Easter Carrots!

Today at my daughters story hour we made the cutest place settings.  They were so simple to make.  You can use orange construction paper and roll into a cone shape.  Staple or tape and stuff with large green napkin.  You can even place some garden markers inside with your guests names on them.  If you wanted you could use fancier napkins and dress them up more... So many different versions can be made.  Below are a few other "carrot" themed ideas, along with a great site for printable place settings.  Enjoy!



http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/kidcraft.html
Materials:
Orange paper napkins, dinner size
Green plastic utensils
Green pipe cleaners

Time Needed:
Under 1 Hour



Directions
1. For each carrot, fold one of the paper napkins into a rectangle. Place a set of utensils across the lower left corner of the rectangle, fold in the lower right corner as shown, then roll it up loosely.
2. Wrap one or two green pipe cleaners around the napkin and necks of the utensils, then twist them to secure, as shown.
3. Trim the pipe cleaners a bit, if desired, so they look like leafy carrot tops.

Looking for a cute place setting card for your guests?

click on links below:
http://familycrafts.about.com/library/projects/bleabasktplcrd.htm


http://familycrafts.about.com/library/projects/bleapeepplcrd.htm

Carrot Patch cookies

http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-recipes/easter-cakes-desserts/carrot-patch-cookies-998993/
Ingredients

Orange Mike and Ike candies
Green gummy candy (we used Rips licorice pieces, which are flat)
Nabisco Biscos sugar wafer cookies
Chocolate frosting
Chocolate wafer cookie crumbs

Instructions

To make each carrot, cut a slit in one end of a Mike and Ike candy with a sharp knife (an adult's job). Cut a small triangle from the green gummy candy (if needed, roll it flat), then fringe the base to form leaves. Tuck the triangle into the slit of the Mike and Ike and pinch it closed.

For each carrot planter, place a wafer cookie base on a flat surface. Form the longer walls from two whole cookies and cut a third one to fit the shorter ends. Attach the pieces with frosting.

To fill four planters, combine 2 tablespoons frosting with 2 tablespoons cookie crumbs.

Fill each box with the mixture, then press three candy carrots inside.
If needed, add more of the frosting mixture to hold the carrots in place.
Notes: We used Biscos because they're smaller than many other brands. If you use a larger cookie, increase the amount of frosting and cookie crumbs.

Slow Cooker soup recipes

I love to cook with my crockpot.  I tend to use it in "spurts!".  With today being a rather cold one, I decided it would be a good idea to pull it out.  Below are two slow cooker soup recipes, all of which are full of veggies!  The Vegetarian Gumbo recipe uses white grape juice in it.  It must add great flavor to the gumbo... Let me know what you think of that! Have you ever used white grape juice in your slow cooker recipes?  Enjoy... 

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Veggie-Potato-Soup

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (16 ounces) frozen vegetable blend of your choice
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
Shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Directions
In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, vegetables, beans, broth, taco seasoning and garlic; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Garnish with cheese if desired. Yield: 10-12 servings (2-3/4 quarts).
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 145 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 19 mg cholesterol, 573 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 11 g protein.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Easy-Vegetable-Soup

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (16 ounces) frozen vegetable blend of your choice
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
Shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Directions
In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, vegetables, beans, broth, taco seasoning and garlic; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Garnish with cheese if desired. Yield: 10-12 servings (2-3/4 quarts).
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 145 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 19 mg cholesterol, 573 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 11 g protein.


Vegetarian Gumbo
http://www.cooking-recipes.net/vegetarian-recipes/vegetarian-gumbo.php
Ingredients:
1 Onion, chopped
1/2 Green pepper, diced
2 Ribs Celery, diced
1 Clove garlic, minced
1 lb Okra, sliced, fresh
2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp Basil or Rosemary, minced canned
1 tsp Vegetable Bouillon granules
1/2 cup White Grape Juice
1/2 cup Water
1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/4 tsp Paprika
1 lb Tomatoes, fresh, or canned
2 cup Corn, fresh or, frozen
Vegetable coating spray

In a large heavy stew pot, place bouillon and 1/2 C white grape juice, onion, green pepper, celery garlic, cook until tender, 5-7 minutes. Add other ingredients, cook over low heat, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking to bottom. Cover and simmer gently until corn and okra are done. (or simmer in crockpot 6-7 hours)

Cut fresh corn from cob with a sharp knife, then scrape the remaining corn off the cob. Four ears will make about two cups. If you use dried herbs, rub them with the palms of your hands before adding to the pot, this releases their aroma and goodness.

