Recipe: More birthday party ideas

LCD has some very good ideas. Here are a few more.

You might want to consider having a scavenger hunt. You divide the girls into teams (4 or 6 per team.) Provide each team with a list of thinks they have to retrieve in a designated time frame. We used to do this by going from house to house. I suggest you do it using a nearby shopping mall. You list could include 3 shopping bags with the name of stores printed on them, 1 shopping bag with no store name printed on it, a blank sales slip or charge card form (from any form) with the word "VOID" written across it, or a used coffee or pop cup, etc. Another item might be for them to make a list of (a certain #) of stores in the mall.

Susan, if by chance you decide to keep the party at your home, you might have the girls make batches of no-bake cookies. There are many wonderful recipes here on TKL for that. You could have the girls split into teams of 2 or 3, provide them with the supplies, recipes and guidance. Then the girls can each take home a collection of home-made cookies as a "party favor."

Another idea might be to let the group makek some dessert pizza to be eaten as part of the party. Here are some recipes for dessert pizza what have previously been posted on TKL.
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(Previously posted on TKL)

Fruit Pizza

1 roll Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 cup sugar
1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz. cool whip
1 small can crushed pineapple
fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled and thinly sliced
bananas, sliced
shredded coconut
finely chopped pecans

Spread sugar cookie dough evenly on a pizza pan
using fingertips. Pierce a few times with fork tines
and bake at temp listed on package until lightly
browned.

If it puffs up, press down slightly after you let it cool
A little. Cool crust completely. Beat softened cream
cheese with sugar until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip
and blend thoroughly. Spread this on the cooled
crust.

Drain pineapple thoroughly and spread evenly over
cream cheese mixture. Arrange the slices of
strawberres on top of the pineapple, then arrange
the banana slices. Sprinkle with shredded coconut and
sprinkle with pecans. Use your imagination like you
are decorating a pizza. Make believe the cream
cheese mixture is the sauce, the strawberries and
bananas are pepperoni and mushrooms, and the
coconut and pecans are the cheese. It is alot of fun!
Refrigerate until serving. Cut into pizza slices to
serve.

..................................................STRAWBERRY PIZZA

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
6 T. butter
1/3 c. shortening
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 T. milk
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven 375 F. Stir together dry ingredients (flour & baking powder) plus 1/4 tsp
salt. Set aside. Beat butter & shortening for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until fluffly.
Add, egg milk & vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until
well-combined. Place on ungreased pizza pan.

Press dough to about 1/4 inch thick (thicker if you prefer). Bake in oven 375 F for 10-15 minute
or until golden brown. Topping Spread softened cream cheese on baked crust. Put
strawberry slices on cream cheese then pour strawberry glaze on top. Chill for about an
hour then serve.

_______________________________________________________________________

DESSERT PIZZA SHELLS

1/2 oz Active dry yeast
2 tb Nonfat dry milk powder
1 c Very warm (120-125'F) water
1 tb Sugar or honey
1/2 c Apple juice
1 ts Salt
5 c Flour
1/2 c Lukewarm water (or more)

Dissolve the yeast and the skim milk powder in the
water. Add the sugar or honey and stir well to
dissolve. Let this sit for
about 10 minutes. Add the apple juice and combine
well.

Put all of the flour in a large mixing bowl. Add the
salt
and combine. Add the liquid mixture to the flour
along with
enough additional water to make a soft but not
sticky
dough. Knead the dough for 4
minutes if using a stand mixer; 8 minutes if kneading
by hand. Divide the dough into balls
of about 4 ounces each, put them on a floured sheet
pan, cover the pan and allow to rise
for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in bulk (or let
rise,
covered well, in the refrigerator
overnight).

Thickness: To make a dessert pizza shell, the dough
should be rolled thicker than that for
a thin-crust pizza because it will be holding more
weight. Go with a dough shell that is at
least 1/8-inch thick.

Forming: Pull up the sides to form a crust cuff or a
well to hold the dessert toppings. The
pizza shell should like like a pie or tart shell.

Size: A four- or five-inch diameter pizza seems to
be
the best size, because it can be
served as an individual dessert or as one for two
people to share.

