Archive for the ‘kids do’ Category

Do you like April Fool’s Day?  Or hate it?

It’s always a dangerous holiday around my mother-in-law.  She is famous for her pranks… both big and small.

Here’s a few of her classics over the years:

One year she replaced our license plate cover with a very, VERY corny cover.  My husband and I drove around for a couple of weeks before we clued in that we had the world’s dorkiest saying on our car.  It was highly amusing to all of our family and friends every time we pulled up and it was still on the car.  This joke would be really funny with sports teams.  For instance I could switch my friend (who likes BYU) license plate cover with my favorite UTES cover.

We woke up one year to pink flamingos decorating our lawn.

When my husband was a teenager, she served his favorite cream filled cupcakes… except that a few of the cupcakes had cotton balls rather than cream.  My husband claims he never ate one of the cotton ball cupcakes.  RIGHT.

She had a giant sign made for a friend who had a pool and placed it in their front lawn.  Apparently they were selling summer pool memberships that year.

Last year she made a flyer stating that my very unstylish and burly brother-in-law was starting a decorating business.  She even snuck into his “Man Cave” and placed very gawdy decorations and photographed it for the flier.  Then took the decorations away before he ever knew they were there.  He clued in when he got a few phone asking about his style and his rates.

Do you have any great plans this April Fools Day?  My tricks are tame and consist of a forward dinner that only looks backward…  Starting with the Bakerella’s Meatloaf Cupcakes from a recipe I found on Tasty Kitchen.  For dessert, the Corn on the Cupcakes from Martha Stewart might be fun.

A few other tricks might be the classic trick bubble wrap under the toilet seat so it gives a good pop when someone sits down.

I also love the old sheet trick.  Tuck the top sheet under the mattress at the top.  Fold it in half and bring it back up to the top like normal.  When the family tries to get in bed, they will only fit halfway.

I better spend today thinking of a few other little tricks…  If you have a good one be sure to share.  With a trickster like my mother-in-law to live up to, I could use all the help I can get.

I said on Monday that I am really trying to focus on the little things.  One of the things I know I will remember in years to come is teaching my kids to sew, garden and cook, of course.  While I haven’t had much luck getting my son interested in sewing- yes, I’ve tried.  Cooking is another story.  Boys CAN cook.

Yesterday my son got in the kitchen to whip up a little dessert for our family.

It was just the kind of dessert a boy would love.  Because it’s a cross between a candy bar and Rice Krispie Treats.  How could you go wrong?

This recipe comes from his Auntie Jen.  He thinks his Aunties rock when it comes to chocolatey cereal desserts, actually he thinks his Aunties rock. Period.

I mentioned candy bars, right?  Well this little treat has no less than 9 bars!   Dieters beware.  It’s best to wait for candy bars to go on sale if you want to make these babies.

My son started by putting six regular-sized Milky Way bars in a medium sauce pan with a cube of butter.  I am pretending I didn’t see that so I can enjoy one later.

Over medium low heat melt the chocolate bars and butter until they are melted and combined.  It takes a long time… but he didn’t mind – he just enjoyed the anticipation.

While he is stirring, I butter a 9 x 13 inch Pyrex dish.

Pour the melted candy bar mixture over 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal.  And stir to combine.  Mom needed to jump in and help to make sure it was thoroughly mixed.

Then spread it out evenly into the pan.  He did help himself to a few bites, just to make sure it tasted OK.  It is the duty of the cook to check and make sure.

Last but not least, he spread melted milk chocolate over the top.  Usually one large Symphony bar, without the nuts is the right way to go… but we used what we had, 3 small bars with toffee and nuts, and it was delicious.  We broke up the Symphony bar and melted in the microwave for one minute.  It didn’t look melted, but once he stirred it, it was perfect.  Then drizzle over the Rice Krispie Treats and spread them out.

Let them sit for about 2 hours or so to let the chocolate set up.  If you can wait that long.

He couldn’t.

And neither could his sister.  According to her on a scale of 1 to 10 “this dessert is 100!”

Here’s the recipe:

Evil Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

• 6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
• 6 Milky Way Bars
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 Large Milk Chocolate Symphony Bar

In a medium sauce pan melt Milky Way Bars and butter until melted and combined.  In a large bowl, mix Rice Krispies and melted candy bars mixture until cereal is totally coated.  Spread into a buttered 9 x 13 inch pan.  Spread melted milk chocolate bar over the top.

Enjoy!