What is more, they look super cute on the festive table. And it sure feels like we’re on vacation!

It’s only April but here I am dreaming of the beach.  I guess I’ll have to eat a Pudding Sand Cup instead…

What do you need to make this Pudding sand cups recipe?

In fact, these are so easy to make, you will need no more than 10 minutes tops. In addition to the ingredients in the recipe, you will need small cups and some more decorations such as cocktail umbrellas. You can find these in the party section of your grocery store or a party supplies store. 

Remember that you make these for the grandkids, so they don’t have to be in large cups. They will be a hit at your beach-themed party!

These pudding sand cups are:

• easy to make 
• tasty 
• don’t require any special skills
• summery snack
• creamy

Make a Pudding sand cups recipe for your beach-themed party

To begin with, planning and organizing a party for the little ones can be a difficult task. If it is possible, begin preparations the month before to be sure you won’t miss anything. 

Make a party plan, choose the theme, cake, decorations, and schedule the activities and games for the grandkids. Make a food menu, and organize it all in a folder on your tablet. It helps the party to be less stressful for you.  

Helpful tips:

• You can crush the biscuits in a food processor or a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.
• Feel free to use the candy you already have.
• Instead of gummy bears, you can use different types of summer-themed treats.

What do you need to make the perfect beach-themed party?

Save on time and stress by choosing the theme first. If you decide on a beach theme party, start with the cake and then plan the decorations for the room and the table. You should include the theme colors in the appetizers, desserts, and other tasty treats you serve.

For your party you will need:

• Party theme
• Invitations
• Cake
• Food menu
• Table and room decorations
• Fun games and activities for the grandkids

What is more, make sure you send out the invitations a few weeks in advance. For more excitement, grandkids can get involved in making the invitations and get crafty. They can make the invitations by using paper, pencils, stickers, and other craft supplies. 

Write a list of all the beach-themed items you want to include at your beach party:

• seashells
• starfish
• sand
• beach or pool
• umbrellas
• fish
• boats
• palm trees
• pineapples
• flamingos
• beach balls

Make super funny food names and put labels on the table

Would you like to try these pudding sand cups with bears? Or some beach party dip? How about a starfish sandwich? Come up with cute and amusing names for the tasty treats and label them.

Put the labels on the table. It will make the party a lot more fun! Even the picky-eaters will be enjoying this party food!

Try some of these ideas:

• Starfish sandwiches
• Swimming teddy bear dip
• Bikini beach bear cupcakes
• Beach party pops
• Surfing bear cupcakes

Plan the party outside

Grandkids need to be outside to get more Vitamin D. Also, to have more space for running and expressing their excitement. They need to play outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. This party will give them lots of reasons to stay in the sun and have fun.

Easy-to-make party food snacks

Party food should be related to the topic. And it is great to have beach theme shapes and decorations, too. Get creative in the kitchen! Search the internet for some party food ideas and create them with the products you want to use. 

We have many recipes on our blog where your grandkids can help make the food item. This Pudding Sand Cups Recipe is no different. I’ve mentioned before that these are my favorite kind of treat to make because it keeps my little ones busy for a bit in the kitchen and then they always love to eat what they make. Just wait until they see this!

In addition to our Pudding Sand Cups recipe, here’s another “beach” type snack that I have made many times with my littles and they love it! It’s our Beach Theme Fruit Dip and it’s always a hit!

With summer quickly approaching, you may want to grab some of the ingredients for this recipe so that you have everything on hand. I know that my refrigerator is often sparse because there is just my husband and me at home. We don’t eat that much. 

Our little 6-year-old granddaughter was here the other day, and she opened our refrigerator, and then she said “Grammy, now I know why you and Pa come to our house for Sunday dinner because you don’t have a lot of food!”

I may not have a lot of food. But I do have lots of things to make recipes for with my grandkids. I guess I better go to the store and get some pudding! Using instant puddings makes this recipe an easy one. So let’s get started! 

Print

Pudding Sand Cups Recipe

Kids of all ages love to make this Pudding Sand Cups Recipe. Using instant puddings makes it so easy!

Course Snack

Keyword Pudding Sand Cups

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author WritersID2

Ingredients

• 1-2 pkg small box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 tub 8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
• Blue Food Coloring
• 6-8 Golden Oreos, crushed
• Gummy sea creatures, stars or shells
• Teddy Bear Grahams

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, add cold milk
• Sprinkle pudding over top and whisk until well combined
• Add food coloring and mix well
  
• Place in refrigerator about 10 minutes or until set
• Fold in whipped topping until well combined
  
• Add to glasses or cups
  
• Place in refrigerator 20 minutes to chill
• Crush cookies in food processor or resealable plastic bag until fine
• Sprinkle on top
• Add your gummy sea creatures and Teddy Bear Grahams
  

Notes

You can adapt this recipe to a "dirt cup" recipe by following the same recipe but using these ingredients:

 

1-2 small box (3.4 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed

10-12 regular Oreo cookies, crushed
Gummy worms

 

How to make table and room decorations for the beach-themed party?

It is no surprise that the general color is blue. You can combine it with white and other bright colors for accent. White table cloths will make your dishes and decorations more visible. 

For the perfect beach themed-party provide:

• decorative fishnet wall hanging
• fish and boat ornaments
• seashells centerpiece for the table
• white table cloth
• beach signs
• colorful balloons
• a small pool with inflatable fish and boats

For the table setting, you may use a blue scarf or organza fabric to drape in the center of the table. Put decorations on the top. For example, seashells, and boats. Stretch a fishing net across the table cloth or hang it on the wall. Use blue napkins and straws. You can even put an umbrella on each straw to make it more fun!

Fun party activities for the grandkids

Thirty minutes for each game is enough for the grandkids to have fun and then move on to the next activity. Plan some quiet games, too, such as puzzles or board games. This way grandchildren won’t be exhausted before the cake arrives.

You can give all the grandkids some beach-theme items like goggles, sunglasses, flippers. Make them participate in the beach-themed photo booth wearing them and take photos.

For instance, hide some beach-themed items somewhere in the garden and organize a scavenger hunt. Grandkids will be having a lot of fun while finding them. Leave clues in different places and watch them playing. 

Schedule different beach-themed party activities, such as:

• scavenger hunt
• decorating seashells
• craft with tropical items
• beach-themed photo booth
• make a beach-themed sensory bottle
• catching fish in the small pool with inflatable fish

Get some seashells, paint, glitter, and get crafty. The grandkids can make their painted seashells and take them home as a gift from the party. 

Besides, we have already shown you how to make a sensory bottle in some of our blog posts. You can use this idea as a great party activity. 

Provide bottles, cooking oil, paint, glitter, different seashells, and window stickers. Grandkids will have fun while making their ocean-filled bottles. Homemade toys are great for developing grandchildren’s skills. 

These activities will create meaningful conversations and lots of long-lasting memories. And most importantly, grandkids will be having fun!

Healthy party food

Create a well-balanced and healthy menu for the party. Include vital nutrients such as proteins, carbs, and healthy fats. Minimize using sugar as much as possible. Substitute it with fresh fruit. 

Here is what you can do to make your party food healthier:

• Why not go sugar-free? Grandkids won’t be able to tell if you use sweeteners instead of sugar. But it will make it much healthier. Try stevia or erythritol. You can use sugar-free chocolate, too. 
• Instead of artificial food coloring, put some blue spirulina. It will make the pudding the desirable blue color. 
• Make sure you have lots of colorful fresh fruit on the table. Bright colors will attract the grandkids, and they would want to have some.

