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The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe
Wondering how to make a mint julep for the next Kentucky Derby? You’ve come to the right place! I’m sharing my Kentucky Derby Mint Julep recipe!
The History of the Mint Julep
It is thought that the Mint Julep is derived from the ancient Arabic and Persian drink called ‘Julab,’ meaning ‘rose water.’
Unsurprisingly that drink was made from crushed rose petals and water. When the recipe moved to the Mediterranean, the rose petals were replaced with the more commonly found and more economical mint leaves.
Soon after, an alcoholic version began to gain favor. Many spirits were used, such as vodka, rum, absinthe, the list was endless.
As the Mint Julep made it’s a voyage to America, the alcohol of choice was bourbon, and this is still the spirit most commonly thought of when requesting a Mint Julep. In the late 1700s, the average Southern planter would have a Mint Julep before breakfast as both a kick start and to ward off malaria. It is now the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Mint Juleps have actually been made with just about every spirit there is. While the name changes with what is in it (mint mojito anyone?), an official mint julep like they serve at the Kentucky Derby is served with bourbon whiskey such as Woodford Reserve. Here’s how to make one!
A Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe
Here are the mint julep ingredients you’ll need:
- Fresh mint leaves – 2 – 3 fresh leaves (increase if you like it more minty)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup – also known as simple syrup
- 6 crushed ice cubes to make ice chips
- 2-3 oz of bourbon whiskey – I would opt for the smoothest one possible!
Prep instructions:
- Put one sprig of mint leaves and sugar syrup in a small glass and mash together using a teaspoon.
- For best results, you’ll want to leave the mixture to stand alone for about 5 minutes. This gives the mint and sugar syrup the chance to fully blend.
- Add the ice chips and bourbon. Decorate with the other sprig of mint.
That’s all there is to it! You now know how to make a mint julep for your next Kentucky Derby party!
Alternative Mint Julep Recipes
- Frozen Mint Julep is a slush style drink. Put 6 mint leaves, 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup, 8 ice cubes, 2 measures of bourbon, and a tablespoon of lemon into a food processor and blend until slushy. Pour into a tall glass.
- Brandy Julep: pour 2 measures of brandy, 1 teaspoon of sugar syrup, and 4 mint leaves over a tumbler of crushed ice.
- Virgin Mint Julep: If you opt to make this a non alcoholic beverage you just need 1 sprig of mint along with a teaspoon or so of the simple syrup, a splash of lemon juice (about a teaspoon) and 3 oz or so of cola. Then, just add the ice chips, stir and serve
Final Touches
If you’re feeling fancy, you can add a little more to your Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Recipe. Here are a few examples of things you can decorate the glass with:
- a sprig of mint
- a slice of lemon
- a slice of orange
- a slice of pineapple
- a slice of cucumber
- raspberries
- Strawberries
If you like Mint Juleps, you might also like Mojitos, another mint-based drink with a completely different history. But for now, if you dream of sitting in a rocking chair on a veranda in the Deep South as the sun sets at the end of a long, heady hot day, then my Mint Julep recipe should be your cocktail of choice.
How to Create a Popular Podcast
So you want to be podcast famous, do you?
If you’re ready to become a podcast sensation, it will take more than just being able to talk. Anyone can start a podcast, but not everyone has what it takes to make a popular one.
If you’re interested in creating a popular podcast, I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
Coming Up With an Idea For Launching
First, come up with an idea for your podcast. Everyone has an idea for a show, but not all good ideas are created equal.
A popular podcast must provide value to its listeners or viewers. If you can’t think of anything new or inspiring to talk about, find something interesting and ask questions on the topic instead. Your listeners will want to know the answers to your questions.
How Much Does It Cost To Start a Podcast?
Next, you’ll need to come up with some startup costs. Podcasting is becoming so popular that many people are entering the market with new shows every day.
Someone doesn’t need to spend a lot of money anymore to start their own podcast.
Many podcasters simply use an old computer or laptop connected to a small USB microphone to create their shows.
Equipment Costs
Anyone can go online and purchase a USB microphone for around $30-$60 that will work well enough to start a podcast with.
