Food & Party Planning Ideas

Thanksgiving

Liven Up the Children's Table with Great Food and Fun Activities

Does the thought of having to sit at the kiddy table leave your little ones in a Turkey Day Depression? Turn those frowns upside down when you serve delicious food and fun activities from Wilton.

"Many children don't like being separated from the rest of the family during mealtime," said Nancy Siler, the consumer affairs director of Wilton Enterprises. "The key to making the kids' table the ‘hippest' seat in the house is to offer fun crafts and delicious, kid-friendly dishes."

Pilgrim's Pie
This Thanksgiving make the little ones their own special dinner using all the traditional trimmings of a turkey day feast. Pilgrim's Pie combines all the favorites you're already cooking like turkey, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Mix all these and other yummy ingredients together and bake. The kids will "gobble" it up, plus they'll love that it's shaped like a pumpkin, thanks to Wilton's Pumpkin Pie Pan. Don't forget to use Wilton's Harvest Mini Cutter Set to make cheese cutouts to place on top. Just remember, this one is only for the kids!

Cranberry Wiggles
Put a new spin on a Thanksgiving tradition by creating Cranberry Wiggles. Canned jellied cranberry sauce cutouts made with Wilton's Harvest Mini Cutter Set are simple and refreshing. Let the kids help out in making these berry delicious goodies. Give each child a Mini Cutter and form a Wiggles assembly line!

Pudding in Edible Cups
If the kids don't like the traditional Thanksgiving desserts, then surprise them with Pudding in Edible Cups. Using Wilton Candy Melts�? simply coat the inside of a Wilton baking cup. After it's been refrigerated and the baking cup has been peeled off, add your child's favorite instant pudding. All the adults will be envious as the kids get to decorate their own cup using Wilton Mini Pumpkins and Petite Leaves Icing Decorations. For added flair, shake on some of Wilton's Leaves Mix Sprinkles.

Kids' Table Craft Ideas
& Instead of a regular tablecloth, place an extra large sheet of paper on the table. Take a Styrofoam brick or half-ball and stick crayons in it for a fun centerpiece! Drawing will keep them busy before and after the meal is served.

• Have your little ones "give you a hand" in the kitchen, when you make a turkey hand at the kids' table! Place construction paper, safety scissors, glue, glitter, feathers, pipe cleaners and crayons in a shoe box under each child's chair. This will help keep the creative mess to a minimum and give the parents something to cherish for years to come.
• Before dinner, have the children divide up into Pilgrims and Indians. Create a character for each child and have them make hats, headbands and accessories with construction paper, markers and feathers. At dinner, have the children get into costume and reenact the first Thanksgiving. Make this a family tradition for years to come!
• (see recipes in the cook book)