July 14 is National Mac & Cheese Day! I've been meaning to make these kid-friendly Tuna Mac & Cheese Bites, and National Mac & Cheese Day seems like the perfect excuse! They look like a fun way to add a little extra protein to a family favorite. Would your kiddo eat these?

Heading out for more than five minutes? Go ahead and pack a snack. Even if they just ate, they’re going to be hungry again the second you get in the car.

Hoppy Easter! This Bunny Butt Cake is so much fun! I had to share!

I got permission from Culinary.net to pass along the recipe and the video below, and I really think this is one of those sweet little traditions your family will love making together. It looks impressive, but it actually comes together pretty easily.

In Episode 5 of Mom Life in The Woods, I mentioned the focaccia bread I make on repeat, and I promised I’d share the recipe here. So here it is. (By the way, here’s a link to listen to the episode. It’s called “Grow Something Anyway.”)

Ever made monkey bread? It's delicious! This fun recipe is something the kids will enjoy making alongside you, and you can add an extra couple steps to turn it into a "King Cake" for Mardi Gras or any other time of year. We adapted this recipe from the Abu's Monkey Bread recipe in the Disney Princess Cookbook [ad]. (All the recipes in the book are really delicious and easy to pull off.) 

This was my first year ever making cinnamon star bread, and I learned that it’s much easier than it looks. The end result is beautiful (not perfect, but perfectly charming), festive, and absolutely worth the effort.

I found the recipe online, here. If I’m being completely honest, I chose the first recipe that popped up in my Google search, and I struck gold. Not only was it straightforward, but it also included a step-by-step video, which made all the difference when it came time to twist the dough into that star shape. If you’re trying this for the first time, I highly recommend choosing a recipe with a video tutorial.

If you’re a novice in the kitchen or don’t bake bread often, here are a few tips I’d share before you begin:

Make It a Kid-Friendly Project (with a little planning)

This is a fun recipe to do with kids, but timing is everything. The dough needs about an hour to rise, so I recommend making the dough yourself first. Once it’s ready to roll out, then call your child into the kitchen to help with the assembly. That’s when it gets fun - spreading the filling, stacking the layers, and twisting the dough into its star shape.

No Stand Mixer Needed

You don’t need a stand mixer for this recipe. I don’t own one, and I get through bread recipes just fine. Use a regular electric handheld mixer to get things started, and once the dough becomes too bulky, switch to using your hands. Easy and very manageable.

Add Flour as Needed

Flour is your friend here. You want the dough to feel tacky, but it shouldn’t stick to your fingers. Add flour a little at a time until it reaches that sweet spot.

When it’s time to roll out the dough, don’t be shy with the flour on your work surface. My dough was sticking to the counters at first, but adding more flour than I thought I’d need made a big difference and saved my sanity.

Imperfect Circles Are Totally Fine

Don’t fret if your circles aren’t perfect. Mine were all slightly different sizes and not even true circles, and it still came together beautifully in the end. Once all the layers were stacked, I was able to gently pull and stretch the dough to make it work. No one will ever know.

Use the Video

When it’s time to cut and twist the dough, watch the video before you start, and again while you’re doing it. This step looks intimidating, but once you see it in motion, it clicks right away.

A True “Wow” Bread

Cinnamon star bread looks like something you spent all day making, even though you didn’t. It’s perfect for Christmas morning, a holiday brunch, or a cozy winter baking day at home.

If you’ve been eyeing this recipe for years and feeling intimidated, let this be your sign: you can absolutely do this. Even your first one will be beautiful.

Enjoy!