Chinese Fried Rice

Fresh vegetables and classic Asian flavors go together fast in this flavorful chicken and rice entree.

1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
2 cups water
1 egg, beaten
1 pound ground chicken
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 small can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon light sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 cups fresh snow peas, halved diagonally
1/3 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 8 medium green onions)

Step One: Cook rice in water as directed on package. Set aside, if finished before chicken mixture.

Step Two: Meanwhile, spray medium skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add beaten egg to skillet; cook 1 minute or until firm but still moist. Remove from skillet; cut into thin strips. Cover to keep warm.

Step Three: In a wok, cook ground chicken for about 5 minutes. Then add mushrooms, celery and water chestnuts and cook over medium heat about 3 to 5 minutes more until chicken is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.

Step Four: In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil and hot pepper sauce; stir into chicken mixture. Add pea pods, shredded carrots, onions, cooked egg, and cooked rice; cook 2 to 3 minutes longer or until thoroughly heated, stirring constantly.

6 servings

Pacific Rim Egg Rolls

These egg rolls are easy to make with phyllo sheets. Serve them with sweet-and-sour sauce. The best thing is, they are baked, not fried - and they are fat-free.

1 pound ground turkey
4 cups coleslaw mix (from bag)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
18 frozen phyllo sheets (18x14-inches), thawed
Non-stick cooking spray

Step One: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium skillet, cook turkey over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain. Stir in remaining ingredients except phyllo and cooking spray. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until coleslaw mix is wilted slightly.

Step Two: Cover phyllo sheets with plastic wrap, then with damp towel to keep them from drying out. Place 1 phyllo sheet on cutting board; spray with cooking spray. Repeat with 2 more phyllo sheets to make a stack of 3 sheets. Cut stack of phyllo crosswise into thirds to make 3 rectangles, about 14x6 inches.

Step Three: Place 1/4 cup turkey mixture on short end of each rectangle; roll up, folding in edges of phyllo. Place roll, seam side down, on ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets and turkey mixture. Spray rolls with cooking spray. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve warm.

18 egg rolls

Topical Fruit Kabobs

Fruit kabobs make a fun accompaniment to almost any meal. To make them thread any color grapes with chunks of pineapple and bananas on a 6-inch wooden skewer.

Crunchy Beijing Chicken Chunks

Dip these delicious chicken chunks in peanut sauce - see sauce recipe below.

1 1/2 cups corn flakes
1/2 cup original Bisquick
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Non-stick cooking spray

Step One: Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 15x10x1-inch pan with foil. In 2-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix cereal, Bisquick, paprika, salt and pepper until well blended. Shake about 6 chicken pieces at a time in the bag until coated with the mixture. Shake off any extra crumbs. Place chicken pieces in pan. Spray chicken with cooking spray.

Step Two: Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until coating is crisp and chicken is no longer pink in center.

Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup fat-free milk (skim milk)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne pepper), if desired

In a medium skillet, mix all sauce ingredients. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to thicken. Serve chicken chunks with sauce.

Ninja Nugget Casserole

This is a very kid-friendly dish. Tropical fruit kabobs make a fun accompaniment. Thread grapes with chunks of pineapple and banana on 6-inch wooden skewers.

1 pound lean ground beef
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (10 3/4 ounces)
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 bag frozen potato nuggets (16 ounces)
1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded

Step One: Brown ground beef, drain fat. Let cool 15 minutes.

Step Two: Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In ungreased casserole, mix soup, milk, dried onion, beef and vegetables. Arrange frozen potato nuggets over top.

Step Three: Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

4 servings

Coke Floats

When the temperature soars, a great cool down method is to enjoy a Coke Float. This concoction is a spin on the iconic Root Beer Float and can also be made with other soda flavors. Three of my favorites are orange, grape and red cream. Don't pour the soda too quickly over the ice cream or you will have an overflow on your hands and a big mess to clean up. Another trick to avoid spills is to slip the straw in the cup by sliding it down the side of the cup very slowly. Try it - you will be amazed. Chances are if you just plunge the straw down in the middle of the mixture, it will erupt like Mount Vesuvius.

To make Coke floats you will need enough of the following items for all of your party-goers:

Vanilla ice cream
8-ounce mini cans of Coke
16-ounce cups
Straws
Long handle disposable spoons

For each float:
Step One: Place 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream into each cup.

Step Two: Slowly, and I do mean very slowly, pour the cola over the ice cream in the cup. Don't rush this step. A good reason to use the mini cans of Coke is that it will greatly reduce the chances of spillovers for your guests.

