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!
Best Day Ever! By: Marilyn Singer Illustrated by: Leah Nixon
Ages: Preschool through First Grade
In our story, the playful pup was having the Best Day Ever until things started going wrong, really wrong. Even though he got into a lot of trouble, bad things can be forgiven and it can become the Best Day Ever again. You will fall in love with this sweet puppy. This fun book is done in rhyming verse.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to look at the cover and predict what this book might be about.
- Before reading, ask the child to tell you who they think is having the best day ever, the little boy or the dog.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you some of the things that made the day the best day and things that made it the worst day.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you if they think that the little boy’s feelings for the dog changed when the dog was mischievous.
Additional Books:
- Harry the Dirty Dog By: Gene Zion Illustrated by: Margaret Bloy Graham
- Can I Be Your Dog? By: Troy Cummings
- If We Could Get a Dog By: Susan Lynn Ford
- Sit, Stay, Love By: Chalaine Kilduff Illustrated by: Sally Brodermann
- All Dogs Don’t Bite By: Marie Hernandez Illustrated by: Stephanie Weinger
Cooking Time:
Mini Pretzel Dogs
This recipe is a little more complicated, but fun for children to see how yeast works. They will love the final product. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients, cracking the egg and rolling the dough.
3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon instant yeast or dry active yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
42 mini hot dogs or regular hot dogs cut in smaller pieces
1/2 cup baking soda for soda bath
1 large egg
Coarse salt
- Mix warm water, yeast, sugar and melted butter in a large bowl. If using dry active yeast, let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. If using instant yeast, continue to the next step.
- Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture and combine with a wooden spoon.
- Wet your hands and knead the dough into a smooth ball.
- Leave the dough ball in the bowl and cover with a damp towel.
- Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Remove from the bowl and cut the dough into 6 even pieces.
- Roll each piece into a long tube and cut the tube into 7 equal parts.
- Wrap each piece around a mini hot dog or piece of hot dog. Pinch and pull the dough to ensure a tight wrap.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water.
- Add the baking soda and bring to a boil.
- Take the wrapped hot dogs and boil them in batches for 10 seconds.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on the baking sheets.
- Whisk the egg and brush over the mini hot dogs.
- Top with coarse salt.
- Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
Makes 10 servings.
Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
What a great combination! Children can help by measuring the cheese, rolling out the bun and spreading the butter.
6 hot dog buns (top sliced or regular)
6 hot dogs
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- Heat a non-stick skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
- Combine the 2 cheeses and set aside.
- Open each bun and roll flat with a rolling pin.
- Spread the outside of each with 1 tablespoon butter.
- Place in the skillet butter side down.
- Sprinkle the tops evenly with 1/3 cup of the mixed cheeses.
- Slice each hot dog lengthwise, making sure the sides are still connected.
- Lay flat side down in the skillet or on the grill.
- Grill the hot dogs for 2 minutes and then flip and let them cook for another minute.
- Transfer the hot dog to one side of the bun and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
- Close the bun over the hot dog and grill until the cheese is completely melted.
Makes 6 servings.
Mini Cheesecakes
Children will love making and eating these fun cheesecakes. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs, adding the cookies to the tins and decorating with fruit.
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
12 Oreo Cookies
Kiwi, peeled and sliced
Blueberries
Raspberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
- Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until blended.
- Add the eggs one at a time. Beat on low after each addition until just blended.
- Place a cookie in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.
- Fill evenly with the batter.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the centers are set.
- Cool.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
- Garnish with fruit before serving.
Makes 12 servings.
