Joy in the Kitchen!

  Ahhh   it's nearly time for April Fools Day !  I'm no expert on the origins of this day and I'm definitely NOT a fan of mean or hurtful pranks, but I do love to have a bit of fun with my family on this day!  Food is one of our favorite ways to celebrate any holiday, why not this one! You can find some other ideas in a previous post HERE  that I wrote a few years ago.  Some of those ideas take a little more time. This year, even if you don't have much time to be in the kitchen, you can select a few of these ideas to serve your family!  It's fun all day while kids are asking "what's for dinner" to say Fish Tacos or Chicken Sandwiches and then plate these up and serve! Life's too short!   Laugh! Here we have a colorful dinner consisting of a  Chicken Sandwich, with Fruit Slices, and Chips on the side. I just had to share a close up of that chicken sandwich.  Just makes your mouth water! You could add this lovely egg salad as a...

It's almost time again for April Fools Day!  I'm not a big believer in mean or hurtful pranks, but in our household a few little surprises or twists here and there are a lot of fun!!!   Generally I don't allow things that make a mess or hurt feelings.  Here are a few of the fun FOOD pranks we've done the past few years.....   I can't use them again very soon, but YOU CAN! These pranks are all quality tested in my own home.  :)    My 8 year old son was looking over my shoulder as I was putting this post together and he said "That was so fun!  Can we do it again this year?"  I had to explain that surprise is the best part of the fun... but I'd better get on the ball and find a fun surprise for him!   Maybe THIS year my April Fools Surprise will be doing NOTHING!   They'd be able to enjoy it all day!   Click through each link to see more pictures and details on our April Fools Fun.    Chicken Sandwiches with...

Years ago my Mom found a little paper in a new shirt that said "Inspected by 14".  She saved that paper and then put it in Dad's lunch the next day with a bite out of the sandwich.  What a fun memory that has been for my family as an example of keeping the fun in a marriage. Today I did my own quality control for Dave's lunch!  He'll get a kick out of it and won't have a choice but to think of me while he's away at work.   Perhaps sandwiches like these will show up in lunches for April Fools!  Surprise!

I love a good, innocent prank now and then.   Nothing mean or particularly wasteful, just all in good fun!  April 1st is a great day to surprise your family with a chuckle or two!  Here is what we did this year:   This morning when Wesley got the milk for his cereal, it was BLUE!  He swears it tastes like Easter Eggs. A few googly eyes made for fun looking lunches for the kids! A little tablet of egg dye tucked in the water faucet was a surprise as well!  (It does only last a minute before the tablet dissolves and you're back to clear water) Dinner tonight will be breakfast:   pancakes, bacon, and hot chocolate.  (You would LOVE my favorite Buttermilk Pancake recipe!) Happy April Fools Day! You can see a couple of our other April Fools Celebrations through the links below: Chicken Sandwiches    Meatloaf Cupcakes and more...

A few years ago I had fun tricking my family with this fun April Fool's Dinner.   The recipes aren't critical, you can use any meatloaf recipe and any mashed potatoes/gravy mix.   It was so much fun to prepare and the kids had fun eating this silly dinner! April Fools 2013 Dinner Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting Mashed Potato Sundaes Jello "KoolAid" Wormy Dirt Pudding Meatloaf Cupcakes:  Bake regular meatloaf recipe in large muffin tin and pipe mashed potatoes on for frosting.  Place in a cupcake liner. Mashed Potato Sundaes:   Layer mashed potatoes and a caramel colored gravy (chicken works good) in Sundae glasses. KoolAid:   Mix KoolAid colored Jello and pour into glasses.  Set straw in and put in refrigerator to set. Dirt Pudding:   Mix 1 package chocolate pudding as directed.  Add a cup of whipped topping if desired.   Fill individual bowls or cups with pudding....