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!
Can I Be Your Dog By: Troy Cummings
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
Anyone who has ever rescued a dog or just loves dogs will love this book! Arfy is homeless so he decides to write letters to the folks on his block to find a home. Mitzy, the letter carrier, delivers all of Arfy’s letters and the rejection letters that he received. Don’t worry, our story has a very happy ending and will show children how to write letters, which is becoming a lost art. It also provides insight on the importance of pet rescue. You will fall in love with Arfy!
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, discuss with the child if they have ever received a letter and some of the reasons people write letters.
- Throughout the reading of this book, make sure that the child looks at all of the pictures to see how Arfy is feeling.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you what Arfy did to try to find a home.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you who delivered all of the letters that Arfy had written.
- After reading, ask the child to recall some of the reasons that no one would adopt Arfy.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why Arfy was so happy at the end of the story.
Additional Books:
- Before You Were Mine By: Maribeth Boelts Illustrated by: David Walker
- The Berenstain Bears’ Pet Rescue By: Mike Berenstain
- Buddy Unchained By: Daisy Bix Illustrated by: Joe Hyatt
- Bob to the Rescue By: James Bowen Illustrated by: Garry Jenkins
- Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog By: Lisa Papp
Cooking Time:
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
In our story, the butcher lost a dozen meatballs to a dog, so he refused to adopt Arfy. This meatball recipe is a popular one for special events and holidays. You can always purchase frozen meatballs, but it is a lot of fun to make your own and children will love to help. Children can add the ingredients, crack the egg and help form the meatballs.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 pound ground chuck
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 cups grape jelly
1 1/2 cups chili sauce
- Using a large bowl, combine the meat, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, egg, cheese and breadcrumbs.
- Mix with your hands until just combined.
- Slowly add the water a few tablespoons at a time. Mix until everything is combined. Do not over mix.
- Using a spoon or a scoop, measure out a portion of meat. Roll the meat mixture into balls. Place each ball onto the baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
- While the meatballs are cooking, combine the grape jelly and chili sauce in a medium saucepan.
- On medium to medium high heat, heat the mixture until the jelly is incorporated.
- Pour over the warm meatballs and serve. Great to serve in a small crockpot.
Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen meatballs.
Banana Pudding Cupcakes
The banana and wafers are inside this delicious cupcake. We have added a sugar cookie dog bone to the top of each cupcake to celebrate our book. Children can help by adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs, cutting the cookie dog bones and placing them on the cupcakes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
Cupcakes:
1 cup flour
2/3 cup finely ground vanilla wafer cookies
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large banana, peeled and finely chopped
Filling:
1/2 cup white chocolate melting wafers
1/4 cup heavy cream
Frosting:
1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
Prepared sugar cookie dough
Bone Garnish
Using prepared refrigerated sugar cookie dough, cut into small dog bone shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake as directed on the package.
Cupcakes
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground cookies, baking powder and salt.
- Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, and combine completely.
- Add the vanilla to the milk.
- With the mixer on low speed, beat the flour mixture into the batter in two batches, alternating with the milk mixture. Begin and end with flour mixture.
- Stir the chopped bananas into the batter by hand.
- Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, fill each muffin tin about three-quarters of the way.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake.
- Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack for 5 minutes to cool.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan and return to the rack to complete the cooling process.
Filling
- Put the white chocolate wafers in a bowl.
- Heat the heavy cream in the microwave until it is steaming, about 30 to 45 seconds.
- Pour the warm cream over the wafers. Allow to stand until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir until smooth.
- Allow to cool for 15 minutes, refrigerate until slightly thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Mixture should fall off the spoon in a slow, thick ribbon.
- Prepare frosting.
Frosting
- Using a mixer on medium to medium high speed, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar to the butter mixture until combined.
- On medium high speed, beat the frosting until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk and beat until smooth, about 1 minute.
- If the frosting is too thick, add the additional tablespoon of milk.
Assembly
- Cut a 1 inch wide hole in the top of each cooled cupcake, cutting about halfway down. (an apple corer works perfectly)
- Put the filling in a zip lock bag and cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.
- Pipe the filling into the hole of each cupcake.
- Spread or pipe each cupcake with frosting.
- Garnish with the cookie dog bones or a slice of banana and a cookie wafer.
Makes 12 cupcakes.
Dog Pops
To celebrate Arfy, we had to add a dog treat. These treats can be shared with all of your neighborhood doggie friends. This is such an easy recipe and children can help by adding the ingredients, rolling the balls and adding the garnish.
13 ounces of natural peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
3 cups rolled oats
Crushed peanuts
Unsweetened shredded coconut
1 tablespoon of additional peanut butter
1 tablespoon of additional honey
Small dog bones, for topping
- Using a mixer, beat the peanut butter until it is smooth.
- Add the honey and mix until combined.
- Add the oats and mix until well combined.
- Place the peanuts and coconut in separate small bowls.
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, roll the oatmeal mixture into small balls.
- Soak the balls in a bowl of water for a couple of minutes, then roll them either in the peanuts or coconut.
- In a small bowl, mix the additional tablespoon of peanut butter and honey. (Glue to hold on the dog bone.)
- Gently press the top of each ball and using a toothpick, put a drop of the peanut butter/honey mixture on top of each.
- Add the purchased dog bone.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Makes 3 dozen dog treats.