Step Three: Insert the straw slowly down the side of the glass. Add a long handle spoon and you will be able to enjoy some ice cream as you drink your float.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

A wonderful snack idea for a sleepover is an Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Provide one or more kinds of ice cream - vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are good selections for most groups. Set out a variety of toppings - bananas, sprinkles, hot fudge, strawberries, crushed pineapple, nuts, whipped cream, cherries, caramel - and other favorites at your house. Let the kids create the sundae of their dreams. Hint - select smallish bowls to minimize waste. Kids can always go back for seconds. If the bowls are too large, some kids will build a giant sundae and let most of it melt away uneaten.

S'Mores

Making S'mores - either indoors or out - requires constant adult supervision. These scrumptious treats have only three ingredients - graham crackers, marshmallows and thin chocolate bars - like the traditional Hershey bar.

If you can, build a fire outdoors like you would for a barbecue. Purchase ahead of time long skewers for toasting marshmallows. (At most grocery stores this time of year, you can buy long bamboo sticks, especially designed for toasting marshmallows.) After marshmallow is toasted, place on top of 1/2 of a graham cracker that is topped with a piece of chocolate bar. Then cover the marshmallow with another half of graham cracker to make a sandwich.

If you can't build a fire, s'mores can be made in the microwave. For each kid, place on a small paper cake plate the following: 1/2 of a graham cracker, one piece of chocolate to fit (or nearly fit) the cracker and two marshmallows. Microwave for 20 seconds. Microwaves vary, so test timing ahead of time. Your microwave may need more or less time.

S'mores are MESSY. Have plenty of napkins and wet wipes on hand.

How to throw a Movie Marathon Slumber Party

Sleepover parties are tons of fun and an excellent choice for a summer birthday party. Slumber parties can present unique challenges for both kids and parents. Kids might get homesick and parents might get overwhelmed with extra kids in the house for an extended time period. When planning your party, refer to this plan to ensure a fabulous sleepover, that will be enjoyable for the kids and stress-free for the parents. Since most sleepovers are same sex events, this party is designed for a birthday girl. Next week's party the Karate Kid Movie Marathon will be appropriate for boys.

Invitations: As a general rule, sleepovers should be limited to eight or fewer guests. Remember not to exceed the space you have for sleeping bags in your party space. Traditionally, kids arrive for a sleepover after the evening meal and are picked up about 10:00 am the following day - be sure to include a definite pick-up time on your invitation.

For the invitations for a Movie Marathon Slumber Party a couple of options come to mind. One, you and the birthday girl can create collages of her favorite movie stars clipped from her favorite magazines. Make the collages on card stock, folded in half. Include all the pertinent details about the party inside.

Two, make the invitations look like theater tickets and mail them in red envelopes decorated with silver star stickers. These can be made on the computer or with craft construction paper by hand. Here are the DIY instructions. For a template, simply trim a rectangle piece of thin cardboard to a size that slips easily into an envelope. Trace the template onto sheets of yellow or orange construction paper and cut out the "tickets". Use a single-hole paper punch or a pair of pinking shears to scallop the edges, so the invitations will resemble tickets that have been torn on a perforation. On the face of each ticket, draw a border one quarter inch from the edge on all four sides. In the center, print with a marker the words ADMIT ONE in large letters. On the flip side, print the relevant invitation information. If you can, incorporate Show Biz lingo, such as "curtain call" for the date and time. If you prefer pre-printed invites, check out options from these on-line vendors: Oriental Trading Company, Birthday in a Box and Birthday Express.

If your child and her friends are new to the sleepover scene, you may want to include a packing list to ensure each guest has all she needs: sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, PJ's, toothbrush, hairbrush, favorite stuffed animal and anything else you think is important.

In addition, before the party, get a list of food allergies, medications, dietary restrictions, and a home and cell phone number of each guest's parents. With younger kids, a child may ask to go home. With older kids, one may need to go home, because they have gotten out of hand. Kids of all ages, can get sick. So be prepared for these emergencies and get the parents' contact information. You will be glad you did.

Decorations: Roll out the red carpet to line the path to your home up the stairs to your front door. You can purchase an inexpensive one ($5.99) from Oriental Trading Company. Get your kids involved in decorating. Have them cut out large stars from yellow construction paper and tape them to the red carpet with double stick tape. Then as the kids arrive, get them to sign their autograph on a star.

A number of on-line vendors have appropriate party decorations and table goods to round out your theme. Check these options out: Slumber Party Theme at Oriental Trading Company,
Sleepover Party at Birthday in a Box, Movie Night Party at Oriental Trading Company, or Personalized Party Package at Birthday Express.

Activities: Invite the "paparazzi" for the big arrival moment. Take photos of each guest signing their red carpet star with your digital camera and you can print them on your computer. Get some simple inexpensive frames before the party and you can give your guests a fabulous commemorative photo when it is time to go home.

