(Family Features) For a frighteningly fun time in the kitchen this Halloween, gather your family around the cauldron to create a sweet, spooky dessert. Tricks and treats may provide thrills, but a homemade concoction can be the star of your hauntingly happy evening.

This Ghostly Graveyard Cake takes imagination and creativity from everyone with tombstones, skulls and spooky icing daring all to try a bite. With looks this chilling, it’s a perfect treat to enjoy while watching everyone’s favorite scary movie.

Find more deliciously devious desserts at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Ghostly Graveyard Cake

• 1          box chocolate cake mix
• 10        chocolate creme cookies
• 1          cup black melting chips
• 1          cup red melting chips
• 1          cup heavy whipping cream
• 3          cans buttercream icing
• 1          purple food coloring
• 1          black food coloring
• skull sprinkles
• tombstones and bones candies

1. Prepare cake mix according to package instructions in three 6-inch baking pans. Once baked, allow to completely cool outside of pans.
 
2. In zip-top bag, using rolling pin, crush chocolate creme cookies; set aside.

3. In separate small bowls, add black melting chips and red melting chips.
4. In microwave, heat heavy whipping cream 1 1/2 minutes. Pour half the mixture into one bowl of chips and other half into other bowl of chips. Stir until chips are completely melted; set aside.

5. After cakes cool, on cake board, add small amount of buttercream icing so cake sticks. Using bread knife, level cakes.
6. Place one cake on cake board and add thin layer of icing on top. Place second layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top. Place final layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top. Add thin layer of icing to entire cake. Freeze 15 minutes.
7. In small bowl, mix two parts purple food coloring to one part black food coloring. Ice cake with deep purple icing. Using grooved scraper, scrape along sides of cake. Using angled spatula, smooth top of cake.

8. Add skull sprinkles around edges of cake. Using piping bag with small opening at tip, drip black drip mixture around top edges of cake. Repeat using red drip mixture.


9. Add chocolate creme cookie crumbs to top of cake. Add tombstones and bone sprinkles to top of cake.
 
 

(Family Features) The next time your kids are begging for an indulgent snack after finishing chores or dessert following dinner, call them to the kitchen for a quick, delicious lesson. Teaching children to cook helps them get more comfortable with an important life skill while encouraging independence – all while having a little fun.

This Popcorn Party Pizza swaps out the classic pizza crust for popcorn – a whole grain that’s 100% unprocessed with no additional additives, hidden ingredients or GMOs – infused with gooey melted marshmallows and topped with childhood favorites.

After an adult melts the marshmallows and lines the pan with the marshmallow-popcorn mixture, kids can help create their own work of art with red piping gel as “pizza sauce;” rolled fruit snacks as “pepperoni” slices; and jellybeans, coconut and candy-coated chocolate pieces for the oh-so-sweet toppings.

Visit popcorn.org to find more kid-friendly recipes to help children learn their way around the kitchen.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Popcorn Party Pizza

Yield: 8 slices

•             Nonstick cooking spray
• 3          tablespoons butter
• 1          bag (10 1/2 ounces) mini marshmallows
• 2          quarts popped popcorn
• 1          tube (0.68 ounces) red piping gel
• 1          package red raspberry rolled fruit snack
• green jellybeans (optional)
• coconut (optional)
• candy-coated chocolate pieces (optional)

1. Spray 12-inch pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In large saucepan over medium heat, heat butter. Stir in marshmallows until melted. Stir in popcorn until well coated.
3. Spread mixture evenly onto prepared pizza pan.
4. Drizzle red piping gel over “pizza” for “sauce.”
5. Cut small circles (about 1 1/4-inch diameter) from rolled fruit snack and place on pizza for “pepperoni” slices.
6. Decorate with jellybeans, coconut and candies, if desired. Cool completely before cutting into wedges.

Source: Popcorn Board

(Family Features) With a lot of parents facing the challenge of keeping housebound kids happy and healthy, this is the perfect time to teach kids the basics of nutrition and eating right.

