Inside Family Fun Online Exclusives
By: Rachel Reed
Our January issue brings the wonder of winter indoors with Inside Family Fun. Read the article here.
In our online exclusive below we share even more fantastic ideas to keep you entertained and warm on those cold January days.
Great Get-together Games
Avoid the “winter blues” and the restlessness that comes with being cooped up inside. Encourage creative play and activities that get the entire family involved.
Parent Sized Fort Construction
Who says Mom and Dad can’t get in on homemade fort building action? Push couches, move end tables, and use kitchen chairs to create a cozy blanket escape! (This is a great place to share stories, nibble on cookies or read a book.)
Scavenger Hunt
Turn this classic adventure into your child’s own unique wonderland! Use themed items from party supply stores such as favorite cartoon characters, favorite animal, television show, singer, etc. and hide them about the house to “discover”. Find innovative ideas at www.birthdaypartyideas.com and get to work on the perfect hunt for your family!
Wonderful Winter Recipes
Brown Sugar Hot Cocoa (About.com)
•3 oz unsweetened chocolate
•⅓ cup water
•4 cups hot milk
•3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
•⅛ tsp salt
In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and water together. Slowly mix in milk, sugar and salt. Whisk until chocolate is smooth and blended.
President’s Hot Chocolate (About.com)
•6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
•6 tbsp sugar
•2 ½ cups milk
•2 ½ cups light cream
•½ tsp vanilla
•Cinnamon, whipped cream and orange zest
Add sugar and cocoa to milk and heat in a saucepan until dissolved. Add the cream, cinnamon and vanilla. Heat until almost boiling. Mix well and serve, topped with whipped cream and a bit of orange zest.
Marshmallow Popcorn (Geocities.com)
•2 Cups Brown Sugar
•2 Cubes butter or margarine
•1 16 oz bag of Marshmallows
•Big bowl of popped popcorn
Melt together over medium heat all ingredients (except popcorn), stirring constantly. When completely melted pour over popcorn, mixing lightly. Eat it straight from the bowl or make it into popcorn balls. Nuts, dried fruit and chocolate candy pieces make great additions to this recipe!
Nutty-Putty (geocities.com)
•3- ½ cups Peanut Butter
•4 Cups powdered sugar
•3 ½ cups corn syrup or honey
•1 6 oz/ pkg of chocolate pieces (optional)
Mix first four ingredients together. Divide into 10 to 15 portions. Dip into melted chocolate pieces for a tasty snack. Store extra portions in plastic freezer bags in refrigerator or freezer. This treat also makes a fun play dough....children can mold it and shape it and play while eating.
Fiddle-Sticks (geocities.com)
•1 small bag of stick pretzels
•1 can chocolate frosting
Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Spoon frosting into saucepan and stir over low heat until frosting is melted. Dip two-thirds of pretzel stick into melted frosting, then place on waxed paper. Repeat with remaining pretzels. Let stand until dry.
Yum-Yums (geocities.com)
•1 pkg caramels
•1 pkg marshmallows
•½ box crisp rice cereal
Unwrap caramels and place in heavy saucepan. Melt caramels over low heat, stirring constantly. Pour cereal into deep bowl. Stick fork into marshmallow, dip marshmallow into caramel sauce, then into cereal, Place finished candies on waxed paper. Eat at room temperature, but refrigerate to keep fresh.
Light Up the Bonfire Recipes
Fire Messy Buns
•2 packages refrigerated biscuits (6-8 servings)
•5 tbsp butter
•3 tbsp corn syrup
•⅓ cup brown sugar
•½ cup pecans, halved
•Cinnamon Sugar
In a pie pan, heat 3 tbsp of the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup over hot coals until bubbly. Add pecans to mixture. In a separate bowl, melt remaining 2 tbsp of butter and dip one side of each biscuit into the butter. Sprinkle biscuit with cinnamon and sugar and press two biscuits together. Repeat with remaining biscuits and layer them over the syrup and pecan mixture in the pie pan. Cover with another pie pan and secure with aluminum foil. Cook over coals for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.
Desert Tortillas
•3-4 flour tortillas
•1 block of almond bark
•1 large snicker candy bar
•Coconut
•Small marshmallows
You can cook this on a fire or in your oven. Put almond bark pieces in the center of the tortillas. Chop up the snickers into dime sized pieces and add them to the tortillas. Cover the snickers with coconut and small marshmallows. Roll the tortillas up like a burrito and put each into its own tinfoil cover. Seal the ends by folding over the tinfoil. Put on the edge of the fire or above the coals or into your oven for about 10 minutes or until hot clear through, then unwrap and enjoy!
