So you know we’re working on another book, right? We’ve actually been working on it all year, but now it’s getting down to the wire and we’re working tirelessly to get it turned in on time so it can be done in time for Santa to bring it to you next Christmas. It’s hard to explain what life is like at this point in the process, but let’s just say it’s a little (okay a lot) insane. However, I refuse to get so busy and hectic that Christmas just comes and goes so quick it passes right by me! This is my most favorite time of the year and I love soaking in every second of it. My family has been having so much fun with our Advent Calendar, and it’s really helped me take time every single day to enjoy the spirit of this season, which in turn has helped me stay grounded and relaxed in what could be a super stressful time. People often ask Kate and me how we “do it all” and the answer is, “we don’t!” When things get crazy in one area of my life, I simplify other areas to balance things out. So this month, with a job that’s taking a lot of my time, I’m simplifying my blog posts (and maybe quitting laundry completely, the jury is still out on that one) so I can spend more time doing fun stuff with my family instead!
Y’all understand that, right? As much as I’d love to spend more hours in the kitchen (after spending the majority of my day there working on cook book stuff) coming up with meals to write out for you, I’d rather put on my hat and scarf and head out to look at Christmas lights with my husband and kids. No hard feelings?
So I can’t speak for Kate, but I’m just telling you right now, for the next few weeks you’ll be seeing quick and easy stuff from me- mostly fun stuff I’m doing at home with my family so I think it’s stuff you’ll enjoy too!
Because it doesn’t always have to be complicated and time consuming. Sometimes the simplest things, are the most fun!
If any of you are in the Boise area, you need to go check out Winter Garden A Glow at the Botanical Gardens. So much fun!
Also fun? Making giant edible snowflakes. This is one of the fun little activities I had in my advent calendar. Perfect for a snowy day, or a my-kids-have-been-out-of-school-for-too-long day, or any day. It’s perfect to do with kids, but I’ll be honest- I have just as much fun, and they actually taste super yummy too! So grab some scissors and start playing.
Any size flour tortilla will work; I’m using small, 6-inch ones. Warm them up in the microwave first; this step is important. If you fold a cold or even room temperature tortilla it will probably crack and break. Fold it in half and then in half again. You can fold it one more time, like I did, but it gets a little thick, and harder to cut.
Use a clean pair of scissors to cut it just like you would a paper snowflake. Obviously you can’t be quite as intricate, but hey- get creative.
Small scissors with pointy tips seem to work best, but you can let kiddos have at it with a pair of kid scissors. And you’ll end up with a bunch of little scraps, which fortunately for you are slightly less annoying than the real paper kind. Feed them to a wandering toddler, or toss them with a little butter and seasonings like salt and pepper, chili powder, and cumin, and bake them up to put over a salad or a bowl of Tortilla Soup. (Just bake them on a separate pan!)
Then carefully unfold them to reveal your pretties.
Place them on a foil lined baking sheet and brush them with melted butter
My kiddos love “painting” with the butter
And then let them sprinkle on coarse sugar sprinkles, or you an use cinnamon sugar, like in our Baked Cinnamon Chips. The great thing is that these actually taste good when they’re loaded with the coarse sugar so if your kids are anything like mine and like to pour avalanches of sprinkles, they’ll be fine.
Bake them in the oven for about 10 minutes and they’ll crisp right up
They’ll be like big, buttery, sugary, chips
They actually taste super yummy; I think I might have eaten more than my kids did! Eat them plain or break them into chunks and dip them in yogurt, cool whip, or fruit dip for a yummy snack.
Sweet Tortilla Snowflakes
flour torillas
melted butter
coarse sugar sprinkles
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Warm tortillas in microwave until soft and pliable. Fold into quarters or eighths. Use scissors to cut out shapes and then unfold. Place tortillas on foil-lined baking sheet and brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar sprinkles. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Cool until easy to handle and eat up. Eat plain or dip in yogurt, whipped cream, or fruit dip.
Questions & Reviews
I made these with my 3 kids today and we all loved them! Thanks for the great idea!!
Perfect! I needed this post today. I think sometime you should do a post about ideas for when you have a “plethora” of left over eggs in your fridge.
How fun! My kids would love doing this. By the way, I love the little aprons your boys are wearing…so cute!
Thanks for the awesome post! I think I am going to do these with my students on Monday! BTW, good for you for putting your family and your sanity in a place of priority! I for one, love simple posts but I love even more that you two are able to have boundaries in your very busy lives and you know when it is time to step back a little and take time for what is most important! Enjoy the holiday season and your families! God Bless!
