Category Archives: Holidays

Scrumptious Carrot Cake

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carrot c

My mom has made this ever since I was little and we all LOVE it!!! I am not sure of the original source. My friend who owned a bakery in Nantucket used it to make her carrot muffins –so you know it has to be a keeper. :)  It is moist and absolutely scrumptious.  The only problem is you will want to eat the entire cake yourself!

carrot cake

Cake:

3 cups flour
3 cups sugar
4 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 nutmeg
2 1/4 cups oil
6 eggs

*I also add 1/2 cup raisins

I use a blender to chop the carrots which takes no time at all.

IMG_1219Mix all ingredients together. Oil and flour 3 round (9-inch pans) and divide the batter equally. Bake at 350 for 30-35 min.  If you want an easier version, you can simply use a large sheet pan and cook for longer.

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Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter (1/4 lb.)
1 lb. box confectionary sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 Tablespoons crushed pineapple (make sure you drain all liquid –I squeeze out the juice between paper towels)

* The original recipe called for chopped walnuts between each layer– but with nut allergies in our family we leave them out.

Cream butter and cream cheese until there are no clumps. Add sugar, vanilla and pineapple gradually.

IMG_1264IMG_1267IMG_1269Make sure the cake is completely cooled. Place wax paper between the bottom layer of the cake and the plate. Spread icing on and between each of the layers of cake.  Sprinkle each layer with walnuts, if desired.  Once frosted, remove wax paper from the bottom.

IMG_1391I used orange starbursts and green jelly beans to make the carrots.  I had seen a similar idea on Sweet Simple Stuff. Refrigerate until an hour before serving.  Enjoy!

A Ballerina Birthday Party

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Ballerina partyEvery little girl’s birthday party shares one common thread: giggling and gabbing! And it was no different for L.’s ballerina-themed 5th birthday party. I simply broke the party down into 30–minute segments; time for crafts, time for dancing and time for “tea.” It was a lot of fun! Here’s how L.’s party went down:

PRE-PARTY PREP

Tissue Paper Puff Decorations

1st Get 8-10 sheets of tissue paper (can cut in half if large sheets).
IMG_03712nd Fold back & forth like you’re making a paper fan (about 1.5-2 inches).
IMG_03583rd Tie a ribbon (long enough to hang from ceiling, lights…) around the middle.
IMG_03744th Cut the two edges into peddle shapes (rounded).
IMG_03635th Fan out the tissue paper and then gently open one sheet at a time on each side.
IMG_0375IMG_03816th Hang them around your home and outside, if it makes sense.

IMG_0526Tables

I wrapped the little tables we were using for the tea party portion of the party in wrapping paper. I have used this same gold and silver roll for so many parties, because it’s so universal! I then used double-sided tape to attach ballerina ribbon. 

IMG_0503IMG_0525IMG_0631To mark each of the girls’ special place at the tables, I created ballet name cards. I simply printed the ballerina, glued them down and wrote each child’s name on an index card folded in half.

IMG_0508ballerina labelsClick here to download our free ballerina labels.

Our party invitations asked each girl to wear dance clothes and informed them that they would be given a tutu. We placed the tutus on coat hangers and hung them on the back of the chairs for decoration. We also made a dance mix CD of L’s favorite songs.  If I did this type of party again, I would make each child a copy of the CD. 

IMG_0505CRAFTS

Picture Frame Designing

The girls started the party off by creating their own picture frames to take home. We drew each child’s name and a simple decoration (heart, flower, etc.) with puffy paints that we let dry overnight before the party. Then the girls decorated their frames with self-adhesive jewel stickers. This was a good activity for a wide age-range of children.

IMG_0545IMG_0692IMG_0706Make your Own Hair Ties

We cut a variety of different ribbons that the girls got to pick from, which they tied on to their hair elastics. We found that the real fancy ribbons were hard for them to tie on themselves, so it worked best to use a separate little piece of thread to tie all the pieces of ribbon on at once for little ones.

IMG_0575IMG_0720IMG_0716IMG_0927DANCING

After crafts, we moved on to the dance party. I manned the music and skipped ahead once it seemed like the girls stopped being really excited about a given song.  The average length of a song is way too long for most little ones to stay truly excited about it in its entirety. This seemed to work well, because they were dancing and laughing away!

IMG_0747IMG_0739IMG_0954TEA PARTY

Everyone settled down at the place settings on the tables after the dance party to enjoy quite a spread of finger foods. We served cream cheese and raspberry jelly heart sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, mac & cheese balls (Trader Joes), spinach triangles (Trader Joes), watermelon pops, cantaloupe, little pizzas, chicken nuggets, pink lemonade, apple juice, water & cake and ice cream.