Easter fun with Jelly beans

JELLY BEANS!!! So many different ways to use them during the Easter holiday...


Jellybeans Could Circle the Globe
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/eastercandy1.html

•Americans consume 16 billion jellybeans at Easter, many of them hidden in baskets. If all the Easter jellybeans were lined end to end, they would circle the globe nearly three times.

•Jellybeans did not become an Easter tradition until the 1930s. They were probably first made in America by Boston candy maker William Schrafft, who ran advertisements urging people to send jellybeans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.

•70% of kids aged 6–11 say they prefer to eat Easter jellybeans one at a time, while 23% report eating several at once. Boys (29%) were more apt to eat a handful than girls (18%).

•Children indicate their favorite Easter jellybean flavors are cherry (20%), strawberry (12%), grape (10%), lime (7%), and blueberry (6%).

Check out link below for a Jelly bean adding printable for children.  Scroll down page to find it.
http://www.teachingheart.net/easterpage.html


http://www.janbrett.com/happy_easter_eggs_coloring_page.htm

Easter Jelly Bean Fudge

http://www.showkidsthefun.com/activity/easter-jelly-bean-fudge.html
 
What You’ll Need

2 cups white chocolate chips
1 (16 ounce) container vanilla frosting
2 cups miniature jelly beans in pastel colors (or the speckled type)

Directions
Line a 9-inch square pan with foil and grease lightly.
Melt the chips according to the package directions or in a heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Add the frosting and stir until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. (Fudge mixture should still be easy to stir, but not hot enough to melt the jelly beans.)
Add the jelly beans and stir well.
Spread the fudge mixture into the prepared pan and cool to room temperature.
Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Remove the foil and fudge from the pan together and place on a cutting surface.
Carefully remove the foil and cut the fudge into small pieces.
Makes 3 dozen pieces.

Five Little Jelly Beans: A color recognition and counting felt board activity.

http://workofheart.bravehost.com/easter.htm
Display five different colored jelly bean cut-outs on your felt board. As you recite the poem, ask student to pull the correct colored jelly bean from the board.

Five little jelly beans,

I wish I had more!

I'll eat the red one,

Now there are four.


Four little jelly beans,

Tasty as can be.

I'll eat the blue one,

Now there are three.


Three little jelly beans,

Only a few.

I'll eat the green one,

Now there are two.


Two little jellybeans,

Eating them is fun.

I'll eat the yellow one,

Now there is one.


One little jellybean

The last one is for me.

I'll eat the purple one,

I'm as happy as can be!

Jelly bean Easter basket cupcakes

http://www.celebrations.com/content/jelly-bean-easter-basket-cupcakes

Ingredients

•1 box Pilsbury Funfetti cupcake mix
•2 eggs
•1/3 cup vegetable oil
•1 half package of flaked coconut
•1 package red (or brown) shoe string licorice
•1 package Jelly Beans
•1 pinch green food coloring
•1 can vanilla icing

Directions
1. Bake Pilsbury Funfetti Cupcakes by following the directions on the back of the box.

2. Allow to cool before icing each one with vanilla icing.

3. In a medium bowl mix flaked coconut with 2-3 drops of green food coloring. Your desired color should represent "grass."

4. Sprinkle the green coconut on top of the vanilla iced cupcakes - it should stick nicely. Top with assorted Jelly Beans.

5. Poke a piece of shoe string licorice (about 4 - 5 inches long) on either side of the cupcake so it looks like a basket handle.


My girls love these books!  Laura Numeroff is also the author of "If you give a pig a pancake, If you give a mouse a cookie, If you give a Moose a muffin, etc...."

Snow Ice Cream

My friend Michelle let me in on a special treat... Its called Snow Ice Cream.  Simple to make and the perfect activity on a snow day!  We are all home for a snow day, I'll be making these for sure!!! Enjoy.
http://www.squidoo.com/snowicecream

Snow Ice Cream Recipes
These recipes start out with the same basic ingredient, a huge bowl of snow (8-12 cups). You just stir in the other ingredients to make the snow.

Vanilla Snow Ice Cream
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup cream or milk

Vanilla Recipe #2
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Snow Ice Cream
1 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate milk

Quik Chocolate Recipe
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
Nestle's Quik, to taste

Strawberry Snow Ice Cream
1 package frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 small package strawberry-flavored gelatin

WATCH A "HOW TO" VIDEO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A1Ar-Zbn9TI