Tootsie Rolls

My friend Karen inspired me to get off my bum and start doing some fun summer kid activities. Here's one of my favorites from when I was a kid. It doesn't taste just like the tootsie rolls you buy, but the process is a blast. (Yes, if your kids are in the potty humor age group, it's even more fun.)

2 tsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup baking cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup white Karo syrup

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing after each addition. Knead candy until it is very well mixed. Rollin into tootsie rolls. Be sure to store candy in an airtight container. This is a great project for kids because no heat is required to make it. They enjoy kneading the candy, and rolling it into different shapes.

Banana Bread French Toast

A friend recently recommended this, and we LOVE it.

Just make french toast using banana bread. Sure, it's like feeding your kids batter fried cake for breakfast, but I figure after the kids have their syrup and butter on regular french toast, I should get bonus points for switching to something with fruit in it.

I've been told this is also good with pumpkin bread, carrot bread, etc.