Montessori Mom

Welcome to a delicious journey through the alphabet! Cooking with children is one of the most rewarding practical life activities you can share together. In the Montessori approach, we believe that children learn best through hands-on experiences — and what better way to explore letters, sounds, math, and science than in the kitchen? As your child measures, pours, stirs, and creates, they are building independence, confidence, fine motor skills, and a love of learning. Rap or sing the little phonetic chant after each recipe to reinforce letter sounds. Let's cook and learn our ABCs!

A — Applesauce Surprise & Ants on a Log

Applesauce Surprise

Cut and peel some apples. Cook them for 40 minutes or until tender. Cool the apples. Take turns mashing the apples into applesauce. Add a little honey. Put the applesauce in a cup and add crushed cookies or raisins. Eat and enjoy!

A-a-a — the apple sound, A makes an apple sound!

Ants on a Log

Spread peanut butter on short stalks of celery. Add raisins (the "ants"). Add some apple juice and you have a great snack!

A-a-a — the ant sound, A makes an ant sound!

B — Banana Kabobs & Frozen Banana Ice

Banana Kabobs

With long skewers or toothpicks, make a fun fruit kabob with thick, sliced bananas, pineapple chunks, grapes, marshmallows, and any other favorite fruit. Brush with orange juice to keep the bananas from turning brown and enjoy!

This is a wonderful practical life activity. Even a young toddler can thread the fruit onto the skewer and "paint" the orange juice on the finished products with a brush. Let your older child peel and cut the bananas with a safe plastic knife. Slowly demonstrate how to peel and cut a banana.

B-b-b — the banana sound, B makes a banana sound!

Frozen Banana Ice

This is an easy-to-make "ice cream" type dessert.

You can either use bananas that are already frozen — just pop ripe bananas into the freezer to use later for cooking. Defrost the bananas until you can easily peel them. Let your child cut the bananas into small pieces with a spreading or butter knife.

Or you can use unfrozen ripe bananas by peeling and cutting them, wrapping them in plastic wrap, and popping them in the freezer for 2 hours. Again, your child can peel and dice the bananas.

Put the frozen bananas in either a blender, juicer, or food processor. You can add other flavors to this frozen banana ice. My favorite is to blend in chocolate syrup or chips. Oranges slices or strawberries are also a yummy addition.

C — Cloud Surprise & Caterpillar Bread

Cloud Surprise

You'll need whipped topping, instant pudding, and milk. You can use prepared pudding or have your child shake up pudding in a small jar.

Combine the milk and pudding and mix well with a whisk. Take the mixture and divide into small jars, cover tightly with the lids. Let your children shake the pudding until thick. Let each child continue by scooping whipped topping into a clear bowl or cup — enough to cover the bottom of the container. Spoon in the shaken pudding, then cover with whipped topping. Have fun eating your cloud!

Caterpillar Bread

This is a quick and fun recipe when you use frozen bread dough.

You'll need:

• Bread dough
• Licorice whips, jelly beans, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, sugar, and candy sprinkles

1. Divide the bread into 3 or 4 sections, depending on how many children are doing this activity.
2. Have each child roll out the dough into a long caterpillar cylinder about 10 or 12 inches long.
3. Using a plastic serrated knife, have the children cut the caterpillar into 4 or 5 sections.
4. Place the sectioned caterpillar in an interesting design (head up, curved around, etc.) on a greased cookie sheet.
5. Decorate the eyes with raisins; use licorice whips for antennae and legs. Use jelly beans and other nuts and candies to make your creation look unique. Caterpillars are wild-looking in nature, so have fun!
6. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until done. (Your bread is done when you lightly thump it with your finger and it makes a hollow sound.)

C-c-c — the caterpillar sound, C makes a caterpillar sound!

D — Dinosaurs Art You Can Eat & Doughnut Delight

Dinosaurs — Art You Can Eat

Your child can make a dinosaur, a self-portrait, or just an abstract creation!

You'll need:

• A full graham cracker rectangle or a piece of flatbread
• Various dried cereal, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, and candy sprinkles for collage
• Honey
• Pastry brush or plastic knife

Use the honey as paste. Let your child spread the honey with a pastry brush or a plastic knife and then cover the cracker with the edible collage pieces. Let your child tell you about his or her creation.

D-d-d — the dinosaur sound, D makes a dinosaur sound!

