Kai Wants a Popsickie

A fan sent us the most adorable video of her baby!

Christina's Ham and Spinach Creation

Christina writes:

I love to experiment with new recipes at lunch time. This is one that I
thought was awsome. 
 
Melt 2 table spoons of butter in a shallow sauce pan. Drop 3/4 of a cup of spinach
leaves. Make sure it is packed really tightly. Rip or chop thin slices of deli ham
into small strips. put both spinach and ham into the pan before the butter starts to
burn. Then take 2 small handfuls of cheese and melt it over the spinach and ham
mixture. When the spinach is soggy and some what dark, remove from heat and serve
while it is still warm. 

By the way, this was a recipe I made up.

Spatulatta replies:

Hey Christina, thanks for your creative recipe!  We love spinach and ham.  
This is a great way to use holiday leftovers.

Keep cookin!

We have a Winner!

Congratulations Theresa!

Theresa from Maricopa, AZ is the winner of our Patchwork Paté New Years Eve Goodie Basket. Theresa will be receiving her basket in time for her New Year's bash.

The contest is run in a very scienticfic way...not! We put numbered balls in a bucket and then Liv and Belle close their eyes and take turns selecting a ball.

Thank you all for entering the contest and joining our Spatulatta Mama mailing list. And we'd like to give a round of applause for all the dads who signed up as well. Look forward to promotions designed just for you.

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts are such a traditional winter treat that there's a song about them - sing along as you roast your own chestnuts.

Yield	4-6 servings
Time	30-45 minutes
Tools	knife baking sheet or cast iron pan clean kitchen towel
Ingredients	24 uncracked chestnuts
Directions	Preheat oven to 400. Have an adult carve an X into the flat side of each chestnut (otherwise they will explode) and place on the baking sheet. Bake about 30 minutes, until pressing a chestnut cracks the shell open easily. Wrap chestnuts in a towel until ready to eat. Squeeze open the shell, peel off shell and nut coating, and enjoy.

Nakima's Moldy Sandwich :)

Hi, my name is Nakima [Na-ke-ma].  I am 12 years old and I love making sandwiches
especially a moldy sandwich.  This sandwich is good for an April Fool's snack.

You will need: 

• 2 tablespoons of peanutbutter
• 1 package mixed food coloring
• 2 slices of bread
• 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon of jelly
  

The tools are:

• 1 dull kitchen knife
• 2 small bowls.

Creating green peanut butter:

• Use the knife to mix peanut butter and 4 drops of blue food coloring in a bowl. Combining these ingredients will turn the mixture green.
• Put aside two thirds of green peanut butter for the sandwich filling.

Making the mold:

• First use the knife to lightly dab green peanut butter patches on top of one slice of the bread.
• Next, sprinkle a little of the powdered sugar on some of the patches and tap it in with your finger. The sugar will take on a gauzy look.
• Combine 2 drops from each color of food coloring in the second bowl. Dab the mixture on or near the green areas to create blotches that look like black mold spores.

Assembling the sandwich:

• Use the other slice of bread, the jelly and the remaining 2/3 of the green peanut butter to make a sandwich.
• Make it a little sloppy so that some goo drips over the sides of the bread.

Pulling the prank:

• Wrap sandwich in plastic.
• Put it n your lunch bag and get ready for some stares during LUNCH TIME or AT HOME.
• LET YOUR PARENTS OR FRIENDS know that it is just a prank so they won't get too worried.

And that is how you make a moldy sandwich.
Bye

Ham St. Paul from Miss O & Friends

Here's a breakfast goodie from our pals at MissO&Friends. They have the coolest learning games and activities. Check 'em out!

You will need:

• 2 eggs
• 1 small onion
• 2 slices of bread
• Ham
• Salt & pepper
  

Directions: (get an adult to be your assistant)

Chop onions then put in pan and cook until onions are golden brown.

Leave onions in pan and crack eggs over them.

Using spatula, keep moving the eggs (like you would with scrambled eggs). Chop the ham and add.

When the eggs become one piece they are done.

Now put on one piece of bread and sprinkle salt and pepper on egg. Now put other piece of bread on top of eggs.

Eat.

Claudia's Yellow Cake

Check out this recipe from Claudia. It's a classic that's always a winner!
Thanks Claudia :)

-Team Spatulatta

You'll need:

• Jello- Pudding Mix
• 3 Eggs per layer ( 2 layers)
• 1 cup of water ( per layer)
• 2 boxes of Pillsbury-Super Moist Cake Mix
• 1/3 cup of vegetable oil per layer ( 2 Layers)
• 1 container of Vanilla Frosting
• 1 container of Chocolate Frosting
• 1 Stick of UnSalted butter
  

Directions:

Mix 1 sick of butter with 3 eggs,
Pillsbury Moist Cake mix,
and Jello Pudding Mix, and 1/3 cup of Vegetable oil into a bowl.

Place mix into a round cake tin, pre-heat for 10 minutes and place mix into a tin.

Bake at 350 degrees

For the next layer do the same
frost the CHOCOLATE frosting on top of the bottom layer
place two cakes on cooling racks when cool only frost the chosen bottom layer of the cake and frost with the CHOCOLATE frosting flip top layer onto the bottom next, frost the whole entire cake with VANILLA frosting

Let cool

TADA!

Very Berry Special Spinach Christmas Salad Recipe from Gael

Ingredients:

• 2 T raspberry vinegar

• 1 c fresh raspberries

• 2 T raspberry jam

• 2 large kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced thin

• 1/2 c vegetable oil

• 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained juice from drained mandarin oranges
• 3/4 lb. fresh spinach leaves
• 3/4 c whole toasted pecan halves
  

Directions:

1. Whisk or blend vinegar and jam.
   
2. Add oil and orange juice; blend well. Set aside.
3. Combine spinach, half of nuts, raspberries, oranges, and all of the dressing in a large bowl.
4. Toss and then top the salad with kiwi and the remaining nuts.
   
5. Chill about an hour.
   

Serves 4-6

Optional: add about 1/2 c blueberries and and 1/2 c purple seedless grapes for additional color.

Spatulatta says:

Wow, now this is a salad everyone's sure to enjoy over the holiday. Definitely a healthy
and easy recipe to make. :)

Thanks for sharing, Gael! 
-Team Spatulatta