IMG_0563IMG_0594IMG_0511IMG_0919With just a little bit of planning and creativity, having a large group of kids over for a birthday party can be a good experience, not overwhelming. Again, breaking activities down into timed segments definitely helps keep the flow going so everyone has as much fun as possible!

Here is a link to another fun ballerina craft.

IMG_7274Have fun party ideas or tips to add to our ballerina party? Please share below!

Magical Chicks & Eggs — A Wonderful Easter Tradition

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magical egg pictureI absolutely LOVE this Easter tradition I discovered on Meet the Dubiens!

1st – Make chicks out of plastic eggs.

IMG_4631IMG_4634IMG_4636IMG_46382nd – Design a nest for the chicks.  We used egg cartons and other supplies we found around the house.

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3rd – Check daily to see if they lay any magical eggs (aka jellybeans).  I occasionally put other special surprises in the chicks’ nests throughout the week.

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4th – On the day before Easter, hide a magical egg inside each chick.

5th – Once your children find the magical eggs, they need to plant them in Easter grass and wait to see what happens…

IMG_49536th – On Easter morning, they will find special lollipops where the eggs were planted.  If you place the lollipop stick in a clump of playdough or clay it will stand straight up.  Eat the jellybeans so the magical eggs aren’t found by little ones :)IMG_4962IMG_4971

Lucky Treats!

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clover Greenest of shamrocks…Cutest of leprechauns…Brightest of rainbows…These are just a few fun crafts and activities that seem to fill up the average American toddler and preschooler‘s month of March.  And to add to the fun, today we’re sharing a classic Kellogg’s recipe that’s both festive and a tasty treat for the kids to make and enjoy.

You’ll need:

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies

Preparation Steps:

In large saucepan, melt butter on low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.

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IMG_1088Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies. Stir until mixed together.

IMG_1090IMG_1094Scoop onto wax paper. I used a rolling pin covered in Canola oil to evenly press the treats. When they cooled, we cut out 4 hearts using a cookie cutter, which we covered with oil using a paper towel. We pressed the four hearts together using a little more of the mixture and added a triangle for the bottom of the four-leaf clover. Then we add green decorations (m&ms, sprinkles, etc.)  One is large enough to share with the entire family!

IMG_1100IMG_1115IMG_1117IMG_1125IMG_1139IMG_1155Not only did the kiddos really enjoy making their “lucky treats,” this activity also had a lot of opportunities for them to practice math concepts. We counted the marshmallows, sorted the mms by colors and used them to practice simple addition and subtraction and measured the other ingredients. Cooking activities, tasty snacks and education–win, win, win.

IMG_1106There’s still time for your little one to wear St. Patrick’s day spirit if you order today!lucky

Delicious, Homemade Dessert

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banana pieIs there anything like the smell and taste of something made from scratch? That homey feeling of baking is exactly what keeps me motivated to keep trying new recipes—even ones I am not sure I will enjoy!

For me, banana cream pie fell in the “doubtful I’ll like” category. Still, knowing it was my husband’s favorite, I decided to experiment with it for his birthday. I loosely followed a vanilla cream filling recipe from Joy Of Cooking, used my Grandma’s pie crust recipe, and added homemade whipped cream on top. To my surprise, it was delicious and got rave reviews all around. So if you think you don’t like desserts with banana as the star ingredient—reconsider and try this recipe!

Pie Crust (you can always skip this step and use a premade crust):

1½ cup white flour
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter (1 stick)
2-3 tablespoons water

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Put the flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter. After the pieces of butter are very small, add just enough water to hold the dough together in a ball. I make 1½ times this recipe, because it is easier to roll it out large and just trim it. As a bonus, you can always bake the left over pieces and put jelly on top. I loved this as a child.

IMG_9365Folding the crust in half and then again into quarters is the easiest way to get it into the pie pan without breaking. Make sure the crust extends slightly over the rim of the pie plate, because without filling it shrinks as it bakes.

Poke holes in the bottom and sides of the crust with a fork, so it doesn’t puff up while baking. Bake at 325˚F for 30-35 minutes.

Whipped Cream:

Beat heavy whipping cream until slightly thick. Add vanilla and sugar to taste. Beat until cream holds peaks.

Filling:

Slice 5 firm, but ripe bananas and set aside. (The great thing about bananas is you can get organic ones all year long!)

Whisk in a pan on medium heat:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup & 1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ tsp. salt
3 3/4 cups whole milk

Vigorously whisk in:
8 egg yolks (have them handy before beginning to cook the filling)

IMG_8786Stir constantly. The filling will get thick and start to bubble. Keep on heat for a couple minutes until fully cooked. If it starts to splatter too much, simply remove it from the heat for a few seconds, then cook for another minute or two.