After a few games, a snack and birthday cake, start the movie marathon. It is a good idea to choose a movie series, such as the High School Musical trilogy, The Princess Diaries I and II, The Prince and Me trilogy, Shrek I, II and III (IV is currently in theaters) or Toy Story I and II (III will be in theaters soon). If you want something unique, try Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. These delightful films feature the plucky orphan of the Lucy Maud Montgomery books of the same name. These DVDs are produced by the Disney Channel, Kevin Sullivan and the CBC. Set up a snack station, so guests can pick out a few snacks during the movies. Popcorn, peanuts, pretzels and miniature boxes of movie candy are natural choices. Here is a simple recipe for kettle corn.

A good time to open the presents is after breakfast, before the parents are scheduled to arrive.

Games: Host an inside scavenger hunt. Create a list of famous people or current events and have teams of party goers try to find them in a stack of magazines.

Organize a trivia game. Prepare trivia questions about movies and movie stars popular with the kids and play a team trivia game.

Play a version of name that tune. Play segments of popular songs from famous movies and get the kids to guess the movies. Give extra points for naming the song. Play in teams so it will be more fun for the kids.

Crafts: Craft projects are a great way to fill time, and they also give guests something to take home. Kids will cherish autographed pillowcases. Buy solid colored ones from a discount store. Give one to each guest and have everyone sign and/or draw pictures on them, using fabric markers or paints. Be sure to insert a piece of cardboard into each case so the markers don't bleed through. Finish cases per marker or paint instructions, so colors will be permanent and not wash out.

Food: A good light snack for this party will be Kapalua Pizzas and Fruit Kabobs. This fare is delicious and should appeal to all. Who doesn't like pizza and fruit. Have your starlets wash the snacks down with sparkling apple juice in champagne glasses. If you fear for your real glasses, disposables are available at party stores.

Breakfast does not have to be complicated to be fun and tasty. Set up a waffle bar with a selection of syrups and toppings. Let everyone make their own unique creation.

Cake: The perfect cake for this party is the Tub of Popcorn Birthday Cake. This cake is easy to make and decorate with directions and templates from Betty Crocker.

Favors: The red carpet pictures and autographed pillowcases will make terrific favors. If you want to do more, consider movie popcorn bags for goodie bags ($3.99/dozen) from Oriental Trading Company. Fill them with an assortment of items, such as miniature boxes of movie candy, glitter pens, glamour sunglasses ($5.99/dozen) from Oriental Trading Company, lip gloss, kids' nail polish, or other fun items.

Waffle Bar

A great way to end your Movie Marathon Slumber Party is with a breakfast featuring a Waffle Bar. Who doesn't like waffles? Feeding a crowd with homemade waffles will be a real challenge. I recommend using Belgian waffles from your grocer's freezer case. Use the oven directions for a crowd. All you need to do is put the desired number of waffles on a cookie sheet - count out one per guest to start. "Bake" waffles in a pre-heated 350 degree F oven for 5 minutes. To ensure crispness on both sides - turn them over with tongs at the half-way mark.
Serve waffles with bowls of seasonal fruits - fresh or frozen. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and peaches all go well with waffles. Add syrup, chopped nuts, chocolate chips and whipped cream. If any kids want a second waffle, you can "bake" a another batch in 5 minutes. Leftover toppings can be combined into a fruit salad for lunch or dinner. Or can be used to top ice cream sundaes for dessert at dinner.

Tub of Popcorn Birthday Cake

A great cake for your movie marathon slumber party is the Tub of Popcorn Birthday Cake. It is a unique combination of delicious cake decorated with kettle corn, red licorice, white chocolate and blue decorating icing. It is easy to assemble with the complete directions and templates on the Betty Crocker website.

Kapalua Pizza

1 English muffin half for each pizza
Pizza sauce
Turkey lunch meat, cut in small bite-sized pieces
Crushed pineapple, drained
Mozzarella cheese , shredded

Step One: Cut English muffins in half and place on a cookie sheet. Spread a spoonful of pizza sauce on top of muffin half. Sprinkle cut up turkey on top of sauce. Spoon crushed pineapple on top of turkey. Spread shredded cheese on top of pineapple.

Step Two: Cook at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, just long enough to heat individual pizzas and lightly brown cheese.

How to Train Your Dragon Party Update

Browse the HP website and download How to Train Your Dragon activities and games at HP Creative Studios. All games and activities are free and easy to print at home. Check it out!

Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn

Serve this treat when your guests are watching the movie marathon. This recipe makes 10 cups of kettle corn. Pop corn bags are available on line here.

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt

In a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn. When the oil sizzles, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover and shake the pan until the popping slows down, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss with the salt.

10 cups

Fruit Kabobs

Fruit kabobs are a nice addition to your movie marathon fare! Your guests will enjoy customizing their own. This recipe could not be easier. A recipe for dip follows, for those who might want to serve it along with the kabobs.

