Are you looking for a fabulous Christmas Gift for a favorite child? Take a look at a few of my top recommendations for 2007:

Christmas Gifts for 9 Year Olds and Up

FLY Fusion Pentop Computer – this is a totally amazing invention! The FLY Fusion is a pen shaped, hand held computer that records everything that the kids write, capturing information from note taking and uploading onto your PC. (Note: not compatible with Macintosh) The pen can translate English to Spanish and vice versa. It can also assist in solving math problems! Accessories are available, too. (toysrus.com ,$99.99)

Christmas Gifts for 10 Year Olds and Up 

Young Architect Kit – this reusable toy allows children to plan their dream home, sketch it and construct a 3D model. (Young Architect Kit, $79.98)

Ripstick Caster Board – reviewers describe this skateboard as groundbreaking!  With only two casters, skaters experience a ride that’s compared to snowboarding, allowing kids to accelerate or turn without pushing, just like carving down the slopes.  You may want to pick up a spare set of casters for this toy, along with the necessary safety equipment if you don’t already own that gear! (RipStik Caster Board, five color choices, prices starting at $69.99, replacement casters starting at $11.99)

EyeClops Bionic Eye – this cool new toy is a hand held device that magnifies ordinary objects 200 times and then projects the image onto your TV screen! (EyeClops Bionic Eye, $84)

For Girls:

Vera Bradley Back Pack – the Vera Bradley craze is big with this age group, too!  Consider the cute, useful backpack in a fun, youthful pattern like Mediterranean Blue or Pinwheel Pink. (Vera Bradley Backsack, $46, Backpack $84).  Consider also a cell phone case, zipper cosmetic bag or a belt! (Cell Phone Case, $25, Medium Bow Cosmetic, $30, Reversible Belt, $26)

High School Musical Mystery Date Game – this is another fun take on the ever popular movie!  Players collect clothing and accessory cards to get ready for the “mystery” date! (High School Musical Mystery Date, from $16.99)

Do you have a favorite idea for a Christmas gift for a 9 or 10 year old boy or girl? I’d love to know!

For more ideas on Christmas gifts for children, see:

• Christmas Gift Guide 2008
• Christmas Gifts for 1 and 2 Year Olds and Up
• Christmas Gifts for 3 and 4 Year Olds and Up
• Christmas Gifts for 5 and 6 Year Olds and Up
• Christmas Gifts for 7 and 8 Year Olds and Up
• Fabulous Birthday Gift Ideas

 

Spring and Easter meals are delicious, but may leave you with some unusual leftovers.  Do you end up throwing out dozens of hard boiled eggs?  Wonder what to do with the ham that everyone has already had enough of?  Or the asparagus that your children didn’t like?  Well, here are several fresh recipes that will use all of those very leftovers! 

Deviled eggs a la Sam

Makes 20 halves

Ingredients

• 10 large hard boiled eggs
• 1 T. water
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 avocados, halved, pitted, and cut into small chunks
• 1/2 small red onion, minced
• 4 cherry tomatoes, minced
• Juice of 1 large lime
• Dash of hot pepper sauce (or to taste)
• 2 thick slices of prosciutto, finely chopped
• 2 tsp. minced fresh cilantro

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine water, cumin, garlic, and salt and mix well
• Add the avocados, onion, tomato and lime juice
• Mash with a potato masher
• Add hot pepper sauce and prosciutto and mix well
• Set aside
• Peel the hard boiled eggs and cut in half
• Remove the yolks and set aside the whites
• Add the yolks to the avocado mixture, mixing well to combine
• Spoon mixture into the egg halves

You may also enjoy:

• Host an Easter Egg Hunt
• Cute Easter Craft
• Celebrating Easter with Kids
• Fabulous Easter Baskets

Photo of ham, top of page, is from allrecipes.com - see for tips on cooking ham and more ham recipes.

Tags: what to do with Easter leftovers, using, recipes, recipe, leftover, how to use your Easter leftovers

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon or ham, crisply cooked
• 4 4″ slices focaccia or hearty toast
• 2 lbs. asparagus, cooked
• 2 T. chopped fresh tarragon
• 2 T. orange zest
• 2/3 c. vinaigrette (homemade or bottled)
• 4 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped

Directions

• Place two strips of bacon/ham on each piece of bread and top with some asparagus.
• Stir the tarragon and orange zest into the vinaigrette.
• Drizzle over the asparagus and top with chopped eggs.

Ingredients

• 5 lbs. red potatoes, quartered
• 1 (16 oz.) container sour cream
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 can (10.75 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 c. chopped green onion
• 2 c. cooked, chopped ham
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 c. parmesan cheese flavored bread crumbs
• 1/4 c. melted butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 11″ x 13″ baking dish.
• Place potatoes in a large pot of water and bring to a boil.
• Boil until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.
• Drain and transfer to bowl.
• Mix sour cream, butter, cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese, green onions, ham, and salt and pepper with the potatoes.  Spread in prepared dish.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake 30 minutes in preheated oven.

This recipe calls for smoked ham, but there shouldn’t be a problem with using your Easter ham!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound smoked ham, coarsley chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 T. chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1 T. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
• Hot sauce and salt for seasoning
• 8 slices bakery-style marbled rye bread, crusts removed, or 32 slices cocktail rye
• 1 1/2 c. alfalfa sprouts

Directions

• Put the ham in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
• Transfer the ham to a medium bowl and stir in the mayonnaise, parsley, jalapeno, mustard and paprika
• Season the deviled ham salad with hot sauce and salt
• Lay half of the bread slices on a work surface and spread them with the deviled ham.
• Top with the sprouts and close the sandwiches
• If making larger sandwiches, quarter them before serving

This recipe was taken from Food & Wine