Edible Thanksgiving Favors

If you didn't get a chance to see Alisa Bangerter demonstrate how to make these cute edible Thanksgiving favors on KSL Studio 5, have fun watching it here:

Studio 5 Holiday, Party and Ideas Contributor Alisa Bangerter shares six fun ideas.
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Fall Leaf:
Divide homemade or purchased sugar cookie dough into three or four portions. Color each portion a fall color such as red, orange, terra cotta, copper, olive green, yellow, tan, etc. using paste food color. For brown color, use cocoa powder. For each cookie, press together several colors of dough and roll out so the colors mix slightly and the dough has a variegated look. Cut using a leaf shaped cookie cutter. Bake and cool. If desired, use melted chocolate or chocolate icing and a pastry bag with a writing tip to write the name of each guest on a cookie. Place a cookie at each place setting with several candy acorns. Tip: dust cookies with gold luster dust for a beautiful sheen. Luster dust is available at baking supply stores.

Candy Acorn:
Mix together 1 cup of creamy peanut butter, ½ cup of margarine and 3 cups powdered sugar and mix well into a soft dough. Roll a 1" ball of dough into an acorn shape. Dip the top of the dough shape into melted chocolate or almond bark and press into finely chopped nuts to form the acorn cap. Break a stick pretzel in half and insert in top to create acorn stem. Set on was paper until chocolate has set. Display at each place setting with leaf cookie.

Indian Corn:
Create a dry mix of items that would resemble Indian corn with a mixture of fall colors. Use items such as: cold cereal, popcorn, nuts, candies, dried fruits, etc. Take a square (approximately 12" square for a large favor) of cellophane and place approximately 1 cup of mix in the center. Tuck cellophane around mix and fold in back if needed to wrap the mix into an oblong shape. Tie cellophane closed with tan string. Cut cornhusks (available in the Mexican food isle of grocery stores) into long strips with pointed ends. Wrap ends on corn husks around end of mix and tie with string. Wrap ends with a ribbon and tie a bow. Attach a nametag or small photograph if desired and set at each place setting.

Cornucopia:
Place sugar ice cream cones in a steamer basket over hot water. Let each cone steam for a few minutes which will soften it. Carefully bend end up to form a cornucopia shape. Cone will harden quickly. Fill with a mixture of fruit shaped candies, nuts, pretzels, etc. If desired, place a ribbon around the opening of the cornucopia and attach a tiny name tag to serve as a place card.

Pilgrim Hat:
Dip large marshmallows in melted chocolate or almond bark. Set onto flat round chocolate covered cookies (chocolate covered graham rounds, fudge-striped cookies, chocolate ginger snaps, chocolate wafers, etc.). Let set until chocolate is hardened. Wrap marshmallow "hat brim" with a black ribbon. Using a rolling pin, roll out a yellow Starburst candy and cut into a square to form a "buckle". Attach to ribbon with a tiny amount of melted chocolate or icing.

Turkey:
Dip the bottom of a chocolate crème drop candy into melted chocolate or almond bark. Immediately attach the candy to the bottom of a leaf shaped or round cookie (I used Dare brand maple leaf crème cookies or you can use any round type cookie). Attach a candy corn point down to the top of the crème drop using melted chocolate. Attach a red hot candy to the side of the candy corn to become a "wattle". Adhere a small pretzel under the crème drop to create "feet". (Option: Instead of a crème drop you could also use a chocolate covered cherry, an unwrapped caramel, an unwrapped peanut butter cup or any other chocolate covered candy about 1" in diameter.)

(Source: KSL Studio 5)

Fun With Your Food Storage

It's cold and rainy here today -- not exactly the best day to be outside -- but a great day to "stay indoors and have a lot of fun." Reminds me of a book we've read with our children years ago.

"On rainy days we stay indoors;
and have a lot of fun.
But there is so much work to do --
when rainy days are done."
--Richard Scarry

Awhile ago, I came across a handmade booklet entitled "Recipes for Fun" at a thrift store packed with some great recipes for children (young and old alike.) A number of the recipes use food storage items! Here are some of the recipes from the book:

"RECIPES FOR FUN"
INDEX:
Giant Soap Bubbles
Window Clings
Professional Sand Castle Stuff
Indoor Sand Castle Stuff
Colorful Creative Salt
Cool Whip Art
Puffy Paint
Snow Paint
Snow Dough
Bread Clay
Chocolate Clay
Cornstarch Clay
Fruity Putty
Kool-Aid Play Dough
Cream Cheese Play Dough
Cloud Dough

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Giant Soap Bubbles

No childhood is complete without making bubbles!

Ingredients:
Joy OR Dawn liquid dish soap
(these brands work the very best.)
cold water
frying pan
metal coat hanger
glycerin (can be found at a drug store)

Directions:
Bend the coat hanger into a loop
(this is the hardest part)
Mix 1/2 cup of detergent with 5 cups of water.
Measure CAREFULLY - it makes a big difference.
Stir well. Add 2 tablespoons of glycerin.
Pour mixture into the frying pan,
dip the coat hanger loop into the solution,
then wave it through the air for
the biggest bubbles you've ever seen.

Tip:
Can use cookie cutters with a coat hanger wire wrapped around one corner of it for a handle.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Window Clings

Make your own holiday designs to stick on the window.

