Bring on the rain!

We are getting our first good week of rain this season. It has drizzled a bit here and there but its is supposed to rain for the next 5 days or so. It typically dosnt rain in December for us but since I am 99% done with my Christmas shopping it dosnt bother me! And for those who saved their shopping for the last minute all I have to say is.......HA HA! LOL, I'm kidding but time is running out.

Being stuck indoors does however give us parents the chance to slow down and engage in winter slumber, spend quality time with the family and hopefully continue or start some winter traditions.
I have a sore throat from HELL so I found myself searching for some warm drink recipes that go beyond the boring cup of tea to soothe me. I found some pretty cool ones! There are quite a few for kids.....and some for after the kids go to bed, LOL!

Don't overlook a classic cup of hot apple cider or cocoa (don't forget the marshmellows, they make it so much more magical). Instead of a processed pack of the above mentioned get a little creative. Trader Joe's makes  a great apple cider and mullings spices to add to it!


Egg Nog Chai
Wether you use chair powder or a tea bag.....milk or water, try mixing your chai with egg nog, it has a festive and unique flavor!

Now I dont care for it but a lot of people love some.....

Hot Buttered Rum

Usually served at Christmas, this hot sipper tastes great all winter long.
To make hot buttered rum drinks, you will need:
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
¼ teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Rum
Boiling water
In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, margarine or butter, lemon peel, cinnamon, and allspice. Beat until well combined. Use immediately or cover and chill up to 1 month. Makes about 1 cup or enough 10, with approximately 6-ounce servings.
For 1 serving, place 1 rounded tablespoon of the butter mixture in a mug. Add 3 tablespoons rum and ½ cup of boiling water. Stir well.

Candy Cane Cocoa

 

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 4 small peppermint candy canes

Directions

In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane stirring sticks

 

Hot Toddy 

Hot Toddy
1 ounces Whiskey      1 ounce Honey       ounce Lemon Juice      3 ounces Water (Hot) If you have a microwave, the easiest way to make this drink is to warm the honey and lemon juice for about half a minute and then to add hot water and the whiskey. Otherwise, we recommend that you stir the honey and lemon juice into extremely warm water, allow it to cool slightly, and add the whiskey.

 

Let that kid, be a kid!

TODAY......

-Let him/her pick out their own clothes. Who cares if they don't match.

-Let them take YOU for a walk, set out the front door on their route....as long as it isnt into the street, LOL!

-Make a scavneger hunt for them or just a good old game of hide & seek.

-dance and sing at the top of your lungs

-finger paint.....need I say more?

-make a dinner that they can help with, ie pizza, slopy joe's, something fun!

-bake treats and give them to neighbors, mailmen or whomever your kid wants to share with!

-go bug hunting

-smash stuff with a hammer.....acorns work best and kids love it!

-gather old towels and blankets to take to your local animal shelter, your kid will learn a great lesson and it will make you feel good too!

Thumb-Kin Toddler Craft

"Thumb”-kin Patch Craft
***EASY Toddler Craft***
Supplies

• White paper
• Orange paint
• Green marker

Directions

1. Put a small amount of the orange paint on a paper plate or in a bowl
2. Put thumb in paint (now it gets difficult…)
3. Press thumb onto paper. Repeat to make as many pumpkins as you want
4. Once paint is dry, use green marker to draw vines and leaves
5. Write “My ‘Thumb’kin Patch” at the top of paper

Fun and Kid Friendly Dinner

My little monkey loves pizza so much but I can only, in good conscience make him so many frozen pizza's a week without feeling like a bad mommy. Last week I thought we'd make our own and only after I was getting out all my ingredients did I realize he can help out too! I got him a stool and let him play with his own piece of dough while I rolled mine out and he even sprinkled some cheese. Older kids can help out a lot more and its fun to have a assortment of toppings to choose from!
We made pesto pizza with bacon, olives, sweet italian sausage, sweet onions, and LOTS of cheese.
JoJo of course had plain cheese but the whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's and the fresh products made me feel a little better about indulging him his favorite dinner!
VOILA!!!

Ok, they don't look very pretty, I have to work on my dough rolling skills but it tasted fantastic!

Halloween Hangover

The candy is hidden, the costume is washed and put away, and I have worked all day to try and get some good food into my son. I forgot how much I love this holiday but I'm also glad to see it go, if only for the fear of diabetes, LOL!
Anyhow I whipped up a batch of playdough today. I know what your thinking...."homemade playdough, YUCK". Well let me just say that it has come a long way since we were kids and the secret is cream of tartar. Don't ask me why but it works. It dosn't stink, it dosn't dry out in two hours like the kind from when we were kids and if you refrigerate it after they play with it, it will last up to a month!
Anyhow, here ya go....

Good Ole Playdough
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
3 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups salt
6 tsp cream of tartar
3 TBS cooking oil
food coloring
Directions:

• Mix all dry ingredients together plus the cooking oil. Once well blended, add boiling water. Stir dough mixture until it leaves the sides of the bowl. Remove and knead well on floured board. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

You can add glitter to it for extra sparkle!
For smooth coloring add the food coloring to the oil and water first.
Here is a picture of JoJo and his friends in art class playing with the playdough, I didnt take pictures at home today....my battery died from trick or treating, LOL