Favorite Children's Books?

I am wondering...


1.  What were your favorite books as a child?
2.  And what are your favorite books to read to the children in your life now?

Not A Box...Another one for your bookshelf

Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis is a fascinating children's book. 

This book encourages creative thinking and imaginative play. It quite literally challenges children and parents to "think outside the box."

Throughout this book, the narrator continues to ask the bunny why he is sitting in the box or looking at the box...or like the picture above "Are you still standing around in that box?"

Then in response to the narrator, the bunny answers time and time again, that it is "not a box." The pictures in the book show what object or objects the bunny is imagining the box to be each time.

In the picture above, the bunny says, "It's NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT a box!" But, rather he is pretending that the box is four very different modes of transportation that he is travelling in through his day dreams and enjoying tremendously.

God has given us and our children such tremendous imaginations. Chances are that when our little ones see a plain old brown box that in fact their minds are already picturing many other adventurous things. But, simple books like, Not a Box, may help us as parents to remember to be playful and encourage the God given creativity that our children already possess. 

Garden Fresh Egg Bake...and variations

Fresh ingredients make an incredible breakfast dish.

This is my favorite egg bake recipe and I simply alter the ingredients to make variations. Whether I want Garden Veggie, Mediterranean Herb, Feta and Olive, Ham and Swiss or Sausage, Bacon Cheese...I use the same basic recipe.

I usually pick the type of egg dish to make by the fresh ingredients I have at home.Jjust chop up your favorite veggies..whatever you have on hand...whatever tastes great with eggs. 

Great veggies for an egg dish include: bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, onions..ect. Sometimes I also add left over veggies from a salad made the previous day.

You may choose to use whole milk, skim milk, soy milk, rice milk or coconut milk depending on your dietary needs.

You may also vary the amount of eggs depending on the desired consistency. I typically use 9 or 10 eggs.Whip the eggs and milk together till foamy, this makes the egg bake much fluffier, then add the veggies.

Use a 9 x 13 baking dish or casserole pan. 

Garden Fresh Egg Bake 

Ingredients:

10 eggs

3 cups of milk

4 slices of whole wheat bread or day old French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

1/2 cup cheese, shredded - a cheese blend such as: mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone or colby-jack is delicious

About 2 cups of chopped veggies (bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, onion, mushrooms...ect)

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp dried basil 

1/2 tsp dried oregano 

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

2.  In a large bowl beat together eggs and milk till light and foamy.

3.  Add bread cubes, veggies, garlic, and seasonings. Stir together. Pour into baking dish.

4.  Bake for 60 minutes, then allow dish to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting. (This dish can be prepared ahead of time and sit covered in the fridge for 10-12 hours before baking, then the flavors mesh and the bread really soaks up the egg goodness. )

----------------------Variation---------------------------------

Mediterranean Herb

Ingredients:

10 eggs

3 cups of milk

4 slices of  crusty white or whole wheat bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

1/2 cup cheese, shredded - a cheese blend such as: mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

About 1 cup of chopped veggies (bell peppers, mushrooms)

1/4 cup Greek Olives (sliced)

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/4 cup fresh basil. chopped

1 sprig of fresh rosemary

1/2 tsp dried oregano 

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

Follow same basic instructions as above. It is just that easy!

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Delicious and simple Oven Roasted Potatoes.

Whether you need a side to bring to a party or an addition to a meal at home...

Oven Roasted Potatoes are also simple to make substitutions for your taste. So, season them how you like them best.

Ingredients: 

Potatoes - use red, yukon gold, sweet potatoes or plain old spuds and prepare about 1/2 potato per desired serving

1 Onion, sliced or chopped - if you don't like onion, just leave it out

1 Tb Olive Oil

1 tsp each of three spices that go well together - rosemary/sage/thyme, basil/oregano/ parsley..ect  

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

2.  Clean potatoes, cut out bad spots but leave the peels on then cut them into wedges.

3.  Mix potatoes with oil, garlic, and spices and spread on a cookie sheet or glass baking dish.

4.  Bake for about 40 minutes, till potatoes are done to your liking. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Banana, Blueberry Streusel Muffins

I adapted a favorite Banana Pecan Muffin recipe from The Bread Bible to make

Banana, Blueberry Streusel Muffins.

When I make a streusel topping I use my pastry blender to combine the butter, flour and sugar. It works very well to get the crumbly texture needed, but a fork will work just fine if you do not have a pastry blender.

 

The struesel topping should look something like the picture above when you finish blending it. I used whole wheat flour and organic cane juice crystals instead of white flour and white sugar. Less processed ingredients create a more wholesome product. 

In baking I prefer to use expeller pressed canola oil. If you are trying to avoid extra chemicals in your diet make sure your oils are expeller pressed rather than chemically extracted.

During the winter months I buy cage free, vegetarian fed eggs from Piggly Wiggly or the winter farmers market if I can, but in the summer I get fresh, local, grass fed eggs from our CSA. 

(Rare Earth Farms, Belgium, WI).

makes 12 muffins

Ingredients: 

Topping:

1/4 cup sugar *cane juice crystals

1/4 cup whole wheat flour *gluten-free flour 

4 Tb cold unsalted butter *dairy free: use 4 T coconut oil

Muffins:

1 cup sugar *cane juice crysrals or sucanut

1/2 cup oil *melted coconut oil or grapeseed oil

2 large eggs *egg free: 2 T Energy Egg Replacer and 4 T warmer water mixed together

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups whole wheat flour *gluten-free flour 

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease or line muffin tin. Put about 2 cups of water in another baking dish (to place in the oven while muffins are cooking.)

2.  Streusel Topping: In a large bowl whisk together flour and sugar. Using a fork or pastry blender cut in the cold butter till coarse crumbs are formed. 

3.  In a large bowl combine sugar, oil, and eggs with a whisk till the batter is colored and slightly foamy. Add mashed bananas and beat well. The batter will be chunky.

4.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix just till all ingredients are wet. Then  fold in blueberries. 

5.  Spoon batter into muffin tins. Place on spoonful of topping on each muffin. Place the pan in the oven along with the 2 cups of water in a baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes . (15 minutes in mini muffin tins.) Cool in the muffin tins for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. 

Book Review - I Love You Through and Through

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak is a favorite read in our house.

 This children's book has adorable pictures and a precious story that depicts the love parents have for their children.

It is simple, sweet with such lines as "I love your inside...and outside."

or "your giggles... and cries"

But the ultimate message to our little ones is that we love them "through and through" regardless of their appearance, their health, their mood, their attitude, their mistakes ... or you fill in the blank.

As Ezra's mom, I have learned so much about God's unconditional love for us. Though I love Ezra when he is happy or sad, clean or dirty, I am not perfect and I can still get annoyed when we are all ready to leave the house and then suddenly I need to clean baby puke out of my hair or when we have the occasional day with no naps. It can be rough, but I still love that little peanut.

 Now, my love for Ezra is far from unconditional, I am human and can be just as horrible as anyone else. But I am learning each day through my growing love for my little one how much greater the Father's love is for me. For His love is without measure. God in fact is the only one who can love "through and through" all the time. 

I love this story. It is excellent bridge to share with your little ones the great love you have for them, but that God, their heavenly father, is able to and does love them far more than you can even imagine.

Same Old Block...Different Colors

These blocks follow the same pattern as my previous "Homemade Baby Block" post....just a different color for a different baby!