Crafts — Ma Whats For Dinner?

Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

December 14, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 18 Comments

Do you have as many gifts to give this year as I do?

The kids have friends, teachers, and coaches galore…

Not to mention all the neighbors, mailmen, trainers, etc.

How many coffee gift cards can I possibly give out?

Well here’s the answer…

This one comes together in a snap and it’s super delicious to boot!

Holiday Bark

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes

Cool Time: 1-2 hours

What you need:

2 11 ounce bags white chocolate chips

1 T walnut oil

¾ cup dried cranberries

1 cup shelled pistachios

gift boxes or bags

ribbon or raffia

What to do:

In a large microwave safe bowl combine chocolate and walnut oil. Heat on high at 30 second intervals stirring in between until just melted.

Remove from microwave and stir quickly to finish melting. Pour in cranberries and pistachios and stir to combine.

Pour out onto a greased sheet pan into a thin layer.

Refrigerate until cool. Break up into jagged pieces.

Place into gift boxes tied with ribbon and raffia. Perfect festive holiday gift for anyone on your list!

Filed Under: Crafts, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Kids Desserts, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: bark, chocolate, Crafts, holiday gift giving, holidays gift ideas, kids crafts, teacher gifts, treats

Holiday Gift Week – Hot Cocoa in a Jar

December 12, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 19 Comments

You asked for it…

You got it!

Baby It’s Cold Outside…

Nothing better this time of year than a big ol’ cup of hot cocoa.

Why not wrap up some love for your friends, teachers, coaches and neighbors this year

It’s ok…go ahead and steal this great idea for a holiday gift.

Hot Cocoa in a Jar
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

What you need:

2 cups Instant Nonfat Dried Milk
¾ cup sugar
½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1/2 cup non dairy creamer
1 t salt
1 cup mini marshmallows

Options:
add a layer of nutmeg and cinnamon
add a layer of crushed candy canes
make a flavored hot chocolate by adding a layer of flavored powdered non dairy creamer – Amaretto, French Vanilla, Irish Coffee, etc.

What to do:

Layer all ingredients into a jar with Marshmallows on top. Or you could combine all the ingredients into a bowl then place into the jar and top with marshmallows.

We did it both ways. Close jar tightly and cover with fabric and ribbon. Affix with the following instructions.

Hot Cocoa Mix – remove marshmallows, set aside. Shake jar well. Take out 2-3 to tablespoons and place in a mug. Mix with 8 ounces hot water, or coffee. Top with marshmallows. Enjoy. Happy Holidays!

Filed Under: Crafts, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes Tagged With: gift giving, holiday crafts, holiday gift ideas, hot cocoa, teacher gifts

Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar

December 10, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 23 Comments

Back by popular demand…

Some of our favorite make at home gifts.

Looking for a new and unique gift idea?

Something different for neighbors, friends, teachers, coaches, and anyone else on your list this holiday?

How about a home cooked meal?

Beef Noodle Soup in a Jar

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

Mason Jars

Ribbon

Colored cloth/fabric

Decorative paper for instructions

¼ cup red lentils

¼ cup green split peas

¼ cup barley

1/3 cup beef bouillon powder

¼ cup dried onion

2 T. parsley flakes

1/3 t. thyme

1/3 t. pepper

1 t. basil

1 t. garlic powder

½ t. celery seed

S&P

3 cups tri color pasta, separated into colors.

Layer ingredients neatly one by one into a large mason jar.

Close jar tightly and cover with fabric. Tie with ribbons. Affix instructions:

1 jar holiday gift soup

1 22 ounce can crushed tomatoes

8 cups water

Bring water and tomatoes to a boil in a large stock pot. Add soup mix. Simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Enjoy. Happy Holidays.

Let the kids help you with writing the instructions and be sure to let them sign their names!

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Crafts, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Lunch Ideas For Kids, Recipes For Kids, Soups Tagged With: beef noodle soup, gift ideas, gifts in a jar, holidays gift ideas, kids crafts, minestrone soup, soup, teacher gifts

Homemade Holiday Caramel

December 6, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 18 Comments

I love caramel. It’s got to be one of the best candy inventions of all time.

Whenever someone sends me a chocolate box, guess which ones are gone first?

We decided to make our own at home and wrap them up as little goodie and hostess bags to give away this holiday season.