Ingredients:
regular white glue
food color
clear transparency film sheet
any pattern

Directions:
Mix the desired amount of food color
directly into the glue bottle and mix well.
Place the pattern under the film sheet
and trace over it with a continuous bead of glue.
Fill in the pattern completely.
Let it dry for 12 hours or more.
Peel your work off the film sheet
and place on any glass surface.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Professional Sand Castle Stuff

No more washed away sand castles.

Ingredients:
10 parts sand
1 part white glue
3 parts water

Directions:
This mixture of sand and glue will help
hold together your work of art.
Mix the sand, water and glue
together in a large bucket.
If the mixture is too thick, add more water.
Expect you sand sculpture to last weeks --
even if it rains.

Storage:
Only make enough for each use.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Indoor Sand Castle Stuff

Bring the beach inside even in the winter.

Ingredients:
2 cups clean, fine sand
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup water

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in an old pan
over a low heat (200 degrees F.)
Remove when the mixture firms.

Hint:
A solid base is the key to making
awesome sand sculptures.
If you are very ambitious, use a large
plastic garbage can with the end cut out.
Pack the sand down firmly and use a lot of water.
Let it set for a few minutes, then lift off the can.
Now you can use various utensils
to carve out your creation.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Colorful Creative Salt

Ingredients:
1/2 cup regular table salt
5-6 drops food color

Add food color to salt in a bowl and stir well.
Cook in the microwave for 1-2 minutes
or spread on waxed paper and let air dry.
Store in an airtight container.
Use as you would glitter.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Puffy Paint

Mix together equal amounts of flour, salt, and water. Add tempera paint for desired color. Pour the mixture into squeeze bottles and paint. It will harden in a puffy shape.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Snow Paint

Place water and food color in a spray bottle. Let your kids squirt on snow to make designs. Great for painting snow sculptures.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Snow Dough

This dough sparkles.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
poly flake glitter

Directions:
Mix all but the glitter in a pan.
Constantly stir over low heat until thickened,
and it pulls away from the pan.
Knead the dough until smooth.
Add the glitter until it sparkles like snow.

Storage:
Keep in an airtight container.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Bread Clay

Wondering what to do with that stale bread? Make bread clay!

Ingredients:
6 slices white bread
6 Tablespoons white glue
1/2 teaspoon dish washing detergent
food color

Directions:
Remove all the crusts from the bread slices.
(Put the crusts out for the birds to eat!)
Combine the bread and the glue until smooth
and then add the detergent.
Shape and let dry for 24 hours before painting.

Storage:
Don't store this one! Only make enough for one use.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Chocolate Clay

Enjoy this fun clay by letting your imagination be your guide.

Ingredients:
10 oz. chocolate, almond bark or meltable candy disks
1/3 cup light corn syrup

Directions:
Slowly melt candy and stir until smooth.
Add syrup and blend thoroughly. Pour onto waxed paper
and spread with fingers until about 1/2-inch thick.
Cover loosely with waxed paper
and allow to stiffen (couple of hours).
Then play and eat.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Cornstarch Clay

Here's a gooey clay that's great for sculpting.

Ingredients:
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups salt OR baking soda
1 1/3 cups cold water
food color

Directions:
Bring salt and 2/3 of a cup of water to a boil.
In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch
with the remaining 2/3 cup of water.
Add the cornstarch mixture to the salt water
and knead into a clay.
This clay should be air-dried and then painted.
To prevent cracks when drying, cover with a damp dish towel.

Storage:
Keep unused clay in the refrigerator
in an airtight container, NO-bake.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Fruity Putty

Use different flavors for different colors and scents.

Ingredients:
3 oz. package sugar-free Jell-O
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
2 cups boiling water
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients in a pan.
Add boiling water and oil.
Stir over medium heat until a ball forms.
Place on wax paper to cool.

Storage:
Keep in an airtight container.

Cut the fruit picture from the Jell-O box
and glue it on the container lid.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Kool-Aid Play Dough

This play dough has a delightful fragrance and wonderful colors. Kids really love this one.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 cups flour
2 packages Kool-Aid
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients. Add the oil.
Add the water and knead until smooth.

Storage:
Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Cream Cheese Play Dough

These shapes can be placed on crackers or bread slices, decorated with edibles - celery or carrot slivers, raisins, dried fruit, nuts or seeds for a healthy snack, THEN EAT!

Ingredients:
8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
1 tablespoon honey
crackers or bread slices

Directions:
Combine cream cheese, milk and honey in a bowl
and mix until well blended. Mold sculptures on wax paper.

Storage:
Unused portions MUST BE STORED
in an airtight container and
KEPT REFRIGERATED!!
Cream cheese is perishable,
use the expiration date on the cream cheese package
as your guide for how long you can keep this play dough.

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)

Cloud Dough

Soft as a cloud and just as dreamy!

Ingredients:
6 cups flour
desired amount of tempera paint
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup water

Directions:
Mix the flour and the paint in a bowl.
Add oil and water. Mix together.
Knead the dough thoroughly.
If needed, add more water until the dough is soft
and fluffy. If the dough is too sticky, add some flour.

Storage:
Keep in an airtight container

(Source: "Recipes for Fun" - handmade booklet purchased from thrift store)