This coming 5th May 2009 is Cinco De Mayo (which means “5th of May” in Spanish). It is a national holiday in Mexico and is also widely celebrated in US.

To celebrate this special occasion,  I would like to share with you this free ebook :

In this ebook, you will learn about the history of Cinco De Mayo, learn Cinco De Mayo songs, make Cinco De Mayo crafts and lots of yummy Cinco De Mayo recipes for you to try.

You can download the free ebook here

Do feel free to share about this free ebook with your friends & happy Cinco De Mayo!

Shortbread Cookies

These melt in your mouth classics can be cut into shapes or rolled into ball shape. You can roll the ball shaped cookie dough with your favorite topping, like crushed almonds or coconut. Christmas balls are easy and fun to make!

INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch of salt

PREPARATION:
Mix well, roll out in to about 1/4-inch thick, and cut into shapes. Or, roll into small balls then roll in finely chopped nuts or coconut; place on lightly greased cookie sheet and flatten with the bottom of a glass. Bake at 300° F. for approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

Secret Kiss Cookie

Surprise your guests with this fun Christmas cookies that have chocolate kiss candies wrapped inside! This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 bag chocolate kiss candies, unwrapped (7 ounces)
• powdered sugar

PREPARATION:
Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Blend in Flour. Wrap one tablespoon of dough around each chocolate candy kiss. Bake at 350° for about 15 minutes, or until dough is set but not browned. Roll each cookie in powdered sugar while still warm.

Rainbow Cookies

Colorful Christmas cookies that’s fun to make! This recipe makes approximately 6 dozen cookies.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour (more if dough seems too thin)
• finely chopped pecans, almonds, or other nuts, optional Jam

PREPARATION:
Beat butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and the next 3 ingredients, blending well. Chill dough 2 1/2 hours. Roll dough into small balls, then roll in the chopped nuts; place on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Make an indention in the middle of each cookie and fill with jam. Bake at 300° for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned on the bottom.

Candy Cane Cookies

These cookies make a great classroom treat. This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond flavoring
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350.
Cream the shortening and butter; mix in sugar, egg, almond and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour and salt and add to shortening mixture. Divide dough in half.
Blend red food coloring into one half. Roll 1 teaspoon of the red dough and 1 teaspoon of the white dough on lightly floured board into 4 inch strips. Place strips side by side and press lightly together and twist. Do not pinch. Curve top of rope down in to the shape of a candy cane. Make one complete cookie at a time. If the dough of one color is shaped first, the rolls will become too dry to twist.
Bake 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove while still warm. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed peppermint stick candy and 1/2 cup sugar (optional).

Black Forest Cookies

Dried cherries and chocolate; fancy and easy!

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cherries

PREPARATION:
In small bowl over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water melt 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips; let cool.
Beat butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla, then melted chocolate.

In a separate bowl stir flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture. Stir in cherries and remaining chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for about 12 minutes or until edges are firm and centers still soft.

Enjoy! ^_^

For those of you who haven’t downloaded the “Halloween Fun Recipes And Party Games”, it’s still not too late to check it out for some great Halloween fun and yummy treats!

Click here to download “Halloween Fun Recipes And Party Games”

Have a great Halloween!

Hi! Check out the latest FREE ebook from Fun Learning Express :

Please download it here

Enjoy!

** Download & Play FREE Holiday Games **

Hi! Check out the Free Ebook from Fun Learning Express  :

You can download it FREE here

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and most folks will prepare and sit down to a huge traditional turkey day meal. A few days ago my oldest son, now twenty-three, made me stop and think about how necessary all of that food really is. I mean really, do we need to roast a twenty pound bird every year? My son commented on how ridiculous it all can be at times when the true meaning of the holiday is to show gratitude for what we have. Right?

For those among us who aren’t interested in cooking a massive dinner, or for those small families who just want to have a ‘taste’ of the holiday, there is an alternative. Of course you can always just order pizza and let everyone take turns saying what they’re thankful for, but there are some die-hard ‘Thanksgiving-ites’ who, although they don’t want all the mess and excess, still would appreciate the ‘essence’ of the traditional holiday fare. So, what’s the compromise in this situation? The following is a quick and easy turkey dinner idea along with easy trimmings that will leave you feeling comfy and grateful, yet not about to pop or anxious about the mess in the kitchen.

Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Turkey and Dressing to Really Be Thankful for

4-6 turkey breast slices                             
½ c chopped green bell pepper
2 tbsp water
1 - 12 oz jar turkey gravy
1 c chicken broth
3 c dry stuffing mix
1 - 6 oz package dried fruit pieces

Spray large skillet with cooking spray. Add turkey and season as you prefer. Cook 4 minutes or until turkey is golden brown and not pink in center. Turn once and remove from skillet. In same skillet, add bell pepper and water, cook for 2 minutes. Take out ¼ cup of gravy from jar or can and add the remaining gravy and broth to skillet; mix well. Bring to boil and remove skillet from heat. Add the stuffing and fruit pieces and stir until moist. Return your turkey to skillet and add the rest of the gravy. Cover and let stand about 5 minutes before serving.