Although a basic mic will work, you might consider investing in something better if you want to be podcast famous.
You should expect to pay around $100-$400 for a decent mic.
Many people will suggest you purchase an XLR microphone and shock mount because they can help with audio quality; however, stick to the USB models if you want to start your podcast as cheap as possible.
You’ll also want to buy sound dampening foam panels that attach to your mic stand and help lessen the echo from your surroundings. This will set you back about $80-$120.
A boom will help you adjust your mic to any position you want. You can usually pick one up for around $30-$60.
Of course, you’ll need a computer to capture the audio from your microphone and convert it into an MP3 file that you will upload to your hosting service.
Any room can double as a studio space. Large foam panels attached to anything will help absorb echo and eliminate background noise from opening a door in the other room.
Taking your recording process to the next level isn’t very expensive these days if you use a professional recording studio.
You’ll need some type of recording/editing software if you don’t already own one. This doesn’t mean you need to purchase something costly like Logic Pro or Adobe Audition CS6.
Many podcasters have used Garage Band in the past, which comes free with every Apple computer. Several options are available, including Audacity, which is available for Mac or PC and costs about $50 bucks.
It’s also recommended to use an external hard drive to keep your recordings safe in the event of a computer crash. These are relatively inexpensive these days. You can find one with 1TB of space for $60 bucks online.
Choosing a Podcast Hosting Service
Now that you have a microphone and sound dampening panel, it’s time to find a professional podcast host.
Many podcasters will use the free version of a podcast hosting site to get their shows out there for people to listen to or watch. This is fine if you’re just starting out, but eventually, you’ll want something more.
A paid podcast hosting service will offer you advanced customization options, better storage space for media (graphics, audio clips, video clips), and more bandwidth. This means your listeners won’t deal with the dreaded buffering while listening to your show.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $5-$20 per month, depending on the length of your show. I personally use RSS.com Podcasting because they allow unlimited episodes, and unlimited duration.
In fact, you can use code RSSFREEMONTH at checkout for a full free month of podcast hosting with RSS. Get started for free here.
In full disclosure, I’ve been on their content creation team for a while now, and I’m even hosting some of their podcast episodes for Podcasting 101 with RSS.com!!!
Picking a Podcast Name
Now it’s time to pick your podcast name. Keep in mind that if you want people to come back for more episodes, you’ll need a catchy title that describes what your show is about.
Also, think about how listeners will find your podcast in search engines like Google. Will someone be able to find it when they look up information about your topic?
When you search “podcast” or “gaming podcast,” there are hundreds of thousands of results that will make it hard for listeners to find you when they do this search.
A good podcast name should also let listeners know what type of content they’ll find on your show. Will it be a comedy podcast, news show, educational program, etc.?
The best way to figure this out is to list several ideas for names and ask friends and family which ones they think would attract more listeners.
Choosing Topics & Segments
Now that you have everything ready to go (hosting account, website domain name), it’s time to develop your show’s format.
Most shows will include multiple topics or segments which allow you to cover different things within your niche while still providing listeners with consistent content over time.
A podcast name should provide some insight into this, but it doesn’t hurt to add more detail about what each topic/segment is all about just in case someone looks at the title and doesn’t understand precisely what they’ll find on your show.
If you want to stand out, use terms like “The Best,” “#1,” etc., in the description of your podcast. If you don’t want to be as bold, you can use a word like “Informational” or “Reviews.”
Also, remember that people can be picky when picking out new shows for them to listen to, so keeping the segments simple will make it easier for them to follow along. If you get too complicated, they may give up before even starting to listen!
Searching Your Niche For Ideas
Now that you have a topic in mind, it’s time to search your niche for existing talking points and popular ideas.
This might be a “best of” list or a roundup where you highlight several different things within your niche.
In some cases, you can look at social media posts to find common questions people have about something, which is another excellent way to draw from the crowd when coming up with new segments.
Remember that talking about current events within your niche might lead to more exposure as well.
Newscasts are always looking for guests who can talk about breaking news stories, so don’t be afraid to reach out if something big happens in your area of expertise!…
Recording Your Podcast
Now that you have a solid idea for a show, found a mic and podcast host to work with, and recorded your feed’s intro and outro, it’s time to get started recording.
