Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer.... a song a recipes for two yummy reindeer treats!

A Holiday favorite whether in song or story, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It's also a story/song with a good lesson, Different doesn't mean bad.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and
Prancer, and Vixen,
Comet, and Cupid, and
Donder and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
play in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history! 

 

 

I wondered and wondered what kind of "cooking" could I have the kids do with this song and Voila! I found my answer on Pinterest!  I love Pinterest!  I actually found quite a few cute recipes but I decided on just two of them. The first recipe is very simple and needs only 4 ingredients ~ Reindeer Paws and Noses are just too cute! The second recipe  for Reindeer Corn Cookie Bark is just too pretty and too tasty to leave out! I hope you enjoy making both and don't miss the Rudolph cartoon at the end of the blog! Happy Holidays!

Reindeer Paws and Noses

Ingredients

• Mini Twist Pretzels
• Rolos Candies
• Chocolate Candy Coated Peanut Candies
• Pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to warm.
2. On a cookie sheet, place a single later of mini twist pretzels.
3. Unwrap the Rolos and place one on top of each pretzel.
4. Place into the oven until the Rolo is just melted (3-5minutes depending on the temperature of the oven)
5. Remove from oven and immediately place a pecan for paws or a chocolate candy coated peanut candy onto the melted Rolo and gently press. Allow to set.

 this recipe was found at free fun christmas

 

 

Reindeer Corn Cookie Bark recipe found at YourHomeBasedMom .com

Ingredients

• 14 whole Oreos, broken up. I used the holiday ones with the red filling but regular will work fine
• 1 1/2 C pretzels, broken into pieces. I used the small stick pretzels
• 1 lb. white chocolate, almond bark or melts found in the bulk food section
• 1 C reindeer corn
• red and green colored sprinkles
• 
  

Instructions

• Cover a large cookie sheet with wax paper
• Spread broken cookes, pretzels and about 3/4 C of the candy corn onto the waxed paper
• Place white chocolate in a container and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes
• Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds until melted and smooth
• White chocolate melts faster and burns easier than chocolate
• Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookie mixture, spreading with spatula if needed to coat evenly
• Sprinkle remaining candy corn and colored sprinkles over the chocolate while it is still wet
• Do not let it harden
• Place cookie tray into refrigerator until set and firm
• Remove and gently break bark into small pieces
• Store in air tight container

 

 

This cartoon version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was originally released in 1948 by Max Fleischer Studios. (Notice: This motion picture is in the Public Domain and is not subject to Copyright.)

   

 

T'was the Night before Christmas aka A Visit from St Nicholas

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.





He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

 This version of  A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore With Pictures by
Jessie Willcox Smith was published in 1912 by Houghton Mifflin Company and can be found online at the gutenberg project

 Okay, raise your hand if you've always wondered, "What the heck is a Sugar Plum?" Oh please, as if I'm the only one! Well for all of you who will admit that you wondered, according to an article written in The Atlantic by Samira Kawash, a professor emerita at Rutgers University (she also blogs on candy history and opinion at CandyProfessor.com.) 

" The truth of the matter is that the sugar plum is not a plum at all, nor does it contain any plum-like substance. The sugar plums of Christmas fantasy are in fact sugar, and any resemblance to plums is entirely superficial."

Well, Pooh!! But not to worry, apparently these days a sugar plum is basically considered to be a no bake treat made with dried fruit, honey, nuts and other yumminess and then rolled in sugar. Whoohoo! So, here's a lovely recipe I found online at the cupcake project. These are also the prettiest sugar plums ever!

a a no-bake dessert made with dried fruit (including prunes, dried plums), nuts, honey, and spices, and rolled in sugar.
Read more at http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2012/12/sparkly-sugar-plums-for-christmas.html#q3GSwG46JwAFdMgP.99

a a no-bake dessert made with dried fruit (including prunes, dried plums), nuts, honey, and spices, and rolled in sugar.
Read more at http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2012/12/sparkly-sugar-plums-for-christmas.html#q3GSwG46JwAFdMgP.99

