tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25957960058642967242024-03-13T16:28:41.926-07:00Eat Their WordsA blog that combines two of my greatest loves: children's literature and cooking with my kids. Join us as we pair good books with complementary recipes (and other creative pursuits, as the mood strikes).Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-12793651208517940892011-02-15T16:46:00.000-08:002011-02-15T16:46:06.153-08:00Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly - Raspberry-peanut butter-marshmallow waffles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Henry-Elliebelly-Carolyn-Parkhurst/dp/0312548486?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly" height="168" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0312548486&tag=glufreeas-20" width="200" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312548486" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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One of the activities my two boys (ages 5 and 7) and their 2 year old cousin <i>all</i> love to do together is play with the play kitchen at my parents' house. There's just something about pretending to cook that appeals to kids. For a long time, before we had our own play kitchen set up in our home, it was one of the things my kids were most drawn to at children's museums and friends' houses. Come to think of it, my sister and I are four years apart and rarely played together growing up but my sister's Little Tikes kitchen was one thing that we both enjoyed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xwv4tyQkIebxmU_2JfyKnCKih7_sA1kzPNCIFrmbbC32UrUogMwPt1rUOyQy7ZLAA929Sx9VMIpYgS50IrK9_WK6NNMVCyWZHojx_gm5x8dJUeWbBxhd2LArwByzVowUaFWvOrmAm0/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25xwv4tyQkIebxmU_2JfyKnCKih7_sA1kzPNCIFrmbbC32UrUogMwPt1rUOyQy7ZLAA929Sx9VMIpYgS50IrK9_WK6NNMVCyWZHojx_gm5x8dJUeWbBxhd2LArwByzVowUaFWvOrmAm0/s400/Scan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my sister, circa 1986.</td></tr>
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Carolyn Parkhurst's <i>Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly </i>(illustrated by Dan Yaccarino) perfectly captures young childrens' fascination with cooking and creating. We are introduced to siblings Henry and Elliebelly via their cooking "show". Henry, the older sibling, has his own vision of how their show should proceed. As Henry tries to instruct his "viewers" in the finer points of making raspberry-peanut butter-marshmallow waffles, the toddler Elliebelly wreaks havoc and frustrates Henry with her very toddlerlike demands. First she insists she be allowed to help. Then she orders Henry to wear a pirate hat. Frustrated but undeterred, Henry gamely works around his dervish of a sister until their play is interrupted by their (offstage) mother's offer of real waffles.<br />
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One of the things I love most about this book is that the author clearly gets how kids play, and how easily older siblings become frustrated with their younger siblings. Reading the interactions between Henry and Elliebelly is a lot like listening in on my own kids as they play in one room while I'm in another. It was a nice touch to have their mother's offstage responses to their bickering presented in quote bubbles. Henry and his little sister are a bit younger than my own kids but their personalities are remarkably similar. It's not a stretch to accept that Elliebelly insists Henry wear a pirate hat while they do their "show" because I have a son who likes to wear a Batman cape while doing just about anything.<br />
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We decided to make Henry's raspberry-peanut butter-marshmallow waffles, with one caveat: we didn't follow Henry's recipe. His recipe calls for "Seventeen cups of imported flour from Kansas," and duck eggs. And that is before Elliebelly decides to add pizza and "Baby Anne" to the mix. Yeah. I think we'll stick with a more traditional approach. If you can even call raspberry-peanut butter-marshmallow waffles traditional. We whipped these up for an after school snack.<br />
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<b>Raspberry-peanut butter-marshmallow waffles</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNx-dny40vdHVkQj4Md1F6rfkrbTUq8m8XZxQuCf_8DYkJKw-hOzxuuUNpOYFnxvInfJN9nNNRFaSqY9wD21gjZVf-DweZtBFmNft_QWe7u6HHgHVcULZBf7DH2asnjrOSLxxXavBLLo/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNx-dny40vdHVkQj4Md1F6rfkrbTUq8m8XZxQuCf_8DYkJKw-hOzxuuUNpOYFnxvInfJN9nNNRFaSqY9wD21gjZVf-DweZtBFmNft_QWe7u6HHgHVcULZBf7DH2asnjrOSLxxXavBLLo/s400/IMG_1936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<ul><li>2 large eggs </li>
<li>1 cup Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix</li>
<li>3/4 cup water</li>
<li>1 tablespoons oil</li>
<li>2 tablespoons peanut butter (more if you desire a more peanut buttery taste)</li>
<li>mini marshmallows</li>
<li>raspberry fruit spread </li>
</ul><div>Additional equipment: waffle iron.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Prepare base waffle batter. Mix together eggs, Pamela's mix, water and oil. Stir until combined.</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcC1oKkq7n1UiFJ4-ebunRPU84IwpIbGXXSC7NWj4Uj0YAg7BelPp6xuHUr0zzqdBh8aN1HINhgSBdbNPSA-Gz52sNXzS1BU_SsJ-gMBbw1kiNgNQCp4Z8UcJdAUzc6zIvTMhohQBDus/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcC1oKkq7n1UiFJ4-ebunRPU84IwpIbGXXSC7NWj4Uj0YAg7BelPp6xuHUr0zzqdBh8aN1HINhgSBdbNPSA-Gz52sNXzS1BU_SsJ-gMBbw1kiNgNQCp4Z8UcJdAUzc6zIvTMhohQBDus/s320/IMG_1937.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Stir 2 tablespoons peanut butter into batter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Fold in 1 or 2 handfuls of marshmallows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsdYs82RKoaylqvcXZqlTQ726r7s2aaGVjy-G_6A5UVOV8iCz1WVZ9zFbPkNWaz9spwDUw-T8ZiyI3JY3ikEIZVHSzZvD62cZ-lLZjAbQ97qcj7Ld1RxlbMs4RtIj_djhjRVSsWkM7_Q/s1600/IMG_1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsdYs82RKoaylqvcXZqlTQ726r7s2aaGVjy-G_6A5UVOV8iCz1WVZ9zFbPkNWaz9spwDUw-T8ZiyI3JY3ikEIZVHSzZvD62cZ-lLZjAbQ97qcj7Ld1RxlbMs4RtIj_djhjRVSsWkM7_Q/s400/IMG_1939.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Pour batter into heated waffle iron. This was exactly enough for 4 waffles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPafo01lS7rusVBtaixLo4qbhInodcZeUW5FW4mH2XYf4AgGZUak5Jnbg5MHugNZBXAZpkLAylY1P5DVYrAFT56uX8Bnyenl2u4hiJFtQaXIVCEPM2CTr8N99xgHsSwPKD5pxc42zWhZE/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPafo01lS7rusVBtaixLo4qbhInodcZeUW5FW4mH2XYf4AgGZUak5Jnbg5MHugNZBXAZpkLAylY1P5DVYrAFT56uX8Bnyenl2u4hiJFtQaXIVCEPM2CTr8N99xgHsSwPKD5pxc42zWhZE/s400/IMG_1941.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdXbmOT0uNx56W2_ypmMw3kHvVaIJbhihSk-57ura1pVORCNoiGoMmAjaxsQBsMCo-ZxAZM85z0Bg8oFnLHUNegzzofzc4t4cx5yhXgtSaSnP9R2GaB7MVRIBxtvGqDvswbJ0w4s9wRY/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdXbmOT0uNx56W2_ypmMw3kHvVaIJbhihSk-57ura1pVORCNoiGoMmAjaxsQBsMCo-ZxAZM85z0Bg8oFnLHUNegzzofzc4t4cx5yhXgtSaSnP9R2GaB7MVRIBxtvGqDvswbJ0w4s9wRY/s400/IMG_1942.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avoid this.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</tbody></table>5. When cooked through (1 - 2 minutes) carefully remove waffles from iron. Top with raspberry fruit spread.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlTbraZk0n2K0ZbURKuo_8XKwyfWHIE_K5Lm9iVCSDrWrjSUvcoDDRNbHqbZnEhe-quTq0KbALmzZ8yyV0SGl-xABUpTHdX0QsHHptc20ieLvysMClSrc3ezB5p5Tw4QjZ9tzZ0zKw38/s1600/IMG_1946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlTbraZk0n2K0ZbURKuo_8XKwyfWHIE_K5Lm9iVCSDrWrjSUvcoDDRNbHqbZnEhe-quTq0KbALmzZ8yyV0SGl-xABUpTHdX0QsHHptc20ieLvysMClSrc3ezB5p5Tw4QjZ9tzZ0zKw38/s320/IMG_1946.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were easy to throw together and made for a sweet snack. They had a light peanut buttery taste and the raspberry spread was a nice complement. Watch, my kids will probably ask me to make these all the time now.</div><div><br />
</div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">* As an Amazon affiliate I receive a small commission when items are purchased via links on this blog. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words! </span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-80251740893973079522011-02-09T09:14:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:15:55.581-08:00George and Martha - Split Pea Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Martha was very fond of making split pea soup Sometimes she made it all day long. Pots and pots of split pea soup." - James Marshall, <i>George and Martha</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/George-Martha-James-Marshall/dp/0395199727?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="George and Martha" height="198" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0395199727&tag=glufreeas-20" width="200" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395199727" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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I love soup. During the winter months I make soup a minimum of once a week. I'd make soup every night if I thought I could get away with it but I suspect that would result in my family surreptitiously trying to dispose of their leftovers in their shoes. Like George does in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/George-Martha-James-Marshall/dp/0395199727?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">George and Martha</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395199727" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, James Marshall's sweet and funny book (the first in a series) about two best friends.<br />
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In Marshall's very short chapters (or vignettes, if you will) we are introduced to George and Martha, two best friends who occasionally get on each other's nerves and aren't afraid to put each other in their proper places. They are a bit like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Toad-Friends-Read-Book/dp/0064440206?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Frog and Toad</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064440206" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, or Bert and Ernie. Despite misunderstandings, their friendship is what holds them together.<br />
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It doesn't hurt that the stories have a lot of kid appeal. In one story, Martha chews George out for being a peeping tom (this comes off as hilarious, not creepy). In another, George breaks his "favorite" tooth and must have it replaced with a gold tooth (I was fascinated by this when I was a kid). And then there is the infamous split pea soup story. In it, Martha repeatedly serves George her homemade split pea soup. George, too polite to tell Martha he hates split pea soup, quietly puts up with it until one day he can stand it no longer and dumps his bowl (his tenth of the day!) in his shoe. Unfortunately Martha has seen the whole thing. Instead of being offended, she gently suggests he tell her the truth next time . . . and confesses that she, too, hates split pea soup. She just likes making it.<br />
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I have to thank my friend Jess for reminding me about the split pea soup chapter in this book. I thought George and Martha were hilarious when I was growing up so I'm not sure why it took me so long to introduce them to my boys. At five and seven, my boys are just the right ages to find the stories absolutely hilarious. We have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/George-Martha-Complete-Stories-Collectors/dp/0618891951?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0618891951" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>(you can get the books individually but trust me, you won't be able to stop at just one so save yourself the time and look for the compilation) out from the library right now and they can't get enough of the short and hilarious vignettes. "Just one more!" they beg. It is especially sweet to hear them giggle together as the seven year old reads them aloud to the five year old.<br />
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Anyway, coincidentally or not, I had been going through my Ina Garten cookbooks for soup recipes and the split pea soup recipe was beckoning. . .<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parkers-split-pea-soup-recipe/index.html">Parker's Split Pea Soup</a></b> (courtesy of Ina Garten and <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/">The Food Network</a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0609602195" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />; </i>a version of this recipe also appears in<i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Contessa-Cookbook-Ina-Garten/dp/0609602195?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0609602195" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb8UJXY3G27m-Ef1yoa4yZAecVpg7jH8St45kkmVDWTXC-tlGISvVQabFiSANSD6syTxYh33IwaK9x5D-2bPhgsvTIEPe1foRStO8MqwGAZWc1uNIw38zvXEuYSRyYI7pStB84wz7lJg/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb8UJXY3G27m-Ef1yoa4yZAecVpg7jH8St45kkmVDWTXC-tlGISvVQabFiSANSD6syTxYh33IwaK9x5D-2bPhgsvTIEPe1foRStO8MqwGAZWc1uNIw38zvXEuYSRyYI7pStB84wz7lJg/s400/IMG_1908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span></span><br />
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<ul style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup chopped yellow onions</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 cloves garlic</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, minced</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/8 cup good olive oil</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 teaspoon dried oregano</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1-1/2 teaspoons k</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">osher salt</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 cups medium-diced carrots (3 to 4 carrots)</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup medium-diced red boiling potatoes</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, unpeeled (3 small)</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 pound dried split green peas</span></span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/fn20/imgs/bltccc.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 2px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">8 cups chicken stock</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> or water</span></span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. In a stock pot, saute onions, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper for about 15 minutes, or until onions are translucent.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. Add carrots, potatoes, 1/2 pound of split peas and stock/water.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. Bring to a boil then simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. Add remaining peas and simmer for another 40 minutes, or until peas are soft. Stir often to prevent soup from burning on the bottom of the pot. (Note: I had to simmer mine--on medium heat---well over 40 minutes and add extra liquid.)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pOFJI9ZQ_M4VVvyHYbxgoEzhL29e6BSJgmqm78LcAbxmm5dOW58apILGUsiHcrzMqpYRb0fgiohuydiQQqg2Hs2SIQFDYzJlrgr1Z38aRawe-eC3Y2gr1bjAaACjL7Ud5Y_oHN1DLZI/s1600/IMG_1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pOFJI9ZQ_M4VVvyHYbxgoEzhL29e6BSJgmqm78LcAbxmm5dOW58apILGUsiHcrzMqpYRb0fgiohuydiQQqg2Hs2SIQFDYzJlrgr1Z38aRawe-eC3Y2gr1bjAaACjL7Ud5Y_oHN1DLZI/s400/IMG_1923.jpg" width="300" /></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Somewhat shockingly, both of my kids actually liked this soup. I thought it had a good flavor too. My husband wasn't a fan but it worked for 3/4 of the household so I consider it a victory. Note that this makes a good meat-free meal, and can be vegetarian if you use water instead of chicken broth.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">*As an Amazon affiliate, I receive a small commission from purchases made via links found on this site. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span></span></span></span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-78202789891665616302011-01-24T12:12:00.000-08:002011-01-24T18:20:27.565-08:00Cookbook Review - Babycakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BabyCakes-Gluten-Free-Sugar-Free-Recipes-Talked-About/dp/0307408833?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="BabyCakes: Vegan, (Mostly) Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0307408833&tag=glufreeas-20" width="167" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0307408833" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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You would think that after the holiday season--which included baking 50 snowman-shaped sugar cookies for the second grade classes at my son's school (that's 3 batches) and a batch for my own family--I would be all baked out. I admit, it did take me a little while to recover from my Christmas bakeapalooza and now we've got Valentine's Day class parties on the horizon. This past weekend, though, I felt like making bread. Not the sandwich bread I make every week in my bread maker but a nice, sweet quick bread. I pulled out a Christmas gift, Erin McKenna's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BabyCakes-Gluten-Free-Sugar-Free-Recipes-Talked-About/dp/0307408833?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Babycakes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0307408833" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, </i>to look for inspiration<i>.</i><br />
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Here's the thing about <i>Babycakes</i>, which features recipes used in McKenna's hugely popular New York City <a href="http://www.babycakesnyc.com/">bakery</a>: all of the recipes are vegan and <i>mostly </i>gluten- and (refined) sugar-free. I say 'mostly' because that's what the book's subtitle says. But really, if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy you will want to read the recipes carefully because some of them do call for spelt flour. Anyway, because the recipes are vegan/gluten-free/sugar-free (and kosher) they call for ingredients like Bob's Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose baking flour, coconut oil, dairy-free milks and agave nectar. Most people don't happen to have these sitting around in their kitchens and they can be hard to come by (though they are becoming more mainstream--I've seen them at Target!). However, once you have McKenna's favored ingredients on hand you can use them for almost any recipe in the book.<br />
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Back in October, when I had this book from the library, McKenna's pumpkin spice muffins were my first attempt at baking the Babycakes way and I can't say it was my most successful baking attempt. It had nothing to do with the recipe itself and everything to do with the user: I had gotten it into my head that I wanted pumpkin bread, and nothing else would do. The thing never cooked through, even after leaving it in the oven well over the cook time. This time I knew better and the only modification I made to the recipe for banana chocolate chip bread was to use non-fat cow's milk in place of rice milk. All told, I could have baked it a little longer because the very middle was a little undercooked but the top was nicely browned and the toothpick I inserted came out clean. Maybe I have been eating gluten-free for too long, but I wouldn't have known the bread doesn't contain gluten. My kids ate it up and asked me to put slices in their lunch boxes for their snack today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheis6QMls6VdXF5fJBlRILkGnhp3cQsdEbGuP04g1z1IvFfcd291gg8CiIphzesC8gIYL-n_pwxvSBjPgEGRkwju18e4OdAvunbbp-ZcdLm4z2B8I5MIXpgQCxsony-BNMSmmbs_SPAb4/s1600/IMG_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheis6QMls6VdXF5fJBlRILkGnhp3cQsdEbGuP04g1z1IvFfcd291gg8CiIphzesC8gIYL-n_pwxvSBjPgEGRkwju18e4OdAvunbbp-ZcdLm4z2B8I5MIXpgQCxsony-BNMSmmbs_SPAb4/s400/IMG_0302.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My five year old, mashing the bananas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsMgoPytPbdxLG_o4NAun9-fl2D4hQWAq8Ef8CSQARHaJtAXqMLEydB0vuxW42x0VNJfBoMMd9O10u0A4bCRNhetlD8emvXflm1KkaclrTTdzUf9CGeJ2Ht7KQu0PzuEAmf46lCIn4VM/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsMgoPytPbdxLG_o4NAun9-fl2D4hQWAq8Ef8CSQARHaJtAXqMLEydB0vuxW42x0VNJfBoMMd9O10u0A4bCRNhetlD8emvXflm1KkaclrTTdzUf9CGeJ2Ht7KQu0PzuEAmf46lCIn4VM/s400/IMG_0304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banana chocolate chip bread, fresh from the oven.</td></tr>
