Easy Chocolate Pretzel Stix – Perfect for Gifts

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Make a Perfect Holiday Treat……..

I love making homemade gifts and goodies around the holidays. For me it is something I look forward to each year. These pretzels sticks are so EASY to make and they are very tasty. This is a perfect treat to make with the kids. Even very young children can help and it only requires a few tools and ingredients.

You can switch things up by changing the color or type of topping you use. For instance I made some for 4th of July, see here, or you could use pink or blue for a baby shower. The possibilities are endless.

These sweet treats would be perfect to add to a holiday gift basket or to bring as a hostess gift.

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Ingredients: Print Recipe

• 1 bag pretzel rods
• 10oz. bag chocolate chips
• 1 jar Fall Color Mix sprinkles

Tools/Supplies:

• Wax paper
• Cellophane Pretzel Bags
• Cookie Sheet
• 4 cup Pyrex or other microwavable dish.
• Butter Knife
• Small Plate

Directions:

Put a piece of wax paper on a rectangle baking tray. Use some sort of microwave safe container to melt the chips (deep enough to dip the pretzel rods). I used a 4-cup pyrex measuring cup. Pour the chocolate chips into the container. To melt the chips cook in microwave for 1-1/2minutes, stir with butter knife then cook another 30seconds and stir again. Take a pretzel stick and dip into melted chocolate to coat. I tilted the measuring cup to get the chocolate far enough up the pretzel. Holding the pretzel horizontal I twirled it until no more chocolate was dripping. Then, hold the pretzel over a plate and sprinkle with candy sprinkles or whatever you choose. Set the pretzel on wax paper and continue with the next one. Makes 12 pretzels.

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Now all you have to do is to wait for hem to harden. It took a few hours sitting on the counter. Or, you could put them into the freezer for a few minutes.

When the chocolate gets firm you can

carefully slide them into the pretzel bags.

That’s it. They only take a few minutes. Perfect for you to make with the kids. They are very tasty. In fact I will share with you my little secret shh… I ate one for breakfast with my coffee and it was Yummy! Don’t tell

Bon Appetit,

Kids in the Kitchen: Fulfilling Fun

Guest Post by Lisa Shoreland

Cooking with your kids is a great way to build a variety of skills while having tasty, tactile fun in the process. Working off of a recipe, whether from a cookbook, online or even–yes!– on a Wii, helps enhance a child’s reading skills. Ingredient measurement and unit conversion draw math into the mix, and the step-by-step organizational process of cooking improves logical thinking (for added practice, try doubling recipes or cutting them in half). The best part about cooking with your kids is that while children are practicing basic math, language and logic skills, they are being rewarded by their own delicious creations. And what could be better than that? Try these simple, time-tested recipes with your kids and get filled up on both laughter and learning.

1.   Ants on a Log

For children new to the kitchen, start with something basic like ants on a log. Fun and simple to make, these tasty ants are a classic childhood staple. As an added bonus, this recipe is recommended as a healthy “Smart Snack,” comprising several food groups, by the McKinley Health Center.

Ingredients:
5 stalks celery
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup raisins

Directions: Cut the celery stalks in half. Spread with peanut butter. Sprinkle with raisins (“ants”). Enjoy!

2.   Mini Pizza

Ingredients:
1 split English muffin or Bagel
Pizza sauce
 (approx 1/4 cup)
Pizza cheese (shredded)
Toppings such as mushrooms, pepperoni or broccoli

Directions: Toast your muffin or bagel. Spread pizza sauce evenly on muffin or bagel halves. Sprinkle cheese on top and add your toppings. Put on tray and put into toaster oven set on broil. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

3. Simple, Savory Soup

Ingredients:
14 oz package smoked sausage, sliced
1 c thick salsa
1 c BBQ sauce
1 c corn, canned or frozen
15 1/2 oz can kidney beans, drained
3 lb 5 oz can pork and beans, drained
1 medium onion, chopped

Directions:
In a large pot used for soup or pasta, combine all the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Your stew is ready!

Remember to always supervise young children in the kitchen, especially with knives, toasters and ovens. Use your discretion when assigning tasks. Maybe Mom puts things in and takes things out of the oven, or Dad chops vegetables, while the children mix and arrange ingredients. Once simple recipes like the ones above have been mastered, venture into the more precise sciences, like baking (cookies anyone?). And always encourage sampling, tasting and experimentation; cooking should be a fun, enriching and delicious process for all!

Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching radiology scholarships as well as pharmacy scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.

2011 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings — Nominated Titles List

2011 ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings — Nominated Titles

All of us here at BillyGorilly.com are proud and honored to have
Billy Gorilly – Rockin’ the SchoolHouse, Vol.2 included as part of the ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings Nominations Discussion List for 2011.

We’d like to thank and praise all the committee members for their tireless work auditioning countless submissions and compiling the list. We would also like to congratulate all the winners.

We look forward to 2011 being another year filled with educating and engaging children through our recordings and encouraging them to reach their full potential by becoming life-long learners.

We’re also very happy to announce that we’ve added Follett Library Resources/Book Wholesalers Inc. as one of our official distributors.

If you have any other questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Sincerely,
Tamara Maellaro

Guest Post: Teaching Children Through Music and Song

When I was approached about the possibility of a guest post I was hesitant. After reading the content I happily said, YES.

