What are Good Outdoor Games to Play?

10 Great Outdoor Games for Kids

The days of simple parties where balloons, music, and a cake with candles were enough are long gone. In 2019, fun birthday ideas are at a whole new level. You need these 10 great outdoor games for kids to get moving and enjoy their special day.

Kim and Kanye set the bar high with a "kidchella" themed party, featuring bouncy houses, a Ferris wheel, and several music stages. While you won't have the same budget as the Kardashians, take inspiration from their intuitive ideas and create a party with good outdoor games to play.

If you're arranging a summer party for your kid's birthday bash, what outdoor games can you play? Read on for the 411 on which outside games your kids will actually love!

This post contain Amazon Affiliate Links.

Outdoor Games Kids Will Love

We all know the math. Kids + Birthday parties = Chaos!

Instead of expecting kids to sit around, drink tea, and chat like adults, prepare some cool games that will burn all their pent-up party energy. We've chosen 10 outdoor games that will have your guests giggling from beginning to end. Are you ready? Let's get this party started!

1. Hop Your Way to Victory

Try a traditional sack-race to get the kids moving. Give each child a good quality burlap bag or king-size pillowcase. Line them up in a grassy area and have them hop their way to victory down a marked path.

To mix it up a little, decorate the plain sacks. Make it more challenging and make the marked path curvy. Even if you just do it the old-fashioned way, it'll get a lot of laughs on the way, Scout's honor!

2. Make Your Birthday Party Pop

Balloon stomping is one of the best group games for parties. What's a party without balloons popping?

Before the party starts, prepare by blowing up at least one balloon per guest and a few extras just in case. Tie a long string or ribbon around the end of the balloon so that it is long enough to tie around the children's ankles.

When the party gets started, tie a balloon around the ankle of each child. The aim of the game is to pop everyone else's balloon while protecting your own. The last kid with an intact balloon wins.

3. Jump to It

Let the kids blow off a little steam before you sit down to open presents. One of the best outdoor games for kids, is an outdoor bouncy house. Hiring a bouncy house is an exciting treat for the kids! It really is fun for all ages (even big kids!)

From bouncy houses and inflatable water slides to blow-up climbing walls and bouncy bungee runs, knowing which one to choose boggles the mind. Do your research to find out more about the options and you'll find the perfect match for your big outdoor birthday bash.

4. Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts have been around a long time, but they're still one of the most interesting outside games for kids to play. Adapt the hunt depending on the ages of the guests and the style of the party. Be sure to offer prizes and other birthday party favors for the winning team.

For instance, create a list of items in nature they have to find in a certain time limit. Give each guest some magnifying glasses, binoculars, and a treasure bag for their adventure. They can search for various bugs, pinecones, daisies, leaves, and more on a nature scavenger hunt or you can hide items throughout the yard and give them a list of riddles to solve to find the next treasure. As an alternative, hide pieces of treasure and candy for the kids to find. Give them a bucket and send them on their scavenger hunt,

5. Cool Pool Party

Fun birthday ideas for the summer usually involve water. Wet and wild games give kids the chance to get soaked and cool off. A pool prize search is one of the most fun outside games for a kid's party.

Use an inflatable pool filled with water. Hide weighted treasures at the bottom of the pool. Then, fill the rest of the pool with floating toys and balls, so that it's hard to see what's at the bottom. Give the kids a time limit and tell them to find the treasures at the bottom of the pool.

If kids are a bit older and it seems too easy, try blindfolding them. Their teammates can shout out directions to help them find the treasure.

6. Use Your Noodle

One of the cheapest outside games for kids is Pool Noodle Croquet. It's budget-friendly but takes a little bit of time to set up.

Create several pool noodle arches in your back yard and stake them into the ground. Give each child a pool noodle and an inflated beach ball. The idea is to be the first to get the ball through the course of arches.

7. Make a Splash

Another variation of a classic game is water balloon baseball. It's one of the easiest outdoor games for kids and parents because it's so easy to set up.

All you need is a baseball bat and some pre-filled water balloons. Make sure the guests are ready to get soaked!

8. A Tasty Mess

Fun birthday ideas have got to include cakes and treats, right? So why not turn your dessert into a game? When played outside, this donut game is lots of fun.

Tie dangling donuts from a high place, such as a tree or doorway. Then have a donut eating race, without using hands. Chocolate donuts make the most mess, so be ready with a cleanup team when the game is over.

