Kids love jokes and just because the younger crowd is still working on syllables doesn’t mean they won’t get some good old-fashioned corny jokes for kids. The following jokes for toddlers are officially approved by our kids, so we know you’ll get some guffaws. Read on for some hilarious toddler jokes that’ll have everyone giggling.
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1. What do you say to a bunny on its birthday?
Hoppy Birthday!
2. What is hairy and sneezy?
A coconut with a cold.
3. Why are fish so smart?
They live in schools.
4. What else is hairy and sneezy?
A dog with a cold.
5. What do you call a fly with no wings?
A crawl.
6. What did the paper say to the pencil?
Write on!
7. Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7, 8, 9
8. What do you call a dinosaur that is sleeping?
A dino-snore!
9. Why did the cookie go to the hospital?
Because he felt crummy.
10. What did the little corn say to the mama corn?
Where is pop corn?
11. What is fast, loud and crunchy?
A rocket chip!
12. Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because she was stuffed.
13. How do you talk to a giant? Use big words!
14. What animal is always at a baseball game? A bat.
15. What did one volcano say to the other?
I lava you!
16. How do we know that the ocean is friendly? It waves!
This Advent calendar is a top seller at Trader Joe’s for the holiday season
Run, don’t walk to your closest Trader Joe’s. The grocer’s annual 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar is back for 2023!
Our editors spied the famed Trader Joe’s 12 Days of Beauty on Nov. 8, and it’s packed with plenty of must-have products. This coveted calendar tends to sell out before Thanksgiving, so if you’re in the market for one, act fast.
As soon as you bring this cutie into your car, the dreamy aroma of citrus will take over and you’ll be glad you nabbed it.
What will you find inside Trader Joe’s 12 Days of Beauty Advent calendar?
Lavender bath salts
Brazil nut hair mask
Gingerbread cookie moisturizing lip balm
Brown sugar carob lip scrub
Sweet nectarine scented ultra moisturizing hand cream
You can find the calendar in the beauty aisle of your local Trader Joe’s for $19.99—but not for long. This one is very popular!
While we were there, we also spied this year’s 12 Days of Scented Candles Advent Calendar for $29.99. We love this option along with the chocolate Advent calendars priced at just $1.99 and the Advent calendars for pets.
Keep an eye out for other holiday favorites that have been trickling in. All the elves on your list will want a bottle of Peppermint, Gingerbread, or Egg Nog Liqueur—perfect for all those holiday cocktails you’ll be mixing up. Felted wool trivets have been hitting the shelves, along with dog toys, holiday snacks, and the scented candle trio.
This hearty pumpkin soup recipe takes advantage of a key fresh ingredient this time of year: pumpkin!
Nothing goes with all those cozy sweaters and falling leaves like a hearty pumpkin soup recipe. This is the best time of year to make a batch from scratch since you can use the abundance of fresh pumpkins in the supermarket or use up your Halloween decorations to create it. Add a nice hunk of bread and a salad on the side, or top with fresh asparagus and potatoes, and you have a warm and balanced meal to usher in the season.
Pumpkin Soup Recipe Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pound pumpkin, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Optional: asparagus (lightly steamed) and/or diced potatoes (steamed or roasted)
Method:
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring.
2. Add pumpkin and cook 3 minutes, until lightly softened.
3. Add stock and paste and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower to a simmer, and cover. Cook 20 minutes, until the pumpkin is very tender.
4. Transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Add cheese, salt, and pepper; mix and serve warm.
5. If serving with asparagus, lightly steam and add two or three spears diced to add a punch of color.
This easy blueberry muffin recipe is a favorite with our kids
For breakfast fare that never goes out of style look no further than this easy blueberry muffin recipe. Any home cook can whip up a batch of these classic blueberry muffins in about 10 minutes without any unusual ingredients or pro kitchen tools. The secret twist to this delectable eat? The streusel topping that adds a layer of cinnamon sugar goodness to this irresistible grab-and-go muffin.
Makes about 14 muffins
Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups wild blueberries (Frozen are ok)
1/2 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
For the streusel top:
2 Tbs Flour
2 Tbs Sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbs butter chilled
Method:
1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl beat butter and sugar until light. Beat in eggs and vanilla. You can either use an electric mixer or mix by hand with a wooden spoon.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternating with milk until combined.
