18 Treats for the 4th of July

The 4th of July is here, but have no fear! I have you covered for all treats Red, White and Blue! I rounded up 18 fun recipes that I thought you would love!  From kid made to downright Patriotic, this list of treats are perfect for your 4th of July party!

Patriotic Pudding Pops from We Made That
Red, White and Blue Patriotic Pops from Oh My! Creative
Red, White and Blue Layered Jello from Coffee Cups and Crayons
Patriotic Jello from We Made That
Patriotic Popcorn from Life with Moore Babies
Patriotic Dipped Pretzels from Mama Miss
Patriotic S'mores  from Club Chica Circle
4th of July Drink from We Made That
4th of July Layered Kids Drink from Artsy Mama
Berry Sparkler from Bitz n Giggles
Exploding Cookie Bars from Life with Moore Babies
Red, White and Blue Marshmallow Decorating from Stella 123
4th of July Fruit Kabobs from School Time Snippets
4th of July Homemade Gummi Candy from Mama Miss
4th of July Sugar Cookie Bars from Kids Activities Blog
Red, White and Blue Cake from Just Enza
Patriotic Mini Cheesecakes from KleinWorth & Co
Summer Velvet Parfaits from Bitz n Giggles


Which of these patriotic treats will you be making for Independence Day? Do you have a favorite festive recipe to add to this list? Tell me about it in a comment!

This easy patriotic parfait is perfect for a last minute dessert!

veggie garden sensory bin

This veggie garden sensory bin comes together so easily to give little ones a chance to play and get excited about their vegetables while working on fine motor skills.

We have a weekly routine in the summer; every Tuesday and Saturday we head to the farmers market. We buy all of the fresh food we will eat that week, plus a little extra to freeze. I love how the offerings change throughout the season. The kids love the sights, the smells and the baked goods. While they might spend most of their visit to the market pleading for cookies, they always jump in the line for our favorite farmer. Who gets to hold the basket and who gets to pick the produce? We always work it out.

Last week while we were in line for our peppers, onions and radishes, the kids were bickering about the basket and the picking job and inspiration hit. I knew right away that I was going to recreate a garden scene for their enjoyment. If they argued about who got to play first, I will never tell.

Supplies:

• Plastic box with clip lid
• One pound of dried black beans
• ½ cup of whole coffee beans
• Leaves from artificial flowers
• Assorted play food; tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, strawberries etc
• Plastic serving tongs
• Sandbox tools

Directions:

Layer the dry black beans in the box.

Add coffee beans to the mix for a fragrant experience.

Nestle the leaves into the beans (I simply removed the leaves from a few stems of
artificial flowers).

Place the fruits and vegetables in the beans and on the leaves.

Add plastic serving tongs and plastic shovels.

Invite your child to harvest the veggies, to explore the beans and to work on fine motor skills
by picking the veggies and beans up with the tools.

This was so much fun for the kids. Even too cool, 9 year old Rolf got involved and explored this veggie garden sensory bin.

This was fun to smell and touch and it gave Harp a chance to work on her fine motor skills.

When you are all finished playing, you can snap the lid on the bin and store it for playtime in the future.

You can find all of my sensory content here.
Birthday Cake Sensory Bin

The Perfect Dish for Summer Sauteed Corn and Squash

Sauteed corn and squash makes for the perfect addition to any summer meal. It is delicious enough to make a meal on its own! Made with fresh and simple ingredients, this dish comes together in a matter of moments and is going to get rave reviews from anyone that samples it!

Summer is here you guys! I have never been so happy to hit the farmers market! After a long winter with access to a sad selection of fresh veggies, to see food grown with care and pride inspired my stomach and my menu planning.

I made the easiest dish for dinner last Sunday. It was a lazy summer day. The kids had been playing outside most of the day and I turned to my farmers market finds to create dinner. This recipe is so easy you guys it makes only 3 ingredients and the prep time is minimal, so you can spend more time making summer memories.