9. Water Shoot

Here's another outdoor water game for you. Divide the party into two teams. For each team, string a plastic sand pails onto one end of a clothesline.

The concept of this game is for each team to work together to move their bucket along the clothesline, using only the spray water guns. Of course, if you don't have enough squirt guns for the party, you could fill up plastic bottles instead. Be sure the squirt guns are powerful enough to make the pails move!

10. An In-Tents Party

Another awesome outside party activity is camping. If camping somewhere remote is too much of a task, just set up a camp ground in your backyard.

Set up tents and a supervised fire-pit. Play some camping-themed games during the day. And when it gets dark, roast some s'mores on the campfire and tell scary stories.

Keep Calm and Party On!

We hoe you like this list of outdoor games with a twist for parties. Pick one, two, or as many outside games as you want, to make your birthday bash super fun!

What if it turns out to be a rainy day and you can't have fun in the sun? For some more games inspiration, both inside and out, check out the "Games" section of our blog.

Recommended:

Teen Birthday Game Ideas and Activities

Balloons for Parties

Rainy Day Activities

Edible Paint Craft: Kissing Hand Preschooler Sensory Art

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is the perfect Story for the First Day of School

This story is so sweet, a little tale about Mama and Baby Raccoon. Mama kisses her baby's hand before he heads for his first day of school. We've made a companion craft for preschoolers with a Sensory Play appeal that uses our special recipe for edible paint.

The Kissing Hand with Craft for Preschool and Kindergarten.

Chester Raccoon's Mom reassures him he will enjoy school. She takes his hand, gives it a kiss and tells him to touch his cheek when he needs a kiss. He gives his Mommy a kissing hand too. And, we've made one for you to share with your little ones.

How to Make an Edible Handprint for The Kissing Hand Book

Vanilla Jell-O Pudding Cups

Gel Food Coloring

Strawberry Gel Pie Filling

Sugar Sprinkles

And lotsa love...

Edible Paint Recipes

The Kissing Hand book.

Look, it's a craft. It's a dessert!  It's crafty, edible art!

This hand-print is 100% Edible and Yummy too.  Jell-O Pudding Cups make the perfect finger paint, just add a little gel food coloring. We let the kiddos mix in red and blue for a fun color mixing experiment, then we got some gooey, strawberry pie gel, plopped it in the middle to show where to kiss, and then added purple sugar sprinkles on top.  

It smells and tastes great and after six weeks this one still looks the same (no nasty rotting) so pin it on your fridge or better yet, frame it!

Recommended Reading:

The Kissing Hand

One Tricky Monkey

Disney Tips and Tricks

Tricks and Tips Disney World

If you're planning a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, you want tips and tricks to make your trip less hectic and less expensive. We've got some simple Disney tips and tricks that will help you plan an unforgettable trip to Disney World! Enjoy!

As a member of the media, I received two media passes from Walt Disney World.*

Disney Tips and Tricks.

I wanted to take pictures of, It's a Small World, Space Mountain, and the Pirates of the Caribbean, but I forgot. Thank goodness! Instead, I got to enjoy the rides! Good news, YouTube is here for you! I'm sharing some of the best Disney World and Epcot rides through the eyes of popular YouTubers.

Important Notes:

• Everyone gets FastPasses with their regular admission ticket. 
• Disney Dining Passes are only for guests staying in the hotels. 

Tip #1

First tip... go to Epcot first. In the morning, everyone is rushing to the Magic Kingdom. Rush to Epcot. The lines will be shorter in the morning. The longest line we waited in was the security line to get into the park. We drove the car and parked it in the front lot, near the bus stop, just a short hop to the restrooms and then to Spaceship Earth!




Video by Mike Karschti.



Video by LiveFastDiePoor.

Tip #2

This way, you can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and make a grand entrance while enjoying the view.

Tip #3

If you have a complaint, be sure to let guest services know asap. They'll solve it- they want to make sure everyone is smiling, because it is the happiest place on Earth! My youngest was over waiting in the security line when we headed to guest services to pick up some passes. She was frowning! The rep asked her name, and then gave her a pass to go to the front of any line of her choice. That made her smile. Happy, happy, happy!

