Home School Halloween

Since deciding to home school Max for preschool, I have found myself constantly on the hunt for activities to have him learn in fun and hands on ways. He actually enjoys sitting and doing worksheets probably more than most kids his age, says he is "doing homework like Bubbie" but when I tell him we have something extra fun to do, his little eyes light up.

Some days it's a fun craft, others he gets time to play with his Play-do sets or paint. And then there are the times I find ways to incorporate life skills like math into a recipe so we can spend some time together in the kitchen. Today's recipe is a perfect example. 

First off, let's be very clear. This isn't a recipe at all. There are 3 ingredients and you assemble. That's it. Max and I literally spent 10 minutes start to finish on this batch. But hey, that was the perfect amount of time for a 4 year old's attention span. 

I used these for a couple different lessons. We talked about what shape the cookies were, what shape we piped the frosting on, and the dollop of jelly on top. "Mommy, we painted squares onto rectangles and then added a tiny circle of jelly." We counted out the number we made and made rows of them in equal amounts. 

It is moments like these I don't even think he realizes we are "doing school" or that he is learning. He's having fun and loves to show me what he knows. Who wouldn't love a math lesson you can eat at the end? 

Max will also tell you these are "spooky but yummy", the perfect Halloween treat. If you're finding ways to celebrate at home this year, they definitely need to be on the menu. Maybe you are letting the kids have a few friends over instead of a big trick or treating group, you could easily have little cookie making kits pre-made for them to create their own. 

I never thought I was cut out to home-school, I realize that preschool is easy in the scheme of things, and know I could never do it full time until college. But for these years when he is still home with me, and I can watch him learn, have fun and enjoy discovering the world around him, I feel very blessed and am thankful to be his favorite teacher! 

 

 

Bloody Band-Aid Cookies

 

 Vanilla Sugar Wafer Cookies

Vanilla Frosting

Strawberry Preserves

Quart Size Plastic Storage Bags

Toothpick

Carefully scoop some of the frosting into a plastic bag. Do the same with the preserves. Close tightly and squeeze air out. Cut the tip of each bag. Pipe the frosting into a square in the center of the cookies. Smooth out with toothpick if necessary. Add a small dot of preserves. Serve immediately. 

 

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Shared at Meal Plan Monday

 

Halloween Party

In just under two weeks our streets are going to fill with ghosts, goblins, witches, zombies, super heroes, ballerinas, princesses and more! Yep, all the little ones will begin their annual neighborhood, door-to-door candy marathon.

In our house, the Halloween celebrations start well before the 31st, and basically mean Mommy coming up with yummy treats for the boy to enjoy all month long. But I know for many of you, a big Halloween bash is on the menu, and you need ideas that are both easy and yummy.

That's where I come in. This was actually my last post for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis this month. I can't believe my 6 months with them has come and gone, but I enjoyed every minute. What a thrill for me to work with a place that not only does my child adore, but I have very fond memories of growing up as well.

I wanted to give them a recipe that kids can enjoy as an after school snack, or like I said, at a big Halloween party. Something so simple it can come together in almost no time, and enjoyed all night long, or in our case, be munched on for days!

Even if you don't have huge Halloween plans, you can still make it a fun day for the little ones. And more importantly, a really delicious one!

Halloween Snack Mix

2 ½  heaping cups. Apple Cinnamon Cheerios

2 cups pretzels
1 (7.5 oz) jar salted roasted peanuts
1 (8 oz.) bag candy pumpkins
1 (8 oz.) bag candy corn
2 (3.4 oz) boxes M&M’s

Mix all in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Originally Posted on The Children's Museum
Shared at Weekend Potluck

Celebrate #Oatober with Peanut Butter & Co.

Just in time for Halloween, and all the sweetness that goes with it, I've teamed up with my good friends at Peanut Butter & Co. and Bob's Red Mill to transform October into "Oatober"!

I've got something that the little ones can not only enjoy for an after school snack, lunchbox treat, or Halloween party dish, but can also help make! They will love getting their hands sticky and messy, and then maybe even licking them when done!

So many schools don't allow homemade treats at classroom parties, but if yours is okay with it, these would be perfect! So yummy and a perfect little sweet bite.

We love peanut butter. Like eat from the jar with a spoon love, so the double peanut butter punch in these, with the Reese's candies, makes them extra special.

If you're looking for something fun to make with your kids, or maybe something to feed all those little goblins and witches that come to your big Halloween bash, I've got you covered!

