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If you are looking for a great homemade gift to give out on behalf of yourself or your children, consider Sand Art Brownies. They are a practical gift which don't necessarily cost a lot and they make fun gifts.

You will require one wide mouth quart jar with lid.

Add the follow ingredients in this order.

3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts

This should pack nicely into the jar.

Include a decorative tag with the instructions for making the brownies with the following text:

Combine contents of jar with:

1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs

Pour into a greased 9x9pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 27-32 minutes. Enjoy.

These taste delicious but don't just take it from me. My recommendation is to make a jar or two to give away and make another batch for yourself to consume at home.

To finish up you can add a circular piece of material to the top of the jar to make it appear more festive.

(Note: Photo was borrowed from The Best Homemade Gift Ideas website as my batteries decided to die on me just as I went to take my photo).

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking, Craft

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Easy Cranberry Squares

November 12th 2009 18:54

Taken from the fun story, Cranberry Autumn, my daughter and I decided to bake this easy Cranberry Square recipe this afternoon as follows:

Cranberry Squares

1 can of whole cranberry sauce
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar and butter.

Cover an 8 x 8 inch buttered baking pan with one half of mix. Cover with cranberry sauce. Top the cranberries with the remaining mix.

Bake for 45 minutes.

We have 10 minutes to go until our easy dessert is ready and it smells delicious. It is a cold afternoon outside and my daughter and I are waiting very impatiently for it to be cooked so we can serve it up with some ice cream.

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Cooking, Reading

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Kids Love Helping Out In The Kitchen

October 15th 2009 20:36

Getting children to eat their food at mealtime can be a chore. However if the child is more involved in the cooking of the meal put before them then the more chances of them wanting to eat it.

One of our favourites is simple pita or tortilla bread pizza.

Spread pasta sauce on the bread and decorate with a variety of mixed vegetables, meat and cheese. Pop it in the oven and voila!

If I made it and put it in front of my daughter's nose then chances are she would turn her nose up at it! Because she acted as kitchen assistant and decorated it then our success rate of getting her to eat the tomato and mushroom is slightly higher.

And let me just add for the record - this one is a particular favourite for the whole family - a low fat and healthy version of everyone's favourite pizza dish!

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Cooking

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Cranberry Thanksgiving Recipe

October 7th 2009 17:08

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For those not able to get your hands on the book Cranberry Thanksgiving as mentioned in a previous post, please find the recipe below.

Grandma's Famous Cranberry Bread

2 cups flour, sifted
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon orange rind, grated
3/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups raisins, we don't use raisins (optional)
2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda together.

Cut in 1/4 cup butter until mixture is crumbly.

Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice and mix until mixture is evenly moist. Fold in raisins and cranberries.

Spoon into a greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan.

Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean.

Cool out of pan on a wire rack. Keep stored in aluminum foil.

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Books, Cooking

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Cranberry Thanksgiving

October 2nd 2009 18:39

Cranberry Thanksgiving written by Wende and Harry Devlin in 1971 is one of those time honoured books that lends itself to family traditions - in the case of Cranberry Thanksgiving it is Cranberry Bread.

Cranberry Thanksgiving is the story of a young girl named Maggie who lives with her Grandmother near a cranberry bog in New England. The book includes some interesting characters and colourful illustrations and the story takes some interesting twists and turns, demonstrating that looks can be deceiving. It even includes Grandmother’s Famous Cranberry Bread recipe for you to bake at home.

DLTK features a fun Thanksgiving mini book for kindergarten children to colour as well as Thanksgiving crafts to do including pilgrims, turkeys and pumpkins. And those in need of a pumpkin template then look no further - Preschool Express features pumpkins in three sizes for you to copy and cut out for your crafting needs.

Crayola features a Happy Thanksgiving page to colour as well as a fun turkey craft.

The fun dolls Eddie and Amy which often come to our aid also feature Thanksgiving clothing and for those doubly organised, Halloween costumes as well.

It is is a time for giving thanks and hopefully the poems over at Thanksgiving Day manage to convey the spirit of the holiday.

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Books, Computer Based, Cooking

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Apple Cake

September 27th 2009 16:51

Kids love making cakes and this apple based cake is a great way to ensure they are eating relatively healthy at the same time.

Ingredients

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Cooking

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Playdough

May 29th 2009 02:52

Kids love creating and as my daughter has been making blue tac dolls over the last week or so, it reminds me that I should get my act together and make some playdough.

Here is an easy recipe

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Cooking, Craft

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No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

April 23rd 2009 01:59

Here in an easy recipe which children can help to make which requires no baking.

1 cup light corn syrup

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking

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Speckled Bubble Bars

April 14th 2009 11:26

Taking advantage of my daughter's up and coming birthday party, we are going to attempt to make this simple recipe together courtesy of Minti.

Speckled Bubble Bars
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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking

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Chocolate Cake In A Mug

January 29th 2009 05:48

Cooking is a great activity for children of any age and this 5 minute chocolate cake is quick and easy to make.

5 Minute Microwaveable Chocolate Cake
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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Age 3-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 9-11, Cooking

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