 

picture from cupcakeproject.com

Sparkly Sugar Plums for Christmas

Yield: About 50 teaspoon-sized sugar plums

Ingredients

• 2 cups toasted walnuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 cup pitted prunes, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
• 1/2 cut pitted dates, finely chopped
• powdered sugar for rolling coating the balls
• plum purple disco dust (I got mine from Layer Cake Shop - this is optional)

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients except the sugar and disco dust together in a large bowl. Optionally, place the whole mixture in the food processor and process for a few seconds - this will help everything to stick together, especially if you aren't the best at finely chopping. (I'm raising my hand high on this one.)
2. Form the mixture into teaspoon-sized balls.
3. Roll the balls in powdered sugar and then roll in disco dust. 
4. Note: If you let the balls sit overnight, the powdered sugar will absorb into the balls and will be less visible.

Recipe Found at the cupcake project

illustration from The Night Before Christmas by Rachel Isadora

The Last Christmas Tree...a poem and three fabulous Hot Chocolate Recipes!

I saw a truck of Christmas trees

And each one had a tale,

The driver stood them in a row

And put them up for sale. 

He strung some twinkly lights

And hung a sign up with a nail;

"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES"

It said in red

"FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES FOR SALE." 

He poured himself hot cocoa

In a steaming thermos cup,

And snowflakes started falling

As a family car pulled up. 

A mom, a dad, and one small boy

Who looked no more than three

Jumped out and started searching

For the perfect Christmas tree. 

The boy marched up and down the rows,

His nose high in the air;

"It smells like Christmas, mom!

It smells like Christmas everywhere!" 

"Let's get the biggest tree we can!

A tree that's ten miles high!

A tree to go right through our roof!

A tree to touch the sky!" 

"A tree SO big "That Santa Claus

Will stop and stare and say,

'Now, THAT'S the finest Christmas tree

I've seen this Christmas Day!'" 

It seemed they looked at every tree

At least three million times;

Dad shook them, pinched them,

turned them 'round 

To find the perfect pine. 

"I've found it, mom!

The Christmas tree I like the best of all!

It's got a little bare spot,

But we'll turn that to the wall!"

"We'll put great-grandma's angel

On top the highest bough!

Oh, can we buy it?

Please, mom, PLEASE?!

Oh, can we buy it NOW?" 

"How 'bout some nice hot cocoa?"

Asked the man who owned the lot.

He twisted off the thermos top,

"Now, THIS will hit the spot!" 

He poured the steaming chocolate

In three tiny paper cups.

They toasted, "Here's to Christmas!"

And they drank the cocoa up. 

"Is this your choice?" The tree man asked,

"This pine's the best one here!"

The boy seemed sad--- "My daddy says

"The price is just too dear." 

"Then, Merry Christmas!" Said the man,

who wrapped the tree in twine,

"It's yours for just one promise.

You must keep at Christmas time!" 

"On Christmas Eve at bedtime

As you fold your hands to pray,

Promise in your heart

To keep the joy of Christmas Day!" 

"Now hurry home! This freezy wind

Is turning your cheeks pink!

And ask your dad

To trim that trunk

and give that tree a drink!" 

And so it went on

All that blustery eve

As the tree man gave

Tree upon tree upon tree 

To every last person

Who came to the lot-

Who toasted with cocoa

In small paper cups, 

Who promised the promise

Of joy in their hearts---

And singing out carols,

Drove off in the dark. 

And when it was over

One tree stood alone;

But no one was left there

To give it a home. 

The tree man put on his

Red parka and hood

And dragged the last Christmas tree

Out to the woods.

He left the pine right by a stream

In the cold, 

So the wood's homeless creatures

Could make it their home. 

He smiled as he brushed off

Some snow from his beard,

When out of the thicket

A reindeer appeared.

He scratched that huge reindeer

On top his huge head---

"It looks like we've

Started up Christmas again!" 

"There are miles more to travel,

And much more to do!

Let's go home, my friend,

And get started anew 

He looked to the sky

And heard jingle bells sound-

And then, In a twinkling,

That tree man was gone! 


