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 Count to 1 By: Caspar Salmon Illustrated by: Matt Hunt
Ages: Toddler through Kindergarten
This fun book stresses to “only count to 1”, but there are many opportunities to count higher. Children will also need to interact with the book and visually locate items to count. The text is delightful and the illustrations are colorful and perfect for the story.
Tips for Reading:
- As you are reading the book, ask the child to point to the items requested in the story.
- While reading, ask the child to point to the word “one”.
- After reading the story, go back through the book and ask the child to count all of the items on each page.
- After reading, ask the child to count items in their daily lives.
Additional Books from Our Blog About Counting:
- Goodnight Numbers
- Ten Magic Butterflies
- Every Bunny Counts
- 10 Fat Turkeys
- Five Fuzzy Chicks
- 100 Mighty Dragons all Named Broccoli
Cooking Time:
Apple Turnovers
These delicious turnovers are easy to make and perfect for breakfast or a snack. Children can help by measuring, adding ingredients, folding the dough and adding the glaze.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 package puff pastry (2 sheets) thawed according to package instructions
1 tablespoon flour, for dusting
3 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced into 1/3 inch pieces
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg plus 1 tablespoon water
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- In a medium pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Continue to simmer for 3 minutes or until the apples are soft and caramelized.
- Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Lightly flour a rolling surface.
- Using a rolling pin, roll each sheet of the pastry into 11 inch squares.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut each pastry into 4 equal sized squares.
- Place cooled apple mixture over half of each square, leaving at least a 1/2 inch border.
- Whisk the egg and water together for the egg wash.
- Lightly brush the egg wash on the edges of the pastry, just enough to seal.
- Bring the edges together and crimp tightly along the edges with a fork.
- Transfer the turnovers to the prepared baking pan, at least 1 inch apart.
- Using a knife, cut 2 to 3 small slits in the top of each turnover.
- Brush each turnover with the egg wash.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 18 to 23 minutes or until golden and puffed.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar and whipping cream until smooth and thin.
- Using a spoon, drizzle the glaze over the turnovers.
Makes 8 servings.
Chicken Noodle Soup
When the weather gets cooler, there is nothing better than chicken noodle soup for lunch or dinner. Children can help by preparing the veggies, cutting the chicken, measuring and adding the ingredients.
6 cups chicken broth
1 can (10 ounces) cream of chicken condensed soup
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced onion
2 cups rotisserie chicken, chunked or shredded
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups uncooked egg noodles (wide or medium)
- Using a large pot with a lid, combine the chicken broth, soup, carrots, celery, onion, chicken, parsley, chicken granules and pepper. Stir together and bring to a boil.
- Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the noodles and allow to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings.
Number Sugar Cookies
Everyone loves sugar cookies and since our book is about counting, these cookies will be cut into numbers. Children can help by measuring, cracking the egg, adding the ingredients, cutting the cookies, and adding the sprinkles.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Will need number cookie cutters.
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Vanilla Glaze:
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups powdered sugar
Variety colors of sanding sugar
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
- Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla and beat for 1 minute.
- Slowly add the flour mixture.
- Blend until dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl.
- Divide the dough in half. Knead each half until a smooth ball is formed.
- Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface.
- Using 3 inch “number” cookie cutters, cut out the shapes and place on the prepared baking sheets.
- Place the baking sheets in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Bake the cookies in a 350 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until they are no longer shinny on top.
- Remove cookie trays to wire racks to cool for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the baking sheets back to the wire racks to continue the cooking process.
- Cool completely before glazing.
- Using a microwave dish, heat the milk and butter for 1 minute or until the butter is melted,.
- Whisk in the vanilla, salt and sugar until blended and smooth.
- Using your fingers, dip each cookie into the glaze and return to the wire racks.
- Immediately, sprinkle with sanding sugar.
Makes 2 dozen cookies.