Remove from heat and add 1½ tablespoons vanilla.

IMG_8781While hot, layer 1/3 of the filling, half of the bananas, 1/3 of the filling, half of the bananas, and the remaining 1/3 of the filling into the pie crust.

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Chill slightly, then cover tightly with plastic wrap against the pudding.
Once fully cooled, top with whipped cream.

So many friends and family members have asked me for this recipe that I figured I should share it with you. ☺

ENJOY!!!

Heart Bookmarks

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I found this wonderful Valentine’s Day project on Martha Stewart.com.

Make two heart stencils –a larger one that is 2-3 inches wide and a smaller one that is 1-2 inches.  I used a cookie cutter and let L trace them herself.

Cut out the stencils, so they are easier to trace onto decorative paper.

Trace and cut out a bunch of larger and smaller hearts.  If the paper you are using is thin, it works nicely to glue it onto card stock (I used index cards) to make it thicker and more durable.  This is particularly helpful if your little one will be using the bookmark.

I used scissors to cut out all the hearts, but you could use a utility knife if you aren’t working with little ones.

We also painted some of our hearts, instead of using fancy paper.  I have a drying rack that I use only for craft projects, which came in handy because this way we could paint both sides at once and not have it stick to the surface.

Cover the bottom half of the heart (the v) with an index card and put glue on the top half of the heart.

Glue the smaller heart to the larger heart and let dry.

They make wonderful gifts!  

Make it About Moments This Valentine’s Day

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Colorful candy, fuzzy stuffed animals and cutesy cards are at the heart of Valentine’s Day for kids these days. But as with other material, gift-giving occasions throughout the year, it’s important to emphasize the value of enjoying family and friend moments too. We recently shared one idea for making it an extra special day for your little one, but there are many other ways that don’t involve presents. A Valentine’s Day dinner will ensure you all end the day on a sweet note together.

We created a family Valentine’s Day meal last year and it was so delicious that we’ve enjoyed each component (except the beat soup) on its own several times since then.  I’ve listed recipes we used below, but a good rule of thumb is to simply work a little whimsy in with whatever foods your family loves.

Sweet potatoes:  Peel and cut into strips, then punch out heart shapes with a cookie cutter. Roll in olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes.

Chicken Salad Wraps: Recipe adapted from food network.

Boil, cube and refrigerate:

3 russet potatoes peeled
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast
Cook 6 slices bacon (I use turkey bacon for a healthier option) until crispy and crumble.

In a large bowl, combine:

1/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 fresh sage leaves, chopped

Serve the chicken salad in Bibb lettuce and roll up to eat.

2 heads Bibb lettuce, leaves separated

Add onion if desired

Strawberries: (One of the easiest fruits to turn into a heart!) Just cut straight across (like shown in this picture) and then make a v-slice in the top.

Brownies: I got this recipe from Dine & Dish 

Mix the following ingredients well:

1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 T vanilla
2 large eggs
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

Grease a 9 by 9 inch pan with oil or butter. Pour in batter and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Use heart shaped cookie cutters to make the hearts.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner idea or activity to share? Write in comments below or post to our Facebook wall.

Love Notes (for Kids!)

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Last Valentine’s Day we made “Love Notes” for our girls with the help of family & friends.  They were such a hit that we decided to make it a family tradition.

We included the Love Notes idea in a Valentine’s Day activity roundup we did last year. Here’s how it works:

? Cut out heart shapes on colored pieces of paper or cardstock (the more the better!)

? Write sweet, funny, or silly messages to your child on as many hearts as you’d like.

? Ask family members and friends if they have any messages they’d like to share with your child. (You can either mail them the heart to decorate themselves or simply email people and have them email you a note for you to write on a heart yourself).

? Once you have collected all of your messages, hide them throughout your home so that when your child wakes and goes about his or her day, he/she will discover them throughout the house. Once Valentine’s Day is over, you can put them in a scrapbook or box and date it so that you can all fondly flip through them as the years go by.  This keepsake helped last year, because these notes decorated our house for over a month until L. finally agreed we could take them down. We saved both the girls’ notes. We have enjoyed looking through them many times this past year.

L. was so excited, she couldn’t stop saying, “Look a heart!” “Whoa! Another heart….”  And my favorite: “I think Santa and his reindeers left these here!” Luckily, it didn’t seem any less magical when she discovered that people she knew had written the Valentines. She couldn’t believe how many there were.  She seemed very pleased with herself hearing all the nice comments people shared about her :)

Needless to say, we highly recommend this Valentine’s Day surprise for your children! And if you’re thinking about little gifts that say I love you, please consider our custom artwork Find A Match games and customizable t-shirts and onesies!