Food 1. Trail mix 2. Popcorn with seasoning or add ins 3. Already popped flavored popcorn 4. Fresh Fruits 5. Dried fruits 6. Hot chocolate mix or packets 7. Hot Cider mixes or packets 8. Tea infuser and loose teas 9. Flavored or herbal tea bags 10. Special coffees or creamers 11. Special cup or mug 12. Chewing gum – one or assortment 13. Favorite candy bars 14. Glazed or special flavored nuts 15. Coupon for favorite homemade treat 16. Small boxes of chocolate For Kids 17. Temporary tattoos 18. Fun toothbrush and/or toothpaste 19. Hair accessories for girls 20. Small kits of legos or other toys 21. Play dough – make your own 22. Silly putty 23. Fun bandaids or owie ice pack 24. Card games like Old Maid, Uno 25. Stickers 26. Puzzles 27. Colored pencils and ... [Read More]
Holidays
Twenty- three things to do with kids before Christmas
Sledding Luminaria Make Cookies Hang a Wreath Go Ice Skating Build a Snowman Make Hot Chocolate Make Popcorn Garland Listen to Christmas Songs Go See a Christmas Movie Go see Neighborhood Lights Read a new Christmas Story Go To a Christmas Concert Take a Family Christmas Photo Make Christmas Cards for special people Watch a tv Christmas special with popcorn Make Christmas Ornaments Wrap Gifts Read a Story About the Birth of Jesus Read "The Night Before Christmas" Drop money in the Christmas Kettle Buy a Gift For a Needy Child Host a Christmas Party I’m so glad you stopped by today! Be sure to follow A Pinch of Joy so you don’t miss a thing! Subscribe by email on the sidebar or follow on Facebook, RSS feed, bloglovin’ twitter and check out my pinterest ... [Read More]
Holiday Sweet Potatoes
Rich tasting, topped with a crunchy pecan topping Holiday Sweet Potatoes are a great side dish for those special dinners. No one will know they are a low carb option! Sweet potatoes are one of the oldest known foods, cultivated by Native Americans for centuries. They were a major source of nutrition for early colonists – so very appropriate for Thanksgiving! -- and later soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Often called yams from a similar African tuber, sweet potatoes are much more nutritious. They are an excellent source of calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium and manganese among other nutrients. They are low on the glycemic scale and are often recommended to diabetics for blood sugar control. There is an enzyme in sweet potatoes that converts the starches of the young ... [Read More]
Candy Corn Fudge
Candy Corn Fudge . . . Just another pretty fudge. Candy Corn Fudge . . . . Just because I can. The coloring I used was Wilton’s gel and to give it a strong color I scooped out a bit with the edge of a teaspoon. I mixed the coloring into the sweetened condensed milk first before adding it to the chips to make the color more even. I prefer Ghiradelli white chocolate chips to other brands. Soften the white chocolate and shortening in the microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power. Chips will hold their shape until stirred so don't microwave again until you stir the chips and shortening together. If they are not soft enough to combine, then microwave again in 15 second bursts at 50% power until most chips are melted. Add the colored milk to the melted chocolate, stirring gently ... [Read More]
Halloween Party for Preschoolers: Snacks
Plan a fun Halloween play date with the preschool set! Nothing truly scary for this age. I’m a fan of decorations, snacks and games centered around scarecrows and spiders, pumpkins and cats for little ones. Parties should be simple, quick and colorful with the emphasis on the fun activities and playing with friends. These cute – and yummy—little mice are made with three simple ingredients. Glazed donut holes, chow mein noodles for the tail and sliced almonds for the ears. Sammy Snake is made from pieces of string cheese alternating with cherry tomatoes. He has a cheddar slice tongue and eyes from black frosting gel. Instead of cherry tomatoes, use chunks of ham, mini crackers, carrot or green pepper slices. Spiders made from round snack crackers are quick and easy. Use Ritz ... [Read More]
Cinnamon Pickles
My recipe card for Cinnamon Pickles, stained with red food coloring, always makes me smile at my friend's distinctive handwriting. Cindy was my north star for a short time. You know, the kind of friend that comes into your life and points a different direction. I became a stay at home mom when my job I loved ended due to budget cuts. The notion of being at home with my sons was not entirely unwelcome since Wheels and I “sort of” planned that lifestyle, but the adjustment of being ONLY with them was challenging, to say the least! I come from a large family, I love people and had always been with a group of friends and coworkers most of the day. And the constant responsibilities of a newborn and a toddler ---- I was a professional but no amount of “professionalism” was going to get ... [Read More]