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 our life.
*Read to the children in your life every day. You are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime!
Pig the Pug By: Aaron Blabey
Ages: Toddlers through First Grade
This is a cute story about Pig the pug and Trevor the wiener dog. Pig does not want to share his toys with Trevor, but his selfishness leads to a disaster. In the end, Pig learns how to share and he and Trevor become friends. This great book is done in rhyming text and provides a good lesson for children.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, discuss with the child the meanings of “greedy” and “selfish”.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you if Pig liked sharing his toys and why did Trevor think it was a good idea for Pig to share his toys.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you what Pig did to keep his toys away from Trevor and what happened next.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how days are different for the two dogs now.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you if he/she has ever been selfish.
Additional Books About Pig the Pug:
- Pig the Slob
- Pig the Stinker
- Pig the Tourist
- Pig the Star
- Pig the Winner
Cooking Time:
Since Pig the Pug had a hard time sharing, all of our recipes are great for sharing with friends and family.
Bacon Cheese Sticks
Anytime that you pair puff pastry with bacon, it has to be a winner! Children will love helping to make these delicious bread sticks. They can help by rolling the pastry, mixing the ingredients, cracking the egg and rolling the straws.
Line one baking sheet with foil. Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 pound sliced bacon
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg
1 teaspoon milk
1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to the package
Flour for rolling the pastry
- Arrange the bacon on the foil lined baking sheet. Place in a cold oven. Turn heat on to 400 degrees and partially cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Drain the bacon on paper towels. Save the bacon fat to use later.
- Once the bacon is cooled, chop into small pieces.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, bacon bits, garlic powder and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk.
- On a floured surface, roll out each puff pastry sheet to 1/16th inch thickness.
- Brush the pastry sheets with the bacon fat.
- Spread the bacon-cheese mixture over one of the sheets.
- Place the second sheet, greased side down, on top of the first sheet.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry together so that the mixture is incorporated into the pastry.
- Cut into 1/2 inch strips.
- Twist each cheese strip several times and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Press both ends of each straw into the baking sheet to keep it from untwisting as it bakes.
- Brush each stick with the egg wash.
- Place in the freezer for 1 hour. Best if baked from frozen.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 18 to 24 sticks.
Pizza Rolls
Most children love pizza and this is a great sharable version. Children can help by rolling out the dough, sprinkling on the seasoning and adding the ingredients. They can also help to roll the dough.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 tube (13.8 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust
Garlic salt
Italian seasoning
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3/4 cup sliced peperoni, chopped
Marinara sauce
- Dust a surface with flour and roll out the pizza crust.
- Sprinkle crust with garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
- In a bowl, mix together the cheeses and pepperoni.
- Spread the cheese mixture evenly over both crusts to within 1/2 inch from the edges.
- Start with the short end and carefully roll the crust into a tight log.
- Using a serrated knife, slice each roll into 1 inch sections.
- Place each roll onto the parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake in a 425 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve pizza rolls with marinara sauce.
Makes 1 dozen rolls.
Snicker Surprises
Our dear friend Kelle gave us this recipe many years ago and it is perfect for sharing. Children can help by adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs and rolling the snickers into the cookie dough.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 packages (10.48 ounces) mini Snicker bars
Milk chocolate melting wafers (7 ounces)
- Using a mixer at medium to high speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy (3 to 5 minutes).
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, soda and salt.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and combine completely.
- Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Unwrap the mini Snicker bars.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough and divide into 1 tablespoon pieces.
- Flatten the dough and place a piece of candy in the center of dough.
- Form the dough into a ball around the candy piece.
- Place on the parchment lined baking sheets at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until light brown.
- Place the baked cookies on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the baking sheets to the wire racks to cool completely.
- Melt chocolate wafers in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Stir after each interval. Takes about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Place the melted chocolate into a zip lock bag. Cut a small tip off of the corner of the bag.
- Drizzle the chocolate over each cooled cookie. Allow to dry completely.
Makes 5 to 6 dozen cookies.
