Amy Houts Blog

Spooky Halloween Dirt Cups Treats

9/24/2014

Avery Jane crushes cookies to sprinkle on the pudding.

Nine year old Avery Jane, my friend's niece, enjoys helping in the kitchen. She measures ingredients, pours them into a bowl, stirs, and much more. When children help to cook and bake, keep their age and ability in mind. Begin with a quick and easy recipe like this Halloween dessert.

Use Jello™ pudding cups, instant or cooked pudding from a box, or homemade pudding. Two types of cookies are needed, one for the "dirt" and one for the headstone. Finally, add the candy bones to this spooky treat!

Halloween Dirt Cups Treats Recipe

Jell-O™ Chocolate Pudding Cups
Oreo™ Cookies (crushed)
Peppridge Farm Milano Cookies (or other oval shaped cookie)
Black frosting pen
Candy Bones embellishments

To prepare:
Open the Jell-O Pudding cup and cover with crushed Oreo cookies to create the “dirt” on top of the pudding. Then, take a Milano cookie and trace an outline with the frosting pen around the outside of the cookie. Then write the letters R.I.P (or anything you like) on the cookie tombstone. Push the cookie in to the pudding, just far enough to ensure it stands up straight. Sprinkle on some candy bone embellishments. I found mine at Joann Fabrics in the cake section, but we’ll start seeing more Halloween themed candy in stores soon.
A big THANK YOU to Kristy Smith for giving permission to use her photo and recipe from Pinterest!

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How Children Learn Good Manners

9/18/2014

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Manners are learned through play.

"Would you like some tea?”
“May I have a turn on the swing?”
“Thank you!”

Hearing these polite phrases is an unexpected delight, rather than a rule. What is desperately needed today is the idea of treating others with care and consideration. At the very least, we need to teach children “civility,” which is the bare minimum of good manners. Being polite takes civility a step further, implying polished manners and thoughtfulness.

In today’s society, there is a lack of good manners. Often people don’t seem to care about how they treat others in what they say or do. But is politeness important when there are deeper problems: war, abuse, disease, hunger?

Why Teach Children Civility?

Civility is not a list of outdated rules for people to follow. Civility is a way of treating people. Children need to learn rules that will help them in their everyday life. There are rules in each household, in school, and in society that people need to live by. Learning how to be civil will help children in typical social situations, such as meeting new people, eating in a restaurant, going to a birthday party. Learning social manners and rules can help children feel more comfortable in these situations -- just as adults feel more comfortable in a situation where they know what to say, what to do, and how to act.

When a child asks, “May I have a turn on the swing?” not only will he very likely get a turn, he might also make a new friend. When a child asks, “Could I please have one of your cookies?” she is taking a risk. The answer could be, “Yes!” or “No!” Good manners involves risks that are worth taking. When a child gets a cookie or a turn on the swing and responds with a “Thank you,” other children will appreciate her attitude -- and learn that politeness has its own rewards.

Hopefully, teaching you child good manners will go beyond the superficial act of saying and doing the right thing, and also teach the caring attitude that makes manners come naturally. In many cultures all over the world, there is a saying similar to the “Golden Rule:” Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It simply means, treat other people as you would want to be treated. This is the basis for civility. Good manners makes life more pleasant for everyone involved.

Different Setting, Different Rules

Being civil relates to so many aspects of everyday life: home and family, meals, parties, introductions, invitations, guests. Your child’s world consists of home and community.
Your child learns that different behaviors may apply in different situations. At home your child can help pick up his toys after he plays. At the grocery store, he might help pick up a box of cereal that has fallen off the shelf. At home your child might have a special teddy bear she doesn’t want to share with anyone. At daycare, all the toys are for sharing. When at home, your child might talk about the TV show you are watching, but at the movie theater, she will have to wait until the movie is over, or whisper quietly so she does not disturb the other people in the theater. When riding in the car, your child should stay seat belted in his car seat, but on a train, all the seats might be taken so she might have to stand or give his seat to an elderly person.

