Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

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!

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site            By:  Sherri Duskey Rinker            Illustrated by:  Tom Lichtenheld

Ages:  Toddler through Kindergarten

 

This delightful book is about big machines at a construction site as they prepare to end their busy day.  Children will love hearing about all of these tough trucks.  The rhyming verse is very soothing and makes it a perfect read for bedtime.

 

 

 

 

Tips for Reading:

• Before reading the story, turn to the first two pages of the book and ask the child to identify some of the large machines.
• After reading the story, ask the child to tell you his/her favorite machine, what it does and why.
• After reading the story, ask the child to find rhyming words such as road/load, bright/light, place/face, etc.

Additional Books:

• Mighty, Mighty Construction Site            By:  Sherri Duskey Rinker            Illustrated by:  Tom Lichtenheld
• My Truck is Stuck!            By:  Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
• Little Blue Truck            Alice Schertle            Illustrated by:  Jill McElmurry
• Little Blue Truck Leads the Way            By:  Alice Schertle            Illustrated by:  Jill McElmurry
• Goodnight Little Blue Truck            By:  Alice Schertle            Illustrated by:  Jill McElmurry

 

Cooking Time:

Since one of our big machines is a dump truck, both of our recipes will be “dump” recipes.

Dump Salad

This delicious salad is better known as Trash Bag Salad.  No joke, you mix it up in a trash bag which will really make it fun for children.  Yes, you could use a big bowl, but that wouldn’t be as much fun.  Children can help by adding the ingredients and, of course, shaking the bag.

2 bags romaine lettuce

1 can (2.25 ounces) sliced black olives, drained

1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 small red onion, chopped

2 containers (4 ounces each) Feta cheese, crumbled

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Place all of the above into a paper grocery bag.
• Prepare the dressing.

Dressing

2 packages Good Season’s Italian dressing mix

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

3 tablespoons water

1/2 cup plus 4 tablespoons olive oil

• Using a jar with a lid, add the vinegar, water and dressing mixes.
• Shake until combined.
• Add the olive oil.
• Shake until combined.

*Could also use your favorite Italian dressing.

• Add the dressing gradually to the lettuce mixture in the bag.  May not need all of the dressing.
• Shake until totally combined.
• Serve.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Black Forest Dump Cake

There are many varieties of this recipe, but we have decided to go chocolate.   All you do is add ingredients with no stirring.  That’s how easy this cake is to make and it is absolutely delicious.  Be sure to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Children can help add the ingredients.  Very little kitchen cleanup.

Spray a  9 by 13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling

1 (15 ounce) can pitted dark sweet cherries  (do not drain)

1 package chocolate cake mix

1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

• Dump the cherry pie filling into the pan and spread to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Dump the cherries and juice over the pie filling and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the cherry mixture.  DO NOT STIR.
• Sprinkle the walnuts over the cake mix.
• Distribute the butter pieces over the top of the walnuts.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes.
• Allow to cool on a rack.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Makes 12 servings.