Win the new Pink Princess Cupcakes Cookbook

My sweet friends at the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog are offering a contest for my new Pink Princess Cupcakes Cookbook give-away! Please check-out their delicious cupcake site and enter to win!   Cookbook contest! Win Pink Princess Cupcakes by Barbara Beery To enter, leave a comment on their post with your email address telling us why you want to win it! Entries limited to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Winners will be chosen randomly. .Deadline: February 15, 5 pm EST.

Publisher’s description: Little girls will love the princess-themed recipes in this cookbook. Creative decorations for the perfect dessert include magic wands made from white chocolate, crown-shaped cookies, rock candy jewels, and much more that make cupcakes perfect for birthday parties, sleepovers, or fun any day of the week! Easy instructions and a full-color photo for each recipe.

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Barbara Beery’s official site is Kids Cooking Shop and her latest video is below, on making Valentine’s Day cupcakes. Click here for the recipe.

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50% off Kids Cooking Shop SALE!

50% Off EVERYTHING February 1-15 in our
“Cleaning the Kitchen Cabinet” Sale Take advantage of HUGE savings for 2 weeks on this once a year sale from Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop. Evey thing in the shop is included – even our sale merchandise.

Go to http://kidscookingshop.com/ and sign-up at the very bottom of the home page on our email list to receive a coupon code for 50% off everything on the site. Hurry while supplies last and start cooking–up some fun in your kitchen in 2010!

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Be My Valentine Cupcakes

Kids’ Valentine Day Parties are here and we’re sure that everyone will fall in love with these adorable Be My Valentine Cupcakes! Watch our video and see how much fun you and your kids will have making ( and eating!) these cute cupcakes with cookies-on-top for Valentine’s Day ! Watch our cupcake decorating demo video.  http://www.youtube.com/barbarabeerykidscook

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Kids Recipe-Hot Chocolate Cupcakes-in-a Mug

Cold and raining; cold and snowing…We still have plenty of wintry days ahead so why not warm-up with a nice cupcake of hot chocolate? These easy-as-pie chocolate cupcakes baked in a real mug are sure to please and warm-up every child in the house. This makes a great indoor activity that will keep the kids in the kitchen cooking up wintertime fun.

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes about 12

Ingredients

Cooking spray

Chocolate cake mix

Marshmallow Creme

Let’s Bake some Cupcakes!

1. 1. Make cake mix according to package directions in a large mixing bowl. http://kidscookingshop.com/red-batter-bowl Simply coat the insides of oven safe mugs (ceramic, pottery and china) with cooking spray, and then fill the mugs halfway with your favorite chocolate cake batter. We used a mix for German chocolate cake, which is a lighter color than regular chocolate cake and looks more like hot cocoa.
2. Follow the cupcake baking instructions on the cake mix package. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Allow the cakes to cool for about 15 minutes.
3. Top each mug with a generous dollop of marshmallow creme and dig in!

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Shrove Tuesday Kids Pancake Recipe-Blueberry Pixie Pancakes

BLUEBERRY PIXIE PANCAKES

Pancakes in the morning, pancakes in the evening, pancakes at supper time! Who doesn’t love pancakes! If they  happen to include  healthy fresh fruits like blueberries , even better!  Here is a super cute , kid-friendly  and really delicious recipe to stir-up with the kids for supper this evening  to celebrate Shrove Tuesday! The recipe uses homemade pancake batter, but feel free to use your favorite mix to achieve the same results.  The recipe is from my  Fairies Cookbook http://kidscookingshop.com/author-signed-fairies-cookbook

 BLUEBERRY PIXIE PANCAKES

Makes 20 -2 to 3 inch pancakes

 Ingredients

*2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2-3/4 cups blueberries or raspberries, sliced strawberries, apples, peaches or bananas
 

Let’s Start Mixing!

1. Place the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl and whisk together to incorporate ingredients.

2. Add eggs and milk in a separate bowl, then whisk in the melted butter and vanilla extract. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon, but do not beat. The batter will be a little bit lumpy, but that’s O.K..

3. Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, pour pancake batter onto a hot griddle spayed generously with non-stick spray. Place a few blueberries or other fruit of choice on the top side of the pancake. When bubbles form, flip pancake and heat another one to two minutes.

4. Remove pancakes from griddle one at a time with a spatula. Place pancakes a plate and keep in a 200 degree oven covered with foil until ready to serve.

5. Carefully remove pancakes 2-3 at a time from the oven and using assorted shapes of 2-3 inch cookie cutters, cut-our pancakes into your favorite shapes.

6. Serve with heated maple syrup, additional fresh fruits, and a sprinkling of “pixie dust” powdered sugar.

 Eat them while you can…These little blueberry pixie pancakes are “fly-off the plate” delicious!

