○YuMmY pLaY-DoUgH○

Pumpkin Spice Playdough:
2 cups water

orange food coloring (or combine yellow and red)

2 TBSP vegetable oil

1 cup salt

4 tsp. cream of tartar

3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 cups flour

Combine all ingredients in large pan on stove. Over medium heat, stir until most of the lumps disappear and it thickens up to a dough-like consistency. Put on countertop and knead like bread dough. Store in a air-tight container.

Chocolate Playdough:

Mix together:

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

Make sure you combine these ingredients until they are thoroughly mixed together. Then add 1 1/2 T. cooking oil and 1 cup boiling water. Mix and knead until you have a nice smooth ball of dough.

--yummy SUMMERTIME treats--

I have seen this idea on numerous blogs so we thought we would give it a try...

All you need is a melon - cantaloupe, honeydew or a watermelon

and a package of Jello.

Examples --

Raspberry, Cherry or Strawberry for the cantaloupe

Lime for the honeydew

or we are going to do Watermelon flavor for the watermelon;)

Cut in half and scoop out the middles to whatever thickness you want.

Place upside down to on paper towel to dry.

Make jello according to the Jello Jigglers recipe and pour into fruit.

We placed ours in a bowl to make it stand flat because our cantaloupe wasn't that round on the bottom.

Put in fridge till Jello is set up, cut and enjoy!!!!

My kids thought it was so fun and YUMMY!!

Another FUN and refreshing treat this summer is homemade SLUSHIES --

I found this recipe over at The Idea Room!!

You need: Large resealable plastic bag, small resealable plastic bag, rock salt, ice and a drink.For a drink you can use orange juice, lemonade or Kool aid.  We used Root Beer -- mmmm!!

Place the ice (about 2 cups) in the large bag.

Add rock salt ( about 1/3 cup) to the ice.

Pour the juice in small bag a seal tightly. Put the small bag into the larger bag and seal the large bag.
Now shake the bags until the juice turns into a slushie.  Gloves helped because it's SOOO COLD!  And I suggest making it outside...our counter was covered in salt;)

Enjoy with a spoon or a straw!!

Another GREAT recipe is ICE CREAM in a bag (which we are going to try up camping)!!

ICE CREAM IN A BAG --
2 TB sugar
1 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup salt (The bigger the granules, the better.
Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine.)
Ice cubes (enough to fill each gallon-size bag about half full)
1 pint-size ziplock bag
1 gallon-size ziplock bag

1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in the pint-size bag and seal it tightly.
2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5 minutes). Feel the small bag to determine when it's done.
3. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, add mix-ins, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Easy cleanup too! Serves 1.

○Smore FUN○

For family night on Monday we made our family favorite (chocolate dipped marshmallows) and added a little twist to make THE easiest Smore's ever:)

Ingredients:

Popsicle sticks or sucker sticks

WF or Kroger brand chocolate (also called almond bark)

Jumbo Marshmallows

1 pkg Graham Crackers crushed

Melt chocolate according to pkg instructions.  Dip end of stick in chocolate and put on marshmallow.  Place on wax paper and put in freezer to harder up.  When ready, dip marshmallow in melted chocolate and roll in Graham crackers.  Place on foam block to harden.  Then enjoy!!

This is so easy and fun for kids and a GREAT, yummy snack:)

Husbands will LOVE them too...my wonderful husband gave me the idea!