Tip #4

Split, then split it! If you have picky eaters, maybe don't plan on eating at Epcot. There's tons of food choices - too many. But, the kids were starving and we couldn't agree on one. We finally decided to splurge on French Food- the priciest food in the park. I was running out of money fast, and with my food allergies, and the picky eaters, I wasn't sure what to order. We split a chicken dinner. It was more than enough for the two of us. Chicken, veggies, bread, and dessert. The littlest one had a kid's meal.

What's great about this? Everyone is French! The chef came to assure me, I'd be okay. He was obviously very busy. It makes me uncomfortable when they do this... You can tell you are interrupting their work. I wasn't assured that I'd be okay, however, because he didn't stick around long enough to talk -- make sure you know your food allergies and steer clear. Mine are impossible to avoid, so I chuckled when he said, "You'll be fine." We could only hope.

We didn't visit the dome this time. I've been there before. There was a very long line, and I knew we'd visit Space Mountain which is a similar dome-y experience. If you want to do it, use your FastPass here.  FastPass Tips from Mousehints.

Tip #5

While you are in Epcot, don't miss the Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions. From the outside, it looks like a boring building, but it is a great place to cool off and relax. There is a lot for young children to do. My tweens loved designing their own ride in 4D. They wanted to immediately do it again, but it was our first ride and there was so much more to experience.

You'll get a card to visit Raytheon online.

Tip #6

When I visited Epcot as a teenager, Figment was my favorite part. Mostly, I think it was because he was a purple dinosaur with a rainbow. I don't know. It was an interesting experience.

I say, if you are short on time, skip this one. Unless, you love smell-o-vision. There are skunk and other smells pumped into the air for your enjoyment. When the ride is over, there is a fun, interactive, hands-on section for kids. We also liked that it was an air-conditioned wait in line.

Lots of Disney Movie "professors" and their experiments here.

Weebo.

While in Epcot, we also visted The Seas area and the Finding Nemo ride. If you have plenty of time, do it. The Seas have a nice ocean exhibit that includes rescued Manatees. If you are short on time, skip it. The line was long, and the ride was less than spectacular.

Tip #7

Remember that happy pass my daughter got for frowning? We used it at the Chevrolet Test Track. This was our favorite ride in Epcot. There's a little surprise at the end. We all wanted this ride to keep going. So much fun! Use your FASTPASS here!!!

When the ride ended, we spent an hour enjoying the interactive exhibit areas.

There is so much to see and do in Epcot! It was pouring down the rain, and a terrible storm was on the way, so we hurried through Epcot to have more time in the Magic Kingdom. You really do need a day or more to see everything in each park.

Since a storm was brewing, we didn't take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Instead, we drove the car back to the hotel to take cover. Don't worry, Disney doesn't let a silly little storm spoil the fun. Everything keeps going... rain and all!

We rested longer than we'd planned. Because beds. Because Disney Television. Because free wifi. Because vacation!

Then, we walked out to the main entry of Disney's Pop Century Resort and took a WDW bus to the Magic Kingdom.

Tip #8

Don't take a bus in the rain. People aren't happy on the bus. There are long lines. You might end up standing the twenty minute drive to whatever park you choose to visit next. The bus drives a little faster than you might expect. Park in one of the parks and leave the car for the day. Take the monorail between Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Parking was $20. You decide if that is too pricey. I think it was worth it.

I couldn't help worrying that everyone with a backpack was a terrorist. I've seen too many CSI's and Criminal Minds. There is no security check to get on the buses. Bus was my least favorite. So much so, that while riding the bus, I remembered I had ridden before and hated it then too. Apparently, I had blocked it.

Also, I just have to mention this, but I am hyperprotective. When we left the Magic Kingdom it was late. Some teenage girls were chatting up the bus attendants. I caught the older bus attendants (old men) making inappropriate remarks and letting their eyes wander.

Then, they caught my eye. Oops! Yep, remind your kids that, though it is WDW, you still have to remember about stranger danger. Seems like they just wanted to look and not touch...

Oh, that's not very happy. Just remember, we have to be aware of our surroundings and if we see something, say something.

On to the happiest place on Earth. There is nothing like the Magic Kingdom, even in the rain. Some things are better in the rain, because lots of people melt in the rain and go home.

What will you do first? It is so hard to decide!

Tip #9

Head to the furthest point in the park first and work your way back. Review the FastPass Tips above for the best rides to use with your FastPass. We planned to use it on It's a Small World, but we didn't need to and then somehow we lost our last FastPass option when we tried to delete it at the last minute.

