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These little chick cupcakes are almost too adorable to eat – but they’re also delicious so eat away! You just make regular cupcakes and then dip in yellow sanding sugar. Then add chocolate chips for eyes and pipe on the rest of the face and wings. They’re really easy and will instantly become a family favorite. They’re also great for Easter parties at school. Source/Tutorial: birdonacake
Confetti eggs are fun for the entire family. You use real eggs, which you empty – and this is a delicate but really easy step. Then dye your eggs and fill them with confetti. Finally, you cover the whole with a piece of tissue paper and let it dry. Only you will know that these aren’t really hard boiled and decorated Easter eggs and it will be so much fun watching people crack and open them with the confetti falling out. Source/Tutorial: apumpkinandaprincess
Little ones are going to be so excited to plant their magical jelly beans and see what grows. This is a wonderful tradition for families and all you have to do is “plant” jelly beans in your garden or yard. Come back a while later to see which ones have bloomed – in the meantime, you’re going to stick a treat in the ground and let the kids know that these grew from their magical jelly beans. Source/Tutorial: myfrugaladventures
You can buy Easter trees and decorations at the Dollar Store for just a few dollars, or make one yourself. Just find a branch, paint it white – or pink if you prefer – and then add decorations. You can even DIY your decorations, and kids are going to love helping to decorate the tree. Source/Tutorial: rhythmsofplay
This is a really fun Easter game that kids of all ages are sure to love playing. Print off the game board and then use jelly beans or robin eggs to play. It’s so much fun and a wonderful way for little ones to wear themselves out the night before Easter so they’ll go to bed early. Source/Tutorial: crazylittleprojects
Red Tart Cherry Glazed Ham Ingredients 1 4 to 5-pound fully cooked boneless ham, sliced 1/4 inch thick 1 12-ounce jar Smucker’s Orchard’s Finest Michigan Red Tart Cherry Preserves 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Dash ground cloves, if desired 2 tablespoons raisins, if desired Preparation HEAT oven to 325°F. Overlap slices of ham in shallow baking pan; cover with aluminum foil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 140°F. COMBINE preserves, vinegar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. ARRANGE ham slices on serving platter. Spoon 1/4 cup glaze over center of ham. Serve with remaining warm glaze. Serves Makes 16 servings Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Ingredients
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Serves Easy Ways to Better Your Community Small town, big city, the suburbs or the country – no matter where you live, you’re part of a local community. Without realizing it, you can have a big impact on your community by the everyday choices that you make. And a thriving local community is good for everyone who lives there. Why You Should Go LocalLocal First, a Grand Rapids, Michigan based organization that encourages sustainable, locally-based economies, states that when you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Local First estimates that for every $100 you spend with local businesses, $73 remains in the community. Only $57 remains in the local economy when you buy from a national chain store. Most new jobs are provided by local businesses as well, and local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners. This means that your support of local businesses has a farther-reaching effect than you might realize. You’re helping people find and keep jobs, and you’re helping make it possible for charitable organizations to continue doing much-needed work. How You Can Go LocalStart Subscribing. Get a subscription to your community newspapers and local magazines. Not only will they keep you informed about what’s happening in your community, but you’ll help support local business. Shop Locally. There are plenty of locally owned businesses and service providers in your neighborhood. One easy way to find them is through MerchantCircle.com, a social network of about 1 million local businesses. By signing up for a free account, you can easily search out and follow nearby businesses and service providers such as jewelers, plumbers, grocers, and accountants, to get coupons and find out about special events and offers. MerchantCircle’s “Answers” lets you get expert advice from local businesses in your area and across the country on virtually any topic for free. Car mechanics, veterinarians and professionals in every industry will quickly respond, saving you time and often money. Get Involved. Many communities have volunteer advisory councils for local governments – everything from city planning committees to arts councils. Check out your town’s web site to find out how you can impact the development and character of your community. Visit Local Attractions. Parks, arboretums, museums, parades, festivals, theatres – there plenty of ways to have a good time without leaving town. A staycation or weekend getaway at home is less expensive for you than heading out of town, and you get to enjoy local treasures. Volunteer. Local schools, community centers, libraries, museums and charities often need people like you. Check the local paper, community bulletin boards and web sites such as VolunteerMatch.org to find out what you can do to make your community stronger. B-O-O Brownie Pops (Family Features) – The bewitching season is here! Gather the goblins, conjure up some creative costumes and prepare scary, scrumptious sweets for a great ghostly gathering. Making these frighteningly fabulous party treats together is a perfect way for mom and the kids to share some spooktacular fun.
