Box Tops For Education

If you see this logo on products you buy, please cut it out and save it for me. These are called "Box Tops" and each one is worth 10 cents for Nicholas' school through the Box Tops For Education program. I am the Box Tops for Education coordinator this year. I collect box tops turned into school then I sort, count, and mail them in. Twice a year, Box Tops For Education mails a check to the school. For small private schools, little programs like this can make a big difference. As coordinator, I try to remind parents through the weekly newsletters to collect these tops and turn them in. I also include lists of all the products that parents can find these on as well as recipes that use "box top products".

Here are two recipes I recently sent out:

Original Chex Party Mix (4 Box Tops!)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Makes 24 servings (1/2 cup each)

3 cups Corn Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic flavored bite-sized bagel chips or regular sized bagel chips broken into 1 inch pieces
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 5-6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to coo. Store in airtight container.

Strawberry Banana Parfaits (3 Box Tops!)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Makes 4 servings

2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait Original 99% Fat Free Strawberry yogurt
2 cups Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 medium banana, thinly sliced
4 whole fresh strawberries

In each of 4 parfait glasses (or any kind of clear cup), layer 2 tablespoons yogurt, ¼ cup cereal, ¼ cup strawberry slices and ¼ banana slices. Top each with 2 tablespoons yogurt, ¼ cup cereal and remaining yogurt. Garnish top of each parfait with a whole strawberry.

Nicholas often helps me go through the Box Tops. He counts them out in piles of 50 for me. He loves helping me with projects so it's fun for him but it's also great counting practice.