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While not specifically a kid cookbook, the recipes in <i>Babycakes</i> appeal to the whole family and offer peace of mind to families who are concerned about food intolerances and/or healthy ingredients. In the section on tools and ingredients McKenna explains why she uses things like evaporated cane juice, agave nectar and coconut oil in place of more common ingredients. My five year old helped me make the banana bread and was most enthusiastic about mashing the bananas.<br />
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My family's main concern is gluten-free recipes but I appreciate this book's focus on vegan and sugar-free ingredients as well. I have been known to bake for my sons' class parties and there are other kids who have dairy and/or sugar intolerances. I like that, in many cases, one recipe can meet all three dietary needs. My only criticism of the book is that there is no way to tell, without reading the entire ingredient list, which needs each recipe targets. A simple key at the top of each indicating whether it meets vegan, gluten-free and/or sugar free standards would be helpful for at-a-glance browsing.<br />
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<i>Babycakes</i> is published by Clarkson Potter, the same group that publishes Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa cookbooks, and like Garten's books it is printed on thick, glossy paper and features stunning full color photography. These are among my favorite cookbooks in my collection because they are well-designed and fun to look at (and they look good on my bookshelf). Good <i>cookbook</i> design makes the recipes look all the more appetizing. In an age where home cooks are turning to the Internet for recipes (I'll admit, I've got the Epicurious app on my iPad and I use it all the time) it's nice that publishers are still producing gorgeous cookbooks that appeal to all the senses.<br />
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Get this book: if you are gluten- or dairy-intolerant, vegan, or want to cut back on refined sugar but still enjoy baked goods from time to time.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure: As an Amazon.com affiliate I earn a small commission on products purchased via links featured on this site. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-84129763192331078462011-01-06T17:09:00.000-08:002011-01-06T17:09:46.164-08:00Cookbook Review- Tiana's Cookbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Frog-Tianas-Cookbook-Recipes/dp/1423125401?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Cookbook: Recipes for Kids (Disney Princess: the Princess and the Frog)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1423125401&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423125401" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Sometimes I am left scratching my head at movie tie-in books. Sometimes publishers get it right. I love the way Disney/Pixar and Little Golden Books have collaborated to produce faithful and cooly illustrated adaptations of popular Disney/Pixar films. Other times I just wonder, what was the point? I've seen a few cookbooks based on random licensed properties but the recent ones based on Disney and Disney/Pixar films <i>The Princess and the Frog (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Frog-Tianas-Cookbook-Recipes/dp/1423125401?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tiana's Cookbook: Recipes for Kids</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423125401" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />) </i>and <i>Ratatouille</i> (<i>What's Cooking?: A Cookbook for Kid</i>s--which appears to be out of print but was available at my local library) get it right. Primarily because the central characters in these films have culinary aspirations. What better way to get kids involved in the kitchen than with a cookbook that features favorite characters and meals they might eat? Even better is when the recipes are for things you'd actually <i>want</i> to eat.<br />
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I wasn't particularly impressed with the <i>Ratatouille</i> cookbook. The recipes looked good and I think my older son would have enjoyed preparing some of them. However, most of the recipes relied on gluten-containing ingredients and just were not practical for the unique dietary needs of two of the four members of our household. It's not much of a kid-friendly cookbook if I have to take the additional step of adapting the recipes. However, the New Orleans-inspired recipes in <i>Tiana's Cookbook</i> were more celiac-friendly so it gets my wholehearted approval.<br />
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Full of New Orleans-inspired fare, Tiana's Cookbook is divided into sections for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, breads/sides/drinks and--most kids' favorite--desserts. I love that the New Orleans/cajun theme is carried throughout. How many kids' cookbooks have recipes for beignets or po' boy sandwiches? Obviously, the beignets don't work for us (without significant tweaking) but the sandwiches are doable if we use our gluten-free bread. The most useful section is the dinner section. Recipes for jambalaya and red beans and rice are easy for my seven year old to follow. Some steps (sauteing veggies in oil, chopping veggies) require my supervision but it's a step beyond assembling sandwiches. Each recipe includes a brief description (in the form of a "note" from Tiana) and photo. Illustrations of characters from the movie appear every few pages. I particularly like that there is a lot of healthier fare here: fruit salad, oven-baked fish, green beans, smoothies, oven-baled potato wedges . . . the healthier recipes provide a nice counter balance for things like mud pie and macaroni and cheese.<br />
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As far as the princess theme of the book goes . . . well, I have two boys. They will only grudgingly watch Disney princess movies with me (I am still waiting for them to acknowledge the artistic genius of <i>Sleeping Beauty</i>, my favorite animated Disney movie. I don't see it happening.) They saw <i>The Princess and the Frog </i>when it was in the theater and they enjoyed it but not enough to see it again. That's okay; my seven year old is still enthusiastic about taking responsibility for making some of our meals and to him, a recipe is a recipe, even if it's illustrated with flowers and princesses. Though I'm sure my boys would prefer a Batman cookbook.<br />
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Get this book: if you want a childrens' cookbook that offers something more than typical "kid" food or you have a princess-obsessed child. How fun would it be to create a <i>Princess and the Frog</i> themed dinner to be followed by a viewing of the movie?Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-86672794139270412292010-12-20T17:52:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:52:37.867-08:00Arthur's Christmas Cookies - Salt Dough Ornaments"'Maybe I could still use my cookies,' said Arthur. 'Maybe I could paint them all different colors.'" - <i>Arthur's Christmas Cookies</i>, Lillian Hoban<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Arthurs-Christmas-Cookies-Read-Book/dp/0064440559?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Arthur's Christmas Cookies (I Can Read Book 2)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0064440559&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a></div><br />
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There are a lot of seasonal treats I enjoy (Gingerbread latte, anyone?) this time of year but if I could choose only one Christmas treat to indulge in it would have to be, without a doubt, the frosted sugar cookie. Oh, you can keep your peanut butter kisses and candy cane twists. When I think Christmas cookies, I think sugar cookies (thanks, Aunt Sue). There is just no other acceptable choice.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Arthurs-Christmas-Cookies-Read-Book/dp/0064440559?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Arthur's Christmas Cookies</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064440559" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> is not a book about sugar cookies though, not really. While it starts out that way it actually ends up being a book about a recipe gone wrong and the surprising result. Arthur is frustrated because he's trying to make Christmas presents for his parents but nothing is turning out. Finally, he decides to make Christmas cookies in his sister Violet's Bake-E-Z oven. What initially begins as a solo effort turns into mass chaos as his friends and sister get involved. Once the cookies have been baked and they are about to snack on a few, they realize that Arthur hasn't made sugar cookies. Due to a mixup, he's used salt instead of sugar and he's actually made <i>clay</i> cookies. At first Arthur is upset that yet another present has been ruined . . . until he realizes he can paint his clay cookies and give them to his parents as ornaments.<br />
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One of the things I like about this book is that it acknowledges that mistakes in the kitchen <i>do</i> happen, and that it's okay. We might not always be able to salvage our mistakes the way Arthur does, but it's nice to know that we aren't alone when we put too much salt in the cookie dough (or baking soda, as the case may be--not that my 14-year old self would know anything about that).<br />
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<i>Arthur's Christmas Cookies</i> is written and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, half of the duo responsible for the popular <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Jam-Frances-Read-Book/dp/0060838000?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Frances</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060838000" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> books. There are a lot of similarities here, not just in the illustrations but in the storyline and even the writing style. I remember reading the Arthur books as a child and though my kids are big fans of Frances I had kind of forgotten about Arthur. Picking this book up was like being reunited with an old friend. My kids enjoyed it too; even though it was published in 1972 it still feels fresh and relevant. Salt dough ornaments are still a great Christmas craft.<br />
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<b>Salt Dough Ornaments</b><br />
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</b><br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>1 cup salt</li>
<li>1 1/4 cups warm water</li>
<li>3 cups flour*</li>
</ul><div>*Because we were not eating these ornaments, I made them using regular old all-purpose flour. </div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Dissolve salt in warm water.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Add flour to the salt water.</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. Mix flour and water thoroughly and knead for several minutes. This will help work out air bubbles.</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. Roll dough out and cut shapes out using cookie cutters.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>5. Bake dough in a 200* oven for 1,5 to 2.5 hours, or however long it takes to bake out all of the moisture. If your dough is thicker it will take longer. (I lined my cookie sheets with parchment paper.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>6. When ornaments are completely cool, paint using acrylic paints. After the last coat of paint dries, "seal" using varnish (we used a paint-on varnish).</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ruYjYztY_hWHOPJp4kXTqFa3kMek7dSNLIHpmMIioFxDHw5BLDjpvG980OMERFlkSarkPOBGugCwrn9g8MMZVCbwKJCIX6ko6rro2OZLW5AYUYv2cS6tvKhCZm2XLUAI4zYGKphZN0I/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ruYjYztY_hWHOPJp4kXTqFa3kMek7dSNLIHpmMIioFxDHw5BLDjpvG980OMERFlkSarkPOBGugCwrn9g8MMZVCbwKJCIX6ko6rro2OZLW5AYUYv2cS6tvKhCZm2XLUAI4zYGKphZN0I/s400/IMG_0247.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJw0-uOnScTbE25ZUveTlG3bqsIpVp_i-AobPWjiCZx4WPpiJVV-CnVXGxwi4mdgjjdxrPISo_UxVeQkkuyBVQaAQEdf93KETiryrXq8PBwW1j-QJzpNxBlyEuusJYoUlgruSfP94V8A/s1600/IMG_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJw0-uOnScTbE25ZUveTlG3bqsIpVp_i-AobPWjiCZx4WPpiJVV-CnVXGxwi4mdgjjdxrPISo_UxVeQkkuyBVQaAQEdf93KETiryrXq8PBwW1j-QJzpNxBlyEuusJYoUlgruSfP94V8A/s400/IMG_0236.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My rocket.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuzgEqqZFK0ekdFH86Gh6_W1YeuOpapSImH853R-Q-q9jvmdWjhyGghr2eoIhNZ2DIwNnscYS5U3ua71DDwQOfHCaGt24MY4cLEfMdVYZbYcde5Bv-obFaY8F0N1eXn8YCONqarbVf7E/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuzgEqqZFK0ekdFH86Gh6_W1YeuOpapSImH853R-Q-q9jvmdWjhyGghr2eoIhNZ2DIwNnscYS5U3ua71DDwQOfHCaGt24MY4cLEfMdVYZbYcde5Bv-obFaY8F0N1eXn8YCONqarbVf7E/s400/IMG_0240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some finished ornaments some lucky friends and relatives will receive as gifts.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My kids enjoyed this craft a lot. However, at 5 and 7 they haven't quite developed the patience necessary for a project that involves waiting for various coats of paint to dry. If you plan on using several colors and layers, it can be an all day project (especially if you paint both sides of the ornament). What they lack in patience, though, they make up for in creativity. I was impressed with the way they chose their colors and executed their artistic visions. On this level, it was far more successful than the first time we tried this three years ago. We definitely plan to do it again next year, perhaps getting a little more creative with the shapes we choose.</div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-34000414965450446702010-12-09T12:15:00.000-08:002010-12-08T00:25:27.655-08:00How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Roast Beast<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0394800796" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
"They would feat on <i>Who</i>-pudding, and rare <i>Who</i>-roast-beast<br />
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!" - <i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas</i>, Dr. Seuss<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Seuss/dp/0394800796?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0394800796&tag=glufreeas-20" width="140" /></a></div><br />
That's right. I made a roast. I really had to ask myself: does the novelty of making something called "roast beast" make up for the fact that making it is an elaborate and time consuming affair? And the answer is yes. I make a roast like twice a year so I might as well make it now.<br />
<br />
I hope everyone is familiar with Dr. Seuss' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Seuss/dp/0394800796?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0394800796" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. If you aren't familiar with the book then surely you are familiar with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Boris-Karloff/dp/B002JUFPUE?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">animated cartoon version</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002JUFPUE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> that airs on television every year around this time. It's a holiday classic. But if you need a refresher...<br />
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The Grinch is a surly kind of guy who hates Christmas and all of the happy citizens in <i>Who</i>-ville who love it. (Clearly, he is just lonely and misunderstood and only acts out to mask his pain.) While grousing about how much he hates the season he is struck with inspiration: he will prevent Christmas from coming! He puts his plan into action and soon is sneaking into each home on Christmas Eve to make off with all of the Christmas trappings. But something goes wrong. As the Grinch is congratulating himself on Christmas morning, he realizes he can hear singing coming from <i>Who</i>-ville. Despite his best efforts, he hasn't ruined Christmas at all. The <i>Whos</i> may not have presents or decorations but they have each other and the Grinch is stunned to realize spirit of Christmas comes from within. He begins to have second thoughts about what he has done. Filled with the Christmas spirit, his heart grows "three sizes" and he returns to town to return all of the things he has stolen. He even presides over Christmas dinner, where he carves the roast beast. <i>Awwww</i>.<br />
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Obviously, we had to make roast beast in honor of the Grinch. Knowing Dr. Seuss the roast beast is probably some sort of moose or mammoth or something (the picture leaves it open to interpretation) but for our purposes I decided it was beef.<br />
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<b>Roast Beast (really Ina Garten's Company Pot Roast)</b><br />
(I did not follow Ina's recipe to the letter. What follows is my interpretation of the original <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/company-pot-roast-recipe/index.html">recipe</a>.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8N-bI84i3hwvMiPyA5_mwaGDAm0LGBukDxJLbD7qnvG6nFqlUXsKmbJHJThmisbmdFIC1G_uUyBHQWfIxG6oa2k-G29bFD3V48e2j9hXTXkZQ8eUkbaEn46-P9iKKkZoESD9XtgZtNQ/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8N-bI84i3hwvMiPyA5_mwaGDAm0LGBukDxJLbD7qnvG6nFqlUXsKmbJHJThmisbmdFIC1G_uUyBHQWfIxG6oa2k-G29bFD3V48e2j9hXTXkZQ8eUkbaEn46-P9iKKkZoESD9XtgZtNQ/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ignore the tomato paste--I purchased it for a different meal and it somehow ended up in the picture)</td></tr>
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<b><br />
</b><br />
Ingredients:<br />
<ul><li>3 lb. (the recipe recommends 4-5 pounds) boneless beef chuck roast </li>
<li>Kosher salt and black pepper</li>
<li>flour (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pamelas-Products-Amazing-Gluten-free-4-Pound/dp/B001L4JH5I?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pamela's gluten-free bread mix/flour blend</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001L4JH5I" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />)</li>
<li>olive oil</li>
<li>2 cups chopped carrots</li>
<li>2 cups chopped yellow onion</li>
<li>2 cups chopped leeks</li>
<li>5 large garlic cloves, crushed</li>
<li>2 cups red wine</li>
<li>2 tablespoons brandy</li>
<li>1 can diced tomatoes</li>
<li>1 cup chicken stock</li>
<li>1 chicken bouillon cube, or equivalent</li>
<li>3 branches fresh thyme</li>
<li>2 branches fresh rosemary</li>
<li>a tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature</li>
</ul><div>Additional equipment: <a href="http://www.lecreuset.com/en-us/Products/Enameled-Cast-Iron/French-Ovens/">French oven</a> (sometimes called a Dutch oven), immersion blender (or food processor).</div><div><br />
</div><div>The first thing you should know is that this is a fairly elaborate undertaking. Be prepared to spend some time in the kitchen. The cook time alone is 2+ hours. Fortunately, once you have everything in the oven you can ignore it for awhile.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Preheat oven to 325*. While oven is heating chop your vegetables. I always chop mine and throw them in a large bowl, then set aside for later.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour (making sure all sides are covered).</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. On the stovetop, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the French oven. Sear meat on all sides, then remove and set aside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meat, mid-sear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>4. Add 2 more tablespoons oil to the French oven. Add vegetables and garlic and cook until softened.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7WxtaKASwvfRWPM1tiYlhiCh3DRyWZ5OzWN_72tpyLNvC7ungqnZBUjDrjCAhxqzRw4aviMMV9uc-mLnGgMiuHltxt49gq6HRGSDAAl-MG7kU59pqlxz1ayWOfRvrt9Cnp2tT3ob76o/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7WxtaKASwvfRWPM1tiYlhiCh3DRyWZ5OzWN_72tpyLNvC7ungqnZBUjDrjCAhxqzRw4aviMMV9uc-mLnGgMiuHltxt49gq6HRGSDAAl-MG7kU59pqlxz1ayWOfRvrt9Cnp2tT3ob76o/s400/IMG_0222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div>5. Add wine, brandy, tomatoes (with liquid), chicken stock, bouillon, rosemary, and thyme. Once boiling, place the meat in the French oven. Cover, remove from stovetop and place inside oven for about 2.5 hours, or until meat is fork tender. About an hour into the cook time turn heat down to 250*.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdy0634hQUWu1724gCauKcfG7eBy8v3oxTk_kYlTwYkxgpc64zmJ5M4_1Ta6j4Bls-spUzoZrEJTftYx3qTNDPrR3dnnJ2Tu-a4nWChA2Cq9d4gKvbm32nWTS5U2l-_IPbBwNhhzMIX0/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdy0634hQUWu1724gCauKcfG7eBy8v3oxTk_kYlTwYkxgpc64zmJ5M4_1Ta6j4Bls-spUzoZrEJTftYx3qTNDPrR3dnnJ2Tu-a4nWChA2Cq9d4gKvbm32nWTS5U2l-_IPbBwNhhzMIX0/s400/IMG_0223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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6. When meat is finished cooking, remove from oven. Place meat on a separate plate. Remove the herbs and discard. Remove about half of the liquid and veggies and place in a separate bowl. Puree using an immersion blender (or food processor) and return to French oven. Place on the stovetop and let simmer on low heat. While simmering, mix butter and 2 tablespoons of flour together and add to pot. Let sauce simmer until thickened.<br />