 I'm sure that after reading this wonderful poem, all you are craving a steaming cup of hot chocolate! Me, too! So here are two three fabulous recipes with variations. The first is making hot chocolate the good old fashioned way and the second recipe is for those of us with a little less patience! And the third is a wonderful spin on making hot chocolate. Hot chocolate truffles that you can drop in a cup of hot milk and Voila, Hot Chocolate! Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate ~ recipe and picture from The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 2 cups Milk
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 1 cup Good Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 teaspoon Sugar (optional)
• VARIATIONS: Orange Rind, Orange Syrup, Cinnamon Sticks, Raspberry Syrup, Abuelita Chocolate, Mint Extract, Peppermint Patties, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Shavings

Preparation Instructions

To make the basic hot chocolate, combine milk with half-and-half in a small saucepan.
Warm over medium-low heat, then stir in chocolate chips.
Stir until melted (though there will still be lovely particles of chocolate throughout.)
If it’s too chocolatey for you, splash in a little more milk.
If it’s not quite sweet enough for you, add 1 teaspoon sugar.
Serve in mugs with whipped cream.

VARIATIONS
Orange Hot Chocolate: Add 4 slices of orange rind as you warm the milk mixture. Add a splash of orange syrup if you have it, but it isn’t necessary.
Raspberry Hot Chocolate: Add 3 tablespoons raspberry syrup to the hot chocolate. Drop a couple of raspberries into each cup.
Mint Hot Chocolate: Drop 1 to 2 miniature peppermint patties into each mug before adding hot chocolate. Stir to melt.
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Substitute 2 discs of Abuelita chocolate for the chocolate chips. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the saucepan with the hot chocolate. Add 1 cinnamon stick to each mug before serving.
Garnish any and all variations with whipped cream or chocolate shavings.

 recipe found at the pioneer woman

DIY Instant Hot Cocoa Mix ~ Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Serves:
5 1/2 cups dry mix

Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
Hot water

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. 

In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water. 

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. 

Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. 

This also works great with warm milk.

recipe found at food network

Hot Chocolate Truffles

Yield: 15 truffles

Ingredients

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

cocoa powder, crushed candy canes, mini chocolate chips for rolling 

 

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a pot and melt together on low heat until smooth. Stir constantly.

2. Let cool in the fridge until stiff enough to scoop.

3. Make small scoops, about 2 Tablespoons each. And place them in the freezer for and hour.

4. Remove scoops, roll into balls.

5. Roll in your choice of decoration. Crushed candy cane, cocoa, cinnamon, mini marshmallows. (If you try the mini marshmallows, you really have to push the marshmallows into the chocolate balls.)

6. Wrap each ball in suran wrap and keep chilled until ready to use.

7. When ready, drop chocolate balls into 1 ½ cups of hot milk and stir!

Recipe found at  YourCupofCake

The Gingerbread Boy

The Gingerbread Boy

Now you shall hear a story that somebody's great-great-grandmother told a little girl ever so many years ago:

There was once a little old man and a little old woman, who lived in a little old house in the edge of a wood. They would have been a very happy old couple but for one thing -- they had no little child, and they wished for one very much. One day, when the little old woman was baking gingerbread, she cut a cake in the shape of a little boy, and put it into the oven.

Presently she went to the oven to see if it was baked. As soon as the oven door was opened, the little gingerbread boy jumped out, and began to run away as fast as he could go.

The little old woman called her husband, and they both ran after him. But they could not catch him. And soon the gingerbread boy came to a barn full of threshers. He called out to them as he went by, saying:

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
And I can run away from you, I can!


Then the barn full of threshers set out to run after him. But, though they ran fast, they could not catch him. And he ran on till he came to a field full of mowers. He called out to them:

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
A barn full of threshers,
And I can run away from you, I can!

Then the mowers began to run after him, but they couldn't catch him. And he ran on till he came to a cow. He called out to her:

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
A barn full of threshers,
A field full of mowers,
And I can run away from you, I can!


But, though the cow started at once, she couldn't catch him. And soon he came to a pig. He called out to the pig:

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
A barn full of threshers,
A field full of mowers,
A cow,
And I can run away from you, I can!


But the pig ran, and couldn't catch him. And he ran till he came across a fox, and to him he called out:

I've run away from a little old woman,
A little old man,
A barn full of threshers,
A field full of mowers,
A cow and a pig,
And I can run away from you, I can!


