LilSugar

Lil Find: Zoo Animal Pancake Pan

LilSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:00:30 -0800

If your house already feels like a zoo, one cage-free way to tame the chaos is with a fun breakfast And, the Animal Pancake Pan is the wild way to start the day and a good way for your child to brush up on their knowledge of giraffes, lions, monkeys, elephants, rhinos, camels and crocodiles.

Lil ones can practice their calls of the wild while filling their stomachs with the most important meal of the day. The $40 skillet makes seven three inch hot cakes at a time making it easy for a mother to feed her pride.

Kiddie Soiree: Adjustable Alphabet/Number Cake Pan

LilSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:00:19 -0800

Birthday cakes serve as a centerpiece for any celebration, so finding, or making, the perfect one is always a project for me. The biggest issue with creating a custom cake each year is that by the next year, my lil ones want something completely different and I need to buy a new cake pan (or find another bakery).

The Alphabet/Number Cake Pan ($40) allows you to move two-inch cubes to create any letter or number with one pan. With grooves that keep the cubes in place, there is no need to worry about leaked batter that changes the final shape of the masterpiece. The easy to follow instructions provide a guide for creating either 10- or 14-inch cakes that will serve as the center of attention for years to come.

Delilicious: Dazzling Novelty Cake Pans

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:53 -0700

It seems delicious kid friendly desserts taste even better when they come in the shape of something fun. The Wilton Giant Cupcake Cast Pan ($30) has become a staple for kid birthdays (much to the pleasure of moms like myself, its popularity coincides with a million great cupcake recipes). Looks like it's time to whip out my Cakes for Kids book!

Bone Shaped Cake Pan ($18)	Wilton Giant Cupcake Cast Pan ($30)
Wilton Heart Cake Pan Set ($40)	Spider-Man Cake Pan ($13)
SpongeBob SquarePants Cake Pan ($14)	Butterfly Pull-Apart Cupcake Pan ($15)	Elmo Cake Pan ($14)

Set Your Table With Love This Valentine's Day

LilSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:30 -0800

Planning a family-friendly fete this Valentine's Day? Consider serving up extra love with your presentation. Heart-shaped pans, cookie cutters, or dishes are a great addition to any kitchen because they can be used year-round to show your family you heart them.

Once you have selected your simple Valentine's Day dessert project, consider a heart-shaped cupcake pan for extra pizazz. Not making cupcakes? What about a giant heart-shaped cookie pan or Cake Mold and Cookie Cutters ($3 to $10).

Kiddie Soirée: Gingerbread Man Cakelets

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:00:37 -0800

Some moms have the time and patience to carefully plan out elaborate holiday desserts for upcoming parties and events, for everyone else there is the Gingerbread Man Cakelet Pan ($20). This handy little non-stick pan creates perfect lil gingerbread man desserts in a snap. Create your own recipe, or just use the pre-made kind that comes in a box from the grocery store. Add a touch of frosting, and voila, you're done! If you're up for it, have your children decorate the cakes with you. But if you're short on time they look cute plain too. These little guys are a tasty treat perfect for passing out to neighbors, your tot's holiday party at school, or the family friendly fête you throw every year.

Lil Links: A Perfect Peter Pan Party

babysugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:22 -0700

A perfect Peter Pan birthday party - Cookie
Musical mama Martina McBride cuts back on touring for her family - Celebrity Baby Blog
How to sew a swaddling blanket - CafeMom
Pre-schooler parallel parks car like an ace - ParentDish
Tori and Liam keep cool in their shades - Celebrity Baby Scoop
How do you pay attention to your kids? - The Poop
The facts about asthma - Health
Know your boob rights - Alpha Mom
Would you ever spy on your babysitter? - Momversation

Kiddie Soiree: Regal Cake Molds For a Princess

babysugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:37 -0700

Now that the theme has been set and the invitations have been sent out, it's time to start stocking up on the necessary items for my 3-year-old princess's royal affair. First on the list is a regal style cake pan. In the past I've ordered the dessert from our grocer but this year I'm thinking of making it so she can help me with the decoration. It may turn out looking like a mess but at least we'll have fun doing it. Now I just have to decide which mold to go with: tiara, carriage, castle, or cupcakes with crowns on top.

Which one wins your vote?

