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!
Sneezy the Snowman By: Maureen Wright Illustrated by: Stephen Gilpin
Ages: Pre-School through First Grade
Our new friend, Sneezy the Snowman, did not like being cold. He tried a number of ways to get warm and each time he melted. Fortunately, his friends would rebuild him and added things to keep him warm. The final solution is really special. Put this fun winter book on your reading list.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading, look at the front cover to see what problem this snowman is having.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you what happened each time that Sneezy tried something to keep himself warm.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you who helped Sneezy and how did they help.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Sneezy’s problem was solved.
Additional Books:
- The Giving Snowman By: Julia Zheng Illustrated by: Graziella Miligi
- Snowmen at Night By: Caralyn Buehner Illustrated by: Mark Buehner
- Snowmen at Work By: Caralyn Buehner Illustrated by: Mark Buehner
- How to Catch a Snowman By: Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
- Snowball By: Lois Ehlert
Cooking Time:
Cheese Stick Snowmen
This project is so easy and children will love making cheese sticks into snowmen. All you need are a few sharpies and kids can be creative and then enjoy a stick of cheese.
Packaged cheese sticks
Sharpies, black, red, orange, etc.
Make as many as you would like.
Beef Stew
There is nothing like homemade beef stew on a cold winter’s night. Children can help by preparing the vegetables, measuring and adding ingredients.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 2 inch chunks, excess fat removed
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, large chunks
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 large carrot cut into 2 inch chunks
2 Yukon Gold potatoes chopped into 2 inch pieces
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Season the beef chucks with the salt and pepper on all sides.
- Sprinkle the flour over the beef and toss to coat on all sides.
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Brown the beef in batches, on all sides, for 3 to 4 minutes per batch.
- Transfer the browned beef to a plate and set aside.
- Add the onion, garlic, carrots to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly browned.
- Add the potatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce.
- Using s wooden spoon, scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring, and add the beef to the pot.
- Cover the Dutch oven and place in the preheated oven.
- Allow the stew to cook for 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- Remove the bay leaf.
- Taste and add more seasoning as needed.
Makes 6 servings.
Puff Pastry Snowflake
This dessert is not only pretty, it is delicious. There is also a lot of math involved in this recipe. Children can help by forming the snowflake, adding the Nutella, brushing with egg and sprinkling the powdered sugar.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
1 box puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed in the refrigerator
Nutella
1 egg
Powdered sugar for dusting
- Find a 10 inch bowl or pan to help measure pastry.
- Roll out on a lightly floured surface, one of the puff pastry sheets until it is barely bigger than the 10 inch circumference of the bowl.
- Lay the bowl onto the pastry and cut around to make a circle in the pastry.
- Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry.
- Spread Nutella over the middle of the circle, leaving a 1 inch border around the edge. Use as much Nutella as you want. Be careful not to pull the pastry out of shape.
- Lay the second round sheet of pastry over the top.
- Leaving a 1 inch circle in the middle un-cut, carefully cut the circle into 16 wedges by cutting it into quarters, and then cut each quarter into quarters.
- Take two wedges that are side by side, twist them outward two times, and then pinch the ends together.
- Repeat with all of the wedges until you have 8 points.
- Carefully, using a large spatula, place the snowflake onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg.
- Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg wash over the pastry. Do not get egg on the Nutella.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool.
- After cooled, dust the snowflake with powdered sugar.
- Serve at room temperature.
Makes 6 servings.
