Turn summertime boredom into creative kitchen time with these delightfully tasty ideas:

• Wrangle the kids back to the ranch, then have ‘em help throw together an easy summer dinner on the grill. A couple kids can de-tassel corn-on-the-cob by pulling the husks down but not off the cob and removing the silky tassels. A couple more kids can spritz the exposed corn kernels with spray butter, then sprinkle lightly with salt, returning the husks over the corn. Place husk-covered corn cobs over medium heat on the grill. Turn frequently, until the outer husks are charred but the corn kernels inside are tender. Remove from grill with tongs and use oven mitts to remove the hot husks before serving. Delicious!
• Use mini bagels for a quick answer when kids call, “Mom…what do we have to eat?” Cut each in half and have kids spread with strawberry-flavored cream cheese. Top with sliced strawberries for a “berry refreshing”  kid-sized, snack!
• Beat the rainy-day blahs with indoor s’mores! Spread a thin layer of marshmallow crème from a jar onto warm toast, then sprinkle with chocolate chips. Cut diagonally into four triangles. Kids can make these themselves, and no campfire required!
• Put kids to work scooping melon balls from seedless watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe. (Find melon-ballers at your local dollar store and have several ready to enlist many helping hands!) Toss fruit balls with fresh blueberries and golden raisins for a texture twist, and serve in the scooped out melon “bowls” with crackers and cheese on the side.
• For a fun summer kids’ party idea, serve PB & J sandwiches on new flying-disc toys, then have the kids hose off their “plates” after lunch before taking them to the yard to play!
• Start with Pillsbury Create ‘n Bake® refrigerated sugar cookie dough to make an easy batch of sugar cookies. Then create edible “paints” by mixing a cup of cream (or milk) with just enough powdered sugar to make a paintable thick liquid. Split the mixture between several cups and add a different food color to each. Use new kids’ watercolor paint brushes to paint images, letters and shapes onto cooled cookies.
• Play cookie checkers! Have kids made giant checkerboards on discarded pieces of cardboard covered with parchment paper. Each square should be cookie-size, and alternate squares can be colored solid with non-toxic markers. Using a dozen chocolate chip and a dozen sugar cookies, play ‘til they’re hungry for a “gamey” snack!