Amos 'n Andy

My mom used to call this snack "Amos 'n Andy," the same things as Egg in a Basket, Popeye, Toad in the Hole, Egg in a Nest, Egg in a Frame...whatever you call it, it is easy and tasty!

Use a cookie cutter and cut a shape out of a piece of bread. Butter that empty bread and put it into the frying pan. Crack an egg into the shape. Fry both sides.

What's cool about making this for kids, besides that it's an easy breakfast is that you can cut out any shape the kids will enjoy, think holiday and seasonal!

Homemade Silly Putty Recipe

Way easy. Equal parts white school glue and liquid starch. I use 1/2 c. of each. Add a few drops of food coloring to get the desired color. Stir it up and you'll have your very own silly putty!

Best done over tile, kitchen counter or table.

Recycle It Tip: Save large empty cereal bags, cut open to form a large playmat or placemat. It'll make clean up easier!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Can I make a peanut butter cookie without baking it?

What is a mixture?

Can I follow directions and measure things correctly?

These simple cookies are fun to make together and require no baking time. A bonus blend of math and science too!
Making No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

18-Way PB&J

End of summer nears. School looms. Regular ol' PB&Js bore. Check out these variations on a classic.

The Great PB&J Makeover, courtesy Welch's

Simple Banana Smoothie

Whip up a smoothie in no time, as a cool summer treat or a healthy snack. Super easy and you can mix and match until you get the drink your child adores.

Combine in a blender:

1 frozen banana

1 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

A dash of sugar

A pinch of cinnamon

*Variations: Other varieties of fruit (C suggests his favorite, blueberries!), frozen yogurt, Splenda instead of sugar, 1 Tbsp. flaxseed oil or 1 Tbsp. brown rice protein

Astronaut Puddin'

You'll need: pudding mix, zip top bag, milk

Directions: Put one Tbsp. pudding mix into a zip top bag. Add 1/4 c. milk. Seal. Mush and squish until it is pudding consistency. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag and eat your pudding like the astronauts do in space- without utensils!

Making Homemade Applesauce

When I think of fall and back to school, I think of apples! Making your own applesauce is a very simple process and one you can easily involve your preschooler in. Make a real trip of it and pick your own apples in the orchard or support your local farmer's market. A plastic knife or butter knife can further chop down apple slices.

We use this recipe from AllRecipes.com Note: The type of apple you use might affect how much sugar the recipe needs. We recommend "Pink Lady" apples, and use a little less sugar than the recipe calls for.

Sarah's Applesauce

Making Colored Noodles

Materials: Noodles, zip top baggies, food coloring, rubbing alcohol

1. Decide on what kind of noodles you want to use. To make noodle jewelry, find pasta with a hole in the center.

2. Use as many zip top bags as colors you want.

3. Place the desired amount of noodles into each bag.

4. Pour just enough rubbing alcohol in the bag so all the noodles are covered.

5. Add a generous amount of food coloring to each baggie of noodles.

6. Put the bags of noodles aside and let them sit until they are the desired color-- the longer they sit, the brighter the colors.

7. Remove from the baggies and spread in a single layer on paper towels to dry.

8. Craft away!

DO NOT EAT. It may take hours for coloring and up to 24 hours to dry. Store in an airtight container for future use.

*Variation: Colorations® Liquid Watercolors work to dye noodles as well.

All Purpose Bubble Solution

This is a good general use mixture.

Ingredients:

4 1/2 Cups Water (Distilled Water works best)

1/2 Cup hand dishwashing detergent (Dawn or Joy are best!)

Optional: 1/2 Cup Karo light corn syrup or Glycerin

1. Combine water and detergent. Stir well, but do not shake.

2. For stronger bubbles add corn syrup or glycerin, or more detergent.

*Extension: Make large bubble wands from straws threaded onto string.

Fruity Frogs & Monarch Munchies

As seen in Family Fun magazine and Parents magazine, respectively.

We made this snack after reading It's Mine by Leo Lionni, a book about 3 quarrelsome little frogs that find out life is better in the pond when you share.

You will need: Green apples, green grapes, cream cheese, chocolate chips, Pepperidge Farm butterfly crackers, hummus, currants, optional green paper plates for lily pads

Directions: Cut apple into quarters, core. Add green grapes to one quarter for feet. Put two globs of cream cheese on top with chocolate chips in them for eyes. Spread hummus on butterfly crackers, decorate with currants.

Standby Tried and True Playdough Recipe

Never made playdough at home? Try this easy stove top version. Children can measure and pour ingredients while an adult supervises near the stove.

Playdough

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Salt
1 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Food Coloring

Cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until you can't stir anymore. Knead on floured surface until smooth. Store in air-tight container when not in use. We use Ziploc freezer bags.

Ready for the fancy version? Add scents or glitter! Any extract works. We recommend lemon or peppermint. Our last batch the boys chose to make olive green with silver glitter.

Cinnamon Playdough

2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Cups Salt
4 Tablespoons Cinnamon
4 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
(Glitter, optional)

Cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until you can't stir anymore. Knead on floured surface until smooth. Store in air-tight container when not in use.

*Extension: Playdough is wonderful for children's fine motor development. Set out the dough and various cookie cutters and kitchen gadgets. Try child safety scissors for scissoring practice and hand-eye coordination.

*Extension: When playdough is starting to get a little funky or dry, have the child make a handprint in it and you can fill with Plaster of Paris to have a keepsake.