junior chefs

Edible Aquariums made with Jello

momstown moms love to get creative with their kids in the kitchen, especially with a fun theme like underwater or wet, wet, wet!  The kids really got into this jiggly snack and loved to make their own edible aquariums.  Who needs a spoon, it's even better with your hands!

 edible jello aquarium, fun with jello

 

Ingredients:

 

4-6 Instant jello packages in blue (blue raspberry) 

Boiling water

Ice cubes

Gummy fish candies

Large mixing bowl

Small glass "aquarium" bowls for kids

 

Directions:

 

1.  Dissolve the jello powder and make the instant jellow in a large bowl (use the quick set method with ice cubes).

 

2.  Transfer the almost set jello into each child's "aquarium" bowl.

 

3.  Add gummy fish to each bowl. 

 

4.  Let jello set while you create some fish or ocean crafts and then eat up your own aquarium!

 

 

Posted by momstown team on 06/01/2013 - 09:05
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Kid's Snacks: Triple Hitter Muffins

 

This is a great snack to get the kids helping in the kitchen!  Lots of little tasks to be done to create this healthier snack for your family. The momstown Victoria moms, dad and toddlers took turns helping to grate the zucchini and carrots, measuring the wet and dry ingredients, and whisking everything together. These healthy treats are also chock full of fruit and veggies.


triple hitter muffins

Ingredients:

¼ cup (50 mL) vegetable oil

½ cup (125 mL) brown sugar

1 egg

¾ cup (175 mL) applesauce

1 cup (250 mL) grated carrots

1 cup (250 mL) grated zucchini

1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose whole wheat flour

¾ cup (175 mL) all-purpose flour

2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder

1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon

½ tsp (2 mL) nutmeg

½ tsp (2 mL) salt

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, whisk together oil and sugar. Beat in egg, then applesauce. Stir in carrots and zucchini.

 

2. In another large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

 

3. Fold dry ingredients into wet, until just mixed. Grease 2 mini-muffin trays. Spoon batter to the very top of muffin cups and bake 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted in a muffin.

 

Recipe and photo from Today's Parent.

 

Posted by momstown team on 05/03/2013 - 09:51
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Easy Banana and Cereal Snack for kids

At Junior Chef, momstown Ottawa made a super simple snack with bananas and cereal that the kids loved and could make almost all on their own; banana pops.  It is a versatile snack that is only limited by your imagination! 

 

easy banana pops 

 

Ingredients:

bananas

popsicle sticks

yogurt (optional to use honey or peanut butter/almond butter)

Cereal suggestions: Fruit loops are a great cereal to use to make a colourful snack.  We also used Cheerios and Harvest Crunch for a healthier option. Banana, peanut butter and Harvest Crunch was a fave!

 

Directions:


1.  Cut bananas in half

2.  Dip them in yogurt

3.  Cover them in cereal. 

4.  Stick a popsicle stick in it and it’s done! 

 

Another great way to make these is to freeze the bananas first, brush them with a little honey then roll in your favourite cereal.  It makes for a great frozen snack on a warm day.

 

 

 Submitted by momstown Ottawa

Posted by momstown team on 05/02/2013 - 11:42
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Make your own Trail Mix with the Kids

momstown moms and kids love to go exploring!  One important thing to pack when you are going on an adventure is a snack.  Set up a fun "Trail Mix Bar" and let preschoolers make their own trail mix to fill their hungry bellies.

 

create your own trail mix

 

Trail Mix Bar Ideas

pretzel sticks
banana chips
raisins
marshmallows
chocolate Cheerios
Shreddies
dried cranberries or other small pieces of dried fruit
Goldfish crackers
popcorn (for older children)
chocolate chips
mini teddy bear cookies or animal crackers
Smarties (nut-free)

 

1.  Let the kids decorated some paper bags to hold their trail mix. 

 

2.  The kids lined up to go along the bar to put their snacks into their own bags.  Remember to teach the kids about using spoons and tongs (great for fine motor skills) to keep from spreading germs!

 

3.  Take this as an opportunity for kids to try new things!  It was great to see the kids learning that they liked one of these new snack items!

 


The preschoolers loved this super easy snack that they can eat with their hands.  While we sat down to eat the trail mix we talked about Spring and some of the great places to explore.

 

Submitted by momstown Hamilton

Posted by momstown team on 04/29/2013 - 11:08
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St. Patrick's Day Treats

Bring the fun and magic of St. Patrick's day to your home with this quick and delicious St Patrick Day pudding. Turn your house into a party by using only green play-dough, create a green rice pour & scoop sensory station (with shamrock confetti and lucky coins), and then the delicious part – green Pistachio Pudding.

 St. Patrick's green puddingSt. Patrick's Day snacks

Ingredients:

Pistachio Jell-O pudding package

Milk

Oreos

Cool Whip

Parfait glasses or clear plastic glasses

 

Directions:

Mix together 1 box Jell-O Pistachio pudding with & 1 ½ cups milk for 2 minutes. Put aside to thicken.

Crush together Oreo cookies. The original idea was to roll them with a rolling pin but you can put 2 or 3 in a Ziploc bag and let the kids squash them with their fingers, which makes the experience more fun.

 

By the time the cookies are squashed, the pudding will be set, so add 1 cup Cool Whip to the pudding and layer pudding and cookies into parfait glasses, saving some cookie crumbs for the topping.  One box should make 4 servings, that is, if you can get all the pudding into the parfait glasses!

 

This is a very easy delicious desert to prepare for St Patrick’s Day celebrations or anytime. 

 

St. Patrick's Day fun and recipe by momstown Brampton.

 

Posted by momstown team on 03/17/2013 - 14:35
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