Doughnut Delight

You'll need:

• Toppings (sprinkles, nuts, raisins, coconut, etc.)
• Frosting
• Plain cake doughnuts

Give each child a doughnut, a plastic knife, a dollop of frosting, and some toppings. Let each child frost the doughnut and decorate. D is for doughnut — yum!

D-d-d — the doughnut sound, D makes a doughnut sound!

E — Egg Cream Drinks & Egg Wash Painted Cookies

Egg Cream Drinks

This old-fashioned drink is fun to make and drink!

You will need:

• ½ cup chilled whole milk or soy milk (you can use flavored milk such as chocolate milk or vanilla soy milk)
• ¼ cup chocolate syrup, vanilla flavoring, or fruit juice for added flavor
• Chilled club soda or seltzer

Pour milk into a 16-ounce glass and place a spoon in the glass. Pour seltzer (or squirt if using a siphon) into the glass to reach ½ inch below the rim. A snow-white foam will develop! Pour syrup into the center of the white foam, then stir in the syrup and remove the spoon through the center of the foam.

Try this with vanilla and milk, or fruit juice and milk!

Egg Wash Painted Cookies

These are easy and fun to make. You can make cut-out sugar cookies using your favorite recipe or buy cut-and-bake dough from the grocery store. If you are short on time, buy plain sugar cookies.

You will need:

• Food coloring
• White corn syrup
• Water (if you need to thin out the egg wash paint)
• Small pastry brushes or clean paintbrushes
• Baked sugar cookies

In small cups, put in a teaspoon of corn syrup and add a few drops of food coloring. Paint your baked cookies. Bake again for 5 minutes at 350°F. Delicious!

E-e-e — the egg sound, E makes an egg sound!

F — Fruit Dip & Fizzy Fruit Cooler

Fruit Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon almond extract
• Food coloring

In a mixing bowl, let your child stir the cream cheese with a wooden spoon (you can take turns stirring). Gradually add brown sugar and almond extract. Mix well until all of the brown sugar has been blended into the cream cheese. If the mixture is too thick for your taste, add a small amount of almond extract. Add a little food coloring as an added treat.

You and your child can wash different types of pears, apples, or any hard fruit. Wash, dry, and cut into dipping-size pieces. Enjoy dipping into the fruit dip!

F-f-f — the fruit sound, F makes a fruit sound!

Fizzy Fruit Cooler

Mix together club soda or sparkling water with juice. Have your child pour a glass ⅓ full with juice. Then pour in the sparkling water slowly until the glass is ⅔ full.

Try apple juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, grape juice — anything juicy and good!

Talk about this: What shape are the bubbles? Circles! What makes the bubbles? Carbon dioxide! This is a wonderful introduction to sensorial exploration and kitchen science.

F-f-f — the fizzy sound, F makes a fizzy sound!

G — Good Granola Bars & Granola Crunch

Good Granola Bars

These are great tasting!

You will need:

• 2 cups of oatmeal
• 1½ cups of flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• ¾ cup of brown sugar
• ¾ cup honey (or you can use maple syrup, rice syrup, or white sugar)
• Vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup flaked coconut or nuts
• 1 cup raisins or chocolate chips

1. Add the following to a large bowl and mix with a whisk: 2 eggs (show your child how to gently crack the middle of the egg, press thumbs together, and empty the contents into the mixing bowl) and 1 cup of oil (have your child pour and measure).
2. Add sugar, honey, and vanilla to the bowl and mix with a spoon. Take turns stirring with your child — count how many times you stir! This is a great opportunity to practice counting and math skills.
3. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt. You can put flour in a shallow bowl for easier measuring. Sift onto waxed paper.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture and stir.
5. Add oatmeal, then nuts and raisins or chocolate chips. Stir some more!
6. Spread into a bar or cake pan that has been oiled with a brush by your child.
7. Bake at 375°F for 25 to 35 minutes.
8. Cool and cut into bars. Store in a cookie tin.

Party variation — Granola Pops: Place about one teaspoon of dough on a cookie sheet, insert a stick into the middle of the dough. Bake 12 minutes at 375°F.

Granola Crunch

You will need:

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ or sesame seeds
• ¼ cup nuts or coconut
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract

Mix together all the dry ingredients. Add honey, oil, and extract, and mix well. You and your child can use your clean hands to mix gently. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet. Bake at 325°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it — it's all right to stir it once or twice while it bakes.

Cool on waxed paper or paper towels. Eat this for breakfast or dry as a snack.