Preparation: The best way to go from this point is to
dock the crust and bake it
completely. This baked crust will then be ready to
take various toppings. In a few
situations you might want to only par-bake the crust
-- when doing a baked apple pizza,
for example.

Toppings:
Cheeses: For the sake of simplicity and good taste,
cheeses can be narrowed down to three: ricotta,
mascarpone and cream cheese.
Fruits: Just about any fruit will work. Using fresh
fruit
will control the moisture.
Nuts: Walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pine nuts are
favorites.
Miscellaneous: Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg
and
cloves work well.
Crushed or ground amaretto cookies make a great
topping over cheese and fruit. Chocolate chips,
raisins and zest of oranges,
lemons or limes can be used most effectively to
pump
up the
flavor. A dusting of confectioners' sugar looks good
and goes a long way
in the taste department. Brushing or layering fruit
preserves or a
fruit glaze on the crust before toppings go on adds a
lot of flavor
and offers a wide range of taste possibilities.

_________________________________________________________________

CREAM CHEESE CHOCOLATE CHIP PIZZA (SOFT)

Yield: 2 12" pizzas

1 c Butter-margarine; softened
3/4 c Sugar
3/4 c Brown sugar
8 oz Cream cheese; softened
1 ts Vanilla
2 Eggs
2 1/4 c All purpose flour
1 ts Baking soda
1/4 ts Salt
12 oz Semisweet chocolate chips
1 c Chopped walnuts (Optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease two 12 inch
pizza
pans. Cream butter, sugars, cream cheese and
vanilla
in large bowl. Add
eggs, beat until light.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
Add to creamed mixture; blend well. Stir in
chocolate chips and walnuts (if
used)

Divide dough in half, spread each half evenly into
prepared pans.

IMPORTANT - DO NOT SPREAD ALL THE
WAY TO EDGES, THIS DOUGH DOES
SPREAD
Leave about a half inch space between edge of
dough
and rim of pizza pan.

Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool
completely in pans on
wire racks.

To serve: cut into slim wedges.

_______________________________

CANDY SHOP PIZZA

Yield: 12 servings

1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
1/2 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Salt
10 tb Butter, softened
1/2 c Granulated sugar
1/2 c Firmly packed brown sugar
1 Egg
1/2 ts Vanilla extract
1 pk NESTLE Toll House semi-sweet
-chocolate morsels, divided
1/2 c Peanut butter
1 c Cut-up fruit, such as -bananas and strawberries
-(opt)
1 c Chopped candy bars, such as
-NESTLE CRUNCH bars,
-BUTTERFINGER bars, ALPINE
-WHITE bars, GOOBERS and
-RAISINETS

Preheat oven to 375'F. In small bowl, combine
flour,
baking soda and salt; set aside.

In large mixer bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar
and
brown sugar until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla
extract. Gradually
beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup Nestle Toll House
semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Spread batter in
lightly greased 12" to 14"
pizza pan or 15 1/2x10 1/2" jelly-roll pan. Bake
20-24 minutes or
until lightly browned.

Immediately sprinkle remaining 1 cup semi-sweet
chocolate morsels over crust; drop peanut butter by
spoonfuls onto morsels.
Let stand 5 minutes or until soft and shiny. Gently
spread
chocolate and peanut butter over crust. Top with
fruit
and candy. Cut into
wedges. Serve warm.

Makes about 12 servings.
___________________________________________________

BROWNIE PIZZA

Yield: 12 servings

Brownie layer
3/4 c Butter, (1 1/2 sticks)
4 Eggs
1 c Flour, all purpose
1 pk Cream cheese, (8 oz)
1 Egg
Assorted sliced fruit
4 Unsweetened chocolate, squar
2 c Sugar
1 ts Vanilla
Topping
1/4 c Sugar
1/2 ts Vanilla
2 Squares semi-sweet chocolate

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 by 1/2 inch
pizza
pan with foil (to lift brownie from pan after baking);
grease foil.
Microwave unsweetened chocolate and margarine
in
large microwaveable bowl on high for 2 minutes or
until
margarine is melted. Stir until chocolate is
completely
melted.
Stir 2 cups sugar into melted chocolate mixture. Mix
in 4 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla until well blended. Stir in
flour.
Spread in prepared pizza pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

