Chocolate Obsession!

Not to toot my own horn, but I made the GREATEST chocolate cake from scratch today! It was moist, creamy, and ooey-gooey melt-in-your-mouth chocolaty. One delectable bite and my mind begin to swirl with all of my favorite books that revolve around chocolate.

So grab one of these tasty books, a handful of chocolate chips (or a piece of the aforementioned chocolate cake) and enter the gates of chocolate heaven. Mmm...

Chocolate Picture Books

The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum
By: Deborah Blumenthal

We've all thrown a kick-your-feet-on-floor and scream at the top of your lungs tantrum over chocolate cookies, right? This book never fails to crack me up, even though I'd like to think I've outgrown my chocolate tantrum phase.


Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot
By: Margot Theis Raven

During World War II, an American pilot began dropping chocolate candy in parachutes made from handkerchiefs to the children of West Berlin. Although it's a much more serious read, the illustration are beautiful and the historical aspect is fascinating.

Curious George Goes to the Chocolate Factory
By: H.A. Rey

I loved this book as a kid! While George and the man with the yellow hat stop at a chocolate store, George joins a tour of the factory to learn about how chocolates are made. Of course, in true George fashion, he finds his way to major trouble.

Chocolate Chapter Books

The Chocolate Touch
By: Patrick Skene Catling

Chocolate pancakes. Chocolate bacon. Chocolate soda. Chocolate gloves? What would you do if everything you touched turned to chocolate?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

By: Roald Dahl

Sure, you've seen both versions of the movie, but you haven't tasted anything until you read Roald Dahl's scrumdiddlyumptious masterpiece of a novel. As much as I worship Johnny Depp, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (told from Charlie Bucket's point of view) trumps the big screen version any old day.

To make the world's greatest chocolate cake recipe click HERE.

So...what is your favorite chocolate treat??

You Don't Want to Steal My Dog!

Georgina Hayes is an eleven year old with a tough life. Her daddy left her family in the dust and her mother struggles to work two jobs, but still can't afford to pay the rent for their apartment. Georgina, her little brother Toby, and her mother are living out of their beat up old honker of a car and she'd do anything to keep her friends at school from knowing about it. If you think sharing a bathroom with your annoying little brother or sister is bad, can you even imagine what it would be like to share the backseat of a car, with only a beach towel divider? Major yuck!

One night, as Georgina lies awake, listening to the sounds of the ally where the car is parked for the night, she notices a sign for a missing dog with a reward for $500. The gears begin to turn in her head, and as desperate as she is for a real bed and a hot shower, she makes a decision: she's going to steal a dog.

According to Georgina,
These are the rules for finding a dog:
1. The dog must not bark too much.
2. The dog must not bite.
3. The dog must be outside by itself sometimes.
4. The dog must be loved a lot and not just some old dog that nobody cares about.
5. The owner of the dog must look like somebody who will pay a lot of money to get their dog back, like maybe someone who has a big house and rides in a limo or something like that.

After scouring the neighborhood for the perfect dog, Georgina and Toby settle on a friendly little black and white dog named Willy. As organized as Georgina sets out to be, her plan goes terribly awry (meaning wrong) and what happens at the end is the absolute last thing she would have expected.

Recipe to Read By: Barkin' Good Pup-cakes
These are so doggone good you'll want to howl at the moon. You can whip up a batch of these puppies in no time! (Are you diggin' the doggy lingo? Ruff!)

Ingredients:
1 box of yellow cake mix
Your favorite frosting
Milano cookies
chocolate chips
M&M's
black or brown decorator gel

Directions:
1.) Bake the pupcakes using the directions on the box.
2.) Allow to cool completely.
3.) Frost using Betty Crocker or your favorite recipe. Lay it on real thick because you need enough to hold the cookies. (Plus you can lick all the frosting that plops onto the counter.)
4.) Place two Milano cookies on the sides of the pupcake.
5.) Add two chocolate chips for eyes and a red M&M nose.
6.) Draw the mouth using decorator gel.

I think everyone needs to order THESE before even thinking about making pupcakes.
If you agree, raise a paw. (Or, if you're Kendall, lick a toe.)

Don'tcha just want to cuddle them?

In case you were wondering, the brown stuff isn't really dog kibble, it's Cocoa Puffs!

Rapunzel's Revenge

We all know the story...

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away there lived a beautiful young maiden who was kept in a tower against her will by an evil sorceress. Each day, the woman came to see her, bringing fresh food. She would stand at the bottom of the tower and call out,
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your long hair."

Blah, blah, blah.


