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!
Big Red Barn By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Felicia Bond
Ages: Toddlers through Kindergarten
This wonderful book holds a special place in my heart, because it was my son, Trevor’s, favorite book when he was two years old. We read it so many times that he memorized every page. This book highlights the life of the animals on a farm (no people). Children will learn animal names and the sounds that they make. It also is written in rhyming verse and is great for vocabulary development. It is a gentle book that is perfect to read before bedtime. Thanks for indulging me. Judy
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading, discuss with the child the meaning of new vocabulary that they will see in the book. (weather vane and scarecrow)
- After reading the book, review the names of the farm animals in the book and the animal sounds.
- Discuss the rhyming words and think of other words that have the same pattern. (day/hay/play, leg/egg, etc.)
- Visit a petting zoo, so that children can experience farm animals first hand.
Additional Books:
- Cows Can Moo! Can You? By: Bonnie Worth Illustrated by: Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu
- The Biggest Little Farm, Saving Emma the Pig By: John Chester Illustrated by: Jennifer L. Meyer
- Click, Clack, Peep! By: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
- Little Blue Truck By: Alice Schertle Illustrated by: Jill McElmurry
- Night Night Farm By: Priddy Books Illustrated by: Jean Claude (Board Book)
Cooking Time:
Homemade Butter
When Patty taught second grade, making butter was an activity that she did with her class. Every child would get a chance to shake the jar to form butter and then enjoy eating it on a cracker. All you need is a jar, cream and strong arm muscles. Children can help by adding the ingredients and shaking the jar. Might be better if you have additional hands to help shake.
1 quart mason jar with a very secure lid
1 to 2 cups whipping cream
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon table salt (optional)
- Pour the cream into the jar and secure the lid (really secure)
- Start shaking. Pass the jar around so others get a chance to participate. (Warning: Arms may get tired!)
- Shake for approximately 30 to 40 minutes or until you see a ball of butter forming in the jar.
- Drain the milk from the butter.
- Put the butter in the bowl and mix in the salt if you want salted butter.
- Butter can be shaped into small balls or left as a block. Could also make shapes with small cookie cutters.
- Refrigerate.
7-Up Biscuits
We saw this recipe on Facebook and thought we would give it a try. It is so easy to make and the biscuits are wonderful! They are especially good with the homemade butter and strawberry jam. (Find the jam recipe under the book, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear.) Children can help by adding the ingredients, cutting the biscuits and kitchen clean-up.
2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 7-Up or Sprite soda
1/4 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Will need a 9 by 9 inch baking pan.
- Put the biscuit mix into a medium bowl.
- Add the sour cream.
- Using a fork or pastry cutter, incorporate the sour cream into the biscuit mix.
- Stir in the soda and mix until totally incorporated.
- Dough will be very soft and sticky.
- Put ample amount of biscuit mix on counter or board.
- Place biscuit mixture onto board, top with more biscuit mix.
- Knead and fold dough until dough is coated with biscuit mix.
- Pat dough out.
- Using a round biscuit cutter or a drinking glass coated with biscuit mix, cut out biscuits.
- Melt the butter and pour into the baking pan.
- Put the biscuits on top of the melted butter.
- Bake at 450 degrees for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Place pan on a rack to cool.
Makes 9 biscuits.
Haystacks
You might normally see haystacks on a farm, but these haystacks will be in your kitchen and are really delicious. These sweet treats are easy to make and do not require turning on the oven. Children can help by adding the ingredients, making the haystacks and kitchen clean-up.
2 cups butterscotch chips (12 ounces), melted
3 tablespoons peanut butter
5 ounce can of chow mein noodles
5 ounces cocktail peanuts, optional
Put waxed paper onto a baking sheet.
- Place the chips in a microwave safe dish.
- Put in microwave and heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each 30 seconds. Takes about 90 seconds to melt. Can also melt over boiling water.
- Add the peanut butter to the melted chips and stir until incorporated.
- Add the noodles and nuts (optional) and stir until completely coated with the butterscotch mixture.
- Using a tablespoon, drop the batter onto the waxed paper, forming little haystacks.
- Refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes or until set.
Makes about 2 dozen haystacks.
