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!
Turkey Goes to School By: Wendi Silvano Illustrated by: Lee Harper
Ages: Preschool through Second Grade
This is our third book about Turkey and our fun friend does not disappoint. School is starting and since the theme is “Farm Days”, Turkey is sure he can attend. Unfortunately, he was turned away, so he had to try to disguise himself to get in. As you can imagine, his disguises were not the best. As always, it all works out at the end of our story. This book is perfect as children begin returning to school.
Tips for Reading:
- Before reading the story, ask the child to tell you how he/she feels about beginning a new school year.
- Before reading, if the child has heard other books about Turkey, discuss the books with the child and ask if he/she can predict what Turkey will do in this story.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you why Turkey was so confused about attending school.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Turkey and the other animals had prepared to go to school.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you some of the disguises that Turkey used to attend school.
- After reading, ask the child to tell you how Turkey and his friends were finally able to attend school.
Additional Books by Wendi Silvano:
- Turkey Trouble
- Turkey Trick or Treat
- Turkey’s Eggcellent Easter
- Turkey Claus
Cooking Time:
Since our story is about going back to school, we decided to do “all things” apple.
Apple Pops
These healthy pops would be perfect for breakfast or an after school snack. Children can help by dipping the apples and sprinkling on the toppings.
Apple
Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Mini chocolate chips
Coconut
Chopped nuts
Cinnamon
Other toppings of choice
Lollipop sticks
- Core the apple and cut into slices.
- Carefully insert the stick into the apple.
- Dip the apple into the yogurt, covering about 3/4 of the apple.
- Sprinkle toppings on the yogurt and place the pops on a lined cookie sheet.
- Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to help set the yogurt. Make sure you do not freeze the apple.
- Serve immediately.
Make as many as you like.
Bloomin’ Apples
These delicious apples are so much fun to make and are so good. They are perfect to serve as a decadent dessert. Children can help by adding the ingredients to the apples before baking.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a medium baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 apples (We used Honey Crisp.)
8 soft caramel squares
Vanilla ice cream
Caramel sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, sugars and cinnamon.
- Slice the top off of each apple. Use an apple corer or a teaspoon to scoop out the core. Do not go all the way through the apple.
- Using a sharp knife, Make two circular cuts in the apples around the core area.
- Place the apple upside down on a cutting board and make slices around the apple, but do not cut through the bottom of the apple.
- Fill each apple with two caramel squares.
- Brush the melted butter mixture on the top of each.
- Place the apples in the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until tender. May take as long as 50 minutes.
- Serve warm with ice cream and drizzle caramel over the top.
Makes 4 servings.
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
These wonderful rolls are so easy to make because you use pre-made cinnamon rolls. Children can help by chopping the apples, adding the ingredients, rolling out the cinnamon rolls and placing them in the muffin tins.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray 8 regular-sized muffin cups with cooking spray.
1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
1 cup finely chopped apple, about 1 medium
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
8 teaspoons caramel sauce
- In a small bowl, mix the apples, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg until evenly coated.
- Separate the cinnamon rolls. Using a rolling pin, flatten the rolls.
- Press each roll into a muffin cup, making sure to press around the sides.
- Divide the apple mixture evenly between each cup.
- Top each cup with a teaspoon of caramel sauce.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Place on a wire rack to cool for a few minutes. Remove from the pan.
- Top each roll with a teaspoon or two of the icing that came in the cinnamon roll package.
- Serve warm.
Makes 8 servings.
Apple Kolaches
Wow! These mini turnovers are so good and easy to make. Children can help by adding the ingredients, chopping the apples, filling the kolaches and adding the icing.
Dough:
1 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups flour
Filling:
1 1/2 cups finely peeled and chopped apples (We used golden delicious apples.)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Using a mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy (3 to 5 minutes).
- Gradually add the flour and mix well.
- Divide the dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine the apples, cinnamon and sugar.
- On a floured surface, roll one portion of the dough into a 15 by 9 inch rectangle.
- Cut dough into 3 inch squares.
- Place a teaspoon of the apple mixture in the center of each square.
- Overlap two opposite corners of dough over the filling. Pinch tightly to seal.
- Repeat with the second ball of dough.
- Place two inches apart on the lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
- Place baking sheets on wire racks to cool for a couple of minutes.
- Remove the kolaches to the rack.
- Mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle over the warm kolaches.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen.
