Finger Paint

Finger Paint with soap suds.
Combine 1/2 cup dry detergent or
a capfull of liquid soap, and
2 tablespoons liquid starch.
Beat with an egg beater until thick.
Add food coloring to make
different colored paints.
Another great messy craft for children.

Steak and Potato Soup

A great recipe for the winter time. When the kids come
in from playing in the snow or the husband comes home
from work, warm them with a great soup. They will
appreciate it even though they might not tell you.

1 pound boneless round steak
1 lb small red potatoes, cut 1/4 inch slices (4 cups)
2 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 carrots chopped (1cup)
1 medium onion chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbls beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp salt, pepper
1/2 cup God metal all purpose flour
4 cans ready to serve beef broth
1 jar sliced mushrooms undrained
1/2 cup water

1. Trim excess fat from beef. Cut into pieces.
Mix beef and remaining ingredients except water
and flour in 5 quart crock-pot slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours
or until beef and vegetables are tender.
3. Mix water and flour. Gradually stir flour mixture into
soup until blended. Cover and cook on high heat
setting about 30 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Makes 9 servings

Baker's Clay

Create a dough picture.

Mix 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup salt, water and tempera paint.

Add water until mixture is as soft as cookie dough.
Add a spoonful of tempera.
Use fingers to shape dough before sticking it on the
paper.

This is a great idea for Christmas gifts. I always loved

the homemade gifts better than the store bought ones

from my child. That way when she is older and gone

I have memorabilia to look back on.

On Rainy Days

Make raindrop "splash" pictures. Drop "blobs"

of different colors of paint on construction paper.

Place the paper outside in the rain just long enough

for the rain to barely soak the paper. Bring the paper

inside and help your child to tilt the paper from side

to side, causing wet paint to streak the paper and the

colors to mix. Carefully place the finished look on

newspaper to dry. Kids for some reason like this

kind of craft, anything to get messy I guess. My

daughter loves doing this.

Good Health Milkshake

If you are on a diet or trying to get healthier

this is a great recipe to have and taste great.

1 egg

1 banana

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons apple juice

handful of nuts

Mash the banana with a fork in a mixing bowl.

Beat the egg and add it to the banana.

Add the milk, juice, vanilla and nuts.

Mix well until frothy.

Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

Chunky Peanut Butter Balls

This another me and my child in the kitchen recipe.

They will enjoy this recipe and it's very simple and

quick to do.

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup chunky peanut butter

6 cups rice cereal

Combine all ingredients and form "chunks"

on wax paper. The more helping hands the better.

Home Made Playdough

My little girls love making play dough together. It's fun

easy and keeps them busy. This recipe is different than

the store bought kind. It leaves no residue and it's not

smelly or sticky.

Play Dough

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cup water,

1 tablespoon cooking oil

2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix and heat ingredients until a ball forms.

Ad a touch of food coloring if desired.

Home Made Paste

This is another activity that me and my daughter

enjoy doing. It saves you money and is a great

activity to do with your children.

Make your own homemade paste and enjoy

a cut-and-paste party.

You will need 1 cup water,

1/2 cup flour, a pinch of salt.

Mix water and flour together slowly in saucepan.

Add salt and bring to a boil over low heat.

Stir until thick and glossy.

Fool Proof Dark Chocolate Fudge

This is my favorite recipe. I like chocolate and fudge I would love

to have all year round.

3 cups (1 1/2 12-ounce bags) Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14-ounce) can of Eagle Brand Sweetened condensed milk (Not evaporated)

Dash Salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with sweetened condensed milk

and salt. Remove from heat, stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into

was paper lined8 or 9 inch square pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge

onto cutting board, peel off paper and cut into squares. Store loosely covered

at room temperature.