An elf’s four major food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. General Mills holiday cereals are hitting shelves now and that includes the return of your coveted Elf cereal.
To add to the excitement, everyone’s winter favorite, Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is back by popular demand.
This maple-flavored cereal (Buddy’s favorite flavor) offers delicious green and red holiday tree marshmallows and maple-flavored corn puff cereal pieces in every spoonful.
You can find Elf Cereal in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time this holiday season. Boxes retail for $2.50 for a mid-size box and $3.99 for the family size.
Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is returning to shelves again for another sweet and festive winter season. Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch brings its classic holiday flavor to Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a whole new way to enjoy the delicious taste of sugar cookies – perfect for a festive breakfast or cozy afternoon snack.
You can find Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time. Boxes retail for $2.50 mid-size / $3.99 family size.
What if you could make Cinnamon Toast Crunch even better? That’s what General Mills is promising this fall and it sounds absolutely delicious. Apple Pie Toast Crunch will be hitting store shelves for the first time ever next month, plus a couple other seasonal favorites!
Using the crunchy whole wheat and rice cereal base of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, the new cereal will offer the taste of apple pie in every bite. Ready to up the ante? General Mills recommends mixing it with Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch to create a caramel apple in your bowl.
But if you’re ready to skip straight ahead to the holidays, you’ll love this next piece of news. Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch and Elf Cereal are coming back to a store near you! The Elf in particular sounds amazing: it’s maple flavored cereal with four new marshmallow shapes in candy, candy corn, candy cane and syrup.
You’ll be able to scoop all of these cereals starting in early October at retailers nationwide. Boxes will retail at $2.50 each for a midsize, or $3.50 for a family size. The most important meal of the day is getting a serious upgrade!
There’s no better way to spend your fall days then getting lost in a local corn maze. Portland families are surrounded with opportunities to wander through cornstalks, with family-friendly farms in just about every direction. The good news is that along with winding adventures, corn mazes are often accompanied by festivities that include activities like hay rides, petting zoos and more. Read on for more on all the a-maize-ing local favorites.
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The Original Maize at the Pumpkin Patch
Just 15 minutes from downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is a mainstay of fall festival lists. For 21 years, the Pumpkin Patch has been carving pathways into acres of corn, and inviting the public to challenge themselves to solve the puzzle. This year the theme mazes theme is “Bridgetown!” celebrating the bridges of Portland that connect us all along with the mountains, rivers and forests that surround our beautiful city. You and your gang can wander through over two miles of pathways, and don’t worry: you can pick up a “passport” with clues to help if you get lost. Hang out for refreshments at the Patio Cafe, then hop on a free hayride (October only) to pick out a pumpkin in the fields.
Safety: This year, the maze is still open for safe outdoor fun across its 8 acres. Masks will be optional throughout the MAiZE. We ask that you bring them to wear whenever encountering groups inside the MAiZE, while in the ticket line, and anytime 6’ distance is not obtainable.
Insider tip: Bring boots and raingear if the weather is wet! Things can get muddy.
16511 NW Gillihan Rd. Sauvie Island Sept: open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct: open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. $8/adults (13 & up); $6/children (6-12) & seniors; free for children 5 and under 503-621-7110 Online: portlandmaze.com
Bella Organic
This Sauvie Island favorite takes a creative approach to their annual corn maze, with a changing theme that often includes giant letters carved into the corn. Impressive! This year’s theme is United Against Hate! We can all get on board with that.
The maze covers 2.7 miles of twists and turns within a 7-acre design. (Psst: Make sure to choose the best maze option for your group. There’s a second Haunted Maze on Fridays and Saturdays in October, not recommended for small children.) Food and beer vendors, along with classic fall activities like hayrides and pumpkins, make this a standout choice for local fun.
Safety: Masks are required inside the corn maze at all times.
Insider tip: All activities and outdoor vendors are cash only. Bring your flashlight to walk the maze after dark on weekends!