Nordic Ware® Castle Bundt® Pan - $36.00	Nonstick Castle Bundt Pan (10-c.) by Nordic Ware - $31.95
Castle Cake Pan by Wilton - $12.95	Fairytale Cottage Pan (9.75-in.) by Nordic Ware - $29.95

Delilicious: Dinner For Everyone in One Pan

babysugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:00:50 -0800

Before I had a baby, I used to love cooking, probably even a little too much. I have two shelves in my pantry dedicated entirely to spices and condiments.

Now, back in the workforce and mother to a 1–year–old, I don't have the time or energy to give much effort to our family dinners.

As a solution to this growing problem, I have started cooking dinners that can accommodate everyone. Rachael Ray has some quick and simple recipes that will please most everyone under the roof. To learn about one fantastic recipe, read more

Any dinner recipe that requires only one pan makes me happy. This recipe has you roast veggies and chicken all at once and makes enough for dinner and leftovers.

What you need:

One 3.5- to 4-lb. chicken - quartered, rinsed, and patted dry
2 1/2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
5 yellow-fleshed potatoes, such as Yukon gold, each cut into 4 wedges
4 thin carrots, peeled and cut into 2-in. lengths
4 thin parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-in. lengths
10 thyme sprigs

Now all you have to do is follow these easy steps:

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425°F. Place the chicken in a large roasting pan, rub with 1/2 tbsp. olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss the potatoes, carrots, and parsnips with the remaining 2 tbsp. olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place the vegetables around the chicken and scatter 8 thyme sprigs on top. Roast until the vegetables are tender and the chicken juices run clear when a leg is pricked, about 40 minutes. Pick the leaves from the remaining 2 thyme sprigs and sprinkle on top.

Additionally, you can add pretty much any vegetable you want - zucchini, bell peppers, onions, celery, etc. Before storing the leftovers, chop up the veggies, and chicken into smaller pieces. You'll have junior's meals all set and ready for a trip to the microwave.

Kiddie Soirée: Party Sized Cupcake

babysugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:00:43 -0700

Most children greet cupcakes with a smile from ear to ear. For a jaw dropping and eye popping reaction, trump the regular cupcake with a mongo sized one at your next kiddie soirée. Williams–Sonoma has created the master cupcake mold with the Great Cupcake Pan ($35).

Fill the top and bottom with cake mix or get crafty and use the icing mold for ice cream. Once baked, you can decorate the supersized cupcake with tasty large toppings like Mike and Ikes or Skittles. Talented foodies can test their skills turning the cupcake into a castle or carousel.

Make Your Child the (Rice Krispies) Apple of Her Teacher's Eye

babysugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:23 -0700

What does every teacher get on the first day of school? An apple. Smiling faces would be more than enough for any educator, but parents often usher them in with a less than shiny fruit that ends up in the teacher's lounge. In an effort to do something fun the night before my daughter's very first day of preschool, together we made Rice Krispies apples that I hope won't be tossed into the compost.

To see how to make these tasty delights, read more.

Using the same ingredients (plus one) that you use for regular Rice Krispies treats, melt the marshmallows and butter in a pan or bowl. Add some red gel dye to the mix. When the mixture is a lush red, add the cereal to the mix and stir. Instead of pouring the mixture into a pan, make baseball size balls and lay them out in pans that can be refrigerated. Once they have cooled off for a little bit, take them out and sculpt them into apple molds. For my stem and leaf, I used a diced up caramel and half of a green sugar candy. Using a straw, poke a small hole on top and add a leaf and a stem. Wrap it up in cellophane and tie a ribbon around it. Attach a card with your child's name and that teacher will be begging for apples year-round!

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Heart Cupcake Pan or Shortcake Pan - $19.99	Crown Heart Cupcake Pan and Special Set - $24.00
Indulgence Cookie Cutter 100-Piece Set - $9.99	Wilton® Mini Heart Cake Pan - $35.00
Chicago Metallic Daisy Cupcake Pan - $20.00	Red Heart-Shaped Quiche Dishes by BIA Cordon Bleu - $19.95
Heart-shaped Waffle Maker - $39.99	Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter Favors (Set of 12) - $19.99
Ice Cream Sandwich Molds (Set of 3) - $11.99	Copper Cookie Cutter Heart Set - $19.00
Wilton® 30-Piece Cookie Cutter Set - $14.99	Martha Stewart Collection Tea Cake Pan, 30 Cups - $31.99
Cake Mold & Cookie Cutters - $5.98