This is another cooking idea that isn’t necessarily something you can eat, but your kids will still have a blast!  I think that the most important part of cooking with kids is that you are having fun and that they are learning how to follow directions and measure out ingredients.  It doesn’t always have to yield food.

This is also perfect timing for Halloween.  Most outfits are not complete without a little face paint and now you don’t even have to make that extra trip to the store to buy it or raid your make-up case, ruining your favorite tube of lipstick.  You just have to open your pantry.

Here is a recipe for homemade face paint:

3 Tbs Cornstarch
1 Tbs Flour
3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
½ tsp. Liquid food coloring

Mix cornstarch and flour together in a bowl. Gradually stir in Karo syrup and water until smooth. Divide mixture into individual containers as needed and tint each one with the food coloring of your choice. Leave one batch un-tinted.

Follow this link to find several more homemeade face paint recipes -> Homemeade Face Paint Recipes

Growing up, I remember that part of carving pumpkins was always getting to eat the seeds afterwards.  I never really paid any attention to how my parents roasted the seeds, but I was always more than eager to be the taste tester.  Flash foward several years later and now I am the one carving pumpkins with my kids.  I have all the seeds, but haven’t a clue what to do with them.  So, I did a little searching and found two very yummy recipes for preparing pumpkin seeds.  Enjoy!

Here is what you will need to make Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds:

-2 cups separated and dried pumpkin seeds (from your jack-o’-lantern)

-1/4 cup melted butter

-2 tbsp. sugar

-1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

-1/2 tsp. cumin

-1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Here is how to make them -> Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds Tutorial

Here is what you need to make Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Clusters (my favorite!):

-8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped

-2 cups hulled and roasted pumpkin seeds

-wax paper

-2 cookie sheets

Here is how to make them -> Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Clusters Tutorial

I am always on the hunt for new dinner ideas that will please my picky eaters and that don’t include hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, or pizza.  Sometimes I think my kids think those are the four major food groups!  I came across this recipe for tortellini totem poles the other day and I am so excited to try it out.  My plan is to place all the ingredients out in bowls on the counter and then let my kids make thier own.  I think they will have a blast making them and because they did it all themselves they will hopefully be more likely to eat and enjoy it.  I will probably leave out some of the ingredients that aren’t as kid friendly and substitute others according to what I have on hand.

Here is what you need:

• 2 cups tortellini (cheese, meat, vegetable – your choice!), cooked, drained and cooled
• 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese (bocconcini or cut into 1-inch cubes) — I will probably use whatever cheese I have on hand.
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup black olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup cucumber peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup pepperoni slices
• 1/4 cup Italian dressing — I will probably use ranch dressing instead.

Here is the link to the tutorial -> Tortellini Totem Poles

Photo Credit:  Food Network