One of my biggest challenges over the Holidays is keeping kids entertained and not glued to the t.v. or computer screen all day long. They love to play outside, but yesterday was grey and cold. Today, they are going to make very ambitious gingerbread houses with Grandma (I will post photos later.) I love the simple and inexpensive ideas, like this one from http://www.therecipeminute.com/

I am still trying to get some work done, too, not to mention the laundry and the package wrapping… you know the list never ends. So I especially love ideas that are fun and don’t take all day to complete. I loved the concept of RecipeMinute.com. On their homepage, they describe themselves as “a site dedicated to providing you with quick and easy recipe ideas for using frozen dough in your home.  You’ll be surprised by all of the creations that can be made using this versatile product!”

My daughter loves to decorate anything that doesn’t move, so I picked this recipe to share, and can’t wait to try it ourselves.So if you have to make a last minute run to the store today, grab some sprinkles and dough and spend an hour of quality time with your kids today, in between the package wrapping and loads of laundry. I can guarantee you will be glad you did. Here is the recipe and a link to the video How-To: http://www.therecipeminute.com/?page_id=287

Christmas Trees

For a fun holiday activity, pop these in the oven and let the kids decorate their own Christmas tree.

Prep Time: 15 min.
Bake Time: 20-25 min.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Servings: 1

Ingredients:
Frozen Dinner Rolls, thawed and slightly risen
decorating sprinkles and candy

Icing:
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

Instructions:
For each tree combine 3 rolls and shape into a tall, thin, triangle (about 10 inches tall by 4 inches wide). Cut a narrow strip off the bottom and form a tree trunk. Make 4 or 5 slanted cuts into each side of the triangle. Pull out each sliced section to form branches. Stretch the tree taller and the branches thinner as you form the tree. Place tree and trunk on a sprayed baking sheet. Brush with egg and let rise for 15-30 minutes. Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Combine icing ingredients and drizzle onto trees. Decorate with sprinkles and candies.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Minette