Eleanor and Veda are whipping up some fun treats! One of the treats we made was Muddy Buddies. Have you tried them frozen? Delicious – perfect snack to take outside and enjoy on a hot summer day!

We played in the kitchen all afternoon – we made Strawberry Cookies, Confetti Sprinkle Cupcakes and Muddy Buddies. More on the cookies and cupcakes later.

We added sprinkles to the Muddy Buddies – of course! Every snack they make needs to have a little pink, yellow, purple or red. Their favorite colors change frequently! You could also use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate, if you would like.

Make individual treat bags for on the go snacks. Snack-sized zip lock bags work great for this. Pop them in the freezer and then you will have instant snacks when you need them.

For the recipe and more photos, click on the link below:

Have a wonderful summer day!

National Gardening Day was yesterday, April 14th – but you can celebrate whenever you have a chance! My Grandma Steinhauser loved gardening and she taught me so much. Not only about the planting and tending to the garden and flower beds, but how to really enjoy gardening. She loved to walk around her gardens and just look at her beautiful flowers and to tell us about them. So many happy memories. My sister remembers that Grandma would always hold our hands as she talked to us about her gardens.

This time of year is when we can start planning our gardens. No matter what space you have, there is somewhere you can do a bit of gardening and play in the dirt! My daughter had this little garden in her loft apartment. She started the plants from seeds and then she shared many of them later with me and I planted them in my garden.

A pot on your patio can be used to plant some of your favorites – including herbs, tomatoes or flowers. I loved having these herbs right outside by back door so I could just run out and clip a few while I was preparing a meal. I love walking through the plant nurseries and greenhouses this time of year – so many beautiful plants – and that wonderful smell of spring!

You can use a fence as a background for flowers, sunflowers are another of my favorites.

Borders can be so gorgeous. I really like these double knock-out roses that border our sidewalk in front of our house.

I had one little patch of yard that I had to get the push mower out for – so I tilled it up and turned it into an herb and flower garden.

Growing up we had huge gardens, but now I have a small garden- so I can have fun playing. I love being outside, the sunshine is good for our souls. And you get physical exercise when you dig, hoe, plant and weed.

You are never to young to enjoy playing in the dirt! My daughter gave our grandson, Berkley, his first little garden. I hope you enjoy your gardening adventures as much as he does.

So plant some seeds, plan your garden, buy some plants, visit a greenhouse, or just enjoy all the spring flowers and trees as you take a walk or a drive. Enjoy the Spring and Happy Gardening!

These little Bunny Cupcakes will definitely bring springtime cheer to your Easter celebrations! They are so delicious and adorable!

These super cute bunny tales and toes are available from Fancy Flours, but there are versions you can make with frosting, fondant and marshmallows. You can do a Pinterest search for fun Easter cupcake ideas.

It would be so fun to add these to your Easter menu. I am so excited that we will be able to have family together this year!

Kids would love to “hop” into the kitchen to help you make these. Just make your favorite cupcake and then frost them with vanilla buttercream frosting. Place shredded coconut in a bowl and lightly press an upside down frosted cupcake into the coconut. Turn right side up and gently press the coconut into the frosting, then press the bunny tales and toes in place. I found that I needed to go back and press some of the toes and tails down again as the frosting settled.

These are sure to make little kids – and big kids – smile! I think I will have one for breakfast with my coffee!!! Enjoy!

I used the Vanilla Cupcakes recipe from The Sprinkles Baking Book by Candace Nelson. The link below has the recipe and an instructional video:

If you like to make cupcakes, this is a really fun book – to look through and to bake from:

The Bunny Tails and Toes are available from Fancy Flours. What fun it is just to browse their website!

https://www.fancyflours.com/

Happy Easter Week!