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!
A Snowy Day By: Ezra Jack Keats
Ages: Toddlers through Kindergarten
This is a classic story about a child’s adventures on a snowy day. Peter does all of the things that children love to do on snowy days. He makes tracks in the snow, makes snow angels and builds a snowman, but he learns that you can’t save the snow in your pocket for the next day. This lovely book was a Caldecott winner for its illustrations. Children will enjoy sharing this snowy day with Peter.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child what things that he/she likes to do on a snowy day. If he/she has never been out in snow, ask them what they think they might like to do.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you some of the things that Peter liked to do in the snow.
- After reading the story, ask the child to tell you what happened to the snow that Peter put into his pocket.
- If you live in an area where it snows, spend time enjoying outdoor activities with the child.
Additional Books:
- Snow By: Uri Shulevitz
- Sneezy the Snowman By: Maureen Wright Illustrated by: Stephen Gilpin
- There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow By: Lucille Colandro Illustrated by: Jared Lee
- The Biggest Snowman Ever By: Steven Kroll Illustrated by: Jeni Bassett
- Straight to the Pole By: Kevin O’Malley
Cooking Time:
Snowy winter days make us want to stay in and enjoy the warmth of our homes. It is a perfect time for comfort food. The following are family recipes handed down from one generation to the next. Enjoy!
Sue’s Baked Beans
Sue was a wonderful cook and this was a dish that came to every major family event and holiday. We think of baked beans and hamburgers in the summer time, but this dish can be a main course in the cold of winter. Children can help by adding the ingredients, stirring and kitchen cleanup. Special thanks to the Marsh family for sharing this recipe.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
1 pound ground chuck
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 large can Bush’s Original Baked Beans (28 oz.)
1 can light red kidney beans (15.5 oz.), drained
1 can baby butter beans (16 oz.), drained
1 1/3 cups ketchup
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
- In a skillet, cook and crumble the ground chuck and onions until meat is no longer pink.
- Drain the meat mixture.
- In a large bowl, combine the baked beans, kidney beans, butter beans, ketchup, brown sugar and flour.
- Add the meat mixture and mix completely.
- Put the meat and bean mixture into the greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Cover with foil.
- Place dish into a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes.
Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Cocoa Marshmallow Cake
This wonderful chocolate cake combines cocoa and marshmallows to make a delicious winter treat for the whole family. It does include a fairly unusual ingredient. Children can help by adding the ingredients, cracking the eggs and kitchen cleanup.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup cold Coca-Cola
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and sugar.
- Put the butter, cola and cocoa in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and pour the cola mixture over the flour mixture and combine.
- Add the buttermilk, eggs, soda, salt and vanilla to the flour/cola mixture.
- Stir until all of the ingredients are combined.
- Add the miniature marshmallows and stir.
- Pour the cake mixture into the greased pan.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake.
- While the cake is baking, make the icing.
- The icing should be poured over the hot cake.
- Place the iced cake on a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Icing
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
6 tablespoons cold Coca-Cola
2 tablespoons cocoa
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
- Place the powdered sugar into a large bowl.
- Put the butter, cola and cocoa in a pan and bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat, and pour the cocoa mixture over the powdered sugar.
- Using a whisk, mix until icing is smooth.
- Add the vanilla and stir.
- Pour the icing over the hot cake.
Makes 10 to 12 servings.