Then the fox set out to run. Now foxes can run very fast, and so the fox soon caught the gingerbread boy and began to eat him up.

Presently the gingerbread boy said, "Oh dear! I'm quarter gone!" And then, "Oh, I'm half gone!" And soon, "I'm three-quarters gone!" And at last, "I'm all gone!" and never spoke again.



Story Source: St. Nicholas Magazine, vol. 2, no. 7 (May 1875),

Recipe and Picture found at Bettycrocker.com

 Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients: 

Cookies

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups dark molasses

2/3 cup cold water

7 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting and Decorations

4 cups powdered sugar

          1 teaspoon vanilla

4 to 5 tablespoons half-and-half

Food colors, if desired

Raisins or chocolate chips, if desired

Assorted candies, if desired

• 1 In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses and water with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
•  
• 2 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening or spray with cooking spray. On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with floured gingerbread cutter or other shaped cutter. On cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart
•  
• 3 Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
•  
• 4 In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, vanilla and half-and-half until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add food colors as desired. Frost cookies; decorate with raisins, chocolate chips and candies.

O-Jizo san, the grateful statues.....a tale from Japan

Mini Jizo statues picture courtesy of Wikipedia

O-Jizo san, The Grateful Statues

ONCE upon a time an old man and an old woman were living in a country village in Japan. They were very poor and spent every day weaving big hats out of straw. Whenever they finished a number of hats, the old man would take them to the nearest town to sell them.

One day the old man said to the old woman: "New Year's is the day after tomorrow. How I wish we had some rice-cakes to eat on New Year's Day! Even one or two little cakes would be enough. Without some rice-cakes we can't even celebrate New Year's."

"Well, then," said the old woman, "After you've sold these hats, why don't you buy some rice-cakes and bring them back with you?"

So early the next morning the old man took the five new hats that they had made, and went to town to sell them. But after he got to town he was unable to sell a single hat. And to make things still worse, it began to snow very hard.

The old man was very sad as he began trudging wearily back toward his village. He was going along a lonesome mountain trail when he suddenly came upon a row of six stone statues of Jizo, the protector of children, all covered with snow.

"My, my! Now isn't this a pity," the old man said. "These are only stone statues of Jizo, but even so just think how cold they must be standing here in the snow."

"I know what I'll do!" the old man suddenly said to himself. "This will be just the thing."

So he unfastened the five new hats from his back and began tying them, one by one, on the heads of the Jizo statues.
When he came to the last statue he suddenly realized that all the hats were gone. "Oh, my!" he said, "I don't have enough hats." But then he remembered his own hat. So he took it off his head and tied it on the head of the last Jizo. Then he went on his way home.
When he reached his house the old woman was waiting for him by the fire. She took one look at him and cried: "You must be frozen half to death. Quick! Come to the fire. What did you do with your hat?"
The old man shook the snow out of his hair and came to the fire. He told the old woman how he had given all the new hats, and even his own hat, to the six stone Jizo. He told her he was sorry that he hadn't been able to bring any rice-cakes.
"My! That was a very kind thing you did for the Jizo," said the old woman. She was very proud of the old man, and went on: "It's better to do a kind thing like that than to have all the rice-cakes in the world. We'll get along without any rice-cakes for New Year's."
By this time it was late at night, so the old man and woman went to bed. And just before dawn, while they were still asleep, a very wonderful thing happened. Suddenly there was the sound of voices in the distance, singing:
"A kind old man walking in the snow

Gave all his hats to the stone Jizo.

So we bring him gifts with a yo-heave-ho!"
The voices came nearer and nearer, and then you could hear the sound of footsteps on the snow.
The sounds came right up to the house where the old man and woman were sleeping. And then all at once there was a great noise, as though something had been put down just in front of the house.

The old couple jumped out of bed and ran to the front door. When they opened it, what do you suppose they found? Well, right there at the door someone had spread a straw mat, and arranged very neatly on the mat was one of the biggest and most beautiful and freshest rice-cakes the old people had ever seen.

"Whoever could have brought us such a wonderful gift?" they said, and looked about wonderingly.