Chefs notes:

Use real butter. Butter is something that should not be sacrificed in any kitchen. I firmly believe that using butter to cook is healthier than turning to some scientifically created food like substance. Butter- just do it guys. 

At the last moment, I tossed roughly chopped fresh parsley into the veggie mix to add a splash of green and a little extra flavor. This is optional

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Ingredients

1 yellow squash

2 ears of corn on the cob

2 tablespoons of real butter

parsley to taste (optional)

Directions

Shuck your ears of corn 

Cut the corn from the cob

Chop the squash into chunks

Heat a skillet at a a medium heat setting

Add butter

Add corn and squash

Add parsley if desired

Sautee for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently. When your squash is tender you can remove from the heat and serve.

I served this along with garlic roasted asparagus for a delicious dinner that was extremely delicious and healthy. It offered a colorful plate packed with summer veggies! This is one of the many ways we love to enjoy summer squash.

 I would love to hear how you enjoy summer squash!

This dinner was so economical. It is one of the many examples of the reality that you can eat wholesome and healthy foods even on the tightest of budgets.  I always hear people claim that it costs too much to eat healthy. Recipes like this dispel that myth. While I didn't add meat to the meal- you could easily do so if you desired.

You might also like this Easy Berry Parfait Recipe for a quick and scrumptious dessert!

How to Dye Oatmeal without Water for Sensory Play

Dyed oats are perfect for sensory bins! You won't believe how easy it is to dye them without any water!

I have made a ton of sensory bins for my kids over the years. We have explored rice, beans, sand and even straws as fillers. I knew I wanted to try something different, and inspiration was as close as my pantry. I pulled out some oatmeal and got busy experimenting.

First, I tried soaking the oats in dyed water. That was a fail. They clumped together and formed a soggy mess. I couldn't dry them out. 

Next, I thought about how we dyed rice, and decided to try that method on oats. The results were perfect. The oats didn't clump together and they are so soft!

To dye oats you will need:

• One cup of oats 
• Food coloring of your choice
• Hand sanitizer
• One Ziploc bag

Directions:

• Pour the oats into the bag.
• Add 7 to 10 drops of food coloring.
• Add a generous dollop of hand sanitizer to the bag.
• Seal the bag and shake until all of the oats are coated.
• Pour the oats on a paper towel or paper plate to dry.

Dyed oats are perfect for sensory play. Stay tuned for bins that use dyed oats.

You can find all of my sensory content here

Flower Garden Sensory Bin

Birthday Cake Sensory Bin

7 Luscious Lemonade Recipes

Summer is near, so the time to stock up on lemonade fixings is now! I have 7 Luscious Lemonade Recipes to inspire your summertime sipping!

Pin this to your drink board for later!

There is nothing like a glass of lemonade on a hot day. I found 7 awesome recipes that I can't wait to try. I think you are going to love these too. From the traditional twist of a strawberry version that promises to be easy to an unforgettable Lavender punch that tickles the taste buds in style.  I can't wait to hear which of these recipes you want to try first!

Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade
Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade
Easy Strawberry Lemonade
Sparkling Pineapple Lemonade
Lavender Lemonade Punch
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Blueberry Lemonade Punch

Making homemade lemonade is super easy to do! I have a few tips to help you make the best ever lemonade at home!

1. 5 or 6 lemons will yield 1 cup of juice.
2. Select lemons that are bright yellow and firm.
3. Washing lemons after purchase will keep them fresher longer.
4. Room temperature lemons will yield more juice than a cold lemon.
5. Simple syrup is much easier for making lemonade than dissolving sugar.

Have you ever made a special lemonade recipe? I would love to hear about it to inspire my summer sipping!

We have a cute lemonade craft for kids that goes perfectly with homemade lemonade!

You might want to check out these homemade soda ideas.

 Don't miss these infused water recipes!