Sea Star Fishing (and snacks)

Today at story time we read a book about Sea Stars!  Most people refer to them as starfish but since they are more closely related to BUGS than fish, we like to call them SEA STARS!!!!

So we decided to go fishing or netting for sea stars!  :)

We added a little blue food coloring to the bath tub and cut some out of a sponge.  

Then filled the tub and went "fishing".  

I always like to brag about how long these activities keep Evin busy... This one lasted for a whole 15 minutes and in our house....that's AWESOME!!

Sea Star Snacks!

I also thought I would include this recipe that I made for the trainers and aquarists at the Aquarium during keeper week this summer!  

WARNING!  This is NOT easy!

Here's the original link from Hungry Happenings.....she's FAR more amazing than me!

Ingredients: 

1 cup water, divided

3 packages unflavored gelatin (2 1/2 tablespoons)

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar

1/4 cup corn starch

1-2 teaspoons butter or non-stick cooking spray

50 squares of graham crackers crushed into crumbs

16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chips)

Melt Marshmallows: 

Butter the inside of a large microwave safe bowl and a large rubber spatula. Pour marshmallows into bowl.  Heat in microwave on high power for 20 seconds. Stir using buttered spatula.  Heat for 20 more seconds.  Stir.  Heat for 20 seconds. Stir.  If marshmallows aren't melted, continue to heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.

Spoon or pour your marshmallow moosh in to a pan.  Sprinkle some of the cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture over the marshmallow. Press down on the surface of the marshmallow. This will smooth out the surface and allow you to push the marshmallow into the lips and fins. If you don't sprinkle on the powder, your hands will stick and the marshmallow will pull up and out of the mold.

Cut the marshmallows with star shaped cookie cutters!

Allow the marshmallow to harden for at least an hour.

Melt Chocolate:

Pour chopped chocolate into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high power for 30 seconds.  Stir. Heat on high power for 20 seconds. Stir vigorously.  Heat on high power for 15 seconds.  Stir vigorously.  If not melted, continue to heat for 10 second increments, stirring after each, until melted. 

Pour graham cracker crumbs into a shallow dish.

Dip Marshmallow Stars in to chocolate (be careful because they start to loose their shape when they get warm again) then dip them in the graham crackers and lay them out to dry!

I used colored round sprinkles and added those to white icing dots for eyes!

This took me three hours one night but they were AWESOME and yummy!

Stay tuned for BUG WEEK!  Coming soon!