Dear Reader,
This Blog is designed for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of young children. Each post will highlight a great book that all children should hear, with tips to enrich beginning reading skills. You will also find fun recipes that go along with each story. Enjoy reading and cooking with the children in your life.
*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
10 Fat Turkeys By: Tony Johnston Illustrated by: Rich Deas
Ages: Toddlers through First Grade
This is a fun counting book for young children. It starts with ten turkeys on a fence and counts down until all of the turkeys are gone. The turkeys in our story are hilarious and children will enjoy the descriptive language and matching illustrations. Just enjoy the rhythm of the story.
Tips for Reading:
- After reading a couple of pages of the book, ask the child to say the repeating phrase, “Gobble, Gobble, Wibble Wobble” along with you.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you some of the silly things that the turkeys did and what happened to them.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what happened to the turkeys at the end of the story.
- After reading, ask the child to predict what he/she thinks might happen to the ten fat turkeys fooling in a tree.
Additional Books:
- ONE is a Feast for Mouse By: Judy Cox Illustrated by: Jeffrey Ebbeler
- Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving By: Kimberly and James Dean
- Bear Says Thanks By: Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
- I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie By: Alison Jackson Illustrated by: Judy Schachner
- A Little Thanksgiving SPOT By: Diane Alber
Cooking Time:
Turkey Mashed Potato Casserole
This is the perfect recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers. You cook it in the microwave, so dinner can be done in 15 minutes and it is surprisingly delicious. Children can help by adding and stirring the ingredients, crushing the crackers and kitchen cleanup.
Use a 2 quart microwave safe casserole dish.
2 cups cooked green beans (can use frozen or canned)
2 cups cubed cooked turkey breast
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup milk
3 cups mashed potatoes (can use Bob Evans brand, 24 ounce container)
1/2 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
- Combine the green beans, turkey, soup, cheese and milk in the casserole dish.
- Cover and microwave for 5 to 6 minutes or until bubbly, stirring once.
- Remove from the microwave and spread the mashed potatoes over the top.
- Sprinkle the crushed crackers over the potatoes.
- Cover and microwave for another 2 to 4 minutes or until heated through.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 6 servings.
Turkey Blossoms
Peanut Blossom Cookies are traditional for Christmas. We have now converted them into turkeys for Thanksgiving. These are so fun to make and children will love helping. Children can help by adding the ingredients for the cookie portion, cracking the egg and rolling the dough in the sugar before baking. They can also add the candies, eyeballs and candy corn to form the turkeys.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Extra sugar for rolling dough
Candy kisses and/or miniature peanut butter cups
Candy Corn
Candy eyeballs (found these on Amazon)
Yellow and Orange M & M’s
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, cream together the butter and peanut butter until smooth.
- Add the sugar and brown sugar. Mix until creamed, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix completely.
- Gradually add the flour mixture until combined.
- Using a 1 inch melon scoop or teaspoon, form dough into 1 inch balls.
- Roll each ball in sugar.
- Place balls on baking sheets at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes in a 375 degree oven.
- Remove from the oven and press a candy kiss or a miniature peanut butter cup into the middle of each cookie.
- Return to the oven for an additional 2 to 5 minutes or until the cookie is golden brown.
- Immediately after taking the cookies out of the oven, add the candy corn for the tails.
- Place the eyeballs onto the chocolate candy.
- Add an M & M for the nose.
- Place the cookie trays on racks to completely cool.
- It takes quite a while for the chocolate portion to get hard.
Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen turkeys.
Oreo Turkeys
These turkeys are so easy and fun to make. Get the ingredients and make as many as you want. Children will love helping assemble these fun birds.
Baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Chocolate covered pretzels
Oreo cookies
Milk or dark chocolate melting wafers
Candy eyeballs (Amazon)
Candy corn
- Place the chocolate wafers in a microwave safe bowl. Melt for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each. Will take about a minute and a half.
- Place three pretzels on the parchment paper to form the tail.
- Dip a cookie into the melted chocolate and make sure to coat the entire cookie. Yes, this is messy.
- Place the chocolate covered cookies on top of the pretzels.
- Add the eyeballs and candy corn to make the face of the turkey.
- Continue until you have as many turkeys as you want.
- Place the baking sheet of turkeys into the refrigerator for 3 to 5 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
Make as many as you want.
