Taster Table: Apples!

This week in our preschool we are learning all about APPLES!  For one of our centers we had a 'Taster Table'.  The kids loved it!  They got to taste: apples, apple juice, applesauce and apple candy! 

After tasting, they put a smiley face sticker on the different apple treats they liked (which made a graph)!  When everyone was finished with the 'Taster Table' we looked at the graph and discussed which everyone liked 'most' and 'least', etc. 

Applesauce Painting

Have you ever finger painted or played with shaving cream on a table or tray? I love it!

Not to long ago we were learning about 'APPLES', so we tried the same concept with applesauce! It worked famously plus the kids could lick their fingers while they painted! And there are all different kinds of applesauce out there!

We gave each student their own tray to 'finger paint' on so they didn't mix germs with their friends by licking fingers and painting more!

Peaches-N-Cream

This is a jazzed up version of one of my favorite treats as a kid! We would cut up a peach, plop it in a bowl with milk and sugar! YUM!

What you need: peaches, vanilla yogurt, graham crackers (crushed)

What you do: layer the peaches, yogurt and crushed graham crackers. (easy)

VARIATIONS
peaches: any fruit on hand
cream: any flavor yogurt, whipping cream, ice cream, milk, cream.
topping: granola, nilla wafers, cut up candybar

Creative Sammies!

An old high school friend posted these creative sandwiches on her blog and I just had to share. Thanks Susan!!
Here's what she says about these fun Sandwiches!
"They each include a veggie, fruit, protein and a grain. I usually will add a glass of milk and some cheese aside from the protien, especially since they are kids and require a lot of calcium."

Frozen Yogurt Pops

Okay - no real recipe to go with this one but my sister does this for her kids and they love it. And I must say this has quickly become one of my favorite healthy snacks!Next time you buy a box of Gogurt for your kids, just buy two boxes and put one in the freezer. Pull one out any time you or your kids want some ice cream or a sweet treat and you'd rather they have something healthier. Yummy!

Chocolate Banana

I just got back from a trip to Disneyland and, of course, I had to get a frozen chocolate banana while I was there. It tasted so good that I had to try my own version, so here you go!Here's what you need: bananas, chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate but the one's at Disney taste like dark chocolate), sprinkles.






Here's what you do:
Cut bananas in half, leave the peel on and stick a skewer in the end (I love to use cheap swizzle sticks for things like this - much cuter). Place the bananas in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Melt the chocolate (the microwave is easiest and fastest for me: 1 minute, stir, 10 seconds, stir, 10 seconds, stir, continue until melted). Peel the bananas and dip in chocolate, place on waxed paper and add sprinkles, peanuts, marshmallows, carmel, or anything else you'd like on top!

Easy Cheesie-Cakes

Talk about Easy - try these easy mini cheesecakes dainty and pretty enough for a princess!

Here's what you need:Jell-o no bake cheesecake, muffin liners, (optional: pie filling)






Here's what you do:
Follow the directions to make the mini-cheesecakes on the back of the box. But if the instructions aren't there just follow the directions for the pie but place a tablespoon or so of the crust mix into each muffin cup liner and then add the cheesecake mix up to the top of the liner or almost to the top. Refrigerate to set. Each box makes about 30-35.

Alternate: I have seen a Wal-Mart off brand of no bake cheesecake that doesn't include a graham cracker crust. If you use this or have your own no bake recipe you'd like to use, then a super easy crust is to just pop a nilla wafer in the bottom of each muffin liner.

Fruit Fondue

I love this stuff, and what kid doesn't love dipping their food!Here's what you'll need: 1 7oz marshmallow creme, 1 8oz cream cheese, 1 Tbsp frozen OJ concentrate





Here's what you do:
Make sure cream cheese is room temperature. Mix all ingredients together with a blender. Dip and enjoy! Yum!

Banana Boats

Take a look at this ooey-gooey goodness! We used to make these every summer when we went camping when I was a kid. They were a special summer treat!

Here's what you'll need:







Here's what you do:
Cut a 3-sided rectangular opening on top of the banana. Fold the opening back and scoop out some of the banana with a spoon. Fill the boat-shaped banana with goodies: chocolate chips, marshmallows, toffee chips, etc.) Fold the banana peel back over the opening and wrap the banana in tin foil. Throw it in the fire for a few minutes, open and enjoy!

Mini Caramel Apples

I hope you all love this snack as much as this little cutie did! Click here for the link to the recipe: Mini Caramel Apples













Thanks to Vanessa for finding this recipe and trying it out with her darling little girl! Here's the pictures of her and her daughter making this fun filled recipe! I've just gotta try this with my preschool kids!

Creative Packed Lunches

You've just got to see how this fellow blogger at wendolonia.com is packing lunches to send with her preschooler. And this is just one of many ways to pack them! I must say, I love the silicone muffin cups ... silicone bake ware is made in so many new shapes and sizes now, and this is yet another use for them!

Muffin Tin Mealtime

Check out this idea from makeandtakes.com and also tangledandtrue.com (thanks again Vanessa!)! So creative and so easy! Kids love things in 'mini' form and really seem to love things in order and their own special place so they're sure to love this idea. Just click on the picture or the website names to link to the original ideas.

Pig Pancakes/Waffles

What you'll need: Mini Pancakes or Waffles, Bananas, Chocolate Chips






I used the mini waffles (kids love stuff that comes small!), then sliced the banana in coin looking slices and placed one on top as the nose along with two chocolate chips (up-side-down) as the eyes and quartered the round slice of the banana and put two on as the ears.

'Pear' of Ghosts

What you'll need: (pears, white chocolate, mini m&m's)






Melt the chocolate (I like to use the microwave for 30 sec. first then stir then 10 sec. stir, 10 sec. stir, continue until melted). Dip the pears in the chocolate and decorate with m&m's to look like a ghost.
Want to make it even sweeter? Dip it in carmel first and then the chocolate!
Yield: 1 bag white chocolate chips covers about 2 1/2 pears.