Let’s consider this the "just in case" weekend event guide for the kitchen. If the weather is crummy, you’re stuck indoors with the kids and you just need to do something fun and tasty, here’s a few suggestions. Remember our cake pops? Now there’s something everyone has fun with and there’s rarely leftovers. Why not grab that cake mix out of the pantry, all those sprinkles, tubes of gel, chocolate chips, whatever moves you and have a party with the pops. Easy to make and the kids will have a blast. And everyone helps to clean up. Take a look at this video for some hints!

  Thinking about a pizza night with those frozen pies sitting in the fridge? Dress ‘em up with something besides the usual; I like to take the veggie pies and add even more like shredded carrots, zucchini, and if you have sun dried tomatoes, you just have to add some of them. Of course there’s always the cookie dough pizza which is basically a tube of cookie dough baked in a layer cake pan, and once again decorated with whatever your tummy desires. How about a Rocky Road Pizza?! Here's another thought - Take a trip through that cookbook collection and think about what Sunday brunch would be like if it wasn’t just cereal in a bowl. I found a French Toast Cobbler recipe from Taste of Home that is high on my to-taste list, and of course why not get out the Monkey Bread recipe and everyone gets nice, gooey fingers! This one from Moms Who Think has a different take on the traditional recipe with Blueberry Monkey Bread. The kids will also love to create their own breakfast smoothies, and if you’re incredibly good at it, you can even sneak in a few veggies along with the fruit. I won’t tell.

   And of course, weather permitting, there’s always the Ybor Farmers Market Saturday morning, the Tasting Tampa Food Truck Rally at Hyde Park Presbyterian. So just bring plastic bags and umbrellas and get to know some of our friends from the RNC. But make sure you also take the time to double check that hurricane preparedness kit and have those ready to go. This time of year, it’s no time to procrastinate. Be safe, have a good weekend and stay up to date with our online hurricane guide.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. ~George Carlin