Tired of building with little plastic blocks and want to add some variety in your play construction projects? Have some candy left over from a holiday that you'd like to use without eating it?
A big challenge for me is finding the "how to" instructions for a food craft. First I have to know what might be out there and start an internet search, succumb to the temptation of a few rabbit trails that take me off topic, and try to find instructions that will guide me in creating something cute and do-able.
Imagine my delight to discover a delightful book that has edible crafts with recipes and instructions all in one place - requiring no internet time. Check out CANDY CONSTRUCTION, Edible Crafts, by Sharon Bowers ($14.95).
Bowers starts with some basic limit setting that include no eating while building, a limit on one candy to eat when finished, and teeth brushing when done.
I am reading CANDY CONSTRUCTION from the perspective of the mom who wants to make something with a child who can't eat typical candy. I'm looking at instructions and recipes to see what, exactly, I can find in allergen-free form in order to duplicate at my house. Rice cereal treats, pretzels, some gummy candy, Nerds, marshmallows, sandwich cookies, chocolate bars - I see quite a few items I can find an appropriate substitute for. Peanut butter cups and Nutter Butters - no way - I'll have to skip the recipes that use those or figure out a good nut-free substitute.
CANDY CONSTRUCTION offers party ideas based upon quite a few themes (you may choose to plan a party around one of the crafts) and holiday ideas that could use up leftover candy. Bowers uses everyday candies for the folks who aren't on special diets, easy to find, generally. The instructions are easy to follow; the projects, simple, because they're for kids. Some of the figures or parts of crafts could easily become a cake or cupcake topper.
The projects are what I call "RDI-able"; the projects can be used for a variety of Relationship Development Objectives in a fun, "in context" way.
There are other benefits. Having a child on a special diet due to food intolerances and some allergies can make Vacation Bible School, birthday and holiday parties difficult. If *I* don't make it from GFCFSF+++ ingredients, my girl can't enjoy it with the others. Now, I can make something my girl can taste if she wants to.
I'm pleased to add this book to my collection of cookbooks.
Storey Publishing sent me a complimentary, review copy of CANDY CONSTRUCTION Edible Crafts for review purposes. I am not paid for reviews and am not obligated to provide a positive review.
3 comments:
I make allergy-free soybutter and sunbutter cups. Melt some Enjoy Life allergy-free chocolate chips; put a small amount into a mold (any shape will do); add a drop of soybutter, sunbutter, or peabutter (depending on which allergies your family deals with);then fill the rest of the mold w/ more chocolate;refridgerate until hard. I make these for almost every major holiday as a special treat. Even my non-allergic friends and family enjoy them. I also have other recipes for allergy-free treats if you are interested.
We have sunflower sensitivities, so that's out. I have never seen peabutter - where would one find that?
This is so cool!! What a fun activity- especially for those snowy days coming up!!
Please post some pics of something you and A make. I'd love to see!!
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