snacktime

[Brookesmommy525]

 There are always seasonal snack items, my fav is carmel apples with nuts.  What are your favs?  PLus I have found a few online to share with everyone as well.

[Brookesmommy525]

The Seneca Indians used sunflower seeds to make pudding, gravy, bread, and coffee. Mixed with dried fruit, the seeds also make a sweet and nutty snack.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	2 cups raw sunflower seeds
	1 cup pine nuts
	1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
	1 cup raisins
	1 cup sweetened, dried cranberries

1. Measure the ingredients into a paper bag, fold over the top of the bag, and shake to mix. Store the mixture in an airtight container.

[Brookesmommy525]

Stuck inside on a wet, windy day? Whip up a batch of Monkey Mix, a combination of some of our curious cousins' favorite foods.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	1 1/4 cups dried bananas
	1 cup each dried papaya and dried mango
	1/4 cup sliced almonds
	1/4 cup coconut
	1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (a tasty substitute for bugs!)

1. Combine ingredients and enjoy!

[Brookesmommy525]

Ants on a Log

 

Ingredients

• 5 stalks celery
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup raisins

Directions

1. Cut the celery stalks in half. Spread with peanut butter. Sprinkle with raisins.  

[Brookesmommy525]

Apple Lady bug treats

 

Ingredients

• 2 red apples
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 8 thin pretzel sticks

Directions

1. Slice apples in half from top to bottom and scoop out the cores using a knife or melon baller. If you have an apple corer, core them first, then slice. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.
2. Dab peanut butter on to the back of the 'lady bug', then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.  

[Brookesmommy525]

 

Bears picnic Veggie Dip

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 (1.8 ounce) package vegetable soup mix
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• Assorted fresh vegetables

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and soup mix. Stir in spinach and water chestnuts. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with vegetables.

[Brookesmommy525]

 

Butterfly Buns

Ingredients

• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cherry jam

Directions

1. Preheat oven 350 F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup-muffin-pan with paper baking cups.
2. Cream 1/4 cup butter or margarine and white sugar together until pale yellow and fluffy. Gradually add small amounts of beaten egg, beating continuously. In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder and hot water. Stir cocoa mixture into batter. Fold in flour using figure eight movement. If the mixture is too stiff, batter should slowly drop off spoon when lifted from bowl, add a small amount of water. Divide mixture into 12 muffin cups.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until well risen and firm to touch. Allow to cool.
4. Cream 1/4 cup butter or margarine until soft. Gradually add sifted confectioners sugar and vanilla extract. Mix cream filling until smooth.
5. Cut circles from tops of muffins, and halve these to resemble butterfly wings. Put a small amount of cherry jam in the cut out hole, and cover with a teaspoon of cream filling. Place the wing shapes into the cream filling curved side down.

[Brookesmommy525]

 

Cream Cheese Penguins

Ingredients

• 18 jumbo black olives, pitted
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 18 small black olives
• 1 carrot

Directions

1. Cut a slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of each jumbo olive. Carefully insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each olive. Slice the carrot into eighteen 1/4 inch thick rounds; cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form the beak. If necessary cut a small slit into each olive before inserting the beak.
2. Set a big olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then, set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.

[Brookesmommy525]

Monkey Peanut Butter bars

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
•  
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 3 1/2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. Cream butter and white sugar and brown sugar. Blend in 1/3 cup peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and baking soda. Add flour and oatmeal. Mix well!
2. Spread in greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
3. Return to oven and bake for eight minutes. Spread to smooth out chocolate chips. Cool! Mix icing and spread over bars. Refrigerate to set. Cut and eat.
4. To Make Icing: Mix together 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup peanut butter and 3 1/2 tablespoons milk until it makes a spreadable consistency.  

[Brookesmommy525]

Tiger Butter

Ingredients

• 1 pound white chocolate
• 1 pound semisweet chocolate, melted
• 1 1/3 cups crunchy peanut butter

Directions

1. Line a 10x15 inch pan with parchment. Set aside.
2. In the top of a double boiler set over simmering (not boiling) water, heat white chocolate and peanut butter. Stir constantly until white chocolate and peanut butter melts.
3. Spread onto prepared pan. Pour melted semi-sweet chocolate over top and swirl through with a knife, to create a marble pattern. Chill until firm. Cut into 1 /2 x 1" pieces.  

[Alabamachick]

I need something neat for a two year old's birthday party any suggestions