Most people use an audio interface rather than their computer’s built-in sound card to record their shows.
The best option is usually going with something that has XLR inputs since they will provide the best quality possible over USB microphones.
Be sure you get one with at least two preamps so you can plug in more than one microphone if need be.
Preamps are essential for getting the cleanest sound from your mics because it prevents noise from being introduced into the signal chain when they are plugged in.
For the best results, you should use a condenser mic for your podcast.
You’ll also need to get some boom arms and cables to connect everything.
If you’re not comfortable making all these connections, I would recommend getting a mixer that has everything pre-wired.
Mixers will come with additional features such as EQ knobs and effects units, so they cost more than an audio interface; however, they will still be cheaper than purchasing individual pieces of equipment separately.
Recording software can also help clean up your sound if it starts to get too noisy during the recording process. Sounds from different sources can be plugged into one input on your computer and end up in one track when you listen back.
Recording software will help make these types of issues easier to manage post-production. You can usually find a free recording program or download Audition from Adobe, their audio editing suite.
Editing Your Podcast Made Easy
Once you have your show recorded, it’s time to edit out any mistakes or unwanted sounds.
Depending on the software used for recording, some minor cleanup may be needed before you can import your audio into an editor.
If nothing else, always use noise reduction on your tracks to remove any background noise that might have been picked up while speaking into a microphone.
Sounds from your computer fan whirring away in the background can probably be picked up during a recording session. Using background noise reduction is a great way to get rid of annoying hums and buzzes that would distract from the actual content of the episode.
Noise reduction should leave your voice sounding clear and let you focus more on what you’re saying rather than anything else.
Be sure to cut out all dead air, too, because there is nothing worse than going back and listening to an awkward pause for several seconds.
Mixing Your Podcast
Once your podcast is ready for release, you may need to mix it down at a much lower volume level so listeners won’t blow their speakers when they play it back.
Some people like to boost their podcasts’ overall sound, which can be helpful if you want them to seem more high-end; however, most prefer not to boost or distort vocals unless absolutely necessary.
A compressor can help level off dynamics, so everything sounds consistent no matter what the volume is.
Most podcast hosts will have a maximum file size that they can upload, so be sure to keep it under the limit, or you may lose listeners if their connection gets cut-off before your show is done uploading.
You’ll also want to know what type of audio codecs are being used on your host. Most hosts generally support mp3 format without any additional necessary conversion.
AAC formats tend to provide better quality, but some podcasting services are not compatible with them…
It’s best to check with your host first and see what they recommend before deciding which one works best for what you’re trying to accomplish.
Be sure to save all your files as uncompressed waveforms (.wav) if you need to go back and make changes later down the road.
Mixing music into your podcast can be a tricky process and will require someone who has experience doing these types of edits before.
If you don’t want to pay for pro mixing services, several sites will help match musicians with podcasters for little to no charge.
Some Creative Commons-licensed songs that fit within your target audience can also come in handy when trying to add spice to an episode without spending any cash.
Creating Artwork
Now that you’ve got your audio recorded and edited, it’s time to make some artwork.
People like pretty things, so make sure your podcast’s cover is something that captures attention.
If nothing else, show off a nice headshot of yourself with a decent-looking microphone in the background. Keep the focus on you and what you do best!
Check out this post on RSS.com on how to create your podcast artwork.
How to Market a Podcast
Once your podcast is finished, you’ll need to get the word out there, so everyone will know it’s available.
Your website is the perfect way for you and your podcast to grow. You can use it as an extension of yourself, showcasing what you have in store for listeners and building excitement with key details about new episodes!
Remember that every time you guest on another show or mention what you’re working on in some capacity, that’s an opportunity for more people to discover what you do.
You want to make sure that you are building others up and supporting them before asking for support from them yourself!
An excellent place to start promoting your podcast would be podcast directories, such as iTunes.com. If people can find your podcast on their site, you will receive a substantial amount of traffic at little-to-no cost. Here are some awesome posts on how to upload your podcast to a few of them:
- How to Submit Your Podcast to iTunes/Apple Podcasts
- How to Submit Your Podcast to Spotify
- How to Submit Your Podcast to Google Podcasts
- How to Submit Your Podcast to Stitcher
- How to Submit Your Podcast to Amazon
- How to Submit Your Podcast to iHeartRadio
Utilize some smaller social media sites that you can create an account on and post about your show regularly.
