkin seeds (from your jack-o'-lantern)
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Kitchen Tip:
Choose sweet (sugar and cinnamon) or savory ingredients (cumin and salt), or try a sweet and salty mix
Directions:

Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2:
In a bowl, toss the seeds with the butter and either the savory or sweet seasonings.

Step 3:
Spread the seeds evenly in one layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring the seeds every few minutes.

Step 4:
Remove from the oven and cool completely. Taste the seeds and re-season if desired.

Mummy Halloween Cupcakes

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:15:00 GMT

These hilarious mummy cupcakes can liven up any Halloween gathering. Your little baker will use lady fingers, M&Ms and frosting to create the mummies for each cupcake.

Servings: 24
Prep Time: 70 min.
Cook Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:
1 box (18.25 oz.) favorite cake mix
1 can (16 oz.) chocolate frosting
1 cup ground chocolate cookies
24 three-inch soft lady fingers
1 cup vanilla frosting
1/4 cup mini M&M's
1 tube black decorating frosting
You’ll also need:
Tweezers (optional)

Kitchen Tip:
For easier spreading, make sure the icing is at room temperature before you use it.

Directions:
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide evenly between the prepared liners. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean; 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 2:
While parents spread the chocolate frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes, kids can crumble the chocolate cookies in a zip-close plastic bag. (Use a rolling pin to break them up fine.) Kids can help roll the frosted cupcakes in the ground crumbs to coat.

Step 3:
Place a lady finger on top of each cupcake. Spoon the vanilla frosting into a resealable bag and snip a small corner from the bag. Pipe a line across the top third of the lady finger. Add the mini candies as the eyes. Pipe slightly overlapping lines all over the lady finger. Pipe black dots on the candies as eyes. (Parents may want to do this part.) Continue with the remaining ingredients.

Kitchen Tip:
If you prefer, you can decorate all of mummies at the same time on a piece of wax paper. Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to place them gently on top of the cupcakes.

Green Monster Cupcakes

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:44:00 GMT

Don't let these goblins scare you. They are actually very tasty cupcakes decorated with different candies like licorice laces. Your little monsters will gobble them up!

Servings: 24
Prep Time: 1 hr. 15 min.
Cook Time: 22-25 min.

Ingredients:

1 box (18.25 oz.) favorite cake mix
2 cans (16 oz.) vanilla frosting
Green and yellow paste food coloring
24 chocolate-covered cookies
48 orange candy-coated chocolates
24 black candy-coated chocolates or jelly beans
1 tube black decorating frosting
Black licorice laces

Directions:
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide evenly between the prepared pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 2:
Tint the frosting a light green with the food coloring. Use a tiny dab of paste to start and add more if necessary. (Kids can help.) Spoon some of the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip.

Step 3:
Help kids place the chocolate cookies on top of the cupcakes. Starting at the base, pipe lines all around. Continue layering until completely covered. Let kids place the candies on top for the face. Pipe dots as the pupils with the black frosting. Add two 6-inch pieces of the black licorice as the legs.

Kitchen Tip:
To help the cookie stay in place, spread a thin layer of frosting on the bottom of the cookie before placing on the cupcake.

Jack-o'-Lantern Cupcakes

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:18:00 GMT

These Jack-o-lantern cupcakes are oh-so-delicious. They will be the highlight of any Halloween party even if a goblin or two decide to show up.

Servings: 24
Prep Time: 1 hr. 15 min.
Cook Time: 22-25 min.

Ingredients:

1 box (18.25 oz.) favorite cake mix
1 can (16 oz.) plus 1/2 cup vanilla frosting
Yellow and orange paste food coloring
1/2 cup dark chocolate frosting
You’ll also need:
Cupcake pans
24 cupcake liners

Kitchen tip:
Make sure that the frosting is at room temperature when you start to fill the icing bags. With this type of icing, you can fill the bags in advance of making the cupcakes to save time later. You and your child can practice your icing technique with a little frosting and a piece of cardboard or a cookie.

Directions:
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Kids can help prepare the cake mix according to the package directions and fill the cupcake liners. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean; 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 2:
Tint 1/2 cup of the frosting yellow and spoon into a resealable bag; set aside. Tint the remaining vanilla frosting orange. Frost the tops of the cupcakes with the orange frosting. Pipe the outline of the jack-o'-lantern faces with the chocolate frosting. (Parents may want to do this part.)

Step 3:
Heat the yellow frosting, in the bag, in the microwave for 2 to 3 seconds to soften slightly. Snip a small corner from the bag and fill in the outlines with the yellow frosting. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.

Easy Caramel Apples

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:46:00 GMT

Ooey and gooey, these caramel apples will make everyone at home happy that it's fall again. Just make sure the caramel candies make it into the bowl!

Servings: 5 Prep
Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

Butter or margarine for greasing

5 apples 1 pkg. (14 oz.)

caramel candies

1 tbsp. water

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
You’ll also need:

Cookie sheet Wax paper

Directions:
Step 1:
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, and grease with a dab of butter or margarine. Kids can help wash the apples in a colander and dry them with a kitchen towel. If they have stems, you may need to help remove them. Insert a craft stick into each apple.

Step 2:
Let kids unwrap the caramel candies and add them to a microwave-safe bowl. Help them measure out the water and add that to the candies.

Step 3:
Place in the microwave and heat on high for about 3 minutes. Stop the microwave and stir the caramels every minute or so. While you hold the bowl (be sure to use oven mitts--some bowls get very hot!), kids can help stir with a wooden spoon or a spatula. Continue heating the caramels until they are completely melted and smooth.