This is where the fairy tale ends and the graphic novel begins. In Shannon and Dean Hale's version, Rapunzel is no longer the damsel in distress, but the damsel causing the distress!Say goodbye to the Rapunzel of your childhood, because this one is tougher, smarter, and a million times more adventurous than that puny blonde locked in the tower. And, she isn't about to wait for some arrogant prince to come rescue her!


Twelve year old Rapunzel lives in a huge castle with the powerful Mother Gothel, an unfriendly old woman who has special "grow power." Bored and wondering if there's something else out there, Rapunzel makes her way over the towering wall that surrounds the castle and discovers a whole other world. This world, however, is not pretty. On the other side of the castle wall is a mine, where the workers are ill-treated, underpaid, and think very poorly of Mother Gothel. As Rapunzel explores this new dark wasteland she runs into her REAL mother, whom she was taken from as a baby by Mother Gothel. (Coincidence, I know!) Mother Gothel finds out she has escaped and locks her in a small room at the top of an outrageously tall tree.


When her hair begins to grow longer and longer, Rapunzel formulates a plan to escape. She uses her thick tresses to propel herself out of the tree and onto the forest floor, so beginning a terrific adventure that doesn't let you stop and rest for a minute. Upon setting out to rescue her real mother, Rapunzel meets Jack, a young rabble-rouser who is wanted for stealing horses and carries a strange goose by his side at all times willing it to lay an egg. (Any ideas which fairy tale this Jack person comes from? Think beanstalk.)


Rapunzel and Jack came across a number of interesting people on their way back to the castle, some of which you may recognize from other fairy tales. The ending is full of action and includes quite a bit of violence for a fairy tale! And yes, it does end happily ever after...




Recipe to Read By: Miniature Castle Cakes

Why not enjoy reading your favorite fairy tale (or fractured fairy tale) with one of these scrummy cakes? Boys--you have no reason to be embarrassed when eating this cake. I mean, if girls swoon over princes in tights, you can eat a frilly cake without feeling the slightest bit girly.

(If not, more cake for us!)

INGREDIENTS
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) white cake mix
2-1/2 cups vanilla frosting
2 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each)
21 chocolate nonpareil candies
12 pretzel sticks
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 drop blue food coloring
3 sticks Fruit Stripe gum
6 small ice cream sugar cones
6 round wooden toothpicks

DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
2. Pour batter into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking pan and six greased muffin cups.
3. Bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes for cake and 15-18 minutes for cupcakes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes and cake for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
4. Cut the cake into six square pieces; place on serving plates.
5. Frost cake top and sides. Position a cupcake on top of each; frost cupcakes.
6. For drawbridge, divide each candy bar into four three-piece sections. Center one section on one side of each cake; gently press into cake. Divide the two remaining chocolate sections into three pieces; place one piece above each drawbridge for door. Cut three nonpareil candies in half; arrange a half circle above each door. Press pretzels into cake on each side of bridge.
7. In a resealable plastic bag, shake coconut and food coloring until coconut is evenly colored. Sprinkle around bases of castles to represent water in the moat.
8. Cut each stick of gum in half widthwise; cut one end to form a flag. Insert toothpick into gum. 9. Trim sugar cone tips; insert flags into cones.
10. Place a nonpareil candy on two sides of each cupcake for windows.
11. Frost backs of remaining candies; place one on the front of each cone.
12. Position cones on cupcakes.
13. Enjoy with a cold goblet of milk.
14. Share a piece with your mom, or she may lock you in an extremely tall tower and throw away the key.



Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home magazine.
Some other cute Rapunzel cakes:

Ruby Holler

I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but this cover just looks inviting, doesn't it?


As soon as I picked up Ruby Holler it began to whisper softly to me, "Come inside, dear reader, and make yourself at home at my incredibly cozy, charming little cottage and enjoy some sizzling bacon and piping hot pancakes with fresh butter. Don't you want to frolic in the shade of my secluded yard, climb these ginormous maple trees and just escape life in general?" "Yes, yes I do!" I found myself yelling to no one in particular. "I adore pancakes and sizzling bacon and frolicking in shady yards! I must read you right now!" And so my journey to Ruby Holler began.

Florida and Dallas (a.k.a. The Trouble Twins) have lived at the Boxton Creek Home for Children since they arrived on the doorstep as babies. The ramshackle (meaning run-down) orphanage is run by Mr. and Mrs. Trepid, the nastiest, most horrendous excuse for childcare providers ever known.

They were middle-aged, cranky and tired, and growing stiff and cold as winter-bound trees. They believed in rules, and their rules were posted on doorways and in hallways and above each child's bed. There were general rules and kitchen rules, bathroom rules and stairway rules, basement rules and outside rules, upstairs rules and downstairs rules, clothing rules, washing rules, cleaning rules, rules upon rules upon rules.

