Getting Kids involved in Politics

My kiddos are 2, 4, and 6.  So, they don't really understand much of what is going on with the election.  Every time I  vote, I take my kids with me and we talk about the privilege and importance of voting.  To get them involved this year, we made Obama and Romney cookies.  Then we gave them away and let our family and friends vote on their favorite.  Sara Beth made a graph with everyones pick. They had a blast doing this.  We actually did it a while back, but they still discuss the cookies!  I think the results were so funny--it ended up tied!  Kind of like the election seems right now!

(recipes below)

I found these recipes in a magazine this summer.  Supposedly they are the favorite cookies of our candidates!  Let me know if you try this with your family!

Obama Cookies

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins 

Bake:   12 mins  375°F 

Ingredients

         2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

         1 teaspoon baking soda

         1 teaspoon salt

         1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

         1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening

         3/4 cup granulated sugar

         3/4 cup packed brown sugar

         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

         2 eggs

         1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)

         2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.

2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.

3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 Romney Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins 

Bake:   18 mins  325°F 

Ingredients

         1 cup granulated sugar

         1 cup packed light brown sugar

         1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

         1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter

         1 tablespoon light corn syrup (such as Karo)

         3 eggs

         1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

         4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

         2 teaspoons baking soda

         6 ounces chocolate chips

         2/3 cup M&M's candies

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream sugars, butter, peanut butter and corn syrup on high speed until well combined. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla extract.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir into peanut butter mixture until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.

3. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets (about 9 per sheet). Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.