Category: Kids

Family, Food, Kids, Snacks

Festive Oreos

thestlouiscooks

Festive Oreos 2

Independence Day always gets me in the mood for patriotic foods. Some festive Oreos were on my mind since I saw this idea on Pinterest. We make a lot of red, white, and blue snacks at this house. This weekend was no different.  I had plenty of white chocolate on hand so I decided to try these festive Oreos out. Well, there is nothing easier to make except for a few broken ones from time to time.

These festive Oreos are a great snack to make with the kids too. Get in the kitchen, get a little messy, and have some fun!  Festive Oreos are sure to be a hit with the family or at any holiday get together.

Festive Oreos

  • Servings: 8-10
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 1 Package of Nestles Toll house white chocolate morsels (12 oz.)
  • 1 Package of Oreos
  • Sprinkles (red, white, and blue)

Directions:

  1. Pour the whole package of Nestles Tollhouse white chocolate morsels in a microwave safe bowl. I use the microwave to melt my chocolate.  The key is to do it in 30 second intervals and stir after each 30 seconds in the microwave.  For a 12 oz package of chocolate, it usually takes 60-90 seconds.
  2. After the chocolate has melted, you are ready to start dipping Oreos.  Dip each Oreo half way on each side and place on a baking sheet covered with wax paper.
  3. Next cover the white chocolate Oreos with sprinkles.  It’s best to do this step right away before the white chocolate begins to set.
  4. Place Oreos in the refrigerator so the white chocolate will cool and set.  

Enjoy!

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Family, Food, Kids

Marshmallow Fudge Brownies

thestlouiscooks

 

Fudge Brownies

Today, Jack Sievers, child #2, was the chef in our kitchen.  He decided he wanted to make desert!  That’s no shocker.  We both pondered a few different recipes based on ingredients we had at home.  We decided to go basic, but something with big and rich flavors.

There’s one thing you will always find in my kitchen – a big box of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix from Costco.  In my opinion, it’s the best brownie mix out of a box.  They are rich with big chucks of chocolate.  Jack decided he wanted to top them with marshmallows.  I told him that was a good idea and maybe we could add another topping.  So there you have it – Marshmallow Fudge Brownies!  This is an easy recipe to involve the kids in the kitchen and they will love the end result.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Pan (9×13) Brownies, baked and cooled – we use Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie MixJack putting on marshmallows
  • 3 Tablespoons of Butter
  • 1/4 Cup of Milk
  • 1 Square Ounce unsweetened Chocolate, chopped
  • 1 (3 ounce) Package of Cream Cheese, cut in cubes
  • 3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 2 Cups Miniature Marshmallows

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Let brownies cool completely.Jack making frosting
  2. In large sauce pan, combine, butter, milk, unsweetened chocolate, and cream cheese. Cook over low heat, stirring until well blended. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
  3. Sprinkle marshmallows over brownies and bake for 2-5 minutes until puffed. Remove brownies from oven and immediately pour frosting over marshmallows.  Lightly swirl to a marble with a knife.
  4. Refrigerate for one hour or until firm.

Enjoy!

Jack's Brownies

 

Family, Kids, Life in General

Gingerbread Houses

thestlouiscooks

Gingerbread Houses

Making gingerbread houses is one of our favorite activities over the holidays.  In years past, we’ve made them from scratch.  By that I mean, we used graham crackers for the base of our house, purchased our own icing and candy to decorate.  It wasn’t always an easy task. Well this year was different.  I bought the Wilton Gingerbread House Kits with everything included.  Wow!  I don’t think I will ever go back.  The kits are so easy!  I purchased them at Michaels for $8.99 per kit and used a coupon – not a bad deal at all.  I also purchased some additional candy because we like to include Holiday M&M’s on our houses.

Ingredients:

  • Wilton Gingerbread House Kit
  • Additional Candy of choice (optional)

Directions:

  1. Have fun!

I highly recommend this activity with the kids.  Get a little messy, let the creative juices flow, eat some icing, and have some fun!

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Enjoy!

Family, Food, Kids, Snacks

White Chocolate Strawberries and Pretzels

thestlouiscooks
White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Wow! Amazing, delicious, decadent, pretty, sweet and salty are just a few ways to describe our favorite snack – white chocolate covered strawberries and pretzels.  Really… anything white chocolate is fantastic in my book.  And, here’s the added bonus…they are one of the easiest things to make!

These goodies are my favorite all time snack to make with the kiddos.  I usually keep a few bags of chocolate morsels (white or semisweet) in the kitchen along with strawberries and a bag of pretzel rods. I’m a huge fan of white chocolate so it’s always my first choice for dipping.  Many people think this type of dessert would be difficult to make but I prepare it in a way that is super easy and fun for the kids – no long process or stove top melting!

Next time you want to involve the kids in the kitchen, this is one snack they will surely love to make and eat!

White Chocolate Strawberries and Pretzels

  • Servings: 10-15
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients:Jack dipping

  • 1-2 bags of Nestle White Chocolate Chips (or any kind)
  • Strawberries (or any berries for dipping)
  • 1 Bag of Pretzel Rods
  • Vegetable or Canola Oil (optional)

Directions:

  1. Clean Strawberries and allow them to dry thoroughly keeping the stems on.
  2. Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat in 30 second intervals stirring Nick dippingthe chocolate in between.  At this point, you can add a touch of oil to help smooth the chocolate or you can pass on the oil for a thicker consistency of chocolate.
  3. Once the chocolate is fully melted and smooth, begin dipping the strawberries holding the stems with your fingers.  Place the dipped strawberries on a baking pan lined with wax paper.  Repeat for other berries and the pretzel rods.
  4. Place the chocolate covered strawberries and pretzels in the refrigerator to set and chill.

Enjoy!

White Chocolate Pretzels
Family, Food, Kids

Potato Bacon Casserole

thestlouiscooks

 

Potato Bacon Casserole

Breakfast is not my favorite meal. I know it’s the most important meal of the day but it’s still not my favorite. However, my husband has definitely changed my thinking about breakfast. He has turned me on to the “big breakfast concept” (especially on the weekends)…eat a big breakfast, skip lunch, and then go straight to dinner.

On this particular day, it was Father’s Day so we decided to treat Dad to his favorite meal – breakfast. A sausage egg casserole was a must, but we needed something else. Yes, potatoes it is! That’s when the potato and bacon casserole came together.

It’s simple and easy to make. A great dish to get the kids involved too. Not to mention, this casserole could be eaten as a side dish at any meal, not just breakfast.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of Southern/ Country Style Potatoes (cubes) – completely thawed
  • 1 12 oz. Package of Bacon
  • 1 Bunch of Green Onions chopped
  • 3 Cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Jack Cheese, and/or any variety of Cheese – mixed together
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 Cup of Milk
  • 1/2 tsp. of Salt
  • Fresh Ground Pepper

Directions:

  1. Cook the bacon in a skillet.  While the bacon is cooking, add the potatoes to a 9 x 13″ baking dish. Sprinkle all the shredded cheese evenly over the potatoes. After the bacon is cooked, drain it on paper towels reserving 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings. Cook the green onions in the bacon drippings for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Spread the onion mixture over the cheese. Then, crumble the bacon on top.
  2. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture evenly on top of the casserole.  Refrigerate overnight or for 8 hours.
  3. When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake, uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

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