Beginning

Welcome to my blog, thank you for stopping by. If this is your first time to my blog, it's nice to meet you. If you've been here before, welcome back.

My writing journey has begun. The road will have some bumps and detours. I only hope that the first hill is not too high, and the journey is long.














Books With Cookies And Milk


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Books With Cookies And Milk (7)

Charlie
the Ranch Dog

Charlie the Ranch Dog, Ree Drummond, Hardcover

written by:  Ree Drummond
illustrated by:  Diane deGroat

     Charlie is a loveable Basset hound.  He brags about how hard he works, but it's really his best friend, Suzie who does most of the work.  Charlie is usually eating or napping. 
     One day Charlie wakes up and realizes he has to save the garden from the cows all by himself.  He saves the garden and exhaustedly lays down for another nap, hoping Suzie won't forget to wake him up for his dinner. 

Linzer Square Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup walnuts
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 ° degrees.Grease a 9" x 9" pan.
     Put walnuts in a food processor and grind.  Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, sugar, brown sugar and process to combine.  Add the butter and process until like small crumbs.  Reserve 1/2 cup of this mixture, set aside.  Add the beaten egg to the processor bowl.  Process until clumps scraping the sides of the bowl.
     Press dough evenly in the pan.  Heat jam in a saucepan.  Spread the jam over the walnut mixture.  Sprinkle with reserved walnut mixture.  Bake at 375 ° degrees for 23 to 27 minutes.  Cool & Cut.
Prep Time:  15 minutes         Cook Time 23 to 27 minutes

Don't Forget the Milk!
Enjoy!

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Books With Cookies And Milk (6)


Jumping Off Swings
by Jo Knowles

Jumping Off Swings, Jo Knowles, Hardcover

     I have mentioned Jo's books before, but not under Books With Cookies And Milk.  I have been blogging about picture books, but I thought I would blog about one for the YA Genre (and for us, too!)  Jo writes this story using four different narrators.  Here you can feel a connection with each of her characters and how Elle and Josh struggle with the outcome of their one night stand, along with the support of their best friends, Caleb and Corinne.       I have been blogging about "Tone" and "Who is telling your story".  Check out "Jumping Off Swings" and see how it is done so well.  Jo writes a compelling story.  While you are at it check out "Lessons From A Dead Girl".  Jo's newest creation "Pearl" is coming out on July 19, 2011.  I can't wait for it. 
     Here is a recipe to make and enjoy while reading this amazingly good book:

Chocolate Ganache S'mores

Ingredients:
1/4 cup whole graham crackers, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (10 ounce package large marshmallows.

Directions


1.  Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.


2.  Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Mix until evenly moistened, then press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned and smells toasted, about 5 minutes.


3.  Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. When the cream has come to a boil, remove from the heat immediately and pour over the chocolate chips; whisk until smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Pour evenly over the graham cracker layer.


4.  Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.


5.  Place an even layer of marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Broil until the marshmallows are lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Refrigerate until chocolate has hardened, about 45 minutes. Cut into bars using a pizza cutter sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Prep time:  10 min.            Cook Time:  20 min.          Ready In:  1hr 15 min. 

Don't Forget The Milk!
Enjoy!
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Books With Cookies And Milk (5)


The Noisy Noisy Farm

The Noisy Noisy Farm, Stephanie Stansbie, Hardcover

Written by:  Stephanie Stansbie
Illustrated by:  Veronica Vasylenko

A book full of surprise sounds.  One by one the animals on the farm call out to Rooster - MEOW! QUACK! BAAAA! MOO!  But, no doodle-doing at all!  Read why Rooster can not be found and why finally, his wake-up call is louder than ever!

My Grandson loves this story.  He loves hearing the animals as the story is being read to him.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
(makes 24)

Ingredients 1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350°F.

Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl.

Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.

Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture.

Chill dough, and chill an ungreased cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes in the fridge.

Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl.

Scoop 1 inch globs of dough into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture.

Coat by gently rolling balls of dough in the sugar mixture.

Place on chilled ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 10 minutes.

Remove from pan immediately.
Prep time:  10 minutes        Total Time:  20 minutes

Don't Forget The Milk!
Enjoy!
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Books With Cookies And Milk (4)

Have You Seen Duck?