In fact, cooking food at home is always a better option to make it organic or eliminating food coloring and artificial food enhancement agents. If you decide to buy prepackaged food, make sure it contains less sugar and no preservatives. 

Allergy-friendly Pudding sand cups recipe variation

When you gather more grandchildren together for a party, you have to consider whether some of them have food allergies or not. Make sure your food is allergy-free. Use dairy-free milk to make the recipe lactose-free and vegan. 

Why not make a homemade ”biscuit sand” for the Pudding sand cups? Use a gluten-free mix of flour and add sweetener to make it tasty.

For example, you can mix equal quantities of buckwheat flour and gluten-free oat flour with some erythritol to make it sweet. There are gluten-free crackers or biscuits you can use, too. 

The bottom line

How to throw the perfect beach theme party for your grandkids? We have you covered with tips and ideas to make your occasion memorable. Everyone will love these delicious and cute Pudding sand cups.

Not only are these easy to make but also look super cute on your party table. Your grandkids will be looking forward to the party! 

Moreover, get them involved in making the invitations and even the Pudding sand cups. They will be so excited to take part in the whole preparations! It is an affordable and money-saving idea for a sweet treat that will take your party to the next level! 

Are you already enjoying our pudding sand cups recipe? You have to check out these other posts, too:

• 23 ideas for a beach staycation
• 16 healthy kid snacks
• 31 easy pirate ideas
• 16 nautical DIY projects
• Quick and easy DIY seashell artwork

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What do you call these?  All my life I’ve called these Scotcharoos with an “A”.  Then I see recipes out there that are called Scotcheroos with an “E”.  What??!!

Either way, I don’t think there is a kid alive that doesn’t like these. (This Grammy loves them and can eat a quite a few.) And our Scotcharoos (with an A) is the best because of a small little tweak that makes our soft and not too hard. Plus no cutting is required. Hallelujah!

If you’ve ever cut a pan of these, you know that can be a chore.  But with our recipe below, your Scotcharoos will be a breeze. So let’s get started.

Ingredients:

5  to 5 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies (This is our little secret.  DO NOT use 6 cups that is called for in every other recipe.)

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of corn syrup

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup of butterscotch chips

Instructions:

In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.

Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Stir in peanut butter.

Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.

Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans. 

Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.

In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.

Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.

Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  NO CUTTING REQUIRED! 

Isn’t that the best news ever?

I will be serving these to my grandkids this Sunday.  Who wants to bet that there won’t be a single one leftover?

Print

Best Scotcharoos Recipe

With one little tweak, this Scotcharoo recipe makes the best Scotcharoos because they are soft and not hard. Plus no cutting required!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Author Debbie

Ingredients

• 5 cups Rice Krispies
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

• In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.
• Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
• Stir in peanut butter.
• Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.
• Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans.
• Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.
• In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.
• Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.
• Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  No cutting required!

Either way, with an “A” or an “E”, these are a fun treat to make and even more fun eating them!

Do you need more Rice Krispies goodness in your life?  

Take a look at this!

Roasted Rice Krispies Treats

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As with our apple donuts, one of the great things about this snack is that kids can help make it.  I have found that anytime I can get my grandkids involved with making whatever it is that I’m trying to get them to eat, the better chance I have at doing that!

Granted some of these bananas are covered in chocolate and sprinkles but I still feel that these are more “healthy” than a processed snack.

So let’s peel some bananas and get these snacks going!

Print

Banana Sushi

Course Snack

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 4 bananas
• 2 squares dark chocolate or chocolate melts or choc chips
• 1 Tablespoon sprinkles of your choice
• 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon nut butter
• 3 Tablespoons shredded coconut
• 3 Tablespoons rice krispies

Instructions

• Sprinkles Sushi
• Peel a banana.
• Melt a square of chocolate and spoon over the banana.
• 
• Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle the sprinkles on the banana.
• Let set in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.
• 
• Cut into slices.
• 
  
• Chia Seed Sushi
• Peel a banana.
• Melt a square of chocolate and spoon over the banana.
• 
• Before the chocolate sets, roll in or sprinkle the chia seeds on banana
• 
• Let set in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.
• Cut into slices.
• 
  
• Coconut Sushi
• Peel a banana.
• Spread 1 1/2 Tablespoons of the nut butter onto the banana
• Roll banana into the shredded coconut
• Let set in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.
• Cut into slices.
• 
  
• Rice Krispie Sushi
• Peel a banana.
• Spread 1 1/2 Tablespoons of the nut butter onto the banana
• Roll banana into the rice krispies
• Let set in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.
• Cut into slices.
• 

Now I have a confession to make.  When I have my grandkids eat a healthy snack, I always make sure to tell my daughter how good I did at making them eat something that is good for them. But then I never tell her about the other goodies that I may or may not have let my grandkids eat.  Shhh….it’s our little secret!

Here’s a couple more healthier snacks that you might be interested in:

Fresh Fruit Frozen Yogurt Bites

Charcuterie Snack Platter for Kids

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And sprinkles.  You can’t go wrong with a few sprinkles.  Seriously I think kids will eat just about anything if you throw some sprinkles on it. The sprinkles on these Apple Donuts just make it a win-win.  So here we go:

Items Needed:  Apples, cream cheese (we like the whipped cream cheese, but you can also use regular), food coloring (optional) an apple corer or pastry tip and…..sprinkles!

Instructions:

1.  Wash and dry your apples. Then slice the apples so they are about 3/4 inches thick.  We did not peel our apples but you may do so if you have picky apple eaters.

2. Using an apple corer or pastry tip, cut a hole in the middle of the apples to remove the  core.

3. Color your whipped (or regular) cream cheese until you’ve reached the color you desire. We used neon food coloring for these apples. Spread cream cheese on the apples.

4.  Add your sprinkles and then let your kids enjoy these healthy “donuts!”

I love this snack because it’s better for my grandkids but they still think Grandma makes “fun” things! 

Enjoy!

Oh my! Take a look at this other GREAT idea for a healthy snack for your kids!

Charcuterie Snack Tray for kids

A big thanks to Hello Wonderful for this fun idea!

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Successful snack ideas also depend on letting my grandkids help make the treat.  This Halloween Snack Mix really fit the bill because it doesn’t need to look perfect.  Kids love dumping the items all over the pan.  And although it looks messy, it wasn’t really that messy to make which is another plus in my book!

Grandkids will love the amazing mix of goodies that go into this treat.  I have a ton of Halloween sprinkles so you can use up whatever is in your cupboard with this. But you might need to have them eat it at your house before mom comes to pick them up. 

Hey, it’s a grandmother’s right to spoil, right? 

Print

Halloween Snack Mix

Course Holiday

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 5 cups Pretzels
• ½ cup Chocolate chips
• 3 cups Bugles
• 1 cup Pumpkins
• ½ cup Peanut M&Ms
• ½ cup M&Ms
• Additional Toppings
• Candy eyes
• Sprinkles
• Candy melts

Instructions

• In a large bowl combine the pretzels and bugles until well combined
• Spread mixture out on a baking sheet in to a even layer
• Add in the chocolate chips, pumpkins, and M&Ms
• Melt the candy melts per the instructions on the package.
• Drizzle on the melted candy melts
• Add on candy eyes and any additional sprinkles

And it is also a grandparents prerogative to be able to send the kids home after they eat said treats!  Truth.  It’s a rule.

This post is written in 2020 and I’m wondering if there will even be trick or treating this year.  Either way, I hope you have a safe Halloween with your little ghouls and goblins. 

Gosh we’ve got some other great Halloween Treats for you!  Check these out!