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7. Serve meat with sauce and veggies on top. I served toasted garlic parmesan bread alongside the meat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-y0mJiYUVrC6tCdnBS74RcM-_0kb5qxMyLe2UIXUfVyAU66UlS8qBk9eE4Iw5uqBXizGkqjbX3amXUw5fAQTHZI-KDeAYhy-6dilsyqTweuQclTbNjFH2jVR31QstdJOTNrXYEal_LA/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-y0mJiYUVrC6tCdnBS74RcM-_0kb5qxMyLe2UIXUfVyAU66UlS8qBk9eE4Iw5uqBXizGkqjbX3amXUw5fAQTHZI-KDeAYhy-6dilsyqTweuQclTbNjFH2jVR31QstdJOTNrXYEal_LA/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This meal takes a long time to cook but the results are well worth it. While it was in the oven my kids complained that they just wanted something else for dinner, but as the aroma permeated the house they began to get excited about the "roast beast". I think they set a new record for the number of times "roast beast" can be uttered in one evening. "The roast beast smells good." "I can't wait to try the roast beast." Obviously, changing the name of an old dish somehow makes it taste better; I can't imagine they would have been so excited over plain old pot roast.<br />
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And really, this is much better than plain old pot roast. The addition of the wine and adding the puree at the end really classes it up and gives it a rich, velvety flavor. I don't think I can go back to making pot roast in my crock pot after having it this way. Even if it does require a little more effort.</div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-61615176679398287832010-12-01T19:19:00.000-08:002010-12-02T10:19:15.937-08:00The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming - Sweet Potato Latkes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"'I'm not part of Christmas!' cried the latke. 'It's a totally different thing!'" - <i>The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming</i>, Lemony Snicket</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Latke-Who-Couldnt-Stop-Screaming/dp/1932416870?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1932416870&tag=glufreeas-20" width="172" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1932416870" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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I like the holidays. They may be my favorite time of year. I love holiday treats, holiday music and favorite holiday specials. I love the smell of California mornings on cold (but not too cold) days in December and all the ways my husband and I plot to surprise our kids on Christmas morning. As we head into December I plan to feature many of my favorite holiday books here on the blog. At this time of year "holidays" are usually synonymous with "Christmas" so yes, I will be writing about Christmas (as well as general winter) books. But tonight is the first night of Hanukah, so I find it only appropriate to acknowledge the holiday with one of the funniest holiday books I have ever read: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Latke-Who-Couldnt-Stop-Screaming/dp/1932416870?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1932416870" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>.<br />
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<i>The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming</i> is written by Lemony Snicket (illustrated by Lisa Brown). If you are at all familiar with his Series of Unfortunate Events books, you know that this isn't going to be your typical heartwarming holiday yarn. If you were totally turned off by <i>Pierre</i> and <i>Monsters Eat Whiny Children</i> in my <a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/11/cautionary-tales-for-disobedient.html">last post</a>, this may not be the book for you. If you dig slightly deranged holiday tales, read on.<br />
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A latke is a potato pancake made from shredded potatoes and cooked in oil. It is commonly served as a part of Hanukah celebrations. As a holiday symbol, it is not as flashy as Christmas lights or as sweet as candy canes. And our titular latke, who has jumped out of a pan of boiling oil and run away, is frustrated--because none of the other holiday symbols he meets really understand what he is or how he fits into Christmas. He explains to each one, as he meets them, that he is not "hash browns" and not a part of Christmas. And that what he is a part of--Hanukah--is not Christmas. He relates the story of Hanukah to the Christmas lights, a candy cane and a pine tree as he encounters them (all the while growing increasingly--and hilariously--angry that they don't really get it). Finally, after he has slumped under a pine tree in frustration, he is found by a family. A Jewish family who recognize him immediately and want to make him a part of their Hanukah dinner.<br />
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This book is great because it works on two levels. I have Jewish friends who really do feel the way the latke does during the Christmas season: frustrated with the constant barrage of Christmas and the ignorance of some people who really don't understand that Hanukah isn't "Jewish Christmas" simply because it is celebrated during the same time of year. But it's also a book for those who want to learn more about Hanukah and understand, through the latke, why their Jewish friends might be so frustrated during this time of year.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJciNF4weGODmtpuiBnX4HPhgW2nmOjAeqqGu9r7ZBpAaoh5H_Dx10U_dpH7Nkv4xUjyQM_FA4drILehmQvjJ2hC4EXlUeqBZJju3bSSX-O5IqEE4C0phSpjFVHz7O2MNuIyOa9p0papA/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJciNF4weGODmtpuiBnX4HPhgW2nmOjAeqqGu9r7ZBpAaoh5H_Dx10U_dpH7Nkv4xUjyQM_FA4drILehmQvjJ2hC4EXlUeqBZJju3bSSX-O5IqEE4C0phSpjFVHz7O2MNuIyOa9p0papA/s400/IMG_1886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our angry latke, as illustrated by Lisa Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After reading the book together my kids, of course, wanted to make latkes. Which had always been my plan.<br />
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<b>Sweet Potato Latkes with Applesauce and Eggs</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-bCPutEVuqu-cu7WoNlB9vHmlbDcTfO0meTQGo0C7SdMtH5_gBaWhFmDZaOQdzjZklJexzn6IpITkCdQrv1r3rvhhSWKO9olm-o6Xd_noe8rygt6H59DcgNdTWbVcpARGMcaDlfJUOk/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-bCPutEVuqu-cu7WoNlB9vHmlbDcTfO0meTQGo0C7SdMtH5_gBaWhFmDZaOQdzjZklJexzn6IpITkCdQrv1r3rvhhSWKO9olm-o6Xd_noe8rygt6H59DcgNdTWbVcpARGMcaDlfJUOk/s400/IMG_1879.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYy7WdbqyAPVW2G-gQ57iYHUDFK60LfahQS-VCb0176WYiLKoM885AnqEiQIzZ_tw7-69rvtkHqjuOB0lHFE4VkRKMEFdSQyEy1J68uyIqhlZdMW3OCfkjjoPxk5KMN72m6oUnBLycDeU/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYy7WdbqyAPVW2G-gQ57iYHUDFK60LfahQS-VCb0176WYiLKoM885AnqEiQIzZ_tw7-69rvtkHqjuOB0lHFE4VkRKMEFdSQyEy1J68uyIqhlZdMW3OCfkjjoPxk5KMN72m6oUnBLycDeU/s400/IMG_1884.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown's illustrated latke-making instructions</td></tr>
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This meal went through several revisions before it became what you see in the pictures. At first I had planned to make my latkes using frozen shredded potatoes. Not because I wanted to take the easy way out but because my husband is of the opinion that frozen potatoes fry up better than fresh. And I usually defer to him because he is the more skilled cook. Then my seven year old asked if I could make sweet potato latkes instead (he has a friend at school whose family makes them this way). I had not considered this at all. However, my seven year old has a deep hatred of shredded potato products. To the point that two nights ago he got himself so worked up over the apparent horror of tater tot casserole that he actually vomited. In my kitchen. Not wanting a repeat of this scenario, I acquiesced and resigned myself to the fact that I would be making sweet potato latkes from scratch. Though I did add in some frozen shredded potatoes to balance out the sweetness of the sweet potato.<br />
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Then I ran into the problem of what to serve with the latkes. Finally, buried deep on the third or fourth page of Google results (search term: "what to serve with latkes") was a <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a> post in which fried or poached eggs were offered as a suggestion. Having just purchased eggs, I decided this sounded like a fabulous idea.<br />
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"But can we use the Mickey Mouse egg molds?" my seven year old asked.<br />
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So there you have it. Sweet potato latkes with applesauce and Mickey Mouse shaped fried eggs. I'm still not sure what Mickey Mouse has to do with Hanukah but seeing as how we aren't even Jewish to begin with I guess we'll let it go.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
<ul><li>shredded sweet potatoes</li>
<li>shredded frozen potatoes</li>
<li>shredded yellow onion</li>
<li>olive oil for frying</li>
<li>applesauce</li>
<li>fresh eggs</li>
<li>4 tablespoons flour (I used a gluten-free flour blend)</li>
<li>pinch of cayenne pepper</li>
<li>pinch of salt</li>
</ul><div>1. Peel your sweet potatoes and grate using a box grater. I started with three potatoes and used two. Wrap shredded potatoes in paper towel to wring out the moisture. Put the shredded sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IeVik4g4S7sMv0DtEFPVZXujx_mbwCDJ7nhxfLL_4Kx_YyTVl7KI2Mviwwya6F-_nXMM08uxfK-RH_H-T22_sj-LfOmwGh30YWlfqeae6L5KJYGv8wTFcBO4taJqG4CZ62w-_XKyBCg/s1600/IMG_1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IeVik4g4S7sMv0DtEFPVZXujx_mbwCDJ7nhxfLL_4Kx_YyTVl7KI2Mviwwya6F-_nXMM08uxfK-RH_H-T22_sj-LfOmwGh30YWlfqeae6L5KJYGv8wTFcBO4taJqG4CZ62w-_XKyBCg/s400/IMG_1882.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div>2. Add frozen shredded potatoes to the mixing bowl. About 2/3 of my mixture was sweet potato and 1/3 was the regular potatoes. Mix together.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTubMMT4OWQ7t7L649qXR83VeKee349EPBGY0aN7PZ1iPangTCqLHMvino_7d3c6vF0JJUrf0988cKY-On7MpFKb6Fy5As4rFu5TxAYOQx7JJoCWoJkGfh7ieNNIq12h6jbWTybRe7uw/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTubMMT4OWQ7t7L649qXR83VeKee349EPBGY0aN7PZ1iPangTCqLHMvino_7d3c6vF0JJUrf0988cKY-On7MpFKb6Fy5As4rFu5TxAYOQx7JJoCWoJkGfh7ieNNIq12h6jbWTybRe7uw/s400/IMG_1888.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>3. Using the grater, grate the onion into the mixing bowl. Add two eggs, salt, cayenne pepper and flour and combine with the potatoes.</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. Heat your olive oil in (preferably) an iron skillet. When the oil is hot drop small scoops of potato mixture in the skillet. Use the back of a spatula to flatten the latkes. Let cook on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side. I got better at this with each batch. The first ones were kind of fell apart because I didn't cook them long enough.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rHhndGsDJWsS2W1Gju2343wnYRRLv-bfSm4_4oC_QJUWB89JE4xUzhOc3Hydn_LCsD9Kc78aDeaB02enWWg6WwkW0cc7zqmuUOxGgJ7t4AQnUAcrBX1oZa58A1V0WWe07QRkzMUa7dc/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rHhndGsDJWsS2W1Gju2343wnYRRLv-bfSm4_4oC_QJUWB89JE4xUzhOc3Hydn_LCsD9Kc78aDeaB02enWWg6WwkW0cc7zqmuUOxGgJ7t4AQnUAcrBX1oZa58A1V0WWe07QRkzMUa7dc/s400/IMG_1892.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>5. As you remove your latkes from the skillet, place on paper towels to absorb the excess oil. I made stacks with paper towels in between each latke layer.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZiS2n2nK7BA3rGyP2gJ51c4gwkAJHDyM1AakReU4Sy4FA8B8r4qkjB5YQQPlgVbx0aSkNYvOnKgrBhP_s_iWxa-3OJ9wKwP5vAfKTA9IUfpImONyypbGN3xSzfXGY9oNb9wt_USMEho/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZiS2n2nK7BA3rGyP2gJ51c4gwkAJHDyM1AakReU4Sy4FA8B8r4qkjB5YQQPlgVbx0aSkNYvOnKgrBhP_s_iWxa-3OJ9wKwP5vAfKTA9IUfpImONyypbGN3xSzfXGY9oNb9wt_USMEho/s400/IMG_1894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>6. Either simultaneously or after the latkes are finished cooking, make the eggs. I had to wait until the latkes were done because we only have one iron skillet and the egg molds don't work well in our other pans.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtKjT3tTwqGvh5Sa78orOtBSopaXYhc4zPLcYV-_sER_ove7oHx1I_zsnVST_0H2kYtp0gdqW58z9mffcqeYprGCgiX46W4CcPDJgZ-nUMKdqUwTYnlkf829vps9a_3VCdK4KWR0bdpg/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtKjT3tTwqGvh5Sa78orOtBSopaXYhc4zPLcYV-_sER_ove7oHx1I_zsnVST_0H2kYtp0gdqW58z9mffcqeYprGCgiX46W4CcPDJgZ-nUMKdqUwTYnlkf829vps9a_3VCdK4KWR0bdpg/s400/IMG_1896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>7. Serve your latkes and eggs with applesauce and/or sour cream.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEG6o6k2yvLnVPLXXAL8X1tgDg6Wr0xonUl2O0XGvNmGvgfTWcq1JdHzHZnj88hxu4j_NzVeDQCSxD9KpvvAP-nMV3MG0Zb_vsZX0X2Zqofo2R5qtH1KESERNZ7hOcb8i4jeRXGdpflY/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEG6o6k2yvLnVPLXXAL8X1tgDg6Wr0xonUl2O0XGvNmGvgfTWcq1JdHzHZnj88hxu4j_NzVeDQCSxD9KpvvAP-nMV3MG0Zb_vsZX0X2Zqofo2R5qtH1KESERNZ7hOcb8i4jeRXGdpflY/s400/IMG_1899.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YHFU8eeE82iZ9o_N0WNAvPUwRF3Xx4Ncq80EVu0GSiGPkcWUMKF50Iv-slaBU2iiyTbioAIZxZFRqRf-QzOTKYv6JNUKPW2aEqA6HvnA2lqCdqaE1y6qsTZONnJk_fudCHVN2INIBUo/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YHFU8eeE82iZ9o_N0WNAvPUwRF3Xx4Ncq80EVu0GSiGPkcWUMKF50Iv-slaBU2iiyTbioAIZxZFRqRf-QzOTKYv6JNUKPW2aEqA6HvnA2lqCdqaE1y6qsTZONnJk_fudCHVN2INIBUo/s400/IMG_1904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8AcUEXHQFWBpsn3BTo65psXEiKXRQ71RCMzUrWhafGqTd4xnMeHvW5PhSalxAoWFkMIcO6cVbYEfqRmOAzfTjFn3RaVW2NU97Zp6otoGvvBbLq8GJ1ETuUvzbsg3Srdhd4f0FZHgtvI/s1600/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8AcUEXHQFWBpsn3BTo65psXEiKXRQ71RCMzUrWhafGqTd4xnMeHvW5PhSalxAoWFkMIcO6cVbYEfqRmOAzfTjFn3RaVW2NU97Zp6otoGvvBbLq8GJ1ETuUvzbsg3Srdhd4f0FZHgtvI/s400/IMG_1905.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>I thought my sweet potato latkes were delicious (my husband thought they were too sweet and would have preferred using regular potatoes) and I take it as a good sign that my kids asked if they could take the leftovers to school for lunch. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Happy Hanukah, to those of you who are celebrating tonight!</div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-55325546252403547892010-11-22T20:14:00.000-08:002010-11-22T20:18:21.565-08:00Cautionary Tales for Disobedient ChildrenOh, subervsive cautionary tales in the guise of children's books--how I love you. Really, I do. Maybe it's because when I was a child my cousin and I would spend the night at my Poppa's house; if we didn't go to sleep right away he would sneak outside and bang on the window with a stick and yell that he was the Boogeyman, there to "get" us. (You have to understand, my grandfather was not a traditional grandparent in any sense of the word.) So maybe my love for books like <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pierre-Cautionary-Tale-Chapters-Prologue/dp/0064432521?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pierre</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064432521" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Whiny-Children-Bruce-Kaplan/dp/1416986898?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Monsters Eat Whiny Children</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416986898" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> is just in my genes. To be sure, these books aren't for everyone--some may claim they're too scary or dark or inappropriate for young children. To those naysayers I say: <i>I don't care</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pierre-Cautionary-Tale-Chapters-Prologue/dp/0064432521?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0064432521&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a>First up, Maurice Sendak's classic <i>Pierre</i>. Pierre isn't a <i>bad</i> child, exactly. It's more that he's disengaged and refuses to show any emotion or react to his parents' proclamations, suggestions and threats with anything other than a bored, "I don't care." Pierre just doesn't care. About anything, apparently, not even the fact that he is pouring syrup on his hair. Finally, fed up, Pierre's parents leave the house without him. Soon a lion comes to the door. Predictably, Pierre is unmoved so the lion announces he will eat him. "I don't care," says Pierre, which is all the invitation the lion needs. When Pierre's parents return, horrified to find their son has become somebody's meal, they take him to a doctor who makes quick work of rescuing Pierre. Who finally cares.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064432521" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Whiny-Children-Bruce-Kaplan/dp/1416986898?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Monsters Eat Whiny Children" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1416986898&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a>Because I love <i>Pierre</i> so very much, I was very interested in checking out the <i>Monsters Eat Whiny Children,</i> which has received a lot of positive buzz this fall. Written and illustrated by <i>New Yorker</i> cartoonist Bruce Eric Kaplan, it is another book in which disobedient children finally get their comeuppance. Henry and Eve whine. A lot. Their father tells them that monsters eat whiny children but they don't believe him--they continue their whiny ways until a monster kidnaps them and takes them home (in a sack!) to make his supper. To hilarious results. My kids were howling with laughter as the monster tried to make a salad out of the children ("I don't like sitting on lettuce," Henry whined.) and argued with his wife ("I hate cilantro!" she screamed.) and friends over how best to prepare and serve them. The story is told in a very contemporary, conversational style ("When they told him, the neighbor totally freaked out.") and lends itself to great opportunities to do silly voices. After much arguing, the monsters decide the perfect meal is whiny-child cucumber sandwiches. It should be noted that the monsters aren't angels either, and it's their indecisiveness and constant bickering that allows Henry and Eve to make their escape. The monsters still end up eating cucumber sandwiches, which, while delicious, aren't quite as tasty as those with whiny children inside. This might be my favorite children's book of the year. It's become one of my kids' favorites too.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416986898" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
The illustration style will be familiar to those who have seen Kaplan's work in the<i> New Yorker</i>. Of special note are the endpapers, which feature a "map" of important landmarks in Henry and Eve's lives. With often hilarious captions, it reads like an inside joke/love letter to the real Henry and Eve (to whom the book is dedicated).<br />
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As much as I thought my babies were truly edible (in that weird way that may only make sense to new moms) I cannot in good conscience post a recipe for children. Instead, taking a cue from the monsters in <i>Monsters Eat Whiny Children</i>, we made cucumber sandwiches for dinner.<br />