Have You Seen Duck?, Janet A. Holmes, Hardcover

Written by: Janet A. Holmes

Illustrated by: Jonathan Bentley
   
     Duck goes everywhere with the little boy. They share everything together. Now, Duck is lost. Where did he go? The little boy is sad and misses Duck. Will he ever find him? This is a cute story that a child can relate to.
Peanut Butter Kisses
(flourless cookies)
Ingredients:1 cup of creamy peanut butter1 cup of sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 (12 oz) package of Hershey Kisses, wrappers removed
1 teaspoon of salt
Extra sugar for rolling the peanut butter balls in


Directions:
Preheat oven to 325° degrees.
Beat sugar, salt, peanut butter and egg in a large mixing bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. This mixture will appear crumbly. Shape the peanut butter mixture into 1” balls. Roll each ball into the extra sugar. Place each ball, 1” apart, on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Press a Hershey Kiss on each ball, indenting slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before removing from pan.


Makes about 48 cookies.


Don’t Forget The Milk!
Enjoy!
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Books With Cookies And Milk (3)

There Was An Old Monkey Who Swallowed A Frog

 Written by: Jennifer Ward
Illustrated by: Steve Gray

There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog, Jennifer Ward, Hardcover

Here is a brief excerpt from the book:


There was an old monkey…
Who swallowed –
A frog,
A bat,
A mango,
A toucan,
An iguana,
And more!
Jennifer Ward has written a delightful rhyming story set in the rain forest.
The illustrations done by Steve Gray are comical with exaggerated features. This is done so that the reader will know not to take the story too seriously. A fun story to read.

Now for the cookie recipe - Here is one for the summer - No baking!
Oreo Cookie Balls

Ingredients:
1 package regular size Oreo cookies (not double stuffed), crushed into crumbs
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 package white morsel chips
1 package chocolate morsel chips
 Directions:

1. Using a blender or hand held mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.
2. Roll into walnut size balls.
3. Chill for an hour.
4. Melt approximately 3/4 package of white morsel chips.
5. Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in the melted white morsel chips.
6. Allow to harden on wax paper.
7. Takes about 15 min.
8. While waiting, melt about 1/4 package of chocolate chips
9. When Oreo balls are no longer sticky to the touch, decorate with drizzles of melted white and chocolate chips.
10. You can use a sandwich bag with a tiny hole cut in one corner to drizzle the melted chips over the cookie balls.

     Prep Time: 2 hrs                         Total Time: 2 hrs
Don't Forget The Milk!

Enjoy Reading!
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Books With Cookies And Milk (2)

Here is the second addition to Books With Milk And Cookies:
A Cuddle for Little Duck

A Cuddle For Little Duck, Claire Freedman, Hardcover

Written by – Claire Freedman
Illustrated by – Caroline Pedlar
Published by – Cartwheel Books

This story is adorable. The illustrations are wonderful.

It is a cute rhyming story to delight a young child.
Lemon Cookies

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups Bisquick Baking Mix
2 regular boxes lemon pudding mix
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
¼ cup sugar for rolling cookie dough in
1 can vanilla frosting
1 tsp lemon extract


Directions:
Stir baking mix, pudding mix, vegetable oil and eggs together. Shape into small balls (walnut size). Roll each ball in the granulated sugar.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly with the bottom of a floured glass. Bake at 350° degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool.


Mix vanilla frosting and lemon extract. Frost the cookies.

Prep Time  10 minutes       Cook Time  8-10 minutes                       Frost Time  10 minutes
 
Don't Forget The Milk!
 
Happy Reading!
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Books With Cookies And Milk (1)

Hi Everyone – Once a week, I am going to try something with my blog. I am going to recommend a book, and post a cookie recipe along with it to make and enjoy while reading the book. My children always enjoyed a story with two cookies and a glass of milk. Today, I am recommending Mary Newell DePalma’s “The Perfect Gift”. The story is about Lori, a little Lorikeet, who wants to give her Grandma a strawberry as a gift. After, losing the strawberry, Lori and her friends set out on writing and illustrating a wonderful story about their adventure. The story book is presented to Lori’s Grandma, who claims it is the perfect gift. I hope you enjoy the story along with the Strawberry Cookies and Milk.


                                The Perfect Gift

                                                    The Perfect Gift, Mary Newell DePalma, Hardcover
Strawberry Cake Cookies
(makes about 2 1/2 dozen)
Ingredients1 (18.25 ounce) package strawberry cake mix2 eggs, beaten
½ cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 cup whipped cream
Additional slices of strawberry to top each cookie with a slice
Granulated sugar for sprinkling on top of each cookie


Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease Cookie Sheets.


Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs and strawberries until well blended. Fold in the whipped cream until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Top each cookie with a slice of strawberry. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.


Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prep Time 10 minutes           Cook Time: 15 minutes           Ready in 30 minutes


Don't Forget The Milk!

Happy Reading!