Comments (2)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), December 30, 2009 21:26

Kids in the Holiday Kitchen: Making, Baking, Giving

The holidays are a time when everyone just wants to create. Weather it be crafts, gifts or yummy treats to eat- the time that we get to spend together is so much better spent when we get our hands sticky, right!? Kids (and even adults) of all ages will find some eye-catching pictures in Kids in the Holiday Kitchen, pictures  that will reel them right in to want to make the recipes/crafts. From the Stuffed French Toast (on page 14), the Sugarplum Lollies (p. 36) to the crafts of Stellar (felted) Stockings (p. 81) and the Let There Be Light (colourful beeswax candle) (p. 88) there is more than enough so that everyone  in the family will find a “must make”.

These projects are made to be kid friendly and most kids preschool age and older could do a portion of the work with a parent helper. Older kids could do them completely by themselves.  It is a way that children can take ownership of making their gifts for their teachers, aunts or that special friend that needs a little encouragement. It is never to early to encourage giving and Kids in the Holiday Kitchen encourages a season of giving all year round, even from the littlest hands. This books gets two thumbs way up from me. I am leaving you with a recipe from the book that would be perfect for your New Year’s celebrations!! Yum.

New Year’s Nuggets

Chocolate-Caramel Popcorn, from Kids in the Holiday Kitchen (p. 45)

You’ll Need:

1/2 Cup Dried Yellow Popcorn
Scant 1/4 Cup Water
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil (optional)
1/4 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
1 Cup Sugar
8 Ounces Milk Chocolate
1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

What to do:

1. Pop the popcorn.

2.  Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper.

3.  In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat over medium-high heat until golden brown, and 5 minutes. Stir gently, add the orange extract, if using, stir again. Add some of the popcorn and coat it with the caramel. use a wooden utensil to help coat the corn. Place the coated kernels on the parchment paper to cool. Repeat.

4.  When cool, break up the clumps of caramel corn, keeping the corn clumps on  the parchment.

5.  Heat the chocolate over low heat in the top of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with 1 inch of hot water (creating your own double boiler). Heat the chocolate until it’s smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn.

6.  Fill a ladle with the melted chocolate and lightly drizzle over the caramel corn. Let the chocolate caramel corn cool for 30 to 45 minutes. To make gifts, put small batches in cellophane bags; otherwise, wrap in parchment paper and keep in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Makes 4 Cups

Watch Chronicle Book’s Kids in the Holiday Kitchen book trailer:

Title: Kids in the Holiday Kitchen
ISBN: 9780811861397
Subtitle: Making, Baking, Giving
Author: Jessica Strand & Tammy Massman-Johnson
Photographer: James Baigrie
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Subject:Holiday – Christmas, Crafts for Children, Handicraft, Recipes
Publication Date: November 2008
Pages: 95

I am an affiliate of  TOMS SHOES and Powell’s Books and I do receive a percentage of the sales of any item you buy using my links. Thank you!

Comments (20)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), November 24, 2009 22:20

I just finished making my first Reading Pillow from a Sew Liberated pattern. It is actually my first time to be faithful to a pattern completely, yes I am just not ‘that kind of girl’. However, this first try at actually knowing what it would look like before making it, and sewing it easily not having to take it out and rip seams a million times made me a believer in patterns.

I made this out of some Amy Butler fabric that my sister-in-law bought for the centerpiece tablecloths at her wedding. When I thought of what fabric I could buy this fabric kept coming to my mind and since I am giving them to her mom, my mom and her for Christmas I decided this material would be perfect. I hope that you can be sure and not tell them!! SHHHHH!

I think it turned out pretty good for my first time following a pattern. I wish that I could give you all the deets in this post, but that just wouldn’t be right since Sew Liberated is selling the patterns, I bought mine off of her website, it was $11.95 but well worth the accuracy of following someones measurements who had done it before! Can I hear an ‘Amen, Sista!’? If only you knew.

At first I thought about doing a solid on the back, but then I thought, ‘well, but then it could serve a double purpose when not in use!’ and I am so glad that thought crossed my mind. Now when it isn’t being used to read, it can be used to adorn a couch or a bed- but never fear it will be fully stocked with glasses and pencils on the other side! Nifty yeah?

What is the first pattern you ever followed when sewing? Did it turn out?

Enjoy a Homemade Christmas with your family too! Get started now.

This is a gift idea that I have shared for my  Christmas a la Homemade (a handmade Christmas). I will be posting these up until Christmas to give you ideas for gifts you can make for your friends and family.

Previous Ideas from my Christmas a la Homemade (A Handmade Christmas):
Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe
Bath Salts Soak Recipe
Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern
Make a Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life

Comments (8)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), November 9, 2009 12:43

Spring Scents Bath Salts
3 Cup Epsom Salt
1 Cup Course Sea Salt
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
2 Tbs. Liquid Glycerin
12 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
Food Colouring Red and Blue (optional)

Use more or less essential oil depending on how strong you want your bath to be scented. Combine ingredients. I never use a particular order, just be sure to combine them completely so that you have a uniform mixture of relaxation and calm. I poured the salts into pint sized jars and added a lavender flower to the front of each just for pretties sake. The lavender and Ylang Ylang really settle a body down, bringing calm and peace. For an extra charged bath grab your Bible and some worship music to blast you into perfection.

Citrus Blooms Bath Salts
4 Cups Epsom Salts
2 Cups Sea Salt
3 Cups Baking Soda
2 Tbs. Liquid Glycerin
10 drops Lemon essential oil
10 drops Sweet Orange oil
10 drops Ylang Ylang oil
Food Colouring (optional)

Combine ingredients in a big bowl. I realized when I was dumping some of this into the bath, that yellow is not a great choice for bath salts, so I would recommend making this a different colour, or leaving it white. It is up to you. This is perfect for that soothing bath after a long day, read the Bible, listen to some tunes and restore all that faith goodness back into you. Great for relaxation and refreshing of the body too! Just as above I poured the salts into pint size Ball jars for gifts this Christmas. I also left half of the mix without colour and alternated to make a striped pattern.

This is the second recipe I have shared out of our Christmas a la Homemade (a handmade Christmas). I will be posting these up until Christmas to give you ideas for gifts you can make for your friends and family.

Enjoy a Homemade Christmas with your family too! Get started now.

This is a gift idea that I have shared for my  Christmas a la Homemade (a handmade Christmas). I will be posting these up until Christmas to give you ideas for gifts you can make for your friends and family.

Previous Ideas from my Christmas a la Homemade (A Handmade Christmas):
Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe
Bath Salts Soak Recipe
Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern
Make a Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life