Birthday Cake Puppy Chow

I wanted to make this for Parker to take to school tomorrow for his birthday treat, but it turns out that the candy coating may have been processed on equipment that processed nuts, so it became a no go for Parker's class. However, Aiden's class has no allergies, so he will be taking this.  Parker will be taking Melting Moments.  I don't think I've posted those yet, so I'll get that recipe up soon.  This didn't quite coat as well as it could have, but perhaps it's because I threw it all in the bag at once.  The instructions are written out how I'm pretty sure it would coat all of the cereal a little better.  This is tasty and VERY sweet.  It'll make a great snack for preschool and a little goes a LONG ways.  Yummy!

Ingredients

5 cups Rice Chex cereal (I used Crispex)

10 oz (5 squares) vanilla flavored Almond Bark

1 1/2 cups yellow cake mix

1/2 cup powdered sugar

vegetable shortening, optional

Directions

1. Melt Almond Bark according to the package directions, adding vegetable shortening to thin if desired.
2. Pour the cereal into a paper bag or container with a lid.
3. Drizzle melted Almond Bark over the cereal and fold down the top of the paper bag or put the lid on the container.
4. Shake bag or container until the cereal is evenly coated.
5. Pour in powdered sugar and cake mix and close the container again
6. Shake until the cereal is completely covered with dry ingredients.
7. Add some sprinkles for color if desired.
8. Try REALLY hard not to eat the entire batch!

Nests

Well, it's N week at preschool and we thought we should make a fun snack to go along. These nests were VERY easy and the kids just loved them. No 'real' recipe here. I basically melted marshmallows with some butter, and then stirred in some peanut butter for taste and some chow mein noodles. I formed them in a very well greased muffin tin. For the (dinosaur) eggs, I used Jordan Almonds, since Easter egg candy aren't quite available yet. Another option, would be to just melt some chocolate almond bark and pour in the chow mein noodles.

Santa Grahams

Aiden has been wanting to take a snack into preschool and today we are. Aren't these just the cutest little snacks! We had so much fun making these and I think the other kids will enjoy them! Happy Holidays!

 INGREDIENTS

Red icing (optional)

Red food color

1 1/4 c. vanilla frosting (from 16-oz. can)

12 square graham crackers

1 c. (about 75) miniature marshmallows, halved crosswise

6 small red gumdrops, halved crosswise

24 red cinnamon candies or candy eyes

DIRECTIONS

1. If not using the red icing, blend together 1/4 t. red food color into 1/4 cup of frosting in small bowl.
2. In separate bowl, stir 1 drop red food color into remaining 1 cup frosting; blend well.
3. For each cookie, frost 1 inch of one corner of cracker with dark red frosting for Santa's hat.
4. Place 1 marshmallow piece in corner for pom-pom.
5. Frost remainder of cracker with pink frosting.
6. Place marshmallow pieces on pink frosting around 2 sides for beard.
7. Add gumdrop for nose and cinnamon candies or candy eyes for eyes.