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<b>Cucumber Sandwiches </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqzQuH7aFopzZHjg4YRqVzOM3KPBJFEYMkDiTJkyd9HptseB2QgoqU6TGQftl2F40-FdsE0-DXCrtP7nbA0VT6O66rn2-OZkphFb5x21mymAJmiuEZVxdNgFT12MiENUr0xVEWLirSps/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqzQuH7aFopzZHjg4YRqVzOM3KPBJFEYMkDiTJkyd9HptseB2QgoqU6TGQftl2F40-FdsE0-DXCrtP7nbA0VT6O66rn2-OZkphFb5x21mymAJmiuEZVxdNgFT12MiENUr0xVEWLirSps/s400/IMG_1800.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<ul><li>cucumbers</li>
<li>sandwich bread</li>
<li>cream cheese</li>
<li>sea salt</li>
</ul><div>1. Slice bread (if necessary). Spread a layer of cream cheese on each side.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBVlK1bZCA_h32E-sMZmnThAkWEMHuggxbdFcBYj02-qtfAMHE53AvK95AEvNSYY3lnbcbM9tkdgzU44nodFcUWTL9c76npFF_jEZrrJU8QUGR84piVnfoEeM0Ajak174YXXt6iFQegA/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBVlK1bZCA_h32E-sMZmnThAkWEMHuggxbdFcBYj02-qtfAMHE53AvK95AEvNSYY3lnbcbM9tkdgzU44nodFcUWTL9c76npFF_jEZrrJU8QUGR84piVnfoEeM0Ajak174YXXt6iFQegA/s400/IMG_1812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>2. Slice cucumber. Layer cucumbers on one side of bread. </div><div><br />
</div><div>3. Sprinkle with sea salt.</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. Top with second slice of bread.</div><br />
We had initially planned to make these as snacks for the car trip down to see family for Thanksgiving. In a funny case of life imitating art, though, tonight we were all sitting around tonight wondering what to have for dinner. Nobody really wanted butternut squash soup. (Or wanted to make it, anyway.) One of my kids suggested pizza. Nobody wanted pizza. They both insisted they would be fine with cereal. Finally, in desperation, I said, "What about the cucumber sandwiches?" And it was perfection. (Does anyone else think of <i>Friends </i>when something is described as "perfection"?) We were as happy as the monsters in the book. Maybe cucumber sandwiches are magical or something. My kids even asked if I would put them in their lunches sometime.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We checked <i>Monsters Eat Whiny Children</i> out from our library but I'll be ordering a personal copy to put under the Christmas tree. I can't imagine not having this book in my life on a permanent basis.</div><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*Disclosure: As an Amazon.com affiliate, I earn a small commission when you purchase books via the Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-7969399708536469432010-11-18T19:57:00.000-08:002010-11-18T19:57:31.275-08:00Three Scoops and a Fig - Fig Tree Sundae"Sofia dumped the little pear-shaped figs into a bowl on the table. She dished out more helpings of gelato, each with three scoops and a fig. " - <i>Three Scoops and a Fig</i>, Sara Laux Akin<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1561455229" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-Scoops-Sara-Laux-Akin/dp/1561455229?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Three Scoops and a Fig" height="193" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1561455229&tag=glufreeas-20" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I grew up in a town that was once covered in fig orchards (now many of those orchards have become housing developments and shopping malls), but I have to be honest, I don't think I'd actually eaten a fresh fig until sometime last year. I feel embarrassed to even admit this but its true. I wasn't sure what to do with them so I sliced them and put them in yogurt for the kids. That seemed about right.<br />
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Sara Laux Akin's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-Scoops-Sara-Laux-Akin/dp/1561455229?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Three Scoops and a Fig</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1561455229" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> presents a similar but tastier option for those looking to use up a fig surplus. Sofia, Akins' young protagonist, comes from a family of cooks. Her family owns an Italian restaurant and her older siblings contribute their own specialties to the family dinner table. On the occasion of her grandparents' anniversary, Sofia just wants to help her family as their prepare a special dinner but she keeps getting in the way. Unnoticed by her busy family, Sofia decides to slip away with a bowl of gelato for breakfast. When an errant fig from the fig tree drops into Sofia's bowl she discovers a new treat--and a way to contribute to the family dinner. Illustrator Susan Kathleen Hartung's muted colors and depiction of a close knit, multi-generational family infuse the story with warmth.<br />
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<i>Three Scoops and a Fig</i> includes extras--a recipe for an "Italian Flag Sundae" and a glossary of Italian words and phrases used in the story. Although the Italian Flag Sundae sounded delicious, I decided to stick with Sofia's original recipe.<br />
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<b>Sofia's Fig Tree Sundae</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
<ul><li>vanilla ice cream</li>
<li>figs (fresh if you can find them)</li>
</ul><div>1. Scoop ice cream into bowls. In order to stay true to the book I used three (small) scoops in each child's bowl.</div><div><br />
2. Slice your figs. I must confess, I used dried figs for this particular recipe. I had been sitting on this review until after Halloween and by the time I was ready to post it I couldn't find fresh figs anywhere. Fig season, apparently, is very short (I feel this is something I should have known, having grown up in Fresno). Dried figs, however, were easy to find at the grocery store.<br />
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Serve and eat quickly, before your seven-year old can complain that it's melting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp14Bq2HUcixai2XrkVrWnZC13GP3iZeowQPq7Vhxxfew39U6g03cb8Q8c4DL7sAb1cLOzEuUbOl0LBIN8G5z4s7i4QsxncHeQaoiW3gJmw2IqnzYQTuIVcuKvvNOV6g0jBWKNGZzU77o/s1600/IMG_1794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp14Bq2HUcixai2XrkVrWnZC13GP3iZeowQPq7Vhxxfew39U6g03cb8Q8c4DL7sAb1cLOzEuUbOl0LBIN8G5z4s7i4QsxncHeQaoiW3gJmw2IqnzYQTuIVcuKvvNOV6g0jBWKNGZzU77o/s400/IMG_1794.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4N7YWO_fug6KIzLjT6fNWKS8ngHDu6IgK1iY75wLBbp9h_aFPalmQ2lDZJTyZCIB7cDlpQayukA7ZfPQIwBpHhwSkgSixNy5mAABFnU_jHZCueCMooCBs_TrpAWCO7vbF-O3-6Oci8E/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4N7YWO_fug6KIzLjT6fNWKS8ngHDu6IgK1iY75wLBbp9h_aFPalmQ2lDZJTyZCIB7cDlpQayukA7ZfPQIwBpHhwSkgSixNy5mAABFnU_jHZCueCMooCBs_TrpAWCO7vbF-O3-6Oci8E/s400/IMG_1799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div>I know my posting here has been spotty lately. Beginning with this recipe, though, I am looking forward to getting back on track as we head into the holiday season!<br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclosure: A review copy of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Three Scoops and Fig</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> was provided by Peachtree Publishers for the purpose of this review. </span></div><div><br />
</div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-32504872422161761182010-11-10T15:00:00.000-08:002010-11-10T15:02:40.678-08:00When a book is more than just a story - Part IIA few months ago I shared some of our favorite <a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/05/when-book-is-more-than-just-story.html">"non-story" picture books</a> that we enjoy reading on long trips or rainy days. Since that post we have come across a couple of standout titles that I can't help but rave about.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meanwhile-Pick-Path-Story-Possibilities/dp/0810984237?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Meanwhile</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0810984237" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Jason Shiga</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meanwhile-Pick-Path-Story-Possibilities/dp/0810984237?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities." height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0810984237&tag=glufreeas-20" width="167" /></a><br />
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Jason Shiga's<i> Meanwhile </i>is like nothing I've ever seen. We saw it on display in our local bookstore last spring and I immediately knew that it would become a birthday present for my older son. It's a narrative in the style of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure books but in graphic novel form. At key points in the story the reader is asked to choose a path (represented by maze-like pipes) to take. This determines the outcome of the story. There are many paths and many stories but only one "happy" ending. Did I mention there's a time machine? If there's one thing that is guaranteed to pique my interest, it's a time machine. The recommended age is for upper elementary school aged kids but my 7 year old and I read it together first so he could get the hang of the mechanics (and the graphic novel style) and he is now able to read it on his own. The first time we read this we spent at least an hour together on the couch, never once achieving the "correct" ending.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-World-Mouk-Marc-Boutavant/dp/0811869261?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Around the World with Mouk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0811869261" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Marc Boutavant</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-World-Mouk-Marc-Boutavant/dp/0811869261?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Around the World with Mouk" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0811869261&tag=glufreeas-20" width="190" /></a><br />
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Another birthday gift (this time for my 5 year old),<i> Around the World with Mouk </i>reminds me of the classic Richard Scarry books. Mouk, a small bear, is going on an around the world journey. In "letters" he sends to his friends back home we are able to look in on his travels. As in Scarry's books, there is much to see, with plenty to read (and learn) in the form of characters' thought bubbles. The thing that sets <i>Mouk</i> apart from other books, though, are the reusable static cling stickers that come with the book. Remember Colorforms? That's basically what these are. Masks, animals and objects representing the regions Mouk visits can be placed on the characters or in the scenes depicted on each page. My kids like to experiment with the unexpected: they'll put a snow hat on a character surfing on the Australian beach, or a Chinese dragon mask on a character in the Finnish winter scene.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Town-All-Year-Round/dp/081186474X?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">In the Town All Year 'Round</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=081186474X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Rotraut Susanne Berner</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Town-All-Year-Round/dp/081186474X?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="In the Town All Year 'Round" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=081186474X&tag=glufreeas-20" width="143" /></a><i><br />
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This mostly wordless picture book rewards those who pay close attention. The book is divided into four parts, each part representing a different season in the same town. The same scenes are present in each season but you can track the changes in the town and its citizens--and the storyline--throughout the book. There are also "hidden" objects (cats, birds, etc.) to find on each page.<br />
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I am always looking for recommendations for new and unique books like these. What are your family's favorites?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate I receive a small commission when you make a purchase via the links on this blog. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-91556394780249871842010-11-03T16:40:00.000-07:002010-11-03T22:38:53.836-07:00Book Mail!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/perfect-picture-books-by-post-faq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.playingbythebook.net/wp-content/uploads//picturebook-swap.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love getting mail. I'm not kidding when I say one of the highlights of my day is checking the mail, even when it's Tuesday and I know it will only be the grocery store circulars. It's already been established that I love books (by the mere fact that I have a blog . . . about books . . . ). So when Zoe announced her international book swap over on <a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/">Playing by the Book</a>, I knew we would take part. Books in the mail? Sign me up! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kidding aside, I knew it would be fun to take part in a book exchange and perhaps learn a little about another family's favorite books, or even--in the event that we were matched with an international family--their culture. When I was younger, beginning around the fifth grade, I had a penpal. We were actually matched up through an ad in the back of a book. A lot of times those youthful "virtual" (I guess that's what you'd call it now) friendships fizzle out but my penpal and I stayed in touch for many years, until sometime in high school when, sadly, we lost contact with each other (on the off chance that Kathlynn is reading this--drop me an email!). One of the things I most enjoyed about having a penpal was the anticipation that <i>something</i> might be waiting for me every time I opened the mail box. And so it was with the book exchange: every day I opened my mailbox I thought, <i>This could be the day</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was matched with Artnavy, who blogs at <a href="http://abouttimenow.blogspot.com/">About Time Now</a> and is a contributor to <a href="http://www.saffrontree.org/">Saffron Tree</a>. Although I had specified when I signed up that I was open to a book exchange with anybody, I was thrilled that we were matched with a family in a different country. Artnavy and her family live in India. We decided to send her and her children a copy of <i><a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/02/monster-who-ate-darkness-darkness.html">The Monster Who Ate Darkness</a></i> (the subject of my first post on this blog, and an all-time favorite in this house). My kids were upset about this until I told them we were sending them their own copy, not the one that belongs to us, and that <i>we</i> would also be receiving a new book in the mail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Vinayak-Shobha-Viswanath/dp/8181901495?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Vinayak" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=8181901495&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a>Artnavy sent us <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Vinayak-Shobha-Viswanath/dp/8181901495?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Little Vinayak</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=8181901495" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, by Shobha Viswanath and illustrated by Shilpa Ranade. As a special bonus, the book contained a wonderful CD audiobook read by Vidya Balan and with music by 3 Brothers & A Violin. <i>Little Vinayak</i> is the story of a small elephant who is frustrated because he constantly trips over his trunk. His friends and other jungle inhabitants try to help him fix his problem until a wise old elephant, Tembo, teaches him how to walk and swing his trunk so it doesn't get in his way. It's a book that is about learning to be comfortable in your own skin, a message I think we all (yes, even adults!) need to be reminded of once in awhile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=8181901495" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />My kids liked the humorous story of Little Vinayak and especially loved the bright illustrations. Entirely on their own, they got into a discussion about which medium the illustrator had used--one boy thought crayons, the other thought oil pastels. My younger son was still talking about <i>Little Vinayak</i> the next day and asked if he could take it to share with his kindergarten class at school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Little Vinayak</i> reminded me of a few other books we enjoy here. It would make a good companion for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Cant-Dance-Book-Audio/dp/B002G7S4G2?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Giraffes Can't Dance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002G7S4G2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saggy-Elephant-Little-Golden-Storybook/dp/0307160289?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Saggy Baggy Elephant</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0307160289" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> -- </i>both of which also feature animals who come to accept and appreciate their unique physical characteristics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to <i>Little Vinayak</i>, Artnavy also sent us a copy of <i>The Hare and the Tortoise (Again!)</i> and a small illustrated book on how to make roti, a traditional Indian flat bread. I have not made the roti yet, as it calls for wheat, but I have been looking at gluten-free roti recipes and look forward to trying it the next time we have a meal that calls for flat bread.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you again, Artnavy, for the books! And a big thanks to Zoe for coordinating this book swap. Be sure to check out her excellent blog, <a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/">Playing by the Book</a>, for more of her excellent ideas and reviews! </div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-25152215734646029882010-10-28T16:28:00.000-07:002010-10-29T19:17:33.549-07:00Halloween TreatsWith Halloween around the corner, you may have stocked up on canned pumpkin to make pumpkin fudge...or pumpkin pies...or pumpkin scones (you get the idea). What to do when you have half a can of pumpkin left? You can do what we do and whip up a quick and easy snack: pumpkin yogurt.<br />
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I started making pumpkin yogurt when my kids were very young. Back then, I could easily trick them into thinking pumpkin was a delicious snack. I don't know why, but one day I mixed some pumpkin with some plain yogurt and a new treat was born. My kids still enjoy it but it's not something I make all the time. I tend to save it for the fall, when canned pumpkin is easy to find in the grocery stores.<br />
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<b>Pumpkin Yogurt</b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>canned pumpkin</li>
<li>plain or vanilla yogurt</li>
<li>cinnamon (optional)</li>
</ul><div>This is so easy I don't know why I am bothering with directions, but here we go...</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Combine equal parts pumpkin and yogurt. Stir together.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Sprinkle with cinnamon.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>It's that easy. I like that it's both a taste of fall and a way to serve a fruit that we don't often eat.</div><div><br />
</div><div>With Halloween in just a few days, we've been making pumpkin yogurt and enjoying our stash of Halloween books. I am really not sure how we ended up with so many Halloween books, but over the years we've acquired quite the collection. Some of the ones my kids particularly enjoy:</div><div><br />
</div><div><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Goon-Petrifying-Michael-Rex/dp/0399245340?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Goodnight Goon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0399245340" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by Michael Rex</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Goon-Petrifying-Parody-Michael/dp/0545207045?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Goodnight Goon (A Petrifying Parody)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0545207045&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0545207045" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br />
