There are no shortage of volunteer opportunities in our little Appalachian area, but funds for supporting programs are often scarce. So when Disney offered the chance to host a #DisneySide party again this year, my thoughts went directly to gifting our local 4H cooking club with a fun celebration. This program teaches Middle School-age children all about teamwork, self-sufficiency, cooking and baking skills and nutrition. I couldn’t think of a better group to share my talents with and my deep love for all things Disney!
One of the things I absolutely love best about sharing time in the kitchen with my children is the conversations we have, which generally have little to do with food! We chat about how they are doing in school, their social lives, our dream, our hopes and more than likely lots of superhero-related things like the upcoming Avengers sequel.
Cooking together not only gifts them with practical skills but gives us the moments we need to bond, connect and cherish each other’s company. I saw this same level of connection with the kids as they worked together in cooking class and also enjoyed watching as the older kids took on leadership rolls with the younger to help them through the tasks. Truly heart-warming!
To start the festivities off, we decorated with some fun decorations that Disney provided in the free DisneySide Home Celebration kit we received. The kit included information, games, decorations, party favors, activity sheets and an assortment of other party goods. We also set up cooking stations and set up a very special craft table for the children to enjoy while their goodies were baking.
The recipes we selected were straight from the Disney theme parks that we found on the Disney Family website. First up were Strawberry Twists from Maurice’s Treats, a fun snack that can be found in Disneyland’s Fantasy Faire area (recipe here: http://family.disney.com/recipes/strawberry-twists-from-maurices-treats.) For the meal, we made Dumbo’s Chicken with Peanut Dipping Sauce that gets a Mickey Check as a nutritious choice (recipe here: http://family.disney.com/recipes/dumbos-chicken-with-peanut-dipping-sauce.) We knew both would be kid-pleasers but also be relatively easy recipes they would be able to duplicate at home.
During prep time there was lots of camaraderie and plenty of laughter! As ice breakers for the kids we asked about favorite Disney characters, memories and asked what their DisneySide was. The answers were so varied and delightful and sure helped these pre-teens connect easily! By the time class ended plenty of friendships were formed (or strengthened.)
The entire group agreed on two things: 1) Mickey Mouse is a character we all identify with and love and 2) Disney-inspired recipes are way fun to make and even more fun to eat!
Look at these Strawberry Twists…
I think the kids did Maurice and Disney very proud!
The twists are so delicious, too! It’s a recipe I’m going to replicate for Easter brunch this year.
At the craft table, we provided the kids with a markers, recipe cards, and stickers along with blank note-cards and a small file folder (suitable for holding recipe cards or coupons and so on,) that they could embellish with their own personal DisneySide style.
As they designed their personal holders, personalities blossomed and shone through with the creativity and artwork. This is a super-simple (and inexpensive) craft for any large group to do. It was particularly fitting as it suited the spirit of cooking class and DisneySide theme, but would be great for use with any birthday party, classroom or club activity.
While the kids decorated the folders, we asked an array of trivia questions from the packet that came with our DisneySide Home Celebration kit. When someone answered a question correctly, they won a prize! We had some fun prizes like nail polish and card games that were included as party favors that were awarded as prizes and we supplemented with a variety of fun Disney-themed puzzles and small toys purchased from a local retailer. We made sure everyone won something and there were even some goodies left to send home for younger siblings!
One of the questions that totally stumped our group of pre-teens was “Mickey Mouse was originally voiced by ______________.” Do you know the answer?
Other sponsors of the DisneySide Home Celebration were All, Snuggle, Wisk, and HP. The laundry products from All, Snuggle and Wisk were donated to our 4H center to help care for the aprons used in the cooking club classes. HP photo paper packets were distributed to all of the parents when they picked their children up from class and to the instructors who regularly donate their time and care for this program.
At the end of the event, all the children received backpacks from 4H stuffs with nutrition packets of info on nutrition, a measuring scoop, placemats and a variety of party favors from the DisneySide kit including temp tatoos, activity sheets and pencils so they could continue the fun at home.
We’re grateful for all these special touches and wonderful gifts that have brought so much joy to our cooking club adventures and community!
Disney magic certainly blessed us during this super fun DisneySide celebration! I hope our fun festivities inspire you to create your own DisneySide party or community outreach.
For more fabulous DisneySide party ideas, be sure to visit www.DisneySideCelebrations.com
How will you choose to celebrate your DisneySide?
Special thanks to Disney for sending along decorations, goodies and ideas. No monetary compensation was received. Food, craft supplies and other materials were donated by Rural Mom, this was a volunteer effort and oodles of fun! All thoughts, opinions and general love of all-things-Disney are that of Rural Mom!
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It sounds like you guys had fun! My kids love helping in the kitchen, too.
I love doing crafts with the kids. It’s a great way to bond, and it’s super fun!
What a FUN #DisneySide event! The strawberry twists look really yummy.
Looks like everyone had a great time. The strawberry twist look really good. Anything Disney is a hit in my house.
Those strawberry twists look amazing! My kids love to help me cook, and this is the perfect recipe for that!
How fun! Those strawberry twists look super yummy! My kiddos love helping and creating new fun dishes! So great!
Those strawberry twists look delicious! My son is in 4H and he loves it- they’re a great group to support.
My comment disappeared as I was writing it :/ I wanted to say that those strawberry twists look amazing! I love how you showed your Disney side!
How fun! The Strawberry Twists look really good – I will have to make those sometime. I love your Disney Side!
How fun! I wouldn’t mind some of those strawberry twists right now, they look pretty tasty.
So fun! You did a great job and I bet the party was a blast!
It looks like they had a blast in the kitchen. Those strawberry twists look really yummy!
Such a fun way to spend time together!! I could go for a strawberry twist right now. Yum!
Fun! Great way to spend time together as a family
Disney is the best brand in the world hands down! This looks like so much fun and the stuff they gave you all!
My kids love to help in the kitchen. And what better way than to incorporate some Disney inspired treats!?
I love that you all got together for this one. Just like you mentioned conversations in the kitchen, I’ve found that with the teens it’s the car. I always volunteer to drive them to school over them taking the bus because some of the convos from the car ride are amazing. 🙂
What a great tip, thanks for sharing! It’s so true, love spending those quality moments when we can get them!
It’s always nice to have a special event like this. Disney treats and exciting opportunities for learning are a perfect match.
That looks like a lot of fun,My kids would enjoy this.
looks like you guys had a great time. Our party is tomorrow. So it should be a blast!
Those strawberry twists look so delicious. Sounds like it was a great time.
We love showing our #DisneySide! It looks like you guys had a really good time and those strawberry twists look amazing!
It looks like everybody had a great time. The strawberry twists look delicious and I bet Dumbo’s chicken is tasty too.
Those twists looks good. So neat to do that with the group.
Those twists, those crafts and all those smiles on their faces…so happy and such priceless moments. What a fun and awesome event.
Looks like you guys had a blast! My kids love to help in the kitchen too and would love those strawberry twists.
~Amanda
How amazing that you used your party to help others! I love what fun the kids had in the kitchen
This looks like so mcuh fun! Those twists look delicious!
This party looks like so much fun! I want to try those twists!
It looks like the kids had a great time. Everything looks so good.