Make Happy Birthday Cupcakes with this Cherry Recipe

Read Happy Birthday, Cupcake! and Make some too

Is it your birthday? These cupcakes are perfect for Valentine's Day too, but don't worry- you don't need an excuse to make birthday cupcakes. This recipe for cherry cupcakes, is perfect to pair with the book, Happy Birthday, Cupcake!, by Terry Border. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Cupcake! is a charming book. The main character is a Cupcake! The delightful photos throughout the book tell the story of a sweet Cupcake planning her birthday party with her friends. Her friends are various food items- each with varying needs. She takes into account each of them as she seeks to plan the perfect event. She shows kindness in realizing the limitations of her friends- like Ice Cream's propensity for melting...

Make Cherry Almond Cupcakes with this yummy recipe.

In then end, her friends surprise her with a birthday party to remember. This is such a cute story with an excellent message of friendship, feelings, and love. This picture book is perfect for the younger set. It makes a nice companion book for a birthday celebration. You can incorporate fun activities while talking about important topics like how to be a good friend.

Happy Birthday, Cupcake! by Terry Border.

One of our favorite activities is to bake together! This book lends itself well to a kitchen project. You can make cupcakes easily with a mix or make some from scratch. The most important thing is to spend time together. We enjoyed making Cherry Cupcakes- chosen by my son!

Delicious Cherry Cupcakes!

Here's a yummy recipe for the Cherry Almond Cupcakes that we adapted from one found on Food Network Magazine.

CHERRY ALMOND CUPCAKES Recipe

1 1/3 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter, softened

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1/2 c. milk

1/3 c. maraschino cherries, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. 

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking power, and salt. In another bowl, cream butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth (about 1 minute). Add sugar and continue to beat until creamy (about 4 minutes). Beat in eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat in the flour mixture in three batches alternating the milk. Beat on medium-high speed until just combined. Stir in maraschino cherries. 

Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Bake until the tops spring back, 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool in pan 5 minutes and then remove to rack to completely cool. 

How to Make CHERRY FROSTING Recipe

1 1/2 stick butter, softened

3 c. powdered sugar

pinch of salt

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. almond extract

3 Tb. maraschino cherry juice (from the jar)

Extra cherries to garnish if desired

Beat butter, sugar, and salt until just combined. Add extracts and beat on medium-high speed until creamy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the cherry juice until fluffy (about 1 more minute). 

Ice cupcakes when they are completely cooled and add cherries or sprinkles to decorate.

Fun Activity Ideas for the Book, Happy Birthday, Cupcake:

• Plan a play date with a friend.
• Cut out paper cupcakes.
• Make a friendship tree, and write down activites that your friends would enjoy.
• Pretend to have a birthday party. 

Recommended:

Make Strawberry Cupcakes

Get Happy Birthday, Cupcake!*

Snowmen Cupcakes

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! :)

Abraham Lincoln Face Printable for Puppet

Make a Puppet with this Abraham Lincoln Face Printable

Looking for a picture of Abraham Lincoln's face? The Abe Lincoln face printable is perfect for a President's Day puppet. Make him a paper bag puppet or a stick puppet to celebrate President's Day with the sixteenth President of the United States, Honest Abe. We're also sharing a fun companion book and a round up of President's activities to do with kids. Enjoy!

Follow the link to the FREE PRINTABLE ABRAHAM LINCOLN FACE.

Go to our MediaFire page and download the free abe lincoln face printable. You'll also find other President's faces and accessories for paper bag puppets.

Once you've printed out the page, cut out Abraham Lincoln's face following the white line. Then, color in his facial features.

Attach his face to a brown paper bag to make a paper bag puppet, or attach to a stick to make a hand held paper stick puppet.

You can also glue his face to a piece of cardboard, trim to fit, punch holes in his ears, attach a string, and make a traditional mask for President's Day.

Pick up a copy of, "I am Abraham Lincoln" by Brad Meltzer and read it together to learn fun facts about Abe Lincoln.

Companion book for President's Day, "I am Abraham Lincoln".

Scroll down to see how you can enter to win the "Ordinary People Change the World" books.

• Abraham Lincoln Coloring Page with Fun Facts.
• Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Activities for President's Day from Adventures in Mommydom.
• Popsicle Stick Log Cabin for President's Day from Mama Smiles Blog.

• Preschool Activities for President's Day (Pennies and the Letter 'P') from Carrots are Orange.

P for President's Day from Carrots are Orange.

• Make Cottonball Wigs to dress up like George Washington.
• Facts about Abe Lincoln from The Preschool Toolbox.
• Make a Stovepipe Hat.
• Study the President's of the United States with this Elementary Lesson Plan.
• Facts about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Recommended:

Abraham Lincoln Book for President's Day

Facts about Jimmy Carter

Homemade Potato Chips Microwave Oven

Recipe for How to Make Potato Chips in the Microwave

Have you always wanted to make your own Potato Chips? Potato chips are extremely over-priced. Everyone knows that! So, how do you make potato chips in the microwave at home? This recipe for homemade potato chips is healthier, fresher, and cheaper than store bought. So, how many potato chips can you get from just one potato? Let's find out. Enjoy!