This is what you will need for the kabobs. Assorted fruit pieces of your choice, such as watermelon, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew melons and enough small bamboo skewers for the number of guests you have invited.

Step One: Complete pre-party prep. Cut fruit into bite-size pieces. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate until party time. If you have a lot of guests, or want to streamline your food service, make kabobs ahead of time. Chill until party time.

Step Two: Pass the fruit platter so your guests can make their own kabob. Your guests will select 4 or 5 pieces of fruit and slide each piece onto a bamboo skewer.

Dip:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 pack of Dream Whip Topping, prepare according to package directions
2 teaspoons of sugar free drink mix - strawberry will tint dip pink, lemon will tint yellow

Mix Dream Whip Topping and chill until needed. Beat softened cream cheese and drink mix until light and fluffy. Fold in prepared Dream Whip. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Shrek Forever After Happy Birthday Swamp Party

Beware of Ogres! Your birthday boy or girl will remember forever this birthday adventure to the swamp. With the opening of Shrek The Final Chapter on May 21, 2010 and the return of the enduring characters of Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and the rest of the gang, this party will be in high demand.

Invitations: Use faux parchment paper and a Medieval font to print invitations to this Shrek Swamp party. If hand delivering invites, roll them into scrolls and tie with ribbons. If mailing, you can send rolled scrolls in mailing tubes or fold and mail in green envelopes. Of course, a number of vendors have ready-made invites available. Three places to find them on-line are Amazon.com, Oriental Trading Company and Birthday Direct.

Decorations: A safe bet is to go with Shrek's favorite colors - green, purple and yellow for balloons, streamers and table goods. At the entrance to the party room post a handmade sign - Beware of Ogre - use the one in the movie as your guide. Cover your party table with a themed table cloth and use a Swamp Cake as the centerpiece. Don't forget to hang a "Happy Birthday" banner in the party area. If you want additional decorations a broad selection is available at party stores, discount retailers and on-line. Check out Birthday Direct, Birthday Express or Oriental Trading Company.

Activity: A great ice breaker for this event is a swamp walk. Print out pictures of Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Pinocchio, Three Blind Mice, Sleeping Beauty, Big Bad Wolf onto card stock. HP has a wide variety of free Shrek downloads. Click here to see what is available. If you can't find enough pictures print out the character names instead. Arrange the pictures in a circle on the ground. Make enough markers for all guests. Write the characters names on small pieces of paper and put into a basket or a box. Start music - Shrek sound track perhaps - and tell guests to move ahead one marker at a time until the music stops. Everyone should be on a marker. Draw a name, guest standing on corresponding marker is out of the game. Game continues until one child remains.

Games: Pin the Tail on Donkey is a must. You can make your own or purchase a kit online ($4.99) from Oriental Trading Company.

Organize a Cat, Cat, Copycat contest in honor of Puss n Boots. Have your guests sit in a circle. The birthday child will start the game by making a body movement such as clapping his or her hands, rubbing the top of the head or shrugging shoulders. The player to his or her right will repeat the first movement, and adds a new gesture. The third player must copy the first two movements in the right order, and add another movement. Play continues this way around the circle. If a person can't remember a gesture or mixes up the order, he or she is out. Last remaining player in the game wins.

Shrek's Memory Challenge is another excellent choice for this theme. Place various small objects on a tray and cover it until the start of this game. Have the kids sit down in a circle around the tray. Uncover the tray and have them take a good look at the items. Instruct them to try to remember what all the objects are. A chosen player then turns his or her back and closes his or her eyes. While the eyes are closed, take one object off the table and hid it from view. The designated player must determine which item is missing when he or she returns to the group. Allow three guesses. Return the item to the tray and begin another round. Play continues until everyone has a chance to guess.

Hold a Swamp Obstacle Course. This challenge will pit two teams of swamp dwellers against each other. This game is best played outdoors. First task is to dress like Shrek. The first contestants on each team will don an over-sized tee and tie a piece of brown cloth around his or her waist. Then the first team members will jump over quicksand - a beige blanket or towel folded on the ground. Next obstacle is to walk through a vine jungle. Place a hula hoop on the ground - for an added touch wrap some green vining around the hoop before placing it on the ground. With one foot in and one foot out of the hoop the player must complete a full circle.
The last obstacle is to circle an ant hill. Black or brown cups turned upside down make wonderful ant hills. For added realism glue some faux ants to the cups. Contestants must then touch up at the end of the first length and then turn around and repeat the obstacle course. Once they take off the Shrek outfit, the next player can start the course. First team to finish wins.

Ogres will jump at the chance to test their arms and frog-tossing skills in a Tree Frog Throw. Before the party create a target area by taping paper leaves to a shower curtain. Assign points to the leaves. Challenge the kids to take turns throwing sticky frogs (available at toy stores or online for $5.99 for 48 frogs at Oriental Trading Company) at the leaves to see what score they can earn. Please note the sticky frogs can leave a slight residue on walls with eggshell or matt-finish paint so be sure to use a shower curtain or drop cloth for the target area. Player with most point wins. You may need to have several tie breaking rounds.

