Search Results for: blog what to do with half a can of pumpkin

Can You Afford a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal?

Last night, our local food bank issued a public plea to area businesses and families who have the ability to help the community’s less fortunate. The non-profit needs monetary and/or food donations immediately or hundreds of needy individuals won’t be able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year. With the economy in the dumpster and millions of moms and dads out of work, it’s no surprise that a record number of parents are being forced to swallow their collective pride and turn to community food banks for assistance. And it’s not just the unemployed who are struggling to prepare … Continue reading →

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

No trip to the farmer’s market would be complete for my family without being able to grab an assortment of whoopie pies for snacking on the way home. Whoopie pies are a staple of a treat out here in Pennsylvania. Rumor has it that they were named by Amish youngsters who when finding the treats in their lunch pails would shout “Whoopie!” While the traditional whoppie pie consists of a chocolate cake with a white creamy filling, there are many variations of whoopie pies to be tried, including ones made with oatmeal cookies or a red velvet cake. Once you … Continue reading →

Don’t Be Afraid To Try New Things With Your Toddler

Sometimes, the thought of doing a specific activity with your toddler can be much more daunting than actually doing it. For example, when Dylan’s aunt decided to take him fishing about a month ago, I wondered whether she realized what she could be getting herself into. It turns out that she had thought about what fishing could be like with a toddler, and that she had age appropriate expectations. They had a great time, and Dylan is lucky that he has such a nice auntie who is willing to try doing things with him that seem rather daunting to me. … Continue reading →

Countdown to Halloween

Tomorrow we officially begin decorating our home for Halloween. Despite the fact that Target and Wal-Mart started selling Halloween merchandise the day after Labor Day, I refuse to display a single pumpkin, bat or scarecrow until October first. I just cleared off the kitchen table and emptied the craft closet, so bright and early tomorrow morning my daughter and I can get cracking on these homemade Halloween decorations: CARAMEL APPLE CRAFT Materials: Wooden apples Styrofoam plates Caramel colored paint Craft sticks Mod Podge Chopped nuts Wax paper Cellophane Ribbon Directions: Paint wooden apples with caramel-colored paint. Be sure to be … Continue reading →

How Do You Do Thanksgiving?

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been reflecting on how the way that I have celebrated Thanksgiving has changed through the years. Each year has been enjoyable, but there have been a few changes along the way. When I was a child, my parents would pack my sister and I into the car and we would have a mid-day meal at one grandmother’s house and an evening meal at our other grandmother’s house. Both grandmothers lived in the same city which was near the town that we lived in, so the traveling was not a big deal. The food that was … Continue reading →

Cute Crafts to Make with Leftover Halloween Candy

You know it’s time to dump your kid’s Halloween loot when you’re going on day three of eating Kit Kats for breakfast… ahem. I was this close to pitching my daughter’s trick-or-treat bag when our neighbor came over bearing more candy. However, instead of just handing us a half-eaten bag of chocolate, she presented us with a tray filled with edible butterflies and caterpillars made entirely of Hershey Kisses. If you are looking for an adorable craft idea that will put a major dent in your leftover Halloween candy pile, then consider making Hershey Kiss critters. They are a breeze … Continue reading →

Non Scary Alternatives to Halloween Candy

Candy is makes the top three of what kids think of when they think Halloween. Who doesn’t remember nights of eating so much Halloween candy it made you sick? What about all the Halloween candy that sticks around until Christmas? Even after the trick or treating ends the treating one to sweets does not. While we can overlook our kids eating a bit more candy one night a year, we cannot overlook indulgence which can be unhealthy or that lasts until the New Year. So we need to limit the candy without limiting the fun. Alternatives to Giving Candy: I … Continue reading →

Three Low Fat Pumpkin Soup Recipes

Creamy Pumpkin Soup Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp curry powder 1 tsp cumin 3 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth 1 15-ounce can pumpkin 1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk Freshly ground Black pepper to taste Preparation: Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened. Stir in curry powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and pumpkin. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add evaporated fat-free milk and cook … Continue reading →

Window Decorations to Welcome Trick-or-Treaters

Trick-or-treaters are often uneasy about going up to houses for Halloween. They don’t know which homes they are welcome at and which homes they are not. To eliminate that uncertainty for them, you can decorate your windows in a way to let them know that you have candy ready to give out. You will need a pack of black poster board. One for each half window. You will want to do all windows on the first floor of the front of your home. You will need a pair of scissors and some tape. 1. Choose images that you want to … Continue reading →

Ten Outdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Baby This Fall

Do you need to get out of the house? Need more ways to entertain you and your baby this fall? Make a cool or rainy fall walk into a fun walk – it doesn’t take much! 1. Go outside in the rain or just after a rain. Where I live, it rains a lot in the fall and winter. In fact, the year that my daughter was born, we broke the winter rain record and had rain for more than 30 days in a row. Needless to say, we went outside in the rain. Invest in a good pair of … Continue reading →