Homemade Potato Chips Microwave Oven.

If you've ever made fried potatoes, you know it is tempting to turn them into chips, but how does that work? Fried Potatoes are often greasy, slimy, and squishy. Baking potatoes dries them out, but they still aren't chips. If you want to make chips at home, the microwave is your best friend.

How to Make Potato Chips in the Microwave.

We found a recipe at AllRecipes.com, but tweaked it to make our own version of homemade potato chips.



Homemade Potato Chips Recipe Microwave

1. Slice 1 potato very thin. We use a Pampered Chef Chip Slicer on the thinnest setting.

Slice potatoes very thin.

2. Soak the potato slices in salt water for about 10 minutes.

Soak potaotes in salt water.

3. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer on a microwave safe plate.

Spray with cooking oil.

4. Coat the slices with vegetable oil spray.

5. Microwave the potato slices until golden and crispy. Our microwave requires about 7 minutes. Start with 5 minutes until you figure out what your microwave requires. Also, thicker slices will take longer.

Make microwave potato chips at home.

6. Carefully remove the plate. It will be hot. Once it has cooled slightly, you can peel off the potato chips.

7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 until all the potato slices are cooked.


We got about half of a regular sized bag of chips from one potato! Plus they are healthier since they are not fried. You can dress them up with toppings like ranch dressing, shredded cheese, barbecue sauce, sour cream dip- whatever your heart desires... maybe some chocolate dip? Ketchup works too!


Try it with a Sprial Sliced Potato.




Recommended:

Pampered Chef Sprial Chip Slicer*

Applesauce Like Grandma Used to Make

Scoops Appetizer Ideas

Easy Tuna Salad Ring











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! :)

TOSTITOS® Scoop Recipes for a Party

TOSTITOS®  Scoop Recipes for a Party

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias. Inc. and its advertisers. All opinions are mine alone. #GameDayGlory #CollectiveBias 

Are you having guests for the Big Game? We've got recipes that will be a touch down. These TOSTITOS® Scoops Appetizer Recipes are the perfect food for a big party. Get everything in party size so there is plenty to go around. We came up with some delicious baked appetizer recipes that use some of your favorites- SNICKERS® and TOSTITOS® Scoops. Enjoy!

Supreme Baked TOSTITOS® Scoops recipe for a big game party.

SNICKERS® Scoop Mini Pies.

Don't miss out on the Game Day Glory sweepstakes! Are you a super fan? Do you deck the table out with a Snack Stadium?

We'd love to see it on Instagram, be sure to share it with us with #gamedayglorysweepstakes and enter to win a $100 Walmart gift card or an Xbox One!

You can vote for yourself or your favorite Snack Stadium by clicking the Game Day Glory link at the bottom of this post.

Walmart is just a skip away, so we always pop in to make some purchases before a big party.

The Big Game requires lots of goodies, so we filled the cart with Pepsi™, SNICKERS®, TOSTITOS®, and Skittles® and then went home to create the awesome recipes below.

Supreme Baked TOSTITOS® Scoops Recipe

First down, you need to gather supplies.

1 Avocado

1/2 C. TOSTITOS® Chunky Salsa (Medium)

1/2 Bar Cream Cheese

1/2 C. Shredded Cheddar or Mexican Cheese

1 Bell Pepper, Chopped (Optional)

Grab your favorite Pepsi™ to drink, while you cook! 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. No need to spray pan. Then, place 24 TOSTITOS® Scoops on baking tray (we used a mini cupcake pan).

Peel avocado and remove the pit. 

No need to chop it up, place it in a bowl and mash it with a spoon.

Slice the Cream Cheese bar in half. Add to avocado mixture.

Mash avocado and cream cheese together.

Mix together. If mixing is difficult, mash together with a fork.

 Add in 1/2 C. TOSTITOS® Chunky Salsa.


Now, you have cream cheese avocado dip. Taste it, it's delicious!

With a large spoon, spoon dip into scoops- filling to the top. Then, sprinkle with shredded cheese. Try one, they're even better than the dip by itself! Mmm... so good; wash it down with a Pepsi™.

Place in preheated oven for 5 minutes or less. Depending on your oven, these only need to bake until the cheese melts. So, watch them closely. Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped pepper, and serve immediately.

Touch Down! This is what your Game Day Scoops look like when served with peppers sprinkled on top.

Baked TOSTITOS® Scoops cheesy avocado appetizer.

Every salty savory needs a companion. So, make SNICKERS® 

Scoop Mini Pies for dessert.

Get the SNICKERS® variety pack.

