The JumpStart Blog

If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.

Last time, we made ants, mice, and spiders. Now, it’s time for even more fun, creative recipes that you and your child can make together!

Bunny Salad

What you need:

• 2 large lettuce leaves
• 4 raisins
• 2 red hot candies
• 4 slivered almonds
• 1 chilled pear
• 2 Tbsp. of cottage cheese

Place the piece of lettuce on a plate to garnish.  Cut the pear in half and set it upside down on top of the lettuce.  Use the narrow end of the pear as the bunny’s face.  Make two slits for eyes and stick the two raisins into these slits.  Cut another slit to make a nose and put one red hot candy into this hole.  Stick two blanched almonds into two small slits on the top of the head and make the ears stand straight up.  Take one Tbsp. of cottage cheese and form it into a ball.  Put this ball at the end of the body to construct a cute cotton-tail.  Repeat on another plate for the other half of the pear.

Makes 2 servings.

Pigs in Blankets

What you need:

• 1- 8oz. can of refrigerated crescent rolls
• 4 hot dogs (cut in half crosswise – NOT lengthwise)
• 4 slices of American cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the hot dogs in half crosswise, creating eight pieces.  Partially cut each piece in half lengthwise. Cut each slice of cheese in half, making eight halves.  Tuck one cheese slice half into each of the hot dog halves. Unwrap the crescent rolls and roll one dog up neatly in each triangle. Place all the covered dogs on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ketchup, mustard, or even relish and onions.

Makes 8 servings.

No-Bake Snakes

What you need:

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 tsp. group cinnamon
• Shredded coconut or finely chopped nuts

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and peanut butter over low heat and stir with a wooden spoon.  Remove from heat and stir in the honey and the vanilla.  Have your child stir in the oats, toasted wheat germ, dry milk powder, cocoa powder, and cinnamon until it is thoroughly mixed.  You and your child should now roll the mixture into ropes about ½ inch thick and as long as you’d like.  Spread the coconut or chopped nuts on a piece of waxed paper and roll the snakes in it until coated.  Chill in the refrigerator until firm.

Makes about 72 inches of snakes.

Edible Play Dough

What you need:

• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1-1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1-1/4 cups powdered milk

Mix all ingredients to get a consistency for easy molding.  This recipe is great for your child to explore their creativity and create their own crazy critters, and to eat them when they’re finished!  You can also use raisins, M&M’s, cereal or any other candy to create eyes, noses, spots, etc.  Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

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