Toms River Mom

Popcorn balls make a quick and easy snack or a special treat for parties and holidays. Take this basic recipe and tailor it to your occasion – the possibilities are limitless! Ask your child for ideas – this is a snack preschoolers can help make.

Popcorn doesn’t have a whole lot going for it nutritionally – it’s not high in nutrients except for some fiber. But it’s light and airy so popcorn treats can be big on size, but not big on calories.

How To Make Sweet Popcorn Balls
10 cups popcorn (about 1/3 cup unpopped kernels)
2 T butter
½ c brown sugar
¼ c honey
¼ tsp salt

Preparation time – about 15-20 minutes
Makes about 30 golf ball-sized popcorn balls

Click here to find out how to make them!

An easy and delicious dessert for your family and friends.

Ingredients
6 apples (or 6 cups of apple slices)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
Whipped cream or ice cream

Instructions
To peel an apple safely, your child should hold the fruit in one hand, grip a vegetable peeler in the other, and push the peeler away from himself.

Heat oven to 375 degrees and lightly butter an 8 or 9-inch-square baking pan. Peel, core, and slice the apples and arrange them evenly in the prepared pan.

Place the oats, brown sugar, flour, spices, and salt in a sealable plastic bag, close, and shake until combined. Cut the softened butter into 1-inch pieces and add to the oat mixture. Close the bag again and knead or squeeze until the mixture holds together.

Instead of using a bowl to mix the crumb topping, use a sealable plastic bag. This will cut back on dirty dishes and let young bakers–even preschoolers–lend a hand.

Open the bag and crumble the topping evenly over the apples. Bake the apple crisp for 40 to 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the juices begin to bubble around the edges. Cool slightly, then serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Serves 6.

Not only is this dish delicious, but your child will think it’s cool to cook scrambled eggs right in the middle of the other ingredients. For the best results, refrigerate the rice for several hours beforehand to keep it from turning mushy when you make the finished dish.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
4 scallions, sliced
1 cup frozen baby peas, thawed
1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
3 cups cooked and chilled long grain white rice
3 large eggs
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions:
Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil and the sesame oil in a large sauté pan or wok over medium heat. Add the scallions, peas, and grated carrot all at once, taking care to avoid being splattered by hot oil. Sauté the vegetables for 1 minute, stirring them constantly. Add the rice and stir the mixture occasionally as it heats for 2 to 3 minutes.

Have your child break the eggs into a small bowl and beat them with a fork or small whisk until blended. Then she should move the rice to the perimeter of the pan and pour the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil into the center. Add the eggs and stir them continuously with a wooden spoon until they are soft but not overcooked.

When the eggs are almost fully cooked, stir the rice into them until everything is well mixed. Add the soy sauce and heat for another minute or two, stirring often. Makes 4 servings.

What you need:

Vanilla yogurt
Mixed Fruit (strawberries, bananas, and berries)
Honey
Chocolate chips (optional)
Tall glass
Tablespoon

What you do:

1. Fill your glass about halfway with yogurt.
2. Fill the rest of your glass with mixed fruit.
3. Drizzle honey on top and use a tablespoon to mix everything together.
4. Add a handful of chocolate chips for a finishing touch and dig in!

What you need:

2 celery sticks
Pairing knife
Butter knife
Cutting board
Raisins
Cream cheese or peanut butter

What you do:

1. Wash the celery and use your paring knife to cut it into 4 pieces (about 5 inches long) on the cutting board.
2. Spread cream cheese or peanut butter on the celery sticks with your butter knife.
3. Add raisins and voila! You’ve got ants on a log.

What you need:

- 4 baby carrots
- 1 apple
- Paring knife
- 1 banana
- 1 large plate

Steps:
1. Peel and cut the banana in half and place it in the middle of your plate. The banana will be the body of your rocket.
2. Parent Alert: Use the paring knife to cut a few apple wedges to place below the body of your rocket. The apples will be your rocket fire.
3. Put two baby carrots on each side of the banana. The carrots will be the wings of the rocket.
4. Once you have all the pieces in place, you’re ready for lift off so dig in!

The hunt is on for places where our kids can eat for FREE! So far this is what we’ve found (call to confirm):

Monday: TIffany’s on Rt. 37 E. You need to get an adult entree for $12.99 or more to qualify. Try the ribs…they’re awesome.

Tuesday: IHOP on Rt. 37. Kids eat free from 4 – 10PM. One child per adult meal.

http://www.kidseatfor.com/deals/nj/toms-river/ihop/

Denny’s in Brick – (4 pm – 10 pm)- 1 child eats free with adult purchase.
25 Brick Blvd

http://www.dennys.com/

Boston’s on Hooper/Fischer. Plus they have characters walking around to scare the &^%$ out of your kids.

http://www.bostonsgourmet.com/?q=bostonsgourmet_restaurantpages_tomsriver

Pizza Hut — 5 PM – 8 PM
211 Route 37 E Toms River, NJ 08753

Wednesday: TGI Fridays – 1 free kids meal with an adult entree purchase.
Hooper Ave in Toms River AND Rt. 70 in Brick

IHOP in Brick – 1 child eats free with adult purchase.
1759 Rte 88, Brick

Thursday: IHOP on Rt. 37 E. Kids eat free from 4 – 10PM. One child per adult meal.

http://www.kidseatfor.com/deals/nj/toms-river/ihop/

Friday: IHOP in Brick – Friday – 1 child eats free with adult purchase.
1759 Rte 88, Brick

Saturday: Denny’s in Brick – (4 pm – 10 pm)- 1 child eats free with adult purchase.
25 Brick Blvd

http://www.dennys.com/

If you know of more, send ‘em on over to TomsRiverMom@gmail.com
-Aly