Sparkle Kitchen
Explore a world of culinary delight with our Sparkle Kitchen category. Discover mouthwatering recipes, cooking tips, and kitchen adventures to satisfy your appetite and spark your creativity in the kitchen.
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 11: "Storytelling Surprises"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar story,"Storytelling Surpises", it’s a grey day, and everyone is grouchy. Nothing is quite right! What to do today? Momma gives Martin and Sylvia a fun storytelling exercise to help them decide, and all three are surprised by the magical answer.
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 8: "The Elf"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar Day 8 story, "The Elf," it is the day that Martin and Sylvia’s family decorates their Christmas Tree. And what is that hidden in the branches?
Sparkle Kitchen: Eggs in a Poke
Also called “eggs in a hole,” “eggs in a basket,” and (in Great Britain) “toad in a hole,” eggs in a poke is simply an egg cooked in a piece of toast with the center cut out. Because we're in the midst of the holidays it's easy — and pretty fun — to use a holiday cookie cutter to make a shape.
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 6: "The Bakers"
In Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar Day 6 story, "The Bakers," Martin and Sylvia aren’t sure this 6th day of Advent is going to be so magical — they are just running errands with Daddy. But when they get to the bakery, they get a surprise invitation that turns their afternoon into sweet fun!
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 2: "Christmas Cards"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar story, "Christmas Cards," in their daily lesson, Martin and Sylvia experience the Advent magic of “watching and waiting.” They receive four gifts that set them up for a holiday activity!
Advent Projects: Martin & Sylvia's Audio Calendar – Day 1: "Waiting"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar Day 1 story, "Waiting," Advent is coming and brother and sister are worried - where is their advent calendar?
Sparkle Kitchen: Risgrøt
This week's recipe is risgrøt, a Norwegian rice porridge that is often served at breakfast on Christmas Eve. As with most traditional recipes, there are as many ways to make it as there are stars in the winter sky. On the first truly cold day of fall, I tested a few and discovered three things.
NINE Sparkle Crafts and Recipes for Advent
The holidays are a great time for crafting, with so many gifts to give and decorations to be put up. It's also a great time for making yummy homemade treats. We've picked nine of our favorite holiday recipes and crafts to inspire you.
Sparkle Kitchen: Mac and Cheese
If there was a poster child for comfort food, it would be homemade macaroni and cheese. It's not fancy, but I think, for may of us, it harkens back to the same feelings Dante has in this story—comfort and safety and a loving parent taking care of us.
Sparkle Kitchen: Pebbles and Mushrooms
This week's recipe is my take on something I imagine one might see at a fairy feast. While mushrooms and thyme would, I believe, be at home on both fairy and human tables, I've subbed out gnocchi — a potato-based pasta — for the stones and pebbles the mythical folk prefer.
Sparkle Kitchen: Campfire Stew
This week's recipe comes from another chilly night when something equally magic happened by the light of an autumn fire. It was a good friend's birthday, and, to celebrate, she invited us all out to her teepee to have stew for dinner.
Peanut Butter and Banana Quesadillas
These peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chip quesadillas are perfect for letting even little kids make their own snack. Just lay out the ingredients (on a cutting board) and let the kiddos spread and chop and sprinkle to their heart's content.
Sparkle Kitchen: Cream of Tomato Soup and Cheesy "Bone" Sticks
This creamy tomato soup with cheesy “bone” breadsticks is more like the cartoon bones than the real thing. It's the fun kind of scary. And, perhaps more importantly, it's easy to make and hearty enough to fill your little goblins' bellies before a night of trick-or-treating mayhem.
Halloween Crafts and Recipes Roundup
Explore some Sparkle-inspired recipes and crafts to help bring fun and nourishment to this Halloween.
sparkle kitchen: egyptian hibiscus tea
In this week's The Willowbee Tree story, Little Ty has been feeling particularly small. If he could have one wish, it would be to be taller.
Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts
While store-bought pop tarts are undeniably delicious, for those of us seeking less processed, sugar-y snacks, they have to be confined to a rare treat.
Sparkle Kitchen: Bird Seed Energy Bites
This combination of peanut butter and nuts provides a one-two punch of protein and satisfying fats that help my little birds keep flying happily. And the honey and maple make them a bit of a treat, too.
Sparkle Kitchen: "Marfa" Huevos Rancheros
While I've never been to Marfa Burrito, this is how I'd imagine that my favorite Mexican dish, huevos rancheros, would be served up there.
Sparkle Kitchen: Onigiri
Onigiri are balls of rice with filling. Sometimes they're fried. Sometimes they're covered with seeds or nori on the outside. Sometimes they're fancy, sometimes they're humble. But if you can cook a pot of rice, you can make them. The recipe below includes a variation for two fillings — spicy tuna and pickled plums.
Artistic Smoothie Bowls
In the story, “Art Walk,” Martin and Sylvia decide that they are going to be artistic in everything they do during the Art Walk — from what they wear to what they eat. Here's a recipe to help you get creative and artistic with smoothie bowls!
