February 2007  "Recipes of the Month"--Postcard Eats

Everyone expects "paper" Valentines this month, but you can make edible Valentines that will forever be ingrained in your child's memories!

Postcard Sandwiches


Ingredients Needed:

Slice of bread
Luncheon meat
Cream cheese, mayonnaise or soft butter spread
Small packets of mustard or mayonnaise or catsup (get extras when you eat out at those fast food places)
Olives, carrot coins, green pepper pieces or pickle pieces for decorating

Utensils Needed:

Toaster
Plate
Knife

Directions for making Postcard Sandwich:

1.  Wash and dry hands.
2.  Take out one slice of bread.
3.  Toast bread.
4.  Lightly spread with cheese, butter or mayo so that the luncheon meat will adhere to the bread.
5.  Cut a rectangle shape of luncheon meat and place on top of spread toast.
6.  Cut a corner tip off the packet of condiment, and pipe on words.
7.  Decorate with olive or veggie hearts to make the "stamp" on the "postcard."
8.  Take a big bite and ENJOY!

         

*  Peanut butter can be substituted for the spread and meat, then use a packet of jelly to pipe on the words.  Use banana slices or chocolate chips to "stamp" the "postcard".

Ingredients for Dessert Postcard:

Double Square of plain graham crackers
Canned Frosting (tint pink if desired)
Alphabet Cereal or Gummies Alphabet Letters
Assorted Conversation Hearts, Red Hots or Chocolate Chips

Utensils Needed:

Knife
Plate

Directions for making Dessert Postcard:

1.  Wash and Dry hands.
2.  Place a rectangle of graham crackers onto plate.
3.  Lightly spread the rectangle with frosting.
4.  Arrange letters on frosting to make a Valentine saying ("Be Mine"; "4 U",  etc.)
5.  Use candies to decorate the edges of the postcard or as the stamp.

This is also a great activity to reinforce spelling words.  What child wouldn't learn how to spell the word, if they get to "eat their words" after the learning session.