4. Coat the blueberries lightly with flour then fold the blueberries into the mixture.
5. Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins.
6. To make the streusel topping, combine the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until crumbly by using your fingers or a knife and fork. Sprinkle over muffins.
Give the pre-made pancake mix a break with this fast and made-from-scratch buttermilk pancake recipe that even the most pancake-challenged parents can easily make. Get the little ones in on the fun by letting them help pour the ingredients into the bowl and sprinkle fresh blueberries into the batter. The whole family will be digging into these yummy cakes within 20 minutes. If you want to get fancy, check out our round-up of creative pancakes, and pass the maple syrup!
Buttermilk Pancake Recipe: Ingredients
1 ½ cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cup buttermilk
2 eggs
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions:
1. Get ready by taking out all of your ingredients and placing a griddle or large pan over medium-low heat. You’ll need 2 large bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, a whisk, and a large spoon.
2. In bowl number one, pour and mix all your dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt).
3. In bowl number two, pour and mix all your wet ingredients together (buttermilk, eggs, canola oil, vanilla) and whisk.
4. Pour bowl number two (wet ingredients) into bowl number one (dry ingredients) and mix gently with a large spoon.
5. Butter the griddle or pan and spoon pancake batter onto the pan in little circles. You can even experiment with making shapes (mickey mouse is a popular choice).
6. Cook each side until golden (you’ll see bubbles begin to form when it’s time to flip). Top with butter and maple syrup and enjoy.
From squares to cylinders, the traditional grilled cheese sandwich has just been reinvented thanks to My Little Gourmet. And they only take 10 minutes to make! Serve these grilled cheese roll-ups as a snack or accompaniment to some hot tomato soup (we’re sure the roll-up shape makes it more fun for the kids). We’ve got more easy toddler lunch ideas here.
Serving size 2
Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups Ingredients:
4 slices of sandwich bread
4 slices of cheese (recommend gouda)
1 tablespoon butter
Method:
1. Cut the crusts off of the bread.
2. Roll each slice flat with a rolling pin.
3. Place a slice of cheese on each piece of bread and roll up tightly.
4. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
5. Place the rolls, seam-side down, in the pan and press down so that they don’t unravel.
6. Rotate until golden brown on each side and the cheese is melted.
Laura Leer is a mom and writer of My Little Gourmet. She lives in Berlin with her husband and 2-year-old son, Arik, who are the main taste testers of her delicious meals. For more kid-friendly recipes, check out her blog here.
Introduce your kids to fish with this easy recipe that only requires five ingredients
Getting kids interested in eating fish can be tricky, but mild white fish covered in a crunchy parmesan crust is one dish anyone can get excited about. Created by !Hola! Jalapeño, this is a perfect starter recipe if you are just introducing your little ones to fish. With just a few simple ingredients you can serve a healthy, tasty dinner… and watch it disappear. After you’ve tried this one, check out our other easy dinner recipes.
Ingredients for Parmesan-Crusted Fish
4 (6oz) fresh white fish fillets, such as tilapia, halibut, or cod
1 lemon or lime, cut in half
salt
1/2 c whole wheat panko
1/4 c grated Parmesan
2 tbsp butter
Preparation Method
1. Squeeze the lemon or lime over both sides of the fish fillets and season the fish with salt.
2. Combine the panko and Parmesan in a small bowl and sprinkle over both sides of the fish, generously coating the fish all over. Press the Parmesan mixture into the fish so it sticks.
3. Heat butter over medium heat in a non-stick frying pan. Once melted and foaming, add fish in a single layer (you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your pan). Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until the crust is golden brown and the fish is firm to the touch.
Kate from !Hola! Jalapeño is a chef, cookbook editor, and food writer who strives every day to make meals her whole family will eat—with a couple of picky eaters in the house that is no easy feat. You can follow her cooking triumphs at holajalapeno.com.
Plan for sunny days ahead and hit up one of our favorite outdoor dining spots in Los Angeles
With the apocalyptic rain LA has experienced lately, who wants to be cooped up inside on days where you can sit outdoors and enjoy the lovely weather our city is usually famous for. We’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly spots in town for al fresco dining where kids can run around a bit, and you can kick back and relax.
