What child doesn’t grow up with Dr. Seuss books? We have quite a few of them lying around the house. The kids love the silly characters and the rhymes. The Dr. Seuss inspired recipes and activities that I’m about to share with you have been a great hit in our house. Of course the famous green eggs and ham are included, but there are also quite a few other snack and meal ideas. Create a fun Dr. Seuss inspired afternoon with some of these recipes and of course don’t forget to read a few of the books with your kids. (If you don’t own any, enjoy a trip to your local library.)

Green Eggs and Ham
This has to be the most famous Dr. Seuss inspired dish. Scramble a few eggs, add a couple of drops of blue food coloring to the mixture and cook as usual. You can serve a warmed up slice of ham with it, and if you want to go all out, brush the ham with a little green food coloring.
My kids love either biscuits, or mashed potatoes with this dish. Add a little food coloring (either green, or a complimentary color like red) to the biscuit dough or the finished mashed potatoes for even more fun.

Cat in The Hat Snack
Make the Cat’s Hat for a fun snack. All you need is a few Ritz crackers, gummy lifesavers (preferably in white/clear and red) and a little vanilla frosting. Put the Ritz cracker on a plate. Use a little bit of vanilla frosting to glue the first lifesaver on the cracker. “Glue” more lifesavers on top of the first one alternating between red and white.
These snacks are so cute; you may want to take a picture of your child’s creation before it is devoured.

Wiggly Fish
This snack was inspired by “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”. Prepare several different colors of Jello according to package directions and pour each flavor into a shallow pan. Use a fish shaped cookie cutter to cut the Jello into fish shapes. (If you don’t have a fish shaped cookie cutter you could also just cut fish shapes with a knife.) You can also add small pieces of fruit to the Jello mixture before it cools. This is a great way to sneak an extra serving of fruit into your child’s diet.

Pink Ink for The Yink
The Yink in “One Fish, Two Fish” love to drink pink ink. Make your own version by combining a few strawberries (either fresh, or frozen and thawed) and some milk in a blender. Add a few drops of red food coloring if the “ink” isn’t pink enough.

A Fruity Hat For The Cat
How about this for a fun Sunday breakfast? Whip up a batch of silver dollar pancakes and cut up some fresh strawberries. Grab some whipped cream and let the kids assemble the Cat’s hat by stacking pancakes, and strawberries on top of each other using the whipped cream as “glue”.
Enjoy a few of these Dr. Seuss recipes and activities with your family, or invite a few neighbor kids over for a Dr. Seuss party. Either way they are a lot of fun and a great way to bring some of the Seuss stories to life.

Want more family friendly recipes and crafts ideas? Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info for a sample weekly menu plan your entire family will love and www.kinderinfo.com for tons of craft and activity ideas that are sure to keep your little ones entertained.

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by Nicole Dean

If the last few months of cooking big meals for your family has created a refrigerator full of leftovers, you are not alone. Figuring out how to reintroduce the same old dishes to your family in new and interesting ways is a challenge. You don’t want to bore your family by serving them the same plate over and over again, but you don’t want to waste food either.

How can you create a meal that isn’t a repeat of the same old plate? The trick to creating a new dish is to think about what ingredients you are working with, not just the finished dish.

1) Old Fashioned Potato Soup

Mashed potatoes are a good basis for most creamy soups. In your big soup pot, brown up some diced bacon, about three or four strips. Then, in the same pot, add some cut up celery and carrots, as much as you like. Once they are soft, add diced onion. When the onion is soft, add 1 tbsp. oil, 1 tbsp. flour, and 1 1/2 cups milk and stir until thick. Now add your potatoes and bacon pieces and cook very slowly until nice and warm. This is a simple and filling meal with a little crusty bread alongside.

2) Turkey And Gravy Sloppy Joe’s

Break up some leftover turkey either with a fork or dice with a knife. You can use both white and dark meat. Take out a big skillet and cook a couple slices of bacon, diced up. In the same pan, add diced onion and garlic. Add the turkey pieces and put leftover gravy over until the turkey is covered. Add a little of your favorite barbeque sauce or grilling flavor, but just enough to give the gravy its barbeque flavor. Simmer slowly and serve over buns or a leftover dinner roll.