16205 NW Gillihan Rd. Sauvie Island Sep/Oct hours: Daily 9 a.m.-5p.m. (Fri.& Sat. until 10 p.m.) 503-621-9545 $8/adults (13 & up); $7/ seniors & children (6-12); free for 5 & under Online: bellaorganic.com/corn-maze
This energetic fall festival features a 3-acre corn maze, and that’s just the beginning. Enjoy hayrides, a giant slide, bouncy houses, farm animal visits, and even pony rides on the weekend. Plus, take your pick from over 27 varieties of pumpkins. Sample fresh apple cider and donuts, kettle corn, and treats from the bakery.
Safety: This year, the farm has changed a few things to help enhance safety. Masks will be required outdoors when you are unable to distance more than 6’ from others for anyone 5 years and older. Masks are required on all activities and hayrides.
21975 SW 65th Ave. Tualatin, OR Sept. 18- Oct. 31. Open Tue.-Fri. 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. General admission (ages 3 and up): $12 weekends; Wristband for activities/includes general admission: $24 503-638-1869 Online: leefarmsoregon.com/pumpkin-patch
Packer Orchards
If you’re up for a drive, Packer Orchards in the Hood River Valley boasts a wonderful corn maze, a kids-only corn maze, hay tower, and unlimited hayrides on the weekends. Check the calendar for flashlight-maze events as the days get shorter and Halloween approaches. After the maze, try your hand at pumpkin bowling before you pick one out to take home. And don’t forget to sample an array of fall treats, from apple pies and ice cream at the bakery, to jams and cookies in the sales barn.
Safety: Tickets will be sold online only to help limit the number of guests. Some activities may be impacted due to safety concerns.
3020 Thomsen Rd Hood River, OR Sep. 17 – Oct. 31, Open Mon. & Thur. 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 p.m.-5 p.m. $8/person ages 2 and up Online: packerorchards.com
Vancouver Pumpkin Patch
Head over the bridge to the Vancouver Pumpkin Patch where a corn maze isn't the only fall fun you'll find. For only $10 you and your kids can visit a pumpkin patch, go on a hay ride, visit a petting zoo and wander through the corn maze. Take a stroll out to the u-pick portion of the farm to pick Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and beans all for $1.25 per pound. Mark the September 25 on you calendar. You don't want to miss the pumpkin patches opening day!
Trick or Treat! What do parents (ahem, we mean kids) really want in their plastic pumpkins this year? The National Confectioners Association took on this hard-hitting question and the results were a bit surprising!
In an online survey of 1,500 adults, the NCA found that chocolate was the favorite Halloween treat, followed closely by gummy candy. The twist might be the third place option, candy corn! Although the orange and white treat gets mixed reviews in public, Americans still want to see it in the mix.
You also might not have guessed that there are varied opinions on how to consume candy corn. While over half of respondents (52%) eat the whole piece at once, 31% start at the narrow white and and 17% start at the wider yellow end.
Last year’s Halloween was anything but traditional, but 93% of young parents said they’ll celebrate Halloween this year. An additional 80% said they’ll trick or treat, which (mostly) fell by the wayside in 2020. And if your kids do trick or treat, they’ll be in luck—79% of Americans said they’ll fill the candy bowl on October 31.
This year, skip all that time slaving away in the kitchen for Thanksgiving. Just grab a bag of BRACH’S Turkey Dinner Candy Corn!
The unique candy has made a splash in year’s past so this time, Brach’s is adding even more fun to the mix: by adding apple pie and coffee, too!
Each bag comes with flavors that include green beans, roasted turkey, cranberry stuffing, apple pie and coffee. Is anyone else totally getting Violet Beauregard vibes remembering when she ate that gum that tasted like a full dinner in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?
You can find a 12 oz. bag of this Brach’s mix exclusively at Walgreens stores nationwide for about $3.49.
With August just around the corner, it’s time to get excited for the area’s best sunflower festivals. It’s a chance for kids to wander through acres of oversized flowers with parents following them around to catch it all on their phones. But these festivals are more than irresistible photo ops, they’re all about sunflower mazes, butterfly releases and u-cut bouquets. Here’s where to get your flower fix this season.
