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Showing posts with label Little Books for Little Cooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little Books for Little Cooks. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2012

Little Books for Little Cooks - Humpty Dumpty

Little Books for Little Cooks
We had a lot of fun with the Nursery Rhyme theme in the kitchen.  My five year old helped me put together an easy Humpty Dumpty breakfast.


The Book Before You Cook

Humpty Dumpty...After the Fall by Charles Reasoner

Summary:  If you have ever wondered what happened to Humpty Dumpty after he fell, then this is the book for you.  It is shaped like a castle, has die cut doors and peek through windows, and a rhyming text.  Humpty also has a positive attitude that is perfect for the youngest reader.


When it's time to cook...

You'll need:

  • one hard boiled egg 
  • one piece of bread 
  • food safe marker or food coloring
  • peanut butter or other bread topping

To make:

1.  First, I hard boiled a few eggs.  I think everyone knows how to hard boil an egg, but I put my eggs in a pot, cover them with water and bring that to a boil.  Once it boils, I remove the pot from the heat, cover it and let it sit for ten minutes.  Then I remove the eggs from the water and place them in a bowl of ice until they are cool enough to handle.  Using this method has worked great - I have never had green yolks!


2.  I used a Wilton Food Writer pen to draw the face on a hard boiled egg.  These pens are great for making fun food, and they come in different colors.  If you do not want to purchase a food safe marker, dip a q-tip in food coloring to draw the face on your eggshell.

3.  Then I spread peanut butter on a piece of bread and cut it into squares and rectangles.
 

4.  I then assembled it on a plate to look like a wall.  If peanut butter doesn't work for you, any topping will do - jelly, cream cheese, almond butter, etc.


Finally, Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall and it looks like he is about to fall!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks~Edible Crayons

Little Books for Little Cooks

Edible Crayons

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Who needs to color with crayons when you can eat them!

The Book Before You Cook…

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The Crayon Box that Talked

by Shane DeRolf

Summary: The Crayon Box that Talked is a fun, rhyming book how the crayons learn to live together. The book lends itself to further discussions about topics such as diversity, cooperation, manners, complaining, and working together.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • pretzel rods
  • vanilla icing
  • food coloring
  • colored printer paper

To Make:

  1. Break the pretzel rods in half and put the icing in a bowl (one bowl per color).
  2. Mix the food coloring into each of the bowls of icing.
  3. Dip the tips of each pretzel in the icing and allow it to harden. (Click here for a photo)
  4. Print the crayon labels from either Gourmet Mom on the Go or Cookin Up Crafty Fun onto colored printer paper.
  5. After the icing has hardened, tape the labels around the pretzels and viola, the cutest crayons you would ever want to eat!!!!

OPTIONAL: Rather than icing, you could make these using melted white chocolate or candy melts.

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Pita Pocket Crab

Little Books for Little Cooks

Pita Pocket Crab

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Enjoy a yummy, crabby pita pocket for lunch!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Clumsy Crab

by Ruth Galloway

Summary: This is a cute little book about how Nipper the crab and his “clumsy” claws are able to save the day!

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • pita pocket
  • carrots
  • tuna salad or egg salad
  • spinach or lettuce (optional)

To Make:

  1. Make your favorite tuna salad or egg salad recipe and slice some carrots.
  2. Cut a small side off of the pita pocket to form the mouth of the crab.
  3. Scoop the tuna or egg salad into the “mouth” of the pita pocket crab.
  4. Place the filled pita pocket on a bed of spinach on the plate.
  5. Position the carrot slices around the pita pocket to form the crabby claws and the eyes.
  6. Enjoy your yummy, crabby, pita pocket lunch!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Baby Blue Bird Nest

Little Books for Little Cooks

Baby Blue Bird Nest

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Get a little messy making this yummy birdy treat!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Baby Bird

by Joyce Dunbar

Summary: Follow along as a determined little birdie flops and falls many times before learning to fly.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • wax paper
  • cookie sheet
  • Shredded Wheat cereal (grass)
  • chow mein noodles (twigs)
  • 1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (mud)
  • 1 c peanut butter
  • chocolate eggs

To Make:

  1. Cover the cookie sheet with wax paper.
  2. Break the Shredded Wheat into small pieces and melt the chocolate and peanut butter on low heat.
  3. Mix the “grass”, “twigs”, and “mud” together and then form three mounds of the mixture on the wax paper.
  4. Shape the mounds into nests and refrigerate until hardened.
  5. Add the chocolate eggs and enjoy!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ OREO Frog

Little Books for Little Cooks

OREO Frog

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Enjoy a fun, simple and sweet froggy treat!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Growing Frogs

by Vivian French

Summary: Follow along as a young girl experiences the wonder and excitement of growing  her very own frogs!

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • OREOs
  • small pretzels 
  • green M&M’s
  • peanut butter, frosting, or cream cheese

To Make: Use the peanut butter, frosting, or cream cheese to attach the pretzel legs under the OREO body and the M&M eyes onto the top of the body. Enjoy your yummy, edible OREO frog!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Crushed Rainbow Ice

Little Books for Little Cooks

Crushed Rainbow Ice

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Enjoy a fun rainbow colored crushed ice treat on a warm summer day!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Elmer and the Rainbow

by David McKee

Summary: Elmer, the patchwork elephant, and the rest of the animals are concerned when they realize that the rainbow has lost its colors. Wanting to help, Elmer searches for the end of the colorless rainbow so that he can give it his own colors. Follow along to see what happens if he gives the rainbow his own colors.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • rainbow colored drinks (for example: Gatorade or Kool-aid in colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
  • ice trays
  • plastic bags
  • hammer
  • clear glass or clear plastic cup
  • straw

To Make:

  1. Pour each of the colored drinks into ice trays and freeze.
  2. Place each set of colored cubes in a separate plastic bag.
  3. Use a hammer to crush each bag of cubes.
  4. Pour each bag of colored crushed cubes into the glass/cup in the following order: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, then red
  5. Add a straw and enjoy!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Animals Train Animal Crackers

Little Books for Little Cooks

Animal Train Animal Crackers

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All aboard! Have some fun on the animal train with some animal crackers.