Consider these simple suggestions from Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, health and nutrition communications manager for Dole Food Company.

• Healthy Snack Time Taste Tests – Sometimes it feels like kids can snack all day long on easy-to-grab crackers, chips or cookies. Next time they reach into the snack pantry, try incorporating a taste test or food critic activity to encourage something different and more nutritious.

• Purposeful Playtime – Many households have a play kitchen or some kind of play food. Use this as an opportunity to act out how to create a healthy kitchen with activities like making salad, setting the table, peeling bananas and washing dishes. This can help young children become more independent, learn what to expect and grow into little helpers at family mealtime.

• Sensory Activity – One idea that can work for school and at home is making a sensory box. Simply place a fruit or two inside a tissue box and have children put their hands inside then try to guess which fruit it is by feeling it.

• Recipes for Fun – If you’re preparing a meal, it could be a good time to teach children of reading age how to review a recipe. Evaluating ingredients to learn how food transforms from raw to cooked or how a dish is created can help kids learn kitchen skills. For example, try this fun, fruity recipe for Kids with Almond Toast.

• Food Groups Focus – Get kids involved in making dinner by setting a rule that each food group must be represented. Give them a warmup activity by asking which food groups are found in family favorites like chicken soup, lasagna or meatloaf. Asking kids to guess which ingredients are used in these dishes and identifying which food group each ingredient belongs to can help them understand dietary balance. Find more at-home tips in the free, downloadable Healthy Eating Toolkit from the nonprofit organization Action for Healthy Kids.

• Reading Time – From food labels to children’s books to cookbooks, there are plenty of reading materials to choose from that reinforce healthy eating habits. Exposing children to fruits and vegetables outside the kitchen is a subtle way to show that nutritious ingredients are part of everyday life.

• Explain the Bathroom Routine – Make sure to wash hands and explain that this is a way of washing away germs to stay healthy. Also explain why brushing teeth is important by reminding children that food can get stuck in teeth and cause cavities.

Find more kid-friendly recipe ideas at dole.com plus nutritional tips, free printables and other healthy fun on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

“Kids” with Almond Toast

Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

• 4          slices whole-grain bread
• 6          tablespoons unsalted almond butter
• 2          teaspoons honey (optional)
• 1          DOLE®  Banana, peeled
• 2          Dole Strawberries, trimmed and halved
• 4          chunks (1 1/2 inches) fresh Dole Tropical Gold Pineapple
• 2          Dole Blackberries
• 2          teaspoons toasted flaxseed (optional)

1. Toast bread slices. Spread with almond butter and drizzle with honey, if desired.
2. To make “kids”: Cut eight slices and 32 matchsticks from banana. Arrange one strawberry half and one pineapple chunk on two slices toast; arrange remaining strawberry halves and blackberries on  remaining slices. Place one banana slice “head” at top of each piece of fruit and arrange four banana matchsticks around each “kid” for arms and legs. Sprinkle flaxseed along bottom edges of toast under kids’ feet, if desired.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (mother and daughter)

Source:  Dole

(Family Features) Adding nutrition to meals is all about the ingredients you include. The next time you’re looking to add nutrients to your recipes, consider adding an ingredient like pecans, The Original Supernut, which are versatile and easy to add to meals and snacks.

Visit americanpecan.com for more nutritional information and recipe ideas.

Source:  American Pecan Council

(Family Features) As a parent, instilling healthy eating habits in your children at an early age can aid in proper growth and development. Eating well goes a long way toward maintaining a healthy weight, increasing energy levels and improving moods while also reducing risk of obesity and other chronic issues such as heart disease and diabetes later in life.

Set your children on a path to making lifelong nutritious choices with these tips:

Foster independence. Allowing your children to help with shopping and meal prep can aid in them taking ownership of what they’re eating. Start by divvying up easier tasks such as setting the table then work toward creating snacks and meals on their own. These Rainbow Fruit Parfaits are simple for kids to assemble – just set the ingredients out and let them layer – and can serve as a healthful on-the-go breakfast or after-school snack.