If you’re looking for the biggest festival around, head north to this super popular Snohomish farm where over 15 acres of sunflowers, boasting 50 different varieties, take center stage in late summer. Families will get to take a hayride down to the fields where they can wader, take photos (hello, winter holiday cards) and even cut their own flowers to enjoy at home. Hit the Dairy Barn when you’re done to test out the new tire maze, ride the horse swings and the slides. Keep in mind that some of the farm’s most favorite activities (like the corn crib, cow train and corn maze) won’t be available just yet. Come back for the Fall Festival to enjoy them.
Good to know: Food trucks and vendors are weekends only.
Dates: Aug. 14-Sep. 17, 2021 Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $12.95/person on weekdays; $17.95/person on weekends; Free for kids 2 & under
Looking for a laid back farm where you can enjoy time outside as a family? Check out Berries & Blooms at Mountainview Blueberry Farm. Now in its third year, families are finding the pace of this outdoor adventure strikes the right key. Not only is it relaxing, it’s fruitful too. After you’ve explored the sunflower fields and played the lawn games, head to the nine-acre blueberry field to pick your fill ($3.15/lb.). Snacks will be available for purchase this year and there’s a beer and wine garden for parents too. Remember to purchase your tickets online in advance for the best pricing.
Good to know: Weekends will include a butterfly release at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Families can enjoy watching the butterflies take flight, or they can release their own ($9.95). Either way, it’s a spectacular sight!
Dates: Aug. 11-Sep. 26, 2021 Hours: Tues.-Sun., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $17.95/person in advance online; $24.95/person at the gate; Free for kids 2 & under
Mountainview Blueberry Farm 7617 E. Lowell Larimer Rd. Snohomish, WA Event details
Bring your kites if you’ve got them to this expansive farm in Snohomish. Families will be able to enjoy the sunflower fields, snapping pictures as they explore. Then it’s on to solve the sunflower maze and fly that kite, before hitting the beer garden, general store and kitchen up in the barn. Families who want to stick to u-cut only can purchase tickets during the weekday. These tickets don’t include the festival events, but you can still cut gorgeous blooms and take as many photos as you’d like.
Good to know: The folks at Thomas Family Farm have plans for two butterfly releases in the works. Check back for more details as they unfold.
Dates: Aug. 16-Sep. 2, 2021 Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for u-pick sunflowers; Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for the Sunflower Festival Cost: $17.95/person; Free for kids 5 & under; $10/person, plus $3/bloom for u-cut
Thomas Family Farm 9010 Marsh Rd. Snohomish, WA Event details
It’s early fall at Stocker Farms and that means 25 different varieties of sunflowers looming overheard. Bring the kids to cut your own oversized flowers ($3/bloom, $15/mason jar, $30/bucket), get pictures and play lawn games. When you’re done, head to Pumpkin Park where the kids can take their turn on a gigantic jumping pillow, hayrides, the corn maze and tons of other family-friendly activities. Expect fall food faves like kettle corn, donuts (word on the street is there’ll be three different kinds) and more on the weekends.
Good to know: The Sunflower Festival is scheduled for the last two weekends in September, but the folks at Stocker Farm are hoping for a third too, depending on weather and conditions.
Dates: Sep. 18-26, 2021 Hours: Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: TBD (sign up for their newsletter to get pricing once it’s finalized)
Stocker Farms 8705 Marsh Rd. Snohomish, WA 360-568-7391 Event details
Head south for a late summer frolic through seven acres and ten different varieties of towering sunflowers at Maris Farms. Now in its second year, this new tradition offers tons of fun for families with kids of all ages. In addition to wandering the fields and snapping all the pics, families can take wagon rides around the field, race farm trikes around the track, challenge themselves on the ropes course and tube slides and more. Also on the day’s activities stop by the barnyard to see the animals. Food is available on-site for purchase.
Good to know: U-cut flowers are $3 per bloom. All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Dates: Aug. 14-Sep. 19, 2021 Hours: Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Aug. 20 & 27, 4-8 p.m. Cost: $18/adult; $16/kids (3-10); Free for kids 2 & under
Maris Farm 25001 Sumner-Buckley Hwy. Buckley, WA Event details
If a simple u-cut experience is what your family is after, wander the fields at Sterino Farms. They’ll have clippers and carts for kids to use. And when you’re done, be sure to grab some fresh produce (think berries, lettuces, corn, cabbage and more) for dinner when you’re done. A food truck is parked on-site daily.
