Here are 10 activities you can do with your children during their winter break:

1. Visit a local light display, many zoos and some parks and landmarks have light displays you can visit this time of year. Kid’s have a blast checking out all the twinkling and blinking lights and scenery.
2. Get outside and enjoy the season! Yes it’s a little cold outside, but if you wear the proper clothes you can get outside for some winter fun. Go sledding or build a snowman with the kids if you have snow on the ground. Take a winter hike, or play some outdoor games with your kids. The outside air will energize you. Then head in for a cup of hot chocolate, and warming up when you’re done.
3. Do some holiday baking with the kids, make a gingerbread house, or decorate some Christmas cookies to give to friends and family.
4. Invite some some friends over to make gift baskets and go caroling while you’re dropping off the baskets to people who are shut-in or less fortunate than you this holiday season. Spread some holiday cheer!
5. Help the kids make a new handmade ornament for a gift or for the Christmas tree.

Looking for something to do that doesn’t cost any money? Check out this list of Free Fun Winter Activities.

Image sxc.hu

Post from: Play Library

I had a wonderful phone conversation with Kim, and she shared several great ideas for making holiday snacks fun, festive, and healthy all at the same time.

Kim says one fun thing you can do is break out the holiday cookie cutters. They’re not just for cookies. Here are a few healthy kid’s snacking ideas you can make more fun with a simple cookie cutter or two.

• Use them to cut your sandwiches into shapes.
• Cut shapes from whole grain tortillas, brush them with olive oil then bake them in the oven at 350` for 5-7 minutes, or until they turn crispy to make your own healthier homemade tortilla chips.
• You can also use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of low fat cheese, lean cold cuts, or even melons that have been sliced thin.

Kim says cookie cutters can make anything into a fun and festive snack for kids. She also added that you should always involve your children in planning and preparing their meals and snacks. It will help them learn about preparing and eating healthy meals at a young age. Here are a few tips Kim shared to get your children involved in meal preparation:

• Have them wash the produce.
• Let them use the cookie cutters
• Kids love to measure and mix
• Setting the table is a wonderful job for children.
• Let your children help you shop, let them choose some of the fruits and vegetables, or pick a low fat salad dressing.

I want to thank Kim for taking the time to share some of these great tips with Play Library readers.

Image: istockphoto.com

Post from: Play Library

Each can comes with four tips, a star tip, a leaf tip, a round tip and a tip that’s flat on one side (for ribbons, flat lines, etc) with the other side  perfect for basket weave.

I used the green with the star tip to make the wreaths, then used the red with the round tip to make the red ornaments on the wreaths. After the icing dried for about an hour I used my finger to pat down the peaks on the ornaments and to give them a round appearance.

The cans do take a little time to get used to, deciding on the right amount of pressure can be a little tricky at first.

Overall the icing was fun and easy (definitely convenient), it’s great for easy decorating projects, and for decorating cupcakes with kids. If you’re doing more complex projects, I would still suggest making your own icing. If you make your own you can control the consistency for flowers and other complex cupcake decorating.

My son had a blast using the round tip to make string monsters. These decorator icings would be fun for a kids cupcake decorating party, or even letting the kids loose to decorate some cupcakes on a Saturday afternoon.

There are six varieties of Betty Crocker Decorating Cupcake Icing available, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Sunset Orange, Petal Pink, Cloud White, and Buttercup Yellow. The Ivy Green and Rose Red are available through the holiday season at Walmart, the other colors are available at major retailers nationwide for about $4 each.

Each cupcake Betty Crocker Decorating Cupcake Icing will decorate about 1 dozen cupcakes. Since the icing doesn’t have to be refrigerated it might be worth keeping a can on hand for last minute decorating  jobs.

Image L Gerlach

Post from: Play Library

When I got to looking around there are several fun variations on the turkey treat, several use candy corn, many use Oreo cookies. I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorite Thanksgiving turkey treat ideas, cupcakes and cookies just for the kids.

1. Thanksgiving turkey Rice Krispy treats
2. Turkey Pops
3. Oreo Cookie Turkeys
4. Turkey Cookie Treats
5. Pretzel Tailed Turkey Treats
6. Hand Print Cookie Turkeys
7. Turkey Cupcakes for Kids to make
8. Sweet Turkey Treats
9. Turkey Rice Krispy Treat Handprint
10. Fudge Stripe Cookie Turkeys

I love all of these fun Thanksgiving treats, I wish I had time to make them all! If you give any of them a try, stop back and let me know how it goes.

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: Play Library

“How To Build a Gingerbread House” is a great guide to help you along the way. The book contains step-by-step instructions, easy recipes and over 200 color photographs to help you complete your gingerbread house project from start to finish.

The best part is, all you need to get started are everyday grocery store ingredients and basic kitchen equipment. The author, Christina Banner, was winner of the National Gingerbread House Competition and Food Network’s Gingerbread Challenge, so she knows her gingerbread!