Try this:

• Taste each food before you mix the granola together. How does the raw, plain oatmeal taste before you bake it? How does the granola crunch taste after you bake it?
• What part of the mixture makes the granola stick together in pieces after you bake it? (The sugar melts and glues the granola crunch together.)

G-g-g — the good sound, G makes a good sound!

H — Hot Dog Zap & Happy Face Sandwich

Hot Dog Zap

You'll need:

• Hot dogs — vegetarian, chicken, turkey, or beef
• Hot dog rolls (whole wheat ones work great!)
• Paper napkins or paper towels
• Microwave

Show your child how to put the hot dog in the roll, unfold the napkin and arrange it in a diamond shape, and from one corner, roll the hot dog to the end, then fold over the flaps.

Place the hot dog in the microwave for about 30 seconds or follow manufacturer's directions. Let it rest for a minute to make sure the hot dog is not too hot. Put on your favorite toppings.

H-h-h — the hot sound, H makes a hot sound!

Happy Face Sandwich

You'll need:

• Whole grain bread
• Nut butter
• Apples
• Raisins
• Maple syrup or honey
• Toaster oven

You and your child can wash and slice the apple into ½-inch slices. Your child can spread his or her favorite nut butter (peanut, almond, hazelnut) on a piece of bread. Add raisins for eyes and nose, and apple slices for a smile and even eyebrows.

Drizzle with a teaspoon of maple syrup. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Eat with favorite veggies!

H-h-h — the happy sound, H makes a happy sound!

I — Ice Cream in a Bag & Igloo Ice Cubes

Ice Cream in a Bag

You'll need:

• Large zip-lock bag
• Small zip-lock bag
• Cream or milk
• Sugar or your favorite sweet flavoring
• Ice
• Table salt

1. In a sandwich bag (zip shut), put in ½ cup cold cream, milk, or soy milk.
2. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, or honey.
3. Close securely.
4. In a large zip-lock bag, put in ice until ¾ full.
5. Add ⅓ cup of any type of salt.
6. Place the small bag with milk in the middle of the large bag.
7. Secure and shake back and forth until the small bag gets firm.
8. Cut the bottom of the small bag and squeeze out your homemade ice cream!

Variation: You can add any goodies to this — nuts, fruit, jelly beans, peanut butter and jelly, crushed cookies, or chocolate chips.

This is a wonderful kitchen science experiment! Talk about why the salt helps the ice freeze the cream.

Igloo Ice Cubes

You will need:

• Ice cube tray
• Your favorite juice

Put the juice in a small pitcher and let your child fill up each section. Freeze and put in your drinks for flavor!

I-i-i — the ice sound, I makes an ice sound!

J — Jiffy Jam & Jelly Biscuits

Jiffy Jam

This is my grandmother's (Mormor's) raw jam recipe. The jam tastes fresh and fruity. If you can pick your own berries, it will taste even better!

You will need:

• Blueberries or your favorite ripe small berry
• Powdered sugar
• Bowl
• Masher
• Spoon

1. Use about 1 cup of clean blueberries and about 1 cup of powdered sugar.
2. Pour the berries into a bowl.
3. Mash the berries. (This releases the pectin in the fruit.)
4. Stir in powdered sugar.
5. Blend until the jam is firm.
6. Spread on your morning toast!

J-j-j — the jam sound, J makes a jiffy jam sound!

Jelly Biscuits

You'll need:

• Biscuit dough (you can buy biscuits in a tube in the refrigerator section at the market)
• Jelly or jam
• Teaspoon
• Oven
• Baking pan

Have your child place the biscuits on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Next, make an indentation in each biscuit with your thumb and drop in a teaspoon of jelly. Bake according to directions.

These are great with afternoon tea or breakfast!

J-j-j — the jelly sound, J makes a jelly sound!

K — Kabobs on the Grill & Kiwi Cakes

Kabobs on the Grill

These are easy to make and fun to eat. This is a great way to introduce different vegetables to your child's diet.

You can pick from these fruits and vegetables:

• Pineapple chunks (canned)
• Mandarin orange slices (canned)
• Green or red pepper
• Green onions
• Zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Cherry or small tomatoes
• Mushrooms

You'll also need:

• Skewers (you can buy long wooden ones at the market)
• Sauce: 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons orange juice

Wash and cut the selected vegetables with your child. The cherry tomatoes are fine to thread on whole. The other cut vegetables should be no bigger than 2 inches.

