Some Summer Recipes for Parties for Children

Summer is a time for pool parties, no school, and fun for kids. However, if you are a parent of one of those kids, you have to worry and think about what to make for those parties. There are several easy items that you can make and not have to break your back or the bank.

Let's start with Ants on a Log, an old standard. For this, all you will need is some celery, some raisins and peanut butter. Sometimes, cream cheese has been used instead of peanut butter, but most kids prefer peanut butter. Seperate the celery into individual stalks. Spread the peanut butter as thick as you want on each piece of celery. Line the raisins up like ants walking on a stick and, viola, you have your ants on a log.

Another standby is ice cream. However, instead of going to the store to buy some ice cream, make some with your kids at home for their party. It's very simple and easy to make. For this, you will need 1 tablespoon of sugar,

1/2 cup milk, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla (or chocolate syrup or strawberry syrup, depending upon the flavor you want), 6 tablespoons rock salt, 1 pint-sized Ziploc bag,1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag and some ice cubes. Once you have all of your items, what you do is fill the gallon bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt, sealing the bag when you're done..Put the milk, vanilla (or other flavor), and sugar into the small Ziploc bag, and seal it. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully. Shake the bag until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Congratulations! You have now made ice cream.

Now if this sounds like too much work, how about some worms in the mud. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds! What you're going to need is some chocolate jello pudding mix, milk, Oreo cookies, and some gummy worms. With these items, you would first go ahead and make the chocolate pudding, following the instructions on the box. Put it in the refrigerator to set for at least 15 minutes. Next place the cookies in a large ziploc bag and seal it shut. Use a rolling pin to crush the cookies into crumbs. Finally, in a plastic cup, put a layer of pudding and then a layer of cookie crumbs, alternating until you reach the top of the cup. For the best effect, make sure the crumbs are on the top layer. Finally, put the gummy worms in the cup, making them look like they're coming out of the dirt.

Finally, how about something that's little healthy that kids will still like eating? Sounds like a near impossible thing doesn't it? It is something called Cherry Crunch. What you need is 4 cups of frosted flakes, 4 cups of Kixx cereal, 2 tablespoons of butter, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of corn syrup, 1/4 cup of butter, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda,1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1 cup of dried cherries. Before you start making anything, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine both the frosted flakes and Kixx cereals in large bowl. Melt the tablespoons of butter in a pan. In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, the 1/4 cup butter and salt. Heat the mixture to boiling, stirring frequently, for about 4-6 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the baking soda (which will cause it to foam up) and vanilla. Pour the final mixture over the cereals and mix well. Place in a buttered pan, and put the pan in the over for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes. Remove the product for the pan and stir in the dried cherries. It will still be hot, so let it cool completely before serving.

These are all very simple recipes that can please even the pickiest kid. Any time they have a summer party, make these items and you will be the most popular parent in the neighborhood!