We’ve come up with the top 10 boredom-busting ways to keep everyone entertained indoors all day. Do something different on the next rainy day and try a new craft, recipe, game or activity that you maybe wouldn’t have thought of. Being stuck inside shouldn’t be a bad thing, make it a fun thing with these inspired ideas!

10 Rainy Day Ideas

1. Go to the library.

Your local library is a great place to spend some time during a downpour. There’s not much better than a room full of free books  and a whole day to try and read them all. Many libraries also offer programmes like story-time or crafts.

2. Play Board Games

Snakes & Ladders, Candyland, Clue, there are hundreds of choices. If you have a stack of them at home then endless hours of entertainment ahead of you. Once on game gets old, switch it out for another and them another until the dark clouds clear and the sun comes back out.

3. Bake Something

Baking is a great group activity. With most recipes having multiple steps, there’s always something for everyone to do. Check out this list for inspiration, Top 10 Soft and Chewy Cookie Recipes

4. Photo Scavenger Hunt

It’s a fact – kids LOVE playing with cameras. Make their day and set up a photo scavenger hunt. Make up a list of items throughout the house for them to find and photograph. Remember, the longer the list, the longer they’ll be busy!

5. Movie Marathon

Change up your usual watching space and throw every cushion you have in the house on the floor in front of  the TV. Have their favourite flicks lined up and let them watch all day. Don’t forget movie snacks – try this  Trial-mix (its not just for Easter!).

6. Crafts

Keep little hands busy and organize a craft or two. We like these Stocking Butterflies and Beaded Wind Chimes. Make them inside in the rain and put them outside tomorrow in better weather.

7. Host a Tea Party

Make a garden tea party in your living room. Gather houseplants to put around the table, with table linens, teacups, finger sandwiches and of course, fancy dress up. Invite teddy bears guests and you’ve got yourself a party. Try our Lemon Scones for a tasty teatime treat.

8. Go Bowling

Bowling is low-cost family friendly activity that kids love. Spend the next rained out day at the alley and bowl until the sky clears. Have lunch, plays some games and you’re certainly going to have a great day.

9. Go Swimming

Not in the backyard, swimming in a rainstorm can actually be dangerous, on the other hand, head to the local public pool. Many public pools have fun things like water slides, wave pools and rock climbing walls. Everything to make sure your kids aren’t bored for a single second.

10. Puddle Splashing

When all fails, embrace the weather, have the kids throw on their bathing suits and rubber boots and jump in as many puddles as they can find!  We hope you liked these 10 Rainy Day Ideas.

The post 10 Awesome Ideas for Kids on Rainy Days appeared first on And Then Home.

These scones taste great with the glaze on top, but you can certainly serve them with much more.  Fresh fruit or compotes, lemon curd, clotted or whipped cream or simply powdered sugar are all perfect options.

To reheat a scone you could put them in the over at 300F for about 5-10 min or place them right into the microwave.

Print

Soft and Sweet Lemon Scone Cookies

Perfect for breakfast and dessert. No trips to the bakery, simple ingredients makes for easy baking!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 8 Scones

Ingredients

• 2 cups All-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 6 tbsp Cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 box (99g) Instant lemon pudding mix
• 1/2 cup Cream
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Glaze

• 1 cup Icing sugar
• 1 tbsp Milk
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract Clear extract works best

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add cut up butter and cut into the flour mix with a pastry blender or two knives until the butter is mixed in and the mixture is crumbly.
• Stir in the pudding mix.
• Pour the cream into a small bowl. Add the egg and vanilla, whisk to combine.
• Make a hole into the centre of the dry ingredients and add the cream mixture. Stir until just combined.
• Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead it a few times until the mix is smooth. Cut the dough in half. Form each half into a circle that's about 1/2" thick. Slice each circle into four wedges.
• Place the scones onto the cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely before baking.

Glaze

• Whisk together all the ingredients. Spread onto the scones.

Enjoy! Pro Tip: You can make these scones any flavour you like by switching out the pudding mix – pistachio, strawberry or orange are all great options.

We hope you liked this lemon scone cookies recipe as much as we do!  If you’re looking for a dinner to complement these cookies certainly take a look at The Ultimate Summer Dinner Recipe Ideas .

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Top 10 Soft and Chewy Cookie Recipes

 More Delicious Recipes Below!

 

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1. Add A Pinch – Mini Quiches

These little bites are healthy, easy and always ready to go in the morning. Make them at the beginning of the week and they’ll be on hand in the fridge for quick morning assembly.

2. Kraft – Cheese Quesadillas

Quesadillas are so versatile. It’s a fuss-free lunch that will satisfy even the pickiest little eater. You can add cooked chicken breast for protein and throw some salsa and avocado in the lunchbox to add extra flavour.

3. Betty Crocker – Roast Beef Roll Ups 

Easy to make with endless filling choices, roll ups are perfect for school lunches. You can add practically anything but this recipe is a great place to start.

