Back to School Snacks

School starts the day after Labor Day in Michigan so we've started buying supplies while they are on sale. (I love those .20 notebook sales!) Things are a bit different this year at our house. My oldest moved into his dorm last week, my middle son is a senior in high school, and my daughter is going into 6th grade. I'm also considering getting a part time job in addition to my freelance writing to help out with expenses. There are a lot of changes this year, so I'm trying to prepare. Today I was going through my recipes for after school snacks, and treats I can make to send with my oldest to the dorm. Yes, he has room and board, but we know my homemade snacks are MUCH better.

Today's recipes are the ones I pulled out to make once school starts. Though the popcorn recipe at the end is calling to me to make much sooner:)

Lemon Fruit Dip
Ingredients:
1 cup lemon pie filling
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice

Stir together and serve with fruit.

Notes: You could use other pie filling but lemon is smooth which is why it works with this recipe. Plain yogurt is used because the filling and the juice adds the sweetness.

Molasses Cookies
Ingredients:
3/4 cup margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 ground cloves
3/4 ground ginger

Mix the moist ingredients, then combine with the dry ingredients that have been sifted together into a bowl. Once dough is mixed form it into balls about 1 inch in size. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes in 375 degree F. oven. Sprinkle with granulated sugar while still warm.

Gingersnaps
Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup molasses
3 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger

Cream shortening and brown sugar. Add egg and molasses; beat well. Add flour, salt, soda and spices. (I like to sift them all together first). Mix well and chill for an hour or so. Form into small balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 minutes. Makes 9-10 dozen.

Notes: You can use dark molasses for a spicier gingersnap. I also use parchment paper on the baking sheets and spray them with cooking spray. These are the perfect cookie jar cookie!

Snack Cracker Mix
Ingredients:
2 cups oyster crackers
1 cup mini pretzels
1 cup square cheese crackers like Cheeze-Its
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 (1 ounce) package dry Ranch-style dressing mix
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Whisk together the oil, dressing mix, lemon pepper and garlic powder. Pour over the crackers in a large bowl, and stir until coated. Place the crackers evenly on a large baking sheet or two if needed. Bake in the preheated 275 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool before storing in a resealable plastic bag.

Notes: I often use garlic pepper in place of the lemon pepper and garlic powder-- using 1/2-1 tsp. to spice this up. Another variation is to use garlic powder AND 1/2 tsp. of Cajun seasoning. The cracker mixture can vary depending on your family's tastes.

Popcorn Crunch
Ingredients:
2 quarts popped corn
1 1/3 cup peanuts or other nuts
1 cup melted butter or margarine
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup corn syrup (Karo or store brand)

Cook the butter, sugar, vanilla and syrup for 10 minutes until golden brown. Pour over the popcorn and the nuts. Toss and press onto greased cookie sheet. Cool. Break up and store til eaten.

On OFL I have some great apple recipes that would make nice snacks as well:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Old-Fashioned-Apple-Recipes.html

Organizing your children's art work

This article has been on Old Fashioned Living for quite some time. It has quite a bit of useful advice, especially at this time of year! Here we are, halfway through the school year, which means all that art work is starting to pile up. The refrigerator is covered and you don't know what else to do. Here are some great tips that can help!


In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint and build. These activities can certainly stimulate children, and help them grow. Very often, these masterpieces that your children create are brought home and proudly displayed. But what do you do when all of the artwork begins to take over your home? Here are 7 great ideas:

1. FIND THE DIAMONDS. Rather than keeping every single piece of artwork your child creates, sit down with your child on a regular basis and ask him to choose the one or two he likes best. By the end of the year, you should have no more than 5 pieces of artwork that your child believes to be his "best" pieces. This will help keep the artwork under control, and will still give you an opportunity to save his creations for future memories.

2. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. Take photos of the artwork that your child creates and keep these photos in a scrapbook. This way, even if the artwork is discarded for space purposes, you'll still have the memory!

3. KIDS FILE STORAGE BOX. Office supply stores carry portable file boxes that hold hanging file folders. These generally have a cover and a handle for easy portability. Help your child create her very own filing system. Perhaps one file folder for 2nd grade artwork, one for 3rd grade artwork, and so on. Now, all the drawings, and any type of artwork that lays flat, will be kept safe and organized. You'll even be teaching your child filing skills! It's never too early!

4. KEEP IT CONTAINED. For other artwork that does not lay flat, the perfect container may be a large, plastic container with a lid. Your child will have a space for shadowboxes, and other artwork that won't fit into a file folder. Again, be choosy. If you keep every single piece of artwork your child brings home for the next 15 years, your house is going to be overflowing with it.

To see the rest of these great organizing tips, visit 7 Easy Ideas for Organizing Kids Artwork on Old Fashioned Living.

A Kid's Chalk Board Table

A Kid's Chalk Board Table
by Brenda Hyde

Trash to treasure projects are rewarding, especially when the piece of furniture you are working on would have actually been thrown out! Our latest project was my husband's creative idea and it turned out great. He found an old coffee table in his dad's shed and had the idea to make a chalk board table for our kids.

The materials we used:

coffee table
wood putty
4 pastel acrylic paints-yellow, pink, blue and yellow
one can blackboard spray paint
Kilz acrylic primer
paint brushes
sandpaper or sander
regular black spray paint

Wash your table if it's dirty or dusty and allow it to dry. Take off the legs if they are removable. Use the wood putty to fill in any gouges or deep scratches. Allow to dry and sand. Wipe the table with a clean cloth to remove dust. Prime the entire table and the legs. After the primer dries, paint each leg a different pastel color. They will need two coats each. Allow them to dry between coats. (See tips below)

Turn the table top over so the bottom is up. Using the REGULAR black spray paint cover the bottom. Allow to dry and give it a second coat. Make sure it's completely dry. Place an old towel on your work surface and turn the table over so the top is face up. There are several brands of blackboard paint. Follow the directions and paint the top only of the table. They go on just like spray paint and our fairly easy to use. Spray evenly and make sure no one touches it until it's COMPLETELY dry. It takes longer than paint.

When the legs and table are completely dry, attach the legs back to the table. Most of the blackboard paints instruct a certain drying period of 1 or 2 days before using.

This such an easy and fun project. Our kids loved the table! If your kids are older they can even help with the project.

Working Tips

Sandpaper: A 4x6 inch piece of 2x4 wood works well for wrapping the sandpaper around the block and using this to sand rather than just the sandpaper itself. It will make it easier to sand evenly.

Painting: Take a scrap piece of wood (we used a piece of 4x4) and drill 4 holes in the wood spaced several inches apart. Screw in the 4 tables legs just enough for them to stand up. This worked great for painting the legs and allowing them to dry.