Halloween Candy Jars

Bloody Shirley Temples

Halloween Hot Chocolate

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Summer looks a little different this year, and many of us have had to postpone our beach vacations for a season. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have your own backyard beach party! Get ready to dig out your swimsuit because we’re bringing the beach to you! Here are 23 ideas for a beach staycation! 

1. Beach and Sea Squish Bags– Kids can start to explore the wonders of the ocean with Fantastic Fun and Learning‘s sensory bags.

2. Water Fight Kit– Can’t have a beach day without water and Inner Child Fun‘s water fight kit is just the thing!

3. Butterscotch Crunch Starfish– These yummy starfish look almost real! Try this treat at Hungry Happenings!

4. Mason Jar Aquarium– Make this fun aquarium without all the maintenance at A Little Claireification.

5. Pool Noodle Fishing Game– Here’s a fun easy game from Happy Tot Shelf that is perfect for your littler grandkids!

6. Shark Fruit Salad– Maybe if sharks tried some fruit salad, they wouldn’t be such dangerous predators anymore…. Find this amazing idea at Kid Friendly Things to Do.

7. Marbled Seashell Art– Turn seashells into a work of art with Projects with Kids‘s marbles seashells.

8. Flying Fish Catch– A fun, easy water game from Mrs. Plemon’s Kindergarten  that kids will love!

9. Glitter Fish Painted Rock– Learn how to make these beautiful rocks at I Love Painted Rocks.

10. Sea Glass Candy– Happiness is Homemade ‘s sea glass candy looks almost too real and pretty to eat…. almost….

11. Beach Water Table– Little hands will love exploring the wonders of the ocean with Sugar, Spice, and Glitter‘s fun water table idea!

12. Beach Fruit Dip– This fun fruit dip is a kid favorite! Make it right here at This Grandma is Fun!

13. No-Sew Felt Mermaid Headband– If you have a mermaid for a granddaughter, then you will love Lia Griffith‘s pretty and simple headband!

14. Shark Surfboard Craft– Nothing says the beach like sharks and surfing. Find this craft at Artsy Momma.

15. Clam Cookies– If you’re looking for a treat that is easy but eye-catching, then this is the treat for you! Check it out at Frugal Coupon Living.

16. DIY Slip and Slide– For some natural beach waves in your hair, you’ll have to try All Things Thrifty‘s slip and slide! It’s sure to do the trick!

17. Candy Seashells– Just from the picture, I know I’d be snacking on these gorgeous chocolates all day long. Learn how to make them at The American Patriette.

18. Jellyfish Races– Bring out the family competition with Living Porpoisefully‘s exciting game!

19. Ocean Sand Art– What’s the beach without sand? Make beautiful works of art with The Growing Creatives‘s sand activity.

20. Mermaid Ice Excavation– This activity from Mama. Papa. Bubba. is sure to keep the kids occupied for hours. Perfect for when you need a break!

21. Flip-Flop Sandwiches– These sandwiches from Cutefetti really are the cutest!

22. Water Balloon Volley Ball– A true summer classic, this game from It’s Always Autumn fits right in with a beach staycation!

23. Beach Books– When it’s time for a little bit of quiet, Fantastic Fun and Learning‘s got you covered with this list of beach themed books the kids are sure to love!

Which of these 23 ideas for a beach staycation are you going to try out first?

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Going along with these Fruit Kabobs is a great fruit dip.  Get ready to dip your luscious fruit into this yummy concoction!

Print

Fruit Kabobs and Fruit Dip

Course Snack

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• Fruit Kabobs
  
• Skewers
• Fruit - grapes pineapples, red raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi or any fruit you like
• Fruit Dip
  
• 1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
• 1 7 oz container marshmallow creme
• 2-3 tablespoons juice - orange pineapple, fruit, any flavor you like

Instructions

• Fruit Kabobs
  
• Clean and wash fruit
• Place fruit in bowls
• Thread skewer with a variety of fruit
• Serve immediately or chill with fruit dip
• Fruit Dip
  
• In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and marshmallow creme.
• Add juice and beat until smooth
• Transfer to smaller bowl and cover with plastic wrap or place in airtight container and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving
• Store leftovers in fridge

So gather the kids around and tell them to dip away! 

Want some more fruit dishes?

Ice Box Cake

Charcuterie Platter for Kids Snacks

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I don’t know about you but when it comes to eating, my grandkids are so picky. 

My one daughter has three kids.  If two of them like something, the third child does not.

Trying to find something that all three kids will eat is a challenge and that is why I love this Charcuterie Platter for kids.  There is bound to be something that all three kids will eat. One of the great things about this is also, is that little ones can help arrange the board.  (After they wash their hands of course!) I find that if I can get them to help, they are more likely to be interested in eating. 

We found that it was easier to start from outside in. If you have a marble slab that would be beautiful but you can also just use a wood cutting board just like we did. Start lining and layering your items around the edges and then start filling into the middle.  It’s not hard to make it look beautiful and appetizing!

Here are some of the items that we used for this tray. 

White chocolate covered pretzels, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, grapes, sugar wafers, chocolate chip cookies, mini marshmallows and rice krispie treats.  Other ideas might be white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, nuts and different kinds of cheeses.  Really the sky is the limit and you can add all sorts of things that your kids would like.

 This is such a great idea for a snack because it is so flexible. Choose things that your kids would like and include items that you already have on hand.

When you are ready for the fruit dip (we forgot to take a picture with our fruit dip.  Ooops!  Our little ones were ready to eat!) there isn’t a quicker or easier one than this:

1 8oz pkg of cream cheese

1 7oz jar of Marshmallow creme.

Mix these two together until well blended and then dip away!

I have to admit, this Charcuterie Platter for Kids Snacks was one of my better ideas and the grandkids loved it!  I know yours will too.  Or at least, MOST of them will!  Oh those picky kids!

Are you needing some more ideas for healthy snacks for kids?  Here’s a couple that we have for you!

Fresh Fruit Frozen Yogurt Bites               

DIY Yogurt To Go

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So by now you’ve probably perused our list of 10 Insanely Tasty Muffin-Tin Dinners and 10 Amazing Muffin-Tin Breakfasts to Try Right Now. (If you haven’t… Go. Look. Now.) So what’s next on the muffin-tin menu? Why appetizers and sides of course! There is too much goodness out there to not try one of these 10 Muffin-Tin Appetizers that are Finger-Lickin’ Good!

These muffin-tin appetizer recipes are perfect to impress your family and friends at the next get together, tailgate party, or birthday bash!

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Lick away! And yes, you are welcome…

If this picture doesn’t inspire you to start making popsicles, I don’t know what will! These Real Food Rainbow Popsicles from Healthy Indulgences look divine.

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I don’t know about you but figuring out what to make for my grandkids to eat when they are here can be challenging.  I want to splurge them with goodies but their momma wants them to eat healthy.

I get that.  I want them to eat healthy too but a Grandma’s got to have some fun, right?

For me, trying to maintain a balance between healthy food and Grammy’s treats is the key.  I am hoping that these Frozen Yogurt Bites will satisfy the healthy momma requirements.

I mean they ARE made with greek yogurt.  Anything that is made with Greek Yogurt is healthy, right?  Plus look at all the delicious fresh fruit that you can use.  Momma’s got to be happy about that.

And these aren’t just for kids.  I used to have two gallon size ziploc bags of these just ready and waiting.

Now I only have one bag.

Hubby ate the other one.

Luckily these are super easy and super fast to make and another batch is already freezing. My two grandsons are big berry eaters so I think they are going to be happy with these.