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As evidenced by the title, <i>Goodnight Goon</i> is a parody of the classic <i>Goodnight Moon</i>. One of my sons received this as a birthday gift last year. We get a kick out of it, especially the various monsters that wreak havoc in the little werewolf's room.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Critter-Happy-Halloween/dp/0060539712?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Happy Halloween, Little Critter!</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060539712" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by Mercer Mayer<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Critter-Happy-Halloween/dp/0060539712?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Critter: Happy Halloween, Little Critter!" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0060539712&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060539712" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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This is really a sentimental favorite in our house. After my second son was born, my husband took my older son (then two) to the bookstore to pick out a new book. This is the book he chose. It is a simple story about Little Critter greeting his costumed friends on Halloween. Flaps that open to reveal the friends underneath their costumes made this a hit with my kids when they were younger.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Tree-House-30-Stepping/dp/0375860908?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375860908" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Mary Pope Osborne<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Tree-House-30-Stepping/dp/0375860908?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Magic Tree House #30: Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0375860908&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375860908" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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My older son has recently started reading the Magic Treehouse books out loud for his nightly reading homework. This one follows the typical storyline of siblings Jack and Annie on a magic mission for Merlin but the haunted castle at the heart of the story's mission gives this one a Halloween flair. We picked this one up at my son's school book fair last week.<br />
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<i>Popcorn</i> by Frank Asch<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/POPCORN-Hardcover-inches-Parents-Magazine/dp/B001LNQJK0?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="POPCORN by Frank Asch (1979 Hardcover 46 pages 7 x 9 inches Parents Magazine Press)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001LNQJK0&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001LNQJK0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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I have a full review of this book <a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/05/popcorn-cinnamon-popcorn.html">here</a> but it is definitely a Halloween favorite around here. All of the action happens at a Halloween costume party.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dick-Jane-Vampires-Laura-Marchesani/dp/0448455684?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dick and Jane and Vampires </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0448455684" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Laura Marchesani<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dick-Jane-Vampires-Laura-Marchesani/dp/0448455684?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Dick and Jane and Vampires" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0448455684&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0448455684" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Um, okay. So I kind of think the whole vampire thing is a bit played out. I will admit right here that I am a huge <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> fan but I really did not gravitate toward <i>Twilight</i> (I tried and couldn't get through the first book) and the others that have followed. However, I saw this book in the bookstore and I couldn't resist buying it for my prereader for his birthday. The juxtaposition of these kids from yesteryear (maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of <i>Mad Men</i> and have been on a retro kick) with vampires just makes it so random and hilarious. I mean, there are pages with Vampire lurking behind bushes and under beds and it sounds vaguely sinister but it is really really funny. Over the course of several very simple chapters (like the original Dick and Jane books, this is an early reader meant for kids who are beginning to read aloud) Vampire reveals himself to be a nice guy who jumps rope with Dick and Jane and wears bonnets Mother makes for him. And, in the end, he finds a very special soulmate when Dick and Jane introduce him to a lady vampire. And everyone is happy happy. Awwww.<br />
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What are your favorite Halloween books?Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-50018909828057611702010-10-14T14:48:00.000-07:002010-10-14T18:34:32.132-07:00Ghosts in the House! - Marshmallow Ghost Pops"Then she went to the kitchen . . . and put them all in the washing machine." - <i>Ghosts in the House!</i>, Kazuno Kohara<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312608861&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Halloween is just around the corner. There's a chill in the air, Halloween costumes are being planned and seasonal decorations are beginning to adorn everything from my kids' classrooms to Disneyland (we were there last week). Okay, so here in the Bay Area the first part of that statement doesn't hold true (it was 94 degrees today!) but that hasn't stopped my thoughts from turning to Halloween. And so, naturally, it's time to feature some seasonally appropriate books and recipes on this blog.<br />
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Last week when we were in Disneyland we ran across some very cute chocolate covered marshmallows in the candy shops. My younger son and I are fans of their marshmallows anyway (they're gluten-free!) but he was especially taken with these, as they were covered in white chocolate and decorated to look like ghosts:<br />
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We really liked them (he chose it for his treat two days in a row) and I thought it would be fun to recreate them at home.<br />
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<b>Marshmallow Ghost Pops</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<ul><li>1 bag large marshmallows</li>
<li>1 bag of caramel candies (11 oz.)</li>
<li>1box of white Baker's chocolate (this covered about 3 marshmallow pops)</li>
<li>Black cake decorating gel (if gluten is an issue, be sure to read labels carefully!)</li>
<li>lollypop sticks (available at craft stores like Michael's)</li>
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1. Place three or four marshmallows on the end of a stick. Make sure you don't poke the stick all the way through the top marshmallow.<br />
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2. Melt your caramels--along with 2 tablespoons of milk--in a double boiler. (The milk will prevent the caramel from taking on the consistency of cement once it cools.) Stir together until melted.<br />
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3. Working quickly, dip your marshmallows in the caramel. I found I was able to get the best coverage by using the spatula to drizzle the caramel over the marshmallows.<br />
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4. Place caramel covered marshmallow pops on a baking sheet lined with NON-STICK foil. Put in the fridge to cool.<br />
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5. (I took my caramel covered marshmallows out of the fridge after about an hour.) Melt the white chocolate. The instructions on my box of Baker's Chocolate said to use the microwave but I found that the double boiler worked fine. Be very careful not to overheat the white chocolate or it will harden and smell weird. Not that I would know anything about that...<br />
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6. When the white chocolate is melted, dip caramel covered marshmallows. Once again, I used a spatula to spread the white chocolate around to make sure it covered the visible surfaces and all of the caramel covered areas.<br />
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7. Return candy to the fridge.<br />
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8. Before serving, pipe on faces using chocolate or edible gel. It's easy to find black tubes of edible gel during this time of year. (Though the faces on the Disneyland ones were made from piped on chocolate.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not quite as nice as the professional ones but not bad. Still tasty.</td></tr>
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Wondering which book to pair these cute ghost marshmallow pops with? There is an abundance of Halloween/ghost themed kidlit available at this time of year, but my current favorite ghost book is Kazuno Kohara's <i>Ghosts in the House! </i>(originally published as <i>The Haunted House</i> in the UK).<br />
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<i>Ghosts in the House!</i> is a cute story about a little girl who moves into a haunted house. Fortunately, the little girl happens to be a witch so she knows exactly how to handle those ghosts! First she traps them, then she washes them, then she finds new household uses for them. Ghosts become curtains, table cloths and sheets. It's a sweet, not-scary Halloween story that is perfect for young preschoolers but the pictures are interesting enough for older children to enjoy. I love them so much! The pages are orange with only two colors--black and white--used in the illustrations. The white ghosts are nearly transparent; a very cool effect. It almost looks as through they're done in chalk or sponge paint. I really enjoy books that incorporate unusual or unexpected design techniques, and the orange pages really work for this story.<br />
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Coincidentally, the very day I chose to blog about this book was the day my younger son happened to bring a picture of a haunted house home from school. The house is made out of orange construction paper and his ghosts are drawn with . . . chalk! This would be a fun and easy project to do at home after reading this book. It makes a great Halloween decoration.<br />
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Other books by Kazuno Kohara:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Frost-Kazuno-Kohara/dp/1596434422?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Here Comes Jack Frost</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1596434422" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Wizard-Kazuno-Kohara/dp/0230712312?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Little Wizard</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0230712312" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-54751718201770384652010-09-29T15:48:00.000-07:002010-11-03T17:00:24.137-07:00The Lorax - Truffula Trees with Dipping Sauces"UNLESS someone like you<br />
cares a whole awful lot,<br />
nothing is going to get better.<br />
It's not," - <i>The Lorax</i>, Dr. Seuss<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0394823370&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>So. It's Banned Books Week and we're talking banned and challenged books. I thought long and hard about which book I wanted to feature this week. At first I had another title chosen but it was a book that my kids don't particularly enjoy. They really, really like Dr. Seuss' <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lorax-Classic-Seuss-Dr/dp/0394823370?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Lorax</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0394823370" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />,</i> though, and guess what--this book was once banned. Really? Dr. Seuss? What about this book, with its peaceful message of environmentalism and sustainability (perhaps more relevant now than when it was published in 1971) could be cause for concern?<br />
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Uh, apparently that very message. Way back in 1989 some parents in the Laytonville (CA) Unified School District decided the book "criminalized the forestry industry" and had an "anti-logging message"; they attempted to get it removed from the elementary school's reading list. While their attempt to ban the book was unsuccessful, it goes to show that people can and will get upset about anything. We're used to hearing about books that are challenged due to profanity or their depictions of violence, sexuality, race or class relations. . . you get the idea. But attempting to ban a gentle children's story about the importance of respecting our environment? Now, Laytonville does happen to be a logging town (I'm highly amused by the idea of a bunch of burly loggers getting all up in arms over a Dr. Seuss book) so I can understand the concern but does that warrant restricting access to a book? Shouldn't kids--<i>especially</i> kids growing up in this industry--be exposed to the very real consequences of deforestation? Even if you didn't know that I send my son to the hippy dippiest kindergarten you can imagine (you do now!), the fact that I am writing a post speaking out against the censorship of books should tell you my thoughts on the subject.<br />
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As far as the story itself goes, <i>The Lorax</i> is a cautionary tale told by the Once-ler, a character who once found fame and fortune by chopping down Truffula Trees and making Thneeds from their tufts. There is such a demand for Thneeds that he brings in more workers, and machines, and builds factories. All the while he must deal with The Lorax, a nuisance of a guy who "speak[s] for the trees" and keeps popping up to tell him that cutting down the trees is wrong and that he's slowly poisoning the area. There is no more Truffula Fruit to feed the Bar-ba-loots and the polluted waters can't sustain the Humming-Fish population. Eventually, the Once-ler relates, there is no life left where the Truffula Trees once grew abundant. The last tree has been felled and the native wildlife has been driven away. As has The Lorax. The pictures, once vibrant oranges, purples, greens and pinks take on a grayish, nightmarish tone. The only hope, the Once-ler cautions, is for <i>you</i> (the reader) to care "a whole awful lot." Then, when the trees are replanted and life returns, The Lorax might come back.<br />
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As I type this I can't help but wonder if <i>Wall-E</i> was at least partially inspired by <i>The Lorax</i>.<br />
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<i>The Lorax</i> is a subtly powerful book and a wonderful way to introduce kids to the concepts of environmentalism and green living. Even though, admittedly, my kids weren't interested in pursuing that line of conversation right after we finished reading. Maybe it's enough that they're slowly absorbing the message each time we read it, and they don't even know it.<br />
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When I am choosing books and recipes to feature here I don't always have a plan. Sometimes I get the idea for a recipe as we're reading the book. Other times I choose a book and craft a recipe to fit the book. Or I choose a recipe and find a book that works. This time I chose the book well before I had any food ideas. I was struck with inspiration as I meandered through my local produce market and came face to face with a display of colored cauliflower. Is it just me or do the green, purple and orange crucifers look particularly Seussian? They became the inspiration for today's snack:<br />
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<b>Truffula Trees with Dipping Sauces</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<ul><li>Brightly hued cauliflower</li>
<li>Dipping sauces (we used hummus, raspberry dressing and garlic-Caesar dressing)</li>
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</div><div>1. My plan, initially, was to simply serve the cauliflower alongside the dipping sauces and let the boys go to town. However, they were very insistent that we make the actual trees. My older son was the one to come up with a suggestion as to how we could make them: "Use celery!" We tried to attach the cauliflower to celery stalks using peanut butter as glue but the celery really couldn't support the weight of the cauliflower and the peanut butter was not the most effective glue so we settled for a pretty picture of what the trees <i>would </i>have looked like:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11yQeuHyEt7O_tWTiy8maMRSud7540pF_xqx3amTdOeKjz59ie70bGPXqyCLjRrDSwrlkHin9aQf0q3vNAlRXBxlCfSxr7Kw1nYQAm_3O7MxFE594QQxjSkpZYRzvsKMo1M9a5dZuDrA/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11yQeuHyEt7O_tWTiy8maMRSud7540pF_xqx3amTdOeKjz59ie70bGPXqyCLjRrDSwrlkHin9aQf0q3vNAlRXBxlCfSxr7Kw1nYQAm_3O7MxFE594QQxjSkpZYRzvsKMo1M9a5dZuDrA/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Here's the original:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7phuGcIoipdJeye1o6Yx_m7PQjyGCRpNKMS-BkFgPfaRj3ahdEj-x5XloerLGv9WM_Rc8bOY-rC5frNhtM2EjNvjgfJQJWsb0zfQ9vUieKi6xnRNbCQ0OQqQMrJaRRZ18iUBj8aXyfc/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7phuGcIoipdJeye1o6Yx_m7PQjyGCRpNKMS-BkFgPfaRj3ahdEj-x5XloerLGv9WM_Rc8bOY-rC5frNhtM2EjNvjgfJQJWsb0zfQ9vUieKi6xnRNbCQ0OQqQMrJaRRZ18iUBj8aXyfc/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>2. What I actually ended up doing was putting the celery and cauliflower in a bowl and preparing small cups of our dipping "sauces."</div><div><br />
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</div><div>I do realize it's a little ironic that this book is about conservation and I've chosen to prepare a snack that is supposed to represent the very trees that were being cut down. Personally, I consider it a victory that I got my children <i>excited</i> about eating vegetables as an after school snack.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This book is part of a Banned Books Week roundup hosted by Nikki of <a href="http://whatireadbackthen.blogspot.com/">Are you there youth? It's me Nikki</a>. Check out her blog on October 2 for links to other Banned Books Week posts from around the blogosphere. Her Banned Books Week review of the Harry Potter series can be found <a href="http://whatireadbackthen.blogspot.com/2010/09/banned-books-week-harry-potter-series.html">here</a>.</div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-53334184019261842072010-09-27T16:01:00.000-07:002010-09-27T17:46:39.013-07:00Happy Banned Books Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNr7zl28mbrAfqnhp7wCm_LzMbmiyBRtDzW4n_gpAtfErz_hq5CWdDsQNFxmC25djPqeMynj8cgLtOO_rG_ih7c1hW58DwlYGafOREBoccTrFtj9cLBWElXDQb6dGex5rSMzu2b8XB8/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-27+at+3.53.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNr7zl28mbrAfqnhp7wCm_LzMbmiyBRtDzW4n_gpAtfErz_hq5CWdDsQNFxmC25djPqeMynj8cgLtOO_rG_ih7c1hW58DwlYGafOREBoccTrFtj9cLBWElXDQb6dGex5rSMzu2b8XB8/s320/Screen+shot+2010-09-27+at+3.53.23+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">(i read banned books shirt, available through</span> <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/kapfries?rf=238873310797902409"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">my Zazzle store</span></a>)</span></i></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Since 1982, the last week of September has been designated as Banned Books Week. According to the </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">American Library Association</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">, it is a time to draw attention to "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States." Books in our local libraries, schools and bookstores are challenged all the time, usually by people who object to the book's content or message and want to prevent others from having access to the materials </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">they</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> find so offensive. As an avid reader, a writer and a mother, I have a problem with the few who attempt to take something away from everybody just because it does not gel with their moral code.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">This is just a partial list of books I love, books that have been challenged at one time or another:</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Judy Blume</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">A Wrinkle in Time</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Madeline L'Engle</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-The Harry Potter series - JK Rowling</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">To Kill a Mockingbird</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Harper Lee</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Catcher in the Rye</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - JD Salinger</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">The Color Purple</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Alice Walker</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">The Kite Runner</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Khaled Hossieni</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-His Dark Materials Trilogy - Phillip Pullman</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Deenie</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Judy Blume</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Of Mice and Men</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - John Steinbeck</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Ken Kesey</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> - Mildred D. Taylor</span></span></span><br />