Guest Post by: Angelita Williams

Ever get a song stuck in your head and couldn’t get it out? Wouldn’t it be great if the material your children learn in class got stuck in their heads as well? Music is a great way to teach school lessons to young children. Why? Because the rhythmic melodies help otherwise boring facts and figures get “stuck” in their young brains right alongside the catchy tune. Truth be told, it would still work quite well in high school if most teens weren’t suddenly too cool to sing in class.

Music has long been called a mnemonic device, which is just a fancy word for learning aid. Other common mnemonic devices have included poems (think: “I before E, except after C” or “Thirty days hath September, April, June and November”). Growing up, I learned the 50 U.S. states through a long and clever song that I can still recall word for word today as an adult. When I went to a private religious school, I was made to memorize the books of the Bible in order (there are 66) using a song, which also remains in my head as an adult. Since then, I have learned that students have memorized all of the U.S. presidents, the Preamble to the Constitution and numerous other bits of educational information through song. Who would have thought?

After doing a little snooping around on unique ways teachers are using music and song to aid in the learning process in school, I stumbled upon an excellent Scholastic article where one teacher said she was even able to use songs to aid in the memorization of mathematic principles! Students would find themselves humming to themselves during tests in class, something along the lines of “mean, median, range and mode.”

Turns out that in their training, teachers had been encouraged to use songs to teach mathematic principles that must be committed to memory. Reading this took me back to third grade, where I remember struggling a great deal to memorize the multiplication tables as my teacher drilled me over and over. I would have loved to use a song to help me learn.

I wonder why our educational system widely embraces the use of song for pre-school aged children and kindergarteners (think: “Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes”), but abandons the concept when children progress to higher grades. I couldn’t help thinking about how beneficial learning through music and song could be for children beyond elementary school. It could also work wonders for parents who are travelling professionals with children in tow and have chosen to home school their children on the road.

How do you use music and song as an educational tool for your children?

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online college courses. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.

How To Make A Five-Point Star With 1 Cut

Hello friends,

I found this in my files and I thought it would be perfect to share with you today. I created this how-to awhile ago for a newsletter I sent out.

I show you how to make the star just like they say Betsy Ross did many years ago. This would be a great thing to show the kids. String a bunch of them together and you can make a decoration to hang across the room as you celebrate July 4th.

New! how to make a star video on youtube

Have fun making your Stars!

Click on image to download the pdf file

★★★★Then make a bunch of Stars ★★★★

I hope everyone has a fun, safe holiday weekend with family and friends.

Cheers,

Aquarium Craft • No Water Needed • Make A Splash — Read

Supplies Needed:
• Print Out
• Scissors — Circle cutter (optional)
• Tape
• Stapler
• Crayons
• Pencil
• 2-8in. paper plates
• Saran Wrap (optional)
• Green Easter Grass (optional)

Enjoy Your Aquarium

The template is in .pdf file format and it’s Free.
Get Template Now

If you are interested in a Make A Splash song Billy Gorilly has recorded a Theme Song for this years summer reading program.
Listen Here track #20.
You can also get a free 60 second promotional version here

Hope you enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday – Little Boys Love These

Having coffee on the patio and this little guy was moving along. I thought why not take a pic for Wordless Wednesday.
Click on image to see larger view.

Have a Great Day Everyone!

Great Teaching Resource for Kids ages 3-6

Billy Gorilly Podcast For Kids
episode 18

We’re sorry  this episode is no longer available. To listen to New Episodes go here

Are you trying to teach a child the colors in a rainbow

or Letter sounds?

or maybe the concept of

Big, Small, or Hardly There At All

• COLORS OF THE RAINBOW
• BIG, SMALL, OR HARDLY THERE AT ALL
• LETTER SOUNDS (J-R)

Listen on your computer right from Billy’s website or download the podcast to your iPod. You can let your child listen any time they want. Play it in the car and you have a rolling schoolhouse. No boring sleepy songs here.

Billy Gorilly also offers worksheets and activity pages to go along with each segment of the podcast.

In very simple terms a podcast is an audio file that is transferred over the internet for your listening pleasure.

Billy’s podcasts are FREE, less than 15 minutes long, and feature 3-4 songs and or stories. You may even hear some of Billy Gorilly’s pals from the Candy Appletree Woods on the podcast.

Sorry this podcast no longer available. Get Billy Gorilly’s new podcast here

I would love to hear how you use music or this podcast to help educate your kids.

Please feel free to leave me a comment or share this post.

Warm Regards,
Tamara Maellaro
Flying Kitten Music

Work or Rainbow ~ Which One?

Wordless Wednesday

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.
~Author Unknown. …

© 2009 Carol Ann Thomas

Educational Songs for Kids preK-1st

Billy Gorilly’s podcast for Kids

I just wanted to send out a little reminder about Billy’s Podcast 17. If you have not listened yet come on over and check it out. This podcast will teach children the  letters sounds of (A-I)  as they sing along with Billy and his pals from the Candy Appletree Woods. Kids will also learn the parts of a house as they make a list. The kidlets will be sure to have a smile as they learn to count by fives. You can also get free printable worksheets to go along with each segment. You can listen right on you computer or download to your iPod. If you subscribe on iTunes you will get updates automatically. It doesn’t cost a thing so you have nothing to lose.

We are currently working on Podcast 18. We will have it ready for you to enjoy around Sept. 5. Maybe a little sooner.

Until next time…

Keep Smiling, Singing, and Learning
and you can make everyday
Simply Splendiferous!

Don’t be shy and leave a comment. If you have a great way you use the podcast to entertain and teach your child or class tell us about it. We would love to hear.