Red, White & Blue Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!

All righty then... Nannie Mac is running late for a recipe for Memorial Day so we're going to make it super easy :-) and really fun!

If you haven't ever made Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes, you're in for a treat and if you have, the kids will be thrilled to do it again and decorate them in red, white and blue... with the best part being Red Velvet Cake!

Okay, let's get started... 

Here's what you'll need:

1 (18-ounce) Red Velvet Cake Mix + all the fixin's to stir it up

24 flat-bottomed ice cream cones

1 (16 ounce) can frosting (preferably white or the cream cheese frosting is yummy)

Red, white & blue sprinkles

Whipping Cream (optional)

C'mon kids, let's head for the kitchen! The kids can pretty well do this one on their own with just a tad of supervision except for taking the creations out of the oven!

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

Have the kids measure out the ingredients needed for the Red Velvet cake mix and stir it up!

Use a measuring cup and pour a scant 1/4-cup batter into flat-bottomed ice cream cones so they are a tiny bit less than half full (if you fill the cones too much, the cakes will not have a nice, round top).
   
Place the cones on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. (Note:  Be very careful when putting them in the oven!

Remove from baking sheet and cook on wire rack. You can use a tooth pick and carefully punch a little hole, or maybe two, in the bottom of the cone to allow the steam to come out so the cones don't get soggy.

Encourage the kids to get creative and swirl the frosting like soft-serve ice cream! Sprinkle with red, white and blue!

OR... wait until you're ready to eat the cupcake cones and let the kids get wild with a can of whipping cream! Build it up on top of the cupcake like soft-serve ice cream and "just add red, white and blue sprinkles!"

God Bless all of our men and women at home and abroad who protect us and our freedoms every day... never take them for granted... and, please let the kids know how important they are in our lives on this Memorial Day weekend!

Make it a great, red, white and blue!

Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach for Kids

Snickers Salad for Mom!

I reached back in my "old recipe box" for this one... it's a very old favorite and a special treat for Mom on Mother's Day!

The kids can pretty much do this one on their own with just a little supervision and some help in cutting the apples and the candy bars from an adult helper. The more the kids can do on their own, the more special it is...So, let's get the kids into the kitchen!

Here's what you'll need:

1 small box instant French vanilla pudding

1 cup milk

4 Granny Smith apples (cored and diced with adult help, please)

2 bananas (peeled and sliced)

2 large Snickers candy bars (cut into bite-sized pieces, with adult help, please)

8 ounces Cool Whip (thawed in the fridge)

Mix the pudding with the milk and whisk it! Kids do love to whisk!

Stir in the fruit and the Snickers. Fold in the Cool Whip... easy peasy... chill until serving time!

Um... don't expect leftovers on this one!

Happy Mother's Day!

Getting Kids into the Kitchen,

Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach for Kids

Mother's Day Coupon Book!

Lookie what I found for the kids to give Mom for Mother's Day!  It's not about cooking but it sure is a great recipe for "giving!"

Jump over to this website and print out this "Print and Color Coupon Books"... There's a coupon for hugs, house cleaning, breakfast in bed, washing the car... quite a nice variety.

There are so many wonderful lessons in this one... the kids will learn that you don't need to spend a bunch of money for a gift to make it really special... and giving of one's self and love is the greatest gift of all!

And, yepper, there is a special recipe for Mother's Day for the kids coming up!

Getting Kids into the Kitchen,

Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach for Kids