Offer balanced options. Children require balanced diets made up of all three major food groups, including fruits and vegetables, for proper development. Looking for the Produce for Kids logo next to nutritional, family-friendly items at the grocery store is an easy way to identify healthy food choices while also supporting local organizations that help children and families in need.

Be a role model. Typically, your children will follow your behaviors, which includes the types of foods they select at mealtimes. Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables can help ensure your family is getting a complete range of nutrients. For example, a recipe like this Rainbow Buddha Bowl provides a combination of fresh and roasted vegetables that can be customized to meet your family’s tastes. Thinking about how many colors you eat in a day may inspire your kids to do the same, which can foster a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

To find more healthy meal inspiration, including more than 500 registered dietitian- and family-tested recipes, visit produceforkids.com.

Rainbow Fruit Parfaits

Recipe courtesy of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 3

• 1/2       cup sliced strawberries
• 2          mandarins, peeled and segmented
• 1/2       cup chopped pineapple
• 2          kiwis, peeled and chopped
• 1/2       cup blueberries
• 1/2       cup red seedless grapes
• 1          cup vanilla Greek yogurt

1. In parfait glasses, layer strawberries, mandarins, pineapple, kiwis, blueberries and grapes.
2. Top each fruit parfait with yogurt.

Rainbow Buddha Bowl

Recipe courtesy of Jodi of Create Kids Club on behalf of Produce for Kids
Prep time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

• 1          medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1          cup broccoli florets
• 1/2       small purple cabbage, sliced
• 1          tablespoon olive oil
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2          cups quinoa, cooked according to package directions
• 1          cup red cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2       cup yellow cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1          avocado, sliced
• 4          tablespoons yogurt ranch dressing

1. Heat oven to 425° F.
2. Place sweet potatoes, broccoli and cabbage on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toss with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are soft.
3. Divide cooked quinoa into four bowls. Top with roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, red tomatoes, yellow tomatoes and avocado.
4. Drizzle with dressing.

Source: Produce for Kids

(Family Features) When it comes to eating, it can be difficult to find foods that kids can enjoy while also introducing them to valuable nourishment and health principles.

Instead of giving in to ice cream for every meal or forcing children to eat something their taste buds don’t agree with, there are tasty recipes like Chicken Noodle Soup, Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast and Flower Salad that can quench their appetites without giving up nutritional value. These fun recipes can give kids a chance to help in the kitchen, learning important life skills while spending quality time with family.

To find more fun, kid-friendly recipes that include both taste and nourishment, visit culinary.net.

The Classic Kid-Favorite

When mealtime hits and bellies start growling, turn to a classic to keep your kids full and satisfied. Chicken Noodle Soup has always been a favorite among children, so keep tradition alive in your family with this scrumptious recipe. For more delicious chicken recipes, visit eatchicken.com.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Recipe courtesy of National Chicken Council

• 1 chicken (3 pounds), liver discarded
• 2 1/2 quarts cold water
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 onions, peeled
• 2 celery stalks with leaves, cut into 4 pieces
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

Soup:

• 1 cup small pasta, cooked
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1. To prepare broth: In large pot over high heat, bring chicken and all remaining broth ingredients to boil. Reduce heat to low; skim surface of broth to remove foam. Let simmer 1 1/2 hours, skimming occasionally, and turning chicken. Add more water if necessary to keep chicken submerged.
2. Remove chicken with tongs and cool. Strain broth through fine sieve. Discard celery, herbs and spices. Reserve onions and carrots. Remove any excess fat from top of broth with spoon.
3. Pull chicken meat from bones and discard skin and bones. Dice chicken and reserve. Quarter cooked onions, if desired.
4. To prepare soup: In large pot over high heat, return strained chicken broth and bring to rolling boil. Add reserved onions and carrots. Reduce heat to low; stir in reserved chicken meat, pasta and frozen peas, cooking until warm. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and top with dill and parsley.

