There have been a time or two when I have left my oldest home alone for a very short period of time.  Before leaveing he gets the standard, Do not answer the door. Do not answer the phone.  Do not COOK.  Any problems, run to the neighbors house for help.  He’s never had a problem, but he also needs that reminder everytime I leave because cooking is second nature to him.  He’ll walk into the kitchen and start cooking eggs for breakfast, before I can even get down the stairs.

So here’s a few little reminders, along the way…

• Home alone: NOT a good time to cook
• Don’t grate your fringertips when you grate cheese
• If something in a pot or pan catches fire, cover it immediately
• If something in the oven catches fire, close the door & turn it off
• Be careful with the lids of the cans you’ve opened.  Never touch the jagged edges, they can cut you.  Throw them away immediately.

Ingredients

12 Large Firm Apples
1/4 Cup Butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 Cup Raspberry Jam
12 Gummy Worms

Directions

1-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a sharp paring knife, carefully core the apples from the stem end to about 1/2 inch from the bottom. Be careful not to pierce the bottom of the apple, or the filling will leak out. Stuff 1 tsp of butter and jam into each hole.

2-Arrange the apples in a single layer in a large baking dish. Add about 1 inch of water. Bake them, uncovered, for 35 to 45 minutes. When they are done they will be tender but not mushy and losing their shape. Allow the apples to cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes.

3-Place the baked apples in dessert bowls and carefully spoon some of the syrup from the baking pan around each. Insert a gummy worm in the top of each apple, making sure that at least half of its body is sticking out.

This is a fun holiday recipe that is tasty warm or cold.  You can make it look extra spooky with a touch of dry ice served from a black pot.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Cups Canned Unsweetened Pineapple Juice
• 1 qt Apple Juice
• 3 TB Honey
• 2 TB Fresh Lemon Juice
• 3 Cinnamon Sticks

Directions

1-In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes.
2-Remove the cinnamon sticks. Ladle the brew into small cups and serve.

This is something I HAVEN’T tried with my kids.  My oldest is 10, so he’s probably close to being ready.  My 8 year old has planned to be a Chef like his dad most of his life, until one day we were having BLT and I was letting him help with the bacon.  After one pop and a little burn…he’s sworn of being a Chef, at least where bacon is concerned!

• Never cook with oil unless an adult is assisting you
• Never fry with oil at a high temperature
• Add food to hot oil slowly, protecting your face and hands
• Use very little oil at a time
• Never turn your back on frying oil
• Never try to put out an oil fire with water.  Water will make the fire splash and pop out of the pan.  The adult assisting you can put it out by smother it with a pan lid or pouring baking soda on it.

Ingredients

• 1 (6 oz) Package of Butterscotch Morsels
• 1 (5 oz) Can Chow Mein Noodles
• 1/3 Cup Peanuts

Directions

1-In a medium mixing bowl, heat the butterscotch in the microwave on low for 2 minutes, until melted. Heat again for 30 seconds if needed. Remove from the microwave and stir.
2-Add the Chow Mein Noodles and the peanuts and mix well.
3-Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a sheet of waxed paper and let cool for 1 hour. Peel carefully from the paper and store in an airtight container.

Here are some other tips to remeber…

• Keep two hot-pads or oven mitts next to the stove
• Hold handles of pots and pans with a pot holder when stirring ingredients
• Before turning on the oven, make sure the oven rack is in the middle position
• Use dry hot-pads to handle hot pots, pans and dishes.  Hot surfaces can b urn through wet ones
• Never set a hot pot or pan directly on the counter top
• Don’t overfill pans with boiling liquid
• Place pots on the stove top with handles turned in, to prevent someone from knocking them off
• Boiling water is dangerous. Ask an adult to pour
• Keep your face back and turned away when you lift the lid off of a hot pan, steam can burn
• Use spoons with wooden or plastic handles to stir hot ingredients
• Turn burners and oven off as soon as you finish with them

Yes, that baby is darling, sweet, and loved–but oh my heavens, there is a demonic streak in there somewhere