Use it for Peter Pan! The lines are always long. Waiting until the last minute didn't help.



Video by SoCal Attractions 360.

Tomorrowland is underated and awesome.

Entry to Tomorrowland.

Sure, some things are outdated but still have charm. Other things are so cool, you don't want to miss out!

Laugh Floor
Are you a Monster's Inc. fan? Don't miss the Laugh Floor! The line wasn't too unbearable. Once inside, you'll sit in a comfy seat and enjoy an innovative show. The technology is super cool.

Stitch's Great Escape 
More Smell-o-Vision here. Cute. Shorter lines and it is a very unexpected experience.

People Mover
I love the People Mover. No stairs, no escalators- just moving ramps to a sit down ride. This is a low key ride that gives you a great view of Tomorrowland. You even get a sneak peek at Space Mountain.

 Tip #10

Here's a BIG TIP! While everyone else is watching the fireworks, catch as many rides as you can! We rode Pirates, Flying Carpets, and Jungle Cruise with no waiting!

Cinderella's Castle in the rain, just before the fireworks. 

Video by DAPs Magic.





Videos by Sharp Productions.

Tip # 11

I'm not a big fan of Splash Mountain. It is similar to water roller coasters at other parks. To me, the line isn't worth it. If you want to ride it, be sure to use your FastPass. I think it is a glorified log ride.

Tip #12

Don't miss Space Mountain. I'm certain, if this were an outdoor roller coaster, seen in the light of day, that I would NEVER ride it! Thank goodness everything is in the dark. It feels rickety. That's part of the charm.

The first time I rode it at sixteen years old, I held my breath and kept my eyes shut. The next time I rode it, I kept my eyes shut for just a second. This time, my nine-year-old kept her eyes shut the whole time. I think she held her breath too. She says she will never ride it again. I said that too.

It is pretty terrifying and pretty awesome. I didn't want my eleven-year-old son to miss out. I didn't want him to ride by himself... Confession, I really didn't want to ride it again. Ever. Funny, how much better it is when you keep your eyes open and breathe!

You can do it! It only lasts a few seconds, and you will never forget it! They've changed the line experience too. Though it is long, there is a lot to do along the way. There's not a better way to end your Disney experience.

So long, Magic Kingdom. We only had one day to explore. Don't worry, we'll be back for more.

Tip #13

It is expensive, but heed all warnings that you need more time. Four days should do it. Take advanatage of those multiple day passes. This year, we didn't make it to Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. There are awesome things to see at both places. Toy Story, Cars, and now, Star Wars, await you at the Studios.

On the way out, don't miss the Mickey Mouse confections at the Main Street Bakery. If you've spent all your money, at least pop in to take a gander.

We stopped on Mainstreet to watch the parade. Again, more than enough to share at Casey's Corner. We spent about $9 on a combo meal that was more than enough food for two. They even shared with me!

Everywhere you go, there are friendly ducks! They want food. Don't feed them. How will they fly? Bread is bad for ducks.

Resting in the rain, sharing mini corndogs and fries from Casey's Corner. 

The Parade

Last photo op on Mainstreet.

Tip #14

Single parent with kids of the opposite sex? Send the kid's into the restrooms while you wait outside and listen or pop in as needed. Then, when they return, have them sit together near the entrance. There's safety in numbers.

The Pop Century Hotel is just as fun as the park... almost.

Yes, you can have a cupcake for breakfast!

The food is really good. Whenever they can, they make Mickey ears. It was expensive, but get a kid's meal with fruit and some ala carte items. There are lots of ways to be frugal.

Fun aracade inside the hotel lobby.

Cool interactive games.

Get your rock star on.

So, you saw the awesome pool pics above. We were too tired to swim. The rooms were small, but nice. The Mickey details are awesome! There is even a safe inside the room. We had a fridge but no microwave, that seemed weird. Read more about the room here: Universal vs. Disney.

Have a Happy Disney Trip!

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Cinnamon Christmas Cobbler Recipe for Christmas Morning: Kitchen Kids

Get Cooking with your Kids with this Christmas Cobbler

This Cinnamon Christmas Cobbler is a fun, easy recipe you can make at home or in the classroom with preschoolers. Made with refrigerator biscuits and pie filling, you won't believe how delicious it is. Enjoy!

Great for building a CAN-DO attitude.

Cinnamon Christmas Cobbler Recipe.

