Maracas For Meals on Wheels

I have been making little treats each month for Meals on Wheels. For Cinco de Mayo I made some Maracas. I think they came out really cute! Now these took me a long time because I made over 50 - but if you just wanted to make a few it shouldn't take very long!

I found this pattern on the Michael's website. P.S. it is a pattern for kids! But I made a bunch of copies and patterns out of cardboard.

I cut out scrapbook paper and attached it to the photocopy with a glue stick. Then I added stickers and adhesive rhinestones. Then every single Maraca was coated with Modge Podge.

It took the Modge Podge a long time to dry.

Once the Modge Podge dried the Maracas were completely stiff - I was able to cut them out.

I left a little white around the Maracas because I planned to add an edge of pearl ribbon. I bought the pearl ribbon at Hobby Lobby. It was in the fabric section and they had a ton of colors in the pearl style of ribbon.

I bought the colored popsicle sticks at Hobby Lobby and wrote on them "Happy Cinco de Mayo."

Then I hot glued the popsicle sticks to the back of the Maracas.

Then each Maraca got a little pearl ribbon hot glued around the Modge-Podged section.

The pearl trim - just adds a little something extra!

I had black, white and silver pearl ribbon. So each of the Maracas is just a little bit different. These were really fun to make. They would make cute decorations for your Cinco de Mayo party. They would also be cute place cards for any Mexican Fiesta!

Chunky Guacamole

This is my go to Chunky Guacamole recipe. You can adjust the servings by adding a little less or more of everything.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white onion, finely shopped

3 - 4 roma tomatoes, finely diced

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

5 - 6 avocados

1 garlic clove finely chopped

Juice from 1 lime

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Add the white onion, tomatoes, and cilantro to a medium sized bowl. Right before serving slice the avocados in half  and scoop out the  large chunks . Once the avocados are added to the mix - lightly smash them with a fork and mix until all the ingredients are combined. Then I add the garlic and lime juice and toss again. Taste and see if you need to add salt and pepper.

I like large chunks of avocado - but if you want it smoother but still chunky - just mash it a little longer with your fork.

Little Churro Bites

In honor of Cinco de Mayo - I made some miniature churro bites. They are perfect little two bite treats.  My husband and son loved them! And they were easy to make because they are baked not fried! Making them in hot oil can get messy. I wasn't in the mood to clean up a big mess.

I found this recipe on the Sweet Tooth blog. I changed the recipe a little - I have a habit of never exactly following a recipe. She had several different churro recipes. I might end up trying all of her churro recipes.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

1/2 cup low fat milk

Topping:

1/2 cup butter melted

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a mini muffin tin (that makes 24 mini muffins) with a non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg - set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer beat together the sugar and butter on medium - high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy about 2 - 3 minutes.

Add egg and vanilla and beat until well combined.

Set your mixer on the lowest speed and alternate between adding the flour mixture and milk. Starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until the flour is incorporated.

Using a small cookie scoop - fill each muffin tin and bake for 15 - 18 minutes.

While the churro's are baking melt the butter in a small bowl. And in another shallow dish combine the sugar and cinnamon.

 When the churro's are slightly golden brown - remove from the oven.

 Roll each churro in the butter and then in the sugar mixture. This makes a mess - I used a fork to roll them in the butter and a small spoon to help cover them with the sugar mixture. And for some reason all of my fingers were coated with cinnamon sugar.

These can be stored in an air tight container for 2 - 3 days. Although I doubt they will last that long!

Pretty Pink Piñata's

I made some Pretty Pink Piñata's to send to Noelle - she can pass them out to her friends on Cinco de Mayo. I made them out of snow cone holders. But you could use Dixie Cups! I might use Dixie Cups if I make them for Christian's basketball team. I think they are playing on Cinco de Mayo. I will have to check with him - to see if he thinks it would be okay. I don't want to be embarrassing!

To make these Pretty Pinata's you will need:

Snow cone holders

Scrapbook paper

Pencil

Scissors

Tape

Candy

Glue gun

Crepe paper in coordinating color

Thin ribbon in coordinating color

Rhinestone sticker

Directions:

Trace a pattern with  paper to cover the snow cone holder.

Using the pattern trace onto your scrapbook paper. Cut out the pattern and using transparent tape attach the scrapbook paper to the snow cone holder.  They now look like pretty little party hats.

Fill one party hat with candy and tape the top party hat onto the candy filled party hat

Cut a a yard of crepe paper and fold it into a three inch piece and make little cuts about 3/4 of the way up with sharp scissors.

Unravel the crepe paper and heat up your glue gun.

Glue the crepe paper over the area where the snow cone holders meet.

Glue a piece of ribbon on the top of the crepe paper and add a little rhinestone sticker.

These can be customized to fit any party or sports theme. I find so many beautiful  sheets of scrapbook paper. And scrapbook paper often is on sale.

Crepe paper comes in every color of the rainbow and is super inexpensive. It would also be fun to use two different colors of crepe paper for this project.

These Pinatas can be made for the classroom, sports team or a party favor or your Cinco de Mayo party! They take awhile to make - so start making them this week - if you plan on making a large amount.

Sombrero Cookies - perfect for Cinco de Mayo

I am actually going to make homemade Churro's for Cinco de Mayo - but I am having a hard time finding the large star tip that I need to make the ridges. So meanwhile I decided to make some Sombrero cookies.

 For years I have seen these Sombrero cookies in magazines and all over the internet. So today while I was cutting sugar dough into circles to make basketballs - I also decided to make some Sombreros.

To make these Sombrero's you will need -

Round sugar cookies - homemade or store-bought

1 cup of white frosting - homemade or store-bought

rainbow colored sprinkles

white gumdrops

Instructions:

Spread the sugar cookie with a thin layer of white frosting. Using a small spoon sprinkle the outside edge with the rainbow sprinkles.

Dip the gumdrop into the frosting and then into the sprinkles. Place the gumdrop into the center of the cookie.

Tip: pour the sprinkles into a shallow bowl.

These would be fun to serve for dessert on Taco night! They don't just have to be for Cinco de Mayo! And they are so simple to make - your kids can make them!

Cinco de Mayo Trail Mix

Hola amigos, I thought it would be fun to make a Cinco de Mayo Trail Mix!

First I separated the red and green m&m's and put them in a bowl.

I used regular and mini m&m's.

Then I added some mini marshmallows.

Now I took the red and green pieces out of the Captain Crunch Berries cereal.

I thought about using Apple Jacks - but the green and red are not as bright.

Now I have purple and teal left in the Captain Crunch Berry cereal.

Then I put the red, white and green mixture into pretzel bags.

I tied them with multi-colored ribbon.

And I made "Happy Cinco de Mayo" tags.

Oh no! These look like Christmas! Oh well! I tried!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Cinco de Mayo! Let me know if you make this festive Trail Mix! Gracias!