Fun food for after school treats

Recipes Provided by the Fayette County Extension Service

Ants On A Log

Celery stalks

Peanut butter

Raisins

Wash and scrub celery. Break celery stalks into 3-4” lengths. Spread peanut butter in celery cavity.

Decorate with raisins.

Butter Balls

Heavy whipping cream

Pour 1-1/2 tablespoons whipping cream into a clean baby food or other small jar with tight fitting lid.

Have the children shake the jars until a solid butter forms. Pour off buttermilk. Use a wooden popsicle stick to work the remaining buttermilk from the butter. Wash the butter several times in cold water.

Spread on bread or crackers.

1 cup whipping cream will make about 1/3 cup butter.

Note: Little arms may tire before the butter is made. Do activity in pairs. Pick a song that takes about 20 seconds to complete and sing until time to change hands.

Cheese Flags

Cheese slices

Thin pretzel sticks

Cut each slice of cheese in four slices, either square or triangle shapes.

Help children thread cheese onto pretzel to form a flag.

Raggedy Ann/Andy Faces

Bread slices

Creamy peanut butter

Shredded carrots (hair)

Apple wedges (mouth)

Raisins, banana slices, grape halves, cherry halves, celery slices, etc.

Cut bread in round shapes with a biscuit or cookie cutter. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on bread rounds. Let children select the fruits/vegetables they want to place on bread for facial and head features. They may decide that apple wedges make great ears or that the shredded carrots are good for a beard.

Alphabet Bars

Graham cracker squares

Creamy peanut butter

Raisins

Spread peanut butter on crackers. Ask children to make a letter of the alphabet by arranging raisins on the peanut butter. They could choose a letter from their first name.

Porcupine Balls

1 cup chunky peanut butter

2 tablespoons margarine

1-1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

2-3 cups of crisp rice cereal

Place cereal in a plastic zipper bag, seal, removing as much air as possible. Have children use their hands to lightly crush cereal.

Combine peanut butter, margarine and sugar in a large bowl. Have children blend the ingredients by pressing the mixture with the back of a spoon. Mix in cereal.

Give each child a tablespoon full of the mixture to shape into a ball. Porcupine balls may be chilled to make them firmer.

Bread Initials

2 envelopes yeast

3 cups of warm water

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons sugar

8 cups flour

Soften yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water. Combine dry ingredients and add the softened yeast and enough water to make the a soft dough. Knead dough until elastic. Give each child a ball of dough and have them roll it into two pencil shaped pieces. Ask them to shape dough into their first and last initial.

Place each pair of initials on a greased cookie sheet with the edges touching to connect the initials. Let dough rise for 20-30 minutes. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes.

Note: You can place about 1/3 cup of unkneaded dough in a small plastic bag and let the children work it with their hands until elastic.

Pudding In An Instant

Instant pudding, various flavors

1/4 cup ice cold milk per child

Plastic cup with solid lids (no straw holes)

Place one tablespoon of instant pudding mix in each child's cup. Add 1/4 cup ice cold milk. Place the lid on securely and let the child shake up the ingredients.

Banana Mountains

Bananas

Fruit cocktail canned in juice

Cottage cheese

Give each child 1/4 to 1/3 of a banana. Have children cut their portion into coin shaped pieces with a plastic fork. Top with 1-2 tablespoons cottage cheese. Spoon a tablespoon of fruit cocktail over the top.

Pyramid Pizza

English muffins

Grated cheese

Spaghetti sauce

Pineapple tidbits

Cooked ham

Slice the English muffins. Spread each half with a small amount of sauce. Give each child a half. Have them arrange the pineapple, cheese and ham on their portion/

Note: The pyramid pizza contains one item from each block of the food pyramid.

Reindeer Sandwich

Whole wheat bread

Creamy peanut butter

Raisins

Maraschino cherries

Small pretzel curls

Cut bread into one large triangle and two small triangles. Spread with peanut butter. Have children arrange raisin eyes, cherry nose and pretzel antlers on bread.

Leaves, Leaves and More Leaves

Purchase a variety of leafy greens:

Lettuce, cabbage (red), cabbage (green), Chinese cabbage, savoy cabbage, spinach, collards, kale, bok choy, turnip greens, mild salad dressing.

Select 3-4 leafy greens from the above suggestions.

Wash greens and pat dry. Introduce the vegetables to the children one at a time. Ask questions about each green as you introduce it. Let children tear a leaf of each green into bite sized pieces and place in individual salad bowls. If children want a dressing, toss with a mild flavored salad dressing, or use a teaspoon of dressing for a dip.

Rooting for Vegetables

Purchase a variety of root vegetables:

Daikon radish, red radish, turnips, carrots, parsnips rutabaga and mild dip.

Wash and remove the skin from vegetables. Introduce vegetables to children one at a time. Cut them into coin-shaped pieces and let children dip them into a mild dressing before tasting if desired.

What Was I?

Purchase a variety of dried fruits for which you can find the fresh counterpart.

Dried fig, dried peach, prune, banana chips, dried apricot, dried apple, raisins, fresh fig, fresh peach, fresh plum, fresh banana, fresh apricot, fresh apple, and fresh grapes.

Have the children taste the fresh fruit and its dried fruit counterpart and describe the flavors.

Animal Cookies

For each child, provide:

1/2 tablespoon of margarine

1/2 tablespoon molasses

3 tablespoon flour mixture

Decorations: raisins, nuts, maraschino cherries, chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc.

Flour mixture:

1-1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Give children clear plastic punch cups to mix their dough. First, stir margarine and molasses together. Add the flour mixture and continue stirring. Slowly add up to 3/4 teaspoon flour and stir until a stiff dough forms. Have children pinch dough an pat it into the shape of an animal on a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. Try to keep the dough at least 3/8 inch thick. Place each cookie on a greased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

Easy Pizza

1 refrigerator biscuit

1 tablespoon tomato sauce

1 inch square sliced cheese

Selection of additional chopped ingredients: onion, black olives, mushrooms, pepperoni, green pepper, broccoli florets, etc.

Place biscuit between two sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap. Have each child flatten a biscuit with the palm of a hand. Have children add tomato sauce and cheese. It may be easier to have them squeeze the tomato sauce from a squeeze bottle than to spoon it on. Let them select additional ingredients to put on their pizzas. Bake about six minutes at 475 degrees.—DP

Back to Dining Guide Home Page | Back to the top of the page