MOPPETS Snack Idea: Turkey and Cheese

Here’s another satisfying snack idea from our MOPPETS Coordinator Jessica: Turkey & Cheese.

It doesn’t get any easier than this. Just roll two slices of your child’s favorite lunch meat and a slice of cheese. Then, cut each slice in half for a kid-sized snack.

Remember, all MOPPETS snacks should be nut-free. Don’t forget to label your containers!

What’s your kiddo’s favorite snack for MOPPETS?

Moms’ Favorite Ways to Spend a Snow Day with Preschoolers

For the first time in a long time (maybe ever?), our MOPS meeting was called for a Snow Day! We asked our MOPS moms how they’re spending this snow day with their preschoolers and we’re sharing their answers here – including a Snow Cream recipe!

So, how are our MOPS moms spending the Snow Day with their preschoolers?

By finding fun indoors:

• “I love to cook, work puzzles, and play board games.” – Fran
• “We will go out to play, eat some cookies, color and play, and maybe pull out the couch bed and watch some movies.” – Colleen
• “Make comfort foods, watch movies and popcorn…do little craft activities.” – Connie

By getting cozy:

• “We will happily sit on the couch and stare at the beauty from under the cozy blankets!” – Kristen
• “Stay in our pajamas all day!!!” – Sara M.
• “My favorite way to spend a snow day is in my comfy clothes.” – Kristina

By getting out in the snow:

• “Get on our snow gear and play outside in the snow with the neighborhood kids!!!” – Yvonne
• “Well, I’d like to curl up with a book by the fire…but alas, my toddler doesn’t really let me do that! The next best thing is to send the eldest outside and take the toddler out there too. He really does LOVE it!!” – Lara S.
• “Pull out all my snow gear and teach my kids how to play in the snow (since they are Southerners)! Seriously praying for good packing snow this time (tho I can make do with the powdery stuff we normally get)!!!” – Elena

With comfort food and Snow Cream:

• “If it’s a snow day, we hope to enjoy playing in the snow, drinking hot cocoa & eating treats when we come in to warm up, making snow cream with snow we collected (snow, milk, vanilla & sugar) & watching movies.” – Paula
• “Snow angels and snow cream.” – Jessica J.
• “We made chocolate chip cookies and bread to help keep us warm.” – Jessica J.

Enjoy your Snow Day, moms! Keep those babies warm.

MOPPETS Snack Idea: Apple Rollups

Here’s another snack idea from our MOPPETS Coordinator Jessica: Apple Rollups.

To make them, spread cream cheese on a cinnamon-flavored tortilla, top with thinly-sliced apples, and roll. It’s that easy. And, if you can’t find cinnamon tortillas, you can sprinkle a little cinnamon on the cheese.

Remember, all MOPPETS snacks should be nut-free. Don’t forget to label your containers!

What’s your kiddo’s favorite snack for MOPPETS?

MOPS Recipes: Christin’s Pumpkin Trifle

Christin has brought this Pumpkin Trifle to MOPS events like our Thanksgiving Pot Luck and Christmas Party. She was kind enough to share the recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 cans pumpkin
• 2 packages vanilla instant pudding
• 1 tub Cool Whip
• 3 cups milk
• spice cake mix
• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 8-10 ginger snap cookies, crumbled
• 9 whole ginger snap cookies for additional garnish, if desired

Directions

1. Mix one can of pumpkin with the spice cake mix and bake in a greased 9×12 metal pan for approximately 23 minutes.
2. Combine the pudding mix with the milk, the other can of pumpkin, and the pumpkin pie spice.
3. When the cake is cool, crumble it into small pieces.
4. In a trifle bowl or other similar container, layer the ingredients, as follows: 1/2 of the cake, followed by 1/2 of the pudding mixture, followed by 1/2 of the Cool Whip. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the ginger snap crumbles. Repeat one more time with remaining ingredients.
5. Garnish with the whole ginger snap cookies, if desired. Serve, or chill and serve when desired.