Let your child thread the veggies and fruit on the skewer. You can even put the items in a sequence — pineapple, zucchini, mandarin orange, onion, tomato, pepper — and repeat the pattern until the skewer is full. This is a wonderful way to practice patterning and math concepts!

Brush with sauce and grill or broil for 5 minutes, turn, and cook 5 more minutes.

K-k-k — the kabob sound, K makes a kabob sound!

Kiwi Cakes

You will need:

• Kiwi fruit
• Sponge cakes or ladyfingers
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream or Soy Whip
• Bowl
• Egg beater
• Knife and/or peeler
• 2 teaspoons sugar

Your child can measure one cup of whipping cream and pour it into a cold bowl. If you have an old-fashioned egg beater, your child can beat the whipping cream until it makes soft peaks. Add the 2 teaspoons of sugar and beat one more time. You can take turns doing this! If you don't have an egg beater, a whisk will work — the helper may need to whisk a few extra times. Put the whipped cream in a cool place.

Peel the kiwi with a knife or peeler. Slice and place a few pieces on the cake, add cream, then add another layer of cream topped with a slice of kiwi. This is really good!

K-k-k — the kiwi sound, K makes a kiwi sound!

L — Letter Crackers & Little Loaves of Bread

Letter Crackers

These crackers are from a Norwegian recipe for oatmeal crackers.

You will need:

• A blender or food processor
• Rolling pin or a bottle
• Bowl and fork
• ½ cup oatmeal
• Honey
• Salt
• Baking soda
• ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour (or whole wheat flour plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch)
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup yogurt (soy or dairy)
• 2 tablespoons water (or until moist)

1. Grind ½ cup of oatmeal in the blender. (If you are using regular whole wheat flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour, grind that next and add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch.)
2. In a bowl, stir together flour and oatmeal with ¼ cup of oil using a fork. Add 1 tablespoon honey, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
3. Add ¼ cup yogurt and 2 to 4 tablespoons water. Mix gently with hands (oil them first so the dough doesn't stick).
4. Roll out the dough very thin — about ⅛ of an inch.
5. Cut with cookie cutters or make your own letters with a butter knife.
6. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Try this sensorial exploration:

• Have your child taste the oatmeal before you grind it. Taste some after you grind it into oat flour. How does it taste different? Do they have different textures?
• Taste the yogurt. Is it sour or sweet? Taste the honey — is it sour or sweet?
• Where does honey come from? What is yogurt made out of?
• Use the dough scraps to make shapes.

Eat and enjoy!

L-l-l — the letter sound, L makes a letter sound!

Little Loaves of Bread

This works great in a bread machine.

You'll need:

• 1 package of yeast or 2½ teaspoons of yeast
• 1½ cups of water
• 2 tablespoons powdered milk (dairy or soy)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar or honey
• ¼ cup of potato flakes
• 1 egg
• ½ stick of butter (¼ cup softened butter)
• 2½ cups bread flour
• ¾ teaspoon salt

Your child can sift the flour into a large shallow bowl or a large piece of waxed paper. Blend together the wet ingredients and egg in a large bowl. Add yeast, powdered milk, sugar, potato flakes, and butter. Gradually add flour, adding salt after you have put in about a cup of flour. You can use a mixer while the mixture is quite wet; after the flour makes the mixture thick, use a spoon, and then your hands.

Flour your work area and break the bread dough into small enough pieces so your child can work the dough easily. Show your child slowly how to knead the dough: you push and fold the dough, turn it, and push and fold and turn the dough again. Do this for several minutes.

Roll your dough into a fat cylinder shape. Your child can brush oil onto the bread pan or baking pan. Place your bread in the pan. Let it rise for about 45 minutes in a warm place.

Bake in a 375°F oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. The bread will brown and sound hollow when you thump it with your finger.

Cool and eat!

These small loaves of bread are easy for your child to slice. You can set up a practical life center for cutting and buttering bread. Provide a cutting board, a safe serrated knife, plates, butter, and a butter knife.

If you use a bread machine, select the dough option and follow your bread machine manufacturer's directions.

L-l-l — the little sound, L makes a little sound!

M — Marshmallow S'mores & Mousers

Marshmallow S'mores

This is great indoors or by a campfire!