They saw some tracks in the snow leading away from their house. The snow was all tinted with the colors of dawn, and there in the distance, walking over the snow, were the .six stone Jizo, still wearing the hats which the old man had given them.

The old man said: "It was the stone Jizo who brought this wonderful rice-cake to us."

The old woman said: "You did them a kind favor when you gave them your hats, so they brought this rice-cake to show their gratitude.

The old couple had a very wonderful New Year's Day celebration after all, because now they had this wonderful rice-cake to eat.

My friends at Wiki have the following information about Japanese Rice Cakes aka Mochi:

Mochi (Japanese: 餅) is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice (not to be confused with gluten) pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki.[1] While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Mochi is also a prominent snack in Hawaii, South Korea, Taiwan (where it is called 麻糬, Hokkien môa-chî or Mandarin máshu), Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

(picture found at SimplyMochi.com)

Mochi can be made in many flavors and colors! Kids will love this!
The following Mochi recipe is simple and can be made in a steamer or in the microwave. The video below the recipe demonstrates both methods of making mochi.


Mochi Recipe ( Japanese Rice Cake Recipe )
Mochi dough recipe :
Ingredients :
2 cups water
2 cups glutinous rice flour ( mochiko )
1 cup sugar
potato starch, or soy bean flour for dusting ( katakuriko, or kinako )
1 tbsp strawberry jam ( optional )
1/4 tsp pandan ( screwpine leaf ) extract ( optional )

Method :
1) Sieve glutinous rice flour in a big bowl ( to prevent clumps) and set aside.
2) Mix sifted glutinous rice flour, sugar and 2 cups water in a bowl. ( optional: add strawberry jam for pink mochi dough or pandan extract for green mochi dough)
3) Making mochi
Steaming method : pour flour mixture into an oiled pan. Place in steamer and steam on medium for 30-45 minutes.
Microwave method : pour flour mixture into an oiled microwavable pan. Microwave 10-15 minutes covered.
4) Dust some potato starch ( Katakuriko ) over a large flat-surfaced board. Knead dough until a smooth texture is achieved.
5) Shape dough into mini-logs and cut into bite-sized portions.
6) Fill or top dough with your favorite stuffing or topping.
recipe found at Melting Wok

Go Mango Walk

 "Happiness in a Mango Walk" by Mallica "Kapo" Reynolds

Mango Walk is a Jamaican folk song that has been performed by steele bands for many years.

My favorite version of this song was recorded by John Langstaff on his

"Songs for Singing Children" album. As far as I can find out "mango walk" 

refers to a mango orchard, and "Number Eleven" is either a type of mango or a size.

But no matter which explanation is correct, the song is just fun to sing.

Mango Walk 

Chorus:
My brother did a-tell me that you go mango walk,
You go mango walk, you go mango walk,
My brother did a-tell me that you go mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven.

Now tell me, Joe, do tell me for true,
Do tell me for true, do tell me,
That you don't go to no mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven. 

Chorus

I tell you, Sue, I tell you for true,
I tell you for true, I tell you
That I don't go to no mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven. 

a midi with the tune can be found at traditionalmusic.co.uk 

information about mangoes can be found at freshforkids.com

One of the easiest ways for kids to eat a Mango is shown in this video.

More Mango ideas:

Mango pops:

1. Puree fresh mango in a blender or food processor.
2. Pour the puree into ice cube trays
3. Cover the tray with plastic wrap
4. Place a popsicle stick or toothpick into each cube
5. Freeze.
6. Take out of the freezer when ready and Enjoy!

.

Mango-Pineapple-Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 large mango diced and chilled
5 slices canned pineapples chilled
1 banana
1 cup of Orange Pineapple juice
4 ice cubes
Directions:

1. In a BLENDER, blend the banana with the orange pineapple juice until banana is well mixed.
2. Next add the ice cubes,the mangos and the pineapples, blending for 1 minute on high or until ice is slushy.
3. Pour into glasses and enjoy! 

Check out this super simple recipe for Spiky the Mango Hedgehog

This video demonstrates several ways to cut a mango.

The fabulous recipe and picture above just found at 6bittersweets.com

The Riddle Song

February is National Cherry Month and the first thing I thought of, after cherry pie, was a wonderful old folk song called The Riddle song.

