With Groundhog Day fast approaching, you may be thinking about ways to incorporate the holiday into your children’s snack time. If so, I have a few ideas that you may want to try. Here they are:
Fruit Leather Shadows
Since searching for shadows is a big part of the holiday, you may want to consider making one out of blackberry fruit leather. To make the celebrated creature’s shadow, simply roll out a piece of blackberry fruit leather onto your kitchen countertop and cut it into pieces using a groundhog shaped cookie cutter. Then sandwich the fruit pieces in between plastic wrap and roll them up. Afterward, tuck the homemade shadows into your children’s lunch boxes.
If you have never made blackberry fruit leather before, you can find a set of instructions posted on the Countryfarm Lifestyles website. As far as the cookie cutters go, you can typically purchase those through baking related retailers.
Carrot Muffins
Because groundhogs are herbivores, you may want to think about serving the kids carrot muffins instead of chocolate cupcakes. You could decorate the muffins with a caramel cream cheese frosting and a groundhog head made from chocolate graham crackers. You can find a recipe for making homemade graham crackers posted on the Food Network’s website.
Nutty Pumpernickel Sandwiches
Another great snack option would be to make themed sandwiches. All you need in order to get the job done is a groundhog cookie cutter, pumpernickel or whole grain bread and the sandwich fillings of your choice. Sandwich fillings to consider utilizing are Nutella, bean sprouts, peanut butter and jam. Just make the sandwich like you normally would. Then place the cookie cutter on top of the sandwich and press down firmly. Afterward, remove the groundhog cut out and serve it to your child.
Groundhog Droppings
You may also want to consider giving the kids a funny snack that I like to call groundhog droppings. It’s really nothing more than yogurt covered raisins, granola, pretzel sticks (thin) and dehydrated cranberries. To make the treat, use your home computer and printer to create a funny label. Next, place the label onto the outside of a resealable snack bag. Once that’s done, fill the bag with your version of trail mix and seal it tight. Then drop it into your children’s lunch boxes or bags.
Cocktail Franks in Puffed Pastry
Finally, you may want to consider serving the kids cocktail franks that have been partially wrapped in puffed pastry. You could tell the kids that the cocktail franks are little groundhogs popping out of logs. You may opt to purchase ready-made ones or make your own. If you’ve never made cocktail franks wrapped in puff pastry before, there is a great recipe posted on the Food Network’s website that you may want to use. It’s one of my favorites.
Source: Personal Experience
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