The Best Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

An after school snack is a daily ritual in our home. It provides me with a wonderful opportunity to sit down with my boys and find out about their day. We often have sandwiches and fruit, but sometimes I bake a special treat as a surprise for them. In both cases, they always enjoy a glass of milk with their snack. It's part of our every day.  Today I am sharing the recipe for our most recent treat -- my mom's Sour Cream Coffee Cake (with chocolate chips).

This post was inspired by Farmers' "Part of Your Every Day" campaign, so you will notice I used Farmers milk, sour cream, and butter in this delicious recipe.  This decadent cake is sure to please everyone in your family.  

Recipe for Sour Cream Coffee Cake (with chocolate chips)

For the batter, you'll need:
1/2 cup softened Farmers* butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
250mL Farmers* sour cream
2 tbsp Farmers* milk
1 cup chocolate chips

For the topping, you'll need:
6 tbsp butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecan slices (optional)
2 tsp cinnamon

Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla.  Then, add the eggs (beating after each one is added).

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, soda, and baking powder.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture (alternating with the sour cream).  Add the milk, and then fold in the chocolate chips. The batter will be very thick, and not overly easy to work with, but don't worry because it will spread out beautifully as it cooks.

Grease a tube pan, and half fill with batter.  Cover with 1/2 of topping.  Add the rest of the batter, and then add the rest of the topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.  Keep an eye on it... as over cooking will cause it to dry out.

This is a great coffee cake to serve to guests, but it also makes a special after school treat.  Trust me... homework is much more enjoyable alongside this yummy cake.

Give this sour cream coffee cake recipe a try, and let me know what you think.  It is guaranteed to make the ritual of an after school snack a little sweeter.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I was compensated by Farmers for my participation in their #PartOfYourEveryDay campaign, but (as always) the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.

Class Treats {Have a Cool Summer!}... with free printable tags

Sometimes simple ideas are the best, and I think this is a delightful end of year class treat.  Two of my boys have decided that this is the treat they want to share with their classmates on the last day of school.  Today, I am sharing the adorable tags for these Freezies... for FREE.

To download a copy of these tags: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.  (There are three tags on every photo, so they are very cheap to print!)

I purchased a box of giant Freezies at Walmart for $4.97, so it really is an inexpensive way to share a fun treat with an entire class.

Do your little ones enjoy bringing class treats on the last day of school?  I think this is a simple and inexpensive option that the kids will love!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Fall Programs {2015}

I love the idea of kids being creative, and I believe that learning should be fun. With that in mind... I will be offering some fantastic classes (in my home in Antigonish, NS) in September.  I have three classes available, and the details are included below.

Tuesdays - 1, 2, 3 Learn with me
This is a class that I offered in the Spring of 2015, and the kids had a lot of fun with it.  Each week focusses on a different number. You can read about the types of activities we do here.  This class is best suited for 4 and 5 year olds.  This is a drop off program.  (Note: Children must be able to go to the bathroom unassisted.)

Wednesdays - Alphabet Adventures
This is a class that I initially offered in the Fall of 2015, and it is a fantastic program.  Each week focusses on a different letter. You can read about the types of activities we do here.  This class is best suited for 4 and 5 year olds. This is a drop off program. (Note: Children must be able to go to the bathroom unassisted.)

Mondays - 1, 2, 3 Read and Craft with Me - FULL (email EastCoastMommy@gmail.com to put your name on a waiting list)
This is a NEW class that I am offering in response to several requests for a class for younger children.  This class is best suited for 3 and 4 year olds.  We'll be doing some free play, a story time, and some simple crafts.  Parents are welcome to stay for the class or drop the child off.  (Note: Children must be able to go to the bathroom unassisted if the parents are not able to stay.)

Pre-registration is required for all programs (and space is limited), so please complete and return the registration form(s) below ASAP.

123 Learn with Me registration form. (for 4/5 year olds)

Alphabet Adventures registration form. (for 4/5 year olds)
123 Read and Craft with Me registration form. (for 3/4 year olds) (This class is currently FULL, but you can email me to have your child's name put on a waiting list.)

If you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at EastCoastMommy@gmail.com.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Number Crafts {Number TEN}... "Whoooo" wants to learn about the number 10?

I teach a weekly class for preschoolers called "123 Learn with Me".  Each week, we learn about numbers through a variety of activities and crafts.  This week, we finished our 10 week session by having some fun with the number 10.

During our class, we did a number ten search, practiced printing the number ten, decorated a number ten, made a handprint owl with ten "feathers" and crafted a cloud with ten raindrops.

To make the cloud:

1) Draw a cloud with 10 raindrops (or download the template which is included in the workbook I designed here).

2) Color the ten raindrops.

3) Glue cotton balls onto the cloud.

To make the owl with ten feathers:

1) Draw an owl (or download the template which is included in the workbook I designed here) and tape half a sheet of paper onto each end.

2) Trace the child's hands to make owl wings.

3) Color the owl, and add googly eyes and an orange beak.

"Whoooo" doesn't love a handprint craft?  This owl is simple to make, and it makes an adorable keepsake.