Crafts: A terrific way to settle your group down as you serve the food is to provide some coloring pages and crayons. HP has a number of free Shrek activity downloads. Click here to see all that is available.

Food: Your swamp guests will enjoy chowing down on Three Little Pigs in a Blanket. Round out the menu with Leeches on a Log and Donkey Trail Mix. If you need another course serve Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches with Guacamole Tortillaz, a baked rice and corn snacks from Quakers. Wash it all down with Happily Ever After Magic Potion.

Cake: Delight your birthday child with an authentic swamp cake complete with characters from the Shrek cast. Complement it with mint chocolate chip ice cream or a medley of orange and lime sherbet.

If your child is not crazy about cake, consider a Hot Sludge Sundae Bar in lieu of the traditional birthday confection.

Favors: A Shrek activity book ($5.99) from Amazon.com would be a perfect favor for this party. Additional items to consider are glow putty eggs, glitter bounce balls, glow in the dark high bounce balls, and noise putty. Wrap your favors in small brown paper bags and tie with raffia Shrek-style.

Hot Sludge Sundae Bar

If your birthday boy or girl is not crazy about cake, consider a Hot Sludge Sundae Bar in lieu of a traditional cake for your Shrek Swamp party. Scoop up vanilla ice cream and let your band of ogres embellish with an assortment of toppings - hot fudge, crushed pineapple, strawberries, crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, gummi creatures, an assortment of sprinkles and chopped pecans. Ask an adult to dispense whipped cream or serve a bowl of Cool Whip for self-service.

Leeches on a Log

What ogre does not crave the delicacy - leeches on a log! They are as easy to make as they are delicious. Ask the birthday boy or girl to help place the leeches on the log.

Cut celery stalks into three inch lengths. Fill in the rounded indent with peanut butter - plain or crunchy. Place raisins/leeches along the length of the "log" in an uneven platter. These can be made in advanced and covered lightly in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerated until snack time.

Donkey Trail Mix

Mix equal parts of rainbow gold fish, yogurt covered raisins, honey-roasted peanuts and cinnamon teddy grahams.

Shrek and Fiona Happily Ever After Magic Potion

Mix equal parts of Ocean Spray Blueberry Cocktail and Ginger Ale for a colorful and fizzy magic potion.

Swamp Cake

Ogres will devour this swamp in no time flat. Serve with mint chocolate chip ice cream or a medley of orange and lime sherbet.

White cake mix baked as a sheet cake according to package directions

1/8 cup of chocolate and dark green sprinkles (aka ice cream jimmies)

Batch of chocolate icing

1 cup a crushed chocolate sandwich cookies

Gummi worms

Small Shrek movie figures

Step One: Bake a white cake mix according to package directions. When the cake batter is almost ready for the pan, add the 1/8 cup of brown and dark green sprinkles (aka ice cream jimmies). Stir gently to mix in the batter. Pour batter in pan and bake per package directions.

Step Two: When the cake is cool, ice with chocolate icing. Sprinkle the top with a large amount of chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs. Add some gummi worms to the top. Be sure to bury some under the cookie crumb "dirt". Add small Shrek movie figures to the swamp.

Three Little Pigs in a Blanket

Perfect party fare for a Swamp Adventure. Your little Ogres will ask for seconds.

10 refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

30 miniature cocktail franks

Ketchup

Mustard

Step One: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Gently roll each biscuit out into a 5-inch circle. Spread ketchup and mustard on each biscuit. Place three cocktail franks in the middle of each.

Step Two: With a kitchen shears, carefully clip each biscuit four times - once on each side just up to the franks. Fold up each side of the biscuit and press together firmly to seal. Place piggy blankets seam side down on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Step Three: Bake for 12 - 14 minutes until blankets are golden brown.

These blankets can be made ahead of time and baked at party time. Lightly cover cookie sheets and place in refrigerator. Add two minutes to baking time. If made ahead of time and refrigerated, bake for 14 - 16 minutes until blankets are a nice golden brown.

10 blankets

Coming Soon - Shrek Swamp Birthday Party

Check back here on Friday, May 21, 2010 for a new party plan - Shrek Swamp Party. Beware of Ogre! Your birthday child will remember forever this birthday adventure. With the opening of Shrek - The Final Chapter on May 21, 2010 and the return of the endearing characters of Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and the rest of the gang this party will be in high demand.

Toy Story 3 Buzz Lightyear Space Command Birthday Party

To infinity and beyond! Thrill your intergalactic rangers with this space odyssey. With the opening of Toy Story 3 on June 18, 2010 and return of the iconic characters of Buzz Lightyear and his father Evil Emperor Zurg, this party will be in high demand.

