Recycled Spring Planters

These planters make great use of old tea boxes, coffee tins, even plastic ice cream tubs.  If the container looks retro or vintage, leave it as it is. If it is plain or boring, add your own artwork or stickers!

You Will Need:

1. Cool containers, tins, boxes or buckets, not too big
2. Potting soil
3. Small pebbles or rocks
4. Small plants, seeds or bulbs
5. Newspaper
6. Watering can with water
7. Spoons or small digging utensils
8. Hammer and small nails (an adult must help with this)

What To Do:

Basically you want to plant your items and give the planters as gifts!

Each container will be different, so adjust as needed:

1. If container has a lid, use that on the bottom as a drip catcher and punch a few very small holes in the bottom of the container. 
2. If there is no lid, or for added protection in any container, use the small pebbles to line the bottom of the container for drainage.
3. Cover your work surface with newspaper.
4. Fill the container two-thirds full of potting soil.
5. Add your seeds or small plants or bulbs according to the growing instructions.
6. Cover with more potting soil.
7. Water according to the growing instructions.

Recipes

Easter Basket Cupcakes

This fun decorating idea is great to take to your school party!  It uses a regular cake mix, any flavour you like, made into cupcakes.

You Will Need:

1. Cupcakes made from a mix (follow directions and allow to cool)
2. White icing
3. Food colouring (green is suggested, but you can choose)
4. Foil-wrapped chocolate eggs (about 3 for each cupcake)
5. Licorice strings
6. Jelly beans or candy such as Skittles®

What To Do:

1. Colour your icing with the food colouring.
2. Spread icing on each cupcake.
3. Place the chocolate eggs and jelly beans on each cupcake.
4. Cut licorice into 10 cm lengths or longer for handles.
5. Insert the licorice into the cupcakes (just poke it in) in an upside-down “U” shape. Do not use the handles to lift the cupcake, they are just for show!

Orange Poppy Seed Loaf Cake

You Will Need:

1. ½ large orange with peel (washed)
2. white cake mix (2 layer size)
3. 1 ½ cups low fat sour cream
4. 2 tablespoons poppy seed
5. 1 teaspoon orange extract
6.  

1. ½ cup low fat sour cream
2. ½ teaspoon orange extract
3. ½ teaspoon almond extract (leave out if any nut allergies)
4. ½ cup cream cheese, softened
5. 1 cup confectioner’s or icing sugar

What To Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grate the orange peel (this is called zest).
3. Slice the orange after zesting into thin slices.
4. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cake mix, sour cream, poppy seed, orange zest and orange extract until completely mixed. It will be thick.
5. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
6. Pour batter into loaf pan.
7. Bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centre of cake comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then place on a plate to cool completely.

Icing

1. With an electric mixer, beat sour cream, orange extract, almond extract and cream cheese until well blended.
2. Gradually beat in sugar.
3. Spread icing over top of cake.
4. Garnish with thin orange slices.