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</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">With the exception of the more recent titles (Harry Potter, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">The Kite Runner</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">, His Dark Materials), the above are all books I was required to read in class or that I found on my own in the library. I cannot imagine going through childhood without </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">or </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">A Wrinkle in Time, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">books I found at my public and elementary school libraries, respectively. I was one of those kids who read everything she could get her hands on and I am very fortunate that my parents did not screen my reading material. I mean, maybe they did but if they did they didn't do a very great job of it, considering I read </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> when I was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">seven years old</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">. I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">have</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> a seven year old. I cannot imagine letting him read that book right now. (Not that it matters. I am quite sure he would have no interest in it.) And that's just the thing. You might say that I am a hypocrite, writing about freedom of speech and in the next breath saying I won't let my son read a certain book. That's not what I'm saying at all. As a parent, I have a responsibility to make sure the my kids' reading material is age and reading level appropriate. That's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">very </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">different than wanting to keep the book out of my son's school library altogether. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">As my kids get older they will no doubt choose (or be required) to read books that have received challenges. I hope that when the time comes we'll actually be able to talk about not just the stories, but the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">reasons</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"> people felt threatened by them and why it's important that these books continue to remain available. And should one of their teachers ever come under fire for a book that he or she chooses to introduce in the classroom, I plan to be the mom who leads the charge to defend that teacher and that book.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">Later this week I will be posting my own review (complete with recipe, of course) of a challenged book. For more information about Banned Books Week, please visit the American Library Association's </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/index.cfm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">page</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">on the topic. While there you can check out the list of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009/index.cfm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">top 100 challenged books of the past decade</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;">(2000 - 2009). </span></span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-11180766475029258512010-09-22T15:53:00.000-07:002010-09-22T15:55:04.366-07:00Cookbook Review: Bean Appetit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bean-Appetit-Healthy-Ways-Have/dp/0740785176?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0740785176&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a></div><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0740785176" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div>I picked <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bean-Appetit-Healthy-Ways-Have/dp/0740785176?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0740785176" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> off the New Arrivals shelf at our (new, state of the art!) library and boy, am I glad I did. As a kids' cookbook, this one does pretty much everything right. From the creative recipes to the full color, glossy pages to the games and activities (I would actually call it a cookbook/activity book), it's designed to appeal to kid chefs and it does. It appeals to my kid chefs, anyway.</div><div><br />
The premise behind this book by Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen (who co-founded <a href="http://www.beansproutscafe.com/index.html">Bean Sprouts</a>, a kids' cafe/cooking school in Wisconsin) is that cooking should be fun and creative. Thus we get recipes with names like Pear Penguins, Starry Night Bites and Bug Bites. The book gives equal time to games and activities families can play together in the kitchen or at the dinner table. One activity suggests playing Jenga using carrot sticks. Another has instructions for making a homemade memory game out of repurposed metal lids. "Table Talk" questions and food facts throughout the book are designed to get families talking. My husband and kids spent an evening going through the Table Talk questions while I was at a PTA meeting.<br />
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One of the things I look for in a cookbook--especially a cookbook aimed at kids--is recipes that are gluten-free or that can easily be converted to gluten-free. One of my children has to adhere to a gluten-free diet; a cookbook that he can't enjoy would not be practical at all. Fortunately, many of the recipes in this book call for gluten-free ingredients like fresh fruits and veggies, beans, rice and chocolate. There are also a number of recipes that call for a special flour blend. This flour blend (instructions are provided in the introduction) is not gluten-free. While we skipped those recipes, I do think my older son would enjoy them. (Or, I could do a little work and come up with a proper substitute flour blend.)<br />
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Most of the recipes in the book are snacks, side dishes and desserts--perfect for kids who are just delving into cooking. The recipes are geared toward children who are able to read and follow directions but even younger children will find these recipes easy to follow with the help of an adult. The instructions clearly indicate when an older caregiver's assistance is required (like when using appliances or slicing fruit).<br />
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While my kids were at school today I purchased the ingredients to make one of the recipes in the book: Pear Penguins. (If you remember <a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/03/penguin-story-black-and-white-cookies.html">my post about penguin books</a>, you know we are big penguin fans in this house) After homework we went to town:<br />
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Quite often I check out kid cookbooks at the library and return them before we have a chance to make anything either because 1) the recipes are too involved and/or require ingredients we don't have on hand or 2) the recipes rely on gluten-containing ingredients. I am happy to say that this book will be staying with us for the entire three weeks we have it; the kids have already identified other recipes they want to try. This is a kids' cookbook that does everything right.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: seashell; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;">Disclosure: As an Amazon.com affiliate, I earn a small commission when purchases are made via Amazon links on this site. Thank you for helping to support Eat Their Words!</span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-61206433268497680222010-09-16T08:55:00.000-07:002010-09-16T08:55:55.832-07:00Harold and the Purple Crayon - Chocolate Pie"But there were all nine kinds of pie that Harold liked best" - <i>Harold and the Purple Crayon</i>, Crockett Johnson<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0064430227&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Well hi there. Long time no blog, right? I have no excuse, other than a combination of laziness/busyness. In the weeks between my older son beginning school and my younger son finally starting (he's doing kindergarten at a private school) things were kind of chaotic. It was a combination of wanting to spend some one on one time with my youngest before he headed off to full-day kindergarten, dealing with some health issues, helping my second grader adjust to the new school year, school meetings and general blogging apathy. I needed a break. My youngest started school last week, just in time for a weekend of house guests. I am finally getting it together again and dipping my toe back into the Kidlitosphere.<br />
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This doesn't mean that we weren't spending a lot of time reading and visiting our library and the bookstore. One of the things that we enjoyed during my blogging hiatus was the Crockett Johnson classic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Purple-Crayon-Anniversary-Books/dp/0064430227?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Harold and the Purple Crayon</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064430227" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. My younger son picked it out on a recent trip to the bookstore and he is now hooked on the Harold series. My older son enjoys them too but it's the little one who carries his books around with him and asks to read them multiple times a day. He had the book mostly memorized on the second evening it was in our home.<br />
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I remember checking <i>Harold and the Purple Crayon</i> out from the library as a child and I find it just as enchanting now as I did then. Harold is an imaginative little boy who uses his purple crayon to create entire worlds for himself. One night, Harold decides to take a walk in the moonlight, so he draws a moon . . . and a sidewalk . . . and eventually a forest, the ocean, a city . . . until he finds his way back home to his own bed. It's all very cleverly done, with a subtle sense of humor and a lot of whimsy. Other than the brown outline of Harold, the only colors in the book are the white background and the purple outline of Harold's drawings. I love the purple and the brown, I love Harold's pointy turned up nose, I love that Johnson uses turns of phrase like "a hungry moose and a deserving porcupine."<br />
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The moose and porcupine in question are the recipients of the pie feast Harold has to abandon as he travels on his way. Nine kinds of pie. Maybe someday we'll make all nine kinds of pie; that would make an interesting ongoing feature on this blog, wouldn't it? But today we only made one kind of pie. Since the book did not specify "all nine kinds of pie that Harold liked best" I had to take some liberties and assume that one of those kinds of pie would be chocolate. Who doesn't like chocolate pie, right?<br />
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<b>Chocolate Pie</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBhVfWa5DEyjiA724nNenzhEIYlSMYQEgFjvVcET-npREG94UWafe-eEB3OERlbOFK75aSKEEoSV_cQQidUv7zCgQrUmZrLupDxlEvej8In6gOP8d09jgLBbTFmmj3nlFdqNnxdCt2R0/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBhVfWa5DEyjiA724nNenzhEIYlSMYQEgFjvVcET-npREG94UWafe-eEB3OERlbOFK75aSKEEoSV_cQQidUv7zCgQrUmZrLupDxlEvej8In6gOP8d09jgLBbTFmmj3nlFdqNnxdCt2R0/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>1 package chocolate sandwich cookies (we used gluten-free <a href="http://www.amazon.com/KinniToos-Chocolate-Sandwich-8-Ounce-Packages/dp/B000LKZ5XQ?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">K-Toos</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000LKZ5XQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />)</li>
<li>2 ounces melted butter</li>
<li>1 (large) package chocolate instant pudding</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div>This is a gluten-free version of a simple dessert my mother-in-law makes. If you don't have to worry about the gluten thing then it's even simpler, as you can buy a premade Oreo cookie crust. But we are gluten-free so we make our crust. The cookies are available at Whole Foods, some Targets (ours has a newly expanded grocery section) and Amazon.com. I used one package but my crust was a little small--I recommend using a package and a half.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Carefully twist the cookies apart and scrape the creme filling out using a knife. Set the filling aside, eat it as you go, whatever. It's of no importance to this recipe.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Place the cookies in a plastic zip-top bag and smash the heck out of them with a rolling pin. Or grind in a food processor. My boys wanted to go the rolling pin route:</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD62nlk9kwzSnEufwYF08UWrrk8KkpRaS4ciqkZAuvn_I1XhTnylaT92LWncY2VsWjyGALPZhhB0tgM2Wa0eyuPNM7AgGIVyu7IySW_fz8GY04TCiSi4zLZD_QAzDvLARZz7JX33sVv4/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD62nlk9kwzSnEufwYF08UWrrk8KkpRaS4ciqkZAuvn_I1XhTnylaT92LWncY2VsWjyGALPZhhB0tgM2Wa0eyuPNM7AgGIVyu7IySW_fz8GY04TCiSi4zLZD_QAzDvLARZz7JX33sVv4/s400/IMG_0011.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. While the boys were mashing the cookies I prepared the pudding according to the directions on the box. I used the instructions for pie filling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Place cookie crumbs in small bowl and add the melted butter:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR19K8Fn-O-NnnSLxMg2ou8QoOM0NmkP46wCVsea6MdNBPPWAvakj53in_A7xs32PrIjUfcCpyrgdPkhQMV6VT2vd96xCTJSmywyj6MkZNp1t6b9u9oWBuUOcIWCnAqzWuW6_WRmJl-4/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR19K8Fn-O-NnnSLxMg2ou8QoOM0NmkP46wCVsea6MdNBPPWAvakj53in_A7xs32PrIjUfcCpyrgdPkhQMV6VT2vd96xCTJSmywyj6MkZNp1t6b9u9oWBuUOcIWCnAqzWuW6_WRmJl-4/s400/IMG_0015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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5. Use a fork to blend the cookies with the butter. You'll have a crumbly, slightly dry mixture:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb-mZVImPou8yYrDs0TRYKfhia5GhCzZ78hnt1mfJnjyD9D13I4e0edKuQ3d1XFZif9ckgqbz3qf7RMDcXG9Sbpp1LjCSkryxoYww_MAE8MCZI-ToAIEQ9JHFX7EQG9HozK_GBwgIT4s/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb-mZVImPou8yYrDs0TRYKfhia5GhCzZ78hnt1mfJnjyD9D13I4e0edKuQ3d1XFZif9ckgqbz3qf7RMDcXG9Sbpp1LjCSkryxoYww_MAE8MCZI-ToAIEQ9JHFX7EQG9HozK_GBwgIT4s/s400/IMG_0016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Press cookie crumbs into pie pan. As you can see, my crust doesn't quite go all the way up the sides of the pan. This is why I recommend using one and a half packages of cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5keT3XKM5a-w7ptnNHvQWMp2Bylqhw-9_pDEELgBOfvDamzcr-dnLvWNGydevDp8WkgEjYk1ixwMk1HWMi0eZomQJZl6_k3B6vk1HVeavuZfqQgRUpOeBUekIL89qjXibQDyN4d5rYA/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5keT3XKM5a-w7ptnNHvQWMp2Bylqhw-9_pDEELgBOfvDamzcr-dnLvWNGydevDp8WkgEjYk1ixwMk1HWMi0eZomQJZl6_k3B6vk1HVeavuZfqQgRUpOeBUekIL89qjXibQDyN4d5rYA/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. With a spatula, scrape the pudding into the pie crust. Let set in fridge for several hours before serving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7l5KBlyLOrnZ-mUbpLMLEYzhqiht7E3Lhymc_5tc2FtfUjn4pTa8vXqjFYgiw9MKDetlF-MBbMv-j-P75FFSAgmQt0YZ5wMc7zFAtHIGBXOaRRWbJxt3CUXKV-3MyZaybwn9QL4NwA4/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7l5KBlyLOrnZ-mUbpLMLEYzhqiht7E3Lhymc_5tc2FtfUjn4pTa8vXqjFYgiw9MKDetlF-MBbMv-j-P75FFSAgmQt0YZ5wMc7zFAtHIGBXOaRRWbJxt3CUXKV-3MyZaybwn9QL4NwA4/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This turned out really well. The only thing I would do differently is spray the bottom of the pie plate with a little more non-stick spray. I used a little but the crust still stuck a bit. As far as the flavor goes, I had a hard time telling I had used gluten-free sandwich cookies in place of Oreos. It had a rich chocolatey flavor and none of the "grit" that some gluten-free cookies tend to have. This was a winner. Now that I know how easy it is to make the gluten-free cookie crust I'll have to experiment with other types of pie.<br />
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Other Harold books we have enjoyed these past two weeks: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harold-North-Pole-Purple-Crayon/dp/0060586281?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Harold at the North Pole</i></a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harolds-Trip-Sky-Crockett-Johnson/dp/0064430251?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Harold's Trip to the Sky</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064430251" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>(I LOVE the section with purple line drawings on the dark brown background)<i> </i>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Harolds-Room-Crockett-Johnson/dp/0064440850?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>A Picture for Harold's Room</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064440850" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (this last one being an easy reader my older son read last year).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: As an Amazon.com affiliate, I earn a small commission when purchases are made via Amazon links on this site. Thank you for helping to support Eat Their Words!</span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-11623265948041162952010-08-25T23:00:00.000-07:002010-08-25T23:00:44.561-07:00Two weeks is a long time...I didn't intentionally neglect this blog for two weeks. As the end of summer vacation approached my kids and I spent a lot of time seeing movies, scheduling playdates with friends, taking some day trips and preparing to go back to school. My older son started the second grade today so things should begin to slow down and I will soon return to my regular posting schedule.<br />
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In the meantime, a little of what we've been reading:<br />
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Me:<br />
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<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0439023513?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mockingjay </a></span><br />
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<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0439023513?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0439023513&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439023513" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<span>My seven year old:</span><br />
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<span><span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Before-Dark-Magic-House/dp/0375844058?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1) </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375844058" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Before-Dark-Magic-House/dp/0375844058?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1) (Book & CD)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0375844058&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375844058" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