Connect Kids with Food for Healthy Habits

More than nine in 10 millennial moms think it's important for their kids to learn about where their food comes from, and more than three-quarters of those moms actively do things with their kids to help learn just that, according to recent findings.

Building healthy habits is the top reason moms cite for encouraging more learning when it comes to food, according to research conducted by IPSOS on behalf of Cuties – the sweet little clementines. Even when the weather is colder outside, recipes like this Flower Salad can help encourage kids to eat healthy for a lifetime.

For more kid-friendly recipe ideas and content exploring where food comes from, visit cutiescitrus.com/our-story.

Flower Salad

Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger
Servings: 1

Flower:

• 1 Cuties clementine
• 9-10 thinly sliced strips red bell pepper, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 grape tomato
• 1 celery stick, cut to 3 inches
• 2 small leaves romaine lettuce
• 1 piece English cucumber, unpeeled, seeded and cut to 1 1/2 inches then thinly sliced

Dip:

• 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1. Peel clementine and separate sections almost all the way, leaving attached at the base. Place on plate with base down. Place piece of red bell pepper between each citrus section, and half tomato in center to form flower.
2. Place celery and lettuce leaves underneath as stem and leaves. Arrange cucumber slices below to represent grass.
3. In small bowl, stir together yogurt, honey and lemon juice.
4. Serve dip in dish alongside flower, or in a mound underneath cucumber slices.

Nutritional information per serving: 76 calories; 0.5 g total fat; (0.3 g saturated fat, 0.2 g poly fat); 4 g protein; 15 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 2 mg cholesterol; 21 mg sodium.

A Memorable Morning Meal

Whether it’s before school or after sleeping in on a Saturday morning, breakfast is a popular meal for children of all ages. Next time you and your family rise and shine, go with this recipe for Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast to keep the whole gang happy. Find more kid-friendly recipes for every meal at nutrition.gov.

Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast

Recipe courtesy of the USDA

• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons fat-free milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 slices whole-wheat bread
• 1 teaspoon soft margarine
• 4 teaspoons light pancake syrup

1. In flat-bottomed bowl, crack eggs. Thoroughly whisk in milk and cinnamon. Dip bread slices, one at a time, into egg mixture, wetting both sides. Re-dip, if necessary, until all egg mixture is absorbed into bread.
2. Meanwhile, heat large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add butter. Place dipped bread slices in skillet. Cook 2 1/2-3 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown.
3. Drizzle with syrup. Serve when warm.

Nutritional information per serving: 190 calories; 8 g total fat; (3 g saturated fat); 10 g protein; 19 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 215 mg cholesterol; 250 mg sodium.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Chicken soup photo and French toast photo)

Source: Culinary.net

Better-for-you snacks kids will love

(Family Features) Kids love to snack. But left to their own devices, most kids don't always make the healthiest snack choices. A new study of long-term eating patterns in children, from researchers at the University of North Carolina, shows that kids today are getting nearly one-third of their daily calories from unhealthy snacks such as chips, crackers and candy.

Nutritious and delicious snacks are as close as your produce aisle. Watermelon is practically a multivitamin unto itself - and its natural sweetness is something kids love.

Did You Know?

• A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6 and C.
• Vitamin A found in watermelon is important for optimal eye health.
• Vitamin B6 found in watermelon is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin and dopamine, which preliminary research shows may help the body cope with anxiety and panic.
• Vitamin C in watermelons can help to bolster your immune system's defenses against infections and viruses, and is known to stimulate the immune system and protect against free radical damage.
• A 2-cup serving of watermelon is also a source of potassium, a mineral necessary for water balance and found inside of every cell. People with low potassium levels can experience muscle cramps. A 2-cup serving has less than 10 percent of the daily reference value for potassium.

