A fun summer activity for kids (this is a good summer activity for teens also) is to plan a party with a theme such as a luau party or a circus party and allow them to plan and make the food for the party. To help you with your summer children's party I've compiled some theme appropriate menus with recipes kids can make themselves.
Luau Party
Hawaiian Punch
Mix equal parts orange juice, lemonade and red or vanilla cream soda. Chill and serve.Hawaiian Zucchini Bread
This Hawaiian style zucchini bread is easy to make, teaches kids the basics of baking and is so delicious that they won't even notice they're eating a vegetable (except that they put the zucchini in the bread themselves).
Ingredients:
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar (you can use white sugar but if you can find coconut sugar at your local health food store, even better)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts or peanuts
3 cups shredded zucchini, squeeze in your hands to drain
3 cups white flour or 1.5 cups whole wheat flour and 1.5 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dates or raisins
1 cup drained crushed pineapple
Instructions:
With a large spoon or mixer beat together eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil in a large bowl.
Stir in zucchini.
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins and nuts in a medium bowl then add to zucchini
mixture.
Add pineapple and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan or square cake pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes. Test with a wooden toothpick to see if done. Allow to cool until warm, then slice.
Luau Ham and Pineapple Skewers
These skewers are perfect for your luau party. They're easy to make and both kids and adults will gobble them up.Ingredients:
1 can pineapple chunks
6 ounces thinly sliced cooked ham. Stack and cut into 4-inch × 1/2- inch strips
toothpicks
2 cups pitted cherries
Instructions:
Thread a cherry onto a toothpick.
Wrap a slice of ham around a pineapple chunk then thread the wrapped pineapple onto the toothpick.
Cover and chill for up to 2 hours. Served chilled.
Luau Chicken Skewers
Ingredients:1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/2 pound bacon, cut in half lengthwise, then cut each strip into quarters
1 can pineapple chunks
18 ounces teriyaki sauce
Instructions:
Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes. Wrap with 1 slice of bacon. Thread onto toothpick and top with 1 pineapple chunk. Place in baking pan and pour teriyaki sauce over all. Marinate for 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Place marinated skewers onto parchment lined baking sheets. Tip: waxed paper is not the same as parchment. If you don't have parchment paper then use aluminum foil. Throw away teriyaki sauce left in pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
Optional: You could place the skewers on baking racks set on top of parchment lined baking sheets. This way they won't absorb as much of the bacon fat.
Tropical Fruit Salad
And what tropical party would be complete without a fruit salad?
1 mango, seeded, peeled and cubed
1 papaya, seeded, peeled and cubed
1 can mandarin orange slices, drained
2 kiwis peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced so that you have 1/2 moon shaped slices
8 ounces vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup shredded coconut
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and chill for 2-4 hours.
Circus Party
If you have very young children you can keep the menu simple by serving hot dogs, sugar cookies (either made from scratch, using a boxed mix or slice and bake cookies, popcorn and punch.
If your children are a little older you can actually get them into the kitchen cooking up some simple circus party recipes.
Cracker Jacks
Yes, you can make your own Cracker Jacks and you'll be amazed at how much better it tastes than the boxed stuff. You can even put a small prize at the bottom of each container!
4 quarts of popped popcorn
2 to 4 cups peanuts
1/2 cup butter or coconut oil
1 tablespoon molasses
1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place peanuts and popcorn into large bowl.
Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl. Stir in molasses and honey or agave nectar. Pour this over the popcorn mixture and stir until well coated.
Spread mixture onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 6 minutes at 350 degrees. Stir and return to oven for 6 more minutes.
Let the cracker jacks cool and then scoop into paper cups.
Baked Mini Corn Dogs
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour or 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup all purpose flour2/3 cup corn meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
coarse salt and pepper
2/3 cup milk, 1 cup milk if using whole wheat flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vegetable or coconut oil
4 hot dogs, cut in quarters lengthwise and then in half so that each hot dog yields 8 hot dog "fingers"
ketchup and mustard
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
In a medium bowl stir or whisk together 1 1/2 cup flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Make a well in the center. Add milk, eggs and oil. Mix just until combined. Do not over mix or your batter will be tough.
Place 1/2 cup flour in shallow dish. Roll hot dogs in flour. Tap off excess flour then place into batter. Make sure each hot dog is coated evenly. If the batter is too thick to just roll the hot dogs in you can use your hands to press it around each hot dog finger. If you need to use a little extra milk to make the batter work, then do so. Use a fork to remove hot dogs from batter and place on baking sheet.
Bake five minutes. Use a spatula or spoon to scoop up any batter that has slipped off and spoon it over the corn dogs. Continue baking until corn batter is golden, approximately another 20 minutes.
Ice Cream in a Bag
You may want to make up the ice cream mixture and then allow each child at your circus party make their own ice cream. You could even do an ice cream bar so that they can add whatever they would like to a basic vanilla ice cream base.
Suggestions for ad ins:
This recipe is for four servings. Multiply it by the number of servings you want.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk or half & half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
24 tablespoons rock salt
4 pint-size zip-lock food storage bags
4 gallon-size zip-lock food storage bag
Ice cubes
Instructions:
It helps to have one person hold each bag while the other person fills the bag or you could place the bag inside a container that will hold it upright while you fill it.
Place your add ins into the pint size bag. Pour 1/2 cup ice cream mixture into the small bag, and seal it. You may want to use a soup ladle to do this.
Fill the gallon bag half full of ice and add 6 tablespoons rock salt.
Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it.
Shake until the mixture is the consistency you want, which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe off the top of the small bag and open it carefully. Eat it directly from the bag!
Whether you choose to throw a party or just make a luau or circus themed dinner for your family, your kids will have enjoyed a fun summer activity and learned a little something in the process.
Suggestions for ad ins:
- strawberries
- bananas
- cherries
- mini chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows
- crumbled cookies
- crumbled cake
- crushed pretzels
- chopped candy
This recipe is for four servings. Multiply it by the number of servings you want.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk or half & half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
24 tablespoons rock salt
4 pint-size zip-lock food storage bags
4 gallon-size zip-lock food storage bag
Ice cubes
Instructions:
It helps to have one person hold each bag while the other person fills the bag or you could place the bag inside a container that will hold it upright while you fill it.
Place your add ins into the pint size bag. Pour 1/2 cup ice cream mixture into the small bag, and seal it. You may want to use a soup ladle to do this.
Fill the gallon bag half full of ice and add 6 tablespoons rock salt.
Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it.
Shake until the mixture is the consistency you want, which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe off the top of the small bag and open it carefully. Eat it directly from the bag!
Whether you choose to throw a party or just make a luau or circus themed dinner for your family, your kids will have enjoyed a fun summer activity and learned a little something in the process.