Topping: Mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg
and
1/2 tsp vanilla in same bowl until well blended. Pour
over hot,
baked brownie crust.
Bake 10 minutes longer or until toothpick inserted
into
center comes out with fudgy crumbs. Do NOT
overbake.
Cool in pan. Lift brownie pizza out of pan; peel off
foil. Place brownie
pizza on serving plate. Arrange fruit slices over
cream
cheese
layer. Drizzle with melted semi-sweet chocolate.
____________________________________________________________

GIANT M&M CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE
PIZZA

2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 c (2 sticks) butter or margarine
1/2 c firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c caramel ice cream topping
1 c M&Ms(r) semi-sweet or milk chocolate baking
bits
3/4 c shredded coconut
1/2 c dry roasted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350 deg F.

In a bowl, combine flour and baking soda; set aside.
Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla and
fluffy; add flour mixture just until blended. Dough
will
be crumbly. Pat dough evenly into
greased 12" round pizza pan (a 13 X 9" pan can be
substituted). Prick crust with a fork.
Bake 15-16 min or until firm.

Spread warm crust evenly with caramel topping.
Combine M&Ms(r) Chocolate Baking
Bits, coconut, and nuts.
Sprinkle mixture evenly over caramel topping; pat
down lightly. Continue to bake an
additional 5 min or just until coconut begins to turn
golden.

Cool completely before cutting into wedges. Store
in
tightly covered container. Makes 16
wedges.

___________________________________________________Blueberry Dessert Pizza

Yield: 12 servings

1 pk White Cake Mix
1/2 c Chopped nuts
1 1/4 c Quick cooking rolled oats
1/4 c Firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c Margarine or butter softened
1/2 ts Cinnamon
1 Egg
21 oz Blueberry Fruit Filling

Heat oven to 350~. Grease 12" pizza pan or 13x9"
pan. In large bowl, combine cake mix, 1 cup oats
and 6 tablespoons
margarine at low speed until crumbly. Reserve 1
cup
crumbs for topping. To
remaining crumbs blend in egg. Press in prepared
pan. Bake at 350~ for 12
minutes. In same large bowl, add remaining 1/4 cup
oats, 2 tablespoons
margarine, nuts, sugar and cinnamon, to reserve
crumbs; mix well. Remove base
from oven and spread pie filling evenly over top.
Sprinkle with reserved crumb
mixture. Return to oven and bake 15-20 minutes or
until crumbs are light
golden brown. Cool completely. Cut in wedges or
squares. Makes 12 servings.
RASPBERRY ALMOND KISS DESSERT PIZZA

Yield: 2 12" pizzas

2 12" Dessert Pizza Shells;-unbaked
3 Egg whites
4 oz Almond paste
8 oz Raspberry preserves

TOPPING-
3/4 lb Raspberries; whole
1 1/2 c Almonds; blanched, slivered, and toasted
8 oz Chocolate chips

TO SERVE
Confectioners' sugar
Whipped cream; OR vanilla ice cream

Beat egg whites in mixer with paddle until foamy;
add almond paste and cream until smooth. Add
raspberry preserves and mix until fully incorporated.
Reserve raspberry mixture.

Top each unbaked pizza shell with 1/2 cup of the
raspberry/egg white mixture, leaving 1/2-inch
border. Bake in 400 degree oven for 7 minutes.

Remove from oven, and top each pizza with 6 oz.
whole raspberries, 3/4 cup toasted almonds and 4
oz. chocolate chips.

Return to oven and bake for an additional 7
minutes.

Remove and let cool for fifteen minutes. Serve
warm, dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped
with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.APPLE PIZZA DESSERT

Yield: 12 servings

8 oz Frozen bread dough; thawed one-half frozen
loaf
8 oz Cream cheese; softened
1/4 c Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
4 c Apples; peel & thinly sliced
2/3 c Sugar
1/4 c Flour
1 tsp Cinnamon

TOPPING

1/3 c Flour
1/3 c Brown sugar
2 tbsp Margarine; softened
1/2 c Slivered almonds

Place bread dough on greased 12 inch deep dish
pizza pan. When thawed
completely, pat dough on bottom and 1/2 inch up
sides of pan. Let rest 15
minutes.

Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, egg and
vanilla until smooth. Spread
over bottom of crust. Combine apples, 2/3 cup
sugar, 1/4 cup flour and
cinnamon. Arrange evenly over cream cheese
mixture.

In a small mixing bowl, combine 1/3 cup flour and
brown sugar. Cut in
margarine until mixture is crumbly. Add almonds.
Sprinkle evenly over
apples.

Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes, or until golden
brown.

Serve warm or cold, with whipping cream, whipped
topping or ice cream.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------CHOCOLATE CHIP PIZZA

Yield: 6 servings

1/2 c Granulated sugar
1/2 c Brown sugar
1/2 c Margarine
1/2 c Peanut butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 Egg
1 1/2 c Flour
Miniature marshmallows
Chocolate chips

Stir sugars together. Blend in margarine, peanut
butter, vanilla and
egg. Stir in flour to make a soft dough. Press into
pizza pan and bake for 10
minutes at 375 degrees F. Sprinkle with
marshmallows and chocolate chips and bake for
an additional 5 to 8 minutes or until nicely browned.
Makes 6 servings...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------TAFFY APPLE PIZZA

Yield: 12 servings

1 pkg 20 oz refrigerated sugar Cookie dough
3 tbsp Flour
1 pkg 8oz cream cheese softened
1/4 c Creamy peanut butter
1/2 c Brown sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
2 medium Granny smith apples
1 c Lemon lime soda
Cinnamon
1/4 c Caramel ice cream topping
1/2 c Chopped peanuts

preheat oven to 375 degrees. remove 1/2 cup of
cookie dough and reserve for
another use. add flour to remaining dough and
knead with hands to combine.
press dough into 14 inch circle on 15 inch baking
stone. bake for 15-20
min. or until cookie is lightly browned. let cool for
10 min. then loosen
from stone. cool completely. blend cream cheese,
peanut butter, brown
sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. spread on
cooled cookie. peel,
core and slice apples. dip apple slices in lemon-lime
soda to prevent
browning. arrange apple slices on cream cheese
mixture. sprinkle lightly
with cinnamon. heat caramel topping slightly and
drizzle over apples.
sprinkle chopped nuts over pizza. cut and serve.
Recipe from Pampered Chef
personal note: Excellent! just like taffy apples.
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CREAM CHEESE PIZZA

8 oz. softened cream cheese
8 oz. chili sauce
6 scallions, finely chopped
3/4 c. black olives, finely chopped
1 sm. can shrimp, drained
1 med. green pepper, finely chopped
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Spread cream cheese on a large plate. Layer as
follows chili sauce,
scallions, olives, shrimp, peppers, mozzarella cheese
and Cheddar cheese.
Refrigerate overnight. Serve at room temperature
with nacho chips, Dorito
chips or crackers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHOCOLATE PIZZA

1 lb. chocolate-flavored candy coating
1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 c. mini marshmallows
1 c. Rice Krispies or Cocoa Puffs
1 c. peanuts
1/3 c. red M&M's
1/3 c. green M&M's
1/3 c. flaked coconut (optional)
1 (2 oz.) sq. vanilla flavored candy coating
1 tsp. vegetable oil

Melt chocolate candy coating and chocolate
morsels in a heavy saucepan (I do
it in microwave) over low heat, stirring often.
Remove from heat. Add
marshmallows, cereal and peanuts. Stir until coated.
Pour mixture into well
greased 12 inch pizza pan; sprinkle with candies and
coconut if desired.
Melt vanilla candy coating with oil in heavy
saucepan, stirring often on low
heat (I do it in microwave on low). Drizzle over
pizza. Let cool at room
temperature. Cut into squares or wedges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Thin mint Pizza

1pkg. (18oz) refrig. chocolate chunk cookie dough
1/2 pkg. girlscout thinmint cookies
1/2 c white chocolate mosels
vanilla ice cream, opt.

Press cookie dough evenly in the bottom of an
ungreased 12 inch pizza pan.
Break thinmints into halves or thirds; press cookie
pieces into dough,
covering evenly. Bake at 350 for 12-18 min place
white chocolet morsels into
a small selfclosing bag. Microwave the bag on Med
hi for 40-50sec. or until
melted . snip one corner of bag. hold bag tightly at
top and drizzle . cool