Step 4:
Carefully remove the caramels from the microwave. Please note that the caramel will be very hot, and the bowl may be hot, as well. Help kids dip the apples into the caramel and hold them over the bowl to let the excess caramel drip away. Dip once or twice to coat the apples. If you like, you can also dip them into the nuts. Set them on the buttered wax paper to cool.

Kitchen tip:
If you prefer, you can heat the caramel and water mixture in a medium pot on the stove over medium-low heat.

Kids in the Kitchen

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:47:00 GMT

Do you have a potential sous-chef or two in the kitchen? Why not let the kids create their own snacks? Below you'll find some fun and easy snacks you can make together.

Personalized Pita Bread Pizzas

Pick your favourite ingredients at the store. The basics: Sauce, cheese, veggies, meat. Let the kids spread their sauce on the pita bread and sprinkle on the cheese. Then, they can decorate their pizza with the ingredients however they like before they go in the oven. They'll love eating their creations!

Ants on a Log

For really little ones, this is a cute snack to make. Take finger-sized slices of celery and spread peanut butter or cream cheese in the middle. Now, together you can take raisins and place them on top: little ants marching on the log.

Smoothies

You can talk about the importance of cleaning fruit before using it. Start with smaller fruits that don’t need to be chopped so that your child can be completely involved. Blend with juice and yogurt and enjoy this sweet, healthy drink.

Doughy Treats

Teach your child a basic sweet dough or regular dough recipe then together you can roll them into long, twisty, pretzel treats. Top with cinnamon or herbs depending on your dough choice.

Kabobs

After showing your kids how to clean and prepare vegetables, get them to work sticking them on wooden skewers. You can use fruit for these as well. Then, cook them up on the BBQ to enjoy.

Tacos

Have fun creating tasty tacos by going through the step-by-step process with your kids. Soft-shell tortillas should have less fat than the crunchy shells.

Cookies

Whether you’re working with gingerbread, shortbread or another type of recipe, it’s always fun to decorate cookies with sprinkles and other treats.

Banana Boats

A little slice on your part down the middle of a banana (skin still on) and you can stuff away with chocolate chips, marshmallows and other goodies before wrapping them up in foil and baking them.

You can use your imagination to come up with new ideas. It's fun to play with your food! Think of your kids' creations as edible objets d'art. Take a look through your recipe books for more easy-to-make snacks for the kids to create and enjoy.

By Robyn Burnett

Article courtesy of:

Ask a Nutritionist: Kid's Snacks

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:40:00 GMT

Q: I have two small children (aged 3 and 1) and am looking for suggestions for purchased snacks - items that don't have to be refrigerated and can go in the diaper bag for those "emergencies." Any ideas?

It is a fun adventure satisfying the palates of children. Here are my favourites:

I love carrying some almond butter in a small jar, packing celery sticks and dried cranberries and combining them when you get to snack time into healthy celery boats. The almonds are safer than peanut butter and loaded with immune boosting plant sterols. It is great to give kids a rest from refined foods at snack times due to all the concern over Trans-fats and wheat intolerance. Check that the Goldfish do not have trans-fats.
I make great high protein rice crispie squares that are full of kid friendly ingredients that would provide them with a balanced delicious snack on the run. Check it out on this site by clicking on recipes at The Right Fit page.
I love the unsweetened berry and peach apple sauces available in most stores.
Sesame snaps are great because there are high in plant sterols that keep their immune system high year-round. Look for the ones made with molasses which are healthier than sugar and packed with extra minerals like iron.
Unsweetened fruit leather, Jennie's sugar-free macaroons, carob bars(carob is a great substitute for chocolate as it has no caffeine and is high in minerals), dried apricots are high in iron and are tasty with a piece of cheese if they can tolerate dairy.

I would suggest a trip to your local health food store or the health food isle of your local grocer. They will have lots of healthy bars and cookies and mixes that are sure to keep them both healthy and satisfied!

Article courtesy of:

Shake it up Chocolate Pudding!

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:45:00 GMT

Get your kids involved in making their own serving of a favourite snack. This chocolate pudding is fun and easy to make, let your kids jump around and they’ll love watching it change right before their eyes.

What you’ll need:

empty baby food jars
milk
instant chocolate pudding

What to do:
Fill the baby food jar ¾ full with milk.
Add a teaspoon of instant chocolate pudding.
Get your child to shake the pudding jar.
When they’re all tired out you can sit down and enjoy!

Ice Cream Creatures

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:41:00 GMT

Need to a cool treat to beat the heat? Have fun creating an ice cream creature!

What you’ll need:
small brownie ie. Two bite brownies
ice cream
m&m’s
peanuts
raisins
tringy licorice, cut in 1-3 inch lengths
chocolate sauce
spinkles

What to do:
Cut the brownie in half for feet.
Place a scoop of ice cream over the two brownie halves.
Add m&m’s for eyes.
Use chocolate sauce, peanuts, raisins, sprinkles, or licorice as hair.

Butterfly Bites

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:36:00 GMT

Have fun playing with your food! Your kids will love making these cute butterfly snacks flutter around before they land in their mouth.

What you’ll need:

celery, cut 2-3 inches long
twist pretzels
stick pretzels
peanut butter or cream cheese

What to do:
Spread the peanut butter in the celery.
Stick 2 twist pretzels in the peanut butter to make the wings.
Add 2 stick pretzels as antennae.

Yogurt Berry Granola Cups

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Make a colourful healthy snack. Kids will enjoy seeing and eating the different colours and layers of their creations!

What you’ll need:

clear cup
different flavours of yogurt: strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, etc.
granola cereal -berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries

What to do:
Give each child their own clear cup, so they can see the different layers.
Let your child alternate layers of berries and granola with a dollop of yogurt to separate them. Then enjoy!