Creating Holiday Traditions with Your Children

St Louis Kids Magazine contacted me last week since I teach culinary classes here in town. They wanted to hear my thoughts on the benefits of cooking with children during the holidays and throughout the year. In addition, the traditions or memories holiday baking can create.

Of course, I also shared with them what I felt some of the easiest holiday treats were to make with kids and the recipes.
















I've been teaching culinary classes for 18 years for children and adults. However, my greatest and personal experience was what I learned from cooking with my own children now 21 and 24. They are memories that I'll always cherish and never forget.

You can read the article and what I had to say here. Plus don't forget to try the fun recipes that I share, with your children this holiday.

Gingerbread House Class

Nothing says the holidays to me more than when I teach Gingerbread House making classes. Each year I do anywhere from 3-10 gingerbread house classes during the holiday season and absolutely love the looks on the childrens faces after they've completed theirs.

This past weekend Nikki invited some of the neighborhood kids over so that I could teach them how to cut out, bake, construct and decorate their very own gingerbread house. For those children that were younger the parents were there to assist.

It started out as usual with all the kids running around excited and nibbling on all the candy that was to be used to decorate their houses. Then after the gingerbread house templates came out of the oven they got down to serious business.

I always tell the parents that once the kids start their construction the room gets very quiet. Each child is so intent on their creation with just minimal talking, comparing and sharing of ideas during that time. They don't believe me until they see it with their own eyes.

Then once the kids have completed their creation their faces light up feeling proud of their accomplishment. As you can see from this adorable young man.





















There were 7 children in all on Sunday and each created their own masterpiece totally unique from the others. With Gingerbread House in hand they left for the day to brighten their homes for the holidays with their new creation!

What a perfect way to have spent the day.

Happy Halloween

Well I'm all ready for the kids in my area to come knocking on my door this Saturday evening. I've got the candy that I picked up at Sam's Club and I even made those cute witch cupcakes that I talked about a couple weeks ago. Those are for the 11 young kids in my lane.

As I was making them yesterday, my son asked me what I was doing it for? I replied, "since my kids are grown and not as interested in Halloween anymore, I wanted to make something fun for the kids in the lane." He couldn't figure out why I went to all the trouble but then realized it's what I love to do. Of course after posting these photos I realize I need to go back and re-ice the front edges of a few of them. Looks like I missed a few spots.

So today I'm going to go to those few homes and give them a little gift from me to them. I didn't want to wait until tomorrow when they come knocking on my door since I'm sure not only would they not have time to eat them but, may be leary about accepting them without their parents around.

I can't wait to see all those little trick-or-treaters tomorrow. Hope you all have fun with your kids if you're taking them out and if not with those that come to your door.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Witch Cupcake

I love Halloween but unfortunately my kids are grown now so I can't take them out trick-or-treating. However I can still have fun with the holiday and do something fun for all the children in my subdivision.

So I've decided after seeing these adorable cupcakes with sleeves I'm going to make them for the neighborhood kids.

Witchy Cupcake

Use your favorite cupcake recipe
Wrap with Witchy cupcake sleeve
Dip a Sugar Cone in melted Chocolate to cover completely and set to dry and harden on parchment paper
Once dry decorate hat with orange icing or whatever you like
Before placing witches hat on cupcake lay strands of pull apart black licorice on top of cupcake for the witches hair and slather on some icing if desired
Top with chocolate witches hat

And there you have it. Now how fun is that?

I'm sure the kids in my lane with love these, if they make it out of my house without my own family eating them!

To get more information about where you can get this Witches Sleeve and many others go to Round About Sleeves.

Share Our Strength

HELP END CHILDHOOD HUNGER!

From now until December 31, 2009 I will donate 10% of the fees for my

"At Home with Vicki Bensinger",

In-Home Culinary Classes for children

to

Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale.

To schedule a class for your child whether it be a private class, birthday party or just a get together with friends-

Contact me today @

vkb2@hotmail.com

What a great thing for your child to be a part of. Contact me for a list of the culinary class options.