Posting your podcast on related forums is another wonderful way to get more people interested in what you have to say because most of them are very active. You’ll likely get plenty of new listeners this way if the forum’s moderators don’t mind having links posted within their threads too.
Writing guest posts for other people’s websites can also help bring attention to your podcast, so it may be something worth looking into if you’re willing to trade promotion with others.
If you still haven’t landed any big-name guest appearances, then don’t worry because you can always create a mini-resource page with a list of related topics that your listeners might be interested in.
You can also try reaching out on social media platforms such as Facebook group pages (which tend to grow more relevant over time).
Lastly, creating a mini-resource page with links to related episodes is the perfect way to let your listeners know what they’re missing out on while providing them helpful information.
Be sure to add lots of links and social media buttons to this page for anyone interested enough to check it out after reading about something interesting they stumbled across while browsing through your site.
How To Become A Guest On Other Podcasts
Making a guest appearance on another podcast is a great way to get your name out there and create more exposure.
Reaching out to other hosts is relatively easy, thanks to the abundance of contact forms available on many sites.
There’s no reason why you can’t be on a whole bunch of shows, even if you’re just starting out.
If you want to become a regular guest on multiple podcasts, it will take some effort on your part.
Here are some tips for getting more exposure from your guest appearances.
- Know The Type Of Show You Want To Be On
Podcasts vary in topic and tone, so make sure you research the show and make sure your episode will not only fit in but add to the conversation.
Not only should the topic of discussion be something you’re comfortable talking about, but it should also come naturally to you.
If you feel forced or uncomfortable to participate in such discussions, it will likely come off as such for listeners.
- Prepare Ahead Of Time
You don’t want to send your appearance to the bottom of someone’s to-do list.
If you have some notes or ideas ahead of time, it will make your appearance on a show feel more special for both hosts and listeners.
For example, you could plan out some of your talking points or come up with some questions to ask the host and their guests.
- Be Prepared To Bring Your Best Game
If you’re going to be on a show, make sure you’re bringing your A-game.
That means you should practice talking about the topic beforehand and be able to handle any curveballs that come your way with ease.
- Make Sure To Follow Up
After you’ve had your appearance, follow up with the host and let them know how it went.
They will be more likely to have you on again in the future.
If you had a positive experience, let them know how much you enjoyed being a guest.
This will encourage them to have you back or invite you to other shows.
Pro Tips For Getting Famous Podcasting
Here are some of the top tips you will need to get famous podcasting.
Pro-Tip #1
Promote your podcast everywhere. This is the only way to ensure you’ll get more listeners.
Pro-Tip #2
Your podcasting topic should be interesting and informative enough for people to bother with it. If not, listeners will drop off very quickly.
Pro-Tip #3
Try to find a topic that hasn’t been covered yet online, then cover this topic on your show every week or whenever possible.
Pro-Tip #4
You need some social media followers if you are going to expand your listener base fast. It’s always better to have 100 true fans than 1000 who don’t engage with you.
Pro-Tip #5
Optimize your podcast for Google by including keywords in your show notes and episode descriptions. Keywords are essential to get high rankings on Google, YouTube, and other platforms. This will help you to get more listeners organically instead of spending a boatload of cash on ads for your podcast.
Check out this awesome post from Congruent Digital on exactly how you should be optimizing your show for search!
Pro-Tip #6
Never give up. Everyone gets discouraged from time to time, but if you keep going, listeners will appreciate whatever you can offer them.
Pro-Tip #7
Make sure your show is well documented. This will attract more listeners and also help you to communicate with your audience effectively.
Pro-Tip #8
Have a great email list for your listeners if you want to build a strong community and monetize at some point. If people can’t contact you, then what’s the point of podcasting?
How to Get Famous Podcasting?
The answer is to have patience and keep practicing.
Podcasting isn’t something that you learn overnight; everyone has to start somewhere.
