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!
Love You Forever By: Robert Munsch Illustrated by: Sheila McGraw
Ages: Preschool through Adult
“Love You Forever” may be the best known children’s book of all time. It not only appeals to children, but to every mother who reads it. The amazing fact about this touching story is that it is over 75 years old and still touches our hearts with every read. It is the perfect gift for new mothers.
Tips for Reading:
- Just enjoy reading this book to your children and let your child know how much you love them.
Additional Books:
- Guess How Much I Love You By: Sam McBratney Illustrated by: Anita Jeram
- Goodnight Moon By: Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by: Clement Hurd
- I Love You to the Moon and Back By: Amelia Hepworth Illustrated by: Tim Warnes
- I’ve Loved You Since Forever By: Hoda Kotb Illustrated by: Suzie Mason
- You Are My Happy By: Hoda Kotb Illustrated by: Suzie Mason
Cooking Time:
Our recipes for this book are family favorites.
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
We grew up with mothers and/or grandmothers who could make wonderful biscuits and gravy. Here is the same recipe in a casserole form. Perfect for a Sunday brunch. Children can help by cutting the biscuits and adding the ingredients.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 by 13 inch casserole with non-stick cooking spray.
1 can homestyle original biscuits (Grands), quartered
1 pound sausage
1/2 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste
4 to 4 1/2 cups milk
- Open the biscuits and cut each into quarters.
- Place biscuit pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
- Crumble the sausage into a large skillet.
- Cook over medium high heat and crumble until meat is no longer pink.
- Stir in the flour and allow to absorb into the sausage. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the milk to the sausage mixture and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cook until thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the partially cooked biscuits in the bottom of a greased 9 by 13 inch pan.
- Pour the sausage gravy over the top.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly and the biscuits are browned and cooked through.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Lasagna
Nothing says love and home more than a big tray of homemade lasagna. We do cheat a bit by using jarred sauce. Children can help by cracking the eggs, measuring and adding the ingredients.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. You will need an ungreased 13 by 9 inch baking dish.
2 pounds ground chuck
1 jar pasta sauce (24 ounces) (We use Prego Traditional)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 cups 4% small-curd cottage cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
6 slices provolone cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- In a large skillet, cook and crumble the meat until no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet.
- Add the jar of pasta sauce. Stir in the sugar and allow to heat through.
- In a large bowl, add the eggs and lightly beat.
- Add the parsley, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. Mix completely.
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions and drain.
- Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce into the 13 by 9 inch baking dish.
- Layer with 3 lasagna noodles.
- Layer the provolone cheese over the noodles.
- Cover the provolone with 2 cups of the cottage cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese layer.
- Place 3 noodles over the mozzarella cheese.
- Put 2 cups of meat sauce over the noodles.
- Then add the remaining cottage cheese mixture.
- Top with 1 cup mozzarella.
- Put 3 more noodles on top of the mozzarella.
- Top noodles with remaining meat sauce.
- Add the last cup of mozzarella on top.
- Cover and bake in a 375 degree oven for 50 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking for 20 minutes.
- Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Makes 12 servings.
Strawberry Shortcake
In the early summer, there is nothing like going out and picking fresh strawberries. This is a great family activity that children will love. Strawberry Shortcake is the perfect way to enjoy fresh strawberries. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients, cracking the egg and slicing the strawberries.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shortcake:
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup butter, chilled
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons milk for brushing on shortcake
Coarse sugar
Strawberries:
6 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Whipped Topping:
Can make your own or purchase pre-made.
- In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries and powdered sugar, set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and baking powder.
- Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a small bowl, combine the egg and 2/3 cup milk.
- Add the egg mixture into the dry mixture.
- Mix until just moistened.
- Drop dough into 8 mounds on baking sheet and flatten with the back of a spoon until about 3/4 inch thickness.
- Brush the top of each mound with the 2 teaspoons of milk.
- Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in a 450 degree oven until golden brown.
- To serve, cut each cake in half and place on individual serving plates.
- Spoon whipped cream over the first layer.
- Spoon strawberries over the cream.
- Place the top of the cake over the berries.
- Top with more strawberries and then whipped cream.
Makes 8 servings.
