Summer is all about taking it easy and keeping things simple, but when the sun hides and the rain keeps the kids cooped up inside this can be a challenge. But the following recipes can help. From popcorn and water to milk mud puddles and marshmallow rainbows – the fun is endless!
Clouds and Rain
This is an extremely simple snack that works well for two to five year olds and groups of kids. The secret to its success is in the name – calling it popcorn and water doesn’t elicit the same response. Try serving the clouds in colourful bowls and the rain in clear glasses with paper umbrellas. It’s fun to spread a blanket on the floor and have an indoor picnic with this rainy day snack.
Ingredients
- Popcorn
- Water
Directions
- Prepare popcorn according to directions.
- Fill glasses or cups with water. Add a paper umbrella for style.
Jumping in Mud Puddles
After an afternoon of splashing outdoors in the cool rain, kids will enjoy coming in for this warm snack.
Ingredients
- 500 ml chocolate milk
- 8 gingerbread boy cookies
Directions
- Warm chocolate milk on the stove over medium heat stirring often to prevent scalding, or warm the milk for 2 minutes in the microwave.
- Pour into 4 flat-bottomed soup bowls.
- Dunk cookies feet first into the milk and enjoy!
Dirt
An old favourite that parents and kids can prepare and enjoy together.
Ingredients
- 1 package instant chocolate pudding
- 1 package dessert whip (i.e. Dream Whip)
- milk (amount according to pudding and dessert whip packages)
- 2 cups oreo cookie crumbs
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup butterscotch chips
- gummy worms (optional)
Directions
- Prepare pudding and dessert whip according to package directions and let set for 5 minutes.
- Mix pudding and dessert whip together.
- Add 1 cup oreo cookie crumbs, ½ cup chocolate chips and ½ cup butterscotch chips and mix.
- Pour into individual serving dishes.
- Press gummy worms into the pudding mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining cookie crumbs on top.
Rain Cloud Rainbow Necklaces
A craft and snack in one!
Ingredients
- 1 package large white marshmallows
- 1 package coloured mini marshmallows
Directions.
- Measure and cut a piece of white, black or transparent thread long enough to wear as a loose necklace.
- Thread it through a needle with and knot the end.
- Pierce the marshmallows with the needle one at a time and push them to one inch of the end of the thread.
- Continue stringing the marshmallows until about one inch of thread remains.
- Remove the needle and tie the two ends of thread together.
- Wear around your neck and eat as you please!
Fruit Cones
This is a fun healthy snack for all ages. Toddlers and preschoolers can serve themselves and school aged children can help with the preparations.
Ingredients
- 1 can of aerosol whipped cream
- 8 ice cream cones
- 8 maraschino cherries
- A variety of fruit such as:
- ½ cantaloupe
- ½ honeydew melon
- ½ pineapple
- ¼ medium watermelon
- 2 bananas
- 1 apple
- 1 small bunch of grapes
- 1 nectarine
- 1 peach
- 1 cup each of blueberries, saskatoon berries, raspberries and strawberries
Directions
- Prepare the fruit by removing melon from rinds, pitting the nectarine and peach, skinning the pineapple, husking and cleaning the berries, coring the apple and peeling the banana. Cut large fruit into small bite-sized pieces.
- Put each fruit in a separate bowl.
- Scoop fruit into ice cream cones. Top with whipped cream and cherries.
These five recipes are truly fun and tasty rainy day savers that will turn a summer bummer into a summer sizzler and help keep parents and kids in high spirits. The following meal ideas are also great on a rainy day: Hearty Soups in Under 60 Minutes and Chipotle Chili: A Smokey Chili With Zing. They too will help you have fun and stay dry.
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