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!
The Box Turtle By: Vanessa Roeder
Ages: Preschool through First Grade
Terrance the turtle was born without a shell. His parents gave him a box for a shell which he loved. However, others made fun of him, so Terrance went in search of a new shell. With the help of friends, he realizes that his original box, with a little work, was just perfect. Terrance was so much more than just a shell! This is a beautiful story about acceptance and friendship.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading, ask the child to look at the picture on the cover and say why he/she thinks Terrance looks different from other turtles.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you why Terrance began not liking his shell.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you some of the different types of shells that Terrance tried and why they didn’t work.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Terrance’s friends helped him.
- After reading, discuss with the child vocabulary such as petrified, toiled, etc.
Additional Books:
- Ricky the Rock That Couldn’t Roll By: Jay and Erin Wozniak
- The Brave Little Crab By: Beth Costanzo Illustrated by: Ekaterina Illina
- It’s OK to be Different By: Sharon Purtill Illustrated by: Sujata Saha
- Just Be MOO By: Khaled Saadi and Hakam Saadi
Cooking Time:
Fruit Turtles
These adorable turtles are fun to make and healthy for children to eat. Just give the child the materials and let them create these fun turtles.
Kiwi
Green grapes
Candy Eyeballs
- Cut some grapes in half or quarters for the legs.
- Cut the tip off the grapes to make a flat surface for the head.
- Peel the kiwi and slice.
- Place the kiwi on a plate and arrange the grapes to form the turtle.
- Add the eyeballs.
Make as many as you like.
Pecan Rolo Turtles
These treats are normally seen during the holidays, but are delicious anytime of the year. You don’t have to make the whole recipe. Just make as many as you want. Children can help by laying out the pretzels, adding the Rolos and pecans.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet.
50 snap or twist pretzels
12 ounce package Rolos
50 pecan halves
- Lay the pretzels in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Remove the wrappers from the candy and place one piece on each pretzel.
- Bake at 200 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes or until the candy glistens, but still keeps their shape.
- Remove from the oven and immediately press a pecan half on each piece of candy. Press down to spread the chocolate and caramel onto the pretzel.
- Allow to cool completely so they harden. Can place in the refrigerator to speed up this process.
Recipe makes 50, but you can make as many as you like.
Turtle Cupcakes
There is nothing better than combining chocolate, caramel and pecans to make a delicious dessert. These turtle cupcakes are beyond good. Children can help by measuring and adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs and adding the caramel sauce and pecans to the top of each cupcake.
Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cupcake liners into cupcake pans (24).
1 1/2 cups brewed coffee
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup (1 and 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the coffee and cocoa until dissolved. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, combine the butter, brown sugar and sugar. Cream on medium high speed for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
- Add the vanilla and mix.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the coffee mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Mix each addition until just incorporated. Do not over mix.
- Using a scoop, divide the batter between the prepared liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Place cupcakes on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove and transfer back to the rack to complete the cooling process.
Caramel Buttercream Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
6 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup caramel sauce
4 to 5 tablespoons milk
- Using a mixer, blend the butter and sugar.
- Add the vanilla, caramel sauce and combine.
- Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until frosting is the consistency for piping onto the cupcakes.
- Pipe the frosting on top of each cooled cupcake.
- Drizzle each cupcake with caramel sauce.
- Sprinkle each cupcake with pecans.
Makes 24 cupcakes.