You will need:

• A microwave or a campfire
• 2 graham cracker halves (any flavor)
• 1 square of chocolate candy
• 1 marshmallow or 4 miniature marshmallows (or marshmallow cream in a pinch)
• Peanut butter
• Paper towel

1. On one graham cracker, put the chocolate square and marshmallow.
2. Put on a paper towel.
3. Microwave for 10 to 15 seconds — the chocolate will melt and the marshmallow will puff up.
4. On the other half, spread peanut butter or any nut butter (it tastes great!).
5. Let it stand for a few minutes (don't want to burn your mouth!) and eat.

M-m-m — the marshmallow sound, M makes a marshmallow sound! Mmmmm good!

Mousers

You will need:

• Mild cheddar cheese
• Cheese grater
• Bowl
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup flour
• ¼ cup toasted dry cereal
• Cookie sheet

Have your child:

1. Grate about ⅓ cup of cheese and put it in a bowl.
2. Add 1 tablespoon butter, ¼ cup flour, and ¼ cup toasted dry cereal.
3. Stir, grease your hands, and form the mixture into balls.
4. Put balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Talk about it: How did the cheese change after you baked the mousers?

M-m-m — the mouse sound, M makes a mouse sound!

N — No-Bake Cookies & Nut Butter

No-Bake Cookies

These are great because you don't bake them. Use your hands — these recipes are like fun dough you can eat!

Round Orange Ball Cookies:

You will need:

• Rolling pin
• Zip-lock bag
• 7 to 8 ounces of plain cookies or graham crackers
• ¾ cup coconut flakes
• ½ to ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate

Put half the cookies or crackers in a zip-lock bag. Let your child crush them with the rolling pin. Rolling the pin back and forth develops eye-to-hand coordination. Put the finished half in the bowl. Do the second portion. Add coconut, sugar, and orange juice concentrate. Mix well and form into balls.

Try this: What would happen if you didn't crush the cookies? Would they mix together very well with the other food?

N-n-n — the no sound, N makes a no sound!

Nut Butter

You can make any nut butter from your favorite nuts:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Macadamia nuts
• Cashews
• Pistachios

You'll need:

• Blender or food processor
• 1 cup of roasted nuts
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (you can even buy nut oils to add — I usually don't add oil if the nuts are oily)
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Measure and place in blender or food processor. Blend at medium-high, turning off occasionally to scrape the sides. You can make the butter chunky or smooth.

Refrigerate if you don't eat it within a week. Take it out before eating so it warms up and is easier to spread.

Your child can spread this on apple or pear pieces, celery, carrots, and just plain bread.

N-n-n — the nutty sound, N makes a nutty sound!

O — Ocean Drink & Octopus Salad

Ocean Drink

You will need for this fun drink:

• Club soda or unflavored and unsweetened sparkling water
• Grape juice (or any ocean-colored juice)
• A clear tall glass and drinking straw

Put ¼ cup of grape juice in a small pitcher or liquid measuring cup. Let your child pour the juice into the glass. Slowly pour in the soda water and watch the drink turn a blue-purple ocean color with air bubbles too!

Sip from a straw and enjoy!

O-o-o — the O sound, O makes an octopus sound!

Octopus Salad

You will need:

• Plate
• A peach half
• Lettuce
• Raisins
• Almond
• 8 carrot sticks

1. Put the lettuce on the plate.
2. Place the peach half on the lettuce.
3. Add the 8 carrot appendages.
4. Add raisins for eyes and an almond for the beak.
5. Eat and enjoy!

This is a fun way to talk about sea creatures and counting to eight!

P — Peanut Butter Ball Cookies & Painted Toast

Peanut Butter Ball Cookies

You will need:

• Bowl
• ⅓ cup of honey
• ⅓ cup of peanut butter
• ⅓ cup of nonfat dry milk (dairy, soy, or rice)
• ¼ cup coconut
• 1 tablespoon of raisins
• Sesame seeds, chopped nuts, or cookie crumbs

Mix together the honey, peanut butter, dry milk, coconut, and raisins. Grease clean hands and form into balls. Roll into either sesame seeds, nuts, or cookie crumbs.

Eat — you don't have to wait to bake these cookies!

Try this: Taste all the ingredients. Which one do you like the best? How does it taste?

P-p-p — the peanut butter sound, P makes a peanut butter sound!

Painted Toast

This is a fun art and food activity!

