Specials Gift: March 2008

Fresh Ideas Needed

Hello all, I apologize for not updating this for so long, life often gets the best of me which is how it should be, right?!

Be sure to check out three fun new ideas submitted by fellow bloggers below.

The holidays/occasions that I'm going to be needing ideas for next (and I assume you, too) are Mother's and Father's Day and then of course teacher gifts for the end of the school year. So put your thinking caps on, dig out your ideas and SHARE!

Fruit Kabob Centerpiece

Used for my husband's luau themed birthday party

The fruit is on kabobs and pushed into pineapples. The "trees" are carrots with slits on the sides and a green bell pepper on top. Fruit is then filled in on the bottom, it was easy and turned out looking great

submitted by Mandy Hughes

EASTER BUNNY S'MORES

INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

1. Reduce 1 sleeve graham crackers to crumbs.
2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 quart jar.
3. Place 8 marshmallow bunny peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar.
4. Press them up against the glass, but don't squash them.
5. Carefully spoon remaining crumbs in the center of the jar to support the bunnies, pressing down to keep it snug.
6. On top of this pour 1-1/4 cup Easter M&M's.
7. Spoon 1/3 cup brown sugar into center of M&M's, gently pressing with a spoon.
My changes: I did M&M's first, then Peeps, then put combined brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs in baggie. I didn't like how the crumbs made a mess in the jar.

Attach a gift tag giving the following instructions:

1. Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the bunnies into bits with kitchen sheers or cut up with a knife. Return the bunny bits to the mixture. Mix well.
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.
(Makes 9 to 12 bars.)

*Option - leave bunnies whole; combine remaining ingredients and place the bunnies on top; then bake as directed.

*This gift jar may be created to suit any holiday for which marshmallow candies are available.

submitted by Hilary Shirley

Kid Friendly Sushi

Supply list

Rice Krispies
Marshmallows
Butter
Swedish Fish
Fruit roll ups

I made these sushi for my kids to celebrate the Chinese New Year!

1. make rice krispy treats if you don’t have a recipie here is an easy one:
¼ c. butter
10 oz. marshmallows
6 c. Rice Krispies

Melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat on the stove. Pull off heat and add rice krispies. Place in buttered pan.

2. While the Rice Krispies are still warm, butter your hands and take a little ball out. Place a Swedish fish in the middle of the ball and form it into a sushi roll size. Wrap with a fruit roll up. Place on a plate to cool off.

Tips- you need to be able to rebutter your hands a lot so they don’t stick to the rice krispie treats. Also I cut the fruit roll ups in half. You might even want to cut it in thirds, it depends on how big you want your sushi to be. Have fun!

Submitted by Erin Wayland
http://nathananderinwayland.blogspot.com/

Li'L Guppie Vs. Guppie

The Guppie line of multi-tools from CRKT have a unique feature not found in most multi-tools - an adjustable wrench. The larger full sized Guppie features a larger knife, wrench and interchangeable screwdriver tips plus a removable LED flashlight/screwdriver tip holder.

The Li'L Guppie on the other hand is much smaller and lighter than its larger cousin. It also includes a blade and adjustable wrench but the screwdrivers are limited to one flat head and one Phillips head. No LED flashlight on this smaller Guppie but it does feature a bottle opener which is missing on the larger Guppie.

Both versions of the Guppie include removable pocket clips and a carabiner clip.

Available here:

Guppie
Li'L Guppie