<span><span>(he's currently reading this aloud for his nightly homework)</span></span><br />
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<span><span>My four year old:</span></span><br />
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<span><span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toy-Story-Read-Along-Storybook-CD/dp/1423134060?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Toy Story 2 Read-Along Storybook and CD</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423134060" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toy-Story-Read-Along-Storybook-CD/dp/1423134060?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Toy Story 2 Read-Along Storybook and CD" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1423134060&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423134060" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
(Yes, we are still in a <em>Toy Story</em> phase right now.)Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-74193578119953273452010-08-10T17:24:00.000-07:002010-08-13T18:40:05.588-07:00Happy Belly, Happy Smile - Fried Rice"On Fridays I have dinner with Grandpa Sam. He owns a restaurant in Chinatown." - <i>Happy Belly, Happy Smile</i>, Rachel Isadora<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0152065466&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>I have reviewed books about families cooking and eating together for this blog, but I don't believe I have ever reviewed a book about a family dining together in a restaurant. Enter Rachel Isadora's <i>Happy Belly, Happy Smile</i>, a sweet picture book told from the point of view of a little boy who is visiting his grandfather's Chinese restaurant.<br />
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<i>Happy Belly, Happy Smile</i> isn't just a book about food or a book about families, it's a book about the experience of visiting a restaurant and seeing how things work from a child's perspective. Every Friday Louie visits his grandfather's restaurant in Chinatown. A frequent visitor, he knows the waiters, chefs and other restaurant staff by name and he gets an insider's view of what goes down in a working restaurant. He watches the chefs roll egg rolls and chop vegetables and the waiters bustle from table to table. When it's finally time to eat Louie and Grandpa Sam enjoy an assortment of Chinese dishes: rice, dumplings, egg rolls, spare ribs, shrimp chow mein--even fish and crabs. And a fortune cookie, of course. The book's title comes from the message inside the cookie: "Happy food, happy belly, happy smile."<br />
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Isadora's collage and oil illustrations are a treat. Scraps of paper from what appear to be real Chinese restaurant menus and are incorporated into the collages, a nice touch.<br />
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Of course, this book makes me think of Chinese food. Since converting to a gluten-free diet over a year ago, I haven't had much occasion to eat Chinese takeout. Between the wheat-based sauces, noodle dishes (my favorite) and fried foods, it just isn't the best choice. If I really want plain steamed rice and vegetables I'll get them at home. <i>That's</i> not what most people go to Chinese restaurants for! Fortunately, we have been able to replicate some of our favorite Chinese takeout at home. It's not quite the same but I have received high praise for my fried rice. Some would say it's even better than Chinese takeout!<br />
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<b>Fried Rice</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuQOerMvjGAidd_U2ldH9T_yrhRk-KhEQfksFft3l_46RSZzoh8LzEWGeqx_l78MX-KvNKeewIEjE1sbWhI0w9d69CGvrFhPyn5Bc2995yq5-IdjzMCuCc4pTI4K9ySqt_6FTOW4h8Yg/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuQOerMvjGAidd_U2ldH9T_yrhRk-KhEQfksFft3l_46RSZzoh8LzEWGeqx_l78MX-KvNKeewIEjE1sbWhI0w9d69CGvrFhPyn5Bc2995yq5-IdjzMCuCc4pTI4K9ySqt_6FTOW4h8Yg/s400/IMG_1489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<ul><li>2 - 3 cups cooked rice (I prefer Calrose, or "sticky" rice, but anything will do)</li>
<li>cooked lean protein (chicken, beef strips, tofu, etc.)</li>
<li>2 - 3 eggs</li>
<li>3 - 4 strips of bacon (optional)</li>
<li>1 and 1/2 cups diced fresh or frozen veggies (we use peas and carrots)</li>
<li>1/3 - 1/2 cup soy sauce</li>
<li>white vinegar</li>
<li>1 tablespoon brown sugar</li>
<li>sesame seeds (to taste)</li>
<li>black pepper (to taste)</li>
<li>red pepper flakes (to taste)</li>
<li>3 cloves fresh garlic</li>
<li>butter (optional)</li>
</ul><div>Additional equipment: Large pan or wok.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Cook your rice. Ideally, the rice should be cold so you may want to cook it ahead of time. Or use leftover rice. I've never tried to make fried rice using the pre-cooked rice I have recently started to see in grocery stores but if you've tried it let me know!</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. If you are using bacon, cook it in the pan/wok. We started putting bacon in our fried rice because one of our favorite Japanese teppanyaki restaurants does this with their fried rice and it is unbelievably good. (I am of the opinion that bacon makes everything better.) When the bacon is cooked through, carefully remove from pan and set aside. Do not drain the pan of the bacon grease! You'll use this instead of cooking oil for the stir fry part. (Sounds gross, I know. Trust me though.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. Crack eggs into the pan. Stir fry the eggs with garlic and black pepper until they are no longer runny. Add your lean protein and continue to stir fry.</div><div><br />
</div><div>4. When eggs and meat are cooked through (don't worry about overcooking the egg), add the veggies; let cook another two to three minutes.</div><div><br />
</div><div>5. Now it's time to add the rice. Slowly add rice by spoonfuls. Mix well.<br />
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6. Add red pepper flakes, brown sugar, sesame seeds and splash of vinegar. Add soy sauce and a small amount of butter (the butter is optional but it does enhance the flavor--I use a tiny bit). Mix well.<br />
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7. Turn up the heat and let cook until the sauce begins to caramelize. The rice on the bottom should stick a little but it shouldn't burn or fuse to the pan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzTHFtqCgbSaK8cHMC9NyhQnGrk3XiT53CnOxyT-aCCrNLiMg9n5UF3Mht3TdrV7OQFYj29f8OkbdGpNTUTW_kR-vfIKY5ckIvkit6WxKD0dX28YY7IPJlf0P5zSCUEb6VLCC8FX896M/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzTHFtqCgbSaK8cHMC9NyhQnGrk3XiT53CnOxyT-aCCrNLiMg9n5UF3Mht3TdrV7OQFYj29f8OkbdGpNTUTW_kR-vfIKY5ckIvkit6WxKD0dX28YY7IPJlf0P5zSCUEb6VLCC8FX896M/s400/IMG_1492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This recipe serves the four of us and provides a lot of leftovers. (I used the same amount to serve five adults and three kids a few weeks ago.) However, if you want to go all out and make a few Chinese takeout-style dishes to serve family style, I have a few suggestions:<br />
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<a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/03/crockpot-broccoli-beef.html">CrockPot Broccoli Beef</a> and <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/07/crockpot-sweet-and-sour-tofu.html">CrockPot Sweet and Sour Tofu</a> from <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/">A Year of Slow Cooking</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/beef/szechwan-beef-stir-fry/">Szechwan Beef Stir Fry</a> from <a href="http://www.bhg.com/">Better Homes and Gardens</a><br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/general-tsos-chicken-recipe/index.html">General Tso's Chicken</a> from Tyler Florence and the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/general-tsos-chicken-recipe/index.html">Food Network</a><br />
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These are some other great books to get you in the mood for Chinese food:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dim-Sum-Everyone-Grace-Lin/dp/0440417708?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Dim Sum for Everyone!</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0440417708" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by Grace Lin<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yum-Dim-Sum-World-Snacks/dp/1582461082?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Yum Yum Dim Sum </i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1582461082" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by Amy Wilson Sanger<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: seashell; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px;">*Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small percentage of the purchase price of items purchased through the Amazon.com links on this site. Thank you for helping to support Eat Their Words!</span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-10201954867312353782010-08-03T20:40:00.000-07:002010-08-03T23:35:30.093-07:00Blueberries for Sal - Blueberry Frozen Yogurt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blueberries-Sal-Live-Readalong-Book/dp/1591126932?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Blueberries for Sal (Live Oak Readalong)(Book + CD)" height="166" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1591126932&tag=glufreeas-20" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's August and friends of mine in other areas of the country have been enjoying blueberry picking. I know this because I see their status updates and pictures on Facebook. While my family did recently enjoy picking strawberries and blackberries, we unfortunately don't live in an area that is very conducive to blueberry growth. We have to buy ours at the store. Even so, with blueberry season in full swing we're able to find inexpensive fresh berries in our local stores.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's only one book I can think of to pair with blueberry picking (or eating, as the case may be): Robert McCloskey's 1948 classic Caldecott Honor winner, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blueberries-Sal-Live-Readalong-Book/dp/1591126932?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Blueberries for Sal</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1591126932" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. It is the story of Sal and her mother and the day they spend picking berries to can for the winter (I had to explain canning to my kids). Like many small children, Sal is more interested in wandering and eating the berries rather than paying attention to her mother. This is how she inadvertently ends up following a mama bear--whose own distracted cub has been following Sal's mother. In the end everyone gets sorted out and Sal and her mother return home with their blueberries, nobody worse for the wear. (The lovely endpapers, which show Sal and her mother canning their harvest, are a nice touch.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My kids laughed out loud when Sal took more interest in eating the berries than in following her mother, and again when the mother bear realized she was being followed by a human child rather than her own cub. My favorite part of the book? The pen and ink illustrations, which are blue and white rather than the traditional black and white. Love that blue! It's simple and effective and, well, just pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are looking for ways to use up some blueberries this summer, I've got just the recipe for you! This is one of our family favorites and my husband shares equal credit for creating it. I may have made the first batch of frozen yogurt in our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-20-Automatic-2-Quart-Ice-Cream/dp/B00000JGRT?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">ice cream maker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00000JGRT" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> years ago but he is the one who perfected and embellished it until it became...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Blueberry Frozen Yogurt with Blueberry Truffles</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients</div><ul><li>Vanilla yogurt (in a 32 ounce container--I prefer Dannon Naturals or Stonyfield Farms; we've used fat-free but low-fat tends to have a nicer texture)</li>
<li>1 cup blueberries (I've found frozen berries work a little better but use fresh if you have them!)</li>
<li>6 blueberry truffles OR a handful of chocolate chips</li>
<li>Splash of milk</li>
</ul><div>Additional equipment: Electric ice cream maker. If you don't have one, you can make the recipe as directed and stick in the freezer for a little while to give it a "frozen" consistency.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Note on the truffles: The first several times we made this frozen yogurt we used chocolate chips. At some point we decided to chop up some <a href="http://www.sees.com/">See's</a> blueberry truffles we had on hand and throw those in instead. It has become our preferred way to make this yogurt but don't worry if you don't have truffles (since See's is mostly a regional California thing)! They do give it an extra blueberry kick but it is just as good with chocolate chips.</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. Pour yogurt into a mixing bowl. I usually use 1/2 to 3/4 of the container.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Chop truffles into small pieces and add to yogurt. If you're using chocolate chips you can chop them finely (my husband's way) or dump them in whole (my way--I am lazy and afraid of chopping off a finger...and I also like the large chunks of chocolate in my yogurt).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0yaoNoluJasqGrSXpvSFUaEOdmZ1piJ8ShnIYn8bV4ODg5GVMSe8cB6DOscdrEnhlxc12qNaKBjkkQSYg_8MhjwR9amxvviaFu4KbcXi5POlFkwaM-WQ8m8td_J8GDXdPeWtjGBUxxY/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0yaoNoluJasqGrSXpvSFUaEOdmZ1piJ8ShnIYn8bV4ODg5GVMSe8cB6DOscdrEnhlxc12qNaKBjkkQSYg_8MhjwR9amxvviaFu4KbcXi5POlFkwaM-WQ8m8td_J8GDXdPeWtjGBUxxY/s400/IMG_1457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div>3. Add blueberries</div><div><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. Stir yogurt, blueberries and chocolate together. Pour into ice cream maker. Add a small splash of milk. Let churn for a half hour, or until the yogurt has the right consistency.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsjPMLS4LOfMFBuwzXdW5bLBUYU0qM60tMvZC0pfqEm3t97I97bOwRaCDxgBlu4HPUoYulADNMeosGB7uikmFT0-QVwW2WXvPONTuPh6fQxJofvhdmn85yb3LcG6wIQqNcu3OhR6U5Q0/s1600/IMG_1465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsjPMLS4LOfMFBuwzXdW5bLBUYU0qM60tMvZC0pfqEm3t97I97bOwRaCDxgBlu4HPUoYulADNMeosGB7uikmFT0-QVwW2WXvPONTuPh6fQxJofvhdmn85yb3LcG6wIQqNcu3OhR6U5Q0/s400/IMG_1465.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Here's video of what it looks like when first put in the machine:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwNzvZAgtCGMCYajS9sQ9xdTM7ohVarTxVHpSuBmwDhE94djU7loX6lWssXh6sWyH_x1QNWl0tUek_ZSsVH0w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This video was taken about ten minutes in:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmEvJoAUNe-mgxwVzp7-r4c4L84hlA5G67kBnEeMTcQMaoNXBAZ117IbkE1fTBoAUJLv-Yrsmsh4IceBprjQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">About 25 minutes after the yogurt went into the machine. Ready to eat.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr8SdVDKxglo7gI1BX3Iz2g_t9C1c69QfmR-rPdgMfGG_sZBZSZv2ouJ8iiK6ybstBhAK_KRMjKYUEnC5MXfO8ilqs9PsZa5O7m9ZeU-LhSFC1cIOB0vWFtPkwql5JgdhDbkXg17dLUQ/s1600/IMG_1474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr8SdVDKxglo7gI1BX3Iz2g_t9C1c69QfmR-rPdgMfGG_sZBZSZv2ouJ8iiK6ybstBhAK_KRMjKYUEnC5MXfO8ilqs9PsZa5O7m9ZeU-LhSFC1cIOB0vWFtPkwql5JgdhDbkXg17dLUQ/s400/IMG_1474.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This recipe is easily adapted--we've made peach frozen yogurt and we've also made our own vanilla using plain Greek-style yogurt and adding sugar and vanilla. If you're trying to cut back on sugar or prefer your yogurt with more of a "bite" try making this recipe with plain yogurt instead of vanilla flavored yogurt. However you choose to make it, it's an easy and tasty dessert.<br />
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For additional activities to go along with <i>Blueberries for Sal</i>, see Scholastic's <i>Blueberries for Sal </i><a href="http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=31948_type=Book_typeId=165">page</a>. Here you'll find some math activities and questions for discussion.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small percentage of the purchase price of items purchased through the Amazon.com links on this site. Thank you for helping to support Eat Their Words!</span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-50146699940151403622010-07-26T08:04:00.000-07:002010-07-26T21:52:54.636-07:00Saturdays and Teacakes - Teacakes"She opened the over door and the kitchen filled with a smell sweeter than summer gardenias--the smell of teacakes." - <i>Saturdays and Teacakes</i>, Lester L. Laminack<br />
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<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=156145513X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>When I was growing up I had a very close relationship with my grandfather. Due to the early deaths of my other three grandparents he was the only one I was really knew and he was, in a way, like a third parent to me and my sister. Some of my favorite memories are of going on walks together, eating cheese and crackers in front of <i>The</i> <i>Young and the Restless</i> and--when I was in upper elementary school--getting involved in stamp collecting together. My grandpa adored all of his grandchildren and bonded with all of us in different ways. For those of us who lived near him, he never missed a dance recital, concert, big sporting event or graduation. He also made it a priority to visit his other grandchildren who lived across the country. I miss him every day and think about him often--especially when I see my boys enjoying things he would have enjoyed, like getting excited about planting flowers in our garden or playing an instrument.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ8NjThtyA6sI5fQI2H9AyMQ_Jvuy87p6Ok0_ixHZDeUkUGwcCtTc5Zd6QkDvAlsQwMQkoVKbmnDQUUgxfWmzyotdmK5hOm4hIpTC1wJxUcv1S4MkTYFBluprf_LclI-zg0sS1h9I2x8/s1600/Scan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ8NjThtyA6sI5fQI2H9AyMQ_Jvuy87p6Ok0_ixHZDeUkUGwcCtTc5Zd6QkDvAlsQwMQkoVKbmnDQUUgxfWmzyotdmK5hOm4hIpTC1wJxUcv1S4MkTYFBluprf_LclI-zg0sS1h9I2x8/s400/Scan.jpeg" width="398" /></a></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Me and Poppa, circa 1981)</span></i></div><br />
<i>Saturdays and Teacakes</i> by Lester Laminack is the story of a boy and his grandmother (Mammaw) and the special relationship between a child and a grandparent. Their standing Saturday date is a ritual that begins with the main character setting off on his bike and riding through town until he reaches her home. Their day includes sharing breakfast, doing yardwork, eating lunch (with fresh tomatoes from the garden) and--finally--making and eating Mammaw's special teacakes. Chris Soentpiet's lovely, Rockwell-inspired watercolor illustrations firmly place the story in a not-so-distant past and evoke feelings of nostalgia for a bygone era--a time when little kids really did ride their bikes through town (without helmets!) and gas station attendants wore spiffy uniforms. Despite the setting, the story is one all who have a special bond with a grandparent can relate to.<br />
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Laminack's publisher, <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/">Peachtree Publishers</a>, has a recipe for <a href="http://peachtree-online.com/teacakes.htm">"Mammaw Thompson's Teacakes"</a> on their website. I adapted it to be gluten-free.<br />
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<strong>Teacakes</strong> (adapted from "Mammaw Thompson's Teacakes", Lester L. Laminack)<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ingredients:</div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 sticks butter (I used Smart Balance Butter Blend)</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3.5 cups flour</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2 cups sugar</li>
