Orange Jello Pudding

I have yet to meet a kid that doesn't LOVE this.

3 c water
1 (3 oz) pkg orange gelatin
1 (3.4) oz package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (3 oz) pkg tapioca pudding mix
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple
1 (8 oz) carton whipped topping

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Whisk in gelatin and pudding mixes. Return to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Fold in oranges, pineapple and whipped topping. Spoon into a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Yield: 12-14 servings.

Watermelon Cake

Again, no recipe, but CUTE idea.  Strawberry cake with chocolate chips baked in. Pink frosting sprinkled with chocolate chips, and green frosting on the edges with green jelly beans stuck on.  Love it!

Fruitsicles

Again, no recipe, but great idea!  Stick fruit in the Popsicle containers and fill in with slightly concentrated juice.  Yum!

Watermelon Pops

1 cup sugar, divided

1 pkg.  (3 oz.) JELL-O Lime Flavor Gelatin

2 cups boiling water, divided

  Ice cubes

1 cup cold water, divided

1 pkg.  (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

3 Tbsp. miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 pkg.  (4 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

make it

1 MIX 1/3 cup sugar and lime gelatin mix in medium bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to 1/2 cup cold water to measure 3/4 cup. Add to lime gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Refrigerate 25 min. 2   MEANWHILE, repeat Step 1 using strawberry gelatin mix and omitting the refrigeration step. Pour into 16 (3-oz.) paper cups. Freeze 20 min. Stir 1/2 tsp. chocolate chips into gelatin in each cup. 3 BEAT cream cheese and remaining sugar with mixer in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in COOL WHIP; spread over gelatin in cups. 4 POUR lime gelatin over cream cheese mixture. Insert wooden pop stick into gelatin in center of each cup. Freeze 3 hours or until firm. Remove pops from cups just before serving. Recipe found HERE

Snowmen on a Stick

Ingredients

• Bananas
• Grapes
• Carrot
• Apple

• Bamboo skewers
• Mini chocolate chips
• Pretzel sticks

Instructions

1. For each snowman, you will need three thick slices of banana, a grape, a sliver of carrot, and a triangular piece of apple. (Tip: Poke a hole in the apple piece with a bamboo skewer first to make assembly easier.)
2. Have your kids slide the fruit onto the skewer, then use the carrot slivers for noses, mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, and pretzel sticks for arms.
   
   
   Found HERE

Frozen Bananas

I loved these as a kid!


The recipe provided for this was quite complex.  My version:

Melt some chocolate chips, dip the bananas into the chocolate, put on a tray lined with wax paper and freeze!  Enjoy!!

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

found HERE

2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries
1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
2 tablespoons white sugar (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I used strawberry)

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray

Cinnamon sugar:
1 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

3.Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter). 

4.Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be serve with cinnamon graham grackers or cinnamon pita chips. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny.

Sea Glass Jello

Ingredients:

3 (3 ounce) boxes Jell-O or generic store-brand gelatin (any colors you'd like)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (substitutions will not work)
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (Knox brand, in the Jell-O aisle)

Directions: (see step-by-step at RecipeGirl.com)

1. In three separate containers (use rectangular tupperware or pyrex loaf pans), mix jello package with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir each until dissolved and then refrigerate until firm (at least 4 hours, or overnight).
2. Once the jello flavors are firm, use a sharp knife to cut the jello into small squares (1/2-inch or so).
3. Spray a 9x13-inch pyrex pan lightly with nonstick spray. Use a metal spatula to scoop out the jello squares and place them into the prepared pan. Mix the colors up so they're not bunched all together.
4. In a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup of cold water. Sprinkle in 2 envelopes of gelatin and stir. Add 1 1/2 cups boiling water to the bowl and stir until dissolved. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and let cool.
5. Pour the white gelatin mixture over the cubes of jello and let it fill up the pan. Refrigerate overnight. Slice the jello into squares and serve. These are firm enough to serve on a platter as a hand-held dessert.

Tips:

*Because I wanted to copy the look of what is usually found in sea glass, I used orange, lime and blueberry jello. The blueberry jello only comes in a 6-ounce package, so you'll need to divide it in half. You can certainly use whatever flavors you'd like.

Source: RecipeGirl.com (Adapted from The Food Librarian)

Corn Dog Muffins

Ingredients:

2 (8.5 ounce) packages corn bread mix
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
9 whole hot dogs, diced
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
ketchup, mustard, sour cream, honey mustard (for dipping)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease mini muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl, stir together cornbread mix and brown sugar. In a small bowl whisk together eggs and milk, and then stir into dry mixture until moistened. Mix in hot dogs and cheese.
3. Spoon a good Tablespoonful into muffin tins, making sure you get some hot dog in each spoonful.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes in the pan before removing. For easy removal, cut around outsides of the muffins, then tip upside down onto a large cutting board & urge the muffins out using a knife to tap the bottoms of the muffin tins. They should slide right out.
5. Serve warm with desired dipping sauces.

Tips:

*Alternately, you can use your favorite cornbread mix, follow the instructions on the box, add in 1 cup of cheddar cheese and mix in chopped hot dogs too. If your favorite cornbread mix doesn't have a sweet element to it, add in 2 Tbsp. brown sugar.
*You can use paper liners if you'd like.

Source: www.RecipeGirl.com

Gelatin Oranges

This gelatin snack is a fun and creative way to sneak fruit into your child's diet. Even picky eaters will gobble them up! And be sure to check out our other fun ideas for kid concoctions.

Ingredients

• Oranges
• Orange gelatin

• Water

Instructions

1. Cut the oranges in half from top to bottom and spoon the fruit from each half, leaving the peel intact. Prepare the gelatin according to the package directions, then pour it into the peel halves, adding fruit pieces if desired.
   
2. Set the halves into ramekins or a muffin tin to keep them from tipping and carefully place them in the refrigerator. Let the gelatin set according to the package directions.
   
3. Once they're ready, remove the orange halves from the refrigerator, cut them into wedges, and serve.
   Tip: For a colorful twist, try using other citrus fruits and gelatin flavors, such as grapefruit, lemon, and lime.
   

Pizza Quesadilla

This is an easy and delicious meal idea.
Just put your favorite pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese on a tortilla as shown above.  Fold it in half and fry it in a skillet.  No need to have a quesadilla maker, but you can definitely use one of those too!  Enjoy!

Fruit Pops

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg.  (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

18 fresh strawberries, stemmed

2/3 cup  (2-qt. line) KOOL-AID Strawberry Flavor Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drink Mix, or any red flavor 

 ADD boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved.

 CUT strawberries in half. Mash berries and drink mix in large bowl with fork. Stir in gelatin.

 POUR into 8 (5-oz.) paper cups.

 COVER cups with foil, insert wooden pop stick into center of each for handle. Freeze 2 hours or until firm.

Variation Twist on your Pop Flavor!

Mix and match this refreshing summer pop with your favorite flavor combination of JELL-O, KOOL-AID and fruit!

Jellin' Melon Snacks

1 cantaloupe, cut lengthwise in half

3/4 cup  boiling water

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin

1/2 cup  cold water

REMOVE seeds from melon halves; cut thin slice from bottom of each. Scoop out melon flesh, leaving 1-inch-thick shells. Place upside-down on paper towels to drain.
ADD boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate 15 min. or until slightly thickened. Pour into melon shells.
REFRIGERATE 3 hours or until gelatin is firm. Cut into wedges.