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!
How to Catch a Leprechaun By: Adam Wallace Illustrated by: Andy Elkerton
Ages: Pre-school through Second Grade
This fun St. Patrick’s Day story is perfect for the holiday! Children will love hearing all the ways to try to catch a speedy and tricky Leprechaun. The inventive traps in our story are illuminated by the amazing illustrations. Put this one on your reading list!
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the book, have a discussion with the child on why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you some of the traps that the children set to catch the Leprechaun.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how the Leprechaun escaped from the traps.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you a trap that they might use to catch the Leprechaun.
Additional Books by Adam Wallace:
- How to Catch the Easter Bunny
- How to Catch a Dinosaur
- How to Catch a Monster
- How to Catch a Turkey
- How to Catch a Dragon
Cooking Time:
Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad
This delicious chicken salad is even better when served on bread shaped like a shamrock. Children can help by shredding the chicken, measuring and adding ingredients and cutting the shamrocks.
3 cups cooked chicken (we used rotisserie chicken), chopped or shredded
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 stalks celery, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
Wheat bread
- In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients.
- Combine completely.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Using a shamrock cookie cutter, cut shapes from bread slices.
- Add the chicken salad to form sandwiches.
Makes 6 to 8 sandwiches.
St. Patrick’s Day Pasta
Most children love a pasta dish, and they will really enjoy a green one for St. Patrick’s Day. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients.
16 ounce box of dried pasta
Green food coloring
Butter to taste
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped broccoli, frozen
- Fill a large pot with water to prepare the pasta.
- Add food coloring to the water and bring to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare the broccoli according to the package directions.
- Drain the pasta and add butter to taste.
- Add the broccoli and cheese until combined.
Makes 6 servings.
Blarney Stone Bars
These delicious bars are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day and are topped with green icing. Children can help by measuring, adding ingredients, cracking the eggs and adding the icing.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup quick oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup toffee bits
1/3 cup pecans, chopped
4 drops green food coloring
1 can vanilla frosting
- Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
- Stir in the toffee bits and pecans.
- Place in a greased 9 inch square pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 24 minutes.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Add the frosting to a bowl. Add 4 drops of food coloring and mix.
- Spread icing on cooled cake.
Makes 9 to 12 bars.
Leprechaun Lime Drink
This drink is so much fun and absolutely delicious. Children can help by adding the ingredients and mixing.
1 quart lime sherbet, softened
1/2 cup limeade concentrate
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cans (12 ounces each) lemon-lime soda, chilled
1 to 2 cups crushed ice
- In a large mixing bowl, blend sherbet, limeade and sugar.
- Stir in the soda and ice.
Makes 7 cups.
