Garden Fairies

In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, water, and vanilla on low speed until combined. Then beat on medium to high speed until very glossy and stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. If necessary, to get the right consistency, add more powdered sugar or water. Divide into several small bowls and add food coloring, if using.

Place about 3 tablespoons of the icing on top of a muffin. Take each graham cracker and place a small amount of icing on each. Attach the crackers with the icing and place on top of the muffin to form a roof.

Let the frosting on the graham crackers harden for a few minutes, and then spread some icing on the top and sides of the graham cracker roof and decorate the roof and house with assorted candies.

Flower Power Fairy Food

You’ll get plenty of power from this crunchy mix!

Makes 8 servings

2 cups popped popcorn

1 cup craisins

1 cup golden raisins

2 cups small pretzel sticks

1 cup pastel milk chocolate candies

1 cup pastel candy-coated almonds

In a large mixing bowl, gently toss all the ingredients together.

Serve in small 2 to 3-inch clean, unused flowerpots.

Fairy-Tale Bird’s-Nest Cookies

A treat to make the birds sing!

Makes 10 to 12 cookies

1/2 pound vanilla candy coating

Powdered or paste blue food coloring

2 cups chow mein noodles

2 cups coarsely chopped cornflakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shredded coconut, tinted green with liquid food coloring*

1/2 cup pastel candy-coated chocolate candies or small jelly beans

Melt candy coating according to package directions. Stir in a very small amount of food coloring to tint the candy coating a pale blue.

In a large bowl, combine chow mein noodles, cornflakes, and salt. Pour melted candy coating over mixture, stirring until completely coated. Form nests by mounding heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto a sheet pan lined with foil. Sprinkle coconut on top and then, with your thumb, make an indention in the center of each little nest. Place several candies or jelly beans into each nest.

Refrigerate about 10 minutes until firm.

* To tint coconut, place in a small ziplock plastic bag. Add a few drops of food coloring, seal bag, and shake. Voila! Colored coconut!

Fairy Queen Quiches

Tiny bites that will delight!

Makes 10 to 12 individual quiches

1 (17.3 ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts

1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese

5 to 6 cherry tomatoes, sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Generously spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cut out the piecrusts with a 2 to 3-inch circle or flower-shaped cookie cutter. Place each cutout inside a muffin cup.

Place approximately 1 teaspoon grated Swiss cheese into the bottom of each pastry shell.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine eggs, salt, pepper, and cream. Pour into pastry shells, filling each almost to the top.

Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon grated Swiss cheese and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown and slightly puffed. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes before removing each quiche from pan. Garnish with a cherry tomato slice.

Flower Petal Punch

A delicate drink for garden fairies!

Makes 12 servings

2 (8 ounce) bottles drinking water

1 bunch mint leaves

Assorted edible flower petals such as carnations, geraniums, marigolds, roses, or pansies

2 liters any fruit-flavored sparkling water, chilled

2 liters Gatorade (blue, green, or orange), chilled

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Fill two ice cube trays with bottled water.

Add a mint leaf or edible flower petals to each ice cube square.

Freeze at least 2 hours.

Pour chilled fruit-flavored sparkling water and Gatorade into a large glass punch bowl.

Add lemon slices and flower petal ice cubes.

Decorate with a few extra flowers or flower petals.