Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Sparkle Kitchen: Beaver Tails
Don’t worry—this isn’t a recipe for actual beaver! Beaver tails are a traditional Canadian fried pastry, which is made in the distinctive oblong shape of a beaver’s tail. Covered in cinnamon and sugar—or topped with honey, lemon, or jam—a batch of hot beaver tails makes a cozy winter treat.
Sparkle Kitchen: Winter Snow Cones
I glanced over at a bowl of leftover Christmas oranges and inspiration struck. I usually only have snow cones in July, but why not eat them when the snow is fresh?
Sparkle Kitchen: Wassail
The recipe below is enough to serve a party of revelers, but it can easily be halved or quartered. It’s also much more method than recipe, so feel free to modify it to suit your tastes or what you have on hand.
Sparkle Crafts: Deck the Halls!
If there’s one thing that turns on the festive spirit, it’s decking the halls. Whether you’re Throwing a Party like Martin and Sylvia, or just want to add a little holiday cheer to your unfinished walls (raises hand), garlands are our favorite way to play dress-up with our home.
Sparkle Kitchen: Glass Star Cookies
They’re made with regular sugar cookie dough—there’s a recipe below, but feel free to substitute your own, or even store bought. To make the “glass” you crush hard candies, like Lifesavers, and spoon them into the middle about halfway through baking.
Sparkle Crafts: Sparkling Fruit Ornaments
Citrus is always a festive treat in our Christmas stockings, so why not in our tree, too? When sliced to reveal the jewel-toned inner flesh, citrus is a piece of art.
Sparkle Kitchen: Pumpkin Ginger Pancakes
This recipe is really easy – easier than you’d think, given it’s gourmet name. And easier still if you want to use pancake mix! Add the right spices and a little cooked pumpkin, and you have gourmet breakfast for all.
Sparkle Kitchen: Candied Orange Peels
Whether you’re a frost fairy or human being, another wonderful gift to give—or nibble on yourself!—on a frosty day is candied orange peels.
The Thanksgiving Story: Vulnerability and Courage
For some of our stories of Gratitude and Thanksgiving, you can visit this page. Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday's Kind Words: Martin & Sylvia's Biggest Fan
Honestly, he could well be Martin and Sylvia's biggest fan. We have been listening to their stories since my son was three, and they are constant topics of conversation, speculation and joy.
Friday's Kind Words: Smiles on My Face
"I love Sparkle Stories!" We love hearing kind words from our fellow Sparklers. Has Sparkle Stories impacted your life? Drop us a line and let us know (you can find us on Facebook & Instagram).
Friday's Kind Words: They Were Amazed!
"She's learning and absorbing so much from your lovely stories! "We love hearing kind words from our fellow Sparklers. Has Sparkle Stories impacted your life? Drop us a line and let us know (you can find us on Facebook & Instagram).
Sparkle Crafts: Felted Acorns
Here’s the deal: felted acorns are really quite easy. As long as your children are old enough to manage a felting needle, then they can form the felted acorn nut. Follow this fun, kid-friendly tutorial to get started!
Sparkle Kitchen: Pickling the Extras
We got into the pickling mood in the Sparkle Kitchen and created some of our own pickled vegetables! These recipes are perfect for both leftover green beans and beets — particularly after Thanksgiving!
Friday's Kind Words: Incredible and Lovely Stories
"I just cannot tell you how grateful we are for your incredible and lovely stories." We love hearing kind words from our fellow Sparklers. Has Sparkle Stories impacted your life? Drop us a line and let us know (you can find us on Facebook & Instagram).
Sparkle Kitchen: Fairy Cookies
While spring fairies may be dainty and dine on polite, pastel tea cakes, we’ve always imagined that Halloween fairies are sassier stock. From the moment I first heard that line, I knew that—while the underlying treat might still be light and lemon-y—the frosting on those cookies had to be bright purple!
Friday's Kind Words: So Very Many Thanks to You All
"It is SO wonderful to find a resource that is so reflective and supportive of our lifestyle!" We love hearing kind words from our fellow Sparklers. Has Sparkle Stories impacted your life? Drop us a line and let us know (you can find us on Facebook & Instagram).
Sparkle Kitchen: Martin & Sylvia's Migas
Because Martin and Sylvia enjoy migas in the story "Butterflies", there’s a Mexican festival afoot and the whole family gets into it. We thought we’d share our recipe so that you can celebrate too!
Friday's Kind Words: Wonderfully Creative Stories
"Our girls love your Sparkle Stories!" We love hearing kind words from our fellow Sparklers. Has Sparkle Stories impacted your life? Drop us a line and let us know (you can find us on Facebook & Instagram).
Sparkle Kitchen: Chai Spiced Milk
“Chai” is the Hindi word for “tea”, so ordering a “chai tea” is technically redundant. Nonetheless, in America, the word “chai” is commonly associated with a blend of warm spices like cardamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. A “chai tea”, as we call it, is a blend of those spices in a milky tea.
