Monster Mix

At one of our literacy centers in preschool, we followed a fun Halloween Recipe!  We made Monster Mix!

Each student had to follow directions in the recipe to make their own bag of Monster Mix to take home!

Our Preschool Monster Mix Includes:
Goblin Teeth (candy corn)
Witch Warts (mint chocolate chips)
Ghost Poop (mini marshmallows)
Bloody Bits (red licorice pieces)
Monster Scabs (cinnamon toast cereal)

Planting Pumpkins

For some Halloween fun, we "Planted" (and counted) pumpkins!  The kids loved it! 

This was super easy!  I googled 'garden' pictures.  When I found a picutre of a garden I liked, I copied it and printed it off with a different number 1-10 on each 'garden' and then laminated the pictures (for re-use later).  Then I bought the pumpkin candies.  Each student got 10 pumpkins, but they would have to 'plant' the  same number of pumpkins that was listed on their garden.  The students LOVED it! 

 Happy Halloween!

Skeleton Bones

One of my dear friends (and fellow teacher) just shared this idea with me and I wanted to share it with you!  Here's what she has to say about these super cute Halloween snacks:

"We made a cute skeleton in class today and I thought I would share it with you! All we used were Scooby Doo Snacks and white frosting. We made them on paper but you could do it on wax paper."

Aren't they the best?  I think kids would just LOVE to make (and eat) a skeleton!

White Chocolate Popcorn

Here's a quick and easy treat to take on a popcorn picnic or to eat during a parade this summer!

Just pop 3 bags of microwave popcorn and spread it out on 2 cookie sheets, then melt 1 bag of white chocolate chips. drizzle the melted chocolate on the popcorn and sprinkle with sprinkles. Let cool for 10-15 minutes then break up and put it in a large bowl and share with your friends!

Happy Summer!

Pizza Fun

If you have a preschool or are a teacher I wanted to let you know about the opportunity you can have to have a visiti from your local pizza man (or woman)!  Every year we call our local pizza place and ask if they will come and visit our preschool, show the kids how they make pizza and bring pizza for the kids to eat!  This is a great tax write off for your local pizza place!

This year we had a visit from Dominos pizza woman but they couldn't donate the pizza, so I asked Little Ceasars Pizza for donated pizza and they gave us 6 free pizzas + bread sticks + a coupon for every student for a free order of bread sticks (no other purchase was necessary).

The pizza girl was AWESOME!  She showed the kids how to make the pizza, threw the pizza dough, let the kids touch and feel the cornmeal and dough!!  It was so fun!

Polka Dot Popcorn

My cute friend Kami shared this awesome recipe with me and now I get to share it with you!  

Here's what Kami has to say about the recipe:
Hey there... Thought it turned out cute!
It's 1/2 cup milk.
2 cups sugar.
Bring to a boil.
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and food coloring to about 8 cups popped corn (or that pops stuff that's pre-made :-).  I think it turned out Fun:-) Then decided to add sprinkles for polka dots.

Isn't this just the cutest idea?  

This is so fun for teaching the 'p' sound!

Thanks Kami!!!

Cheesy Witch Fingers

Who doesn't enjoy eating a yummy finger or two on Halloween?  

What you need: string cheese, carrots, cream cheese.

What you do:
Each string cheese will make two fingers.  Cut your string cheese in half and with a knife cut out  a spot for the fingernail and marks for the finger joints right below the fingernail area and at the base of the string cheese (for the knuckle joint).  Then, cut your fingernails.  You can cut a thin slice of a carrot (or a thick peel) and with your knife shape it into a fingernail and attach to the cheese with cream cheese.

Witches Brooms

These mini witch brooms are a super fun!

The kids LOVED them!

What you need: stick pretzels, fruit roll-ups (or fruit by the foot)

What you do: cut the fruit into 2-3 inch strips and then snip along the edge to make a fringe for the broom brush edge. Then wet the long (uncut) edge of the fruit and wrap tightly around the base of the pretzel.

Halloween Cupcakes

Just wanted to show you a little fun we had with cupcakes this year! I thought they turned out pretty cute and fun!

Monster Cupcakes: Decorated with chocolate eyeballs and gummy teeth.

Ghost Cupcakes: Wrap a tissue around a sucker, tie with ribbon and draw eyes.

Spider Cupcakes: Oreo body, licorice legs, m&m eyes.

Product Review X 2

If you're familiar at all with my blog then you know I'm a HUGE fan of csnstores.com! Well, not too long ago they gave me an opportunity to review 2 products. I had a hard time choosing (since csnstores has absolutely everything to offer) but finally I whittled it down to a couple of AWESOME items!

First item: Rival 3 Qt. Stainless Steel Fondue Set.Isn't it a beaut? We have LOVED this fondue set! With most other fondue pots, you have to first cook the chocolate, broth, cheese on the stovetop first and then transfer it to your fondue pot where it will keep the yummy goodness warm, but with this one you plug it right into the wall, drop your stuff in and cook it right in the pot!!! It has a temperature settings dial that you control the heat to cook it right in the pot and then turn the dial to 'warm' when dipping and eating! Love this thing!

Second item: Hamilton Beach 10 cup Food Processor (in white).Okay - what can you NOT do with an awesome food processor like this one? I love chopping veggies, making fresh salsa, grating cheese and veggies, etc. Pure definition of fresh food fast!