You can find more information about gingerbread house building and her book at Christina’s website GingerbreadBuilding.com. She also has a recipe for a tree and greenery recipe for your gingerbread house, and gingerbread house making tips.

Post from: Play Library

Today I have a great recipe for you to use for your party, and some cookie decorating party tips to share from the author of a new cooking with kids book Cindy Mushet. Her new book is called Baking Kids Love.

Send out the invitations a couple weeks ahead of time, letting the children and their parents know what to expect. You can make the dough ahead of time and have it ready for the party.

Don’t forget to pick up some cute little decorative boxes or tins to let the kids carry their cookies home in (if there are any left).

First up I have a great sugar cookie recipe for your cookie decorating party.

Be Creative Sugar Cookies
—From Baking Kids Love by Sur La Table with Cindy Mushet/Andrews McMeel Publishing

Makes 25 to 30 Fun Shapes

Ingredients
Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup meringue powder
• ½ cup water
• Food coloring, in various colors to decorate
• Sprinkles, sugar pearls, large crystal sugar, dragées, and/or candies

Cookie Making Tools:

• Measuring cups and spoons
• 2 baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• 2 large, 2 medium, and 2 to 4 small bowls
• Electric mixer
• Silicone spatula
• Whisk
• Plastic wrap
• Rolling pin
• 3-inch cookie cutters
• Oven mitts
• Cooling rack
• Sieve
• 1 or more small offset spatulas or small spoons
• Small disposable piping bags or other piping tools (optional)

Before you begin

• Position 1 oven rack in the top ¹⁄³ of the oven and 1 oven rack in the bottom ¹⁄³ of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the baking sheets with the parchment paper (see page 4).

Mix the dough

• Put the butter and sugar in 1 of the large bowls. Using the mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Turn up the speed to medium and beat for another minute. The mixture should be blended and smooth. Turn off the mixer. Using the silicone spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium-low speed until well blended. Turn off the mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Put the flour and salt into 1 of the medium bowls and whisk until blended. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat on low speed just until the ingredients are blended and no patches of flour are visible. The mixture will have the texture of gravel and pebbles. Scrape down the bowl one last time, and make sure no clumps of flour are hiding in the bottom. Dump the clumps of dough onto your work surface, and squeeze them together until they form a cohesive dough. Flatten the dough into a 9-inch circle, wrap in plastic or parchment, and chill for 30 minutes before continuing.

Roll the dough

• Place a large sheet of parchment paper on your work surface, about the size of a baking sheet. Have a second parchment sheet the same size ready. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it in the center of the first parchment sheet. Top with the second parchment sheet, and flatten the dough slightly. Using the rolling pin, and starting from the edge closest to you, roll gently but firmly to the edge opposite you and then back again twice. Be careful not to roll the pin off the edge of the dough, or the dough will stick to the paper. Turn the dough, between the parchment paper, a quarter turn and roll up and back again twice. Repeat rolling up and back and turning until the dough is ¼ inch thick.
• If the paper creases into the dough, gently peel back the paper, straighten it out, and smooth it back on top of the dough. You’ll need to do this several times during the rolling process. If the dough gets too soft and squishy while you are rolling, transfer it to a baking sheet (still between the parchment paper) and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes, until cool but flexible.

Cut out the shapes

• Peel off the top sheet of parchment. If the dough is soft and sticky, refrigerate for 15 minutes. Using the cookie cutters, press down firmly to cut out shapes (see photos). Cut them as close together as possible. Using a small offset spatula, lift the shapes off the parchment paper and transfer to the prepared pans, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Press all the dough scraps together, roll the dough out, and cut out more shapes.

Bake the cookies

• Place 1 baking sheet on each oven rack. Bake for 8 minutes, then, using the oven mitts, switch the pans between the oven racks. Bake for another 5 to 9 minutes, until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and lightly golden in the center. Using the oven mitts, transfer the pans to the cooling racks and let the cookies cool completely before decorating. You may need to reuse the pans to finish baking all the cookies. Let the pans cool before you put more dough on them for baking.

Make the icing

• Sift the powdered sugar into the other medium bowl (see page 11). Put the meringue powder and water in the other large bowl. Make sure the bowl and your mixer beaters are very clean so the icing will whip up nicely. Beat the meringue on medium speed for about 1 minute, then turn the mixer to high and continue to whip until the mixture looks like whipped cream and has formed soft peaks (see page 17).
• With the mixer on medium speed, add the sifted sugar, about ¼ cup at a time, shaking it gently over the bowl and letting it blend in slowly. Once all the sugar has been added, turn the mixer to high speed and continue to beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture is very fluffy and shiny and forms firm peaks. Turn off the mixer and check the peaks again. At this point, the slope should be nearly vertical.
• Divide the icing among the small bowls—the number depends on how many different colors of icing you want. Color each bowl of icing a different color by stirring in a few drops of food coloring. You can even make you own “custom” colors by combining food colorings. Cover each bowl with a damp, wrung-out paper towel and top with a piece of plastic wrap until you are ready to decorate, or a hard skin will form on top.