Print

Fresh Fruit Frozen Yogurt Bites

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• Large carton of Greek Yogurt. My all time favorite is Greek Gods Yogurt in the Honey Vanilla Flavor which is what I used in this recipe. This stuff is heavenly!
• Any type of fresh fruit you that you desire
• Banana chips
• Silicon molds
• Cooking spray

Instructions

• Lightly spray your silicon molds with cooking spray.
• Fill each space with greek yogurt.
• Fill all the way to the top.
• 
• 
• Place your desired fruit on top.
• 
• If you want to use banana, I would recommend using banana chips as I did here.
• Freeze until completely frozen.
• Remove from your molds and keep in the freezer. I am keeping mine in ziploc bags.
• These are good for 3-4 weeks.

Now that these are freezing and ready to go, it’s on to making some cookies, brownies, an ice cream cake and some chocolate drizzled popcorn.

Just don’t tell their mom.

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Hey ya’ll, Molly and Chelsea here! We’re the besties and food bloggers from Bests and Bites. We’ve been best friends for over 20 years (so like, 90% of our lives) and we love nothing more than food, health/fitness and pool days! We’re so glad we could share this recipe with you and hope you love making it this summer!

Guys! There is nothing we love more than a warm and gooey chocolate chip cookie! We’ve (literally) spend years perfecting this recipe and today we put a twist on it to celebrate one of our favorite summer flavors: rocky road!

When we were young babes Molly’s dad would go to the grocery store and stock up on Rocky Road. After a long hard day of swimming( seriously, we used to spend around 9 hours at the pool a day), we would take our showers and sit down on the couch with a big bowl of Rocky Road to finish the night.

It was a dream.

So this summer we wanted to re-create one of our favorite summer traditions by adding it to a classic. AND IT WAS AWESOME. One of the best creations that’s come out of the Bests and Bites kitchen. They are that good.

There are a couple of tricks to making these just right!

Like any baked good, you have to be precise in your measuring or the end result won’t be perfect. That means:

• Measure the flour just right by spooning the flour from the bag into the measuring cup and scraping the top
• Make sure you’ve got room temperature butter for the best consistency
• Do not overbake!
• Toast the marshmallows to perfection

That last one is key, trust us. There were a couple (a dozen) cookies that got a littleeee too toasty. We ended up squatting by the oven when it’s on broil to physically watch the marshmallows and pull them out at the exact right time.

For us it was about 35 seconds to golden brown perfection.

If you follow these tips you will end up with the most chewy and soft rocky road cookies that everyone will love to eat this summer!

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Rocky Road Cookies

Servings 24

Ingredients

• 2¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 3.4 ounces vanilla instant pudding mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds plus extra for topping
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts plus extra for topping
• 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
• Using a stand or electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the pudding mix, vanilla and eggs until well combined.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips, almonds and walnuts and stir with a rubber spatula.
• Measure out dough into two large tablespoons and roll into a ball then drop onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until slightly golden and just set on the top. Pull cookies out and turn on the broiler. Top cookies with more almonds, walnuts and marshmallows. Place back in the oven until marshmallows are lightly golden on top, about 30-40 seconds. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes then transfer to a baking rack to cool completely.

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Calling all Cookie Monster lovers! (me waving my hand high in the air) Along with Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster is one of my favorite Sesame Street characters.

So single mindedly obsessed with cookies, Cookie Monster is a man…er…puppet after my own heart.  A girl has got to have her cookies.

I happened upon some Cookie Monster Bark on Pinterest the other day and decided that this would be a fun project for my grandkids to make when they will be here in a few days. It is hot outside and this project requires no cooking, although now that I think about it, it is summer and this IS made with chocolate.  (can you say MELT?)

We’ll just have to eat the whole thing inside.  I don’t think my grandsons will mind.

Anyway, I wanted to put my own twist on the Cookie Monster Bark and one night while I was JUST going to sleep (you know how that is, don’t you?…) this idea came to me.

It was a breeze to make and I loved how it turned out with all of the little Cookie Monster faces and mini cookies.  My grandsons are going to have a blast making this.

And then eating it.  It might have to be on a day when their mom is gone and it’s just me and them. 

Here is a quick video showing you how it’s done and then the recipe will follow.

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Cookie Monster Bark

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 2 - 12 oz bags of white candy melts
• 1 12 oz bag of blue candy melts
• 1 12 oz bag of black candy melts
• Edible Googly Eyes
• Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Toothpicks.

Instructions

• Melt the white candy melts per the instructions on the bag.
• Pour the melted chocolate onto a silpat mat or some waxed paper. I poured mine onto a jelly roll sized pan
• Melt the blue candy melts per the instructions on the bag. I think I used half of the bag.
• Drop melted blue chocolate by the spoonful all over the white chocolate. Leave some room between drops.
• Take a toothpick and pull the blue chocolate into the white chocolate by making lines all the way around the circle of blue chocolate to resemble Cookie Monsters fur.
• Let set in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Melt about a cup of the black candy melts per the instructions on the bag.
• After the bark has set, take a toothpick and dip into the black melted chocolate and draw mouths on the Cookie Monster faces.
• With some blue melted chocolate, place the googly eyes on Cookie Monster. We tried to make them cock-eyed just like his!
• Again with some blue melted chocolate, dip a mini chocolate chip cookie into the blue chocolate and place the cookie near Cookie Monster's mouth.
• Chill in the refrigerator until completely set.
• After it has hardened, cut or break the bark around the Cookie Monster faces.

So I will just end with a quote from Cookie Monster…

Me Want Cooookkkkiiiieeee!!!!!

Enjoy!

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I’ve heard of pudding cookies, of course, but I never thought much of them. That is, until I started this blog post and found all these delicious recipes on Pinterest. Not only are there endless options for pudding cookies, but they all look AMAZING!!

Here are 21 pudding cookie recipes to try right now!

1. Let’s start with a twist on a classic recipe. The chocolate chip pudding cookie. Who knew you could make a chocolate chip cookie even better?!

2. Let’s add a little more chocolate in there with the Quadruple Chocolate Soft Fudgy Pudding Cookies.

3. Oreo Pudding Cookies. Oreos and pudding?  My wildest dreams have come true.

4. White Chocolate Funfetti Pudding Cookies. What kid doesn’t like funfetti?  These will be sure to be gobbled up in no time.

S’more Pudding Cookies  You had me at S’mores.

6.  Sometimes you just want to stick with the classic. For those times, there are Vanilla Pudding Cookies.

7. The sweet and salty are such a great pair in these Butterscotch Chip Pudding Cookies. Yum!

8. Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies. A perfect treat for fall!

9. Sticking to the seasonal theme, next we have Peppermint White Chocolate Pudding Cookies.

10. Fruity Pebbles Pudding Cookies. Since there’s cereal in them these count as breakfast, right?

11. Crunchy on the outside, moist and chewy on the inside these Root Beer Float Pudding Cookies are full of  root beer flavor. Yummmm!

12. Strawberries N Cream Pudding Cookies. Now these sound amazing! I love strawberries and cream!

13. I’ve never met a lemon that I didn’t like so pass me these Lemon Pudding Cookies please!

14. Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies. With Reese’s Pieces these are cookies that E.T. will want to phone home about!

15. Vanilla Pudding Snickerdoodles. Just when I thought snickerdoodles couldn’t get any better!

16. Pistachio and White Chocolate Pudding Cookies. Perfect for Easter and St. Patrick’s Day! Or any time, for that matter. They look delicious!

17. Strawberry Pudding Cheesecake Cookies. Just look at the inside of these cookies. They look amazing!!

18. Staying on the cheesecake theme with Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pudding Cookies!

19. Lucky Charms Cookies. Another cookie that I’m counting as breakfast!

20. M & M Pudding Cookies! M & M’s make everything better, don’t they?

21.  There must be cinnamon and cheesecake in heaven because these Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Cookies are heavenly!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a lot of new cookie recipes to try. I have now been convinced of the deliciousness of pudding cookies! Happy baking!