Look what I made with it! Veggie Pizza!Ingredients:
2 pkgs. fridge cressent rolls, 1 block cream cheese, ranch dressing, 2 carrots, 1/2 bunch broccoli, 1/2 cauliflower head, 2 cups grated cheese.

Open the refrigerator cressent rolls and pat them out on a pizza pan (like a crust). Bake according to directions on package. Let cool. For the sauce I let the cream cheese get to room temperature, place in a bowl and stir in ranch dressing to taste (just personal taste, some like it rather ranchy tasting, some like it more suttle). Spread the cream cheese mixture on the crust. Then, I put all the veggies in the food processor and chopped them up kind of fine (b/c I don't like huge chunks of veggie on my veggie pizza). Put the veggies on the pizza. Last (but not least) I put grated cheese (fresh grated in my food processor) on the pizza. YUM!

Chocolate Haystacks

A memory of my childhood reminded me of this fun treat my mom made when we were kids!Here's what you need: Milk chocolate chips, Chow-Mein Noodles, mini Marshmallows

Here's what you do:
Melt 1 bag of chocolate chips in a large bowl, then pour in a little over 1/2 bag of marshmallows and a little over 1/2 bag of chow mein noodles. You put in enough that the mallows and noodles are just covered with chocolate. Then place small dollops on wax paper and place in the fridge to let chocolate dry. Chocolate goodness!

Mummy Suckers

These are so super easy to make and yummy to eat!
Here's what you need: Sugar daddy suckers, gauze, white first-aid tape, mini google eyes.
Here's what you do:
Wrap the gauze around the sucker and secure in the back with first-aid tape. Glue (or stick - I got the sticky-back google eyes) the eyes on.

Popcorn Pack-a-Snack

We made these fun and easy pack-a-snack mixes in Preschool this summer with the kids and they were a BIG hit! It's a great and easy idea for a take-along snack for a long summer drive, hike or just a yummy snack.All you have to do is use fresh popped popcorn as a base and then throw in your child's favorite goodies (ie: chocolate chips, pretzels, m&m's, craisins, goldfish crackers, cap'n crunch cereal, etc.) mix and throw it in a bag to pack with you this summer.

Candy Boquets

These ideas were so easy to make and came from the book: Candy Boquets. If you're ever looking for a fun gift idea for someone these are a great gift and fun conversation piece!You basically take a fun cup/glass/toy/etc. and put styrofoam in ... then candy it up with pins or hot glue! Have fun and get creative!

White Chocolate Popcorn

Sorry it's been a while since I've put anything on here ... I recently got engaged so (needless to say) things have been a bit crazy!
But thanks to our loyal contributor Tracy for sharing this recipe! This looks so yummy!Just click HERE or on the picture to get the recipe!

FYI: Whatever you do ... don't try to color the white chocolate! Tried it ... doesn't work. Use the colored chocolate candy pieces if you want some color on the popcorn!

This is such a fun idea for a treat to give teachers at the end of the year! I got the wittiest gift from one of my students this year and have to share it with you. She gave me a large Hershey's candybar with almonds and a note attached which said:

"Thank you to a teacher who is oh so 'SWEET' and just a little 'NUTTY'!
Too cute!!!
Want to share any other cute ideas you've done/gotten for a 'SWEET' Thank You?

Spring Cupcakes

We had so much fun making these cupcakes! They're so cute and easy to make!Here's what you need: unfrosted cupcakes, frosting, large marshmallows, gumdrops, sprinkles




Here's what you do:
Cut a large marshmallow in about 4 pieces (easiest with scissors), flatten out a bit and dip in sugar sprinkles then set aside. Frost the cupcake then arrange the marshmallow petals and gumdrop to look like a flower. You can flatten and cut green gumdrops and cut to look like leaves and add to the flower.

Holiday Treats

Here are some yummy Easter treats from Tracy (thank you!!!). There are two different yummy recipes, so I am linking to both recipes. Just click on each picture below to see the yummy recipes! Can't thank you enough Tracy -- fabulous ideas!!

This is called Holiday Party Mix

This is Chocolate Pretzel Squares

(I love this - the yellow m&m ones look like eggs and ham - how cute is that?)

Spring Colors Popcorn

On St. Patrick's Day I had a great popcorn idea, but I messed it up so there I sat with a big bowl of popcorn and nothing fun to do with it. Then my mother (the best cook on earth) gave me this idea - turn the popcorn green and yummy ... and done within minutes!! It's a great spring treat and this sticky popcorn can even be turned into yummy popcorn balls!
Here's what you need: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup Karo, 1 small box Jell-o (any kind), microwave popcorn (popped/butter flavored)





Here's what you do:
Put sugar and Karo (corn syrup) in sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let it boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in 1 small box jell-o. Pour over popcorn and eat as is or mold into popcorn balls!

Dino Dig Cupcakes!

These were such at HIT at preschool I just had to do them with my nieces and nephews! What kid doesn't just love Dinosaurs? With this snack kids can be a paleontologist! They dig the dinosaur out of the 'dirt' and eat the dirt while they're at it!













Here's what you need: 1 cake mix (and ingredients), clean small dinosaurs







Here's what you do:
Make the cake mix according to the directions. Grease the muffin tin with butter and flour. Pour a bit of batter into the muffin tin. Place a dinosaur in each muffin tin and cover with batter. Bake according to directions. Give each child 2 small wooden craft sticks to dig out their dinosaur and eat the cake!

 *WARNING*  You need to make sure the dinosaur 

toys you use are safe to use!  I did! :)