Nothing beats breathtaking views of the ocean, pier, and Catalina Island—that’s why Back on the Beach Café is one of our go-tos when looking for family-friendly, outdoor dining. With tables set right on the beach, littles can wiggle their toes in the sand while enjoying a kids’ menu filled with favorites like burgers, hot dogs, veggie dogs, penne pasta, and chicken tenders. Parents will especially love the fish tacos, chicken apple salad, and chicken salad sandwich, but everything here is delicious.
Reservations are accepted at least one day in advance via telephone or in person and same-day reservations are not allowed. You can request to wait for an outdoor table upon your arrival, but know that a spot in the sand is prime real estate so you should expect a wait on weekends, summer days, and holidays.
Insider Tip: Check the seasonal pool schedule for historic Annenberg Community Beach House before you go. Located just steps away from Back on the Beach, the pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Don’t feel like swimming? The splash pad and beach playground are fun as well and are open to the public year round.
If you have pint-sized plane fanatics at home, The Proud Bird Food Bazaar should be top of your list. Located alongside the airport runway, this space originally opened in 1967 as a salute to aviation but has since become a unique food hall that features six culinary kitchens. Open for lunch and dinner, you can order food at the station of your choice, then grab a seat indoors or head outside to the large patio for some prime plane peeping as they approach LAX for a landing. There’s also a great playground on site as well as a lovely firepit to sit beside in the evenings. Food options include everything from BBQ and burgers to Asian food and chicken and waffles. Littles have plenty of space to run around and work off some energy, while you watch from the patio and take a much-needed break—roger that.
When you fancy a bit fancier meal, but still want something family friendly, The Draycott at Palisades Village is just the ticket. Absolutely stunning in its décor, the covered patio of this California-inspired brasserie with a British twist makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into an enchanted forest with rows of beautiful flowers draped from the ceiling. The restaurant features brunch, lunch, dinner and a fantastic kids’ menu. And the bonus is that the patio practically sits on top of the park so antsy kids can run around and play while you wait for your meal to arrive. Reservations are highly recommended.
15255 Palisades Village Ln. Pacific Palisades Online:thedraycott.com
WeHo really knows how to revive classic dining spots that are beloved by the LA community—one of which is Tail O’ The Pup. This historic hot dog stand (originally founded in 1946) features the iconic hot dog shaped stand in front with two brightly colored patios behind it. But the real star of the show is the delicious dog itself—whether you’re craving a Chili Pup, Chicago Pup, Baseball Pup or Cheezie Pup, there’s no wrong decision. The stand also features fantastic corn dogs, veggie dogs, hamburgers, fries, and shakes.
8512 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood Online:tailothepup.com
We told you WeHo is a pro at retro restaurant revivals. Irv’s Burgers is case and point. The iconic burger joint originally opened 76 years ago and has endured many openings and closings over the years, but it was recently brought back to life in WeHo. Much to the delight of Angelenos, Irv’s is still serving up incredible burgers and amazing service from co-owner Sonia Hong who is known for her friendly smile and her doodles on customer’s plates and takeout bags. The Weho location features a small space for indoor seating and lots of sidewalk tables outside—perfect for people watching. Also, Irv’s just opened a second location in Miracle Mile at the beginning of March and is set to open a third outpost in Malibu this summer.
With a prime location (and free parking) at Malibu Country Mart, John’s Garden is the lovely spot to bring kiddos for lunch. It’s steps away from the shopping area’s amazing playground and features outdoor seating at picnic tables. But you really wanna know about the food, right? It’s both delicious and healthy with a fantastic variety of salads, sandwiches, veggie burgers, bowls, juices, smoothies and freshly made ice cream shakes. Afterwards, you can do a little shopping or hit up the nearby beach for a day of sun and fun.
Located just behind the Urban Light installation on Wilshire, Ray’s & Stark Bar features a giant outdoor patio with ample seating and serves delectable seasonal fare, including homemade pastas, salads, small shareable plates and a great kids’ menu. While the proximity to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the La Brea Tarpits, and LACMA are a huge benefit, it’s actually the gigantic lawn on the museum grounds that may be the real draw for parents. Kids with energy to burn will love the open space to run and play.