Good to know: The Fisher Scones food truck is parked at Sterino on Saturdays (unless they have a festival to go to). Who else needs a sweet treat after all that u-cut?
Dates: Now through mid-August Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: Entrance is free; $2/stem for u-cut
Sterino Farm 6006 52nd St. E. Puyallup, WA 253-922-8945 Online: sterinofarms.com
The sunflower fields at Rutledge Corn Maze in Olympia were planted with photos in mind. Not only will you find viewing platforms so you can get up above the beautiful blooms for some Insta-worthy shots, but you’ll find three different fields grouped by size. The Big Field of Yellow is full of classic yellows that stand between 5- to 6-feet tall. Then there’s Field of Beauty that features sunflowers of different heights and colors. Finally there’s the Field of Giants—these flowers will tower over you. Don’t get lost! Admission includes access to the fields, one bloom, family-friendly activities and more.
Good to know: If you want to take home extra blooms, they’re $3 each.
Dates: Aug. 14, 15, 20-22, 2021 Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $16/adult in advance online; $25/adult at the gate; $10/kid (5-11) in advance online; $15/kid at the gate; Free for kids 4 & under
Good to Know:
1. Mother Nature is in charge when it comes to sunflowers. Remember that dates may change based on the weather and growing conditions, so please call ahead before heading out with your little buds.
2. Remember to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots, as sunflower fields can be muddy and uneven. And keep your Littles close by; it’s easy to get lost in these fields of giant flowers.
3. At many of these farms, furry friends are asked to stay home.
There’s no better way to embrace a movie night than with popcorn. Whether it’s popped in the microwave or on the stove-top, this budget-friendly pantry staple can be dressed up to suit any occasion. Check out our favorite recipes below; you’ll find everything from the best popcorn seasoning to classic caramel popcorn and more.
Always a favorite with kids, this easy white cheddar recipe from The Suburban Soapbox will be a hit. With only three ingredients, even your tween can whip this up! Get the recipe here.
If you love the convenience of microwave popcorn but don't love all the artificial stuff that comes along with it, this recipe for homemade microwave popcorn from One Lovely Life is right up your alley! It still only takes three minutes, and there are a few great snack mix ideas like candy and seasonings you can try as well. Get the recipe here.
This classic baseball snack can be re-created at home in a snap with this recipe from Boulder Locavore. With peanuts, corn syrup and a lot of love, you can easily make a batch for your next movie night. Get the recipe here.
You no longer have to wait for a visit to the State Fair for a taste of churros. This popcorn has all the flavor of churro but none of the deep-fried guilt. It combines caramel, cinnamon, and sugar to make a delicious treat you’ll make again and again. Head to Everyday Reading for the how-to, plus top tips on popping the perfect corn.
Create a popcorn animal medley for your own little monkeys! This rainbow sprinkled popcorn, combines white chocolate and animal cookies for a recipe that will get the kids howling with excitement. The recipe comes from The Melrose Family via House of Yumm and is easy to make, looks magical and tastes delicious. Win, win!
Press pause on the remote, this popcorn cake is a showstopper! Dry cake mix and marshmallows are the key ingredients for this festive number. The recipe is open to variation depending on the cake mix you buy, head over to Taste and Tell for the how-to, plus tips on getting the perfect color to get this seasonal red velvet look.
Popped kettle corn and crushed Oreos with melted white chocolate? Yes, please! This cookies 'n' cream popcorn snack comes from Erica, the baking-obsessed dentist behind the blog, Erica's Sweet Tooth. The recipe couldn't be easier and has inspired some other popcorn varieties on her site, including funfetti, apple spice, and pink strawberry shortcake versions! Check out her blog for more.
If you want to cut down on sugar, popcorn makes the perfect savory snack. This taco version, from Well Plated, couldn't be easier. Just drizzle your freshly popped corn with melted butter and sprinkle with a spice mixture you can customize for little taste buds. A zest of lime brings this snack to life, and nutritional yeast or parmesan completes the cheesy taco seasoning.