<li>3 large eggs</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3 teaspoons vanilla</li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Note: I halved the recipe--the last time we made cookies (and these are, despite the name, cookies) for this blog we didn't end up eating all of them. I used slightly less sugar than the recipe called for because the flour blend I used already has sugar in it. If you aren't following a gluten-free diet and are interested in making these cookies you'll definitely want to check out the original recipe on Peachtree's site rather than use the one I've provided.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. In mixing bowl, cream softened butter and sugar.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Beat eggs and vanilla together. Add to butter and sugar and mix well.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Add flour, mix well until all ingredients are combined.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. The original recipe says to roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass to cut into circles. I really didn't want to mess with that; I made drop cookies instead. Normally I abhor those Airbake cookie sheets but I recently read that they work well with gluten-free baked goods. Since I was at my mom's house while making these I decided to give the Airbake sheet a try.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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5. Bake at 375* for about 15 minutes.<br />
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<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ54kr4581K3UI9An9awECv3UIq3YveI9lCuIvfTR-eOTydl9KKJME2KBlnnQI4PtqAy-cGrEvAYdKQbbjSVDWcT7rKlnS-3vA7mAeRl_t-x8VXDj97PejZeWWnKpwzLBXFn9HXPYMiP0/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ54kr4581K3UI9An9awECv3UIq3YveI9lCuIvfTR-eOTydl9KKJME2KBlnnQI4PtqAy-cGrEvAYdKQbbjSVDWcT7rKlnS-3vA7mAeRl_t-x8VXDj97PejZeWWnKpwzLBXFn9HXPYMiP0/s400/IMG_1355.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The boys and my nephew, enjoying their teacakes after lunch.)</span></em></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>To be very honest, I don't think these cookies are all that different from the <a href="http://eatingtheirwords.blogspot.com/2010/06/like-moon-and-stars-and-sun.html">moon and star cookies</a> I made last month (I'm thinking of mixing up some ganache icing to give them a different flavor). However, the cookie itself isn't the point. This book is about a special tradition shared between a grandparent and her grandchild, and the important thing is the love and the memories centered around this special recipe, not the recipe itself. It could have just as easily been called <em>Saturdays and Tacos</em> or<em> Saturdays and Tofu</em>. In my case, it might have been called <em>11:00 a.m. and Cheese and Crackers</em>. I will never be able to pass the refrigerated spreadable cheese section in the grocery store without thinking of my Poppa and all of the special times we shared while spreading cheese on crackers and watching the lives of Victor Newman, Jack Abbott and the other denizens of Genoa City unfold. My parents and inlaws don't cook with my kids. They don't watch wildly inappropriate soap operas with them either. But when my dad shares ice cream bars with the boys after dinner or my mother-in-law gives them silly nicknames I see their own traditions beginning to take root.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*As an Amazon affiliate I earn a small commission when purchases are made via the Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-88799716917922385082010-07-19T07:54:00.000-07:002010-07-19T07:54:00.436-07:00Maisy Makes Lemonade - Lemonade"It's hot today. Maisy is having a nice cold drink. Mmmm. Lemonade." - <i>Maisy Makes Lemonade</i>, Lucy Cousins<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0763617296&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>You may have noticed that lately the recipes on my blog have tied into the season--summer is the time for sweet, refreshing delights like fruit salad and strawberry shortcake. Another quintessential summer treat? Lemonade. What's more, it's easy to prepare. Even very young children can get involved.<br />
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<i>Maisy Makes Lemonade</i> was a library find. My four year old is in a stage where he still enjoys simple and comforting books like Cousins' Maisy books just as much as he enjoys more mature fare such as <i>Batman versus the Joker</i>. He was quite taken with both on a recent library trip and while neither would have necessarily been what <i>I'd</i> have chosen for him, I do think it's important to give my kids the ability to choose their own books at the library.<br />
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So I was going through the stack of library books to read one more time before our beach vacation and as I picked up <i>Maisy Makes Lemonade </i>I thought, <i>Well, </i>there's<i> a good topic for the blog</i>.<br />
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For those not familiar with Maisy (though if you have a toddler/preschooler, you should be), she's a mouse who--along with her various animal friends--experiences things that most kids are familiar with. In addition to making lemonade there are Maisy books about going to bed, going shopping, and going to places like the dentist or on vacation. They're told simply with a minimal amount of text on each page and cute, colorful illustrations. The storyline in <i>Maisy Makes Lemonade</i> is simple and predictable (to adults): Maisy shares her lemonade with her friend Eddie (an elephant) and they run out. They decide to make another pitcher. They pick lemons from Maisy's tree and make their lemonade, step by step. Then they enjoy their refreshing beverage. My kids wanted to make their own lemonade after reading it. If you have a small child, it's a good opportunity to suggest making lemonade "just like Maisy."<br />
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<b>Lemonade</b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>6 lemons (or, enough to yield 1 cup of lemon juice)</li>
<li>1/2 cup sugar (I used a combination of regular and raw sugar)</li>
<li>5 cups water</li>
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</div><div>1. Slice lemons in half and juice them. We don't have a citrus juicer so I let the boys do it by hand. You need one cup of juice for this recipe.</div><br />
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2. Pour juice through a strainer (into the pitcher you'll be using) to separate juice from seeds.<br />
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3. Add sugar and water. Stir everything together. Lemonade is ready to serve, unless you'd like to chill it first.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was 90* the day we made this! We waited until it cooled off a little and drank it outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate I earn a small commission from Amazon purchases via the links and search tools on this site. Thank you for supporting Eat Their Words!</span></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-12578069588656600412010-07-12T13:29:00.000-07:002010-07-15T09:25:35.690-07:00The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad<blockquote>"On Monday he ate through one apple. But he was still hungry." - <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i>, Eric Carle</blockquote><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glufreeas-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0399226907&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=4C6E81&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Is there a parent or teacher on the planet who <em>isn't</em> familiar with Eric Carle's <em>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</em>? We've had our well-loved (board book) copy since my older son's first birthday and it's still a book my four and seven year olds occasionally enjoy. The great thing about it is that it can enjoyed on various levels. For babies and toddlers it's a good introduction to colors, counting, and the names of fruits. With older children it can be used to spark conversation about the caterpillar/butterfly lifecycle. Its unique design also appeals to kids. I remember being absolutely fascinated by this book as a child--there was always a long waitlist for Eric Carle books at my elementary school's library.<br />
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Do I even need to bother with a summary for this book? In short, the newborn caterpillar hatches from his egg and spends a week eating various foods before spinning his cocoon and eventually emerging as a "beautiful butterfly." It's illustrated in Carle's trademark style and the pages with the fruits he eats are staggered in size with die cut holes in the fruits to represent the caterpillar's bites.<br />
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The board book version we have is especially sturdy and has held up to years of use.<br />
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Our recipe for this week is simple and comes straight from the book: Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad. It uses as its ingredients the very foods the titular caterpillar ate during the week before building his cocoon. My kids and I enjoy making fruit salad in the summer; there is such an abundance of great, fresh, summery fruit. This was a perfect "cooking" project and snack for a summer day.<br />
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<strong>Hungry Caterpillar Fruit Salad</strong><br />
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In addition to the fruits mentioned in the book, I like my fruit salad to include bananas, blueberries, cherries and whatever else happens to be in season (<em>never</em> any melon though). However, I wanted to stick as close to the amounts in the story as possible. I made an exception for the orange. <em>Five oranges</em>? That's a lot of oranges. Might have been doable if clementines were in season but they're not. Thus, one really large orange as a stand in for the five mini oranges. Were I making this in the winter (but then, strawberries and plums would be out of season) I would use five clementines.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>1 apple</li>
<li>2 pears</li>
<li>3 plums</li>
<li>4 strawberries</li>
<li>5 oranges (5 clementines, or 1 large orange)</li>
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</div><div>1. Wash fruit. </div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Peel, slice and/or cut fruit as necessary. I cut everything into bitesized chunks. My seven year old helped with the strawberries.</div><br />
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3. Place sliced fruit in bowl and toss to mix. I added a splash of lemon juice to prevent browning.<br />
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I served this with lunch; it would also make a good dessert. Or breakfast, if paired with yogurt.<br />
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Eric Carle has a great <a href="http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html">website</a> with his bio, lists of his books, FAQs, games, <a href="http://www.eric-carle.com/coloringpage.html">coloring sheets</a> and more. There are even instructions on how to make a collage in his signature style. His blog can be found <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from Amazon purchases made through the links and search tool on this site.</span>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-53388406035137252792010-07-09T11:44:00.000-07:002010-07-09T11:44:06.340-07:00The Beatles in Popular CultureBefore we conclude this week--and because I have no other place to put this so it may as well go on my blog--I have two examples of the Beatles in popular culture that I ran across this week. If you pay close enough attention (and know what you're looking for) you will start to find their influence everywhere. In these two particular examples, they're used in advertising.<br />
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Exhibit A:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3HgVGC5N2qXf3ia0zVPi4AvYfEQKuFAqkE6S6pFW_B8MPovZ4Ozl7C4x8Xp-1LywR8ZRme0WTIsQNfvQw19CPA7dazl8SwU1ClMqjVmh9nsbDCTyecn0-vkkBG9l-suZOSFAoTOgUK4/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3HgVGC5N2qXf3ia0zVPi4AvYfEQKuFAqkE6S6pFW_B8MPovZ4Ozl7C4x8Xp-1LywR8ZRme0WTIsQNfvQw19CPA7dazl8SwU1ClMqjVmh9nsbDCTyecn0-vkkBG9l-suZOSFAoTOgUK4/s400/IMG_1044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
"All you need is loaf" button from Tillamook Cheese. (Sorry for the blurry quality.) A play, obviously, on the Beatles lyric "All You Need is Love." We received these from Tillamook reps who were promoting their products at a local grocery store earlier this week.<br />
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Exhibit B:<br />
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Bag from Lucky Brand Jeans store. Upon receiving it I thought, <i>That looks like it was inspired by the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band</span> cover</i>.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002UAU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sgt-Peppers-Lonely-Hearts-Club/dp/B000002UAU?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000002UAU&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a></div><br />
Then I turned the bag on its side and saw that it was designed by Sir Peter Blake. Who is most famous for designing the <i>Sgt. Pepper</i> cover. So there you go.Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595796005864296724.post-21676813742788644892010-07-08T14:34:00.000-07:002010-07-08T15:36:16.216-07:00Beatles Activities for Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiInZeIr-6QEwmxa08yYD7C4vxiQkXHGHCsvlACQM_sxZsMrF39rSyP6BTq-_a-5_B9dcaGsN3x0qvz9Hm9GOY6sE4KZbYbhokGW5MvT-SeThPbrwrvhR3RcS6lEpE6dUYEI6Uvl7oC3I/s1600/Beatles+in+America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiInZeIr-6QEwmxa08yYD7C4vxiQkXHGHCsvlACQM_sxZsMrF39rSyP6BTq-_a-5_B9dcaGsN3x0qvz9Hm9GOY6sE4KZbYbhokGW5MvT-SeThPbrwrvhR3RcS6lEpE6dUYEI6Uvl7oC3I/s400/Beatles+in+America.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This week has been all about learning more about one of our favorite bands, the Beatles. Earlier in the week we made strawberry shortcake (to go with "Strawberry Fields Forever") and drew pictures inspired by the music of the Beatles. Here are some of the other things we've been doing:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Anthology-John-Lennon/dp/B00008GKEG?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Beatles Anthology" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00008GKEG&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><b><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00008GKEG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00008GKEG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />Watching (bits and pieces of) </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Anthology-John-Lennon/dp/B00008GKEG?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b><i>The Beatles Anthology</i></b></a><b><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00008GKEG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> DVDs</b>. Specifically, we watched the part that includes discussion of "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane". The <i>Anthology</i> DVDs include "promotional films" the Beatles made for the songs, which are really very early examples of music videos and, in my opinion, pretty sophisticated for the era. Watching these videos opened up more discussion about the Beatles but my four year old is still a little young for them, I think. He lost interest fairly early on. My seven year old was very interested and probably would enjoy watching more of the <i>Anthology</i> DVDs at another time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Beatles-Rock-Band-Software/dp/B001TOQ8JS?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Xbox 360 The Beatles: Rock Band - Software Only" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001TOQ8JS&tag=glufreeas-20" /></a><br />
<b>Playing <i>Beatles Rock Band<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001TOQ8JS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> on XBox</b>. The Rock Band video games (games in general, actually) are something we enjoy as an entire family. If you're not familiar with the concept of this series of video games, you basically use color coded "cues" on the screen to "play" the songs on the instruments that come with the game. My older son likes singing (he does particularly well on "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds") and playing the guitar. My younger son plays the drums, though he usually needs help. I think this game is a great way to introduce the younger generation to the music of the Beatles. (Especially since their music is not yet available on iTunes, which seems to be where so many kids get their music these days.) The graphics are exceptionally well done. The opening sequence (view it <a href="http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/videos/cinematic">here</a>) is <i>amazing</i>. And yes, I know that there is a big difference between playing games like <i>Rock Band</i> and playing <i>real </i>instruments, but this game has paved the way for my boys' interest in learning to play real instruments. Now, I'm not advocating going out and buying a gaming system just so you can play this game, but if you already have one it is worth at least renting (can you still rent video games?) or borrowing from a friend.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b>Playing <a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/online/games/beatles/">The Beatles Games </a>from the National Museums Liverpool</b>. I helped my boys take the quiz to determine which Beatle they are most like. Despite their very different answers they both got John Lennon.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnJknr4WHGX5vcd7Wei-SkHHTW8qwRuMKWD-PqUvCE1Moua0jrtKBMTSFxoTgUAX6YFCXM-YHSqF0867oIQBkUrSbGy6dRaBGentPahWoTwi1uz_kkdg_inh7CmJcvDdZ-9IeKaD_0Os/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+762010+24803+PM-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnJknr4WHGX5vcd7Wei-SkHHTW8qwRuMKWD-PqUvCE1Moua0jrtKBMTSFxoTgUAX6YFCXM-YHSqF0867oIQBkUrSbGy6dRaBGentPahWoTwi1uz_kkdg_inh7CmJcvDdZ-9IeKaD_0Os/s320/Fullscreen+capture+762010+24803+PM-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I probably would not have been as inspired to teach my kids about the Beatles--beyond simply playing the music--if I had not had a Beatles background to use as a jumping off point. In addition to the <i>Anthology</i> DVDs (which I saw when it originally aired as a television documentary/mini-series many years ago), there are a few other resources I recommend to any fan who wants to learn more. The very first Beatles biography I read was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shout-Beatles-Generation-Philip-Norman/dp/0743235657?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0743235657" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Philip Norman and I still think it is one of the very best Beatle biographies out there. It would be great for teens who have an interest in the Beatles. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Anthology-John-Lennon/dp/B00006GEMA?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>The Beatles Anthology</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00006GEMA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (book) is basically a rehashing of the documentary but it is (like much of the documentary) in the Beatles' own words and contains amazing pictures. (My only complaint is the size--it's large and difficult to look at when I have kids on my lap. Hence my desire for a Beatles book for kids.) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Backbeat-Collectors-Stephen-Dorff/dp/B00028HBJI?ie=UTF8&tag=glufreeas-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Backbeat </i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glufreeas-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00028HBJI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>is a 1994 movie about the Beatles' first bass player, Stu Sutcliffe, and the early days of the Beatles. Again, this is suitable for teens but not for young kids like mine due to its R rating.<br />
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Are you and your kids fans of the Beatles? I want to know about Beatles activities other families have enjoyed. Please leave your ideas in the comments section!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katie Frieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028050595073414222noreply@blogger.com0