Try these fun recipes as after-school and post-activity snacks. For more kid-friendly recipes and healthy eating tips, visit www.watermelon.org.

Send some healthy lunch munchies to school - watermelon chunks are an easy way to brighten up a sack lunch and give kids a tasty nutritional boost in the middle of the day.

Healthy Eating Tips

Healthy eating habits start at home. One of the best things you can do for your kids is to be a role model for smart food choices. Here are some simple things you can do to help your kids develop healthy lifelong habits.

• Shop for food together and take time to examine, discuss and select fruit and vegetables that catch your child's eye. Allow your child to help you to prepare these healthful foods. For example, let your child use a melon-baller to create melon balls from watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew to create a festive, nutritious and visually appealing dessert.
• Make healthy snacks available at all times for your children by keeping the fridge filled with flavorful, nutrient-rich treats such as grapes, cherries, carrots and watermelon cubes.
• Simple changes are easier for your child to get used to. Try switching from full fat milk to non-fat milk, serving sherbet, sorbet, ice milk or fruit juice bars, or adding fresh fruit to his or her cereal in the morning.
• Serve your children colorful, deeply pigmented plant food. These foods tend to offer tremendous nutritional value. For example, red peppers, carrots, broccoli, oranges and watermelon are all packed with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
• Start each day with breakfast, preferably fruit with low-fat yogurt or granola. Make a fruit smoothie by blending watermelon cubes and a banana with crushed ice.

Watermelon Kebabs

Makes 6 servings

• 1-inch cubes of seedless watermelon
• Smoked turkey breast
• Cheddar cheese
• Coffee stirrers or beverage straws

1. Cut watermelon, turkey and cheese in cubes and skewer on stirrers or straws.

Watermelon Nachos

Serves 6 to 8

• 12 to 16 1/2-inch thick watermelon triangles with 3-inch sides
• 2 cups Greek vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A few drops almond extract
• 1 cup Craisins
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Arrange the watermelon triangles on a serving platter or glass cake stand. Mix yogurt with extracts and spoon yogurt over the watermelon in the fashion of nacho cheese sauce. Sprinkle craisins, white chocolate chips, and almonds over the yogurt and dust with cinnamon.

Watermelon Dippers

• 8 ounces sour cream
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Watermelon sticks or small wedges

1. Blend together the sour cream, sugar and vanilla in a small serving bowl. Use as a dip for the watermelon.

Watermelon Cut Outs

• Seedless watermelon, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick slices
• Yogurt
• Granola or similar cereal

1. Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut shapes out of watermelon slices. Frost with vanilla or other flavored yogurt. Sprinkle with granola.

Watermelon Berry Slush

Makes 6 servings

• 4 cups cubed, seeded watermelon
• 1 10-ounce package frozen raspberries
• 1 12-ounce bottle sparkling mineral water

1. Place watermelon in a single layer in shallow pan; freeze until firm. Remove from freezer and let stand 5 minutes. Drop watermelon through food chute of a food processor or blender with the motor running. Add frozen raspberries alternately with mineral water, processing until smooth.

Watermelon Jelly Logs

Makes 6 servings

• 6 3-inch x 2-inch x 5-inch watermelon rectangles
  3 flavors all fruit or low sugar preserves
  6 ginger, molasses or peanut butter cookies

1. Using a melon baller, cut 3 divots into a long side of each watermelon rectangle. Fill each divot with a different all-fruit or low-sugar preserve. Serve each rectangle with a cookie.

Source: National Watermelon Board

(Family Features) Summer is a great time to get kids into the kitchen to make some snacks and desserts. Whether you need something to take to a picnic or just something to do on a rainy day, making easy, no-bake goodies like Rice Krispies Treats(r) can show kids just how fun cooking can be.

Even young children can be kitchen helpers, so the whole family can get involved. What can your child do to help prepare a recipe?