 The Riddle Song also known as I Gave My Love A Cherry or simply The Cherry Song is an English folk song. Usually sung as a lullaby, The Riddle Song is said to have been brought to the U.S. by the settlers who lived in the Appalachian mountains.

 I gave my love a cherry
That had no stone
I gave my love a chicken
That had no bone
I told my love a story
That had no end
I gave my love a baby
With no crying.

How can there be a cherry
That has no stone?
And how can there be a chicken
That has no bone?
And how can there be a story
That has no end?
And how can there be a baby
With no crying?

A cherry when it's blooming
It has no stone
A chicken when in the shell
It has no bone
The story of how I love you
It has no end
A baby when it's sleeping
It's not crying.

(Note: The third item "a story that has no end" is sometimes changed to "a ring that has no end". Two video versions of this song can be found at the end of this blog after the recipe.)

Before the usual recipe, I thought I would add a few interesting facts about cherries and a quick and easy art project that you can do before or after your cooking project.

Cherry Art:
Use a halved, pitted cherry to draw on paper.

Cherry Facts:
Sweet cherries are available in late spring. Sour cherries are available in June or July.

Cherries grow on trees like apples or plums.

Cherries are high in antioxidants and a source of beta carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Cherry-Lime Slush

Makes 10 servings

4 cups cherries (1 1/2 to 2 pounds), washed
12 ounces frozen limeade
1 tray of ice cubes
1 cup sparkling water
 10  5-ounce paper cups

1. De-stem and pit the cherries.
2. In a blender, purée the cherries with limeade and ice cubes until smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into a bowl.
4. Stir in sparkling water.
5. Spoon mixture into 5-ounce paper cups and freeze until firm but not solid, about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

 recipe found at wondertime

The Origin of Strawberries....a Native American Folktale

Soon after the Great Spirit created the first man and the first woman, they began to quarrel. Nobody remembers why, but because of it, the first woman ran away in great anger. Soon, the first man became very sad, and began to moan and weep. The Great Spirit heard his cries and felt sorry for him. "Would you like to see your wife again?" he asked. "If only she'd come back," the first man promised, "I'll never quarrel with her again!"

"Go find her, then," said the Great Spirit. The first man ran after her, but the first woman had too great a head start. So the Great Spirit created a huge patch of blueberries in her path, hoping she would stop to eat. But she was so angry, she didn't even slow down.

Next, he tried raspberries, then currants, and even blackberries. Although the thorns tore her clothes and scratched her, she kept going.

Finally, the Great Spirit created a new berry growing along the ground, and she slowed down to try one. It was so good, she stopped to pick more. That was how the first man finally caught up to her and apologized. They made up, and the strawberry is still shaped like a heart because it symbolizes the love of The First Man and The First Woman.
And Native people call it the heartberry.


July is Blueberry Month, unfortunately, I couldn't find any blueberry stories (if anyone knows of any tales with blueberries in them let me know). So, I figured a tale about berries of any kind, that at least mentioned blueberries, would do.

I've found some really simple recipes for jams that kids will love.

Easy No Cook Jam
2 cups of fresh berries, whatever kind you wish
1/3 cup of sugar
lemon juice, optional

Directions:

1. Use a potato masher to mash berries
2. Sprinkle with sugar and let it sit out for half an hour.
3. Stir.
4. Add a little lemon juice if you wish.
5. That's it! Your Jam will keep for approximately three days in the fridge.

This is a really quick and simple way to make jam in a microwave. I love it!



5 Minute Strawberry Jam – easy kids recipe
Ingredients
1-pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
2-tablespoons fruit pectin
1 teaspoon butter
1-cup sugar
2 8-ounce jelly jars

Directions

1. In a medium sized bowl, crush the strawberries with a potato masher
2. In a saucepan, combine the crushed strawberries, pectin, and butter.
3. Stirring constantly, cook over medium-high heat, until the mixture boils.
4. Add the sugar and bring to a boil.
5. Boil for 1 minute and remove from the heat.
6. Pour the jam into the jars. Seal.
7. Refrigerate until the jam is set, approximately 6 hours. 
8. Keep jam refrigerated. It will keep for up to 3 weeks.