3) Turkey Curry Cauliflower Soup

In your food processor, pulse leftover cooked cauliflower until nice and smooth, adding a bit of milk as you go. Add about two teaspoons of curry, more or less to taste. In a soup pot, saute some diced carrots and onion in a bit of oil. Then pour the smooth cauliflower in soup pot. Cut up leftover turkey and add to pot. Let soup simmer until nice and cooked through and hot.

4) Green Bean Tomato Cheese Soup

The classic green bean casserole already has cream of mushroom soup and cheese in the ingredients so it’s perfect for a cheesy soup. Green beans with some nice diced tomatoes will perk this soup up a bit. Start with a big soup pot and saute a bunch of nice big chunks of celery. Then add some big diced pieces of onion cooking until transparent. Add a minced clove or two of garlic. Pour in one can of fire roasted diced tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes with a sprinkle of any good grill seasoning. Add your leftover green bean casserole a little at a time, stirring and heating through until you get the right soup consistency. Add a little chicken broth if you need to thin out the soup. Simmer until all the flavors are nice and savory together.

5) Breakfast Stuffing Cups

Coat your muffin cups with non-stick spray or butter. Put stuffing in cup, working up the sides to form a dish for an egg. Crack one fresh egg in each stuffing cup and top with shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, just until the egg is cooked and cheese is all melted. When done cooking, remove and let the muffin tin cool for a minute or two before removing the egg cup.

There are many more ways to create a new meal out of holiday leftover dishes. Rethink the leftovers you have on hand, keeping in mind the ingredients that are in that particular dish. Then you’ll be able to add just a few ingredients to come up with a new and unique meal.

Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane mom and owner of ShowMomtheMoney.com – a fun and informative resource to help moms achieve success working from home. She invites you to learn more ways to save money in her Frugal Cooking Ideas section. Be sure to sign up for her free tutorial for work at home moms.

Do you identify with this tradition? It is Christmas Eve morning and there’s a lot to do! You load everyone into the family van, and begin the search for the perfect tree. Your youngest child gets to choose the tree. It’s tradition. The tree is loaded onto the top of the van. On the way home, the kids “ooh” and “ah” as you drive by houses decorated with Santa Clauses and reindeer, while snowmen glisten on the front lawns.

Once home, all of the decorations are unpacked that have been made or collected over the years – memories of Christmas past. It’s time to prepare the evening meal. Christmas carols are playing on the radio and everyone seems to be singing or humming along. The Christmas spirit is alive and well. What are you having for dinner? Turkey, ham, fish or the traditional goose? Or, perhaps antipasto followed by pasta with crab sauce. How about dessert? Will it be plum pudding, homemade cookies, or Italian pastries? Odds are that you’ve prepared the same dinner for years and look forward to enjoying it again this year.

With the food in the oven, everyone gathers together to trim the tree. The children are adding their favorite ornaments to the bottom half of the tree, while mom and dad trim the top. After the tree is decorated everyone counts to three and then dad plugs it in. The lights sparkle in brilliant colors. The children’s faces light up at the sight of it all.

It’s time for dinner and the family comes to gather around the table, which has been beautifully decorated. Afterwards, dad reads Clement Clark Moore’s Twas the Night Before Christmas, as mom and the kids sit around the fireplace. Sleep-eyed children are put to bed, but not before putting out milk and cookies for Santa – another tradition.

As the kids fall asleep, mom and dad have one more tradition left. The rest of the night is spent wrapping presents and assembling bicycles. It’s about two in the morning, and the last of the presents are put under the tree. It’s time to bid Christmas Eve a good night.

Christmas Eve traditions haven’t changed much over time. Whether you live in an apartment or own a home, treasure the traditions handed down by your parents and grandparents. For one day out of the year we all become children again, taking in the wonder and beauty that is Christmas. More importantly, however, it’s all about family.

Here are some money-saving ideas for you to consider.

Bake a large batch of your favorite cookies. Set the cookies on a lovely plate, and use color cellophane to cover the entire package. Tie the cellophane at the top, using ribbon, and make a large bow. Homemade cookies are a great present anyone would enjoy, and the cost to you is minimal.