Decorate the cookies

• Using the small offset spatula, spread the icing over the cookies, wiping the spatula clean each time you switch to a different colored icing. You can also pipe icing: Spoon some icing into a small disposable piping bag, cut a tiny hole in the bottom, and squeeze the bag gently to create patterns and shapes on your cookies. Or fill another icing tool, such as a squeeze bottle, and frost the cookies. While the icing is wet, add sprinkles or other decorations as desired. Let the icing dry for 1 to 2 hours. It will harden. Once it is hard, you can stack the cookies in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.

Baking Kids Love is loaded with 30 kid-tastic recipes for cooking with your child. The recipes have step by step instructions and photographs to help little bakers know what to do next.

The book was just released in October, so it would make a wonderful Christmas book for a child who loves to help out in the kitchen. Pair it with a chefs hat and apron to encourage your little baker in the kitchen. You can find Baking Kids Love at major book retailers, the Sir La Table website and Amazon.com.

Images: Baking Kids Love

Post from: Play Library

• These peanut butter spider cookies from Betty Crocker put a new twist on the peanut butter kiss cookies, and they’re adorable.
• The green monster Halloween krispy treats are really cute.
• Glittering pumpkin cookies would be a big hit.
• These ghost sticks are super easy, and would look adorable wrapped in a treat bag.
• Chocolate and peanut butter dipped apples add a little bite of healthy to the fun.
• This cheesy finger food puts a new spin on witches fingers.

Whatever you decide to make for your child’s Halloween party, have fun with it! Let the kids help you decide, and let them help make the treats. They’ll have a blast, and a story to tell when they present the Halloween treats to their class.

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: Play Library

First up WMF Animals Flatware a child-sized 5-piece stainless steel flatware set designed to stir kid’s imaginations. Each piece suggests an animal figure such as a shark fork, rhinoceros knife and a crocodile French fry picker. The flatware is recommended for ages 3 and up and has a suggested retail price of $39.90 per set.

Next up WMF Kid’s Pirate and Princess Cooking Sets, these sets are designed to help mini cooks look the part of regal chefs. Sets include a child’s apron and a fun-to-use flexi ball whisk.

My favorite is this little egg cup. Kid’s will love having eggs for breakfast in with this little guy around!

You can find more cute cooking with kids sets at WMF America’s Kid’s World.

Post from: Play Library

On the other hand, I get a ton more work done while he’s at school during the day.

He enjoys packing his lunch, and I enjoy trying to find fun things to put in his lunch, so he doesn’t have to eat the same old thing day after day.

Here’s a really cute kid’s lunch idea from Hidden Valley Ranch that I think I might have to make for his lunchbox this year. It’s a great alternative, since it helps kids get in some of their vegetables for the day in a fun way. Let your kids help prepare the kangaroo pouches the night before, then refrigerate them and add them with an ice pack to their lunch box the next morning.

Kangaroo Pouches

Makes 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• ½ whole wheat pita pocket
• 2-3 oz. turkey breast luncheon meat, thinly sliced
• 1 oz. Cheddar cheese
• 2-3 Romaine lettuce leaves
• 2-3 baby carrots
• 2-3 sugar snap peas
• 1 2.5 oz. Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Light Dressing Cup (single cup)
• Extra veggies for dipping

Instructions at home:
1. Cut a 3-inch horizontal slit midway on the pita half.
2. Tuck the turkey, cheese and lettuce into the pita.
3. Stuff the carrots and snap peas into the pouch/slit.

Instructions at school:
1. Drizzle the Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Light Dressing Cup into the sandwich.

2. Take the veggies out and dip them into the Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Light Dressing Cup.

Go ahead and use your child’s favorite luncheon meat, cheese and veggies. Not in the mood for Romaine? Spinach and arugula work well too. Just be sure to pack extra veggies for dipping!

Post from: Play Library

Denny’s new Better For You choices for kids include Tumbling Vanilla (vanilla yogurt with strawberry topping), “High Diving Veggies” (carrots, celery and cucumber), Apple Dunkers, Jell-O®, “Spaghetti, Set, Go!” (spaghetti with marinara sauce), and pudding.

Denny’s also took several items off their kid’s menu, including Big Dipper French-Toastix™ (French toast sticks), hot dogs, and “D-Fusion™” sugar beverage packets.

Denny’s is trying to be proactive in adding healthy alternatives to their menu, while still providing fun and interesting choices for children. They’re hoping to make children and their parents happy at the same time.

For more information on Denny’s new healthier menu for kids you can check out Dennyskidsandparents.com.

What do you think? Will it be a hit with kids? What about their parents? I’m all for healthier choices, and my son would enjoy the apples and dip, or the carrots (as long as they have Ranch dipping sauce) and he loves spaghetti with marinera sauce.

Images: Denny’s

Post from: Play Library