APPLE TURKEYS
These are fun to make. The tail feathers can be colored mini-marshmallows, gumdrops or ring cereal. The feet can be whatever you decide--such as gum drops or candy corn.
Need: apples, large marshmallows, candy corn and colored toothpicks.
1. The apple is the body of the turkey.
2. Add colored mini-marshmallows or gum drops to 5 or 6 toothpicks; stick them in one end of the apple, like a fan.
3. Use a toothpick for the neck. Use a marshmallow for a head. Tiny raisin pieces make the eyes and a candy corn for the beak.
4. Use 3 yellow toothpicks for legs (in a triangular position so your turkey can stand up) (Sample and Photo by KidActivities)
Personally, I like to eat the spice gum-drops! When you are making food crafts with children, make sure to have a few extra pieces for the kids to munch on!
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ICE-CREAM CONE CORNUCOPIA
Put little cookies, raisins, nuts, M&M's, and pretzels into an ice cream cone (the ones that are pointed) to make a cornucopia snack. Use icing/frosting to hold them in.
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NO COOK PUMPKIN PIE (Individual servings)
Give each child a cup. Into their cup put a large scoop of canned pumpkin, marshmallow crème, cool whip, and pumpkin pie spices. Children then mix and spread it on graham crackers and eat. Idea of Dare-to-Disturb
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NO BAKE PUMPKIN PIE
Individual recipe:
Small custard-sized ready to eat--pie crusts
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon prepared whipped topping
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. The recipe is then ready to eat; it may be refrigerated or frozen.
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PUMPKIN DIP
4 c. powdered sugar
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
1 can (30 oz.) pumpkin pie filling
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
Combine sugar and softened cream cheese until well blended. Beat in remaining ingredients. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
This dip is good with gingersnaps
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THANKSGIVING SNACK MIX
This is great to serve as a snack or to tie up prettily in a baggie with raffia and a note explaining the symbolism of the ingredients! If you're going to put this out in a bowl for children or guests to munch on---write the symbolic ingtedients on a card and place it near the treat for all to see!
Ingredients:
2 cups Bugles corn snacks (horn of plenty)
1 cup candy corn (corn that pilgrims ate at the first Thanksgiving)
1 cup dried fruit (a sweet harvest)
2 cups pretzels (arms folded in thanks)
1 cup nuts or sunflower seeds (a bountiful harvest)
Recipe makes 8 servings
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FRIENDSHIP FRUIT SALAD
Ask each child to bring in a piece of fresh fruit or a can of fruit. Have them chop the fruit with a plastic knife. Mix all together in a big bowl and serve. May top with miniature marshmallows and/or add some dry vanilla pudding (or cool-whip) and shredded coconut to the fruit to make it special.
The extra cans of fruit left over can be donated to the local food pantry.
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APPETIZER CENTERPIECE
To stabilize the turkey body, slice a piece of melon from the bottom. Alternate cheese cubes and grapes onto long tooth picks. Put the (feathers) fruit and cheese skewers near the back of the melon. At the sides, insert red and yellow pepper strips. Insert a small pear in the front of the melon for the head. Complete the decorations using read and yellow pepper pieces and additional cheese!
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ANOTHER FUN APPETIZER IDEA! BREAD BOWL and DIP TURKEY
Ingredients: Round loaf of bread--scooped out in one piece or cubes--your choice, favorite bread dip (such as spinach dip), cut up veggies, long tooth picks and skewers
OK get ready for this one! The scooped out bread bowl with the dip in it-- is the body of the turkey. Place the scooped out bread and put it where the turkey's head would go. Next thread veggies on the really long toothpicks or skewers...those are the tail feathers! Improvise with veggie bits for the wattle and eye...If platter is large enough, surround this guy with additional veggie dippers. Love this one!
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How cute are these?!
Pilgrims "Reeses Peanut Butter Cup" Hats... Attach hat tops with frosting. Cookie base can be made using ginger snaps, striped round cookies or small sugar cookies. An orange chicklet is used for the buckel.
PILGRIM HATS #2 using Marshmallows
24 round chocolate striped cookies, 12 ounce pack of chocolate chips, 24 marshmallows, Tube yellow frosting (Makes 24)
1. Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them well apart.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler.
3. One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and promptly center it atop a cookie.
4. Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick. Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators' frosting buckle on the front of each hat.
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Turkey Cookies by Pillsbury ... Candy corn feathers are attached using chocolate frosting. The eyes are small baking bits with a dab or dark frosting in the center. Orange tube frosting is squiggled on for the beak and feet! This decorating would also be adorable on top of cupcakes! The candy corn would adhere nicely to the frosting...
