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 fine 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!
It’s Spring! By: Renee Kurilla
Ages: Pre-school through First Grade
Renee Kurilla has written amazing books about the seasons and this one is exceptional. This story, which is in rhyming verse, describes every activity and event that occurs in the springtime! It opens up good conversation to have as children listen to this story. This is a must read for this time of year.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading, ask the child to tell you what some of their favorite things are that happen in the spring.
- After reading, ask the child to recall some of the holidays that happen in the spring time.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why they like the springtime.
Additional Books by Renee Kurilla:
- It’s Fall!
- It’s Winter!
Cooking Time:
Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs
This is a fun way to enjoy Strawberry Shortcake and kids will love helping make these.
Strawberries
Pound cake or short cake
Whipped topping
Skewers
- Clean strawberries and pat dry.
- Cut the cake into squares.
- Take a skewer and thread on a strawberry.
- Add a piece of cake.
- Follow with half of a strawberry.
- Add another piece of cake and strawberry.
- Continue until skewer if full, placing a whole strawberry at the top.
- Add whipped cream right before serving.
Make as many as you would like.
Butterfly Cupcakes
These springtime cupcakes are so much fun and delicious. Children will love putting the butterfly on the tops of each cupcake.
Baked cupcakes of choice
Pink frosting
White chocolate covered pretzels
Spring colored M & M’s
Coconut flakes
- Prepare the cupcakes, box mix or homemade.
- Prepare frosting by adding a touch of pink food coloring. Can make your own frosting or use canned frosting.
- Frost the cupcakes.
- Add a row of M & M’s, on their edge, down the middle of each cupcake.
- Place the pretzels for the wings at an angle on each side of the M & M’s.
- Place coconut flakes for the antenna.
Make as many as you would like.
Strawberry Shortcake Truffles
These delicious truffles combines white chocolate, cake and icing to form a delightful sweet treat. Children can help by mixing the cake and frosting, dipping the truffles and decorating.
1 box vanilla cake mix or homemade
3/4 cup strawberry frosting
1 cup pink candy melts
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1/4 cup decorative sprinkles
- Prepare cake mix per package instructions. Bake in a 9 by 12 inch baking pan.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Crumble the cake into fine crumbs resembling moist sand.
- Add 3/4 cup of the frosting and mix until a moldable dough is formed.
- Using a cookie scoop, form the dough into balls and roll until smooth. Place on a lined baking sheet.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Melt the candy melts and coconut oil in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each.
- Dip each dough ball into the melted candy until completely coated.
- Return to the lined baking sheet.
- Add sprinkles to the tops of each truffle.
- Allow coating to firm for about 10 minutes.
Makes 24 truffles.
