Looks like a pretty ordinary item, don’t it? Well, it can transform the pre-Purim ribbon curling, glue-gunning chaos to something far more manageable. Read on and discover some of the wonderful things you can do this Purim with a plastic cube that is anything but ordinary!
Yogurt Bar
Try this heavenly recipe for a beautiful yogurt Mishloach Manos. Quite the refreshing surprise amid heaps of chocolate and candy.
You will need:
• 5 cups vanilla yogurt
• 1 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• Granola:
-1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
-1 3/4 cups crispy rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
-1 cup shredded coconut
-1 cup walnut nibs
-3 tbsp honey
-1/4 cup dark brown sugar
-1/4 cup olive oil
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F and Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients. Spread mixture on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring every 7 to 8 minutes. Let the granola cool completely (10-15 minutes).
Spoon 1/2 cup of yogurt in each 3” cube. Sprinkle with one tablespoon pomegranite seeds. Fill each 2″ cube with granola. Stack the 2 boxes and fasten together with a pre tied stretch loop. Slide a mini spoon through the top of the stretch loop (beneath the bow) and you’ve got something delicious, ready to eat and beautiful!
Yields: 20 yogurt bars
*HELPFUL TIPS
– If you are preparing the granola in advance, store in slider bags to preserve freshness.
– For quick and easy cleanup, use disposable measuring cups.
– You may want to secure the lids to the box with invisible tape to prevent spills.
Salad Stack
Ready for more? Try this quinoa salad for a healthy and tasty treat. Another welcome deviation from chocolate mints 🙂
You will need:
• Quinoa Salad:
– 6 cups cooked, cooled quinoa
– 4 stalks celery, diced
– 1 cup dried cranberries
– 2 red peppers, diced
• 5 Cups Chopped Nuts
Dressing:
3 tbsp dijon mustard
4 tbsp honey
4 tbsp vinegar
6 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions:
Combine salad ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine dressing ingredients. Mix well. Pour over salad and mix.
Spoon salad into 3” cubes. Fill 2″ cubes with 1/4 cup chopped nuts. Using glue dots (one in each corner) stack the 2 boxes, and you’ve got a lovely salad (with nuts that won’t sog ;))!
Yields: 20 salad stacks
*HELPFUL TIPS
– For quick and easy cleanup, use disposable measuring cups.
– You may want to secure the lids to the box with invisible tape to prevent spills.
Muffin Tower
How about a delicious, wholesome muffin??
You will need:
• Apple Muffins:
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 tbsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 apples, peeled and diced
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup oil
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F and Line 3 muffin tins with baking cups. Combine all muffin ingredients aside from the apple. Gently stir in the apple. In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients. Fill baking cups 3/4 of the way. Sprinkle each muffin top generously with topping. Bake for 20-24 minutes. Let the muffins cool completely.
• Cappuccino Muffins:
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup soy milk
2 tbsp instant coffee diluted in 4 tbsp hot water
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg
1 tbsp vanilla extract
21/2 cups all-purpose flour
21/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375F and line 3 muffin tins with baking cups. Combine ingredients. Fill baking cups 3/4 of the way bake for 18 minutes. Let the muffins cool completely.
Place muffins in cubes. Create stacks, each containing one of each muffin type. Attach with glue dots. For a fresh bakery feel, you can fasten the boxes together using paper twine.
*HELPFUL TIPS
– If you plan to keep the muffins in their wrappers for packaging, keep that in mind when choosing the baking cups.
– For quick and easy cleanup, use disposable measuring cups.
– You may want to secure the lids to the box with invisible tape to prevent spills.
Yields: 18 muffin towers
And there you have it! 3 lovely ideas for easy and beautiful Mishloach Manos. Happy Purim!