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FUN TURKEY SANDWICH
Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out turkey shapes from wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter. Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers.
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PEANUT BUTTER TURKEY TREATS (A little different than above)
1. Using a large, turkey-shaped cookie cutter, cut cookie shapes out of toast.
2. Spread toast turkeys with peanut butter.
3. Add corn candies for feathers.
4. Add raisins for eyes.
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MINI CORNUCOPIAS
Make mini cornucopias using bugles and Trix cereal for snack.
The kids can create their own by adding some peanut butter inside the bugle and then adding a few pieces of the trix. They come out cute and the kids love them!
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BOUNTIFUL COOKIES
Both an activity and snack in one! Yummy for all ages!
Bake or purchase sugar cookies that are cut out in Thanksgiving shapes. (Turkeys, pilgrim hats, pumpkins, etc.)
Place containers of "autumn" colored frosting, sprinkles, candy corn, and other decorations on the table. Children decorate as desired!
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OREO TURKEY
To make one turkey, you need two Double Stuff Oreo cookies, candy corn and a chocolate covered raisin (Raisinettes)...
Open one of the Oreos. The side with the filling is the base of the turkey. (Eat the other part!) Take the other cookie and stand it upright in the filling. Stick pieces of candy corn in the filling of the upright cookie for feathers and place the raisin in front of the body for the turkey's head.
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OREO TURKEY (Version #2)
Oreo cookie, Candy Corn, Hershey Kiss--
OPTIONAL: Green icing (or white with green food coloring)
Red icing or small piece of red licorice.
1. Divide the Oreo into two pieces without breaking the cookies.
2. Place four or five pieces of candy corn around the top of the Oreo cookie that has the icing.
3. Place the flat part of the Kiss in the icing at the bottom of the Oreo.
OPTIONAL IDEAS:
Add green icing to the other half of the Oreo so the Turkey will look like it is standing up.
Add a touch of red icing or a small string of red licorice to make the waddle. Eyes can be added using small pieces of icing.
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CORN CAKES
A fun snack using Jiffy cornbread mix....
Make dollar-sized corn pancakes from the mix; fry them on an electric skillet or griddle.
Top mini-cakes with butter and other toppings the children can bring in--such as jelly, jam, honey, etc. (or the program supply toppings)
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TURKEY GLOVE
Need: plastic gloves (deli kind)
Popped Popcorn (Made into popcorn balls if able to)
Candy corn or Reeses pieces.
• Fill the fingers with candy corn and the thumb with popcorn.
• Place the ball in the palm of the bag.
• Glue an eye on and then twist the bag.
• Place cardboard feet on bottom.
• Don't forget the little red waddle over the nose/beak.
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CRANBERRY SAUCE... This one is for you at home--so simple and very good! The kids also like this one...
1 can whole cranberries (not jellied)
1 can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 cup walnuts
1 cup pecans (Adjust amount of both nuts to suit your taste)
In a medium size bowl, gently fold together cranberries, mandarin oranges, walnuts, and pecans. Serve cold.
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HOT & COLD BEVERAGES
PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
4 servings, about 1 cup each
1 qt. (4 cups) milk
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Butterscotch Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1. PLACE all ingredients in large pitcher with tight-fitting lid; cover. Shake vigorously 1 minute or until well blended.
2. POUR evenly into 4 glasses. Serve immediately. (Mixture thickens as it stands. Thin with additional milk, if desired.)From Kraft Food Website
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PUMPKIN SPICE HOT COCOA - Wonderful for November evenings!
6 cups of milk
6 packets of powdered hot chocolate OR ½ lb. of dark chocolate bits
1 1/2 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
Lots of whipped cream
Cinnamon
Heat milk to almost boiling. Place hot chocolate mix into mugs and thoroughly mix in ¼ T of pumpkin pie spice in each cup. Pour in hot milk and stir well. Load on the whip cream. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Recipe and photo thanks to No Fuss Fabulous Serves 6
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ZESTY PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 ice cubes
Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately with drinking straws.
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APPLE CIDER served warm or cool is the perfect beverage for a Thanksgiving gathering. To fill the room with a delicious aroma, fill a crock-pot with apple cider. Add 2 or three cimmamon sticks.
Optional: Add 1/2 cup of maple syrup or orange juice. Simmer on low. Mmmmm, I can already smell it!
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Other Thanksgiving Activities
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