Birds Nests for the ER sound.

Birds Nests

1. Melt:        1/4 cup chunky peanut butter

(If using natural peanut butter add 1 Tbsp. Butter)

3/4 cup chocolate chips

2. Stir in:      2 cups chow mein noodles

3. Drop big spoonfuls onto wax paper.

4. Make a hole in the middle with a spoon.

5. Put 2 or 3 jelly beans in each nest.

6. Cool and enjoy!

Fun for Easter and for learning the ER sound. (Easter, bird, butter, stir)

MiXed Pumpkin Cookies for the X sound

This is a fun cooking project to go with the X sound.

MiXed Pumpkin Cookies

1. MiX:

• ½ cup oil or butter
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  1 egg
  1 tsp. vanilla
  1 cup pumpkin

2. MiX:

• 2 ½ cups flour
  1 tsp. baking powder
  1 tsp. baking soda
  1 tsp. cinnamon
  ½ tsp. nutmeg
  ½ tsp. salt

3. MiX:     ½ bag of Chocolate Chips

4. Drop on greased cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Cool!

6. Frost with Frosting or eat plain. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional)
Mix or beat 8 oz. cream cheese – softened, 1 stick of butter- softened, 2 T. milk, 1 t. vanilla and
About 3 cups of powdered sugar until it is thick and smooth.

Oatmeal Kindness Cookies

(Fun to make and share for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)

1. Mix:

• 1 cup flour
• 3/4  t. soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg

2. Beat in:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1  1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t. vanilla
• for 2 minutes.

3. Stir in:

• 2 cups regular oatmeal
• Optional 1 cup chocolate chips

4. Roll in balls or use a small ice cream scoop.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

6. Eat and share!

Fruit Salad

Take an assortment of fruits (fresh and canned).  It is fun to let children bring a fruit to add to the salad.  With help they can help to cut the fruit.   Here are some suggestions of fruits to use.

• banana
• apple
• pear
• peach
• strawberries
• blueberries
• grapes
• Mix it all together with canned pineapple canned in its own juice.

Sloppy Joes

This is a way to get vegetables in your family.  This recipe is just a guide.  Add any vegetables that need using.

• Brown 1 lb of ground beef or turkey.
• Blend or  chop in the blender or food processor 2 cups of vegetables.  Any will do but this is a good mix to start with: 1 onion, 2 celery, 1-2 big carrots, 1 pepper any color.   Add this to the cooked meat.
• Add 1 cup catsup.
• Add 2 Tablespoons mustard.
• Cook down until it thickens.
• Add a little salt and pepper to taste.  It doesn’t take much because the vegetables are so flavorful.
• Serve over bread or on buns with cheese and raw vegetables.
• It is yummy and easy.

This can be made into large batches and feed a crowd.

http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Taco Salad- Ten Minute Meal

Taco Salad (Eighth of 10 Ten Minute Meals)

• Cook cut up chicken or ground beef in taco seasoning (below) or use leftover chicken.
• Cut lettuce, tomatoes, onions.
• Cut avocados.
• Grate cheese.
• Can of drained olives.
• Can of drained beans (black or kidney).
• Tortilla Chips

Mix all together in a large bowl with:

Taco Ranch Dressing  

•  1 cup ranch dressing   (Our blog has a home made recipe of Ranch Dressing.)  (Can substitute plain yogurt and spices for ranch dressing.)
•  1 T. catsup
•  2 T. salsa.

Taco Seasoning Cook 1 – 2 lbs. of ground beef or chicken then add seasoning and water.

• 2 tsp. instant minced onion
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• ½  tsp. corn starch
• ½  tsp. garlic powder
• ½  tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• ½  tsp. crushed dried red pepper
• Add ½  cup of water

Simmer until the water is cooked out.

Pancakes

 1.    Mix with a whisk:

•  2 cups flour (whole grain is best)
•  1 teaspoon salt
•  1 teaspoon baking powder

 2.   Heat frying pan on medium heat.

 3.    Mix in with a whisk:

•  about 2 cups of water or milk
•  2 eggs
•  1/2 cup oil or applesauce
•  2 Tablespoons honey

 4.    The pan is ready for pancakes when you sprinkle a little water with your fingers in the pan and the water dances. Cook pancakes.

 5.    Eat with syrup, applesauce, honey/butter or cinnamon sugar.  It is fun to try new toppings for pancakes.

 6.    Enjoy!

Gingerbread People

Gingerbread Men or People

Fun, easy, delicious recipe to do with children. A holiday favorite.

Mix with a mixer:

• 1 c. butter
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 c. molasses

Sift or mix together:

• 5 c. flour
• 1 1/2 t. soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. ginger
• 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. cloves

Mix wet and dry ingredients together.

Chill for about an hour.

Cut with people cookie cutters. Decorate with raisins, chocolate chips, slivered almonds, licorice, and/or tiny candies.

Bake in the oven at 375 for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!