FOR KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN ITALY, these three are pretty jazzed about celebrating the 4th of July. Actually, they’re mostly excited about these little star shaped cheeses (thanks, veggie cutters!). Fireworks and parades? Our kids have no idea those are part of the package, yet. But boy I sure do.I still get a little…
how to make mini marshmallow flowers
SHHH. There’s a very small person sleeping right next to me, which is the only reason I’m able to post today’s cupcake recipe and how to make mini marshmallow flowers tutorial. That, and even on Father’s Day, my brave husband has taken all three of our “bigger” kids out to breakfast and to church. Alone….
baby carrots in pots, a step-by-step tutorial
COMBINING CUTE IDEAS WITH FRESH VEGETABLES is just about the best. These carrots are one more super simple way to get kids eating more veggies. Here’s just how you do it. 1. Gather your materials. Baby carrots, preferably the thick kind (some are whittled extra thin) Curly parsley Toothpick Terra cotta pots (mine are actually a…
how to make hens out of hard boiled eggs
I KNOW, I KNOW. I just said no thanks to any projects that make me feel worse about myself than the crafting boards on Pinterest already do. But as we continue our internet-inspired Easter roundup, I’m happy to report these little chicks are surprisingly simple to make. True story. And if I can do it, you can too. Here’s a…
easy brownie bird nests
I’M NOT USUALLY A FAN OF CULINARY ORIGAMI. Yes, I’ve been known to roll up a sandwich or two, and maybe even use a muffin pan to produce “castle” casseroles as a treat for the kids (read: to get them to try something new) but those things take all of an extra 35 seconds, and even…
very small shepherd’s pies (a step-by-step recipe)
WE’VE MADE THESE MINI SHEPHERD’S PIES TWICE NOW, once at a kiddie cooking school here in North Carolina, and once at home, both for St. Patrick’s Day. This version is our own recipe, which is really just layering all the flavors you’d expect–but simplified. We cheated a bit with store-bought biscuit dough, which really puffs…
kid-friendly mini reuben sandwiches (a step-by-step recipe)
IT’S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY, BUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY can be really fun. Especially if you’re four, three or even one–and there’s special food on the menu. Bonus, these mini reuben sandwiches aren’t limited to leprechaun season so you can make them, and kids will love them, any time. The ingredients might surprise you, especially the sauerkraut,…
a little shot of spinach, the best way to start dinner!
This is an idea straight from “French Kids Eat Everything“, and I love it. In her amazing memoir about moving to France with two picky eaters then watching the European culture transform their whole family, Karen Le Billon explains that many French households have a baby food maker handy, even if they don’t have a baby….
it’s turkey time! our new favorite nut-free cheddar & cream cheese ball
DID YOU KNOW MOST CHEESE BALLS INCLUDE NUTS? And all sorts of spicy ingredients? At least the recipes I found do. This was a problem because two forces aligned this week: it was our turn to take the preschool snack and my former Martha Stewart Omnimedia alum, Michelle Buffardi, has an adorable new book out…
spooky spider eggs
THIS IS MY SECOND FAVORITE PINTEREST IDEA, from our Healthy-ish Halloween Ideas for Kids board. Like the string cheese witches’ brooms, they’re absolutely adorable but also…shockingly easy. My girls are egg people. They love eggs. Hard boiled eggs. Egg salad sandwiches. Scrambled eggs. So I knew this would be a hit. And it was. For…
2 ways to cuten up breakfast in 60 seconds: hard-boiled egg molds
I LOVE IT WHEN THINGS WORK OUT. And when you’re shopping online, that’s not always the case, right? Recently I went crazy took advantage of our new access to online shopping in the U.S. and tried out a dozen things I’d had an eye on in Italy (like this and this). But these little egg…