DIY Caramel Candy Turkeys

For either an unusual holiday dessert or a fun edible craft, these cute turkeys are sure to put a smile on your face.

I used homemade caramel to make these, but I imagine a number of other options would work well also. Homemade chocolate ganache could work, as well as homemade edible play dough. I imagine store bought caramel, frosting and extra powdered sugar, or fondant would all work well too.

Caramel Candy Turkeys Recipe

• Oreo or other sandwich cookies
• Caramel (homemade or see other options above)
• Sprinkles

1. Spread some soft caramel over the top of an Oreo. Sprinkle fall colored sprinkles on top.
2. Take a piece of fairly stiff caramel and mold it to look like a turkey's head.
3. Stick the turkey's head to the sprinkled Oreo and add a red or pink sprinkle for the turkey's waddle.
4. Let harden in the freezer and then stand up to serve.

Mandarin Mondays: Knock Down Furniture (The Chinglish Files)

Normally we would say folding or collapsible furniture.

Preschool (Or Family Togetherness) Thanksgiving Holiday Craft: Our Thankful Tree

I saw this idea floating around last year and thought it would be fun to try. It was a fast and simple project that lent itself to meaningful family conversation. I'm so glad we did it, and that we took a picture of it to look at in the future.

We took part of the evening before Thanksgiving to do this activity. However, I have seen other people say they make the tree and a big pile of leaves at the beginning of November and encourage each family member to put one on each day. You could start it today if you wanted. Then read all of the leaves together on Thanksgiving. Perhaps when some of our kids are older we will try it that way.

Thankful Tree

• Large white paper
• Brown marker or paint to make a tree trunk
• Colored paper for leaves
• Scissors
• Black pen or marker to write with
• Tape or glue

1. Draw or paint a bare tree trunk.
2. Cut out small colored leaves.
3. Ask everyone participating to think of things they are thankful for and write them on the colored leaves. Those not able to write can dictate things they are thankful for of course.
4. Tape or glue the leaves on the tree.
5. Count your blessings (literally or figuratively).

DIY Pumpkin Trifle

We love pumpkin around here. Pretty much anything with pumpkin in it we like. But this pumpkin trifle is amazing.

I like pumpkin pie, but I love this pumpkin trifle... Even if you don't like pumpkin pie, you should try pumpkin trifle, because it really is awesome.

I think it would be a great choice for Thanksgiving or Christmas if you wanted to serve something pumpkin, but didn't want to serve traditional pumpkin pie. Make it in a trifle bowl or in individual glass jars, either way makes a great presentation.

Homemade Pumpkin Trifle Recipe

• Pumpkin bars (bake in a 9x13 cake pan for a trifle bars or in muffin tins for sliding into glass jars)
• Pumpkin pudding (one batch makes 3 cups which is plenty for this recipe)
• Whipped cream (at least 1-2 cups whipped) or whipped topping
• Chopped walnuts or chocolate chips would be great additions as well if you wanted to add some crunch

1. Layer prepared ingredients starting with pumpkin bars and ending with whipped cream or additions. Repeat layering until you reach the top of the container. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top if desired.
2. Chill at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Mandarin Mondays: Happy DIY (The Chinglish Files)

This Happy DIY is the largest (and only) oven of any kind at Walmart.
It is about the size of an easy bake oven.
You could fit 1 or 2 cupcakes in it.
But it is sold among regular kitchen appliances and marketed to adults.

DIY Snowman Soup (Marshmallow Snowmen and Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe)

As the weather gets cooler, hot chocolate sounds more and more inviting. Making snowman soup is a great activity to perk up little kids on a dreary day. This would make a great snack for preschoolers (as long as the hot chocolate wasn't too hot of course).

Setting out marshmallow snowmen and hot chocolate at a party is also fun. And packaging up a few snowmen, hot cocoa mix, and a few chocolate spoons would make a great holiday gift.

Marshmallow Snowmen

• Marshmallow in three progressively smaller sizes (I used homemade)
• Orange sprinkles for noses
• Chocolate sprinkles for eyes

1. Push two chocolate sprinkles into the smallest marshmallow for eyes and one orange sprinkle for the nose.
2. Stack up marshmallows like you are building a snowman.
3. Wrap individually in plastic wrap or cellophane bags if giving as a gift or add straight to your hot cocoa to make snowman soup.