Here’s a tip: Christin says it’s even more delicious if you let it chill overnight.

Let us know if you try this recipe. Enjoy!

MOPS Traditions: Our Thanksgiving Potluck Photos and Recipes

Thanks to Mentor Mom Donna for hosting this year’s Thanksgiving Potluck for MOPS. This is the third year of our Thanksgiving moms-night-in tradition. It’s known for being a lot of fun and a great opportunity to spend quality time together.

All of the moms brought a Thanksgiving dish to share and we enjoyed an evening of food, fun, and friendship. Special thanks to Lara S. for bringing the turkey.

We’re sharing a few of the recipes and photos here and want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Lorra’s Corn Pudding

That’s Lorra’s corn pudding at the bottom center of our potluck picture. Yum!

Ingredients:

1 Sweet creamed corn
1 can whole kernel corn
1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix
1 egg
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

Mix all together bake @ 350 for 30 min.

Colleen’s Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Here’s Colleen’s recipe, straight from her own mother. Spelling out “MOPS” in pecans is totally optional. And a little bit weird. But, if you want to try it, just reserve some pecan halves for your letters.

Filling Ingredients:

1 lg can sweet potatoes (drained)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup self-rising flour
1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Mix the filling ingredients with a mixer until smooth. Spread it in a casserole dish.
2. Stir together the topping ingredients and crumble it over the potato mixture.
3. Bake 30-40 min at 350.

 

MOPPETS Snack Idea: Banana Bread Mini-Muffins

Our wonderful MOPPETS Coordinator Jessica has another yummy (and super cute) snack idea for your little one to enjoy while you’re at MOPS: Banana Bread Mini-Muffins. And, here’s a recipe she recommends for a healthy, whole-wheat version.

Remember, all MOPPETS snacks should be nut-free. Don’t forget to label your containers!

What’s your kiddo’s favorite snack for MOPPETS?

Recipe: Stefanie’s Cappuccino Ice Cream Punch

Our MOPS moms might remember this frothy ice cream and coffee punch that Stefanie G. brought to a recent meeting. She was nice enough to share the recipe. Enjoy!

“Yes, you don’t even want to think about how many calories you are consuming in one cup, and yes, you could make it low-fat. However…..it just won’t be as good, so make it as a treat every once in a while.” Stefanie G.

Tip: Allow 4 hours for the mixture to chill in the refrigerator and another 1/2 hour for the ice cream to melt before serving.

Cappuccino Ice Cream Punch

Makes about 6 quarts (30-35 servings).

Tip: Allow at least 4 hours for the mixture to chill in the refrigerator and another 1/2 hour for the ice cream to melt before serving.

• 1 1/2 quarts of water
• 1/2 cup instant chocolate drink mix (I used Nestle Quik)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup instant coffee granules
• 1/3 cup ground espresso
• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 gallon French vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 gallon Chocolate ice cream
• Chocolate curls as a garnish (optional)

Directions

1. In a large sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat.
2. Add chocolate drink mix, sugar, coffee, and espresso; stir until dissolved.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
4. About a 1/2 hour before serving, pour mixture into a punch bowl. Add milk and whipping cream.
5. Add ice cream by the scoop-fulls and stir until partially melted.
6. Garnish with chocolate curls (if desired).

MOPPETS Snack Idea: Cream Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Here’s another yummy snack idea from Jessica, our MOPPETS Coordinator: Cream Cheese on Cinnamon Raisin Bread. Easy, right?

Remember, all MOPPETS snacks should be nut-free. And don’t forget to label your containers!

MOPPETS Snack Idea: Fruit Cup and Cheese Stick

Keep it simple on MOPS mornings. The snack you send with your child to MOPPETS doesn’t have to be anything fancy and it shouldn’t be a full lunch. Just enough for a quick break in a morning of play.

Here’s an easy idea from Jessica, our MOPPETS Coordinator: a cup of fruit and a cheese stick. Easy enough, right? Remember, all snacks should be nut-free. And don’t forget to label your containers!