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With half the dish being the “ocean” and the other half being the “beach”, it is so fun to dip your fruit into the sour cream and brown sugar.

This is the easiest dip to set up but I promise you that people will think you are the most creative person ever!  I have made this many times throughout the years and it has never failed to bring a smile to someone’s face.

I have grandkids coming in three weeks and I know that are going to love dipping their strawberries into the ocean and beach. Who says we can’t have a little beach action in Utah?

So Cowabunga dude!  Let’s get making this dip!  This video will show you just how quick and easy it is. The recipe follows the video.

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Beach Theme Fruit Dip

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz container of sour cream
• 2 cups brown sugar
• Blue Food Coloring
• Strawberries
• Beach accessories like swedish fish umbrellas etc.

Instructions

• In a mixing bowl, mix together the sour cream and blue food coloring. Add as much blue coloring to get the sour cream to the color that you want.
• Spread the colored sour cream onto one half of a 9x13 pan.
• Pour the 2 cups of brown sugar onto the opposite half of your pan barely touching the sour cream.
• Add your beach accessories as garnishments.
• Wash and dry strawberries for dipping.

Happy Summer Everyone!

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1. Breakfast Pizza from Cape May Cafe – Start the magic off right with the most important meal of the day–breakfast! You can make this yummy pizza and then personalize it with your and your family’s favorite toppings.
2. Disneyland’s Sweet Cornbread – eat dinner AND dessert simultaneously with this sweet and moist cornbread! Hint: the secret is a box of cake mix. Who knew?
3. The Grey Stuff from “Be Our Guest” – haven’t we all wanted to know what exactly that grey stuff is? Well, I’m not sure if 17th century France had Oreos, but this recipe does, and it is, indeed, delicious!
4. Disneyland’s Hot Chocolate – Although winter may seem like the ideal time to visit Disneyland, since there’s lower traffic, the cold can be daunting. Warm up at home and taste the Disney spirit with this comforting cup of cocoa!
5. Hand Dipped Corndogs from Little Red Wagon – Confession: I adore corn dogs. But ONLY when they are fresh! None of this frozen-then-microwaved stuff. These are sure to live up to expectations!
6. Broccoli Cheese Soup from Pacific Wharf Cafe – it has broccoli, so it’s good for you, right? This soup is sure to warm you and your family up from the inside out. 
7. Clam Chowder Bread Bowls from Pacific Wharf Cafe – stick anything in a bread bowl, and I’m good. What a perfect way to use less dishes, am I right?
8. Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich – I want to make these RIGHT NOW!! The recipe is soooo simple. This makes a perfect after school snack!
9. French Toast Loaf from Main Street Bakery – Why waste time constantly dipping and flipping individual slices of French toast, when you could just bake them all into a loaf? This recipe is sure to become a family favorite!
10. Apple Pie Caramel Apples – Now THIS is magical! And for those who maybe aren’t apple pie fans, here‘s a recipe for Mickey and Minnie Candy Apples!
11. Churro Bites – How do you make something even more delicious? Make it bite-sized. And add dipping sauces! This blogger does both. What are you waiting for???
12. White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies – This fun recipe is not only simple to make, it looks beautiful!! Oh, and did I mention that it’s insanely tasty?
13. Magic Cookie Bar from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – sprinkles = magic. Coconut, chocolate, butterscotch, sweetened condensed milk and more = more magic.
14. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie from Flo’s V8 Cafe – this recipe is a wonderful way to consume even more strawberries, which are so plentiful during the summer! I would love a slice of this at the end of my day!
15. Matterhorn Macaroons – Is the Matterhorn your favorite ride? No? Well you’re sure to enjoy these adorable, delicious macaroons anyway.
16. Mint Julep from The Blue Bayou – who doesn’t love a fun, colorful drink that’s kid-friendly? This tasty concoction is a scrumptious way to cool down during the summer months!
17. Smoked Turkey Legs – Here it is. The king of all meats. The smoked turkey leg is a thing of legend, and now you can bring the legend to life in the comfort of your own home!
18. Brownie Cheesecake from Boardwalk Bakery – two of the most delectable desserts, combined. No wonder Disneyland is called “the happiest place on earth.”
19. Tigger Tails from Pooh’s Corner – okay, these are just cute! AND easy to make. This blogger gives two different ways to make Tigger tails, and either one is sure to make your child’s day!
20. Mickey Mouse Beignets from Cafe Orleans – if you haven’t had beignets, you NEED to try them. They are sure to become a house favorite! And for a holiday option, try these gingerbread ones!
21. Sci-Fi Bacon Mac and Cheese – Remember how I said that, if you put anything in a bread bowl, I’m happy? Well I changed my mind, because this is a bread CONE. Carbs in more carbs is my happy place! *Note: this recipe is in two parts; this is for the mac-n-cheese. Find the bread cone recipe here.
22. Red’s Apple Freeze from Car’s Land – I had never heard of this drink before, but now I’m dying to try it! Another delicious way to cool off this summer!!
23. Disney World Soft Pretzels – Few things are as magical as a warm, soft pretzel. It’s a bit of a process, but soooo worth it! What are you waiting for??
24. Cinnamon Glazed Almonds – Ah, snack food. Where would we be without you? These cinnamon glazed almonds probably won’t last long!
25. Monte Cristo Sandwiches from The Blue Bayou – This dish is the mother of all sweet-and-savory combos. But did you know that you can easily make it at home?? Make sure to have your favorite jam on hand for serving!!
26. S’mores Bake from Big Thunder Ranch – For those nights when a campfire is too much trouble or just not in the schedule, bring the outdoors in with this incredibly gooey s’mores bake. Excuse me, I think I hear this calling my name!
27. Dole Whip from Aloha Island – At last, here it is. The most sought-after Disney recipe of all!! Did you know that the Dole whip is vegan? Find out more facts, as well as recipes for more whips, here!

Gather up all of your favorite Disney movies and settle in for a marathon–you’ve got some copycat Disney food to eat!!

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As the summer heats up, we start running out of ideas for creatives ways to keep the kids fed and entertained. Here are 16 fun and healthy kids snacks to get you through the rest of the summer!

1. Apple Cookies are an easy snack that will satisfy your kids’ sweet tooth without spoiling their appetite!

2. Teddy Bear Toast. This toast is adorable and kids can make it themselves! Now that is the perfect snack.

3. Peanut Butter Snails. They’re cute and healthy!

4. DIY “Go Gurt”  These are filled with healthy fruit and they’re refreshing on a hot summer day! To make these, you need these zipzicle bags.

5. Chocolate Dipped Almond Butter Banana Bites

6. Cucumber Bites. This is a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies!

7. No Bake Monster Cookie Energy Bites. The M&M’s will entice them, but little do they know these cookies are packed with plenty of healthy ingredients!

8. Backyard Bug Snacks. Adorable and healthy. What more could you ask for in a snack?

9. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi Rolls. This is probably the only sushi the kids will actually eat. It’s a fun twist on a classic PB&J!

10. Strawberry Mice. Look how cute these mice are!

11. Strawberry Banana Popsicles. These only contain three ingredients, so they are wayyyyy healthier than store bought popsicles! You’ll also need popsicle molds as well!

12. Whole wheat goldfish crackers.

13. Healthy Fishbowl Treats. I see this as a healthier version of a frosted sugar cookie. Yum!

14. Cheese and Apple Pirate Ships

This recipe is from a post about having a Peter Pan themed party, but this snack would be fun for any occasion!

