Crafts in the Kitchen

After moving to higher humidity, lower altitude and having different brands of ingredients available, I've had to do a lot of experimenting with my recipes.  However, turning them into fun edible crafts is still the same.  If you're still looking for something fun to do for the Fourth of July, I'd like to show you a simple cookie project.  
I always think of watermelon feeds and picnics around Independence Day so here is something I like to do around the fourth.  
Watermelon crispy rice treats and watermelon cookies.

However, at the moment my site is not loading pictures. I will upload asap

For the crispy treats, make two batches of crispy rice mixture.  (Mix 40 marshmallows with 3 T melted butter so they are all coated.  Microwave for 90 sec.)  While stirring add food coloring.  One batch green and one batch red.  Each batch gets 6 cups of crispy rice cereal.  After mixing you may want to let it sit for awhile so it is not as sticky to work with.
Take the green batch and press along the outside of a round cake pan into a ring.  Then I like to add brown mini M&M's to the red batch and press that inside the green ring.  After it has cooled, I slice and put in baggies right away to seal in the freshness.  That's all there is to it.  Children love this simple activity which looks like it took all day.  

For the cookies, use your favorite cut-out cookie dough and add red food coloring.  Roll out and cut with a circle cookie cutter in the size that you want.  If you don't have any cookie cutters, use a drinking glass.  Then cut the circle in half.  
Before baking, have the children place mini chocolate chips on top.  
After you've baked them and they are cooled, mix up green flow frosting (powdered sugar, water, vanilla works just fine) It should be the consistency of a thick syrup.  Have the kids dip the bottom edges in the frosting and lay out on waxed paper to dry.  You can just frost the top but the kids really enjoy the dipping.  
Pictures coming soon!!