If you are determined, it’s just a matter of time until you can create something extraordinary for yourself.
If you love something enough, people will listen. So make sure that your show stands out from the crowd by offering real value for listeners!
In Conclusion
Getting your podcast to climb the “top podcasts” lists is not an easy task. It will take some work, but with determination and genuine connection (to both topics AND audience), you’ll be sure to get there soon enough!
The best way to get famous podcasting is by staying on topic and engaging listeners as much as possible while also personalizing your show in a way that’s different from your competitors.
And most importantly – never stop learning! The more you know, the easier it will be to come up with something that people love.
Chicken Tikka Masala – My Take on a Classic
Y’all! I LOVE me some Indian food, but since moving to Kentucky, there are not as many places to find it as there were in Tampa, Fla. So, I went on a mission to recreate one of my favorite dishes, and modified it to my tastes.
In other words, this may not be the 100% authentic recipe you will find on other sites, but it hit the exact spot I had a craving for.
Though I confess it does take a while to make this recipe, I was so happy with how it turned out. And, my husband and I have added it to our meal plan rotation! Best part is you could easily double it to have plenty of leftovers!
Active time: About an hour
Total time: About 90 mins
Servings: 4-6 depending on portion sizes
Ingredients Chicken Tikka Masala (Modified)
For the Chicken Coating:
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (I totally used a bottle of concentrate, but you could juice 1 lime and get about 1 tablespoon)
- Generous 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (Note: the more you add, the spicier this dish will be!)
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika (I used smoked paprika, but many Indian recipes call for sweet paprika)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala (spice blend)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt or full-fat sour cream
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (I used the minced garlic stir-in paste, but you could use about 3 cloves and mince it yourself)
- 1 tablespoon of stir-in ginger paste or you could use one 2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger root, minced
For the Tikka Masala Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 8-ounce cans of plain tomato sauce (Make sure you don’t make the mistake of grabbing the one with oregano and basil like I’ve accidentally done in the past!)
- 6 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (Again, if you add more it WILL kick up the heat level!)
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala (spice blend)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Additional Ingredients Needed:
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 tsp approximately of garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Chicken Tikka Masala (Modified)
Step 1
In a 2 qt saucepan, start melting your butter on medium heat, but don’t brown it! Then, add your tomato sauce, and give it a stir. Then, add your other sauce ingredients, stir, and when it begins bubbling, add a lid and turn your stove down to simmer so it can cook while your chicken is velveting and then baking.
You’ll need to stir it roughly every 15 minutes just to make sure the sauce isn’t burning.
Step 2
For the chicken: Using thawed chicken breasts, velvet the chicken with your baking soda
To velvet the chicken you will sprinkle the baking soda all over it and rub it in. Then, let it sit a full 20 minutes.
Pro tip: Set a timer because you don’t want this to sit longer than 20 minutes as the chicken will become mush!
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees while you are velveting the chicken.
Step 3
Wash the chicken and then pat dry with paper towels. Then place the breasts in a greased 9X13 pyrex or equivalent glass baking dish.
Step 4
Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika onto both sides of the chicken. I eyeballed this, but it ended up being about 1 tsp of each spice across the chicken.
Step 5
Place the chicken in the oven for 12 mins, and get to work on your sauce. In a bowl, combine the lime juice, cayenne pepper, paprika, garam masala, salt, yogurt/sour cream, garlic and ginger in a mixing bowl until evenly mixed.
Step 6
Pull out the chicken, spoon on half of the chicken coating to the top of your chicken, then flip it over, and spoon the other half on and rub it all over the top
Step 7
Place it back in the over for another 10-15 mins or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees
Step 8
When your chicken is cooked through, cut it into 1 inch cubes and place the cubes back in the pan.
Step 9
Pour your Tikka Masala sauce onto the chicken and give everything a good stir to ensure all those yummy bits of your chicken coating are fully incorporated throughout.
Step 10
Serve with Basmati rice and Naan. I like to pour some of the sauce into the rice and chicken so I can dip the Naan into it. Damn tasty!
