Homemaking - Family Fun
Theme Party Ideas
Theme parties are fun for all ages. Choose a movie, book, historical timeframe, or even a person, and have a party with that theme. Do some research, make decorations, and send out invitations. Imagine a room full of people dressed as George Washington! Think of eating while reclining like the Romans! Nothing drives learning home like having fun.
There is no end to how creative you can be with a theme party. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Ancient Egypt
Simple Egyptian dinner The menu consisted of foods ancient Egyptians might have had: dates, grapes, raisins, spelt bread. (No hippopotamus available at our stores unfortunately!) My daughter bought an old velvet dress with a gold beaded collar at a thrift store and put on eye make-up to look like an Egyptian woman. She prepared all the food and laid pillows and towels on the floor so we could recline while eating. This was several years ago, and my younger daughter is very anxious to study Egypt so she can do this! -- Martha R.
Star Wars
Light saber pretzel sticks Just dip the giant sticks in melted white chocolate and role in colored sugar.
Light saber favors We had a star wars party a few years ago and bought mailing tubes that we covered in colored paper to make light sabers. We filled them with candy and trinkets for the goodie bag. -- SoCalPam
Curious George
Curious George Cake Bake the cake in a bowl to give some texture and dimension to George's "muzzle". Use Ding-Dongs as ears and fasten them to the cake with toothpicks. Frost the whole thing brown and then stud with Cocoa Crispies or Cocoa Puffs, again for a furry dimensional look. (This is a great way for the children to be involved with decorating the cake. It doesn't matter how the frosting is applied, as long as it doesn't dig up the cake!) Then use candies for the eyes, nose and mouth. Outline with piped frosting. -- SoCalPam
Other Cake Ideas Make a palm tree with icing on the cake, or cut the cake into shapes for the palm tree. The yellow hat could also be drawn on (or the shape cut from) a large sheet cake. You could make a balloon cake with small round pans. Decorate each balloon differently, and pipe icing for the "strings." A banana shaped cake is another possibility. -- Martha R.
Table Decorations Use little monkeys on sticks (from a party store) to put in a drink, or buy little paper trees and use the monkeys in a scene with them. Check a party or paper supply store for things you could use. -- AnneW
Room Decorations Cut some palm fronds (from your house plants if not in a coastal area!) to place around the room, particularly near the door so guests will get a "jungle" feeling when they walk in. Place stuffed animals that might be found in the jungle around the area. Get a tape of wild bird sounds to play in the background.
A Curious George Party Experience
We are having a Curious George goes to the circus party for my son's first birthday. I am sending out personalized invitations that have my son and curious George swinging from a trapeze. I had a person draw these up for me, and I will then make copies on colored paper. My son is holding a ball with the number one on it and Curious George is holding a banner giving the people all the info. Included in the invitations will be an "admit one" ticket that will be given at the ticket booth upon arrival at the party. The kids' tickets will be put into a bucket for door prize drawings. I have made games such as throw the bean bag through Curious George's mouth, ring the soda, pin the ball under Curious George's feet, balloon relays, and more. I also am making centerpieces of Curious George holding balloons tied around his hands. I will have popcorn and cotton candy for the kids at the concession stand. When the kids arrive they will get a goody bag to collect their prizes from the games that I bought off of oriental trading company. In these bags are coupons I made on the computer for the cotton candy and popcorn so I can assure that all the kids get one serving of the treats. I am having 54 kids and 50 adults. We have rented the local fire hall to hold all the people. The menu will be circus style food: hotdogs, barbeque sandwiches, nachos, baked beans, chips, pretzels, barbeque chicken wings, punch, soda, and iced tea. I am making the cake myself -- a circus cake that is two cakes underneath and then a Curious George separator holding another a "ball" (round cake) on top. I will have balloons for decorations with a balloon canopy for over the cake table. One of the goodies is a coloring book of Curious George at the circus, on top of his ball, and with all the circus animals. I printed these from on-line. We are getting a DJ to play music and I have a circus music CD that will play throughout out the game time. -- Jennifer in PA
Animal Cake Ideas
Use two bowl cakes (baked in bowls) in different sizes for the face and body. Frost, and add cereal for the "fur." Then use the appropriate treats for paws, ears, etc. I have done this for teddy bears, Easter bunnies (use Twinkies instead of Ding-Dongs for the ears and use mini marshmallows for the fur). I usually For teddy bears, it's fun to use Fruit by the Foot or red licorice to make a bow around the neck! -- SoCalPam
4th of July
Pretzel "Sparklers"
long rod pretzels
white chocolate, melted
sprinkles (red, white and blue) or star cake decorations
Melt the white chocolate. Dip the pretzel rod halfway into the melted chocolate then sprinkle the sprinkles over the wet chocolate. Lay on waxed paper or place in a cup to dry. -- Michele B
Halloween
HALLOWEEN FACE PAINT
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
2 drops food coloring
In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well.
