I recently had an opportunity to do a workshop for all the kindergarten classes at TA for Rosh Chodesh Shevat. The new building – with its tall windows and open spaces – was a pleasure to be in. The atmosphere and the entire staff were just as warm and welcoming.

The class was so much fun. I told the kids I thought I knew what the first plague was: milkshakes! Well, I got a resounding “NO!!!!!” The whole class shook with enthusiasm. And I was quickly informed, amid much giggling, that the first plague was blood. Well, with that kind of reception, I just kept going. The second plague was kitty cats? No!!! More giggling. Luckily, we got to frogs, and we got to spend a moment discussing what the Egyptians did when the great big frog came out of the Nile.

Those kindergartners were prepared! They all knew the Egyptians hit the frog. And they knew that more frogs came out from the big frog. “And then what happened?” I asked. 

“The Egyptians hit the frog again,” they told me, “and then more frogs came out.” They knew that they kept hitting the frogs, and the cycle continued. 

So I asked them, “What did the Egyptians really want at this point?”

And they shouted, “To get rid of the frogs.”

“Was this the best plan to get rid of the frogs? To keep hitting them?” I asked.

“No-o-o-o!”

“What was a better plan?”

“To not hit the frogs.”

“So why did they keep hitting the frog, even after they had proof it was a bad plan?”

One answer to that question – I don’t know the source of it – but I heard that the Egyptians were so angry, they couldn’t think straight. They were mad at that frog and tried to kill it by hitting it, even after they had a ton of proof that this plan was a bad one. They just kept hitting that frog because they couldn’t think of any better plan because they were ANGRY.

Well, turns out those kindergartners are pretty smart. They all knew that if the Egyptians would have simply stopped hitting the frog, they would have made their lives better. And so, we all agreed that if we get upset, the best course of action might be to just pause, take a deep breath, and try to think of a better solution – because, often, there is more than one course of action that can solve a problem.

Finding more than one solution is a specialty of my friend Sarah Weingot. She found an amazing solution to the hustle and bustle of Purim shalach manos. She wanted to focus on her family, on sibling love and giving. She came up with the idea of each child creating shalach manos for their siblings!

I absolutely loved this idea but heard it after Purim last year, so we put it into place for our afikomen presents on Pesach. Each child got to create the afikomen prize for the other kids. (It worked out really well.)

But now Purim is coming, and I thought this frog fruit snack might make a great shalach manos gift that children can make themselves. It is economical, fun, and it has two brachos in it! If you want to do this project with your children, give each child a budget and let them pick out their supplies from the store. And then help them follow the directions below.

Easy “Frog” Fruit Snack 

This recipe allows us to play with our food and eat it too! It’s simple, and the kids can participate on their level. They can cut up the grapes with plastic knives. If they use a real knife, they can cut the apples in quarters and cut the mouth out. As for the “glue,” you can use any nut butter or cream cheese (or even marshmallow fluff). I like using peanut butter to throw in some extra protein (and it’s delicious). Each apple makes four frogs.

1 Granny Smith apple (body of the frog)

4 slices strawberry slice or triangles of red pepper (tongue)

8 mini-marshmallows (eyes)

12 grapes (legs) 

8 chocolate chips (irises)

4 tsp. peanut butter, cream cheese, or other nut butter

Cut each apple into quarters. Use a melon baller to scoop the seeds from each apple quarter. Cut a slice out of the green side of the apple, making the mouth as big or small as you like. (Save this to eat with your peanut butter later! Or snack on it immediately if you are hungry.) With the peanut butter, “glue” the two marshmallows, round side down to the top of the quartered apple. Next, attach the two chocolate chips to the top of each marshmallow with the peanut butter. Cut a strawberry into slices, or use a triangle of a red pepper for the tongue and place it in the mouth. Cut three grapes in half. Place two halves on either side of the frog. The liquid from the cut grape should be enough to adhere it to the frog. These are the “arms.” Cut two triangles out of the top of the other four grape halves to serve as the “feet.” Place the feet in front of the frog and two next to each of the arms. 

Lion Hummus

This idea comes from EatingRichly.com and is fun for the kids to make and eat. This could be used for a safari-themed party, or it makes a wonderful snack for when the kids come home from school. (Be warned, there might be a lot of roaring going on.)  

3 c. hummus (recipe follows)

2 black olives

1 hardboiled egg

3 chives

2 red peppers

1 orange pepper

1 jicama - peeled

Julienne the peppers and the jicama. (Tip: The lion’s mane looks more “authentic” if your julienne ends in points.) In the middle of a platter place a bowl of hummus. Place the cut veggies all around the bowl with the pointed ends pointed out. On top of the bowl, use 2 halves of eggs for the eyes and place a small cut olive for the iris on each egg half. Make a triangle nose out of a red pepper, and cut the chives in half to use as whiskers and place 3 on each side under the nose. To make the mouth of the lion, cut a circle of an olive in half and place touching (as in the picture).  

Hummus

My kids happily eat store-bought hummus – and you can certainly use that for the lion recipe. I really like to make my own; it makes me feel very “#winning.” 

2 (15-1/2 oz.) cans chickpeas 

1/3 c. water

1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 2 lemons

1/4 c. sesame tahini, well stirred 

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

heaping 1/4 tsp. cumin

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

1 tsp. salt

3 T. extra virgin olive oil

Drain the chick peas in a colander and rinse, removing all the gassy liquid. Set a few chickpeas aside for garnish. In the food processor fitted with metal blade, combine the chickpeas with all other ingredients, Process for several minutes until smooth and creamy. The hummus should hold its shape. Add more liquid and process again if it seems too thick. Taste and add more lemon and seasoning if desired.