Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Playing With Snack Time

So my last post covered some ideas for fruit-filled snacks that are sure to please. In this post, I'll give you some ideas of how to blur the line between snack time and craft time. You might even call it snaft-time or crack-time (or maybe not).

Idea #1: Snowflake Tortillas
My kids love cutting up flour tortillas into snowflake shapes. Obviously they can be cut into any shape you want!
We get the uncooked flour tortillas from Costco and then when the kids are done with the shapes, I fry up the tortillas and sprinkle on a little cinnamon sugar.
We first saw this idea in the Friend magazine last year - they suggested using regular already-cooked tortillas and just getting them a little wet so that they're more flexible for cutting. They also suggested powdered sugar to look more like snow - but we prefer cinnamon!

Idea #2: Pretzels

We love making pretzels. They are fast and easy and the kids love making their own shapes.

Pretzel Recipe (from Mitten Strings for God - well worth the read)

Dissolve 1 T yeast in a half cup warm water. Let sit 5 minutes.
Add 1 t honey and 1 t salt.
Mix in 1 1/3 C flour
Knead dough and divide it amongst 2-4 children. Then let them create with it!
Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Idea #3: Edible Play-doh

We have made peanut butter play-doh before. It was easy and fun for the kids. There are so many recipes on the internet, here are a bunch. Jason loves this too. Everyone has the urge to try a little piece of play-doh every once in a while, right? Jason's childhood attempts did not end as well as your child's will if you use an edible recipe!

Idea #4: Fruit and Vegetable Sculptures

I recently made a friend on Whidbey Island who created some amazing sculptures for the Island County Fair, see her post here. They are incredible.

Idea #5: Popcorn Trees

This is a post of mine from a year ago. Just something simple and fun - you eat the popcorn while making the trees!

Obviously, some of these ideas might require the addition of fruits or vegetables to make them a little more well-rounded. Now you can take playing with your food to a whole new level!

Thanks to Emily and Anne for inviting me to be contribute to Bloom. I wish you all the best with your new endeavor.

8 comments:

Rachael said...

our pretzels are in the oven right now--thanks for the great idea! my girls LOVED making these!

Jonesy said...

These are some fun ideas! I have to nix the PB playdough, though. If I let my kiddos eat it, they'll most definitely try to sample any and all playdough from here on out--edible or not. :)
I think I'll do the tortilla snowflakes, but bake them instead of fry them...

Joan said...

The tortilla snowflakes are perfect for my son James who is just learning how to wield scissors (preschooler).
SUCH fun ideas. Thanks you.

Christina said...

Jonesy -

I like the idea of baking them. I could still use the cinnamon sugar - just get the tortillas a little wet first and then sprinkle with sugar and then pop them in the oven - they would be more like chips and cut down on the fat.

lori said...

Great ideas! Thanks!

Bloom said...

I love these, Christina! I am so excited to try the snowflakes and pretzels!!
anne

Rebecca said...

Such fun ideas! I tend to get a little overwhelmed (ie stressed, grouchy) at mealtimes some days...what a great way for me to relax and let my kids just have fun with food! Thanks so much for sharing!

Honey said...

Christina, you are ALWAYS so clever! Thanks for some fabulous ideas.