Kids in the Kitchen

Since it's sooooo cold outside, we decided to come straight back home after taking Coralyn to school this morning.

We have a Cookie Exchange tomorrow with our Moms Club, so we set to work on making our goodies to take.  First up were Christmas Monster Cookies.  As soon as those were done, we whipped up some Fudgy Brownies topped with peppermint.



Of course, the girls thought licking the bowl was the best part!



Since baking 2 delicious treats wasn't enough fun, we drew out a slip from our Advent Jar.  We got to make Gingerbread Playdough.



Super fast and sooooo easy!

Maybe now that the girls are playing with their new playdough, I will have enough time to finish MY breakfast before they girls ask me to make them lunch.

I am not going to lie and say this morning was all rainbows and unicorns.  We didn't have visions of sugarplums either.  We had some stressful moments, but we had fun (and managed to squeeze in Kellah's school work while the cookies were in the oven).

This Christmas season, I am trying REALLY hard to keep the focus on JESUS.  I want the girls to remember we are celebrating HIM.  I want them to understand that it truly is better to give than to receive.

I actually had to make up another Advent Jar activity since almost all the rest deal with taking cookies to the Police Station, dropping cards off at a Nursing Home, or making and delivering goodies to the neighbors.  I want Coralyn to get in on those activities.

We did have a few other fun activities left, like getting a treat at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.  However, I didn't want to head outside in the cold.  Not even a donut could entice me to brace the freezing temperatures and get everyone bundled up.  

Instead, we stayed home and made our own fun!

And I called it, I haven't even finished this post yet and the girls are asking for a snack!!!  Before I take care of their "famished" tummies, here's the easy peasy recipe for the Gingerbread Playdough...

PUT ALL THE INGREDIENTS IN A SAUCEPAN.

1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup Salt
2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 Cup Water
1 1/2 to 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 to 2 tsp Cinnamon
1 to 2 tsp Cloves
1 to 2 tsp Nutmeg
1 to 2 tsp Ginger

Stir everything together until it resembles lumpy cake batter.
Keep stirring over medium heat until the dough forms a "clump."
Remove from heat.
Knead on the counter - you may need to sprinkle with just a little flour.

Let cool and then let your kiddos roll, cut, create, and run wild with their imaginations!
Hope your family enjoys the playdough as much as we will throughout the rest of the holidays!