Many parents are looking for healthy snacks to serve at Halloween parties. One idea is jack-o-lantern sandwiches made on wholesome bread and using low fat ingredients. There are several variations you can try using deli meat slices, spreads, and various types of bread.

Deli style jack-o-lantern sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup mustard or ketchup (or a mixture of half and half of both)
• 32 slices whole wheat bread (try rye or pumpernickel, too)
• 16 slices American cheese (try 2% milk or a lower fat version)
• 16 slices turkey or ham slices (again look for low fat versions)
• 16 lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise and mustard/ketchup.
2. Spread condiments over one side of each slice of bread.
3. Top half of the slices with meat, lettuce and cheese. (Cheese should be on top.)
4. Cover with remaining slice of bread.
5. Cut sandwiches with a 4-inch pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter.
6. Remove top bread slice. Cut out eyes, nose and mouth with a small triangle mini cookie cut or use the tip of the paring knife.
7. Replace so the orange of the cheese shows through the cut out portions. If you want to get fancy, tear a piece of lettuce to give your jack-o’-latern green eyes.

Tip: supposedly it’s easier to cut the bread if it is slightly toasted.

Variations:

• Try PB&J with strawberry jam showing out of the cut eye, ears and mouth. Tired of peanut butter? Try almond or cashew butter instead.
• Use pumpkin or orange bread with a cream cheese spread.
• For a easy to make, healthy spread try combining no or low fat cream cheese with some canned pumpkin puree. Use organic honey or agave syrup to sweeten. Or combine marmalade or strawberry jam with the cream cheese. Try to find organic jams as they usually don’t have added sugar or corn syrup.

When I saw the magnificent herb garden that my husband planted complete with parsley, basil, Texas tarragon (I kid you not – must be really big tarragon to get that name), cilantro, and sage, I knew I had to enter a post in Kalyn’s Kitchen Weekend Herb Blogging.

But what to make? Then I saw this recipe at the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website that supplements Barbara Kingsolver’s fantastic book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, I knew I had the perfect entry for the next edition of Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted by Srivalli from Cooking 4 All Seasons - Basil-Blackberry Crumble.

Basil in a dessert? Actually, it’s amazingly good in a sweet ‘n’ sour, slightly sophisticated sort of way. In fact, it reminds me a little bit of cold beet borsch. The vinegar (!) and basil may not be to your children’s taste, but have them give it a try anyway. If they don’t like it, don’t worry. Then there’s just more for you!

And not only did the basil come from our yard, so did the blackberries.

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From Lobster Press comes Come on, Mom! It features 75 activities mothers and daughters can do together like making perfume or bread-dough clay to playing radio reporter or playing goofy golf. Each activity includes easy-to-follow instructions and a materials list if supplies are needed. This girls-only guide will create memories that will last. For girls ages 3 to 9 and their moms.

Not to fear, there’s a father/son version, too – Come on, Dad!: 75 Things for Fathers and Sons to Do Together. For boys ages 3 to 9 and their dads, sample activities include Personal Pizzas, Paper Air Force, Time Capsule, Family Story Collection, Math Olympics, Obstacle Race, Recycled City, Personal Place Mats, and Backyard Camp Out.

Not only are these books great for parents, they’ll be helpful for new stepparents, volunteers in big brother/big sister type programs, and babysitters.

I like how these books have their share of pretend play, physical activity, mental activities, and cooking. Speaking of cooking, another great activities to do with your kids on your next camping trip is to make Campfire Pies. Grilling dessert over the campfire? Sounds like wholesome family fun.

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It’s a great time of year to make homemade popsicles. I was inspired by a recipe from Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone by Krystina Castella that was in last week’s Denver Post:

Grape Pops

Makes eight 6-ounce pops.

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2   cups seedless red grapes, halved
2. 4 1/2   cups white grape juice

Directions:

1. Divide the grape halves among the pop molds.
2. Pour in the grape juice and insert the sticks. Freeze for at least 6 hours.
3. Remove from the freezer; let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before removing the pops from the molds.

Then I started researching popsicle molds online. Oh. My. Goodness. There are such cool ones out there like the Tovolo Green Shooting Star Pop Molds, the Tovolo Blue Rocket Pop Molds, and the Tovolo Yellow Groovy Pop Molds. They’re only $7.99 each (and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25 at Amazon).

Healthy, refreshing, and fun – what else could you want? Have a blast with some homemade popsicles!

In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck is one of my  favorite books of the summer. (Thanks Jim for emailing me and offering a review copy!)

For children ages four to eight, In a Blue Room is the story of a little girl named Alice. She is wide awake and insists on having a blue room before she can fall asleep. Her mama brings her flowers, tea, a quilt, and lullaby bells to help her sleep. While none of these things are blue, they help Alice get ready for bed. Then her mama turns out the light. Magically her darkened room becomes blue as moonlight fills her bedroom with blue light.

There are so many things I love about In a Blue Room. First, the illustrations by Tricia Tusa are gorgeous. I wish my room looked as beautiful as Alice’s bedroom. Then I love Jim’s use of color and the five senses – smell (lilacs and lilywhites), taste (orange tea), touch (a silky-soft and warm quilt), sounds (lullaby bells) and sight (colors and light). Not only is it a beautiful bedtime story that teaches the colors and senses, but it also reminds parents that we have to “set the stage” for good sleep both for our children and ourselves.

Foods that Make You Sleepy

I’ve written at my blog, This Mama Cooks! about foods that can make your children sleepy. In fact, a new study has come out showing that carbs may help you fall asleep faster because they raise tryptophan and serotonin levels.

But now that it’s summer, your child may be having a tough time getting to sleep because they’re too warm. If you don’t have air conditioning, try a cooling shower or bath before bedtime. A drink of ice water or cool milk (tryptophan!) will help, too.

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