Dec 21, 2011

The Grinch

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, 
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. 
It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. 
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. 
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. 
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. 
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.




Most of these parts stayed on just by moisture. I used the kiwi skin for the eyebrows, dried apricots for the yes, a cut sesame seed for the nose, strawberry and vegan/food dye free Dandies Classic Vanilla Flavor Air Puffed Marshmallows 10oz for the hat. The marshmallows didn't want to stay on, so my daughter and I sewed them together with a needle and thread, and tied it around the hat.  



Dec 20, 2011

Holiday Penguins

I found these Olive Penguins and just had to make them! These took quite a bit more prep than what I usually like to do, but, hey, it was holiday break... well, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated, but I think it's just me, and I wasn't using regular cream cheese.

I first made this cashew cheese the day before because it needs to refrigerate and started on the penguins. They turned out pretty cute and the kids loved them. Another good afternoon snack, and I didn't make as many as I wanted. I will probably still try again next year just for fun!




one of the kids wanted to try... poor little penguin. 





Dec 19, 2011

Afternoon snacking

I was excited for Holiday break as I was going to make some snacking platters for the kids that I couldn't make into boxe-able lunches.

Another veggie Christmas tree! Veggies are so much more fun to eat when they look like a tree.


snap peas and spinach for the tree; sliced turkey, dried cranberries, carrots for the ornaments; clementine for the star. 





Dec 16, 2011

Christmas Tree Platter

Some new friends invited us over for a holiday party, and asked us to bring something to share. Now, I am the person who, when asked to bring something,  I stop by the store and grab a bag of chips and don't even bother to put them in a nice bowl. Because I'm classy like that. Usually I'm just at a loss for things to bring and even forget things like, say, a bowl to put the chips in. Hostessing is not my forte! 

Anyway, I found this idea online and went with it... I even went to the store and bought a holiday platter! 

Broccoli Christmas tree, cauliflower snow, carrot and tomato ornaments! So much fun, so easy, and a hit at the party! 

Later, my mom was inspired and sent me a picture of what she made for their family get together! Yay, I love being an inspiration! 

Reindeer Games

My mom got me a bunch of those big Costco all beef hot dogs so I have been trying to find fun uses for them. Little hot dog reindeer... I am not thrilled with how the antlers turned out, but I will have to figure that out another time! I thought they were pretty cute anyway...

All beef hot dogs, vegan canola mayo and nori for the eyes, ketchup for the bright red nose! 


Dec 14, 2011

Interesting sandwich...

Atticus wanted to make his own sandwich, since I had some homemade gluten free bread in the house.

And this is what he came up with: Banana clementine peanut butter sandwich. He ate the whole thing!


Dec 13, 2011

Gingerbread men

Well, I loved this idea, if I do say so myself! I put some red rice in the rice cooker the evening before and then smoothed it out in a brownie pan and popped it in the fridge over night. The next morning I used my gingerbread cookie cutter and cut the shapes out of the cooled red rice, it worked perfectly!

I used vegan canola mayonaise in a little ziploc bag with a corner cut out to make the "frosting".


On a bed of spinach, with sides of carrots, apples, raisins and pumpkin seeds. 





Dec 12, 2011

Stockings

Hot dog stockings, cut the all beef hot dogs at an angle, and put them together with a toothpick. Pepper jack "cheese" cut and rolled around for the tops of the stockings. Easy and cute!

Dec 6, 2011

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas.

Rice head, mung bean thread beard, apple for his hat with blended carrot for the cross (supposed to be gold).

Dec 5, 2011

Sinterklaas Day

Sinterklaas kapoentje,
gooi wat in m'n schoentje,
gooi wat in m'n laarsje, 
dank u Sinterklaasje.


Putting our wooden shoes out tonight for Sinterklaas! Carrots for his horse... 




 Our shoes out... I don't have any wooden shoes and the kids felt like I was being left out so they put my black heels out, complete with a carrot and apple!