Invitations: Kids can make their own invitations using card stock and celestial rubber stamps. Each invitation can be its own original art work. Just make sure the important party details are included.

If you prefer to send a rocket invitation, start by gluing an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2-inch sheet of blue construction paper to silver paper. Fold long ends to middle. Trace this Martha Stewart template on folded paper; cut out. Add party details and flag sticker to complete.

Several online vendors have theme-related invitations. Check out Birthday in a Box, Birthday Express, and Windy City Novelties to pick your favorites.

Decorations: At party shops and big store retailers there are Toy Story decorations and party goods to suit every taste and budget. If you want to streamline things and exercise your own creative muscles think silver, lime green and sky blue. Hang foil-wrapped cardboard stars and planets made from Styrofoam balls painted with spray paints to match party decor. Let your party cake or a tier of little green alien cupcakes take center stage on the party table. Exclusive Toy Story party supplies are available at Birthday in a Box.

Activities: Hold a moon rock hunt. Paint about 50 small-sized rocks with silver paint. Hide the rocks in your yard. Kids will love to find the rocks as well as bring them home.

Settle your little space rangers down as you get the food ready with some Pixar activity pages. Separate the pages of an appropriate Buzz Lightyear coloring book. Lay out some crayons, pencils, etc. The kids will enjoy this brief breather.

Crafts: An appropriate ice breaker is to have each guest decorate his or her own Star Command Module. This will require a little prep on your part. Modules are made with paper bowls and plates. Instructions are here. Later in the party hold a contest to see who can throw his or her space vehicle - frisbee style - the farthest.

Games: Planetary Bozo Buckets are a fun choice for this theme. Write planet names and point values onto paper bands. The farthest away a planet is from the sun, the more points it should earn. It will be harder to throw an astro ball into it. Tape the bands onto buckets. To make the sun, glue a round piece of yellow paper to white poster board or cut a circle out of yellow poster board. Space rangers will take turns throwing three astro balls (neon tennis balls) from the sun into the planet buckets. Ranger with the highest point value wins.

Organize a Star Command Battle Station War Game. This is best played outside. Divide guests into two teams. One team will be the rangers of Buzz Lightyear. The other will be the forces of Evil Emperor Zurg. Place a rope or tape down to divide the battle ground in two. Have a coin toss to determine which team will get possession of the single potent laser capsule (soft foam ball is perfect for this "technology"). The object of the game is for each team to hit the players of the opposing team with the laser capsule without crossing the line while throwing or capturing the laser capsule. Once a player is hit with the laser capsule/foam ball then he or she is out. Last team standing wins. One or two space referees (adults) are mandatory for safe and fair play during this battle game.

Another excellent outdoor game is Robot Freeze Tag. Designate the birthday child to be a "robot maker". He or she will run around tagging other participants. If a player becomes a "robot" he or she must freeze. Other players can unfreeze "robots" by touching them. The player to be made into a robot three times is the next "robot maker".

Space Ranger Message Mix-up is the intergalactic version of the 20th century telephone game. Have the Space Rangers sit in a circle. The birthday child will think of a message that needs to be transferred to the other space rangers. The birthday child will whisper the message to the person on his or her left. That person continues in the same manner, and so on until the message gets to the space ranger on the birthday child's right. Last space ranger will say the message out loud. Normally, the message will be all mixed up. This can be played several times with different rangers starting and ending the message chain.

Food: If mac and cheese and hot dogs top your space ranger's list of favorite foods, then he or she will love Moon Crater Mac n Cheese. Cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into galactic shapes with moon, star and planet-shaped cutters. Make some Astro Jigglers in colors to coordinate with your decorations. For some crunch turn fresh veggies into celestial creations. Cut slices of carrots, jicama and bell peppers with round, star- and moon-shaped cookie cutters. Fill out the menu with round "planetary" pretzels. Tang - the drink of astronauts - is a logical choice for a beverage. Find ice cube trays shaped as stars and moons to make fun ice cubes for the drinks.

Cake: Cupcakes are always welcomed at birthday parties. They are easy to serve and everyone gets an equal distribution of the decorations. For this party make little green aliens by frosting your favorite flavor with neon green icing (use paste color for best results). Wilton sells a Pixar Toy Story Icing Color Set ($5.99). This set is available online or at grocery, craft or discount stores where Wilton products are sold. Make the alien eyes with black candy-coated chocolate candies. These are available at special bulk dispensers at grocery stores. Add the aliens' signature broad smiles with black decorating icing.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, try your hand at a Buzz Lightyear Space Scape. Bake a large sheet cake (or have one made at your local baker) and frost it with dark blue frosting in a swirl pattern to look like outer space. Then sprinkle blue edible glitter (stars) on the swirls. In the meantime bake two half-sphere cakes - can be baked in oven-safe bowls. Frost one to look like the Moon with grey frosting. Make "craters" all over it with a melon baller. Frost the other with orange frosting to look like a planet. Put these two cakes on the sheet cake in two separate corners diagonally from each other. Lastly, put Toy Story Buzz Lightyear and little green alien figures on the cake to represent space explorers traveling through space.

