Kids enjoy being in the kitchen, too! Here's some easy and fun ideas for them.
Rock Candy
1 Glass jar (quart size is good)
1 Piece of string (cotton)
1 Pencil or stick
1 Paper clip
2 c Sugar + Additional sugar
1 c Water
optional: Food coloring
Heat the water to boiling, and when the water stops boiling dissolve the 3 cups of sugar into it. Let cool some and reheat(but do not re-boil) and add as much sugar that will dissolve in it. Add a few drops of food coloring to the solution if desired.
Let cool for two minutes and pour the solution into glass or jar. Tie a short piece of cotton string to the middle of the pencil or stick. Attach a paper clip to the end of the string for a weight.
Moisten the string very lightly, and roll in a bit of sugar Place the pencil or stick over the top of the glass or jar with the string hanging down inside. Leave undisturbed for a couple of days.
Depending on how much sugar you were able to dissolve into the water, you should start to see crystals growing in a few hours to a few days.
Homemade Play-Dough
1 c Flour
1 c Water
1/2 c Salt
2 tb Cream of tartar
1 tb Oil
Cook until dough forms a mass in a pan. Turn it out on a plate, pick an old one, and cover it with a damp cloth, also an old one. Food coloring may be added. Store playdough in the refrigerator.
Original Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
3 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 package (10 oz. about 40) regular marshmallows
or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies®
Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
Add KELLOGG'S® RICE KRISPIES® cereal. Stir until well coated.
Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares when cool. Best if served the same day.
Yield: 24 squares
Finger Paint
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
4 cup Water (as 1 cup then 3 cups)
Food Coloring
Combine flour and 1 cup water into a large saucepan. Stir in water until smooth. Add the remaining 3 cups water and place over medium heat.
Bring the mixture to a sustained boil (cannot be stirred down) for 1 minute then remove from heat. Let cool. Pour into 3 or 4 separate cups (paper cups, plastic bowls, etc.) and add food coloring.
Store the paint in a air-tight plastic bowl, cup, or large baggie.
Easy Popcorn Balls
2 qt Popped popcorn
1 c Sugar
1/3 c Corn syrup
1/3 c Water
1/4 c Butter
1/4 tsp Salt
1 t Vanilla
Preheat oven to 250. Put popcorn in a large, 4 inch deep butered baking pan. Keep warm in the oven. Combine sugar, cornsyrup, water, butter and salt in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
Cook until mixture reaches 250 on a candy thermometer, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Quickly stir in vanilla. Remove popcorn from oven. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn, stirring to mix well. Form into balls. Makes approximately 8 balls.
Puppy Chow
9 cup Chex cereal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Put cereal in large bowl. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour over Chex cereal, put into a large plastic bag with powdered sugar and shake well to coat.
Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.
Bacon and Eggs Candy [adult supervision for younger children]
Small pretzel sticks
White chocolate or coating
Yellow M&M's
Lay 3 pretzel sticks side by side. Put a teaspoon or so of melted white chocolate in center to hold pretzels together and form the "egg yolk". Place a yellow M&M in center of chocolate for yolk. Let harden at room temp.
Apple Volcanoes
Apples
Peanut Butter
Raisins
Granola
Cut the top off the apple. Core the apple and discard. Fill the center of the apple with peanut butter. Sprinkle granola, raisins or whatever you may like on top. Eat and Enjoy!!
hint: Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan~the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers!
Cake Mix for Easy Bake Ovens
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup shortening
Combine all dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Store covered for 12 weeks.
To use: Combine 1/3 cup mix with 4 teaspoons water. Bake in easy bake ovens only.
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Peanut Butter Fritos
1 c Peanut Butter
1 c Sugar
1 c White Karo Syrup
Combine ingredients in a heavy sauce pan, boil and pour over Fritos. You may use 9x13 cake pan or make individual squares.
