Sand cups.......

With the kids off school - this kind of dessert is a great way to keep them involved and have fun at the same time.
This dessert looks like sand - easy for the kids to join in with - decorate with small umbrellas, gummy worms and sharks, crushed peanuts etc.
I recommend serving this in individual cups - though a bucketful is easily gone through too!

• 2 cups milk
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed

In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Beat with a whisk until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes.

Add whipped topping and half of the crushed cookies and fold in.

Place 1 Tablespoon crushed cookies into each cup. Fill cups 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate 1 hour. Decorate before serving.

Watergate Salad......

Creamy and cool and kids love to make this!

INGREDIENTS

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained

In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and pineapple; mix well.
Add marshmallows and 3/4 of the container of dessert topping (add more to get a creamier consistency).
Toss in the coconut; mix well.
Transfer to a serving dish and top with halved cherries and any extra coconut.
Chill for at least an hour before serving. Good the next day.

Stir-fried chicken salad....

Ingredients

1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon bottled chopped garlic
2 teaspoons sugar

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders
1 tablespoon peanut oil
4 cups mixed salad greens
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken to broth mixture, stirring to coat.
Let stand 3 minutes.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Drain chicken, reserving marinade.
Add chicken to the pan; cook 4 minutes or until done, stirring frequently.
Stir in the reserved marinade.
Reduce heat; cook 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat.

Combine greens and basil in a large bowl. Add chicken mixture, tossing to coat.

Cereal Treats

Easy to make - any cereal can be used - great fun for kids but adult assistance is required for the first part! Let them have fun decorating them!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup butter
1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows
5 cups crispy rice cereal

Grease a 9x13" pan.

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine butter and marshmallows. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Remove and stir in the cereal.

Press in to the prepared pan with the back of a buttered spoon. Let the treats cool for about 2 hours until set. Cut into squares.

Chile Spiced Tenderloin Steaks

Ingredients

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (about 1 inch thick)
Cooking spray

Combine first 9 ingredients - rub over steaks - leave at room temp for approx 15 mins.
Spray grill rack with cooking spray and grill steaks for 5 mins each side or until reached required 'doneness'.

Fake-and-bake Chicken

I love ranch ranch dressing so this appealed to me in instantly. I was very dubious about the potato flakes but have to say they worked so well - and easily spiced up by adding any favourite spices of your choice in with the potato flakes or by using something like a sweet chilli sauce to coat the chicken with - then you can have tastes met for the whole family.

INGREDIENTS
Chicken pieces
Ranch Dressing
Instant Potato Flakes

Heat oven to 450F/230C/Gas8. Coat baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray.
Brush the chicken pieces with ranch dressing.
Roll in the potato flakes.
Place on baking sheet (duh!)
Turn oven down to 350F/180C/Gas4 - bake for 25 mins/until juices run clear when pierced with a fork.

Cheats coconut brittle

This is done in the microwave mainly - a little treat that takes minutes to make - delicious with the macadamia nuts!
As microwaves vary on cooking strength - check these times halfway for each cooking period.

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

4 ounces chopped macadamia nuts

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

Spread coconut evenly over a buttered baking sheet.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave on high 3 minutes.
Stir in nuts and microwave 4 minutes more.
Stir in butter and vanilla and return to microwave for 1 minute.
Stir in soda until light and slightly foamy.
Pour over coconut on sheet. Let cool until firm (1 hour at least).
Break into pieces - enjoy!!!