Thanks Angela- your sweet comment means a lot 🙂
That’s the perfect sunday afternoon activity/treat I’ve been needing … and anything with sprinkles is an automatic win with little girls. Love your Christmas light pictures too, and SUPER excited you gals are working on another cookbook … yippee!! Great Post 🙂
I love anything simple that I can do with my kids so posts like these are wonderful. Though my children are to small right now, I’m going to log this one away for next year for sure! Thanks for the fun idea!
We did this last week. We use cinnamon sugar and broil them instead of bake them. Next time we’ll try your route with colored sugar and baking them into chips. Thanks! Looking forward to the new book 🙂
Thanks for the great idea! Can’t wait to try this with my kids… they’ll LOVE it! Where did you get your cute hat?
It’s from a store called Fuego. I just posted the link on our facebook page; love it! (The hat and the store 🙂 haha)
How awesome! This is similar to something we did in a preschool I worked at– try adding food coloring to your melted butter and letting the kids really “paint” their tortillas! Of course, you’d want to use new regular watercolor paint brushes instead of your nice pastry brush 🙂
oh, that’s *such* a great idea!
SO cute! love it and we are totally doing it this weekend 🙂 thank you!!
What a fabulous idea! I’ve never heard of it before, but I can guarantee the kids will love it – even my almost teen!
Merry Christmas to you!! Simpliest is often the best. I hope you enjoy this holiday season with your friends. And can I tell you how excited I am about another cookbook!! Yay!! I love your blog and cookbook. When it’s my husband’s turn to cook, he always says, “Where’s the Mormom Moms cookbook?” It’s his go-to cookbook. Thanks for all the awesome ideas and yummy recipes!
So cute!
What a cool idea. Definietly going to do this with my 4 year old.
We were just in Boise!! Actually we got in pretty late so that place probably wasn’t open at 10:30 pm.
Thank you so much for sharing your creative ideas! My kids will love this!
I’m so excited for that cookbook . . . simplifying the blog posts right now are totally worth it! I LOVE these snowflakes — so cute! I always need help with activities to keep my kids entertained. Thanks!
I think it’s fantastic when you post the sweet and simple things that you are doing with your family. That’s part of what makes your blog so fantastic…it’s REAL! 🙂 And of course, it’s a great example for all of us. I might even be Mom of the Century today and let my rugrats make some tortilla snowflakes too! Thanks for the great ideas, and good luck with the new book!
What a cute idea, and a great way to use up leftover tortillas – 1 just happen to have 2 that I didn’t know what to do with. My son will love this! P.S. When I want dinner ideas, I just browse your cookbook or archives. Considering how much time I spend on your site, I’m amazed that I constantly find recipes that I’d never noticed before!
Melissa, yes! I am constantly telling people that- heck even *I* browse our recipe index for ideas, lol!
Love them with cinnamon and sugar:) Never thought of cutting them into snowflakes!! You guys are just soooo creative!!
We will be doimg this today for sure! Thanks
I love this! Yet again, you have proven that things can be cool and fun, and simple. I think we all needed the reminder to slow down, relax and take time to enjoy the season. Thank you!
What a cute idea! I will do this today with my little ones! Thank you!
Doing this today! I’m so tired of vacuuming up little pieces of paper from real snowflake creations. Now I can eat the leftovers!
Those lights are beautiful. Thanks for this recipe idea. It’s definitely something I can whip up at home with the kiddos.
Quick and easy is always ok! I would love it if you would post your quickest and easiest dinners (maybe AFTER your book is done if even the quick and easy dinners are too much for right now). We will be making tortilla snowflakes for an after school snack today and I already know my kids will LOVE it. Thanks for the great idea!
My dinners right now mostly consist of frozen Costco pizza and cold cereal- but next month, you bet! 🙂
Those are so fun! I feel like you could also make yourself some weird tortilla chips (or maybe those tortilla things they put on salads) by throwing the cut out pieces in a pot of hot oil. That way there no waste and even more yumminess!
Yes, perfect! I just baked up my scraps with some savory seasonings and tossed them on my soup!
This is so fun!
I can’t thank you enough for this idea! My kiddos and I were bored out of our minds today and I just really wanted something Christmasy to do…and here it is! Can’t wait to do this!
This food craft is just too darn cute! You don’t have to apologize for being super busy right now, we all feel extra busy this time of year and should all slow down a bit.
Oh, those are so *pwetty*! I love them! Your babies are getting big too fast.
I’m excited about the new book. I only have 2 left in my stockpile of the “old” book, and they are both spoken for as wedding gifts before the year is out. Do you need me to come do your laundry for you?
YES. Yes, I do need that Patti.
🙂