You can double this entire recipe if you have more folks to serve. Another thought I had about making this even easier for larger groups-give this recipe to a few members of your family and let them prepare and bring their own dish to the occasion. This will travel well in a casserole dish and makes a wonderful Thanksgiving Potluck idea.

What quick and easy trimmings go well with this delicious recipe? How about some dinner rolls, cranberry jelly, butternut squash and green beans? Simple and yummy too. Serve a ready made apple or pumpkin pie with whipped topping and it’s a hit all round.

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Article courtesy of :  Sherry Frewerd

For more delicious quick and easy dinner ideas and easy crock pot recipes please visit ‘Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes’ quickandeasydinnerrecipes.blogspot.com and ‘Family Crock Pot Recipes’ familycrockpotrecipes.com

Kid’s meals should be easy, delicious and healthy. Getting children to eat vegetables is a major negotiation. Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of babes is easy when they are part of the fun. Coming up with creative ways to get kids involved in the preparation and the cooking of kids’ recipes is part of the fun. Child friendly recipes will allow you the peace of knowing your children are eating healthy and they will enjoy feeling in control of what they are being fed.

Take your kids shopping with you. Let them choose the fruits and vegetables they enjoy. This is generally the simplest way even with children as young as 4 years old. Children learn to eat healthier when they are a part of the cooking and the meal planning for the family.

Children really like color. Even with food, kids will look, then smell, and finally taste. So a variety of color in meals is great. Eating a mixture of foods greatly improves the chances of consuming all the nutrients you and your family need for optimum health.

A exciting way to get your kids to eat vegetables is to use the vegetables as part of a project. Kids get to count, make shapes, and then eat what they create. You get the satisfaction of knowing that you are giving nutritious foods into their diet.

Kids Recipes for Create My Own Soup

Let your children count the carrots and celery pieces. Let them spell their names with the noodles if you include alphabet noodles. You may find other novelty noodles like car shapes, etc. Create a topic of the soup creation.

Cut star shapes out of the carrot slices and zucchini (using an aspic cutter) then set to the side.

Ingredients:
*1-2 carrots
*1 zucchini
*4 cups low sodium chicken broth
*1/4 cup shaped pasta
*Dash of sage
*3/4 cup chopped, cooked chicken
*Salt and pepper to taste

Bringing it All Together:

*Let the kids help you wash the vegetables. Once finished you can wash the carrots and zucchini softly with a vegetable brush.
*Cut the vegetables into 1/4-inch slices.
*Cut star shapes out of the slices, and set them aside.

*In a medium sized pot, bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat.
*Add the carrot stars and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
*Add the pasta, zucchini and chicken. Continue cooking the soup for another few minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the pasta is done. Makes 4 servings.

*Let your kids find their names or count the number of shapes in their soup bowl. The kids will like the adventure and fun, you will feel good knowing they are eating their vegetables.

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Would you like more Kid-Friendly Recipes? Christine Steendahl – “The Menu Mom” invites you to visit Kid Approved Meals to download your personal 13 week breakfast and lunch menu made just for kids!

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving Party at your house and are expecting vegetarian guests this year, don’t worry about preparing one large meat eating meal, and another separate vegetarian meal. Most vegetarians do not require a ‘meat equivalent’ at Thanksgiving. Yes, traditionally Thanksgiving has largely about the food. But more importantly it’s about family, togetherness, happiness and peace. And if this is your first Thanksgiving after transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle, try some of these ideas to incorporate healthy food preparation into your meal that your vegetarian guests, and you as host, will be thankful for this Thanksgiving:

* Bake some stuffing outside of the turkey.

* Make a small portion of vegetarian gravy.

* Keep cooking utensils separate to prevent “cross-contamination” between meat foods and vegetarian foods.

* When recipes are adaptable, use substitutions like vegetarian broth, soy margarine (the formulations without whey are suitable for vegans), soy milk, and kosher marshmallows which are made without gelatin.

* Use vegetable oils instead of animal fats for frying, and vegetable shortening like Crisco for pie crust.

* Read ingredients lists carefully on pre-packaged foods, being aware of terms like gelatin, whey, and “natural flavors” that can be animal-derived.

* Prepare plenty of vegetable and fruit side dishes, but leave them plain.

* Offer plenty of breads, beverages, fresh fruits, and non-gelatin desserts, which are suitable without modification for most vegetarians.

* Invite your vegetarian guest to prepare a “Tofurky” or vegetarian ‘turkey equivalent’ entrée to share with you the rest of your guests, or if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, prepare a small one. Your meat-eating guests might just be curious enough to want to try it!

* Ask your vegetarian guest for help, tips, or recipes that would complement their vegetarian choice. You may find that your guest offers to help out in the kitchen or bring a dish from home. Please don’t take a dish from home as an insult to your cooking; take it as a desire to share traditions at Thanksgiving. Even meat-eating homes can benefit from a healthy, nutrient-dense vegetarian recipe idea any time of the year!

* Most importantly – make TONS of new, delicious (not overly cooked) vegetables that are perfectly in season like squashes, sweet potatoes, and green beans, etc

Download your FREE free copy of “Delectable Vegetable Dishes” Cookbook from Fun Learning Express here