This recipe is so simple. The biscuits are good with only the Cinnamon mixture, but add the pie filling and it tastes like real cobbler- maybe better!

Cinnamon Christmas Cobbler Recipe.

You will need:

1 roll of refrigerator biscuits
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon red sprinkles
1 can cherry or strawberry pie filling

To Make Biscuit Cinnamon Cobbler:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Separate biscuits and place on ungreased baking sheet or place them in a muffin pan.

Arrange biscuits in a baking pan.

Brush melted butter over biscuits.

Melt butter and brush over biscuits.

Cinnamon, sugar, and red sprinkles.

Mix Sprinkles, Cinnamon, and Sugar, then sprinkle on biscuits.
Bake in oven for 12-15 minutes.

Place biscuits in the oven.

Heat pie filling in sauce pan over low heat until warm.

Biscuit out of the oven tastes like a Cinnamon Roll.

Place biscuit in dessert dish, spoon filling over biscuit, top with whip cream.

Biscuit with strawberry pie filling- just add whip cream.

Makes 8 servings, perfect for Christmas morning.


Recommended Reading:

 Cinnamon Crescent Rolls

Holiday Recipes*

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks Holiday Recipes for Kids to Make*



ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

How do I get recipes from Pinterest? You've got an account, what's next? Tutorial (Pinterest 102)

Here is your Pinterest Tutorial to get Recipes

You've set up your Pinterest account, you did everything they told you to do. You even started following your friends on Pinterest. Why do you only have 2 followers? Why aren't people finding you and following you? You wonder, " What am I doing wrong on Pinterest? " Here is your Pinterest Tutorial.

Pinterest Tips & Tricks.

Nothing- Everything.




You say, " Hey, all I really want is to know, how do I get recipes on Pinterest? My Facebook friends are blocking me. They hate it when I fill their feed with pictures of food, especially my dinner at a restaurant. I think they'd like it if I shared pictures of the beautiful meal I cooked all by myself after going on Pinterest. How do I do Pinterest?"

What kind of recipes do you like? Healthy Recipes? Vegan Recipes? Dessert Recipes? Gluten Free Recipes? Pinterest has you covered. There are three ways to go about finding recipes on Pinterest.

1. Click the big Pinterest at the top of your page and scroll through your home feed.

Nothing good?  Pictures of your friend's kids? Images of the 1980's? Weird geek stuff? You need cooler friends. No worries, we can help.

  2.   Click the search bar on the left side of the screen. Type in recipes, pick "pins", and scroll through until you find something you like. Heart it. Pin it. This could take a long time. You have unusual taste. There aren't any pins for road kill stew. What's a hungry pinner to do?

  3.  Click the search bar on the left side of the screen. Type in "road kill recipes". Now, you could click pins, or pinners, but this time click boards. Now follow all of the boards titled "ROAD KILL RECIPES".

Funny bunnies road kill from Indulgy.com

Scroll through the boards that you find most appetizing. See anything you like? Pin it. Here's where it gets fun! When you come back tomorrow to pin and click the big Pinterest to find your home feed, you will see all the new pins from the road kill boards. Are some of them super stellar? Click the pinner and "follow all"; I'll bet you have a lot in common. 

Boy, oh, boy do you have a lot in common. You are special. Only a elite few share your tastes.

That was easy. Now, you've learned how to search for you favorite topic, follow the boards, pinners, and pin it to your own "Road Kill" board. Go create some fun boards so like minded individuals will want to follow you.  In the right top bar, click on the " + " sign. Choose create a board. Follow the prompts to create your own unique boards. For example, if you are into a road kill theme, you might want to add these board titles:  Things to do with Raccoons, Dead Deer Projects, Awesome Opossums, Skunk Oil Tips, Squirrel Secrets, and Duck Dynasty Fun. Fill your boards, by doing a search in the Pinterest bar just like I taught you in the above paragraphs. Can't find anything good? Oh yeah... you're a little off, but that's okay. Try a Google search, copy the url, go back to the " + " and choose add from a website. Paste your URL in the bar. 

Voila! You've done it.

 Keep it up, I promise you will gain a follower or two if you keep pinning all these awesome pins.