Spoke Bicycle Café is the first business of its kind to set up a permanent location along the LA River Bike Path in Frogtown. This mostly outdoor spot is perfect for large groups and families who’d like to take advantage of some swell biking before or after their meal. The café features a variety of toasts, breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, bowls, coffee drinks and a kids’ menu. There is also a full-service bike shop on site so if your bicycle needs a little tune-up while you eat, you’ve come to the right place. Bicycle rentals are also available on a walk-in basis.
Home to LA’s largest brewery, Golden Road Brewing Company’s Atwater Village Brewpub is a festive place to spend an afternoon. With a family-friendly environment and a large patio in front filled with yard games and occasional live music, it’s a great way to unwind with kids in tow. In addition to some of the tastiest brews in town, the food menu can also hold its own. With a focus on fresh ingredients sourced from local LA farmers, guests can enjoy shareable appetizers like Sunday Sauce Meatballs and Birria Fries, as well as a wonderful slate of salads, sandwiches, and sweets.
5410 San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles Online:goldenroad.la
Okay, so it's not exactly in the "heart of LA,” but if you happen to be in Topanga Canyon, this spot is a definite must with the kiddos for lunch. Café on 27 makes you feel as though you’re dining in the dreamiest treehouse ever perched above the hills. With a multi-level patio built into the hillside and fab food to boot, this is an experience to remember. From breakfast dishes and salads to burgers and a kids’ menu, there’s something to make everyone in your fam bam happy. Reservations are recommended.
1861 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga Canyon Online:cafe-27.com
Did you run out of food coloring? Are you unhappy with your crust? Do you not have the right tools? It’s no problem with these great baking hacks
It’s that most wonderful time of the year: holiday cookie time! This year, don’t dread it, own it with these Christmas baking hacks to salvage any quandary. From a baking powder substitution and what to do if you don’t have a rolling pin to what to use in place of eggs or butter, we’ve got the goods on making goodies.
1. Holiday baking often calls for some pepperminty goodness, but who keeps peppermint syrup on hand for once-a-year baking? (No, Schnapps doesn’t count). Use an abundant ingredient: peppermint candies. Just put them in a Ziploc bag and smash them to bits. A great stress reliever!
2. Use tongs to make an even crimping pattern along the edge of your pie crust.
3. No rolling pin? Try this rolling pin hack: Use a wine bottle as a rolling pin (no, it doesn’t have to be full!).
4. Fill a wine bottle with ice (and cork well) to keep pie dough chill while rolling it out, great for when it's hot or humid.
5. Sub a little of your water for vodka and your pie crust somehow comes out flakier. And now you have an almost-full bottle of vodka on hand. Just sayin'...
6. Add a marshmallow to the top of your cupcakes five minutes before you take them out of the oven for a gooey, perfect topping—no frosting required.
7. If you run out of food coloring, use Jello to tint decorative icing.
8. Looking for a natural way to dye when baking? Check out these simple recipes for making natural food coloring yourself.
9. Fill an oral syringe with thin icing to get precise lines and letters when decorating.
10. If you do have piping tips, fill two piping bags or Ziplocks with different colored frosting. Don't overfill the bags; now put both bags into one tip, and you'll squeeze out a swirl of color.
11. Put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven to give your bread a crisp, browned crust. You can also use a spray bottle with water; spritz the oven to create steam.
12. Substitute butter in your next boxed cake recipe for a super-rich and luscious cake. You can even just melt it to make sure it incorporates easily.
13. You can also sub avocado for butter if you want something dairy-free and heart-healthy. Use one avocado to one stick of butter ratio. And if you run out of butter (or avocado), you can use applesauce in its place.
14. When making pies, freeze your butter, and then grate it into your flour mixture, instead of trying to crumble it with your fork. This will help integrate it more evenly and keep the butter cool.
15. Soften your butter BEFORE you mix it into your cookie dough batter, and try using salted butter instead of sweet cream.
16. Use a set of visual measuring cups. Perfect for kids and parents who need to squint just to read the measurements, the shape tells the size! The innovative cups make cooking and baking fun and easy for everyone.
17. Soften butter in the microwave, but be careful. Use a low power level, like two, and put it in for no more than 10 seconds to avoid melted butter (vs. softened). If it's not soft enough, continue to microwave at five-second intervals until it is.
18. Soften too-hard butter by putting it between two pieces of waxed paper and whacking it hard with a rolling pin. Once it’s been smacked a bit, roll it out (still between the waxed paper). The kids will love helping with this one.