If you enjoy making jam, why not give this as a Christmas gift? Buy a small wicker basket, and fill the basket with jars of homemade jam. Decorate the jars with bows or ribbon. Put the jars in the basket and either decorate the basket with ribbon, or cover the basket with color cellophane and tie the cellophane at the top with ribbon. You may choose to add a small box of special crackers as well.

Candles are a great gift for anyone, and are inexpensive as well. Purchase about a dozen small scented candles and one or two candle holders. Put the candles and candle holders in a small basket. Cover the basket with colored cellophane, and tie the package at the top with different color ribbons.

With the winter approaching, a hat and glove set is also a popular gift. These sets come in a variety of colors, fabrics, and styles. Hat and glove sets are sure to be a welcomed gift by your friends or family members, and are inexpensive as well.

Why not purchase picture frames? For instance, buy two each of a 3-1/2 by 5 inch; 4×5 inch and 5×5 inch picture frames. Decorate them with a bow at the top center of the frame, or in the center of the frame.

Here is another inexpensive idea. Take a Christmas stocking and stuff it will incidentals that most people need, but never buy. For example, nail files; nail polish remover; q-tips; cotton balls; samples of hair shampoo; conditioner; body lotion; shower caps; shower gel; hand creams, etc.

Christmas isn’t about expensive gift giving. It is the thought behind the gift that counts.

Here are some fun examples.

For the patriotic person, a white tree with red and blue Christmas ornaments. Add a red, white and blue flag blanket as a tree skirt, and at the top of the tree you may want to place a small flag or perhaps an eagle.

An Elvis fan who has a collection of his 45′s may want to trim the tree by putting white ribbons through the center of the 45′s and hang them on the branches. Surely, an Elvis fan would have a doll or some other Elvis memorabilia to place on the top of the tree. Of course, the tree would have to be “blue.” As for the tree skirt, try to find a blanket or fabric which features a single guitar or several guitars.

Another great idea is to have a 1940′s Christmas tree. Trim the tree with old pictures from mom and dad’s era; old 45′s of their favorite songs; shoe ornaments reflecting that time; vintage car ornaments; and jewelry as well. For a tree skirt, you can use a lace table cloth. Atop the tree, a framed 5×7 picture of mom and dad’s favorite band leader or singer would be perfect. Now you’re really rockin’ around the Christmas tree.

There are many other unique Christmas ideas.

A tree covered with white turtledoves; a tree filled with toys; a white tree adorned with gold garland and gold balls; a blue tree with silver garland and no ornaments; a musical tree with instruments of every kind; an angel tree; a candle tree as in days of old; a Muppet tree with every character from the television series; or a stuffed animal tree filled with an array of all types of small critters.

You could change your tree each year. One year the tree could be all one color; another year all toys; and still another year all Hummel ornaments. Theme trees allow you to express your creativity in many different ways.

You can still have traditional trees in your home, either in the living room or family room. However, adding a fun theme tree can be the showcase in your front window. Young or old, you’ll never run out of ideas to make your Christmas, and your Christmas tree, special for the entire family.

Ingredients:

1 5-pound bag red potatoes, washed and cubed
1 16-ounce container sour cream
1 stick salted butter
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup freshly ground parsley
3-4 green onion stalks, sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Clean potatoes; cut out any brown spots. Cube or slice into quarters. Boil potatoes until tender; drain. Mash potatoes with hand masher or electric mixer. Add all other ingredients and mix until very creamy. If lumps are still present, or consistency is too thick, add more milk. Serve hot with butter and salt.

Here are some items you will need. Buy a Santa coloring book and a package of colored construction paper. Cut the construction paper to the size of the cards your family wishes to make. Get out the crayons, magic markers of all colors, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, ribbons, glue or glue stick, sparkles, red, black and green fabrics, and small candy canes. Your family is ready to begin making unique Christmas cards.

Make Christmas tree cards by drawing several trees on green construction paper. Cut the trees out. Glue fabric and candy to the cards for a beautiful visual effect.

Draw a house with Santa climbing down the chimney. The card can be decorated with cotton balls for Santa’s hat and beard with a line of trees cut from construction paper for the front of the house. Use colored markers to add ornaments to the branches of the trees. Sprinkle glitter on the ornaments, as well as the tree, to resemble snow.

