How to Make 5 Trendy Treats on a Stick

Sweet treats on a stick are all the rage right now; however they usually come with a pretty steep price tag. If you’re interested in serving these trendy treats but have written them off because of the high bakery price, consider making your own instead for a fraction of the cost. Not only will you save money, but your treats will be the hit of your next party.

1. Chocolate covered Oreos on a stick.  For this treat you will need a package of double stuff Oreos, candy melts, long lollipop sticks, wax paper, and nonpareils.  Melt the candy melts according to package directions.  Have the melted chocolate in a tall vessel, wide enough to dip the cookie into.  If the chocolate seems too thick add a tablespoon of solid shortening and heat for another 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave, then stir.  Take the sticks and push them into the frosting part of the Oreo.  The double stuff allows enough room for the stick to go in without messing up the look of the cookie.  Dip the cookie into the melted chocolate until it’s completely covered.  Discard any excess chocolate by tapping the stick on the edge of the bowl.  Lay the cookie down on the wax paper and sprinkle with nonpareils.  Allow to dry and serve standing up in a glass, stuck in some Styrofoam, or lying on a plate.
2. Cake pops are all the rage.  Bake any type of cake in a 9×13 inch pan.  Once the cake has completely cooled break it up into chunks and pulse it in a food processor to make fine crumbs.  Add about 2/3 of a can of store bought frosting to a bowl and add the cake crumbs.  Mix these together until a dough forms.  Feel free to add a little more frosting if it seems too crumbly.  Using a small disher or scoop, roll the cake dough into about 1 ½ inch balls.  Place the balls on a lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes.  Melt some candy melts according to package directions, but add a tablespoon of solid shortening.  Place the melted chocolate or bark into a tall container to make dipping easier.  Bring the cake balls out of the freezer and dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then into the cake ball.  Go about halfway into the cake ball.  Now dip the cake pop into the chocolate until the whole ball is covered.  Remove from the chocolate and remove the extra chocolate by lightly tapping the stick on the edge of the bowl and turning the cake ball so that you get a smooth finish. 
3. Cookies on a stick can go with any theme.  Make your favorite roll-out sugar cookie dough.  Roll the dough about 3/8 of an inch thick.  Cut out whatever shape you would like as long as there’s room to insert the stick without messing up the cookie.  Lay your hand gently on the cookie and insert the lollipop stick into the cookie.  Try not to let the stick poke out the bottom of the cookie because once it bakes it will break off the stick.  If you see that your stick has poked through the back you can take a scrap of dough and press it over the stick in the back.  Bake the cookies until they are golden brown.  Now decorate as you normally would and display these cookies by sticking them in some Styrofoam.
4. Marshmallows on a stick are making an appearance at many birthday parties.  These treats are so simple to do that the kids can help make them.  Take a lollipop stick and poke it into a marshmallow.  Get a bunch of the marshmallows on sticks ready to go so that everyone can grab and go.  Now melt several different colors of candy melts according to package directions.  Fill some other bowls with various sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, nonpareils, and mini M&M’s.  Allow everyone to dip their marshmallow into the melted chocolate about half way up the marshmallow.  Allow the extra chocolate to drip off for a few seconds and then roll the marshmallow into a topping.  Have a big chunk of Styrofoam ready to stick these treats into so that they can dry.  It won’t take too long for the chocolate to harden.  This process can be sped up by placing the treats in the freezer.
5. Pretzel rods get all dressed up.  Children can help with this project as well.  Melt different colors of candy melts according to package directions and set them out.  To keep the chocolate from setting up before you are done you can place the bowls on a heating pad turned on low.  Have bowls set up with various toppings, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, and anything else that sounds good.  Dip the pretzel rods into the melted chocolate about 2/3 of the way up the rod.  Gently tap off the excess chocolate and roll into your desired topping.  Place these treats into tall glasses to serve once they have set.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Barbara Williams.  I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:
 http://www.findababysitter.org/blog/how-to-make-5-trendy-treats-on-a-stick/

How to Childproof the Kitchen

Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is an eye-opening experience for first-time parents’, showing them a new world of lurking dangers that went entirely unseen while the house was inhabited solely by adults. Knowing that your tiny bundle of joy will be crawling, and then walking, is what makes the chore of childproofing seem like a fairly urgent one. The truth is, there’s no time too early to childproof, even if your newborn is still learning to focus their eyes; kids grow up quickly, and it’s better to be well-prepared in advance than have the need for childproofing measures present themselves after your pride and joy has already had a mishap.