 Fresh Hot Chocolate by the Cup

• 1 cup milk
• 1-2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1-2 Tbsp sugar
• Dash of vanilla and/or salt if desired

1. Heat milk in microwave or small saucepan, until just bubbling around the edges (not a rolling boil).
2. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, adjusting to personal taste.
3. Add a marshmallow snowman to make snowman soup or top with whipped cream if desired.

Basic Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

• 1 cup dry milk powder
• 1 cup powdered coffee creamer (can used flavored to make flavored hot cocoa or even just another cup of dry milk powder)
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar

1. Blend powdered milk in the blender to make it dissolve more easily and look less chunky.
2. Either blend all other ingredients as well to mix, or layer in a jay to create a sand art type effect for gift giving.
3. Store in airtight container.
4. To serve boil one cup of water and mix in 2-4 Tbsp hot cocoa mix.
5. Add a marshmallow snowman to make snowman soup or top with whipped cream if desired.

DIY Pumpkin Pudding

It fall again and that means it is time to make all things pumpkin. This versatile pumpkin pudding is fast becoming a fall favorite around our house.

This pumpkin pudding is great by itself, with a little whipped cream, and in other desserts.

It is probably the best pudding I have ever had in terms of being great at any temperature. Serve it warm on a cold winter night, cold from the fridge, or freeze as you would ice cream and make a great frozen custard.

Homemade Pumpkin Pudding Recipe

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups whole milk (divided)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (homemade or store bought)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

1. In a small mixing bowl, begin by stirring together 1/2 cup milk, eggs, and cornstarch until well combined.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups milk, pumpkin, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 
3. Stir over medium heat to warm the milk.
4. Take a couple of big spoonfuls (1/4 to 1/2 cup) of the warm milk mixture, and add it into the cornstarch and egg mixture. Don't skip this step. This tempers the egg and prevents it from becoming a scrambled egg when adding it into the hot milk.
5. Pour the cornstarch and egg mixture into the warm milk, and stir quickly to combine well.
6. Continue to stir over medium heat until the pudding thickens and begins to bubble.
7. Strain if necessary or desired to remove any lumps or pieces of egg.
8. You can serve this pudding warm (sounds good in the winter) or chill for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days and serve it cold.

DIY Corn Husk Bouquet

This idea is so simple, but I really like how it turned out. I had my husband and sons go out to gather some leaves and things for fall decorating and craft projects.  When I saw these I thought they would fit perfectly into my glass vase. I love the touch of fall that it add to our kitchen.

The corn husk bouquet adds a lot of vertical interest and I think it complements our scrappy fabric pumpkins nicely.

And you can't beat the price at free.

Want to learn how to make the pumpkins?

Mandarin Mondays: Welcome to My Station to Take Train (The Chinglish Files)

Sweetest Holiday Preschool Activity: Play Dough Love Letters

If you want to do a really simple preschool activity for Sweetest Day, Valentine's Day, or any other lovely holiday, consider making play dough love letters. You only really need play dough (homemade or store bought) for this activity and you can easily customize it to many kids ability levels.

All the kids will get some exposure to written letters and words and have some fun in the process. this is a great multisensory activity for reading and writing. A visual, kinesthetic, and tactile experience that also helps build hand muscle strength through working with the play dough.

If you really want to thrill the kids and turn this activity into snack time as well, you could use edible chocolate play dough!

Sweetest Day or Valentine's Day Preschool Activity: Play Dough Love Letters

• Play dough (homemade or store bought)
• Rolling pins, cookie cutters, plastic knifes or scissors, chopsticks, etc. (totally optional)

Give each child a lump of play dough and whatever instructions you want them to follow.

The youngest children who can't really follow instructions yet can play with play dough in festive holiday colors.

Young children can try to make hearts or single letters. My second born age three at the time could do this quite well.

Older children can spell out entire words or phrases. You can write them on a blackboard or magnetic writer for them to copy if they are still learning how to spell. My firstborn son who was four at the time really got into this activity and kept wanting to spell longer and longer words!