4.  The Spruce – Hummus and Pita

Hummus is one of those magic foods that every kid likes. Throw a few simple ingredients into a food processor and you have a satisfying lunch. 

5. Dinner Then Dessert  – Mini Pancakes 

You can make these silver dollars on the weekend and save them for lunches during the week. Add hard-boiled eggs, leftover sausages and some fruit to make breakfast for lunch.  Try these boiled egg molds for a fun twist on the egg shape!!  They’re super cute when done and a hit with the kids.

6. Inspired Taste – Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Be sure to make the grilled cheese with enough time to completely cool before being packed up to avoid having a soggy sandwich. Warm up some tomato soup and transfer it to a thermos for a warm lunch, especially great on those cold winter school days!

7.  I Heart Naptime – Pizza Pinwheels

What kiddo doesn’t love pizza? Treat them to a pizza lunch with a twist with these easy little rolls.

8.  Skinny Mixers – Lunchtime Meatballs

Want to sneak extra veggies into lunch? This recipe slips kale into meatballs! Your kids will never guess the secret to why these delicious meatballs are green.

9. Pure Wow – Mac N Cheese Bites

These mini baked mac-and-cheese bites are baked not fried. Easier to make and a bit healthier. Yes, your kids are going to love them, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up in grown up lunch boxes too!

10. Jo Cooks – Mini Corn Dogs

Last but not least is a lunch that will make your kid the envy of the lunchroom. Add some ketchup and mustard for dipping and some potato salad on the side for lunch perfection.

So that’s our list. Hope it will help make this school year go by a little easier and a little bit more fun. (for both you and your kiddos!)  Check out our DIY Back to School Memory Chalkboard for more back to school fun.

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1. Food Network – Carrot Cake Perogies

These delicious perogies were available a few years ago so this is a good recipe for Stampeders and for those who can’t make it to the grounds. They are filled with carrot cake spiced with cinnamon and drizzled with caramel sauce, for a sweet twist on a usually savoury dish. 

2. And Then Home – Traditional Poutine with a Homemade Gravy

Always a food truck favourite, poutine is a Canadian classic. You’ll find all kinds of poutine at the Stampede. Some you’ve seen before and some you haven’t – clam chowder poutine is new for 2017. But you can never go wrong with a traditional recipe like the one we have here.

3. Amber Approved – Calgary Stampede 102 Salad

Because you can’t survive solely on fried foods and beef, we’ve included a salad recipe full of delicious and filling ingredients inspired by Alberta. It’s a perfect way to get a healthy meal away from all the indulgence found at the Calgary Stampede

4. Western Living – Chunky Bacon Jam

Nothing says Cowboy cuisine quite like bacon. This sweet and savoury jam makes it easy to add bacon to any meal – it goes on everything from sandwiches to scrambled eggs.

5. Taste of Home – Calgary Stampede Ribs Recipe

Ribs are a must for a Stampede BBQ and this recipe by an Alberta native is guaranteed to have everyone licking their fingers and asking for more. 

6. National Caesar Day – The Caesar Drink

Essential to any Stampede breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner,  is the Caesar.  At its simplest it’s made with vodka, Clamato juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. There are unlimited options for garnish including horseradish, bacon, or pickle juice to name a few. The National Caesar Day website has a ton of ideas to inspire you.

7. Calgary Stampede – Stampede Granola

This one comes straight from the kitchens of the Calgary Stampede. Packed with wholesome ingredients it’ll keep you going at the Stampede Grounds, on a hike, or for a busy day around town.

8. Ricardo Cuisine – Baked Beans

The perfect side dish to any BBQ menu, these baked beans have a smoky flavour with a slight kick that will complement any burger or steak.

9. Deanna’s Daughter – Calgary Stampede Buttermilk Pancakes

Something you may not know about the Calgary Stampede is the pancake breakfasts. All over the city throughout Stampede free pancake breakfasts pop up with line ups around the corner. So, why not start your day with a country style breakfast with this satisfying and delicious recipe.

10. Merry About Town – Mini Doughnuts

Food at the Stampede changes form year to year but one thing that never changes is mini doughnuts. Warm, soft and covered in sugar and cinnamon they are an annual favourite. To make it easier to make them at home, here’s a recipe that doesn’t require any deep frying.

I don’t know about you but I’m suddenly starving! Give one of these recipes a try and let us know what you think. If you liked this list try our Top 10 Soft and Chewy Cookie Recipes.

The post Top Ten Stampede Inspired Recipes appeared first on And Then Home.

(If you play the video above while you scroll through the post, it almost feels like May 5th already.)

But back to the food. I know I’m a big fan of Hispanic food almost any time of the year, but Cinco de Mayo presents an opportunity to gather with friends and nosh on some of this goodness together — perhaps with a homemade margarita in hand.

Oops! I spoiled the first one. But what would the day be without a margarita?

Here are your 7 Cinco de Mayo recipes.

