It’s a snow day! Hooray! We are in the middle of the ‘bomb cyclone’  – whatever that is – and the kids, and mom, couldn’t be happier! To be honest, going back to real life after holiday break was hard on the four of us. We loved spending all our days together and those first few morning hours on January 2 were tough. So, this snow storm was just what the homesick doctor ordered. Prayers for everyone’s safety and hope you can also stay indoors doing fun cooking crafts. And that mama can pour herself a drink at happy hour!

Since it really is all about the snow today, we are going HAM with the theme and creating a series of snacks and drinks that celebrate the season. These activities will keep the kiddos busy in the kitchen for a good part of the day. Plus, they can snack on their hard work meaning mama won’t have to get up to make a snack every 35 minutes or so.

KIDS’ RECIPES

No Bake Pumpkin Snowballs

This recipe is a great way to get use out of those leftover cans of pumpkin puree you bought on supersale during the holidays.

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin-pie spice
• 3 Tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup raisins

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Form into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.

Snowball Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• ¹/₄ cup sugar
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Powdered sugarHeat oven to 325°F. Combine all ingredients except powdered sugar in bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed.

  Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 18-25 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes; roll in powdered sugar while still warm and again when cool.

Snowman Cinnamon Rolls

• 1 can (17.5 oz) Pillsbury™ Grands!™ refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing SAVE
• 4 oz (from 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened

• Blue gel food color

• small white gumdrops

• small orange gumdrops

• brown M&M’s™ Minis™ chocolate candies or mini chocolate chips

•  Candy sprinkles and colored sugars, as desired

• Small colored gumdrops, as desired

Bake about 10 minutes or until light golden brown and firm enough to turn; turn over, and continue to bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to cooling rack; cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In small bowl, place icing from container. Add cream cheese; beat with spoon until well blended. On flat side of each roll, spread 1 heaping tablespoon cream cheese icing over bottom two-thirds of roll.

For hat, to remaining icing, tint with blue food color to desired color. Spread 2 teaspoons tinted icing to cover unfrosted part on each roll. Slightly flatten white gumdrop; place on hat for pom pom. Press 1 orange gumdrop to form pointed nose; place in center of roll. Place brown candies for eyes and smile. Repeat for remaining rolls. Decorate using photo as a guide.

CRAFT IDEA

Pasta Snowflakes

There are a few different versions of this craft online. I never have the right kind of pasta on hand so this super easy one using penne rigate is perfect for us. We always have that kind of pasta on hand (again, supersale). All you need is some pasta, glue, paint and decorations like buttons or sprinkles.

• Wax paper
• Penne rigate
• paint
• decorations

On a sheet of wax paper, glue pieces of pasta together to resemble a snowflake. Let dry. Once dry, paint in your desired color. Let dry. Once dry, add your decorations.

COCKTAIL RECIPE