This Grandma’s cooking expertise is making reservations. For desserts, when the grandchildren come, there are always M & M cookie ice cream sandwiches and Nestle Outshine Fruit Bars (made with real fruit or fruit juice and no sugar added) in the freezer for them. Of course, in addition, there are always bakery chocolate chip cookies and their favorite ice cream and it is great fun to combine them for an easy and sweet treat.
However, this Grandma has been tempted to try a bit more that is “do it yourself” for “do it with your grandchildren.” There are so many easy ways to have a “sweet” activity with toddlers to grandchildren of all ages.
First, are Tupperware popsicle molds that I still have from when the parents of the grandchildren were their age. I loved that the sticks became holders for the home made frozen treats. Now, they are called “vintage.” I must remember that term and use it.
Orange juice poured into the molds and frozen is our signature Florida go to treat. The grandchildren prefer no pulp, and Tropicana makes Pure Premium Healthy Kids No Pulp Orange Juice to use. Yes, one can still buy what are now called Tupperware vintage popsicle molds at Amazon.
Now, Tupperware actually has upgraded and modernized these molds to make them BPA free. Yes, this Grandma will discard the old for the new and safer. Also, available at Amazon.
The grandchildren always crave ice cream makers. This grandma has found they are used once and then just collect dust. But, it seems, every grandma must succumb to the request once in a grandma’s life in the summer or at the holiday season. This Grandma has purchased only electric, although you might try the hand crank and be guaranteed only one use. If you are willing to buy such a gift upon the begging of grandchildren, go with electric. The best seller on Amazon is the Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker.
This Grandma always tries to introduce grandchildren to new vocabulary, and one of the best ways is through new treats. Sorbet is a grown up treat, which grandchildren will also love. Either take them to a Gelato store to try this new vocabulary word or use the ice cream maker to make sorbet with them. The parents cannot object to fruit!
For gadgets, this Grandma loves Williams Sonoma. Yes, most end up collecting dust after one use, but Williams Sonoma is fun. In the August 2016 Oprah Magazine, Oprah highlights a new tool called Chef’n Sweet Spot Kit, which includes inexpensive molds to make the sandwich part for ice cream sandwiches that go from the oven to the freezer. You make batter for cookies or brownies and bake in the molds, cool, add ice cream filling, and chill right in the same mold. This Grandma always checks reviews on line, and the reviews say the molds are great but not to use the recipe for cookies that accompanies the product. It is cheaper on Amazon, and, with Prime, you get free shipping.
Or, if you are like this Grandma, just buy the cookies or brownies and the grandchildren’s favorite ice cream, combine, wrap in waxed paper, freeze a bit, and enjoy. Even a toddler can do this.
If Grandma really wants to be a hero, a snow cone machine is the ultimate spoiling machine. Unfortunately, it is also the most unhealthy, unless one can justify hydration as healthy. Amazon has many from very cheap to very expensive.
Remember to take pictures for the grandchildren’s annual photo album or a special
Shutterfly book. See previous posts.
With this Grandma’s experience, I recommend that whenever buying anything that is a ‘novelty’ item, first go as cheap as possible. If it has any sustaining value for the grandchildren, then think a more sturdy and sustainable model for the next holiday season.
After all, we know to do that with any “fad” or current season style we purchase. Get the bargain as one use or one season is probably all the “fad” is worth. Grandma can use the craving of these ice cream makers, molds, and snow cone makers as a learning experience too, teaching grandchildren a shopping lesson on how to spend as little money as possible on items that one may not use more than once or often.
Joy,
Mema
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