• Place Safety Gates at Entrances – Whenever feasible, it’s best to keep babies out of the kitchen altogether. This holds especially true for times when you’re not in the kitchen to supervise, and placing baby safety gates at all entrances keeps a crawling baby or shambling toddler from slipping into this household danger zone without the knowledge of an adult.
• Install Cabinet Locks – Aside from the dangerous substances, utensils, and other items that are often stored in lower cabinets, there is also a very real risk of injured hands and fingers. Should tiny digits be smashed by a cabinet door they could very easily be injured more severely than you might imagine; to prevent this and accidental poisoning by household chemicals, install a set of cabinet locks on all lower cabinet doors.
• Consider a Drawer Guide System – Toddlers are usually just tall enough to open a drawer and close it again, though they may not have enough height to peek inside at the contents. Still, drawers can slam on small fingers too, inflicting painful damage to their fragile fingers. Installing a drawer guide system designed to insure that drawers close softly and smoothly every time might help to reduce this risk.
• Invest in Electrical Outlet Plates – The small, translucent plastic outlet covers that most adults remember from their own childhoods are still commercially available; they do, however, present a choking hazard and can also be quickly figured out by observant toddlers. Kids learn by mimicking adults, so it won’t take too many instances of watching you remove an outlet cover before using it for your child to grasp the concept. Since small outlet covers may not be ideal, it might be wise to consider full outlet plates that cover both sockets and immediately slide back into place after use.
• Install an Oven Lock – Ovens can be purchased with a factory installed lock, but if your oven doesn’t have one you can purchase after-market varieties that can be installed on your existing oven as well. This will prevent curious little hands from landing themselves in the emergency room with severe burns. They’re not always the most attractive feature in a kitchen, but sacrificing style in the interest of your baby’s safety is perennially en vogue.
• Move Cleaners and Other Chemicals to Higher Ground – Installing cabinet locks is a wise idea because they can keep kids from pinching their fingers or accessing dangerous items inside. However, parents can’t rely solely upon a cabinet lock to keep determined pint-sized investigators out, so it’s advised that all cleaning fluids and other potentially harmful chemicals be moved to upper cabinets, way out of kids’ reach
• Stow Away the Garbage Can – While a rational adult would assume that the off-putting odor of a garbage can would be repellent enough on its own, there’s something about the refuse heap that captures kids’ curiosity. To keep your baby or toddler out of the smelly, dirty, and bacteria-laden trash, move the can to a cabinet or invest in a model with a childproof lid.
• Train Yourself to Unplug Small Appliances – Unplugging a small appliance, like a blender, mixer, or toaster, can be a difficult thing for new parents to remember; after all, adults know the very real risk that dropping these items in a sink full of water presents. Small children may not be able to grasp this concept for a while, however, so it’s advised that new and even expecting parents get themselves accustomed to the idea of doing just that to prevent tragic accidents.

The earlier you install your cabinet locks and other security measures, the longer you’ll have to become accustomed to them before your child is actually in need of the safety they can help to provide. Frustration with the devices can cause parents to uninstall or disable them, leaving little ones open to danger; take the time to learn how they work and the best methods of boosting kitchen efficiency while leaving them in place to reduce the temptation of chucking them at the first sign of struggle.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Lynda Albertson.  I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:

 http://www.nannybabysitter.com/blog/how-to-childproof-the-kitchen/