To give the sauce a little heat, you can add more cayenne pepper, red chili powder, or Kashmiri chili sauce. We felt the flavor was just fine without extra heat, but we did add salt and pepper to taste.
More Than Photographs
For several years, I was a photographer. Though those days are all but behind me, I still like to dabble in creative content.
While studying for my degree, I interned at Style Magazine. This was where I started learning about photography. In fact, many of my images were used in the magazine. After that first photo assignment for Style I was hooked. I started doing lots of journalistic photography as well as weddings, parties, charity events, portraits and more.
These days, I really only take pictures on my smart phone…I’ll update this page soon with my recommended photographers if you landed here looking for photography services.
Summer Outdoor Activities To Entertain The Kids
When it comes to entertaining the kids during the summer, outdoors is by far the best option. There is so much available. You do not have to spend a fortune to entertain them. Simple walks can be entertaining if you turn them into discovery games. Visiting your local Zoos, Farms, and Leisure centers can be a bit more expensive, but sometimes it is worth putting a little money aside for a few trips.
The first thing that children love is a picnic. No matter where you live, there is bound to be a nice place to hold a picnic. If you live by the coast and there is a nice piece of green on top of the cliffs, it could be a great place to picnic and let off steam. If you live further into the country, there is sure to be a nice woodland or farm area. If not, there must be a park in your local area.
When on a picnic the children can get involved in making the sandwiches etc. and when you get there, they will enjoy playing a simple eye spy game while eating. After eating they can fly a kite or play ball games. Before you know it, you have spent a good few hours outside playing and not even had to spend a penny. Accept for the picnic, but that does not have to be anything expensive or even different from your normal lunch.
If you live near to the beach, then it should come as no surprise that spending an afternoon making sandcastles, or paddling in the sea, can make for great fun.
Bike riding is something that most families enjoy. You do not have to go far a little ride with lots to see is great fun and can also be educational. You can time how long it takes you, make a note of how many birds you see, cars, people, boats or whatever there is around you and then the outside fun continues when you get home, and they can write about what they saw.
You will also find plenty of local fayres and garden shows during the summer months. You can make these exciting by giving the children things to find like a discovery game while you are exploring.
Of course, almost everywhere you can find a park. Not only are there climbing frames, but pitches to play ball games and courts to play tennis. You can play games of tag and hide and seek or take a bat and ball and play cricket as a family game.
The list is endless when you are in the park. You could even have an art afternoon. Drawing what is around you, taking rubbings, sticking, and even painting. Just use a little imagination.
Summer Educational Activities For Kids
Looking for ideas for educational and fun things to do with your kids this summer? Here are some suggestions for spending time together. Spending time with your children is important. Try one of these leisurely pursuits that you and your kids will find not only fun but enriching.
Star Gazing
What better way to spend an evening than looking at the stars. It is also an opportunity to educate your children on stars, planets, constellations and galaxies. Plus, you can watch solar and lunar eclipses when they occur. Get a schedule of when the next eclipse will be. The only thing you don’t want to look at through a telescope is the sun, as that is dangerous and can harm your vision.
Super Size Jigsaw Puzzle
Purchase an intricate puzzle, at least 1,000 pieces. This is a great family activity as it will spread over many nights and when you are finished the whole family will feel a sense of accomplishment. Puzzles are also great for encouraging concentration and logic skills in your children. Amazon.com has a variety of 1,000 piece puzzles including those of famous artwork by DaVinci and Renoir as well as maps of the United States and historical events like the Civil War.
Cook with the Kids
Most people never learn how to cook, even the basics. If you start when children are young, not only will they learn a valuable skill but it could be a career option as well. You can begin with meals that do not involve the stove or knives such as making a sandwich or toast and then move onto simple things like scrambled eggs, salad, and pancakes.
Photography
Give the kids a disposable camera or an inexpensive digital one and encourage them to take their own pictures. Take them to a local park or forest so they can photograph nature, or have them be the photographer at a family event. Do the same thing with a video recorder. Encourage the kids to film a day in their life.
Teach Kids Chess
Chess is a great game that many believe even a two-year old can learn. It teaches math and logic skills as well as pattern recognition. Because it is a slow moving game, it gives parents and children a chance to interact as well.