You will need:

• Sliced bread
• Milk
• Food coloring
• Toaster
• 4 to 6 small pots or bowls
• 4 to 6 clean, small pastry brushes or new paintbrushes

Put about 2 tablespoons of milk in each pot. Add a few drops of food coloring at a time. Stir and add more color until the milk paint is nice and bright.

You can make red, yellow, blue, green, orange (mix together red and yellow), and purple (mix together blue and red).

Let your child paint the bread. It can be anything from dots, lines, circles, squares, or a face. Abstract art is interesting too!

Toast and lightly butter. If you need something sweet on it, honey will glaze the masterpiece.

P-p-p — the paint sound, P makes a paint sound!

Q — Quick Breakfast Bites & Queen of Tarts

Sing or rap this little ditty while you cook:

Q-q-q — the quirky sound, Q makes a quirky sound! (Q always has her friend U follow him wherever he goes. Together they make a blended sound.)

Quick Breakfast Bites

You will need:

• An oven
• A cookie sheet
• Parchment paper for the cookie sheet or cooking oil spray
• Mixing bowl
• Small microwaveable bowl
• Kitchen scissors
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
• 1 cup finely crushed cereal
• Refrigerated biscuit dough

1. Melt butter in the small bowl in the microwave or a pan on the stove.
2. Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in the mixing bowl.
3. This next part is great for cutting exercises: Take out the biscuits and separate them. Show your child how to use scissors to cut the biscuits into small pieces.
4. If you want to make this a fractions lesson, cut the first few in half, the next ones in fourths, sixths, and so on.
5. Put the wedges in the cinnamon sugar bowl and coat by gently stirring with hands.
6. Using a small spoon, drizzle the butter over the dough pieces. Cover as evenly as you can.
7. This next step can be done by even a toddler: Put about 1½ cups of cereal in a zip-lock bag. Press out the excess air and zip securely. Have your child use a wooden block or rolling pin to crush the cereal. "Crush it, crush it, crush it, crush it — into crumbly cereal chunks!" Add about a cup to the bowl of dough pieces. Stir slowly and gently to cover the bites.
8. Show your child how to place the dough bites on cookie sheets in rows without them touching each other.
9. Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes. If some pieces are done sooner, take them out and put the rest back in the oven.
10. Remove and let them cool slightly. Eat them warm with tea or juice. They taste as good as they smell!

Queen of Tarts

This is a simple jam tart.

You will need:

• Ready-made crescent rolls (you can find them in the refrigerated section at the market)
• Your favorite jam
• Small tart pans or muffin tins
• Oven — preheat to 400°F

Take out the dough and show your child how to gently press the dough into the tins. Place a spoonful of jam on top. Bake about 6 to 9 minutes, or until light golden brown.

These are very light and easy to eat too!

R — Rocky Road Snack & Radish Roses

R-r-r — the running sound, R makes a running sound!

Rocky Road Snack

You will need:

• Bowl and spoon
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 1 cup of nuts
• 1 cup of raisins
• 1 cup of pretzels
• 1 cup of cereal
• 1 cup of marshmallows

Combine the ingredients in the bowl. Let your child gently stir the goodies together. Store in an airtight container. Let your child use a measuring cup to take out an individual serving. These are a great treat!

Radish Roses

You will need:

• Radishes
• A bowl ⅔ full with cold water
• A small serrated knife
• Cutting board
• Vegetable brush

1. Wash and lightly scrub the radishes with a vegetable brush.
2. Cut the tops and roots off the radish. After showing your child, let him or her help you.
3. Take one of the radishes and trim off ⅛ of an inch at the top. From the top of this cut edge, cut down ⅔ of the way. Do this on the other three sides. Make more smaller cuts at the corners of the radish.
4. Place in cold water. After several hours, the radish petals will start to pop out to make a rose.

It's fun to make each radish differently!

S — Sprout Jar & Seaweed Soup

S-s-s — the silly seed sound, S makes a silly seed sound!

Sprout Jar

Sprouts are a great science experiment you can eat! They are wonderful by themselves, on a sandwich, or in a salad.

You will need:

• Vegetable seeds — alfalfa, mung, radish, or broccoli
• Bowl
• Jar

1. Soak the seeds overnight in a bowl of water.
2. Drain and rinse the next morning.
3. Put in a clean jar.
4. Place the jar in a warm place away from sunlight.
5. Look at the sprouts every day and notice how they change.
6. In a few days you will have sprouts!

Activities: Use two different types of vegetable seeds and see which ones sprout the quickest.

Note: You may have to rinse and drain the sprouts every few days.

