Bird's Nest Treats

Aren't these little bird's nests the cutest things ever?

They are so easy, so cute, and so fun to make. The best part is... you only need a few ingredients!



Are you ready to make some...

The first thing you want to do is melt two packages of white chocolate chips.



Once all of the chips are melted, take out about 1/2 cup and sit it off to the side. Add in about 12 ounces of pretzels to the remaining chocolate. Stir until they are all coated.



Line baking sheets (I used two) with waxed paper. Drop little pretzel nests onto the paper. Spread them out so that they are big enough to put the peep on them (about 3 inches).



Put a peep into the reserved chocolate for a little swim.



Stick it onto the bird's nest. Add a few robin's eggs to the bird's nest.



Here is the finished product! Enjoy!




Ingredients:

2 packages white chocolate chips
12 oz. pretzel sticks
peeps (20)
robin's eggs




This post is linked to:

Saturday Swap at Quit Eating Out
TMTT at Blessed with Grace
Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of Green

Super Cute Halloween Ideas!

I wanted to share some super cute Halloween treats I have seen this week! All of these pictures have a link that will take you to the website and show you exactly how to create some Halloween treats for your kids!

Jack-o'-Lantern Burgers

Taste of Home

Chocolate Dipped Spider Web Oreos

Jamie Cooks It Up!

Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Betty Crocker

Hot Dog Mummies

Family Fun

Snack-o'-Lantern Fruit Cups

Pennies on a Platter

Apple Bites and Apple Line Up

We have come to the end of apple-fest here at The Cutting Back Kitchen! I wanted to leave you with one last recipe...(which is perfect for this week)...and a re-cap of all of the past apple recipes!

Source: Taste of Home

Ingredients:
Apples
Slivered Almonds

Directions:
Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then place slivered almonds in place for teeth.

Tip:
If you aren't going to serve right away, baste the apple in orange juice to keep from browning!

Apple Line Up

Apple Dip



Crock Pot Applesauce

Apple Yogurt Parfait

Topsy Turvy Apple Pie

Microwave Baked Apples

Crock Pot Apple Oatmeal

Apple Crisp

Apple Cider Chicken

Which apple recipe was your favorite?

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at www.lifeasmom.com

Back to School Cupcakes

Ready or not it is back to school time!

What better way to get in the spirit than by making some yummy school bus cupcakes!!!

I recently invited two of my favorite kids over to make some cupcakes. We had so much fun baking the cupcakes, eating the icing, and decorating them. What can I say...it doesn't get much better than a cupcake.

Here they are showing off their creations!!!

Here is Ethan...icing the cupcakes!!!

Meanwhile, Rylee is cutting the wafer cookies to look like school buses...she couldn't let those extra pieces go to waste, now, could she?

Here is the finished product!

This would be a great project to make with your kids or you could make them yourself and surprise the kids :)

Here is what you need:

Cooled cupcake (use your favorite recipe)

Blue and green frosting

Wafer cookies

Chocolate chips

Black and white decorators gel (I just used regular icing)

Red mini M&M's (Again, I just used red icing)

Instructions:

Frost each cupcake...half green and half blue.

Cut a small notch on the top of the wafer cookie...so it resemble a bus. You may also need to cut some off of the end so it fits on the cupcake.

Set the cookie on the cupcake. (Make sure the top of the bus is on the blue sky...)

Add two chocolate chips for the wheels.

Use the black and white decorators gel or icing for the details on the bus. Then use the red M&M's or red icing to make the stop sign on the bus!

Now you have one tasty, frugal treat that the whole family will love!!!!

(If you are using black and white icing instead of decorators gel...put the icing in a Ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the end. Then you can pipe it on the cupcakes pretty easily. Of course if you have piping bags use those, but I know most people don't)

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at www.lifeasmom.com

Easter Story Cookies

Today I have something really cool to share with you all! My friend, Misty, recently shared with me this Easter cookie idea that she read about on Women Living Well. Since we don't have any children yet (insert *sigh* from our parents), she offered to make them. Good thing too, because I don't think Daniel was looking forward to posing as a child to help with this blog venture.

Misty and the kids tried them out and even sent me a few pictures of the end result...aren't they too cute? The kids, I mean! She has two other cute kids, but they didn't make it into the pictures! She probably couldn't slow them down long enough to get one!

Ethan showing off his cookie!

The report was good! The kids gobbled up all the cookies...none were left for the parents to try!

Rylee and her hollow cookie!
Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup of sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (this is important to do before you start mixing)


Place pecans in a zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3


Let the children smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11


Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27


So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3


Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27: 57-60


Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27: 65-66


GO TO BED!! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22


On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain that on the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9

This post is linked to:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed With Grace
Tuesday’s at the Table @ All The Small Stuff

Rice Krispie Hearts

I wanted to post a recipe that kids would have fun making for Valentine's Day! These were so simple and fun to make. They are just regular rice krispie treats cut into hearts for the upcoming

"holiday".

After cutting the hearts out you will have some leftover scraps, but I am sure you will find somewhere to put them (at least I did)! I iced my treats with chocolate, but the possibilities are endless... You could add red food coloring to the treats, top with sprinkles, etc.

Who knew something so simple could be so good!

Here is the recipe:

3 tablespoons butter

1 package marshmallows (10 oz.)

6 cups Rice Krispies

In a microwave safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on high for 3 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add cereal. Spread into a greased 9x13 pan. After about an hour of so cut with heart cookie cutters.