GREASE PAINT FOR HALLOWEEN
2 tsp. white shortening
5 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. white flour
2 or 3 drops glycerin
Food coloring or cocoa for brown
Mix in given order.
HALLOWEEN WITCHES BREW
Thaw and dilute with the following:
1 can (6 oz.) frozen grape juice
3 cans water
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
In a sauce pan heat all ingredients over low heat until hot. Mix well. Let stand 5 minutes. Does not have to cool to serve. Remove cinnamon and cloves. Vary by adding 1/2 cup orange juice.
HALLOWEEN MIX
10 c. popcorn
Peanut butter chips or Reese's Pieces
1 c. candy corn
M&M's, plain and peanut
Mix together. Serve.
HALLOWEEN CUP CAKES
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Add 1 (6 ounce) package chocolate chips. Add 12 drops of yellow food coloring and 8 drops of red. Blend well; set aside. Sift
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt.
Stir in 1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla.
Fill 15 cupcake liners 1/3 full with chocolate batter; drop 1 heaping teaspoon of cream cheese mix on top. Bake 30 minutes.
HALLOWEEN BARS
1/2 c. margarine or butter
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 oz.) pkg. milk chocolate chips
1 c. peanut butter chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees for glass dish). In 13 x 9 inch baking pan, melt margarine in oven. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over margarine; pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Top with chips; press down firmly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars.
HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN COOKIES
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. cooked pumpkin or pie filling
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar together in bowl. Add egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add to bowl. Mix. Drop by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN CHIP COOKIES
1 c. pumpkin
1 egg
1/2 c. oil
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
2 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts
Blend pumpkin, egg, oil, sugar, sift and baking powder, flour, cinnamon and salt. Add baking soda dissolved in milk. Stir in chocolate chips, nuts and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls on lightly greased sheets. Bake at 370 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. You may double this recipe.
ROCKY ROAD HALLOWEEN SQUARES
12 oz. chocolate chips
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp. margarine
2 c. dry roasted peanuts
1 pkg. miniature marshmallows
In top of double boiler or in microwave, melt chips, condensed milk, and butter. In large bowl, combine nuts and marshmallows. Fold in chocolate mixture. Spread in lined wax paper 13 x 9 inch pan. Chill 2 hours. Remove from pan, peel of wax paper. Cut into squares and store room temperature.
HALLOWEEN BLACK CAT COOKIES
1 c. crunchy peanut butter
1/3 c. water
2 eggs
1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
M & M's (plain)
Red hots
Beat together peanut butter, eggs, and water. Gradually add cake mix. Mix well. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Pinch out 2 ears at top of cookie. Add M & M's (eyes) and red hots (nose). Press fork into dough to form whiskers. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes 4 1/2 dozen.
HOOT OWL COOKIES FOR HALLOWEEN
3/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 c. unsifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. water
DECORATIONS:
1/4 c. butterscotch or peanut butter
chips
1/2 c. whole cashews
Cream butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla in large bowl. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture and blend well. Remove 2/3 of dough. To remaining 1/3 of dough add cocoa and baking soda that have been mixed. Then blend water into this mixture. Divide the plain dough into 2 parts. Roll each 1/2 into a 10x4 inch rectangle. Divide chocolate dough into 2 parts. Shape each 1/2 into a 10 inch roll. Roll each vanilla rectangle around a chocolate dough roll (jelly roll with chocolate in center). Wrap and freeze. To bake slice rolls and place 2 slices together, side by side with edges touching, on a greased cookie sheet. Pinch outside corners for ears. Place one chip in center of each chocolate circle for eyes. Put a cashew, curved side down, in the center where circles meet. This is the beak. Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 minutes. Cool and use spatula to remove from cookie sheet.
HALLOWEEN SNACK MIX
1/2 c. blood drops (red hots)
1/2 c. cats eyes (blanched almonds)
or (gum drops)
1/2 c. cats claws (sunflower seeds)
1 c. chicken toenails (candy corn)
1 c. colored flies (M & M's)
1 c. butterfly wings (corn chips)
1 c. ants (raisins)
1 c. earthworms (cheese curls)
1 c. cobwebs (Triscuits) or (Golden Grahams)
1 c. snakes eyes (peanuts)
1 c. bats bones (shoestring potatoes)
Mix together in a large bowl. Serve with several pints of blood (cherry punch).
ORANGE DELIGHT (HALLOWEEN)
1 pkg. orange gelatin
1 c. hot water
1 c. shredded carrots
1 c. crushed pineapple
1 c. grated cheese
Mix gelatin and water, add remaining ingredients. Pour into 8x4 inch pan; chill for at least 2 hours. Cut into squares; serve. Yield: 6-8 servings.
