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!
My Lucky Day By: Keiko Kasza
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
The ultimate question in this book is who is having a lucky day. The hungry fox in our story is so happy to see the little pig at his door, but things do not work out as he planned. Children will love hearing about how the pig outsmarted the fox over and over again. This delightful story with amazing illustrations is a must read!
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the book, ask the child to look at the cover and tell you who he/she thinks is going to have a lucky day. After reading, ask the child if his/her prediction was correct.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you why the fox was so happy to see the pig at his door.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how pig outsmarted the fox.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you who the pig is planning to visit next, and what does he/she think he will do.
Additional Books by Keiko Kasza:
- The Wolf’s Chicken Stew
- Don’t Laugh Joe
- The Rat and the Tiger
- Badger’s Fancy Meal
- Finders Keepers
Cooking Time:
Since the pig convinced the fox to fix spaghetti and cookies for him, we decided to make Baked Spaghetti and Oatmeal Toffee Cookies.
Baked Spaghetti
In our story, the pig loved the spaghetti that the fox made for him, so we decided to go with a baked version which is delicious. Children can help by adding the ingredients, helping to make the layers and kitchen cleanup.
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
One 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
2 1/4 cups cheddar cheese
- Using a large pan, brown the ground chuck until no pink appears.
- Drain the meat and return to the pan.
- Add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper, stirring occasionally until the onions are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- While the sauce is cooking, bring a salted pot of water to a boil
- Add the spaghetti and cook for 2 minutes less than the box indicates.
- Spray a 13 by 9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Begin by covering the bottom of the baking dish with 1/3 of the sauce.
- Add 1/2 of the pasta, spreading evenly over the sauce layer.
- Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the cheese over the pasta.
- Repeat the layers, 1/3 of the sauce, the rest of the spaghetti, 3/4 cup cheese and the last 1/3 of the sauce.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top with 3/4 cup cheese.
- Return to oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Oatmeal Toffee Cookies
In our story, the fox served cookies to the pig to help fatten him up. These cookies are not very pretty, but they are really delicious, especially if you like Heath Bars. Children can help by adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs and forming the cookies with the scoop.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
2 packages Heath Toffee Bits (8 ounces each)
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats and the toffee bits. Set aside.
- Using a mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and combine completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until combined.
- Add the oatmeal mixture and stir in by hand.
- Form balls by using a scoop or teaspoon. Place at least 3 inches apart on the lined baking sheets. Cookies will spread out.
- Bake for 8 to 12 minutes in a 375 degree oven.
- Place baking sheets on racks to cool for 10 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the baking sheets and return to the racks to completely cool.
Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.
