I have to do research and create a small booklet for work.

I am looking for no-cook or baking only book with recipes that can be done with toddlers in a class setting.

We have a lot of restrictions at the day care, so I am finding it hard to locate much in this area. If anyone has any ideas, recipes, or the names of a good book, I would appreciate your help. Thanks!

Restrictions we have....

The activity has to be simple enough that 2-3 year olds can do the measuring, spreading, stirring etc. Currently we can do cakes, the kitchen has to cook them though. We can't use hot plates, but we can use blenders.

We have food restrictions: no peanut butter, honey, raisins, nuts, grapes, or anything that might be a choking hazard. No chocolate, chips or candy (other than the sprinkles).

We have fallen into the rut of doing mixed fruit, spreading colored frosting on cookies with sprinkles and basic cakes and are looking for something more involved.

Thanks again to anyone who can help me out a little.

Beth

ETA: Sorry, forgot to mention we have to do the activity in the morning (between 8-9) and then it needs to be ready to eat  for snack at 2:30 if it requires any cooking or refrigerator time. Or be something that is make & eat right away.

bump

I don't think that I have any cookbooks that will work, but you might try this website.

http://www.childrensrecipes.com/ 

I hope some of these recipes will work for you!

Angela

How about jello - you could get different molds?

I know I saw somewhere (Parents Mag) something called Dirt - crumbled oreo cookies, jelly worms, ice cream(?).

Good luck. Sounds like fun.

Here are a couple of ideas. Some pre-work will have to be done by the adults.

Guacamole Dip

1 very ripe avocado

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup salsa

2 Tbsp scallions, chopped

tortilla chips

Directions: cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. With a large spoon, scoop the avocado out of its shell and discard the shell. Put the avocado in a large bowl with the sour cream, salsa, and chopped scallions. Mix and mash together with a spoon or fork, smashing up any large pieces of avocado. It should be pretty lumpy when you are done. Serve with tortilla chips.

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Tortilla Pinwheels

1 flour tortilla

1 slice ham or turkey

2 tbsp vegetable cream cheese

1/4 cup lettuce, shredded

Spread the cream cheese over one side of the tortilla. Place the ham or turkey slice on top of the cream cheese. top with shredded lettuce. Roll entire tortilla into a tight roll. Slice into 1" pieces for a snack time pinwheel.

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Berry cups

1 cup blueberries

1 cup strawberries or raspberries

1 cup whip cream

4 small clear plastic cups

Wash the berries, removing any green stems. Divide the red berries between the cups, top with half the whip cream. Cover each up with 1/4 of the blueberries. Top with remaining whip cream.

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Celery Boats

3 stalks of celery

2 Tbsp cream cheese, or any flavored cream cheese

2 Tbsp cheese spread

Top with dried fruits like raisins, diced apricots, etc.

This one also calls for peanut butter but you can just sub the above two spreads. Wash celery and cut stalks in half crosswise making two 3" pieces. Carefully fill each piece with your favorite topping.

Here's two recipes from The Disney Bakery: 30 Magical Recipes.  I looked through the book and found two recipes that don't require any cook time.   I forgot we even had this book.  I just checked and there are 10 wishers.  I'll have to ask DD if she minds if I get rid of it.  We haven't looked at it in ages.

"I Just Can't Wait to be King" Pudding

Makes 2 pudding kings

Ingredients:

3.4 oz package instant pudding (not sugar-free)   The recipes calls for Butterscotch for it's coloring but another flavor could be substituted.

1 1/2 C. Milk

Whole Almonds (The almonds are for the eyes - you could substitute another candy/food item to avoid the 'nuts' issue)

Vanilla Wafers

Black Licorice Strings

Red Heart Candies

Vegetable Oil to grease ramekins

Equipment:

2 Ramekin molds, no more than 4" in diameter

Bowl

Wisk

Knife

Serving plates to unmold pudding

Grease the ramekins well with vegetable oil.

Prepare the pudding as directed on the package using 1 1/2 cups milk instead of 2 and immediately pour into ramekins.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until set.

To unmold, run a dull knife around the edge of the pudding, making sure to reach the bottom.

Place your serving plate upside down on top of the ramekin and invert so that the ramekin is now upside down and the serving plate is right side up.

Slowly remove the ramkein.  If the pudding does not come out of the ramekin right away, immerse the bottom of the ramekin in a bowl of warm water for about 5 - 10 seconds and try again.  You might have to shake it a bit to loosen.

Decorate the pudding to look like Simba the lion:  Use whole almonds (or substitute) for the eyes, cut vanilla afers in half for the ears, cut a triangle from another vanilla wafer for the nose, cut black licorice for the whiskers, and use a small red candy for the mouth.  Pudding is best eaten the same day.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Pumbaa & Timon's Candy Green Grub

Makes 20 - 30 insects.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup softened butter

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

Food Coloring

All-purpose flour (to knead)

1/2 teaspoon raspberry, lemon or orange extract

Licorice string

Miniature chocolate chips

Decorative candies

Equipment:

Sieve

Medium Bowl

Wooden Spoon

Cutting Board

Plastic Wrap

Sift  3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar into bowl.

Add corn syrup, butter, salt, vanilla extract and stir together.

Sift 1/4 cup of the remaining confectioners' sugar onto the cutting board and turn dough out onto board.

Knead dough, adding as much of the sifted sugar as necessary so that the dough is soft, smooth, and not sticky.  Divide into 2 or 3 portions (depending on how many different colors you want) and wrap each in plastic

Dust board with flour.  Take one portion of dough and begin by adding one drop coloring and your favorite flavoring and knead until thoroughly combined.  Get as gross or as gorgeous as you want with the colors, but remember, a little goes a long way.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Take small pieces of dough and shape into tasty insects.  Here are some ideas:

• Ladybugs - attach a small ball (head) to a larger one (body) and add chocolate chips for spots and small pieces of licorice for legs
• Slugs or Snakes - roll a small pieces into a thick tube-shape and curve.  With the dull side of the knife create ridges.  Don't forget a small piece of candy for the eye.
• Rainbow Bugs - take small pieces from each olor of dough and knead together.  Don't mix them too well or it will all turn gray.
• Cutout Bugs - if you have small cookie cutters, you can roll out the dough and cut as you would for cookies.  Dont forget to sprinkle flour on the rolling pin.  Decorate as desired.

Cover and refigerate until ready to serve.

Thanks girls, there are a couple listed here that I can use even if I have to tweak them a bit.

There would be soooo much more I could do if our restrictions weren't so severe. I guess thats gov't red tape even at the day care level, LOL.