2 to 3-year-olds can
-Wash and scrub fruits and vegetables
-Name and count foods

3 to 4-year-olds can
-Shape foods
-Mix dry ingredients together
-Pour pre-measured liquids into batter

4 to 5-year-olds can
-Help measure ingredients
-Open packages
-Pour cereal
-Mash soft fruits and vegetables
-Press cookie cutters into dough or soft food

6 years old and up can
-Beat recipe ingredients with a whisk
-Help locate ingredients in a spice rack or pantry

Make some summer magic with these tasty no-bake recipes for Choco P'Nutty Bars, Itsy Bitsy Fruit Pies, and Ice Cream Sandwich Treats. For even more kid-friendly recipes you can make together, visit www.Ricekrispies.com.

Note: The following recipes should be made with adult supervision.

Itsy Bitsy Fruit Pies

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup milk chocolate morsels
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• 2 cups assorted fresh chopped fruits
• Frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
• Assorted sprinkles

1. In medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in chocolate morsels until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon.
2. Place cereal in large bowl. Carefully pour melted chocolate mixture over cereal. Gently stir until cereal is completely coated with chocolate.
3. Spoon cereal mixture into twenty-four 1 1/2-inch muffin-pan cups coated with cooking spray. Using your finger or thumb, press cereal mixture onto bottoms and up the sides of each cup, forming crusts.
4. Place crusts in freezer for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.
5. Before serving, fill each crust with fresh fruit. Dollop with whipped topping. Decorate with sprinkles. Serve immediately.

Note: Extra unfilled crusts may be frozen in air-tight container for up to a month. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Kid-friendly Kitchen Tips:
-Children of all ages should have an adult assistant with them at all times when cooking.
-Chefs 7 and older can measure the ingredients and help stir the melted chocolate into the cereal.
-Little ones, ages 3 to 6, will enjoy pressing the mixture into the muffin cups and decorating with the fruits and whipped cream.
-Make sure to have plenty of extra fruits for snacking while making these little pies.

Ice Cream Sandwich Treats

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 10 to 12

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 10 ounce-package (about 40) marshmallows, or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal
• 1/2 cup assorted sprinkles
• 2 pints desired flavor ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet or gelato

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
2. Add cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture to 1/4-inch thickness on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Decorate with sprinkles. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from refrigerator. Using 2-inch cookie cutters coated with cooking spray, cut into desired shapes. Place small scoop of ice cream on undecorated side of one cut-out. Top with another cut-out, decorated side up. Gently press together. Return to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cut-outs and remaining ice cream.
5. Freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to airtight container. Freeze for 2 hours to 1 week. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

Choco P'Nutty Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 18

• 1 12-ounce package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal
• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 18 wooden or plastic sticks

1. In large saucepan, melt chocolate morsels and peanut butter over low heat; stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal and marshmallows.
2. Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Chill in refrigerator about 45 minutes.
3. Cut into 18 bars. Serve by inserting plastic or wooden stick into each bar.

Microwave Directions: In large microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate morsels and peanut butter at medium power for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until well coated. Continue with recipe directions.

Source: Rice Krispies

(Family Features) The ultimate kid-friendly snack comes as a package deal – simple, delicious, nutritious and fun. One option that readily meets those demands are apples, pears and oranges perfectly sized for small hands, mouths and appetites.

While Lil Snappers’ smaller sizes allow fresh fruits to easily fit into bento boxes and brown bags for a wholesome lunchbox companion that leaves little waste, a dash of creativity also transforms these fruits into a favorite snacktime star – from crunchy critters to sweet treats.

Available in three-pound pouches and found in the fresh produce aisle, Lil Snappers come seasonally in a wide array of fruit varieties, including organics, grown by a sixth-generation family farming operation, Stemilt Growers. Options range from popular apples such as Gala, Pink Lady and Granny Smith, to delicious Bartlett pears, Bosc pears and more.

Try out these recipes for pint-sized snackers, and find quick and easy recipe ideas at lilsnappers.com.