For the next two recipes, you’ll need wooden skewers.

15. Lunchbox Kabobs are perfect for when they get tired of sandwiches!

16. Grape Poppers: As fun to make as they are to eat!

These snacks look so good that I might want some for myself! Happy summer snacking!

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There’s something magical about summertime. School’s out for the summer, plans are being made for family trips, and best of all, there’s no limit on outside time. The bane of my existence is the amount of outside play time my family has to miss because of school hours, but with the arrival of summer, we can spend as much time as we want outside. Heck, we could even live outside all summer if we really wanted to. In fact, one of my favorite things about summer is that it’s perfect weather for camping and spending time in the great outdoors as a family.

My family and I are in the process of getting our home in order and moving. Ever since the beginning of our moving process we’ve taken up residence in our camper and have made the most out of the situation by getting creative with ideas to make it more bearable for not only the adults, but for the kiddos as well. One way we’ve managed to make it more fun is to pretend we’re actually camping, which, I guess in a way we really are. One might even call it glamping more than real real camping, but close enough! We’ve been having fun “camping” and that’s what really counts in the end.

To further the illusion that we’re really roughing it in the great outdoors, my family and I have started a new tradition – Family Game Night (which is truly fun around a campfire)! The kids have gotten a little bit older, so they are starting to understand how to play fun games like the classic Monopoly and Pictionary Jr.!  We even do a kid-friendly version of Pie Face! And, speaking of pies, this past Saturday, I made this amazing Oreo Brownie Pie recipe (yup, in the camper!) It’s so simple, all you need is the pre-made Oreo cookie pie crust and a box of brownie mix (and some whipped cream, of course)! Check out how easy it is to make below…

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Oreo Brownie Pie

Servings 6 -8

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix
• Oreo pie crust

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Prepare brownie batter per instructions on package
• Pour batter in the pie crust pie
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean

If you liked this recipe for Oreo Brownie Pie, then you’ll definitely want to check some of my other recipes over at The Essential Baker and Thrifty DIY Diva! I believe that eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and you most certainly don’t have to go out to eat to satisfy your cravings. I love making copycat versions of my favorite restaurant recipes at home and creating new ones, too! Be sure to follow me over at Pinterest and Facebook!

Here are just a few of my favorite recipes on the site now:

Slow Cooker Queso Dip

Copycat McDonald’s Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie

Paleo Vanilla Pound Cake

 Lavender Hot Chocolate

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Hey hey all! It’s Nancy from The Bitter Side of Sweet again! I hope you are having a wonderful extended weekend! Do you have plans for cookouts? We are keeping it way low key. We do have our youngins to entertain and feed so I thought I would come up with the perfect type of snack/dessert for little ones!

Making this popcorn was the simplest recipe that I have had made in a LONG time! I have an air popper so that basically did all of the work for me. Then I used my microwave to finish the rest of it and BAM! It was done! Seriously, it doesn’t get easier than that!

Now when I make this type of popcorn it always catches people off guard because it is sticky and sweet. But that is the fun of it!! You can also roll it into popcorn balls. I actually made some extra, bagged them up and sent them off to my hubby’s work!

This would also be a great go-to recipe for the Fourth of July! It is a favorite at any get together or family gathering and can be made in massive quantity.

ENJOY!

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Patriotic Marshmallow Popcorn

Course Snack

Servings 6

Author Nancy Piran

Ingredients

• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 cups popped popcorn
• 1 tablespoon patriotic sprinkles

Instructions

• In microwavable safe bowl add marshmallows and butter.
• Microwave for 45 seconds. Checking after 30 seconds that your marshmallow is not burning.
• Stir marshmallow mixture. Add popcorn and stir till well combined.
• Add sprinkles. Stir, serve and ENJOY!

Want more popcorn? You MUST check out these other tasty flavors! Here you go…

Nutella Marshmallow Popcorn

Chocolate Popcorn Pretzel Bark

Coconut Flax Popcorn (For a healthy option)

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There are many different ways to deal with a stressful day. Some days I do better than others, and sometimes I raise my voice a little too loudly, even by my standards. Being a mama to a household of little ones, holding down a full-time job, and juggling the needs of my loving husband while also making sure the house is clean and meals are cooked can really wear a gal down. So, it’s no wonder I can sometimes get a little overwhelmed and that my stress level goes through the roof. Like I said, there are all kinds of ways to deal with it and I pride myself on dealing with it pretty well, most of the time anyway.

I learned in my younger years that it’s all about coping methods. If you have some solid coping methods in your arsenal, then stress doesn’t have to get the better of you. It’s only when you have no safety net or coping method that stress can quickly get out of hand. When stress really starts to get to me, I really enjoy putting on a good movie for the kids and plugging in a pair of headphones so I can listen to some calming music for about 20 minutes or so. This usually does wonders for my stress, as I’m a big music lover and I’ve always found it to be helpful when my emotions are high. Another thing I like to do when I’m stressed is bake.

There is nothing that combats stress better than being elbow deep in ingredients and filling your home with the scent of home baked goods. The past few weeks have been pretty stressful for me, so I went and did a little digging and came across an amazing recipe for Old Fashioned Chocolate Brownies from Green Valley Kitchen. I knew right away that recipe would be scrumptious, but it wasn’t until I’d mixed up the ingredients and popped them into the oven that I knew my suspicions were correct. They smelled heavenly and afterwards, when I piled on the icing and applied a generous layer of sprinkles, the mere sight of them was enough to make my stress melt away. 

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Old Fashioned Chocolate Brownies

Servings 24

Ingredients

• ¾ cup Hershey's cocoa
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ⅔ cup butter melted
• ½ cup boiling water
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1⅓ cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips or dark if you prefer

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking pan
• In a large bowl, add cocoa and baking soda and mix well
• Melt ⅔ cups in the microwave and stir ½ of the melted butter into the cocoa and baking soda mixture
• Add ½ cup of boiling water to a medium bowl with cocoa and butter; stir until smooth
• Add sugar, eggs and the rest of the melted butter to the cocoa mixture and mix well
• Sift in 1⅓ cup of flour. Add vanilla and salt. Combine until smooth, adding chocolate chips.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted through the middle comes out clean
• Allow to cool for 30 minutes, frost with your favorite frosting and top with sprinkles.

Once you’re done pouring it into the pan, lick away to your heart’s content. Sometimes that’s the best part of making brownies! 

Don’t forget a tall, cold glass of milk to accompany this yumminess!

If you liked these old fashioned chocolate brownies, then you’ll definitely want to check some of my other recipes over at The Essential Baker and Thrifty DIY Diva! I believe that eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and you most certainly don’t have to go out to eat to satisfy your cravings. I love making copycat versions of my favorite restaurant recipes at home and creating new ones, too! Be sure to follow me over at Pinterest and Facebook!

Here are just a few of my favorite recipes on the site now:

Copycat McDonald’s Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie

Paleo Vanilla Pound Cake

The post Old Fashioned Chocolate Brownies appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hey guys—Margaret Anne from Natural Chow here, back with another healthy and delicious recipe for ya! With summer around the corner, cooling off is everyone’s number one priority. And these sweet, 100% natural peach strawberry popsicles are sure to do the trick!

Three ingredient recipes are among my favorite, mostly because of their simplicity. This is by far one of the easiest recipes to ever come out of my kitchen, and it’s just as delicious. All you need is canned or fresh sliced peaches, apple juice, and strawberries!

To make things easier, I prefer using canned peaches. Not only does this make for a smoother popsicle, but it also saves you from having to slice up some peaches (and removing the stubborn pits).