No Bake Halloween Balls

2 1/2 c. old fashion oats ( I used Bob's Red Mill)

1 c. creamy peanut butter (I used PB & Co. Smooth Operator)

1/2 c. honey

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

1/2 c. Reese's pieces

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. Roll into balls. Chill for 30 minutes to set. Store in fridge in airtight container. *NOTE* When rolling, some of the candies will want to fall out. Just keeping pressing. 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Disclaimer: As part of Yum Squad I received product in exchange for this post. All thoughts, opinions and the recipe are all mine.

Happy Halloween!!!

It's finally here! If your kids are anything like Monkey, and I think most are, the only countdown bigger than the one to today is the one coming up in about a month towards December 25th! Children everywhere are sitting in classrooms right now watching the minutes tick away just trying to contain themselves until they can get home, don their witches hats, pirate swords, superhero capes and princess tiaras. When Monkey gets home, he is convinced he needs to change right away, and trick or treating should start promptly at 3:45 pm. Well, our city council sees things differently and therefore made trick or treat hours from 6-8 pm, which means I have 2 hours to fill the void with some Halloween fun so I don't have to hear "Is it time yet?" every 5 minutes. So, I'm going to surprise him with these for a yummy, festive after school snack! I know he is going to think they are too cute and be surprised at what lies underneath. Hopefully these will lessen his urge to run out the door a little bit until that magical witching hour. From my family to yours, I wish you and your little ones a very "spook-tacular" and fun filled day!

~Happy Halloween~

My Monkey as Captain America

Ghost Pops From Pinterest
1 banana, cut into thirds
1 (6 oz) container very vanilla yogurt
1 c. sweetened flaked coconut
Candy sticks
6 pieces of chocolate puff cereal

Spread each piece of banana with yogurt, coating liberally. Roll in coconut, pressing to adhere. Dip each piece of of cereal in yogurt and press into banana for eyes. Freeze for 1 hour to set.

Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain Oct. 31, 2012

Halloween at Very Good Recipes
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Make Your Kids Say "Ewww"...

Do you have anything planned fun planned for Halloween? A costume party? A classroom party? Maybe you are just like me and while you don't have a big gathering to attend, you still want to make the day as fun as possible for you little ones. And maybe like me you enjoy the fact that not only can you be the coolest mom ever with a sweet treat, but you also get a little thrill of totally grossing them out! If this is the case, then why not have something easy to make, fun to say and yummy to eat waiting on them after school on Halloween? Can you imagine the kiddies walking through the front door asking "Mommy, can we have a snack?" And you answering with "Sure, I've some worms in dirt for you." The looks of horror on their faces would be priceless (In fact, you might want to have the camera ready!) This is actually something I remember eating as a kid at our church Halloween party, and it was always so much fun! Eating something that sounds so gross always makes it taste better! Let's face it, with kids (especially boys) the more gross something sounds, but tastes great, the more they will love it! So, if you are looking for a entertaining, yet simple dessert for Halloween night when the ghosts and goblins stop by to say "Boo", I've got you covered!

Worms in Dirt
1 (3.4oz) package instant chocolate pudding
2 c. cold milk
1 (8oz) tub Cool Whip
1 (16oz) package chocolate sandwich cookies
Gummy Worms (I used the sour variety)

In a large bowl, combine pudding and milk. Whisk constantly for 2 minutes. Allow to set in fridge for 5 minutes. In a large plastic bag, add cookies and crush with a rolling pin. When pudding is set, add Cool Whip and half the crushed cookies. Stir well until mixture is all the same color. In small plastic cups place 1 TBS remaining crushed cookies. Spoon pudding mixture into another plastic bag, and cut corner off to make a pastry bag. Pipe pudding into plastic cups, filling about 3/4 the way. Top each with about 2 TBS remaining cookies and gummy worms.

~Join me for Tasty Tuesday on Formula Mom~

Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Oct. 23, 2012
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain Oct. 24, 2012
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Oct. 25, 2012
Shared on The Country Cook Oct. 26, 2012

Kids at Very Good Recipes
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Halloween Supper

Alex as Luigi-- Happy Halloween!!

