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!
Penelope Rex vs. the New Kid By: Ryan T. Higgins
Ages: Pre-school through First Grade
Penelope Rex is back in school and not very happy. A new dinosaur, Patty Topps, has entered the class and Penelope wasn’t sure about the new arrival. Penelope liked being the only dinosaur in the school. In the end, Penelope and Patty realized that they had a lot in common and became friends.
Tips for Reading:
- Ask the child to tell you if they have heard other books about Penelope, and if they have, let them tell you about them.
- After reading, asks the child to tell you why Penelope was happy at the beginning of the story, and what happened to upset her.
- Ask the child to tell you why they think Penelope was so upset about Patty.
- Ask the child to tell you about some of the things that Patty could do that Penelope could not.
- Ask the child to tell you what happened to change Penelope’s mind about Patty.
Additional Books about Penelope Rex:
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
- Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets
- We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish
Cooking Time:
Apple Cheese Skewers
Kids will love helping to make this healthy snack and will enjoy eating them. Children can help by cutting the apple pieces, mixing the sauce and placing the apples, grapes and cheese on the skewer.
Honey Crisp apples
Colby or cheddar cheese
Seedless green grapes
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
1 eighth teaspoon ground cinnamon
Long skewers
- Cut the apples into irregular bite sized chunks, leaving on the peel.
- Cut the cheese into cubes about the size of the apples.
- Combine the lemon juice, honey and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth.
- Add the apples to the above mixture and coat completely.
- Thread an apple piece, cheese chunk and grape onto the skewer. Repeat.
Make as many as you would like.
Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll-ups
This is a perfect lunch for kids and they will enjoy helping you make them. Children can help by adding the ingredients, rolling the rolls and brushing on the topping.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1 can crescent rolls (8 ounces)
8 slices deli ham
4 slices Swiss cheese, cut in half
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles.
- Place a slice of ham on the wide end of each triangle and top with half a slice of Swiss cheese.
- Starting from the wide end, roll each triangle and place the roll on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, mustard and garlic powder.
- Brush the mixture over the crescent rolls, coating the tops evenly.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool and serve.
Makes 5 servings.
Apple Crisp Bars
Fall is apple time and this would be the perfect dessert to make after visiting an apple orchard. Children can help by measuring and adding ingredients.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 by 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray pan before adding the paper and after.
Crust:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Apple Filling:
3 large Honey Crisp apples
4 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Crisp Topping:
3/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
- For the crust, use a mixer to cream together the sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Add the flour and salt and continue to mix at low speed until it is a crumbly dough.
- Press the dough into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes.
- For the filling, peel the apples and slice into thin slices.
- Combine the apples with the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Spread the apple mixture over the baked shortbread.
- For the crisp topping, place all of the ingredients in a dish and cut in the butter until it is crumbly.
- Spread the crisp topping over the apples.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool. Remove from pan and cut into bars.
Makes 16 servings.