Favors: Party favors and treat bags are a great way to say thank you to all the kids who attend the festivities. Slinkies ($9.99 per dozen at Oriental Trading Company) or jars of bubbles would make great favors for this theme. Or you can fill up some paper-cup rockets with treats. Martha Stewart has instructions for these cup rockets here. Appropriate treats include: rock candy, red hots, spotted gum balls and mini celestial-named candy bars, such as Milky Way and Mars Bars.

Star Command Module Derby

These space vehicles fly amazingly well. Each of your space rangers can make his or her own custom-decorated spacecraft. When the modules are ready for liftoff, hold a contest to see who can throw their creation, Frisbee style, the farthest.

For each Star Command Module you will need one 12- or 14-ounce paper bowl and 2 dinner-size paper plates. Doubling the plates increases the craft's stability and helps it fly better. Use standard-weight slightly glossy plates and bowls.

School glue

An assortment of colored markers

Step One: At least a day before the party, assemble Star Command Modules for each guest. Glue together 2 plates, one nesting inside the other. Then glue the rim of the bowl to the bottom of the plates. Let glue dry overnight.

Step Two: At the party have your space rangers decorate the Star Command Modules with markers.

Step Three: Hold a contest to see who can throw his or her creation, Frisbee style, the farthest.

Rainbow Angel Birthday Cake

Turn angel food cake into a brilliant birthday treat with food coloring. Add a scoop of rainbow sherbet to each serving for more rainbow fun. FYI - Serrated knives work best when cutting a foam-type cake like angel food.

1 box of white angel food cake mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel
Red, yellow and blue liquid food colors
1 cup of vanilla buttercream frosting

Step One: Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix, water and lemon peel with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 1 minute.

Step Two: Divide batter evenly among 3 bowls. Gently stir 6 to 8 drops of one food color into each of the batters. Pour red batter into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. Spoon yellow batter over red batter. Spoon blue batter over top.

Step Three: Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle until cake is completely cool, about 2 hours. Run knife around edges of cake; remove from pan to serving plate.

Step Four: Spoon frosting into microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High about 15 seconds or until frosting can be stirred smooth and is thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over cake. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Moon Crater Mac n Cheese

If mac and cheese and hot dogs top your little space rangers' list of favorite foods, then they will love this mac and cheese recipe.

1 pound elbow macaroni
3 cups milk
6 hot dogs, cut into 1-inch slices
12 to 18 slices American cheese
12 Ritz crackers

Step One: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook and drain macaroni and let it cool slightly. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish or a large casserole dish with non-stick coating spray.

Step Two: Spoon a third of the pasta into the pan, then add 1/3 of the hot dog pieces, then pour 1 cup of milk and cover it all with 4 to 6 slices of American cheese. Add two more layers of pasta, hot dogs, milk and cheese in the same manner.

Step Three: Crush crackers in a sealable plastic bag. Sprinkle the crumbs over the top layer of pasta and cheese. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 8 to 10

How to Throw A Toy Story 3 Sheriff Woody Wild West Roundup Birthday Party

Everything will be under control at the birthday corral with this party plan. All you need for good eating and plenty of fun to celebrate your cowgirl or cowboy's big day is right here. With the opening of Toy Story 3 on June 18, 2010 and the return of the endearing characters of Sheriff Woody, Jessie and Bullseye this party will be in high demand.

Invitations: An easy DIY version requires two colors of card stock or construction paper and some small decorative dots. To make each card, simply fold in half a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2-inch piece of card stock in color one. Then from color two cut out a horseshoe and glue it to the front of the card. Be sure to place the horseshoes up for good luck. Apply small decorative dots for the horseshoe nails. You can buy decorative dots from an office supply store or make your own with a hole punch. Use colored markers to add the message and any additional decorative embellishments, then print the party details inside. Encourage your guests to bring a favorite pony to the party and/or to dress-up in blue jeans. Wild West Roundup/Pony-themed invites are available in party stores and on-line from such vendors like Oriental Trading Company or Birthday In a Box.

Decorations: Let your child's favorite pony story or movie characters guide the colors and theme used for paper goods and balloons. Wild West Roundup food choices lend themselves to ranch decor, so you may want to go the red checkered tablecloth and bandannas ($7.99 per dozen) route. Guests can take home the bandannas or tie them on as a neckerchief. Hand out cowboy hats ($14.99 per dozen) upon arrival to solidify the Wild West theme. Exclusive Toy Story 3 party supplies are available at Birthday in a Box.