Create a Family Scrapbook
Scrap booking is a huge craze. It is great for children to have memories from their childhood that they can keep to show their kids. Create a scrap book to encapsulate a year, an event, a birthday party, or even a family trip. By letting children participate in the creation as opposed to just making one yourself, you share a secondary experience that they will remember.
Take Educational Nature Walks
There is a lot you can do on a walk in the forest. Bring a pair of binoculars and help kids identify birds (alternatively consider putting a birdhouse outside a child’s bedroom so they can do the same thing at home). Consult an online bird manual as a reference. Also in the forest, use a magnifying glass to see bugs up close, or show kids how to use a compass to understand the direction in which they are walking.
There are so many entertaining, educational things to do with kids that makes spending time together even more valuable. Hopefully these fun family ideas will be something your kids enjoy.
How to Make Pudding Pie
Whatever the occasion, the one dessert my cousin’s kids beg me to make is Chocolate Pudding Pie. Fortunately, it’s also very inexpensive and simple to prepare. Plus, it doesn’t take a lot of time, so if I’m short on desserts or having company last minute, I can whip it up pretty quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 ready-made graham cracker pie crust
- 1 box chocolate instant pudding (5.1 oz. size) – I often skip the vanilla pudding and just double the chocolate! But, you do you boo!
- 1 box vanilla instant pudding (5.1 oz. size)
- 5-6 cups of 2% or whole milk
- 8-16 oz. heavy whipping cream (8 oz. makes 2 cups whipped cream, 16 oz. makes 4)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or sugar substitute)
Directions
Pie
- Prepare vanilla pudding by mixing the packet with 2 1/2 to 3 cups of cold milk. (The less milk you use the more mousse-like the consistency. I use 2 3/4 cup for more of a classic pudding texture).
- Prepare the chocolate pudding and keep separate from the vanilla pudding.
- Pour vanilla pudding into the ready-made graham cracker crust until halfway full.
- Cover vanilla pudding with chocolate pudding until crust is nearly full (leave about 1/4″ unfilled to make cutting easier later on and room for whipped cream)
- Cover pie and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 24 hours)
Whipped Cream
- Pour one or two cups of heavy whipping cream into a cold metal or glass bowl
- Using an electric mixer, beat on high until soft peaks form
- Add sugar or sugar substitute to taste (1 tablespoon per 8 oz. heavy whipping cream is usually sufficient)
- Continue beating until desired consistency
Tips
I recommend allowing guests to put whipped cream on their own pie as everyone has different preferences. Putting the whipped cream on the pie in advance is not recommended as it can become runny in the refrigerator.
You will probably have extra vanilla and chocolate pudding. Pour the pudding into tall milkshake glasses (alternating vanilla and chocolate) and top with whipped cream for those who don’t like pie crust.
I use Keebler Ready Crust, which comes in several flavors and sizes. For a larger pie, buy the “two extra serving size.” No extra pudding is necessary, but you won’t have any leftover.
For a kids party, or just for fun, make extra pudding and buy the “mini graham cracker” crusts. Then let the kids fill the crusts themselves. You can also put out toppings like sprinkles, coconut, or chopped nuts for decoration.
Ready-made crusts can also be found in chocolate, shortbread, and fat-free varieties. The flavor makes no difference; use any kind.
Chocolate and vanilla are my family’s favorite, but pudding comes in different flavors too. Match two of your favorites, or for picky eaters, make one that is all chocolate or all vanilla.
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Ham & Cheese Sliders with Brown Sugar and Honey Glaze
Recipe for Ham & Cheese Sliders w a Brown Sugar and Honey Glaze
Prep: 2 minutes
Makes: 12 sliders
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 12 pack Hawaiian Dinner Rolls
- 12 oz. of thick ham
- 4-6 slices swiss cheese or similar
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp. honey
Directions:
- Place dinner rolls on a baking sheet and use a serrated knife to slice them half.
- Place ham and cheese on the bottom buns and set the top half of the buns over the ham and cheese.
- In a small bowl melt butter and whisk in the brown sugar and honey.
- Brush the brown sugar glaze over top of the buns.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the buns are golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Cut and serve