*Alternately use your favorite pancake mix and add 2 tablespoons sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

 

Batter Up Kids-friendly Kitchen Tip

Freeze any left-over cut-out scraps in a reseal able plastic bag and heat in the microwave for a quick snack another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kids Party Cupcakes-Enchanted Garden Cupcakes

National Chocolate Cake Day is January 27 so let’s celebrate the day by eating chocolate cake! Here’s a super kid-friendly and fun recipe to make, bake and decorate. A creative batch of  chocolate cupcakes that will delight and surprise everyone! And if you don’t feel like making cupcakes, try our Chocolate Flowerpot Cake Mix that you really bake in a flowerpot. http://kidscookingshop.com/flowerpot-chocolate-cake-mix

Enchanted Garden Chocolate Cupcakes

Makes 20 -24 cupcakes

Adapted from the Fairies Cookbook by Barbara Beery

http://kidscookingshop.com/author-signed-fairies-cookbook

 

Cupcake Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix

Milk

2 teaspoons Vanilla

Frosting Ingredients

½ c butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup whole milk or half and half

2 teaspoons vanilla

Red paste food coloring

White candies or white chocolate chips or nibs

 Let’s Start Making Cupcakes!

1. Make cake mix according to package directions substituting milk for water and adding 2 teaspoons vanilla.

2. Divide in to 20 lined cupcake pans filling almost full so that the tops are really big and slightly hang over the side when baked.

3. Cool cupcakes 10 minutes and then remove cupcake liners.

4 Combine frosting ingredients and frost cupcakes and decorate with candies for mushroom spots.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kids Love Peanut, Peanut Butter-and Jelly!

 It’s National Peanut Butter Day, January 24

It’s another national food holiday and this time it’s our all American favorite, Peanut Butter. Nothing says childhood like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but there are so many other ways to enjoy!The cookbook, The Magic of Peanut Butter and Jelly, combines two cookbooks that go together as perfectly as peanut butter and jelly!  And nothing’s more jam-tastic than this combined set of 2 cookbooks, packaged in a beautiful slipcase and priced so unbelievably: you get two for less than the price of one! There are 200 yummy recipes, each featuring either peanut butter or jelly!  Normally priced at $10.00 on Batter Up Kids Cooking Shop, we are offering it for $5.99  until January 31. Get’em while they last! http://kidscookingshop.com/magic-peanut-butter-and-jelly-cookbook-set

Thumbs-Up Cookies recipe is a peanut butter and jelly cookie treat and is one of my family’s personal favorites from my Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts Cookbook   http://kidscookingshop.com/author-signed-delicious-desserts.

 

 

THUMBS-UP COOKIES

Makes 24 cookies

3/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

13/4 cups flour

Jelly or jam (your favorite kind)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugar. Blend in peanut butter, salt, egg, vanilla, and flour. Mix well.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Press your thumb into the center of each ball, creating a 1/2-inch indented spot.
4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes and cool on a rack. Fill centers with your favorite jelly or jam.

 

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Kids Granola Bar Recipe- National Granola Bar Day

National Granola Bar Day is January 20! Granola is a breakfast food and snack food consisting of rolled oats, nuts, honey, and sometimes rice that is usually baked until crispy. During the baking process the mixture is stirred to maintain a loose, breakfast cereal-type consistency. Dried fruits, such as raisins and dates, are sometimes added.   Besides being a great choice for breakfast and snacks, granola bars and granola are often eaten by those who are hiking, camping, or backpacking due to the fact that it is lightweight, high in calories, and easy to store; these properties make it similar to trail mix and muesli.

Here’s a recipe from one of my cookbooks;  Batter Up Kids: Sensational Snacks for a nutritious and fun snack for kids called GROOVY GRANOLA BARS. We are selling this cookbook  on our website at a discounted price of only $8.99- NORMALLY $19.95 for  30 KID-FRIENDLY RECIPES!  Take advantage of this beautifully photographed  kids cookbook  that’s filled with loads of  healthy kid-friendly treats and eats that kids can really make themselves. http://kidscookingshop.com/author-signed-sensational-snacks

GROOVY GRANOLA BARS

Makes 24 bars

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)

1 cup all-purpose flour (or ½ cup whole wheat flour and ½ cup all-purpose flour)   

1/3 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

2/3 cup butter (not margarine) softened

3/4 cup honey

1 cup dried raisins, cranberries, blueberries, or apples

½ cup sunflower seeds, almonds, or other nuts

Let’s Start Baking! Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the dried fruit and nuts. Mix well with an electric mixer until all ingredients are incorporated.

