Bird Nest Cupcake Recipe

I wanted to share this fun recipe my friend Cyndi worked up over Easter weekend. I think you could make these as a fun spring treat. Take them to your next gathering and WOW your audience!

How cute are these??:

Below is the nest recipe. Use nests to decorate cupcakes or serve on dessert plate.
Makes 10 small, 8 medium, 5 large nests.
1 cup Chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon Shortening
1 5 oz can Chow mein noodles
1 bag Candy-coated chocolate eggs
　
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper, foil, or parchment paper.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe cup or bowl. Heat on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir, and repeat in 30 second increments, until chocolate chips are melted and consistency is smooth.

Place chow mein noodles in large mixing bowl. Pour chocolate mixture over noodles. Use two forks to mix until noodles are fully coated. Drop by forkfuls onto prepared baking sheet, forming a nest shape with your fingers.

Allow to dry at room temperature, or expedite by refrigerating until firm. Add candy-coated eggs to complete. Candy coating will crack from heat if placed in nest prior to chocolate cooling to room temperature.

Easter Bunny Game

I have been trying to think of a way to make Easter a little more exciting for my 7 year old. Every year the "bunny" gets a little more elaborate and to be honest, I am the bunny is running out of ideas!

We recently discussed buying our son a trampoline. It will be incorporated into our son's Easter surprise. If you are not planning on purchasing a trampoline, you can still use this idea to help your child find their Easter basket.

Here is what the "bunny" has in store:

Step 1) Fill 10-12 eggs with candy treats and individual letters to spell out a word clue. you can even buy the pre-filled eggs and just add as many letters as needed. You do not need to number the eggs for this game, unless you need help tracking them all.

I am going to use the letters: J-U-M-P

You can use a word that helps your child discover the location of their basket like:

B-A-T-H-T-U-B

G-A-R-A-G-E

T-O-Y-B-O-X

Or since it is Easter after all, you can always use J-E-S-U-S!

Fill the first egg with a riddle to help your child understand the game they are about to play.

Below is the riddle I came up with:

Hippity Hoppity Easter Joy

I've got a riddle Easter boy!

The letters you find will form a clue

to a special treat I left for you.

Step 2) Hide the eggs inside or outside depending on the weather, if its inside you can do this the night before.

Place an empty collection basket near your child's door or bed to get them started.

Ideas for contents:

• The riddle to start them off
• Egg #1
• Bunny ears and a white puffy tail so your children can hop like bunnies as they follow the tracks...

Step 3) Use bunny tracks (google for photo examples) to create a path to each egg. I printed mine on plain white paper, but you can see from the examples you can buy them, make them out of felt, or create your own design using PowerPoint. If you have more than one child - use different colored bunny tracks :)

The final bunny tracks should lead your child to their surprise. Or make them guess with the word clue.

Happy hunting...