A picture of a full-sized Santa could be cut out of a coloring book, and pasted to the front of a card. After it is colored in with crayons, add fabric to enhance the picture. Make a green sack out of material and place it over Santa’s shoulder; use black material to glue onto Santa’s boots; use the red material to glue onto Santa’s hat. You can adorn the card with small candy canes.

Draw a reindeer and sleigh card. Instead of drawing antlers, take some brown pipe cleaners, arrange the brown pipe cleaners into antlers and glue the pipe cleaners to the top of the reindeer’s head. If the coloring book has a picture of the sleigh, cut the sleigh out of the book; color the sleigh using crayons; and paste the sleigh in front of the reindeer.

Once the fronts of the cards are decorated, your family can write a personal Christmas message inside the card, with everyone signing their names using colored crayons or markers. Or, to really make the card special, insert a family photograph and sign all your names.

Making personalized Christmas cards is probably one of the most popular craft ideas for the entire family. While the kids are on Christmas vacation, take a day to sit around your kitchen or dining room table and create memorable Christmas cards.

24 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 to 4 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons basil pesto
1 1/2 tablespoon grated white onion
3 drops medium to hot red pepper sauce
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 1/2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and cheddar together. Blend in pesto, onion and pepper sauce. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours. Remove and work into desired shape (balls, stars, Christmas trees). Roll cheese mixture in parsley, almonds and red peppers. Serve with an assortment of holiday crackers. Makes enough for two large cheese balls, trees or a variety of stars.

Love to make gingerbread cookies? Why not put the ingredients in a jar; write the recipe on red construction paper; cut the construction paper to the circumference of the jar; and wrap the construction paper around the front of the jar with white ribbon. Place a green bow on top of the lid of the jar.

Brownies are a wonderful gift anytime of year, but especially during Christmas. Find your favorite brownie recipe and put the ingredients into a jar. Type up the recipe, roll it up, and place the rolled recipe into jar along with the ingredients. Wrap the jar in color cellophane, and tie the cellophane with red ribbon.

Have you seen those spice green and red candies? There are sold in most supermarkets. This would make a perfect Christmas gift in a jar.

Jelly beans in a jar are another traditional Christmas gift. Easy, fun, delicious, and low in calories as well.

M&M’s in a jar is another wonderful Christmas treat. Buy a bag of red and green M&M’s, either plain or with nuts, and fill up a jar as a Christmas gift which anyone would love to receive.

A traditional Christmas gift in a jar is the colorful hard candies, such as peppermint sticks; Christmas hard candies with filling; red and white mint swirl candies.

For chocolate lovers, why not put chocolate pretzels in a jar. Chocolate pretzels come in packages, and are available in your local supermarket. What a sweet treat this gift would make.

How about theme gifts in a jar? Examples are: Chocolate golf balls; chocolate baseballs; chocolate footballs; chocolate soccer balls. Any of these fun theme gifts would be a hit with anyone who enjoys these sports.

No matter what you choose; traditional; off-beat; baked or bought, making easy Christmas gifts in a jar is fun and allows you to be as creative as you want to be. Gifts in a jar can be an inexpensive treat to give to your colleagues at work; your friends, and even your family members.

The best part is you can go to your supermarket or shopping club and stock up on your favorite candies and chocolates, to make as many jars of treats as you need. Happy shopping.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, well sifted
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cup raisins
1/2 pound candied citron, chopped
1/4 pound almonds, blanched and sliced thin
3/4 cup maraschino cherries green and red blend, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
lemon zest
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Rinse and dry raisins; cut into small pieces. Slice cherries into small pieces; combine all fruit and nuts in a bowl. Add 1/2 cup flour and coat all fruit. Set aside. Grease two cake pans; line with brown paper and grease again. Mix butter, vanilla and almond extract with lemon zest. Slowing add sugar; blend until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, blending well. Sift remaining dry ingredients together and add to the butter blend. Add fruit mixture. Blend until well combined; add lemon juice. Divide batter between the two pans. Bake for 90 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve with fresh whipped cream.