Activities: A great ice breaker is to take pictures of each cowpoke in his or her cowboy hat with a bandanna tied around the neck. For favors print the pictures off as black and white wanted posters on tan 8 1/2 x 11 paper to give them the authentic touch.

An excellent way to settle kids down before serving the food is a printable maze. A Western-themed one can be found here.

As the party winds down, a game of rob thy neighbor is in order. Before the party, package a party trinket for each guest in a decorative box or gift bag. Vary the wrapping so some will be large and some will be small, some plain and some fancy. Have the guests form a circle on the floor or ground and put all the favors in the center of the group. The child to the right of the birthday boy or girl chooses first. The next child can then either take the first child's choice or choose another. (All gifts remained wrapped until the end.) This continues around the circle until every child has taken a gift from center or from another child. In the end every child should have one favor to take home.

Games: A natural for the Roundup is "Pin the Tail on the Pony".

If you have enough space inside or can take the party outside, organize a galloping relay race. Pair the kids as the front and back end of a horse. Each pair goes the distance as one end and switches places to come back as the other. The first pair to reach the finish line wins.

A hunt in the hay is a fun game, if you can take the party outdoors or don't care about having hay inside - perhaps the basement? If you have to have your hunt inside, think about using shredded paper from a document shredder. Blindfold each kid as it is their turn. In a small pile of hay, hide tiny objects (pennies, small toys). Your local dollar store is a good source of these small items. Each guest has a chance to feel around the "hay" and find objects. Set a timer, so everyone has the same opportunity to find things. Kids can either keep what they find or you can declare the winner as the kid that finds the most stuff.

Set up a "lasso" practice area. Using a hula hoop and a child's rocking horse, have your cowboys and girls try to "rope" the pony's neck.

A challenging game for the outdoors or indoors - if you have space - is Sidewinder Jump. The purpose of this game is to avoid the "bite" of a deadly snake. Make your snake out of an 8-foot length of rope. To play, have two adults hold the end of the rope and whisk it back and forth along the ground. The children try to jump over the wiggling snake without touching it. For older kids, try raising the rope a few inches off the ground.

Food: The chow wagon can serve up hot dogs and baked beans. For a change of pace try Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas. Kids will love to nibble on baby carrots and apple slices, a diet staple of horses. Add some Doritos Munchies Mix for a bit of crunch and to round out the treats. Wash down the trail dust with root beer or lemonade.

Cake: For a special cake, try one shaped like a cowboy or girl's best friend - his or her trusty stead. It is easier than you think with templates and a how-to video from Betty Crocker. Or try making one using the Wilton Pony Pan (2105-1101).

Favors: In addition to the cowboy hat, bandanna, any winnings and the individual Wanted Posters, each guest can take home a toy harmonica ($6.99 per dozen) or a bag of trail mix, if more bounty is needed.

Tip: Quick and Easy Tablecloth

Looking for a tablecloth for your next kids' party? Try a Twister game mat. It makes a wonderful tablecloth for a child's birthday party. Sticky spills and icing wash right off. And the bold colors are compatible with many kids' party ideas.

Pony Cake

What would a Roundup be without a Pony Cake? Thanks to Betty Crocker this cake is easier to make than you think. Betty Crocker has a how-to video and needed templates on its website. Click here for full details. Betty Crocker demonstrates a traditional brown pony. With a little imagination you can decorate your pony to match your cowgirl or cowboy's favorite stead - real or imaginary.

Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Whoa, buckaroos! Here is some scrumptious grub you can sink your teeth into. These individual pizzas are easy to make and combine a spicy meat filling and mild cheese blend with a classic thin crust. Create a complete Western meal with baked beans and creamy coleslaw.

1 refrigerated thin pizza crust (1 can - 11 ounces)
1 container refrigerated original barbecue sauce with shredded chicken
1 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese

Step One: Heat oven to 400 degrees Fl.

Step Two: Spray or grease cookie sheet. Unroll dough on work surface. Press dough into 12x8 rectangle. With a round cutter, cut dough into 20 rounds; place rounds 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Spread each with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.

Step Three: Bake crust 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

20 individual pizzas

Lemonade

A Wild West Roundup Party calls for lots of frosty drinks. Make this lemonade or chill plenty of purchased kind. If making your own, tastes for sweetness of lemonade vary, so feel free to adjust the sugar to your taste.

6 cups cold water
2 cups lemon juice (8 to 10 lemons)
1 cup sugar or equivalent sugar substitute
Ice cubes
Lemon slice, if desired
Maraschino cherries with stems, if desired

Step One: Mix water, lemon juice and sugar in large pitcher until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled, if desired.

Step Two: Serve lemonade over ice. Garnish each serving with a lemon slice and cherry.

8 servings