*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
An Egg is Quiet By: Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
Children’s curiosity is sparked when they discover a bird’s nest filled with small colorful eggs. In the book, An Egg is Quiet, the authors explore a variety of interesting eggs found in nature. What a wonderful way to expose children to science concepts at an early age.
Tips for Reading:
- Build vocabulary with children by discussing words from the book such as texture, camouflage, etc.
- Discuss with children the development of an egg into a living creature.
- As you read the book, discuss the different animals that hatch from eggs.
- Identify the animals that live in your part of the country that develop from eggs.
- A trip to the zoo would be a great follow-up to this book.
Additional Books:
- A Nest Is Noisy By: Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
- Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones By: Ruth Heller (This book is excellent!)
- Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs By: Douglas Florian
- Where Butterflies Grow By: Joanne Ryder
*All of the books listed can be found on Amazon and most can be found at your local bookstore or library.
Cooking Time:
Deviled Eggs
Eggs! Eggs! Eggs! Most children like eggs fixed in a variety of ways. Deviled eggs have gained a new popularity as an appetizer and now you can make them at home. This is my Mother’s recipe, which she made for every major holiday. Children can help peel the eggs, smash the yolks and add the ingredients.
7 extra large eggs
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
- Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water at least 1 inch above eggs.
- Heat eggs to a rapid boil.
- Remove pan from heat and cover.
- Let stand for 22 to 24 minutes.
- Immediately, cool eggs in cold water to prevent further cooking.
- Tap egg to crack the shell.
- Hold egg under running cold water to help ease off shell.
- Cut the eggs lengthwise.
- Remove yolks and place them in a bowl and set the egg whites to the side.
- Mash the yolks with a fork.
- Stir in Miracle Whip, mustard and sugar.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Fill egg whites evenly with yolk mixture.
- Store covered in refrigerator.
Makes 14 deviled eggs. (Good question to ask children.)
Egg Nests
These mini hash brown and egg muffins will be a hit with the entire family. They are great for a Sunday brunch and the leftovers warm up nicely in the microwave. Children can help add ingredients, press the potato mixture into the muffin tins and crack the eggs.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Using cooking spray, generously spray 12 large muffin tins.
20 oz. package shredded hash browns (Simply Potatoes work well.)
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound mild sausage (Substitute 1 cup of chopped onion and 1 cup of chopped peppers for a vegetarian version.)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (Can also use cheddar.)
6 large eggs
2 cups evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of salt and pepper
- Crumble the sausage into a pan and cook until brown and no pink is showing.
- Drain the sausage and set aside. (For vegetarian version, chop the onions and peppers and mix together.)
- In a bowl, mix the hash browns with the oil.
- Mix in a dash of salt and pepper.
- Put 1/3 cup of potato mixture into each muffin tin.
- Press the potatoes on the bottom and up the side of each tin.
- Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Mix the sausage and cheese together. (For vegetarian version, mix onions and peppers with cheese.)
- Put 1/4 cup of sausage or vegetable mixture into each potato lined muffin tin.
- Add the eggs to a large bowl and vigorously whisk together.
- Add the milk and mix until combined.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, a dash of pepper and mix well.
- Put 1/3 cup of egg mixture into each muffin tin to cover the sausage (veggie) mixture.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
- Serve warm.
Makes 12 servings.