A 29 oz. can of sliced peaches is the perfect amount for this recipe!

I’m a little obsessed with no-mess/low-mess recipes at the moment, and these peach strawberry popsicles definitely fit into that category. Even with some little hands helping.

The amount of strawberries you add to the mix is totally up to you. I’ve found that 3-5 large strawberries makes for the perfect combination of sweet and tangy.

Depending on the size of your popsicle mold, this recipe should make roughly 6-8 popsicles. However, since not all molds are created equally, the amount you get out of this recipe may differ.

You can also add in some diced strawberries to the mix before pouring the fruit puree into the popsicle molds.

I picked up these colorful molds from the dollar store, but I think you might have more success with a non-plastic mold, as these were a little tricky to get out. But if you’re feeling extra spunky and want to take this cool summer treat to the next level, you could try using different shaped popsicle molds!

You guys are going to loooove these simple, healthy 3-ingredient peach strawberry popsicles!

Here’s the recipe:

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3-Ingredient Peach Strawberry Popsicles

Simple, easy peach strawberry popsicles made with just 3 ingredients!

Course Dessert

Servings 6 -8 popsicles

Author Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow

Ingredients

• 1 29 oz. can sliced peaches
• 1/2 - 1 cup apple juice
• 3 - 5 large strawberries rinsed

Instructions

• In your blender, combine all ingredients and blend until mixture is smooth.
• Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Notes

These will keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe!

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I don’t know about you, but cinnamon sugar is a favorite flavor combination at our house. We even have a sugar shaker just for cinnamon sugar so we can use some whenever the mood strikes. Since we love it so much, I thought that I would share this easy churro chip recipe with you all.

When I was little, my parents would make these cinnamon sugar chips for us as a special treat. We loved it! We ate them just as fast as my parents could make them.

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Churro Chips

Light and crispy tortilla chips covered in cinnamon sugar.

Course Dessert

Author Amber Simmons

Ingredients

• Flour tortillas
• Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Oil for frying I used vegetable oil

Instructions

• Cut tortillas into chips. You can do wedges or strips. Whatever you like.
• Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a large bowl. You will be tossing the chips in the mixture so make sure there is room.
• In a deep pan heat your oil to 350-375. It can vary depending on your type of oil. It is best to have a thermometer so you know if your oil is getting too hot.
• Fry a few chips at a time until both sides are a dark, golden brown. Remove chips from oil and let excess oil drain for a minute.
• Put hot chips into cinnamon sugar and toss to completely coat.
• Enjoy.

One person can easily make these, but it is helpful to have a second set of hands just to man the cinnamon sugar. That’s the part the kids love to do anyway, so I am sure I will have no shortage of help. This time, I manned the sugar and my mom fried them. (Thanks, mom!)

For more fun ideas be sure to follow me.
Pinterest  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  Instagram

Check out some of my other tasty snacks.

The BEST Caramel Corn Ever

Apricot Hand Pies

The post Churro Chips appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

A friend of mine shared this recipe with my a couple years ago and it has been a seasonal favorite ever since.  You, your family, and friends are going to love this light, sweet, and tart treat so let’s get started!

For this recipe you will need:

• 8 cups of Coconut Water
• The juice of 10 lemons
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 Tbsp Dried Lavender
• 1 drop of Red Food Coloring
• 1 drop of Blue Food Coloring

To begin you will need to make a lavender simple syrup.  This will both sweeten your lemonade, and flavor it.  Simply combine 2 cups of sugar with two cups of water.  Bring it to a boil, and stir until the sugar dissolves.  Next add the dried lavender, and allow it to steep for 20 minutes.  If you are wondering where to find the dried lavender, you can find it in most health food or specialty stores.

While the lavender is steeping in the simple syrup you can combine the juice of 10 lemons with 8 cups of coconut water.  If your coconut water comes with the pulp in it, you will need to strain it out.

Once the lavender is finished steeping strain the dried lavender from the simple syrup.  Add 1 drop of red food coloring and 1 drop of blue food coloring.  This will give your lemonade that lovely lavender color.  Now add it to the coconut water and lemon juice.

Give everything a nice mix together and you are ready to enjoy!

Summer is all about making memories outdoors and this Coconut Lavender Lemonade is the perfect for when everyone is together.  I would love to hear about all the ways you make special summer memories, and get in the kitchen and give this Coconut Lavender Lemonade a try tonight!

And as always…

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, and Happy Living,
~The Kitchen Wife~

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:7]

The post Summertime Coconut Lavender Lemonade appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hey there! We’re Molly and Chelsea.

We are the best friend and food blogging duo behind Best and Bites who love to cook, bake and share it with the world. Some of our favorite things include shopping, eating (duh!),working out and pool days.

Everyone has a soft spot in their hearts for banana bread. Including us. And by soft spot we mean giant hole that can only be filled with warm and soft banana bread covered in melty Nutella straight from the oven.

Banana bread in general reminds me of brunch. We used to go to brunch on Sundays and they always included some sort of banana bread. With nuts, without nuts, with chocolate chips etc. But, never with Nutella.

Until now.

Nutella Swirled Banana Bread

You will fall in love with this recipe!

Quick side note: If you want to make this, you might want to plan ahead! It’s best when the bananas are very ripe and starting to turn brown. They mash beautifully and give this banana bread the perfect texture.

The bread gets so soft and moist because of the mushy bananas that go into them. It’s just the right amount of dense and light. It’s bursting with banana flavor and your taste buds will explode when you bite into a little pocked of Nutella in the middle.

We used a heavy hand when swirling in the Nutella. Because there’s no such thing as too much. We also nuked the Nutella in the microwave for about 20 seconds to soften it up. This helps as you dollop spoonfuls on top to swirl through the banana bread batter. If it’s straight out of the jar, it’s a little hard to get a gorgeous and even swirl.

This Nutella Swirled Banana Bread recipe has a double dose of Nutella. You pour half the banana bread batter in the bread loaf pan, swirl Nutella on top, fill the pan with the rest of the batter and repeat the swirling process. The Nutella on top gets melty and makes the banana bread look so pretty. And the swirls in the middle ooze with melty goodness when you bite into a slice.

Pure heaven, we tell you.

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Nutella Swirled Banana Bread

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 2 Cups of Flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 4 very ripe bananas mashed
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup butter melted
• 1/2 Cup of Sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 Cup Nutella divided

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a standard sized loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In large bowl, with a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat bananas, eggs, butter and sugar and extract. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until combined.
• Melt Nutell in microwave for approximately 30 seconds to soften slightly. Using 1/2 cup Nutella, dollop spoonfuls on top of batter, swirl with a knife. Pour the rest of the batter on top and repeat swirl process with the rest of the Nutella.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted to center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove to cool the rest on a backing rack.

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I love Spring! I cannot wait to see the flowers and to enjoy the fresh veggies and fruit that will come from our garden. There is nothing better than picking fresh raspberries from a bush in your backyard. I remember berry picking with friends growing up and eating those raspberries was better than any sugary treat!

Unfortunately, it’s still to early to pick my own berries but I’m loving the prices in the stores lately. I recently bought a bunch of raspberries and I’ve been going crazy whipping up raspberry recipes. Our freezer is stocked! One of the recipes I’ve made are these moist Rasberry Lemonade Muffins. Every time I bake these up, they are gone in flash! However, if you have extras, you can easily freeze them. They make the perfect after school snack or can be thrown in with lunches too. To thaw them, you can remove them from the freezer and sit them out for about 45 minutes, microwave on high for 30 seconds, or in an oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

You can also use frozen raspberries for this. It’s perfect! I love having a good stock on hand of frozen berries. Just throw them in the batter either fresh or frozen.