Add favorite beverages and let the spookalicious party begin! For additional information about Goldfish Grahams, recipes and nutrition information, visit www.pepperidgefarm.com. Find more ways to bake, decorate and celebrate, or order the Halloween Cookie House Kit at www.wilton.com. B-O-O Brownie PopsIngredients
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Serves Notes, Tips & Suggestions Note: If desired, bake brownies completely without inserting stick. After brownies have cooled, dip lollipop sticks into melted candy and insert into either end of brownie. Let set before decorating. Halloween Goldfish MunchIngredients
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Serves Happy Haunted HouseIngredients
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Tricks and Treats with Halloween SweetsB-O-O Brownie Pops Family Crossings – The bewitching season is here! Gather the goblins, conjure up some creative costumes and prepare scary, scrumptious sweets for a great ghostly gathering. Making these frighteningly fabulous party treats together is a perfect way for mom and the kids to share some spooktacular fun.
Add favorite beverages and let the spookalicious party begin! For additional information about Goldfish Grahams, recipes and nutrition information, visit www.pepperidgefarm.com. Find more ways to bake, decorate and celebrate, or order the Halloween Cookie House Kit at www.wilton.com. B-O-O Brownie PopsIngredients
Preparation
Serves Notes, Tips & Suggestions Note: If desired, bake brownies completely without inserting stick. After brownies have cooled, dip lollipop sticks into melted candy and insert into either end of brownie. Let set before decorating. Halloween Goldfish MunchIngredients
Preparation
Serves SOURCE: In these tough economic times, people throughout the country are looking for innovative ways to get involved in their local communities, enrich lives and make a real difference. Fortunately for everyone, as the charitable spirit continues to spread throughout the U.S., getting involved has become easier and less expensive than ever as corporations, nonprofits, schools and even our own administration have actively encouraged citizens worldwide to volunteer their free time to those who need it most. When it comes to volunteering, there is no right or wrong way to get involved. Rather, there are a number of ways to incorporate it into your everyday life and really make it count. Here are a few small things to consider when looking for opportunities that make a big impact. Find an employer that fosters volunteerism. Make it a family affair. Find a cause that inspires you. Change the world…one simple act at a time. Grow your skills. Don’t over-commit your time. For more information on Target’s volunteer program, visit www.target.com/community. Or to find volunteer opportunities in your area, visit www.volunteermatch.org. Nutrition 101: Get Smart About Veggies for Back to SchoolThe start of another school year means parents will be looking for ways to set their children up for success in the classroom, including making sure kids are getting healthy fuel for their bodies and minds. With approximately 84 percent of kids trading lunch items with their friends at school*, it’s important parents fill their children’s lunchboxes with items that are both nutritious and enticing. As a registered dietitian, childhood nutrition expert and mom, Jodie Shield knows first-hand the challenge of ensuring kids eat nutritiously – especially during school hours – but says it’s all about engaging children in the process of proper nutrition and keeping veggies yummy. Shield has put together some creative tips and fun activities to help get kids excited about eating and loving vegetables. Take a Dip: Make veggie eating fun and more flavorful by serving ready-to-eat veggie sticks with delicious dips, like low-fat ranch dressing, hummus, pesto, honey mustard or peanut butter. Teach from Store to Snack: Let your kids help fill the shopping cart at the grocery store with vegetables they’d like to try. And ask them to guess how much four apples weigh, then weigh the fruit to see if they were close. At home, let them help prepare their own lunch. They’ll be proud of the meal they made come lunchtime at school. Play with Your Food: Combine snack time with activity time. Create veggie critters as an after-school treat by assembling a variety of pre-cut vegetables with ranch dressing “paste” into bug shapes. For more great back-to-school recipes, creative nutrition tips and fun activities, visit LoveYourVeggies.com. *American Dietetic Association, August 2004Veggie CrittersIngredients You’ll need
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Serves Notes, Tips & Suggestions Ideas: Butterflies: Use asparagus for the body. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach crinkle-cut carrots for wings, and add decorations to the wings with bits of bell pepper. Lady Bugs: Slice a cherry tomato in half. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach the tomato to a slice of cucumber or eggplant; attach the other cherry tomato half for the head. Then attach lady bug spots with bits of olive. Caterpillars: Cut cauliflower into florets. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach the pieces of cauliflower together. Then attach shredded carrot for legs and asparagus for antennae. Note: Since there will plenty of the ranch mixture leftover, store it in the refrigerator. It makes a delicious veggie dip. When it comes to recipes, the words healthy and simple don’t always seem to go together. But preparing a nutritious meal doesn’t have to be hard. The first step is to pick a lean protein. Dieticians and nutritionists recommend getting lean protein from natural, lean sources such as skinless poultry, fish, beef or pork loins and beans. Protein is essential to keep the body fueled. Lean chicken breasts are an excellent source of protein, and their versatility lets them match up with just about any side dish. Tuna, and seafood in general, are also good protein sources, and they have the added benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that omega-3s can improve heart health and reduce the risk of some kinds of cancers. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times a week as part of a healthy diet. To make healthy cooking easier, don’t be shy about using products that do part of the work for you. Using fully cooked and seasoned chicken breasts or ready to serve tuna medleys, such as those made by Bumble Bee, means that the family gets a healthy and delicious meal in no time. They can be paired with your favorite simple sides, or turned into tasty wraps, salads and skillets for something the whole family will enjoy. Continue reading Healthy and Simple Meals |
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