Next time, Bookmarklet- will it harm my computer? Should I use it? And, the MAGIC secret that will blow your mind. In the meantime, you might like these Raccoon coloring pages. ;)

Pinterest Account Management
Pinterest Tips & a Magic Trick (The Secrets of Bookmarklet) Pinterest (201)
How do I do Pinterest? (Pinterest 101)


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Traditional Yule Log Recipe

Easy Yule Log Recipe

Ahh, Ye olde Yule Log. What's a Yule Log, you ask? Depends who you ask. Are you hungry or do you want to keep warm for the holidays? Find out the history of the Yule Log. Is it food - yes and also no! Apparently, the dessert cake, Chocolate Yule Log, was created after the one you place in your fireplace. This traditional Yule Log recipe is delicious, but it also serves as a great family tradition when you make it with your children. Watch the Yule Log video below while you bake. Enjoy!

How to Make a Yule Log

This spongy, oil-less Yule Log cake comes from Taste of Home as part of its Chocolate Cherry Cream-Filled Log Recipe. We made a few adjustments. Instead of the whipped cream filling, we used a Cherry Almond Buttercream with chopped Chocolate Covered Cherries folded in. Top your cake roll with chocolate ganache, melted milk chocolate chips, or just dust with some powdered sugar. We made our Yule Log festive by adding green paper leaves that adorn the cherries. You can also make the leaves with edible ganache.

Hallmark's Yule Log Video You Tube

Yule Log Cake:

Ingredients:
4 eggs, separated
1/3 c. plus 1/2 c. sugar, divided
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. baking cocoa
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/3 c. water
Confectioner's sugar

Directions:
1.  Place egg whites in a small bowl and let stand for 30 minutes at room temperature. Line a greased 15 in. x 10 in. x 1 in. baking pan with waxed paper.  Grease the paper and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2.  In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually beat in 1/3 c. sugar. Beat in vanilla.
3. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together twice.  Gradually add to the yolk mixture alternately with 1/3 c. water. Beat well after each addition.
4.  In a small bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/2 c. sugar, 1 T. at a time, on high speed until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold egg whites into batter. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes. Dust a kitchen towel completely with confectioner's sugar. Invert the cake onto the towel. Carefully peel off the waxed paper. Roll up the cake in the towel, starting with the short side.  Cool completely on a wire rack.
6.  Prepare Cherry Almond Buttercream.
7.  Unroll cake. Spread filling evenly over the cake to within 1/2 in. of the edges. Roll the cake again, without the towel. Place seam side down on a serving platter. Top as desired. Slice off the uneven ends of the cake before serving.


Cherry Almond Buttercream with Chocolate Covered Cherries:

Ingredients:
3 c. Confectioner's sugar
1 stick butter, softened
3 t. almond extract
2 T. milk
2 T. maraschino cherry juice
6 chocolate covered cherries, coarsely chopped

Directions:
1.  Beat butter until creamy.
2.  Add confectioner's sugar and beat until combined. Add almond extract and cherry juice and beat until combined. Add milk, if necessary, for consistency.  Beat until smooth.
3.  Gently fold in chopped candy.



Recommended:

Christmas Holiday Recipes and Activities



Pin it!

YA Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter Six

Moon Magic Chapter Six: Online Fiction for Teens

Teen Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter Six. Haven't been following along? Start here: Moon Magic starts here. In Chapter Five, Aurora got some bad news. What happens next? Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Get the Published YA Novel, Allegedly Mystic.

This post contains affiliate links.

Moon Magic: Unfulfilled Wishes

By Lora Langston

_____________________________________________________

The material is not in the public domain. It is copyrighted. Do not share it on other sites or reproduce in any way. 

           __________________________________________________

Copyright 2017

Moon Magic: Chapter Six

Pain meds have a way of making the mundane insane. Aurora’s days in the hospital had melded together into one blurred, boring vision. She had been confined to a bed for four weeks, but time stood still.

Television was constantly blaring in the background, but she didn’t pay it any attention. The t.v. was just another fixture in the room- a companion of sorts. The only thing Aurora was able to accomplish was sleep. Even food wasn’t important. The meds gave it all a metallic taste.

When she was finally able to get out of bed, Aurora stayed at her mother’s bed-side flipping through Herbal Remedy Magazine. All the while, she was really trying to make telepathic contact. She didn’t want any of the doctors or nurses to catch on to her psychic experiment. If only some inherent natural instinct would surface. She tried everything that she’d seen in the movies.

Nothing worked.