Different settings call for different rules. It’s a lot to learn. Before you go to a restaurant with your child, you might tell him what to expect. “We all have to sit quietly while we are waiting for our food.” “We all have to wait until we are finished eating before getting up from the table.” These expectations are very different from what is expected at home where the food maybe on the table when he sits down for supper and where he can get up and play when he is finished eating.

How Children Learn Good Manners

Children learn good manners in much the same way they learn to do everything: by listening, watching, playing, and modeling their behavior after their parents and caregivers. Children need to be treated with respect and good manners by the adults who take care of them.

Children very much want to please the adults they love. But manners do not come naturally. Manners need to be taught. Children are egocentric, meaning that they have trouble seeing a situation from another person’s viewpoint. Sometimes it might not feel good to share or say, “I’m sorry.” It’s best not to force your child into being polite because then while the outward actions will show correct behavior, the heart will be in the wrong place. Instead, if there is a special toy belonging to your child and she is not ready to share it, ask her to help her friend find one of her other toys to play with. If your child is not ready to say, “I’m sorry,” don’t force her. It will embarrass all the people involved. You can say, “I’m sorry,” for her.

Children are naturally curious. They might ask a question in front of someone that is not polite. For example, pointing to a pregnant woman, a child might say loudly, “Why does she have a big tummy?” The situation can be uncomfortable for you. You can apologize on behalf of your child. Children don’t always know when they are being rude. “Our job as parents is to teach children acceptable ways of expressing themselves,” points out Nancy Samalin, best-selling author of parenting books.
If you treat your child politely, it is more likely he will treat you and other people politely. If you knock on his bedroom door before entering, if you don’t scold him in front of his friends, if you show others you care about him, mostly like he will reflect your good attitude and good manners.

Amy Houts is the author of over 60 books for children and four cookbooks including, Mealtime Magic: Delicious Dinners in Half the Time, Cooking Around The Country With Kids: USA Regional Recipes And Fun Activities, and the companion cookbook, Cooking Around The Calendar With Kids: Holiday And Seasonal Food & Fun. See more about Amy and her books at her website.

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Quick & Easy Double-Chocolate Cookie Bars

9/11/2014

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Take out of the oven when the marshmallows are puffed and the chips are melted.

I like baking homemade desserts for special occasions, but favor quick & easy for everyday treats. This six-ingredient, decadent, chocolate cookie bar uses a devil's food cake mix for the base, plus three toppings to create a rocky-road sensation. Perfect for the cooler weather predicted this weekend (in the 30s tomorrow night!). A chocolate lovers delight!

Double-Chocolate Cookie Bars

1 (16.5-oz.) package Devil’s Food Cake Mix
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
3 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup mini-chocolate chips
1 cup pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-2-inch pan. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter or margarine, and egg until well blended. (It won’t hold together like a dough, but will bake into a cookie crust.) Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pecans. Bake 2 – 4 minutes more or until marshmallows start to expand. Cool and cut into bars--if you can wait--at least a few minutes! For easier cutting once cool, set the pan in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until chocolate chips are set. Yield: 16 squares or 32 bars.

The bars cut better when cooled, but who can wait?!

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You-Can-Do-It Pie Crust with Step-by-Step Photos

9/3/2014

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For flavor, I like butter or margarine better than shortening. For a two-crust pie, use 2 cups flour, 2/3 cup cold butter or margarine, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Use a pastry blender to combine butter, flour, and salt.

Blend until butter coats flour and starts clumping.

Pie dough pulls away from sides of bowl.

Use a fork to gradually mix in about 1/3 cup cold water.

Gather dough into a ball and wrap in waxed paper. Place in freezer for 15 minutes or refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight.

Cut dough in half and place on a floured pastry mat or cloth.

Roll and shape dough in a circle. I use a French rolling pin, which is one long piece of wood without separate handles.

Use the side of your hand to score the dough.

Roll to 9 inches or the size you need for your pie plate. I turn the dough over to distribute the flour evenly and make sure the dough doesn't stick. Keep a light touch.

Fold in half and then in half again.

Pick up folded dough, place in pie plate and unfold.

Fit dough into pie plate. Do not stretch.

Add desired filling. I used 2 cups fresh tart cherries and 2 cups (defrosted and drained) frozen, sliced peaches, 2/3 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.