A Super Why Birthday Party

My son wanted a Super Why Birthday party.  After planning (and then cancelling due to his broken arm) a bounce house birthday, I wanted to make this birthday extra special for him.  It started with his invitations:

Next, we determined it wouldn't be a Super Why party without a Super Letter Hunt.  I used large stencils from any supply store and traced them on cardboard (just old boxes).  Then, used red craft paint to do 2 coats with my son helping.  We finished them with glittery Modge Podge and velcro dots on the back so that they could be adhered to the "Super Computer" in the main room.  We hung the letters by strings/paperclips around the house and the first activity we had the kids do after decorating their Super Why party hats (plain hats from your craft supply store plus any alpha stickers) was to go room to room collecting the Super Letters.  This was a HIT but didn't take as long as I thought it might. 

Hats:

Coloring Table:

(This was nice as a few older children were at the party with younger siblings)

Super Letters:

Super Computer:

Then, we tried to play a game of Musical Letters where each time we took a letter out, we put it in the Super Computer.  The kids were just too young for it.  So, we made a line and put up the letters instead.
And then, we played Pin the Tail on Alpha Pig.  My husband is amazing and drew this last night from the coloring page on the PBS website. It's drawn on a regular piece of poster board. We used pink crepe paper with double sided tape to play the game.

Then, we played outside before we had the cupcakes.  They were made from this recipe.

I decorated them with books made from 1 tsp rounded white frosting dough ( 1/2 cup canned white frosting and 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar mixed together and stored at room temperature, covered with saran wrap until use), and Airhead Candy.  Unwrap the Airheads and fold in half with ball of dough in the center.  Press slightly. Trim excess from the 3 edges and slightly open to form a book.  I iced them with Cupcake Icing available at the store.

And finally, the guests left with their goodie bags containing: notepad with personalized Super Why labels I made, small playdough container, bubbles, graham cracker snack, bouncy ball & bookmark.  Each bag had the guest's name on them.

Easy Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake

From Womans Day Sept 2009:

Easy Vanilla Chocolate-Chip Cake
Makes: 1, 13x9 in baking pain or 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
2 2/3 all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup oil
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup mini-chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare pans- use foil lining for pan if making in to a cake.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl with a whisk.  Whisk milk, water, oil, vanilla and eggs in a 4 cup bowl.
3. Make a well with the flour mixture and gradually add in the wet ingredient mixture.  Whisk until just blended (some lumps may exist).
4. Stir in chips by hand.
5. Divide batter in to cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. 
6. Cool completely on a wire rack for 30 minutes before icing.

Variations:
 Chocolate-chocolate chip: Add 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder to dry ingredients. Increase water to 1 cup and omit eggs.  Bake as directed.

Spiced Apple: Reduce sugar to 1 1/2 cups and add 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice to dry ingredients.  Omit milk, water and chocolate chips.  Reduce oil to 1/2 cup and add 1 1/2 cups unsweetened apple sauce to liquid ingredients. Bake as directed.

Macaroni & Cheese fit for Company!

Delicious!

Company Mac & Cheese
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
7 oz elbow macaroni (you can use a whole box if cooking for more- I use Ronzoni Smart Taste)
6 Tbsp butter (split- 4 Tbsp & 2 Tbsp)
4 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 cups skim milk

1 (8 oz) package 1/3 Fat Cream Cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tsp spicy brown mustard
3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
Cooking spray



Directions:
Cook macaroni according to directions.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, melt 4 Tbsp of the butter over low heat.  Add the flour and mix with a whisk until bubbly.
Slowly add milk.  Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.  Reduce heat to medium-low.
Add cream and cheddar cheeses, stir frequently until completely melted.
Add drained macaroni to sauce and stir.  Transfer to a baking dish (usually I use 9x13) that's been coated with cooking spray.
Melt remaining 2 Tbsp in a microwave safe bowl.  Toss with breadcrumbs and use to top macaroni.
Bake until browned on top- about 15-20 minutes.  If top isn't browned, just turn the broiler on for a few seconds and you'll be all set.
Yum!

NI:  Don't ask... don't tell ;)
Shown with Hormel Always Tender Marinated Pork Loin

Corn Casserole

Love this side dish for a party or family dinner!

Corn Casserole
Servings: 12
1 8 oz container low fat sour cream

1 pkg corn bread mix
2, 15 oz cans low sodium canned corn kernels, drained
1 15 oz can cream corn, low sodium
1 egg (or egg substitute)
1/8 t salt


Combine above ingredients and put in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 55-60 mins or until top is browned.
NI: 120 cals, 3.6 g fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 191 mg sodium, 18 g carbs, 3 g protein