 Halloween Candy Is Not Just For Trick or Treaters
The first day of October means it is officially time to start preparations for Halloween. When I think of Halloween, I think of dressing up as a fun character or animal, spending time with family, and eating lots of Halloween candy. When the holiday comes around, stores start stocking up and there are aisles upon aisles filled with every type of candy you can think of for the last night of October when the kids can go from house to house and trick or treat. I always find myself purchasing multiple bags of candy to give out, while the kids always end up coming home with their own stash of candy. After a long night of doorbell ringing and candy counting, they always come home with way more candy then they need, so I usually allow them to pick a certain amount for themselves, and then I find other uses for the rest of the candy. Here are just a few ideas for what to do with your extra Halloween candy. 1. Bake With The Candy If you are like me and love to bake, this extra assortment of candy gives you a chance to try some new recipes with the different candy your kids have brought home. If you are creative, you can go beyond the regular chocolate desserts or candy corn topped cupcakes. Using this candy also helps save you from a trip to the grocery store or for having to spend more money next time you want o whip up a delicious holiday dessert. 2. Use Them As Decorations Halloween candy these days comes wrapped in fall themed packages so that companies can sell more and say that they are different than the rest of the year. This is a good opportunity for you to use the candy, and the wrappers, to help decorate your home and make it look more festive. One of my favorite ways to do this is to sprinkle pieces of wrapped candy on my formal dining table with the rest of my fall decorations. This is a fun way to add a little touch to your fall table. You can even leave them there for Thanksgiving or when you host a get together so your guests can have an extra treat for after dinner. You can also use Halloween candy in candle holders. If you buy a clear candle holder, you can fill them with different candies, my favorite to use are candy corn, and then place your candle in. The candy will act as a support to hold the candle up and will give them a nice fall look. 3. Use The Candy As A Reward For When Your Kids Are Doing Chores Here is a little trick to help keep your house extra clean. Even though your kids will receive their own Halloween candy, there is a good chance they will eat it all within a week or maybe two once you have allowed them only a certain amount to keep. After that, you can use the candy as a reward for when they get their chores done. Each chore can have a certain amount of candy that they can receive and it will be a fun way for them to help keep the house clean while also allowing them to have some of their candy back in smaller portions. 4. Give Some To Those Who Did Not Get Any Once the top 3 tips have been finished and you find that you still have Halloween candy left over, you can find a place to donate your candy or just find someone to give it to who may not receive treats like this. I always love to find ways to give back and with the loads of candy that the kids always end up with, I love to give some of it away knowing whoever is receiving it appreciates it. I love having the kids go with me or having them pick out the candy to give away so that they get to play a part in giving back as well and they can see that Halloween isn’t just about candy and costumes. While Halloween candy is fun to give away to all of the costume dressed children, you can use it for more than just that. Even if you do not have kids that are bringing home loads of candy, you may find that you have leftovers from handing candy out, which I always do, so you can try these tricks as well. You can even sneak a few pieces here and there for yourself. ☺ Happy Halloween!
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 Stress Free Baking With Kids
While I love to bake all kinds of desserts and treats, I find that it can be hard to spend the necessary time to bake when with kids running around the house who constantly are asking when it will be ready. Therefore, I love to find ways to incorporate them into the baking process so that they can see how it is done and to help keep them busy while it is baking. Before the baking process begins, the kids and I like to sit down together and pick out what we want to bake next. This way they are choosing something they want to try and they get to see the different ingredients and steps needed to make each different dessert. Once the decision is made, it is time to search the pantry to see what ingredients we have and then head to the store for the ingredients that we don’t. If you have multiple kids, this is a great opportunity to have them take turns looking for different ingredients in the house and then helping you make a list for what you still need. Once the shopping is over, the real work begins. I like to give each kid a task for the baking preparations so that there is not chaos in the kitchen for who should be doing what. Each time we bake I like to alternate their tasks so that they get to try new things and they do not get bored. We all take turns reading the directions and following the steps before the dessert goes in the oven. This teaches them to follow directions and to learn to measure correct amounts. Once everyone has done their steps and the dessert is in the oven, the waiting begins. There are multiple ways to pass the time while the dessert is baking that will help keep the kids calm and focused. This could be a good time for them to do some of their homework or to do other chores around the house. Depending on what you are baking, there may be other preparations like decorations or frosting to be made that they can help you with while you are waiting. The key is to keep them busy so that you are not all staring at the oven or having them constantly ask if it is ready yet. Find what works best for you and your kids and keep it consistent every time you bake. If they know that it is homework time every time something is baking, this will create a great routine that helps keep them focused. Baking can seem tedious or time consuming, especially with kids, but you can try some of these steps to incorporate them into the baking and you will find that it can be a lot less stressful. Not only less stressful, but even fun. You are getting your kids involved and teaching them new tricks that they can use as they grow up. Enjoy trying your next recipe with your kids and happy baking! |
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