December 15, 2007
To view this newsletter online Click Here.
What's new
I know it is a busy time of year for everyone worldwide. It is a great time for baking and cooking with your kids also.
In the last month I've created something a little different, a fun with food section. This is both an educational section and a fun section. Included in the Fun with Food section is a mystery photo contest, submit your food joke and test your food trivia. For each of these pages once you fill out the form, then you will receive a free Kids Cooking Activities Coloring and activity e book.
This ebook has coloring pages, activity pages and also some fun kids recipes. It is geared for preschool- grade school.
That isn't all to our Fun with Food section though, we have a contest to find the hidden chef hat. Find the hat, fill out the form and you will be entered in a drawing for one of our ebooks (not the coloring book mentioned above but the ones we actually sell!) Don't miss out-we will draw each month so if you don't win this month try again.
Newsletter Freebie
I just love making these freebies for my subscribers. Download our 2008 Kids Cooking Activities calendar and try one of the recipes each month. 2008 Calendar
Did you miss last month's freebie? Kids holiday cooking and celebrating.
You need Adobe Reader to view these.
The best time all year to start your own website
If you have ever wanted to start your own website now is the best time all year to do it. Site Build It is the best company to go with because it isn't just a webhosting company, they help you step by step in building a successful website. I choose SBI! (Site Build IT!)because I'm a busy mom who doesn't have a lot of time to commit to the little website tasks, like submitting pages to the search engines (this is done automatically)!
When I first bought SBI they were having a buy one get the second for $100. (I started my first website then and kept the second one for 9 months later. http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com) It was a great deal. However, now for the holiday season they are having a buy one get the second free, yes FREE.
Not sure how you can turn your ideas into a website. Take your passion, something you love or a subject you have knowledge in and write about it. Webpage after webpage your knowledge will turn into a website.
If you don't want two websites grab a friend, family member, spouse, whomever and share the initial fee. That way you both win by getting half off the original price. If you don't want to share the deal you can start your second website within 9 months.
They are having their Buy one get one free sale until December 25, midnight.
Don't miss out. I've started this website about 1 1/2 years ago and I think it was one of the best choices I've made. Not only have I earned money each month it has been something I really enjoy and a creative outlet for a mom of three kids.
Cupcake Decorating
Cupcakes are so much fun. I love that they are individual servings that you can create so differently.
Here are some ideas for Cupcake decorating:
Seasonal Cupcake decorating ideas
Frost cupcake with white frosting. Sprinkle top with red sprinkles or red sugar. Give two M&M eyes or other candy. Make a beard out of mini marshmallows or shredded coconut. This is a fun and easy Santa dessert kids can put together.
Frost cupcake with chocolate frosting. Add pretzels for antlers and M&M candies for eyes and nose.
Use candies, cut fruit leather or sliced cookies and stand them up for feathers. Add eyes and beak.
Cupcake Creations
Just by decorating in different colors and laying them out a special way you can create masterpieces.
A Butterfly
Flower
Flag
Ball
Frosting recipes
Peanut butter frosting
Add 1/2 Cup creamy peanut butter to vanilla frosting. Mix together.
Chocolate fudge frosting
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3 ounces chocolate
2/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Heat all ingredients except vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue to boil 1 minute without stirring. Add in vanilla and frost cupcakes.
Cupcakes often seem to be a high sugar dessert but they don't have to be, try adding shredded or pureed zucchini, carrot or pumpkin. Here is one of my favorite cupcake recipes.
Chocolate Zucchini Cupcake recipe
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup milk chocolate chips, optional
Prepare muffin cups and preheat oven to 400 degrees. In mixing bowl blend sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs, cocoa, and milk together. Add in cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Blend together. Add in flour, zucchini and chocolate chips until well blended. Pour into muffin cups and bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of cupcake comes out clean.
Here is a cooking video on how to make a cupcake creation from Kraft foods.