Wyllie - Kids treats: 50 easy, extra-special snacks to make with your little ones

madetobeamomma.com

Avon, Massachusetts

To my two little boys, Jacob and Carter, and any future children we may have. I am so blessed to be your momma and I am so thankful I have the privilege of making these treats with you. You are my absolute biggest blessings in life. You are my joy and my laughter. Love you always, Mommy.

Welcome! First of all, can I just say a thank you and an I am so happy you are here! When I first pursued writing this book, I had doubts that anyone would even want to read it. I felt the same way when I started my blog, Made to Be a Momma, but what I have learned over time is that we as women crave fellowship with other wives and moms who are just like us! I couldnt believe the response on Made to Be a Momma when I started sharing family recipes and stories of my crazy life. There is a constant need and desire to create with our children to help their imaginations flourish and form lasting memories for the few years we have them in our arms. Kids Treats is filled with nostalgic thoughts of my childhood and the special memories I have made by creating with my children so far.

Growing up, I always loved all things crafts and recipes. I remember many afternoons spent with my grandmother that were filled with heading to the store to purchase fabric, carefully cutting out the fabric, and then sewing skirts, pillowcases, purses, and more! She has spent countless hours sharing her talents with me and this is something that I truly cherish. Many afternoons and evenings were also spent cleaning up the kitchen and making meals and desserts with my mother for our family of seven. My mom is a superhero of sorts and has always taught her children the value of homemaking. She is extremely talented in the kitchen and I am thankful she passed a few of those genes on to me. Readers of Made to Be a Momma know that I like to keep things simple in life. I may not always be making things from scratch, but I do love to add my own twist to recipes and make something my whole family will enjoy. Now that I am a mother of two crazy and rambunctious little boys, I have made it my goal to pass on some of the tips and tricks my grandmother and mother taught me, and nothing brings me greater joy than seeing my boys wearing their little aprons with a whisk or spatula in hand. My hope is that this cookbook will inspire you to cook, bake, and create with the little ones whom you love most. Creating with your children may be a little messy, but I promise the smiles and memories you will capture will be worth it. One day I hope my sons and any future children I have will share their memories with their families and that this tradition will continue on from generation to generation.

With my love,

Katie

Do you love to watch your kids play and create in the kitchen? Do they get excited when you pull out baking ingredients and the stand mixer? Do you love seeing their faces when you help them make something that your whole family is excited to enjoy? Now, with Kids Treats you can make the food that comes out of your kitchen as fun as the time you spend making it!

Filled with fifty sweet and savory treats, this book will keep you and your kids smiling for hours. Watch your little ones creativity soar as they go sailing with the in Chapter 7.

Most of these treats are made in small batcheswhich makes them perfect when your kids are looking to do something fun at homebut you should feel free to double, triple, or even halve these recipes depending on where youll be serving them. These treats are perfect for birthday parties, family gatherings, school functions, or even for adult get-togethers like baby showers or anniversary or holiday parties, so do what you have to do to make the recipes work for you and your family.

In addition to the kids treats found throughout the book, youll also find a chapter that educates you on the tools you need to successfully make these snacks. Here, youll find info on common kitchen equipment and techniques that will make cooking easierand stress free!as well as some basic recipes for items like Buttercream Frosting, Cookie Glaze Icing, Sugar Cookies, and more that youll find used again and again throughout the book. Fortunately, all the materials and ingredients used to make these amazing kids treats are easy to find at your local supermarket or craft store or online, which means you can make whichever treat you or your kids crave, whenever you want. So grab your kids and get ready to have fun with your food! Enjoy!

Before you start creating the food thats fun for you and your kids, you need to know what you should have on hand. In this chapter youll find information on the kitchen toolslike a candy melting electric pot, disposable cake-decorating bags, and a cake-decorating paint setthat will help make creating these kids treats fun and easy. Youll also find a variety of basic recipes that youll see used over and over again throughout the following chapters. These recipes will give you the knowledge you need to whip through the serious cooking part of the process and get right to the fun! Also, while these tools and recipes are recommended, if you want to mix it up and do your own thing, go for it! If you want to use a fork to dip your cookies in melted chocolate instead of buying a dipping scoop, thats fine! If you want to use your grandmas sugar cookie recipe instead of the one that youll find here, thats great! Do whatever works for you and your family, but dont forget to have fun, no matter what!

Creating and baking in the kitchen with your kids may be a bit messy at times but it doesnt need to be stressful! In this section you will find some of my favorite go-to kitchen tools to have on hand while creating amazing snacks and desserts with my kids. These simple tools not only make creating treats easier and minimize messes, but many of them, such as the Silpat and cookie scoop, can also be used in everyday baking and cooking, which means that your money will be well spent. That said, you do not have to have these kitchen tools available, but they really do make the time in the kitchen a bit easier. And since easy is so important when youre a parent, you can find all of these kitchen tools in your local craft store, online, and even in your local grocery store.

So what should you have close by whenever you sit down to make delicious treats with your family? Read on!

Candy meltssmall, medallion-shaped chocolate pieces that you can melt to cover cookies, cupcakes, and more in fun, delicious colorsare such a fun way to add something extra sweet and special to your treats. They come in many different colors and flavors and are simple to find online, in your local craft store, or even in some grocery stores. They easily melt in a candy melting electric pot or in the microwave, which makes treat making a breeze! I love to use the Wilton brand medallions because I think they melt the best. If you are having a bit of trouble with the chocolate melting, however, just add a tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil and stir. It should help smooth out the consistency of your chocolate medallions.