White Wine Margarita Recipe

This excellent recipe from Tammilee’s Tips will cool you off on a hot day, for sure. Whether Cinco de Mayo will be a hot one is anyone’s guess, but it’s Cinco de Mayo. Like I said. You should have a margarita!

Avacado Salsa Verde

You can tip your hat to Joyful Healthy Eats for this one. I’ll be thanking them because I’m now craving almost anything with an avocado in it. If you’re pre-snacking before you reach your Cinco de Mayo main course, this salsa is bound to go well with some tortilla chips, or as a topper on another dish.

Homemade Chimichangas

This recipe from Flour On My Face says it can be made in 18 minutes and serves 8. If you’re looking for a quick treat to put together for some friends or family who are coming over, this one’s probably your best bet.

Mini Taco Salad Cups

From Meatloaf and Melodrama comes what may be the cutest looking taco salad that has ever existed. The goods sit in a wonton wrapper and the little cups are baked in a cupcake tray. If that isn’t enough to get your interest, I don’t know what can. These look like they’d be great for the snack table!

Cheesy Mexican Rice Bites

Real Housemoms gets credit for what is probably another snack table entry. If you like the idea of a spicy rice ball and your life would improve 1000% if someone put delicious queso cheese inside it, this is the snack for you.

Churro Cupcakes

If there’s a recipe on this page that would win the award for, “I’d eat only these and have no room for anything else,” it’s this one. Churros are delicious in their own right. So are cupcakes. Combining the two is sure to make everyone you’re serving them to very, very happy.

Sombrero Cookies

These will undoubtedly be a hit with the kids. And they’re super easy to make! They’re essentially sugar cookies (store-bought) with a few very easy side items. You can probably make a whole batch of them in under ten minutes. Major shoutout to Random Thoughts of a Supermom! for this one.

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Do you have some Cinco de Mayo recipes of your own you’d like to share? We’d love to see them in the comments, or even over on our Facebook page!

The post 7 Festive Cinco De Mayo Recipes appeared first on And Then Home.

1. Healthy Orange Julius – Bless This Mess

An Orange Julius is the perfect walk-around-the-mall beverage for those out a few hours to shop. Instead of buying an OJ at the typical mall booth, bring your own and use that extra money to buy yourself something nice.

2. Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino – Eugenie Kitchen

Need a quick pick-me-up in the morning? Forget dropping $5 or $6 at the Starbucks on the corner. Break out your blender and follow the instructions at Eugenie Kitchen to create the perfect copycat mocha frappuccino.

3. Little Casesar’s Crazy Bread – CopyKat

The pizza at Little Caesar’s is merely serviceable in a pinch, but did you know that the chain sells some of the best-tasting breadsticks in the industry? The copycat recipe for Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread is worth keeping around, and it’s only right that CopyKat show you the way.

4. Pizza Hut Pan Pizza – Your Home Based Mom

When it comes to chain pizza, it’s tough to beat Pizza Hut on the combination of taste and value. The restaurant has perfected the art of the pan pizza. Using this recipe from Your Home Based Mom, you can make your own copycat Pizza Hut pan pizza at home.

5. In-N-Out Cheeseburgers – Life in the Lofthouse

We’re not all fortunate enough to live on the West Coast of the United States, where In-N-Out is primarily located. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the In-N-Out taste, though! Using this recipe from Life in the Lofthouse, you can bring the In-N-Out cheeseburger experience to your own kitchen table.

6. Chick-Fil-A Sandwich – CincyShopper

Much like In-N-Out, Chick-Fil-A is a fairly regional chain. If you’re further north in the U.S. than Erie, Pennsylvania, you’re going to have to travel to get a taste of the highly praised Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich. Or — you can use this recipe from CincyShopper to make one of your own.

7. Panera Bread Broccoli & Cheese Soup – Diethood

Panera Bread has lots of tasty items on its menu, but its broccoli and cheese soup is quite possibly the best made anywhere. Diethood has reverse-engineered the flavorful soup and posted the copycat recipe on its website. Go check it out!

8. McDonald’s Sweet & Sour Sauce – Budget101

If you’re a chicken nugget fan, you likely know all about McDonalds’ sweet and sour sauce. It’s the best there is. Heck, some of us even use it for dipping our french fries. Budget101 has a copycat recipe that’ll save you from having to fill your pockets full of little sweet and sour containers next time you’re at McDonald’s.

9. Auntie Anne’s Pretzel – Cooking Classy

The Auntie Anne’s pretzel may be the de facto pretzel of the past several decades. It’s tough to enter a shopping mall without seeing an Auntie Anne’s shop, and once you smell the pretzels baking, it’s even tougher to not buy one. Cooking Classy has a recipe all cooked up so you can make your own Auntie Anne’s pretzels at home, saving you time and money.

10. Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs – Cakescottage.com

Easter is just around the corner. Instead of filling those baskets with pre-manufactured, pre-bought Reese’s peanut butter eggs, why not bake a fresh batch yourself at home?

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