Smore Bags

With it being the 4th of July tomorrow I thought I would share our special snack this summer. Smore bags are really easy to put together and since the kids don't get them all that often they get so excited when we have them as our special treat. My plans for these bags are to bring them out tomorrow night when we go to watch the fireworks.

To put this little bag of yumminess together you will need just 3 ingredients. Golden Grahams, Mini Marshmallows, and Chocolate chips. I put about 1/2 cup of each ingredient into a plastic baggie for each kid. I may or may not have made a couple extra for my husband and I :)

We also take these camping with us and I always make extra because everyone enjoys a smore!

I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July!

Vegtable Pizza

If you have not tried Veggie Pizza you are missing out. My Grandma made this for me years ago when I was in college. Of course being the nice girl that I am I shared with friends and now it seems our get togethers are not complete without veggie pizza to snack on.

Ingredients

2 Crescent Roll Tubes

8 oz cream cheese

8 oz sour cream

Ranch Seasoning Package

Veggies (I use brocolli, carrots, and cauliflower)

Instructions.

1. Roll crescents flat onto baking sheet (similar to pizza crust). Bake according to package directions or until crust is golden.

2. While crescent roll crust is baking mix cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch together until smooth (may want to soften cream cheese in microwave first).

3. Wash and chop up your veggies.

4. Once the crescent roll crust is done baking spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on top. Top with veggies.

5. Refridgerate to cool. 

6. Once cooled cut and store in a plastic container using plastic wrap between layers.

Trust me this pizza never lasts long and I will admit I sometimes make this and eat it all by myself!

Sugar Cookies

I forgot how fun these cookies were to make. Alivia and I decided to do some baking one Sunday afternoon and because these cookies involve just a little more work than adding and mixing ingredients I knew she would love them. First we mixed together the ingredients and then...

 

we rolled the dough into balls and smashed them flat....

 

and then we added sprinkles until some of the cookies couldn't hold anymore.

 

 The best part was that these cookies tasted delicious (always important if you are going to spend a Sunday afternoon baking).

 

Ingredients

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 c. margarine

1 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

4 c. + 1 T. flour

 

Instructions

Mix by hand all ingredients. Roll into small balls. Press each ball with glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

 

Note: Less flour is best. May substitute butter for margarine. Butter is a crispier cookie. Margarine makes a slightly softer cookie.



Taco Rolls

This simple recipe came from my mom. I love how easy it is and how each person can dress up their "tacos" however they please. I like mine with a little salsa, sour cream, and black olives. My kids like theirs with cheese on top.  I once made this for an afternoon candle party I hosted and it was a big hit with my guests.

Ingredients

2 packages of cresent rolls

1 lb. hamburger

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 package taco seasoning

Taco Toppings (lettuce, tomato, black olives, salsa, sour cream, etc.)

Directions.

1. Preheat oven according to cresent package directions.

2. Brown hamburger and drain. Return to pan and add taco seasoning. Cook according to taco seasoning package directions.

3. Add shredded cheddar cheese to hamburger mixture and set aside.

3. Open cresent packages and lay on cookie sheet as pictured.

4. Place 1-2 spoonfuls of the hamburger mixture in each cresent as pictured above. Fold the cresent dough over meat mixture and tuck under forming a wrap/roll.

5. Place in oven and bake according to cresent package directions.

6. Top with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!

I usually serve this with a side of spanish rice. This is a quick and easy meal and does not usually last long in my house. I am definitely all about quick and easy this time of the year because the faster I can get dinner on the table the faster we can get outside to play!

Ants on a Log

This is an easy snack that is healthy and fun for the kids. I am lucky that Liv loves her veggies. When I suggested we make these she was really excited and was really helpful when it came to putting them together.

What You Need

Celery
Peanut Butter
Raisens

What To Do

1. Wash and cut up your celery.

2. Spread Peanut Butter onto celery.

3. Place the raisens onto the celery.

4. Tada!! Ants on a log!!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Alivia is celebrating her 4th Birthday today! I still can't believe how fast she is growing up. I am taking the day off and we are spending the day in the city. She has requested to eat somewhere with chopsticks for lunch (PF Changs may-be?) and a friend of ours gave Liv a giftcard to Build-A-Bear (meaning we will spend our afternoon at the mall).

Due to our adventures today Alivia took her birthday treats to school yesterday. I had been wanting to make these ice cream cone cupcakes with her for a long time. My mom who is an excellent baker (a trait I did not inherit) would make these for me when I was a kid. Although our cupcakes did not turn out as fancy as hers always did we are still very proud of them!

What You Need

1 Boxed Cake Mix and the ingredients mix requires (we used a funfetti cake mix)

1 Can of Frosting (we used the funfetti vanilla frosting that came with its own sprinkles)

2 dozen ice cream cones

1 muffin pan

What To Do

1. Mix the cake mix and preheat the oven according to the package instructions.

2. Place the ice cream cones in the muffin pan as pictured.

3. Fill each ice cream cone with cake batter about 2/3 full.

4. Bake in oven according to cake mix directions. Insert a toothpick into the cupcake and if the toothpick comes out clean then your cupcakes are done.

5. Decorate your cupcakes to look like real ice cream cones. I simply spread the frosting onto each cupcake with a butter knife and threw on some sprinkles. My mom would always get out her cake decorating tips when I was a kid and make a swirling pile of frosting on top. Both taste excellent! :) 

You may be wondering how to transport these once they are finished. We simply wrapped napkins on the base of each cupcake and filled up a cake pan to carry them in. I am happy to report all arrived to daycare in one piece. Have fun!