Crab Critter

• 1          Lil Snappers apple
• 1          mini marshmallow

1. Cut apple in half lengthwise and remove stem. Remove core from one apple half.
2. Slice apple half without core into 8 wedges to serve as critter’s legs.
3. Set aside second apple half, which will serve as critter’s body.
4. Take two legs and make simple zig-zag cuts into flesh to create “claw-like” shape.
5. On a plate, arrange critter’s legs, fanning them out, then place claws in front of legs and reserved apple half on top for the head.
6. Cut mini marshmallow in half. Gooey side of each will easily stick to critter’s head to serve as eyes.

Little Mouse

• 1          Lil Snappers pear
• 1          slice orange rind
• 1          marshmallow
• 1          grape
• 2          toothpicks

1. Cut pear in half lengthwise. On plate, lay pear cut-side down. Using peeler, slice 3 inches of rind from orange. Trim sides to result in long, thin rectangle. Coil length of rind around finger and hold to set shape.
2. Cut one slice from end of marshmallow then cut that round in half to create two half-moon shapes. Gooey edge of each half-moon will stick to top of pear half to serve as critter’s ears.
3. Break toothpick in half and place picks in location for critter’s eyes, leaving about 1/4 inch sticking out from fruit.
4. Slice ends off of one grape and place domes over toothpicks to serve as eyes.
5. Using toothpick, make hole in back end of critter to place tail. Stick end of coiled orange rind into hole using toothpick to wedge rind into fruit. Reshape coil, as needed.

Note: Remember to remove toothpicks before nibbling.

Source: Stemilt Growers

(Family Features) Most parents know the first few weeks of school season and new daily routines can be hectic. From stocking up on school supplies to finishing up homework, there's few unused minutes in the day.

One thing that's particularly easy to forget in the mad dash to catch the bus or make it to morning drop-off is a well-balanced, protein-packed breakfast. According to a No Kid Hungry study, when students have a balanced breakfast in the morning, they are more likely to attend school and perform better on standardized tests.

Start the school year off right by giving your kids a breakfast they'll love that also provides the protein they need to kick-start their day. Recipes like Simple Ham and Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches or Baked Eggs in Avocado can be ready in minutes and provide fuel long past the first morning school bell.

As a simple time-saver, Smithfield offers pre-diced, cubed and sliced ham that can make breakfast a breeze any day of the week. Incorporate it into a simple breakfast sandwich for a protein boost you can enjoy on-the-go. Served crispy or chewy depending on your preference, Thick Cut Bacon also puts a savory spin on nearly any breakfast plate, whether paired with eggs and avocado or a simple side of toast.

For more information and breakfast ideas, visit smithfield.com.

Simple Ham and Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches

Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

• 8 frozen prepared waffles, toasted
• 8 ounces Smithfield Anytime Favorites Quarter Boneless Sliced Ham, any flavor
• 4 large eggs
• 4 slices cheddar or American cheese
• maple syrup (optional)

1. Prepare waffles according to package directions; keep warm.
2. In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook ham slices until lightly browned, about 30 seconds per side; keep warm. In same skillet over medium heat, fry eggs until desired doneness.
3. Lay out four waffles and top each with sliced cheese, ham and fried egg, topping with remaining waffles to finish. Serve warm with maple syrup, if desired.

Tip: Try spreading fruit jam on your sandwich for a change of pace.

Baked Eggs in Avocado

Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 large avocados
• 6 eggs
• 4 strips Smithfield Thick Cut Bacon, diced and cooked until crispy
• 1 cup blue cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1. Heat oven to 450 F. Spray baking sheet or glass baking pan with cooking spray. Cut avocados in half. Scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of avocado to create well for eggs. Place avocados flesh-side up on prepared baking sheet or glass pan.
2. Gently crack one egg in each avocado well, making sure to keep yolk intact. Bake 10 minutes, or until eggs reach desired temperature. Remove.
3. Top with bacon pieces, blue cheese and cilantro.

Source: Smithfield