2.. Get your muscles ready. This stuff is thick! Stir in the fruit and nuts until they are mixed into the oatmeal dough. Scoop out dough and press into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.

4. Lift foil on the sides to remove the entire batch from the pan.

5. Cut into bars and cool another 10 minutes before removing cut bars from foil. Store in an air-tight container or individually wrap each one in plastic wrap so they’re ready to go when you are!

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Healthy Kids Snacks-Celebrate National Popcorn Day

Pop-up some fun and enjoy healthy and crunchy popcorn treats on National Popcorn Day! In a matter of minutes popcorn can turn into a healthy, nutritious and delicious treat and with our weekly website special  we are offering discounted pricing on our Old-Fashioned Popcorn Maker, Popcorn Pail Sets and Retro Popcorn Boxes http://kidscookingshop.com/kitchen-appliances-makers  Start popping -up some fun in your kitchen soon!

Here are some of my favorite kid-friendly popcorn recipes that I’ve fixed for my family and have taught in our kids cooking classes.

Check-out our cupcake decorating video for our January Cupcake of the Month, Snowy Popcorn Cupcakes. http://www.youtube.com/barbarabeerykidscook#p/a/u/1/ZD7Us9tcdPM

  

Our Favorite Kids Popcorn Recipes

Pepperoni Popcorn

Makes 12 cups or one big serving bowl

Ingredients

1 cup sliced pepperoni room temperature, each slice cut in half

10 cups salted popped popcorn (1 large microwave popcorn bag)

1 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Let’s Start Stirring!

1. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and toss with hands to combine.

Kids Cooking Shop Kitchen Tip

1. Try making this snack in a foodie assembly line for a kids’ birthday party. Give each child a small bowl and have them dish a scoop of all the ingredients into their own bowl. Let them toss together all ingredients themselves and place their own individual serving into a cellophane bag or party treat bag.

Copyright© Barbara Beery www.kidscookingshop.com   

 

Chocolate Almond Popcorn Balls
Serves 6 (2 per person)

Ingredients

10 cups popped popcorn

1/2 cup honey

1 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter

6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sliced toasted almonds

1 cup white chocolate chips

Cooking spray

Directions

1.      In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine honey, brown sugar, butter, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Cover with plastic wrap and heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until mixture is bubbling and steaming hot. 

2.      Carefully remove bowl from microwave, remove plastic and stir in vanilla.  Set aside.

3.      In a large bowl, mix together the popcorn, almonds, and white chocolate chips.

4.      Stir the honey mixture into the popcorn and toss to coat.

5.      Coat hands with cooking spray and use hands to make 3-inch balls of popcorn.

6.      Individually wrap each ball in plastic wrap and eat within 3 to 5 days.

Kid-friendly Kitchen Tip

Try stove top popcorn instead of microwaveable popcorn for a healthier and tastier recipe. Add or substitute different kinds of nuts in recipe, such as peanuts or pecans!  Chocolate and white chocolate chips may also be substituted with butterscotch or peanut butter chips.

 Copyright© Batter Up Kids Culinary Center 2007

 

Parmesan Rosemary Popcorn

 Ingredients

12 cups popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 bunch rosemary, chopped

¼-1/2 cup olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

 Directions

1.    While popcorn is still hot from popping, stir in the Parmesan cheese, rosemary, olive oil and salt.

2.  Serve-up in individual brown paper bags.

 Kid-friendly Kitchen Tip

Try using different fresh herbs from the garden like parsley& cilantro with a dash of chili powder and cumin or fresh dill with a dash of red pepper flakes.

Copyright© Batter Up Kids Culinary Center 2007

 

 

 

 

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Easy Kids Recipe-Baked Snowflakes

When the weather is cold, snowy and rainy outside that means there will be loads of “inside time” with the kids. My recipe for Baked Snowflakes is a delicious and fanciful treat that’s easy to make with ingredients on hand, creative and fun for kids, and makes a great snack with a cozy cup of cocoa!

 BAKED SNOWFLAKES

Adapted from the Fairies Cookbook by Barbara Beery

Makes 10

 Ingredients

10 flour tortillas, fajita size

1 tablespoon butter, melted

Assorted colored sugars

½ cup powdered sugar

 Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

 

1. Cover tortilla with a paper towel and microwave for 10-15 seconds to warm. Remove from microwave. Fold each tortilla into quarters and then snip out shapes with clean scissors as if to make a paper snowflake; add a few decorative cuts.

2. Place the snowflakes on a foil-lined sheet pan, brush lightly with melted butter and sprinkle each with colored sugar. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned.
3. Remove the snowflakes from the oven and cool 5 minutes.

4. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Purchase the Fairies Cookbook and all  of the Pink Princess Cookbooks at www.kidscookingshop.com

 

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