During these visits, Aurora kept her constant companion tuned to Entertainment Today. Serenity liked to refer to it as, ‘watching the news,’ which had always made Aurora laugh. Serenity knew who was dating who in Hollywood, as well as, what herbs would enrich their lives. It seemed out of character, but, watching and learning about the rich and famous had always given Serenity a sense of hope.

Everyday, after-school, Todd popped in to the hospital for a quick visit. Todd. Aurora wasn’t a fan. He wasn’t just her mother’s current significant other. Nope. Nothing is ever as simple as that. Todd was also Aurora's teacher. Sophomore History. He had tried to comfort Aurora, but she refused to befriend him... again.

*    *     *

Thanksgiving was a bust. Lucas’s Mother had saved the holiday by bringing in homemade, Caramel Apple Crisp. The aroma had reminded Aurora of helping her Grandmother in the kitchen. Happy times. Wondering if her father had similar experiences, Aurora tried to re-imagine the memory with her father in the picture, but she always drew a blank. No amount of cinnamon and caramel could make him magically reappear.

Dec. 2
Thanksgiving came and went. I described the hospital’s savory turkey and gravy tray to my mother- she’s a captive audience. More like, a captured prisoner. Thankfully, Lucas’s mom, brought dessert.

*        *        *

At sixteen, it’s got to be a parental crime to make your kid ride the bus. Isn’t their some kind of law against cruelty to teenagers? But, Aurora had to grin and bear it, otherwise the truancy officer would be up her butt. The whirr of the fat rumbling tires and the rhythmic bumping of the green pleather seat against the window, lulled Aurora to sleep. ‘Joe,’ the bus-driver, liked to make chit-chat. Sleeping all the way home was a convenient way to get out of conversing.

“Blarp!” The bus horn sounded like a cow in labor. No chance of sleeping through that.

“Hey Lightning, wake up, it’ your stop.” shouted Joe.

Grumbling, Aurora tossed her book bag over her right shoulder. Her left arm wore a navy-blue sling to remind her not to use it. It also served as a reminder to everyone else of what had happened on Halloween.

“It’s true, eh, you really the kid that got struck by lightning?” asked Joe. You’d think he was talking to a celebrity.

Aurora wiggled her sling around to show him. “Yep, that’s me; the walking miracle.”

“Well, good luck at school today, I sure hope your mother gets well soon.” chimed Joe.

Nothing better than free advertising. Aurora was a walking pity party. Maybe Scary Girl would be touched too. With that thought, Aurora skipped off the bus anxious to walk the halls and try out her new social status. From invisible to enigma- this might get interesting. Hopefully, Todd would honor her wishes and pretend like he didn’t know her outside of class.

Dec. 5
School... I couldn’t have been more wrong. Well, I sure wasn’t invisible. People saw me. They pointed, whispered, and stared. Some of them even trashed me to my face, “Look at the freak!” or “That’s what you get for playing witch in the woods on Halloween.” and  “Hope you got the hint, skank.”

Oddly, Scary Girl never came near me. I overheard some kids on the bus saying she wasn’t going to mess with that voodoo witch. Whatever. I hate school!

And.. Somehow, everyone knows Mr. Lowder is dating my mother! I’ll be sleeping in the bathtub tonight.

*     *     *

After a week of battling the bus and the halls at school, Joanie a.k.a. Ruby Red, helped Aurora withdraw from school. Lucas’s mother had offered up homeschooling. At sixteen, Aurora could legally quit anyway, but Red had encouraged her to continue.


It wasn’t new. Aurora had been homeschooled until the third grade. She and Serenity were always running from one thing or another. To be fair, Serenity would say they were chasing dreams. They never stayed in one place long enough to settle down and register for public school. Aurora never caught sight of any dreams.

Red had become an excellent surrogate Mother. Aurora had confessed her troubles at school and Red decided they could kill two birds with one stone. This way, she could remain at her mother’s bedside during the day and avoid the ripping from relentless teenagers.

“I think this will be easier on you,” encouraged Joanie.

“Are you kidding? I was hoping Ralinda would take my tray up for me.” Aurora winced, “You just want me to become a full-blown recluse! Don’t you think I’m eccentric enough already? I was struck by lightning and survived; do you know  how cool that is?” she shouted.

Joanie grabbed her clipboard and stuck a pencil behind her ear. “I do, Shoog. I’m just not certain that you do.”

CHAPTER SEVEN STARTS HERE

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