This surprising recipe involves making a fruit-leather style tomato base that's ground up to make the pizza blend. Get the recipe at the Food Network plus tips on how to cook this up with the kids. The adorable presentation of this pizza popcorn suggests it could make the perfect neighborly holiday gift.
For a sweet and savory snack mix that can be customized with whatever you have on hand, try this combo mixing pretzel sticks, popcorn, and M&Ms. Colored candy melts are the key to the green sheen but pick whatever color you like for a party mix that suits your crowd. Get the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.
If you're a fan of the everything bagel, it's an easy leap to make this everything popcorn! With just a few pantry staples, like poppy seeds and toasted sesame seeds, freshly popped corn can be turned into a healthy savory snack—it even works as a crunchy topping for your dinner! Check out more tips and get the recipe at Flour Arrangements.
Nutella popcorn ... need we say more? The kids won't forget this indulgent combo that's the perfect snack for a crowd. Head to Remodelaholic for the how-to and some tweaks to the recipe depending on whether you like your popcorn gooey and chewy or with some pop and crunch.
Pair a bowl of s'mores popcorn with a summer blockbuster from your Netflix wishlist and it'll be like winter never arrived! This delicious combo will take you back to long mid-summer evenings by the firepit. Just raid the pantry for candy melts and graham crackers and finish off with a sprinkling of mini marshmallows. Find the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.
This recipe turns popcorn into a snack that works in front of a movie as well as in Monday's school lunchbox! These popcorn balls aren't loaded with sugar. Instead, they are made with high protein nut butter and brown rice syrup making them both nutritional and delicious. Head to Weelicious for the recipe.
Naturally sweetened caramel popcorn made with maple syrup and almond butter! This popcorn from Cookie and Kate promises to produce a snack that's healthy, vegan, and easy to make. The recipe uses almond butter, but any nut butter will work—like peanut or cashew —and produces a chunky and delicious snack.
The trick? Doubling the portion of vegetables on the plate. That tactic increased veggie intake by 68%! The study involved lunch servings at childcare centers once a week for four weeks. 67 children from ages three to five participated and received broccoli and corn, along with classic preschool favorites like fish sticks, rice and ketchup. Researchers weighed the meals to determine intake and served the vegetables plain, or enhanced with butter and salt. They also varied the veggie portion to be a regular size or double size.
Surprisingly, adding “enhancements” did nothing to affect vegetable consumption. When asked to rate the taste, preschoolers had a similar liking for both plain and enhanced versions of the broccoli and corn. They also ate just as much of the rest of their meal with a double veggie portion, as opposed to a regular portion.
“It’s important to serve your kids a lot of vegetables, but it’s also important to serve them ones they like because they have to compete with the other foods on the plate,” said Barbara Rolls, Helen A. Guthrie Chair and director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior at Penn State. “Parents can ease into this by gradually exposing kids to new vegetables, cooking them in a way their child enjoys, and experimenting with different flavors and seasonings as you familiarize them.”
So the next time you’re cooking dinner, put a little extra scoop of the vegetable on your kid’s plate and see what happens!
National Eat Your Vegetable Day is June 17 and broccoli is the most popular veggie in the U.S., according to a new survey from Green Giant. Believe it or not, every person who picked it said the taste was the top factor!
Regionally there are some disagreements. The East Coast prefers broccoli, but the West Coast leans in favor of carrots. Unsurprisingly, corn is the king of many Midwest states. But every state picked one of those three vegetables as the best, pushing aside past favorites that included tomatoes and cucumber.
Also unsurprisingly, small children were not included in this survey. Green Giant collected data from more than 5,000 Americans over the age of 18. There would likely be even more disagreement among kids and we predict that green smoothies would be a top contender.
Thankfully Green Giant has an array of options for the veggie-averse members of your family. Cauliflower pizza crust, riced veggies, veggie tots and spirals, all frozen for easy side options! Feel free to conduct your own informal survey with your family—with a side of broccoli of course—to mark this week’s holiday.
During the summertime many enjoy picnics and cookouts complete with fresh berries, hamburgers and, of course, corn on the cob. Whether you enjoy your corn grilled or boiled there is always the dilemma of not wanting to get your hands messy or worse, dropping your cob before you can enjoy it.