I don't know how it is at your house on Halloween night, but at ours, it's a mad dash to fit everything in, especially if, like this year, it's a school night. I know I have a few hours to finish homework, fix supper, trick or treat in multiple places, sort candy and get my little goblin to bed at a decent hour. Sigh.....for Mommy, it takes just a little of the fun out of it. But this year, I have a plan. Supper is going to be easy, quick, fun, special and spooky all "bandaged" into one dish! This is an idea I had saved to my Halloween Pinterest board since the summer! I found it on the Pillsbury website and knew not only would Alex love them, they would be the perfect "pre-candy" treat. I always make sure Alex has a meal before we head out, but I remember how it was when I was little. You are so excited to hit the streets, you can barely sit still long enough to take 5 bites, so a big meal just isn't worth it, and Alex is no exception. So w/ this, I'm hoping to hold his attention a little longer!! After all, it's a "Mummy's" job to have make sure he has all the energy he needs to haul in as much sugar as possible! Happy Halloween to you and all your little goblins, witches, mummies and vampires!

Mummy Dogs from Pillsbury

1 can crescent rolls, or seamless dough sheet (I used the dough sheet)

10 large hot dogs

2 1/2 American cheese slices, quartered

Ketchup and Mustard, if desired

Cooking Spray

Preheat oven to 375°F. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate at perforations, creating 4 rectangles. Press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles. With a knife, cut each rectangle into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough (cut it the long way). Slice cheese into quarters. Lay hot dog on cheese slice.Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog, creating bandages. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate bandages so hot dog shows through for "face". Place on ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side down. Spray lightly w/ cooking spray. Bake about 15 minutes until golden brown. Put some mustard in ziploc bag. Cut tip off. Squeeze to create eyes. Serve w/ ketchup and mustard for dipping, if desired.

Snacks at Very Good Recipes

Neighborly Treat

Halloween is just around the corner, and I've had tricks and treats on the brain. Alex gets so excited to see what candy he can get, and to just dress up for an entire evening as one of his favorite characters. This year, I have a little Luigi raring to go. Yep, my son is going to 1/2 of the famous Super Mario Bros duo. I have to admit he looks SO adorable in his costume, mustache and all :) We actually go back to my home town to go trick or treating. One, so Maa Ma can join us and have some fun too. And secondly, because, honestly, we know more people there then in our own neighborhood. We've lived here almost 9 years, and while we are friendly w/ our immediate neighbors, our housing addition is so large, we just don't know people outside of our block. So to be safe, we go to all the houses I used to trick or treat at! But we are very good friends w/ a family a few doors down from us, and I didn't want to cheat their 4 kids out of treat, since we won't be home to hand out candy. These 4 siblings, are such good kids, and Alex has gotten to be really good friends w/ of them, enjoying baseball games and trips to the park this past summer. So I wanted to do something extra cute for them, and after making one, experimenting w/ Alex, I knew these would be perfect. I actually found the idea  for these on Pinterest and couldn't wait for an excuse to make them. The original called for red licorice rope candy, but NOBODY in Fort Wayne seems to carry this anymore....lol. But I think what I substituted worked really well, and I hope all the kids enjoy them. "Trick or Treat"..........

Spider Cookies
Oreo sandwich cookies
Mini Sour Straw Candy (I found them in packs of 5 at Dollar General 8/$1.00)
Nutella
Mini Marshmallows

Place straw candy on each side of Oreo as "legs". I could only fit 3 per side. Cut a mini marshmallow in half, and put a small dot of Nutella on bottom of each half. Adhere to Oreo as "eyes".

Shared on This Chick Cooks Oct. 26, 2011
Shared on Lady Behind the Curtain Oct. 26, 2011
Shared Hugs & Cookies Oct. 26, 2011
Shared on Lark's Country Heart Oct. 26, 2011
Shared on Bacon Time Oct. 26, 2011
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage Oct. 27, 2011
Shared on It's a Keeper Oct. 27, 2011
Shared on Around My Family Table Oct. 27, 2011
Shared on Something Swanky Oct. 27, 2011
Shared on A Little Nosh Oct. 27, 2011
Shared on Jane Deere Oct. 28, 2011
Shared on Simply Sweet Home Oct. 28, 2011
Shared on Gooseberry Patch Oct. 29, 2011
Shared on Sweet as Sugar Cookies Oct. 29, 2011
Shared on J Daniel 4s Mom Oct. 29. 2011
Shared on Six Sisters' Stuff Oct. 29, 2011
Shared on Make Ahead Meals Oct. 31, 2011

Desserts at Very Good Recipes
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