EASY HALLOWEEN HAYSTACKS
1 1/2 qts. popped popcorn
1 c. chow mein noodles
1 (12 oz.) pkg. butterscotch peanut butter pieces
Combine popped popcorn and chow mein noodles in large bowl. In medium saucepan, melt butterscotch or peanut butter pieces over low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Pour melted candy over popcorn; stir to coat well. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto wax paper lined pan. Refrigerate until firm. Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 24.
HALLOWEEN APPLES ON STICK
12 sm. red eating apples
12 wooden skewers
3 c. sugar
3/4 c. light corn syrup
1 c. water
Few drops oil of cloves
Red food coloring or 12 red cinnamon
candies
Wash apples in hot water and dry. Insert skewer in blossom end of each apple. In saucepan mix sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook over direct heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add oil of cloves a little coloring. Continue cooking without stirring until small amount cracks when dropped into cold water. Set pan over boiling water. Dip each apple into syrup. Remove and whirl apple until syrup covers it smoothly. Stand apple skewers side up on tray or plate to cool and harden.
HALLOWEEN POPCORN TREATS
1/2 c. candy corn
Vegetable cooking spray
4 c. miniature marshmallows
8 c. air popped corn
Lightly coat 6 quart Dutch oven, spray a 13 x 19 baking pan with vegetable spray. Slice each piece of candy corn in half lengthwise. In Dutch oven over very low heat, melt marshmallows, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add popcorn, stirring to coat evenly; stir in candy corn. Using wax paper, press mixture evenly into pan, let cool about 1 hour. Cut into 24 squares.
HALLOWEEN GRAPE-NUTS CHOCOLATE DROPS
2 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 or 15 oz.) can sweetened
condensed milk
1 c. Grape-Nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
Melt chocolate over boiling water. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth; add milk. Blend. Add Grape-Nuts and vanilla. Drop from teaspoons onto waxed paper. Cool until firm. Yield: 5 dozen candies.
HALLOWEEN JACK - O - LANTERN FROSTIES
4-6 navel oranges
1 (8 oz.) container vanilla or plain
yogurt
Icing tubes - several colors
Decorations*
Serrated knife
Grapefruit spoon
Blender
Straws
*Marshmallows, silver decors, colored candies, gumdrops, green-colored cherries, or pineapple Cut a thin slice of peel from the bottom of each orange so it will not roll. Slice off the top 1/3 of each orange. Scoop out the inside with the knife and grapefruit spoon. Put the pulp and juice (minus seeds) into the blender. Add container of yogurt and blend well. Decorate orange like a Jack-O-Lantern. Cut a hole in the "cap" and insert a straw. Pour drink from blender into Jack-O-Lantern cups and serve.
HALLOWEEN ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS
1 lg. pumpkin
1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
After carving your family's scary masterpiece don't discard the seeds! Instead, clean them of strands and mix with oil and salt. Plop onto a cookie sheet and bake in a 250 degree oven for about an hour. Stir occasionally.
HALLOWEEN PUNCH
1 lg. can Hi-C orange drink
1 lg. can pineapple juice
1 lg. bottle ginger ale or 7-Up
1/2 gallon orange sherbet
Mix Hi-C, pineapple juice, and ginger ale. Spoon in orange sherbet.
HALLOWEEN HONEY PUFFS
3/4 c. honey
3/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. cocoa
11 c. puffed rice or wheat
3/4 c. coconut
Place honey, sugar, butter and cocoa in saucepan and boil to soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Mix puffed wheat and coconut. Pour syrup over, when cool enough to handle, form into balls and roll in coconut. Wrap in foil.
HALLOWEEN SLUSH
1 pkg. lime gelatin
1 c. sugar
7-Up or gingerale
4 c. boiling water
3 c. pineapple juice
Mix all ingredients together except 7-Up. Place in container and freeze 4 to 5 hours. Remove from freezer when mixture is slushy. Fill glasses 1/2 full of slush. Fill remainder of glass with 7-Up. This can also be used in punch bowl. Place all slush in (12 inch) serving bowl and add 2 quarts 7-Up or gingerale.
HALLOWEEN 'MULLED CIDER
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 qt. cider
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 (3 inch) stick cinnamon
Combine first 3 ingredients in 3-quart saucepan. Tie spices in cloth bag; add to cider mixture. Bring to a boil; simmer for 20 minutes. Remove spice bag; serve hot.
HALLOWEEN COCOA
1 (1 lb.) box instant cocoa mix
1 (8 qt.) box powdered milk
1 (6 oz.) jar powdered cream
1/2 c. (heaping) powdered sugar
Combine all ingredients. Store in airtight container. Place 1/3 cup mix in cup; fill with hot water to serve.
HALLOWEEN SPIDERS
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 med. can of chow mein noodles (may not need all of them)
1 pkg. M & M candy
Melt chocolate in microwave. Stir in noodles. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Add 2 M & M's for spider eyes. NOTE: Add 2 to 4 tablespoons water, if needed, to thin chocolate.
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