Some more questions to explore:

• How do the sprouts taste different from one another?
• Do the radish sprouts taste "hot" or "spicy"?
• Can you see the leaves or the roots on the sprouts?

Your child will love how quickly the seeds germinate so they can eat the sprouts. As Maria Montessori noted, "The work which pleases children most is not so much that of sowing seed as that of harvesting."

Seaweed Soup

I use dried sea vegetables for soup and stir-fry! My children love it. You can buy a package of sea vegetable or seaweed at an Asian market or in the Asian products aisle of many grocery stores. Buy the type that looks like fine hair — the finer seaweed tastes less fishy when mixed with soups and other dishes.

You will need:

• 3 cups of broth
• ½ ounce of hair sea vegetable, soaked in cool water for a few minutes and rinsed
• ¼ cup of cut celery
• ¼ cup of cut carrot
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons seasoned oil, like sesame or olive
• Wok or large pan

Stir-fry the carrots, celery, and sea vegetable in oil for a few minutes. Add broth and green onions and bring to a boil. Add vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Add salt to taste. Serve with rice crackers.

S-s-s — the seaweed sound, S makes a seaweed sound!

T — Tangy Tea Mix & Tasty Tea Sandwiches

Tangy Tea Mix

You will need:

• 1 large jar of orange instant breakfast drink
• ½ cup instant tea
• 1½ cups of sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

Mix the dry ingredients well and place in a well-sealed jar or container. Pour hot water into a cup and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of tea mix. You can also serve this in a teapot.

Tasty Tea Sandwiches

You will need:

• Sandwich bread
• Cookie cutters
• Butter
• Spreadable sandwich filling, such as: peanut butter and jelly, softened cream cheese and jelly, egg salad, minced bologna, tuna salad, or vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes)

How to make the sandwiches:

1. Cut shapes of bread with cookie cutters that match your theme of the party or event (teddy bears, chicks, flowers, circles, etc.). You can also cut off the crust and make rectangles, squares, or triangles.
2. Butter lightly one side of the cut-out bread shape. The butter keeps the bread from getting soggy from the moist filling. If you make peanut butter sandwiches, spread peanut butter instead of butter and then put the jelly between the two pieces of peanut butter bread. This prevents the jelly from leaking.
3. Spread the filling on the bread, top it, place on a tray or plate, and cover each layer with plastic wrap. Refrigerate, and it's ready to go for your party!

Time Saver Tip: Use wraps instead of bread for your sandwich fillings.

T-t-t — the tangy tasty sound, T makes a tasty sound!

U — Upside Down in the Dirt Cake & Unbirthday Popcorn Cake

Upside Down in the Dirt Cake

You will need:

• A package of chocolate cream-filled (or mint) cookies — up to 20 ounces (or half of each type)
• ½ large tub of whipped topping with green food coloring added for a grass look
• ½ large tub of whipped topping to add later to the pudding mixture
• Instant pudding — chocolate, vanilla, or any other flavor (for a big dirt cake, use two or more packages)
• Milk for the instant pudding (for allergies to cow's milk, buy rice or soy milk)
• Gummy worms and bugs, even jelly bean eggs (some stores offer these in the bulk food section)

1. Put the chocolate cream-filled cookies in the freezer at least overnight. This makes the cookies easier to crush into dirt-like granules. Blend the whole package into "dirt" using a blender or food processor. For even more fun, your kids can crush the cookies in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.
2. Make the instant pudding and fold in ½ the tub of whipped topping. It's okay to swirl the topping and pudding if they are two different colors. I like to use a clear bowl to show the dirt layers and critters.
3. To make the cake upside down, put the green whipped topping (which is the grass) on the bottom. Put a layer of cookie dirt, then a layer of pudding and whipped cream mix. Place the gummy bugs, worms, and eggs strategically in the pudding. Continue to layer until the dirt and pudding mixture is used up, ending with dirt on top.
4. Put the cake in the refrigerator for an hour or more.

You can also make the cake in individual clear plastic cups. This is a no-stress dirt cake and your kids will love making it with you! Trick candles are fun for this type of cake, and vanilla ice cream on the side is a great addition.

Hints: Small plastic shovels are fun to use as spoons. Also, new, clean buckets make great containers for eating this "dirt" cake. Take a picture of everyone's face after eating this messy delight!

