Here are 4 yummy, kid-friendly treats guaranteed to bring a smile to even the pickiest eater's face! And they're good for you, too. Each takes less than 5 minutes to prepare/cook, which leaves you more time for sun, surf, Scrabble, reading a book, tickling, singing or playing hide-and-seek! The recipes are courtesy of some great websites: allrecipes.com, smoothieweb.com, cooks.com, and bestfondue.com. Get going, and bring out the summer sous chef in your home! So why stick with the boring burgers, dogs and soda to drink? When you can add summer sizzle to your palette?
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Lemon Kiwi Cooler Smoothie
2 C. grapes, red or green
½ lemon, peeled & seeded
½ kiwi, peeled
3 C. ice
Mix together in a blender and sip away. Yields 5 Cups/servings
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S'mores
Large marshmallows
Graham crackers
Chocolate bars
Heat the marshmallow until it melts (if you don't have a grill, the microwave will work. 5 seconds should do it.)
Break the graham cracker in half. Make a sandwich of the gooey marshmallow and the piece of chocolate.
Eat up!
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Jello Whipped Crème Fruit Salad
Canned mandarin oranges
Fruit cocktail
Canned chopped pineapple
Whipped cream
Cream cheese
Strawberry jello mix
Drain canned fruit; soften the cream cheese; fold together. Add whipped cream and dry jello. Mix with fruit and chill for 5 minutes. Makes 5-7 servings. Serve.
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Cheese Fondue for Older Kids (aged 10 and up because of the danger of the fondue pot; I recommend an electric fondue pot for any age. Obviously there's no alcohol since it's for children.)
1 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 clove garlic, thinly chopped
2 Tbsp green onion, thinly chopped
1 C. unsweetened grape or apple juice
1/3 C. dried cranberries
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 Tbsp cornstarch
¼ lb. Swiss cheese, shredded
¼ lb. Cheddar cheese, shredded
½ lb. Gouda cheese, no rind & shredded
A pinch of pepper
Use fresh fruit, veggies or mild pepperoni sticks to dip in fondue
Melt butter in fondue pot. Add garlic, green onion & cook 2 minutes. Add juice, cranberries, rosemary and simmer for 4 minutes.
Add cornstarch and a handful of all the different shredded cheeses until all are melted. Stir continuously.
Add pepper. Add more juice if the mixture is too hard. If it's too soft add a bit more cheese.
Dip items into fondue sauce and enjoy!
If you suggest that your children make a figure 8 in the cheese sauce, it turns the evening into a fun game and makes sure the fondue is constantly warm and stirred.
Have fun!
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