THE ELECTRIC KITCHEN
COURTESY HECO
Shredded-wheat birds' nests make a good project for kids as Easter approaches.
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Chocolate cereal nests make easy, clean and tasty treats for Easter
Here's a fun and easy food project you can do with the kids. These Easter nests have only two ingredients (chocolate and cereal) and require no baking, and there's no sticky mess to clean up.
We persuaded one of the busy moms in our office to try it with her kids and she said, "They had so much fun making the treats and are enjoying eating them. I enjoyed it because it was so easy and not messy! This is even better than dying Easter eggs -- at least for me! I think I gained a 'good mother' point!"
The shredded wheat cereal produces nests that look very realistic, but those made with rice cereal got higher votes from the kids for taste appeal. Whichever one you decide to make, you (and the kids) are sure to have fun!
Shredded Wheat Birds' Nests
6 ounces milk chocolate
6 cups crumpled shredded wheat cereal
Mini chocolate eggs, jelly beans or other candy to decorate
Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes to melt chocolate; stir well.
Add cereal and mix to coat well, being careful not to stir too much or cereal will break down.
Line muffin pan with muffin cups. Place generous spoonful of cereal into each cup and use spoon to roughly shape it into a nest. Refrigerate to set chocolate, about 1 hour.
Remove muffin cups and fill nests with candy. Makes about 18 nests.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (nests only): 100 calories, 3 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 2 g protein.
Crispy Rice Birds' Nests
1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate
4 ounces sweet or semisweet baking chocolate (such as Bakers brand)
6 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
Mini chocolate eggs, jelly beans, or other candy to decorate
Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl and microwave 2 minutes to melt chocolate; stir well. Add cereal and mix to coat.
Line small bowls (such as custard cups) with plastic wrap. Place about 1/2 cup cereal into each bowl and use spoon to roughly shape into a nest. Refrigerate to set chocolate, about 1 hour.
Remove plastic wrap and fill nests with candy. Makes about 12 nests.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (nests only): 120 calories, 3.5 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 10 g sugar, 2 g protein.
Hawaiian Electric Co. presents this weekly collection of recipes as a public service. Many are drawn from HECO's database of recipes, accessible online at
www.heco.com.