Unbirthday Popcorn Cake

Sometimes winter holidays put a damper on your child's birthday party day. A great way to have a fun kiddie party is to have an "unbirthday" party during the summer. Make easy, fun summer food and activities!

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts of popped corn
• 1 pound of candy pieces (gumdrops, jelly beans, etc.)
• 1 pound of marshmallows
• ½ pound of nuts (optional)
• ½ cup of butter
• ½ cup of vegetable oil

In a pan, melt together ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of vegetable oil, and 1 pound of marshmallows. Combine the melted mixture with popcorn, candy, and nuts. Mix well and press into a greased angel food pan or bundt cake pan. Remove when cool. This is a fun cake to make with your child!

U-u-u — the upside-down sound, U makes an upside-down sound!

V — Vietnamese Fried Rice & Vegetable Pita Pizzas

Vietnamese Fried Rice

Kim showed me how to make this 30 years ago. It's a great way to use leftovers. You just need a few tablespoons of each vegetable to make this dish. It's perfect for lunch.

The base of this recipe is leftover rice. Just adjust the recipe for the amount of rice you are using.

You will need:

• 1 cup of cooked rice
• Vegetable oil
• Wok or frying pan
• Egg or tofu
• Leftover veggies

Heat the pan with oil and heat the rice. Add leftovers and add one beaten egg or 2 tablespoons of seasoned tofu. Heat and eat!

Your child can beat the egg with a fork and half a teaspoon of water in a small bowl. Tofu can be smashed with a fork. Season with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic salt.

Look through your refrigerator and use leftovers to make a tasty dish. Here are some things to consider:

• Peas
• Grated carrot — your child can help grate the carrot
• Green onions
• Pineapple
• Green pepper
• Cooked meat or shrimp

Vegetable Pita Pizzas

You will need:

• 2 round pitas
• Vegetables of your choice — grated zucchini, carrots, or onions as a topper (kids who don't like veggies usually like this!)
• ¼ cup of your favorite sauce
• ¼ cup of cheese — cheddar, mozzarella, or jack cheese
• Olive oil to spray or brush on the cheese (the oil helps it melt)
• Favorite sprinkle cheese — Parmesan or veggie Parmesan

1. Microwave pitas for a few seconds to make them soft.
2. Let your child spread pizza sauce on the pita.
3. Sprinkle with grated veggies, halved cherry tomatoes, and favorite fresh herbs such as basil or oregano.
4. Spread cheese and spray or lightly brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake in a 425°F oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until desired crispness.
6. Cut into triangles.
7. Eat and enjoy!

Try this math exploration: Talk about the round shape of the pita. What shape are they when you cut them in half? (A half circle!) What shapes are they when you cut them in fourths? (Curved triangles!)

V-v-v — the vegetable sound, V makes a vegetable sound!

W, X, Y — Coming Soon!

Stay tuned for more alphabet recipes. In the meantime, keep cooking and learning together!

Z — Zebra Cookies & Zappy Snappy Cheese Wraps

Zebra Cookies

This really isn't a cookie, but it is good to eat!

You will need:

• A rice cake
• Peanut butter
• A spreading knife
• Carob or chocolate chips

Make stripes of peanut butter. Fill in with carob chips. Eat your zebra cookie with your favorite drink!

Try this: Why do zebras have stripes? It helps them hide from lions because when they are in a big herd, the lion just sees stripes moving around and has trouble finding a single zebra.

Zappy Snappy Cheese Wraps

You will need:

• Wraps — such as small flour tortillas or even lefse
• Cream cheese (or dairy-free cream cheese)
• Pepper jelly or favorite jelly
• Favorite fruit, sliced (kiwi fruit is always good with cream cheese) or dried fruit

Let the cream cheese soften at room temperature for a few hours or stir until soft — add a little liquid to soften more.

With a spreading knife, let your child spread on soft cream cheese, then add jelly and put on a single layer of fruit. Roll and eat!

You can use large tortillas and cover with cling wrap, chill for 2 hours, and slice into pinwheels. You may need to use toothpicks to hold them together!

Z-z-z — the zebra sound, Z makes a zappy sound!

Keep Cooking and Learning!

Congratulations on cooking your way through the alphabet! Remember, every moment in the kitchen is an opportunity for your child to develop practical life skills, build independence, and discover the joy of learning. Whether they are pouring, stirring, measuring, or tasting, children thrive when they are given meaningful, hands-on work. Keep exploring, keep tasting, and most of all — keep having fun together!