Isn't this lesson plan a cute (and fun) way to learn about the number ten?  I hope you enjoyed all the "123 Learn with Me" crafts and activities. I know the preschoolers and I had a lot of fun!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can grab a copy of my 40+ page "Numbers" WORKBOOK here.

5 DIY Gift Basket Ideas {for kids}

My boys are still at an age where they get invited to a lot of birthday parties... for both boys and girls.  I hate scrambling for a last minute gift, or buying a useless toy that the child might already have, so I am a big fan of gift cards and gift baskets.  Today I am sharing 5 DIY gift baskets that kids will love.

Most of these gifts can be assembled for around $15, but you can make them more or less expensive by adjusting the contents or adding gift cards.  These DIY gift baskets are fantastic because they really can fit any budget!

1)  Artist Bucket -- The dollar store is full of fantastic and inexpensive art supplies. For this basket, I bought a brightly colored bucket to hold all the supplies, brushes, paints, paint tray, and canvases.

2)  Bubble Kit -- I have been making homemade bubbles with my boys for years, and this basket contains everything a child needs to spend the summer making and chasing bubbles.  This basket includes corn syrup, dishwashing liquid, a recipe (which you can find here), bubble wands, and a juice container (aka refill station) that is perfect for dispensing bubbles.

3) Movie Night Basket - Movie nights are always a lot of fun, and this basket contains everything a child needs for a cozy night cuddled up watching a fantastic movie.  An inexpensive popcorn bucket holds a movie (or two), some movie candy, and popcorn. My boys always have fun choosing a movie and goodies for their friends.

4) Spy Kit - Using supplies from the dollar store, it is easy to put together a darling little spy kit that is sure to delight.  What could be better than a gift of "imaginative play"?  You can find all the details (and a free download) for this spy kit here. 

5) Cupcake Kit - If you know a little one that enjoys helping out in the kitchen, this cupcake kit is sure to please.  This kit includes a muffin tin, cake mixes, icing, cupcake liners, and sprinkles.  You could also add a grocery store gift card for additional supplies.  You could even include a homemade chef hat for an added touch of fun.  You can find the tutorial for the chef hat here. 

I think all of these DIY gift baskets for kids are adorable, don't you?  Do you have other ideas for birthday gifts for kids?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below.  I'd love to hear them!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Number Crafts {Number NINE}... Monster and Caterpillar crafts

I teach a weekly class for preschoolers called "123 Learn with Me".  Each week, we learn about numbers through a variety of activities and crafts.  This week, we had some fun learning about the number nine.

Check out these fun ways to learn about the number nine: do a number nine search, practice printing the number nine, decorate a number nine with crayons and stickers, made a monster with nine eyes, make a cookie jar with nine cookies and craft a "count to nine" caterpillar.  

To make a monster craft:

1) Color a paper plate.  Then, add nine googly eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
2) Color strips of paper, fold them accordion-style, and glue them onto the paper plate.

To make a "counting cookies" craft:

1) Draw a cookie jar, and fill it with circles containing numbers (from 1-9).
2) Cut 9 matching circles, and draw chocolate chips on each cookie (one with 1 chocolate chip, one with 2 chocolate chips, etc...)
3) Have the child colour the cookies and match them to the correct circles. Glue in place.

To make a "count to nine" caterpillar:

1) Draw a caterpillar like the one below (or you can find the template included in the workbook I designed here)

2) Color the caterpillar.
2) Glue on googly eyes and a button nose.

I love how colorful and fun these crafts are, don't you?

Isn't this a cute way to learn about the number nine? I'll be sharing our crafts and activities for the number ten soon, so don't forget to come back and check them out.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can grab a copy of my 40+ page "Numbers" WORKBOOK here.

The Ultimate DIY Spy Party

When my middle son turned 7, he requested a "Spy Party", and I knew right away that it was going to be a fun party theme... and I was right.  Today I am sharing all the awesome easy and inexpensive details of our DIY Spy Party.

To set the mood, I designed a "Top Secret" invite using a photo of my son and photo-editing software (Picmonkey.com).

I also made some fun, personalized spy shirts for my boys to wear to the party.  You can check out the full tutorial for the t-shirts here.

As the guests arrived, I had the "Mission Impossible" theme playing, and the guests had to scan their hands in order to enter.

Once inside, the kids were given their spy folders.  They made their own spy IDs, filled out some identity information and a surveillance worksheet, and read through their mission.

The party mission was:

1) Learn to Handle Dynamite (aka play hot potato with dynamite)
2) Target Practice (aka practice hitting a target using pom pom shooters)
3) Mind Training (aka sharpen recollection skills by identifying missing pieces of spy equipment)
4) Speed Training (aka increase speed by taking part in a spy relay race)
5) Sensory Training (aka sharpen senses when one is taken away... play pin the disguise on the spy while blindfolded)

You can find all the tutorials and details for the spy party games here.

Of course, we also had a super-fun (and easy to make) spy cake, and you can find the full tutorial for our spy cake here.

Finally, at the end of the party, all the guests received their spy kit loot bags.  You can read all about the contents of the loot bags and download the free printable tags here.

It was a fantastic party, and all the DIY elements made it very special for our little "spy" party guests.  Have you ever hosted a DIY Spy Party?  I'd love to hear about it!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)