Just seeing the pictures makes me want to bake some up. I’m thinking these will be perfect for Sunday morning, enjoying a sunny Spring weekend.

Here’s a fun tip too. Whenever you are using a glaze, poke some holes with a fork in the top of the cake, after they have cooled for a few minutes, and brush the glaze over the top. It will fall down in the holes and you’ll get another burst of flavor in your bites of muffin!

You can dress them up too. Wouldn’t these be perfect for a bridal or baby shower?

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Raspberry Lemonade Muffins

A delicous pairing of summer's best flavors-raspberry and lemons-into a moist muffin!

Ingredients

• For the Muffins:
• 2 ups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 cup greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract may use vanilla too
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1 lemon
• 1 and 1/2 cups 12 oz fresh or frozen raspberries
• For the Glaze:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spray a muffin pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, milk, melted butter, yogurt (or sour cream), eggs, lemon (or vanilla) extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Continue to whisk until the sugar dissolves.
• Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold until just combined.
• Fold in the raspberries.
• Divide the muffin batter into the muffin pans and bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean with just a few crumbs.
• Let muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
• For the glaze, combine the sugar and lemon juice in saucepan. Heat on medium heat. Simmer until sugar is dissolved and mixture is syrupy.

My favorite part of these muffins is getting a burst of raspberry when you bit into them. Yummy!

I seriously cannot wait to share more fun recipes using the flavors of spring and summer.

I hope you love these Raspberry Lemonade Muffins  as much as we did. What is your favorite way to use berries in baking? I’d love to hear because I have a lot of berries to use up!

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and here are some fun ideas over on My Daylights:

A Child’s Hand Keychain Gift

She Loved A Boy Printable

Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

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I’m not the kind of person that enjoys spending all morning making breakfast just for it to be devoured in a matter of minutes. I’d rather cook once and eat for a week.

You don’t need me to explain the convenience of cereal to you. We all know it’s fast, delicious, and the kids love it! So today I thought I’d share with you a healthy alternative to everyone’s favorite breakfast.

The things you’ll need to make this Cinnamon Blueberry Almond Granola Cereal are:

• Old-fashioned oats
• Slivered or chopped almonds
• Ground cinnamon
• Flax seeds
• Maple syrup
• Coconut oil
• Vanilla extract
• Freeze-dried or dried blueberries

Super simple, healthy ingredients. Check.

I’m not even kidding you guys, this is one of the simplest recipes ever. It only takes a couple of minutes to mix all of the ingredients together and then you just pop it in the oven, stirring halfway through baking and boom! You’ve got yourself some of the tastiest granola cereal ever.

You can use either freeze-dried blueberries or dried blueberries for this Cinnamon Blueberry Almond Granola. I chose to use freeze-dried, simply because that’s all I had. Although I imagine it would taste just as amazing with regular dried blueberries.

If you’re not a fan of almonds, feel free to switch it up and use the nut of your choice. Pecans or walnuts would make a great substitute.

This cinnamon blueberry almond granola cereal is toddler approved. Ahem, pickiest-toddler-in-the-world approved.

So, I mean if that doesn’t tell ya you need to make this simple recipe ASAP, I don’t know what will…

Sweet, nutty, toasty granola in less than an hour. Trust me when I say you need to add this to your breakfast rotation.

Here’s the recipe for the best Cinnamon Blueberry Almond Granola Cereal you will taste!

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Cinnamon Blueberry Almond Granola Cereal

Author Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon golden flax seeds
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup freeze-dried blueberries or dried blueberries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 300° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, cinnamon, and flax seeds and stir. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to combine.
• Spread the granola onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through. Let cool completely before serving or storing. Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three weeks.

Looking for more granola inspiration?

Skinny Dark Chocolate Chia Granola

Cardamom Almond Coconut Granola Cereal

The post Cinnamon Blueberry Almond Granola Cereal appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Hi! This is Amber from “Rick-a-Bamboo” and I love shortbread. It is the perfect combination of crispy, buttery, and sweetness. These have a little something extra as well. Sprinkles. Every cookie is more fun with sprinkles. Kids especially love the addition of sprinkles.

The recipe is super simple and they bake up so quick that you can easily whip them up any time. These flavorful cookies are made with ingredients you already have on hand.

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Sprinkle Shortbread Bites

Author Amber Simmons

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 tsp sprinkles

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Prepare an 8 x 8 pan with parchment. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment.
• In a mixer, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla together until fluffy.
• Turn mixer down to low and add flour and salt.
• Once it is mixed throughly add the sprinkles.
• Press dough in to the pan.
• Lift the parchment out of the 8 x 8 pan.
• Cut the dough in to 1/2" squares. Move squares to the cookie sheet spacing them 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the bottoms start to brown.

Tip: When you cut them use a pizza cutter. It is the perfect tool for nice, smooth cuts.

I just love how cute and little they are. They are perfect for a tea party or just because. The only problem when they are bite sized is that you will want to eat them all. I would highly recommend not sitting next to the plate of them while you surf Instagram.

Be sure to follow me for more fun ideas and check out my other fun posts.
Pinterest  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  Instagram

Be sure to try some of my other delicious treats:

Snickerdoodle Popcorn

Toffee Fruit Dip

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Marshmallow Bird Nests

When I was a little girl, we would go to Little Chung King every once in a while for Sunday dinner. It was the only Chinese restaurant in town and my mom’s favorite place. My dad wasn’t such a fan of the restaurant because they didn’t have coffee. The only options for drinks were hot tea or water. (They probably sold soda too, but we NEVER got to order soda at a restaurant!) The other thing they would serve with the tea was a plate full of crunchy chow mein noodles with a tiny bowl of sweet and sour sauce and really spicy, gross mustard. I hated the mustard, but loved those noodles! We’d put away an entire plate of them before the food would come out of the kitchen. The other day I was walking down the “ethnic” aisle in the grocery store and saw a bag of those chow mein noodles sticking out on the shelf. I grabbed the bag and brought it home to introduce my boys to the tasty treat!

We munched on the dry noodles, but I thought they would be much more fun as bird nest treats instead of dry noodles. We certainly have enough Easter egg candies hanging around the house right now! Sometimes they are called haystack cookies and they can be made with chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, honey – really anything sticky will do the trick. My personal favorite for sticky goodness is always marshmallow. I LOVE marshmallows. So marshmallows and chocolate seemed like a natural fit for our cute little bird nests.

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Marshmallow Bird Nests

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup half stick of butter
• 4 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
• 5 cups crunchy chow mein noodles
• Optional: candy eggs

Instructions

• In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and marshmallows, stirring constantly until smooth.
• Add chocolate chips to the marshmallow mixture and stir until melted and mixed well.
• Remove from heat and add the chow mein noodles, stirring to coat.
• Plop down spoonfuls of the sticky mixture onto wax paper and shape into round nests. Every nest is unique, so don't worry about getting them perfectly round! Press down the center just a bit to make room for eggs if you want to stuff the nests.
• If using candy eggs, press them into the center of the nests and then allow the nests to cool before eating.

Honestly, the mixture is really flexible for these Marshmallow Bird Nests. I just eyeball it and if it seems too sticky and wet, I’ll add more noodles. This recipe makes 12 larger nests (like 3 inches across) so you could easily get 24 small nests with one egg in each of them. We also added some shredded coconut to a few of them to “feather” the nests just for fun. Feel free to play around with the flavors to suit your family’s tastes while you use up this year’s Easter candy!

Check out these other marshmallow treats from 365(ish) Days of Pinterest:

Hidden Surprise Basketball Treats

Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins

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