To Make SNICKERS® Scoop Mini Pies Recipe

35 oz. Variety bag of SNICKERS®

1/2 Bar of Cream Cheese

24 TOSTITOS® Scoops

Whipped Topping

Skittles® (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

SNICKERS® Scoop Mini Pies.

Chop the SNICKERS® into 3-4 small slices.

Tear off a pinch of cream cheese, and place it into each Scoop.

Then, add 1 slice of SNICKERS® into each scoop.

Place in preheated oven for 5-8 minutes- just until melted. Remove from oven, and smash the candy and cream cheese together. Let cool slightly and then add a dollop of whipped cream. To dress them up, place 1 Skittles® on top. 

Don't forget to taste just one before serving, you deserve it!

Serve the Scoops to your party guests. Make it a rule: whenever your team gets a touch down, you get to eat a SNICKERS® Scoop Mini Pie and Skittles® . Mmm... perfect with Pepsi™.

Click for more Game Day Recipes and  Snack Stadium Ideas.

Now, it's your turn to play- what is your favorite appetizer for Game Day? Share it in the comments. Don't forget to enter the Game Day Glory Sweepstakes below.

Recommended:

Easy Jalapeno Pizza Poppers


Game Day Glory Sweepstakes

Baked Tuna Salad Ring














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! :)

The Wonderful Things You Will Be Book Activities

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Explore the possibilities, what are the wonderful things you will be? What can you be? Take a page from the most well-known Tigger when he sings, The Wonderful Things about Tiggers. Perhaps, Emily Winfield Martin, was inspired by Tigger's wonderful song. Penguin Random House gave us a copy of her book for review. We've included book activities as companion book projects. Enjoy!




The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin is a delightful book. It explores childhood dreams, good character, and family relationships. It inspires children to express their hopes and to be themselves. It encourages them to dream big and achieve their dreams.

This easy-to-read book is filled with lots of love as parents express thier support of their children and their imaginations. The beautiful illustrations invite you to explore the pages and the surprising fold out at the end is, well, wonderful.

I love the way this book suggests possibilities of things to be and also states positive attributes (like kindness) that they know the child will display. It's a book that works on various levels and makes children think in a playful yet deep way.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be PDF.

Wonderful Activities to do with this Book:

1) Play dress up and encourage your child to use their imagination.

Superheroes to the rescue!

2) Bake muffins together to bring to a neighbor or friend to show that heart of kindness.




Check out these delicious donut muffins- so fun to make together!


3) Draw pictures of something you might want to be together (like a monster truck driver).





So many imaginative things can be made with pencils, makers, paper, and scissors!


4) Play outside in the mud and maybe even plant some flowers.

Playing outside is always creative!

In, The Wonderful Things You Will Be, the sky is the limit on the wonderful things that your child can be. Be imaginative together. Spend time reading this sweet book and talking about your hopes and dreams. Compliment your child on their many wonderful qualities and encourage them to be their very best self- they are one of a kind (Just like Tigger)!

This book is sure to quickly become a family favorite. The story is beautiful and the message is timeless!

Recommended:

The Wonderful Things You Will Be*

Art Projects for Black History Month

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! :)

Baby Chick Crafts Projects: Companion Book

Learn Prepositions with Baby Chick Project

Looking for Chick Craftivities? These baby chick activities for toddlers and kindergartners are perfect companion book projects for the lift-the-flap- book, In Over and On the Farm, by Ethan Long. In need of baby chick craft ideas for Easter? This little chick is cute enough to give as an Easter card too. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

Valentine's Ways to Say I Love You to Kids

Simple Ways to Say I Love You 

How many ways can you say I love you? What are fun ways to say I love you to your kids? We found some easy ways to say I love you to your child, just in time for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Simple Ways to Say I Love You. These ideas are for kids, but work for adults too!

• Add a Post-it with a surprise, positive message each day leading up to Valentine's Day. Scroll down to see this done with hearts.

Post positive messages on their bedroom door each morning
to build self-esteem and show your love.

• Each day in February up to Valentine's Day, pick a conversation heart to slip into their lunch box. They'll look forward to the message. On Valentine's Day, give them the entire box!

Heart shaped food for lunchbox with conversation hearts
for Valentine's Day from Farm Fresh Meals.

• No conversation hearts or you don't want to give candy? Try these ideas to say I love you with lunchbox fruit messages.

Ways to say I love you with Fruit Puns from Where the Pun Is.

• Similarly to conversation heart idea, you can stick a message to their door every morning. Cut out heart shapes, like these found on Decorating Day by Day, or just use pink and red Post-it Notes as pictured above.

Messages on door are a fun way to say I love you.

• Pregnancy.org shares some fun, simple ways to say I love you to your child all year long. We like the shaving cream on the mirror. Mirror messages are a simple idea that you can do every day. Washable or Dry Erase Markers are less mess and work great too!

To say I love you, write messages on the mirror with Dry Erase or Washable Markers.

Recommended:

Giant Bag of Conversation Hearts*

Valentine Ladybug Game

Valentine's Cake



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! :)