Cooking with Kids~Make your own cake

Cooking with Kids

I try to let the kids "stir and dump" when I cook.  I usually do not let them do everything all of the time because I am usually trying to throw dinner together fast while running laundry, picking up, quieting down kids, and a whole lot more!  There are special times that they get to crack eggs, grease pans, pour batter and the other fun parts of cooking! One of the things on our summer bucket list was to do a fun cooking project with the kids!  Big Sis has been asking to make and decorate her own cake for a long time but as a Mom of 4 it is hard to say to my 8 year old, "Sure honey, go ahead and make your own cake.  Oh, and make sure you clean up!" This project needs to be done with supervision and enough room for fun but not a disastrous mess! Along with the cooking lesson came Mommy's Lesson on keeping your hands washed, no licking unless Mommy approves and washing your hands more! 

 Here are the highlights of the project!

 Lil Bro's Cake

 Lil' Sis's Cake

 Middle Sis's Cake

 Big Sis's Cake

Birthday Fun!

Birthday Fun!

In the middle of the night I hung streamers and balloons in the girls room.  At one point a streamer fell and brushed across the birthday girl's face!  When she woke up she was so excited! She said it was the best birthday ever and she still had not eaten breakfast!

 Surprise!  Even the bathroom is festive!

 Sprinkles definitely say It's Your Birthday!

Big Sis learned to Sew!

 Happy Birthday Love! 

Sew Fun ~ Aprons

This year Big Sis turned 8!  She has been asking...and asking...and asking me to teach her how to sew. I thought that for her birthday I would teach her.  I had been wanting to make them aprons so this would be a great chance to do it!  I took the kids to the fabric store and let them pick out 2 fabrics, 1 trim and a flower.  I then took them home and prayed hard! I did not find a pattern I liked so I grabbed a garbage bag and made my own.  I had never done this before so I know prayer was the key!  Big Sis stood by my side and helped sew her own apron!   

Here is the big reveal!  She let me wrap it and she opened it to surprise Daddy!

You can't make one without making 2 more!  The Littler two got to pick out their favorites too!  I am so glad they had good taste!  I was worried when I gave them the choice...It could've been bad!

Now let's wear them out!

Sew Fun ~ Aprons ~ The Fashion Show!

Aprons, Galore!

Lil Bro wanted in the action, too!

Recipe of the Week ~ Super Easy Berry Cobbler

Summer Berry Cobbler

Ingredients:

Frozen berries ( I use Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries)

Dry cake mix (We prefer yellow)

1 can of sprite

In a 9x13 pour your berries into the bottom of the pan.  Sprinkle your cake mix on top.  Pour the sprite over the top of the cake mix.  Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 35 min.  It is a super easy, super yummy cobbler! Perfect dessert to compliment great summer evening!

Step 1:Add Berries!

 Step 2: Sprinkle Cake Mix on top.

 Step 3: Pour Sprite evenly over the top of it.

 Step 4: Bake until Golden, about 35 minutes.

Step 5: Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream!  De-lish!

Olympics ~ Coloring Contest

Coloring Contest

We held a coloring contest during the Opening Ceremonies.  Everyone loved it and now I have some fantastic Olympic art work displayed in our kitchen!  I found a great site with coloring pages for every event and more! The bonus is that everyone got a Gold Medal!  Click here to see how they made their Gold Medals!

You can click HERE to be taken directly to Activity Village (a UK site!) which is the site to print your own free coloring pages!

Have Fun!

Olympics ~ Recipe ~ Fruit Pizza Olympic Ring Style

Fruit Pizza 

with an Olympic Twist

Ingredients:

This Recipe makes 2 Fruit Pizza's the size of 2 large cookie sheets.

Crust

4 cups Bisquick

1 cup Water

Mix the above ingredients together and then roll out to 1/4 inch. Use parchment paper or a Silpat on your cookie sheet to avoid sticking to the pan.  If it is too sticky add extra Bisquick. It will rise during baking. 

Bake at: 350 for 15 minutes

This makes 2 large crusts

Cool completely

Topping:

2  Regular Cream Cheese or Light Cream Cheese (Fat Free Cream cheese doesn't work well)

6 Tablespoons Crushed Pineapple Juice

Blend the above 2 ingredients together.  Spread evenly on the cooled crust.

Sprinkle 2 Cans Crushed Pineapple, drained, on the crusts. 

Sometimes I mix it in with the cream cheese!

Fruit Layer:

Fruit - Grapes, Mandarin Orange, Strawberries, Blueberries, Melon, Blackberries, peaches, apples, bananas, kiwi, and anything else you wish!

Vanilla Yogurt or Cool Whip

Toasted Coconut

Slice fruit and sprinkle all over the cream cheese topping.

Top with toasted Coconut and Yogurt or Cool Whip after you plate it.

The picture below is how it would look when it is made without matching the Olympics!

Refrigerate leftovers and enjoy for breakfast tomorrow! I like it better the day after!

This recipe was a family favorite growing up and now I am continuing the tradition!

Enjoy!