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Monday, December 15, 2014

"Kids' Table" Christmas Cottage







































There are bits and pieces of Christmas coming together over here now, and I am pleased and excited. Our tree is up, wreaths are hung, and wrapping paper has been "borrowed." (How do you "borrow" a consumable like wrapping paper, you wonder? Well I dunno either. You might ask my daughters. They do very well in that category every year!)

I have several menus planned too. Not only for our family dinner, but for Grandma's Cookie Baking Party as well. And, there's another in the works - one that serves up the most fun for me and all six grandkids - the kids' table on Christmas Day!

It makes perfect sense to "cutesy up" the healthy food you feed your grandchildren. Candy and cookies go down the hatch without a pause. But veggies? Meat? Not so much! I anticipate that might change when the kids find little cottages built of deli bread and stuffed with warm turkey salad at their places on Christmas Day! Standing at sentry is a mini cheese ball snowman, just waiting to be poked with pretzel sticks and gobbled down as an appetizer. While the presentation looks appealing, I'm delighted to say there's not a single grain of sugar on this plate. Even the iced detail is tinted cream cheese, not frosting!

Here's how to make a deli bread Christmas cottage to delight the occupants of your own "kids' table!"

1. Cut patterns from paper: 2" square for sides, triangle with 2" base, and 2" x 3" rectangle for roof.
From deli rye bread with a firm texture, cut 4 sides, 2 triangles and 2 roof pieces.

2. Blend a few ounces of room temperature cream cheese with water until it is the consistency of Royal Icing. Spoon the cheese into a pastry bag with a small hole tip. Construct a 4 wall building base on a 7" salad plate by running lines of cream cheese along sides of each 2" square and fitting them together. Press to hold.

3. Run a line of cream cheese along the 2" base of each triangle and press them to front and back walls. (See photo) Decorate roof pieces as desired with piped cream cheese.

4. Fill house with turkey, chicken, egg, or seafood salad. Pipe cream cheese along top edges of triangles and carefully place roof pieces in position.

5. Use small pretzel sticks to outline house as shown in photo. Use cream cheese as "glue."

6. Tint small amounts of cream cheese green and red with gel food coloring. Pipe a wreath and bow to center front of house.

7. Make snowman by mixing remaining cream cheese (directly out of the package) with grated mozzarella cheese. Form 3 small balls and roll them in shredded cheese. Stack them in front of house. Use tiny snips of black olive for eyes and a tiny slice of carrot for nose. Pipe red cream cheese for scarf.

8. Complete the scene with blanched broccoli crowns for bushes, a stack of pretzel sticks for "firewood," small circles or squares cut from bread scraps for stepping stones and a final sprinkling of cheese "snow."

19 comments:

  1. What a clever way to get the grandkids to focus on something with nutrition. I definitely think I need to do this. They are always looking for a treat when they come to my house but this makes so much sense. Thanks for the idea and directions.

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  2. I always thought the "Kid's Table" had the most fun, but yours sounds extra special.

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  3. Now if this isn't just adorable! My son would enjoy making this :) Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful Monday!

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  4. Well I hate to say it but won't all the grownups want to sit at a kid's table too??? LOL I would! :)

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  5. Isn't that just the greatest idea! The children will certainly love their table, and you may find a few of the adults sitting at that table too.

    Have a beautiful evening.
    Debbie

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  6. Kid's tables are always the best. Your plans sound absolutely magical!

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  7. Healthy Christmas goodies that are sure to please every child. Thank you for sharing this delightful idea with Make It Monday.

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  8. I'm with Deb -- I want to sit at the kids table where it won't matter which fork I use!!! Such a cute treat -- they will love it. You are the best!

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  9. This is a very clever idea! I love the Kids table Christmas Cottage. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  10. Oh you are such a sweet and clever grandma - those foods are adorable. What fun to eat a snowman or a cottage - look out for the big bad wolf. We no longer have a kids' table for holidays - the boys are 10 and 13 (after all - the comment from the 10 year old) and feel they should sit at the adult table and join in the conversations. We agree - they do add such a delight to our conversations - as well as a few giggles.

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  11. You are the grandma with the mostest! I love this idea and you are so very clever to incorporate fun and food in this way. I featured you on my fb for linking up at the Wonderful Wed. Blog Hop. Please come back next week with another great creation. Carrie, A Mother's Shadow

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  12. This is awesome! I think you need to compile all your incredible ideas into a book. Actually, several books — one per season. Very cool and clever, my friend!

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  13. That is so cool! The only problem is, I would want to keep it forever instead of eating it! ;)

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  14. How cute! Everyone loves pretzels and I'm afraid that's the first thing that would go. What fun you always have! Happy holidays my friend! Hugs, Diane

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  15. The adults are going to want to sit with the kids. This is so cute but also sounds absolutely delicious. Hats off to you again and again.

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  16. What a fun idea! You are an excellent gramma!

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  17. Oh. My. Goodness. ♥ Once again, you have made a little more magic for those precious grands of yours. Thank you for sharing that magic with us at Treasure Box Tuesday, Joyce. Pinned! :)

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