Baking Activities

I cut fruit (apples, bananas, melons, strawberries, and pineapple) into bite-sized chunks and slices. Then the kids help me make fun shapes by cutting the fruit with cookie cutters. We then put the pieces of fruit on to skewers. When we are done they have a snack that they enjoyed helping mommy make. Sometimes we put them in the freezer & eat them frozen. If I have time I will melt some chocolate & make a few extras for hubby & me.
~jenbug2522

Here's a fun summer treat your kids can make.   Place 1/2 cup milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag. Seal the bag and put it inside a gallon-size
Ziploc bag. Add plenty of ice cubes and salt to the larger bag. Shake it for about ten minutes. This makes one serving of ice cream and is great for a hot summer day outdoor activity!
~parentsoup.com(elkayem)

Because the cookies must be shaped quickly while still hot, bake only 2 at a time. For the fortunes, use your favorite colored papers (cut into 3-inch by ½ inch strips) and write personalized messages for each family member.   Yields about 14 cookies
   2 tablespoons butter (no substitutions)
   ¼ cup confections' sugar
   1 large egg white
   1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   pinch salt
   ¼ cup all-purpose flour
   14 strips paper (3inches by ½ inches each)

1-Preheat oven to 375F. Grease 2 small cookie sheets.
2-In 1-quart saucepan, heat butter over low heat until melted. Remove saucepan from heat. With wire whisk, beat in confectioners' sugar, egg white, vanilla, and salt until blended. Beat in flour until batter is smooth.
3-Drop 1 heaping teaspoon batter onto cookie sheet. Repeat with another teaspoon batter, at least 4 inches away from first. With small metal spatula or back of spoon, spread batter evenly to form two 3-inch  rounds.
4-Bake about 4 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden. Loosen both cookies with metal spatula. Working with 1 cookie at a time, place a fortune across center of hot cookie. Fold hot cookie in half, forming a semicircle, and press edges together. Quickly fold semicircle over edge of small bowl [like you would a lemon on your glass of tea, open side of cookie up] to create fortune-cookie shape. Repeat with other cookie. Let shaped cookies cool completely on wire rack.
5-Repeat with remaining batter and strips of fortune paper to make 14 cookies in all, cooling cookie sheets in between batches, and regreasing sheets as necessary. Store cookies in container up to 2 weeks.
~Good Housekeeping (elkayem)
You could vary the fortunes. For a child learning to read put a single word. Or use it as a game with the fortunes as commands.
~elkayem

  clear plastic drinking cups (small to medium size)
   blue jello mix
   crumbled cookie crumbs (either oreos or a sand-colored cookie will work fine)
   gummi fish
   long toothpick or other thin stick-like utensil

Place a thin layer of cookie crumbs on the bottom of the glass, giving the illusion of "sand or water bottom." Mix the jello and pour into glass, leaving about 3/4 at the top. Refrigerate until just barely set, still liquid (check often). Then, take gummi fish and using the toothpick or other utensil, push down into glass (don't worry about bubbles..you can pass them off as "air!") Finish letting the jello set. The glass sizes we used fit 3 fish. We made these after a trip to our local aquarium. They are a huge hit with both of my kids.
~jenbug2522

*Last night I made the cookie dough & today I let the kids help me with the rest. We had a blast!
*Bake a cake or cookies easily with your toddler! Prepare all the ingredients seperated in bowls beforehand. Eggs in one bowl,flour in another etc. Then have your child pour,stir,cut with cookie cutters and finally decorate!!!
~jenbug2522

  clear plastic drinking cups (small to medium size)
   blue jello mix
   crumbled cookie crumbs (either oreos or a sand-colored cookie will work fine)
   gummi fish
   long toothpick or other thin stick-like utensil

Place a thin layer of cookie crumbs on the bottom of the glass, giving the illusion of "sand or water bottom." Mix the jello and pour into glass, leaving about 3/4 at the top. Refrigerate until just barely set, still liquid (check often). Then, take gummi fish and using the toothpick or other utensil, push down into glass (don't worry about bubbles..you can pass them off as "air!") Finish letting the jello set. The glass sizes we used fit 3 fish. We made these after a trip to our local aquarium. They are a huge hit with both of my kids.
~jenbug2522

With a grapefruit knife, scoop out the pulp from a navel orange. After cutting off the top to use as a lid, make a half-inch cut in it. Stick a piece of chocolate wafer into this cut for the stem. Next cut out tiny triangle eyes and nose and a smiling mouth. Fill the orange with ice cream and put the lid on. To finish, stick almonds into the mouth for teeth. Serve immediately. If allergic to nuts, use red or black string licorice cut into little pieces and stick them into the mouth.
~tipomatic.com(elkayem)

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