19. Another method for softening too-cold butter without microwaving it to a puddle: set it on top of the stove while the oven is preheating. It will gradually soften: this works great if you are baking a cake and want to use the butter for a no-fail frosting.
20. Bring cold eggs to room temperature by placing them in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
21. Use the other part of an eggshell to remove any errant bits of shell. Miraculously, this works and is way faster than struggling with a spoon or your fingers.
22. Baking for someone with an egg allergy? Use a flax egg. Simply measure one tablespoon of flaxseed meal (that’s flax seeds you put in the blender or you can buy already blended) to two tablespoons warm water for each “egg.” Mix it and let it sit for five minutes. The consistency will be similar to an egg. Or, opt for this egg alternative from Bob’s Red Mill.
23. If you want your chocolate chip cookies to have a more caramel flavor, sub out ½ cup of white sugar with additional brown sugar. If you want them with a more sugar-cookie-like taste, leave out all the brown sugar and use only white (most recipes call for some of each).
24. Use a muffin tin to make sure your cookies turn out uniform in size.
25. Easiest cookie ever? Hershey’s Kiss in pretzel circle, melt on parchment paper covered cookie sheet in oven until just soft. Boom. Next level: Use Rolos instead.
30. If you’ve “sorta” burned your cookies, use a box grater to shave off the darkest parts.
31. Also, measure out your cookie dough with an ice cream scoop, then chill them on the pan for a bit before baking (you can even freeze them, which means you can do this all ahead of time, bake the cookies the morning of and you get a better cookie). If you can’t afford the time (or space), just chill the bowl of dough for 20 minutes in the freezer before you start to scoop.
32. Store your cookies (or what's left of them) in an air-tight container with an apple wedge to keep the cookies moist.
37. Keep your brown sugar from going rock-hard by storing it in an air-tight container. Toss in a piece of bread to keep it moist.
38. If it's too late and your brown sugar is already hard, microwave it for 30 seconds in a bowl covered with a wet paper towel or place it in the oven to soften for about 15 minutes.
39. Does your recipe call for powdered sugar, but you are out? Use a spice grinder or food processor and pulverize white granulated sugar until it’s powder.
40. Slice your cheesecake with dental floss (but not the minty kind).
41. Hate dealing with metal sheet pans and cookie tins? Use a silicone baking mold instead. We love Silpat molds—there's no need to ever grease the molds or use liners, and your goodies bake to perfection (though depending on your oven, you may want to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time).
42. Need a baking powder substitution? The following are equal to 1 tsp. of baking powder:
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar.
1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix dry ingredients first before adding yogurt to dry ingredients (Reduce the amount of water or other liquids.).
These Laxota recipes will appeal to everyone at your table this holiday season
November is Native American Heritage Month and it’s an important opportunity to recognize and honor the original inhabitants of North America. Help kids (and their grown-ups) make that connection by filling their tummies with indigenous cuisine. These Native American recipes are also great for cooking with kids. We caught up with Chef Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart of Etiquette Catering in Rapid City, SD for some mouth-watering menu items that incorporate traditional Lakota ingredients.
“As the original inhabitants of this land, it is important to teach all children the significance of indigenous foods, history, and existence,” says Chef Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart. “We all reside upon the ancestral lands of indigenous people.”
With full recipes below, Chef Tilsen-Brave Heart has curated a special menu for Native American Heritage Month and beyond. The following mouth-watering dishes incorporate ingredients like pumpkin and bison, which are major food staples for the Lakota people. You’ll also find foods like cranberries and rice that are also indigenous ingredients.
Braise 2 lbs of Buffalo meat (1-inch cubes) with half an onion (fine chop), in a warmed stockpot with 3-4 tbsp. olive oil
Spice 1 tbsp. garlic powder, 2 tbsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, and 3-4 bay leaves
After browned, add Mirepoix (chopped onions, carrots, celery), and a can of diced tomatoes
Add 2 cups of water or stock/broth and simmer on medium-low heat for 30-45 mins or until tender. (Stir occasionally, more water or stick/broth may be needed) times will vary with the size of the meat and location
When meat is tender add 6-8 cups of beef broth/stock or water and bring back to boil 6-8 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces or bigger
Cook an additional 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender
Remove from heat and let stand for 10-15 minutes, serve