The Book Before You Cook…

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Animals Aboard

by Andrew Fusek Peters

Summary: “There’s a party on the train, now who to invite to climb aboard and dance through the night?” Follow along as the animals board the train and make music all through the night.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • animal crackers
  • peanut butter and/or jelly

To Make:

  1. Find matching animal cracker pairs
  2. Spread peanut butter and/or jelly on the crackers.
  3. Press two matching crackers together.
  4. Continue with the remaining animal cracker pairs.
  5. Stand up your animals and have fun forming an animal train!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea

Little Books for Little Cooks

Rainbow Fish

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Enjoy some yummy fish from a fish!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea

by Marcus Pfister

Summary: Follow along as Rainbow Fish explores the deep sea and meets lots of new friends while in search of his missing silver scale.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • paper plate
  • construction paper
  • googly eye
  • rainbow colored goldfish crackers

To Make:

  1. Cut the construction paper to form the fish’s fin, tail, and face.
  2. Create the fish by arranging the fish parts and the paper plate on a table or tray. Add the googly eye.
  3. Pour the goldfish crackers onto the plate and enjoy!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ The Little Dump Truck

Little Books for Little Cooks

Dump Truck Brownies

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Eating dirt may be yummier than you think…especially if it is really a brownie…and you are eating it from a toy dump truck!

The Book Before You Cook…

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The Little Dump Truck

by Margery Cuyler

Summary: This is a fun, rhythmic book for your little truck lover! Follow Hard Hat Pete’s day as he and his dump truck are ready for action, hauling stones and rocks.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • brownie mix (or the ingredients to make your own)
  • a clean dump truck toy

To Make:

  1. Prepare the brownies and bake according to the directions provided with the mix.
  2. Allow the brownies to cool.
  3. Cut the brownies into small squares or break them up into chunks.
  4. Add the brownie squares/chunks into the bed of the dump truck and enjoy!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Book Basket ~ April/May 2011

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At the end of each month we want to give you a 'heads up' of the books that will be used in the two upcoming months for several of our features: Little Books for Little Cooks, Now I Know My ABC's, and Once Upon a Book. These lists are to help you out so you can be looking for the books at your library, digging through your stacks in search of them, or order those 'must haves'!

Here are the books that we are planning to use during the months of April and May 2011. If you subscribe in a reader, you can click HERE to view the books.

 Little Books for Little Cooks

 
 
 

Now I Know My ABC's

 
 
 

Once Upon a Book

 

Monday, March 21, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Duckie’s Rainbow

Little Books for Little Cooks

Rainbow Pancakes

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Ever want to taste a rainbow? Some yummy rainbow pancakes might just do the trick!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Duckie’s Rainbow

by Frances Barry

Summary: Follow along on Duckie’s colorful journey home,  where she eventually sees a beautiful rainbow!

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • pancake mix (or the ingredients to make your own)
  • food coloring

To Make:

  1. Mix up the pancake batter.
  2. Separate the batter equally into six bowls.
  3. Add food coloring to each of the bowls to make the colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple
  4. Cook the batter on a griddle.
  5. Enjoy eating your rainbow!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Rhyme Time Valentine

Little Books for Little Cooks

Heart-shaped Marshmallows

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Show some love…with heart-shaped marshmallows and some yummy hot chocolate!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Rhyme Time Valentine

by Nancy Poydar

Summary: For Valentines Day, Ruby makes heart-shaped Valentines for her classmates. Although they are blown away by the wind, she later notices them fluttering through the sky for all those passing by to enjoy! Click here for a  more in depth review.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • red sprinkles
  • butter

To Make:

  1. Combine sugar, gelatin, and salt in a saucepan. Add water and stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
  2. Heat for 3 minutes more, remove from the stove & stir in vanilla.
  3. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer on high speed for 10-12 minutes or until the mixture looks like a thick marshmallow crème.
  4. Pour mixture into a buttered 13x9 inch pan & chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or until the mixture has stiffened.
  5. Heat a heart-shaped cookie cutter in hot tap water & cut out the marshmallows.
  6. Fill a baggie with equal amounts of powdered sugar & sprinkles. Drop in the marshmallows and shake until coated.
  7. Enjoy your heart-shaped marshmallows with some yummy hot chocolate!

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Snip, Snip, Snow

Little Books for Little Cooks

Tortilla Snowflakes

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If you don’t have any snow outside, why not make your own yummy snowflakes to eat!

The Book Before You Cook…

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Snip, Snip…Snow by Nancy Poydar

Summary: Desperately longing for it to snow, Sophie resolves to create her own snow by cutting out snowflakes. The book provides step by step instructions for making your own paper snowflakes.

When It’s Time to Cook…

You’ll need:

  • flour tortillas
  • butter flavored spray oil
  • sugar
  • confectioner’s sugar

To Make:

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Microwave the tortillas for about 10-15 seconds until they are warm.
  3. Fold each tortilla as if you were folding paper to make a snowflake. Use kitchen scissors to cut shapes...just like if you were using paper.
  4. Unfold the tortilla and place it onto a cookie sheet lightly sprayed with oil.
  5. Spray snowflake with oil and sprinkle regular sugar on top.
  6. Bake the snowflake on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes until lightly browned and crisp.
  7. Remove from oven and then sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar or any other edible toppings you would like.

Little Books for Little Cooks is a monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!