Things You Can Make With Your Kids (Besides Rice Crispie Treats)

I don't know about you, but I used to like cooking with my mom. It was a great way to bond, as well as teaching me things like independence and fractions. If you want something easy that your kids can make with you, here are a few recipes.

Of course, you would want to supervise anything that involves heat or sharp knives.

We used to make 'Ants on a Log' by spreading peanut butter onto celery stalks and adding raisins to look like ants or bugs. It's a fun way for them to eat fruits and vegetables.

Have you ever had to stop your kids from noshing on Play-doh? Here's a 'modeling clay' you'll want them to eat. Also, it won't get all hard and 'clumpy' when you put them in the freezer.

Peanut Butter Play-dough

4 cups confectioners' sugar

3 ½ cups honey

4 cups dry milk powder

3 ½ cups peanut butter

Just mix the peanut butter and confectioners' sugar first, add the honey and stir in the milk powder. The recipe is written for 15 servings, but you can divide the dough any way you want. Then, just put in the refrigerator or freezer until the dough is ready to use!

Remember how we used to love Grandma's homemade ice cream? Here's a recipe your kids can make using a simple coffee can.

Ice Cream In A Can-serves 4

You will need:

1 12-oz coffee can

1 34.5-oz coffee can

1 lb. crushed ice

1 pasteurized* egg

1 cup milk

1 cup half-and-half cream

1 cup rock salt

½ cup white sugar

1 tbsp instant pudding mix, vanilla

1 tsp vanilla extract

In large bowl, whisk the milk, half-and-half, egg, sugar, instant pudding and vanilla. Pour it all into the 12-oz coffee can. Then, cover the opening with plastic wrap and replace the lid. Now, put this can inside the 34.5 oz can and fill the rest of the can with crushed ice and rock salt.

Roll the cans around on the floor for about 20 minutes. Heck, make a game out of it, as long as you don't lose the top! If necessary after 20 minutes, put in the freezer to harden. Otherwise, just enjoy!

I'm not sure if you could substitute another flavor of instant pudding mix. At least, I've never tried it. If you do, let me know how it turns out!

*For instructions on pasteurizing eggs, visit http://bakingbites.com/2011/03/how-to-pasteurize-eggs-at-home/