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!
Snow By: Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by: Lauren Stringer
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
This beautiful book provides the perfect descriptions of what it is like to live where snow falls. Even if you don’t, this book will take you there to enjoy the experience of a snowy day. The author’s words allow you to experience the fun of being outdoors in the snow and also the warmth of being indoors and watching the snow out of your window. This book is a wonderful winter experience for children and adults.
Tips for Reading:
- Prior to reading the book, ask the child to tell you his/her most favorite thing about a snowy day.
- After reading the story, ask the child to reflect on the many things he/she can do when it snows.
Additional Books:
- Snowmen at Night By: Carolyn Buehner Illustrated by: Mark Buehner
- The Snowy Nap By: Jan Brett
- Snowballs By: Lois Ehlert
- Tracks in the Snow By: Wong Herbert Yee
- The Snowy Day By: Ezra Jack Keats
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! By: Lucille Colandro Illustrated by: Jared Lee
Cooking Time:
Strawberry Penguins
These adorable penguins are so easy to make and certainly fun to eat. Children can help by dipping the chocolate, adding the eyes and the nose.
Large strawberries with stems
Chocolate dipping wafers
Candy eyeballs
Yellow M & M’s
- Wash and dry the strawberries. Do not remove the stems.
- Using a microwave safe dish, melt the chocolate wafers. Melt for 30 seconds, stir, and continue in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is smooth.
- Dip the strawberry into the melted chocolate, covering the front, just half way, and covering the back completely.
- Immediately, add the eyeballs to the side that is half way covered in chocolate.
- Insert the yellow M & M to form the nose.
Make as many as you want.
Chicken and Dumpling Soup
After spending time playing in the snow, this hearty soup is perfect to help warm up. Children can help by chopping the vegetables, measuring and adding the ingredients, and mixing the dumplings.
2 cup rotisserie chicken, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup flour
4 cups chicken broth, divided
1 cup water
2 cups frozen French-cut green beans
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2/3 cup biscuit baking mix
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup milk
- In a large saucepan over medium-low to medium heat, combine the flour and 1/2 cup chicken broth and stir until smooth.
- Stir in the water and remaining broth and bring to a simmer.
- Add the beans, onions, carrots, marjoram, salt, pepper and chicken.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the biscuit mix, cornmeal and cheese. Stir in the milk until it is just moistened.
- Drop the batter into the soup in 12 separate mounds.
- Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the dumplings comes out clean. Do not lift the cover while simmering.
Makes 4 servings.
Snowball Cake
This fun cake is perfect to make after reading a book about snow. It combines chocolate, coconut and cream cheese and really looks like a large snowball. Children can help by cracking the eggs, adding the ingredients and putting the frosting and coconut on the cake.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray a 2 1/2 quart oven-safe bowl with non-stick cooking spray.
1 box chocolate cake mix and ingredients listed on the box
8 ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
1 box (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding
1 cup cold milk
1/4 cup powdered sugar
8 ounce tub Cool Whip topping
1 cup shredded coconut
- Prepare the cake mix as directed on the package.
- In a separate bowl, using a mixer, combine the cream cheese, egg and 2 tablespoons sugar. Mix until well blended.
- Pour the cake batter into the greased oven-safe bowl.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture in the center of the cake batter.
- Bake the cake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting.
- Using a mixer, combine the pudding, cold milk and powdered sugar. Beat for 2 minutes until completely combined.
- Fold in the cool whip until combined.
- Refrigerate until the cake has cooled.
- Allow the cake to cool on a rack. Once cooled, remove and place flat side down on a cake platter.
- Frost the cake with the cool whip mixture.
- Sprinkle the entire cake with coconut.
Makes 12 servings.