You can too…

The boys are also bringing them as gifts to school…though they’ll be bringing them without nuts, we’re all nut free facilities around here.

Homemade Holiday Caramels

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Cool Time: 2 hours

What you need:

Candy Thermometer

Parchment Paper

Cooking spray

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups heavy cream

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

½ t salt

1 T vanilla extract

optional

Fancy Sea Salt (i.e. Fleur de Sel)

Chopped toasted pecans

Chopped peanuts

Gift Bags

Wax Paper

Ribbon or Raffia

What to do:

Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper.

Lightly coat with cooking spray.

In a medium pot combine sugars, corn syrup, evaporated milk, whipping cream, butter, and salt. Mix well. Heat over medium heat.

Using your candy thermometer watch the heat and when it reaches 250 degrees remove from the pot. Stir in your vanilla then pour into baking dish.

Cool in the fridge. Once cooled cut into small pieces and wrap in wax paper.

Place in gift bags and tie with ribbon and raffia. Optional….top your caramels with sea salt, or chopped nuts.

Filed Under: Crafts, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Kids Desserts, Recipes For Kids, Snacks Tagged With: candy, candy crafts, candy making, caramel, cook with your kids, gift ideas, holiday gift ideas

Letters to Santa

December 4, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 13 Comments

It’s that time of year!!!!

Are you bombarded this time of year with that wonderful question…

“What do the kids want for Christmas?”

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who wants to buy them stuff, but honestly…

I can’t keep it all straight!

Oh and those commercials….

The never ending loop of holiday commercials!

All I hear…

“Ma, can I have that?”

“Ma, can you put that on my list???”

“Ma, come quick, you’ve got to see this!”

First off, I don’t have to come quick. We have DVR.

Secondly, I don’t want to see another commercial for Tron, or Star Wars, or Lego, or Spongebob Operation!

So, I’ve come up with a solution…

Letters to Santa – Or to Hanukkah Harry…

Prep Time: 5 minutes Craft Time: 25 minutes

What you need:

Poster board

Markers

Kid scissors (or regular scissors depending on the age of your kids)

Glue Sticks

Catalogs Galore (Toys, Electronics, Clothes – all the stuff that comes to your house all the time this season.)

What to do:

Set the kids up at the table with their catalogs and scissors.

Let them cut out all the things they’d like to ask Santa for (toys, iPods, socks, whatever)

Once they’ve cut it out have them glue it onto their poster board.

They can color their poster board too and decorate it to match their personality so Santa will be sure to know it’s theirs, and you’ll know what to tell the in-laws when they ask what the kiddos want this year.

I made one too…

I’m telling Santa that I’ve been a very very good girl and I’d really like that smoker please!

Filed Under: Crafts, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes Tagged With: Crafts, fun with your kids, holiday ideas, kid crafts, kids activities, toddler activities

Perfect Pumpkin Dip

October 23, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 19 Comments

It’s that time of year!

My favorite time of year!

So you all know how much I love to dip…

Yes, I am a dipper.

And it seems I have passed the trait onto the kids.

We’re a dipping family.

So we came up with a great dip for fall!

A creamy and delicious pumpkin dip.

It’s perfect…

Perfect for parties.

Perfect for appetizers.

Perfect for after school.

Perfect for sitting down and eating the whole thing with spoon.

Perfect Pumpkin Dip

8 oz softened cream cheese (I used light, and you could even use fat free)

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 c brown sugar

2 t pumpkin pie spice

1 t vanilla extract

2 T apple cider

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor (you could mix this by hand in a bowl if you don’t have one) and stir well to combine. Pour into a small pumpkin to serve. Chill for 3o minutes. Serve with ginger snaps, apples, and pears.

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Crafts, Featured, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Kids Desserts, Recipes For Kids, Snacks, Vegetable Recipes For Kids, Vegetarian Recipes For Kids Tagged With: appetizers, dips, fun food, kid food, picky eaters, pumpkin recipes

Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Holiday Gift Week – Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar

Homemade Holiday Caramel

Letters to Santa

Perfect Pumpkin Dip

Featured Cooking With Kids Videos

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Find us on Facebook

Find A Local Farmer’s Market

Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Holiday Gift Week – Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar

Homemade Holiday Caramel

Letters to Santa

Perfect Pumpkin Dip

Featured Cooking With Kids Videos

Join Our Mailing List

Find us on Facebook

Connect With Ma

Find A Local Farmer’s Market

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