To top it off, Florida and Dallas were confined to the absolute rear of the house, where they slept in two tiny cubicles huddles side by side, ate mush for every meal, and were constantly screamed at. Sounds like a great place to grow up, huh? (This would be a great time to go hug your mom and tell her "thanks" for not leaving you orphaned in Boxton Creek with putrid people like the Trepids. It's okay if she looks confused--just go with it.)

As with all orphan-themed novels, when things couldn't begin to get any worse, they start to look up, albeit slowly. By some twist of fate, the twins are invited by Sairy and Tiller, a sweet, older couple who live in Ruby Holler, to accompany them on their last great adventures. Ruby Holler turns out to be everything the cover suggests and more. The children swing from the great trees, play in the crystal clear stream, eat their fill of delicious homemade food, and constantly wonder when this crazy couple is going to show their true colors by locking them in a basement, calling them thieves, or making them sleep in a snake pit, as families in the past had done.
After many days spent working on the boat and preparing for the trips, the foursome part ways in a trial (meaning practice) run before the actual expeditions. Through many obstacles ("compass? what compass?") a near-death experience (boating without knowing how to swim), and having all of their gear stolen by thieving teenagers, the group comes to two conclusions:
1.) Florida and Dallas have seen their last days with the putrid Trepids and 2.) Maybe leaving the Holler wasn't such a good idea after all.

*Recipe to Read By: Florida, Dallas, Sairy, and Tiller's Mission Accomplished Cake
This cake should be eaten after any huge challenge that has been accomplished despite many obstacles. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, pulling an "A" on a social studies test even though you fell asleep halfway through, surviving a night in a haunted cemetary with a full moon, leaving the dentist a happy camper, successfully hiding your brussel sprouts under your shirt without your sister telling on you, etc.

Directions
Start with a big red bowl.
Dump in some chocolate syrup.
Drizzle in some honey.
Drop in a handful of pecans.
Add more chocolate syrup.
Toss in a handful of chopped red cherries.
Open a jar of peanuts and dump those in.
Go ahead and empty the rest of the jar of chocolate syrup into the bowl.
Find a bag of cookies, smash them up, and dump the whole bag in as well.
Pound the dough with a wooden spoon.
Eat raw. And whatever you do--DO NOT let your mother see you making (or eating) this!

This recipe comes straight out of pages 291-292 and has not yet been tested by my taste kitchen staff (this includes my husband and crazy Kendall, the lab). Please let me know how it turns out and what kind of cookies you use. I'm thinking left-over Girl Scout cookies would be exceptionally tasty...or Mint Milanos perhaps? Nutter Butters? Oreos???

A Presidents' Day Adventure

Here's another title to add to your Official List of Top 10 Favorite Historical Fiction Novels:

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg.

(Sidebar: Please DO NOT tell me you don't have a list. You know how I feel about Historical Fiction lists, people! Also, it's okay by me if you want to bump out Number the Stars from the Top 10. It makes me weepy, too. I won't tell your teacher.)

With it being Lincoln's birthday and all I was feeling especially patriotic and America-loving and thought a trip back in time to the Civil War would be especially historical. I even donned my American flag earrings (and I swore I would NEVER be one of those teachers who accessorized by the season!) and a red and blue sweater. With my Fourth of July mix playing in the back ground and a giant hot dog at the ready, I was ready for reading.

As soon as I cracked open the book and began reading, The Stars and Stripes Forever was immediately drowned out and my hot dog long forgotten. Rodman Philbrick, whom you may recognize as the author of Freak the Mighty, weaves an enormously engaging tale of Homer Figg, adventure bound farm boy from Maine and fib-teller extraordinaire. Homer sets out on wild journey across America to find his brother, Harold, who was illegally sold to the Union army by their despicable guardian (despicable meaning foul, awful, or worthy of being despised). His journey begins with an escape from the little town of Pine Swamp, Maine and an encounter with two of dirtiest slave catchers in the North, Smelt and Stink, and a kindly Quaker named Jebediah Brewster who not only hides runaway slaves in his basement but funds Homer's journey across the country. Stink and Smelt are not the only sleazeballs Homer will come across in his journey to find the Union soldiers. After traveling by train to Portland, Homer then sails to New York aboard a steamship for the very first time and is taken advantage of by two professional thieves who swindle his money and leave him for broke. As the journey continues, Homer is featured as a headlining attraction while traveling with a Medicine Show, whose leader is arrested for being a spy for the Confederate Rebels. (This is called treason). Just when you think the edge of your seat can't get any tinier, Homer finds himself smack-dab in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg, dodging bullets and bayonets, all the while keeping up the search for his beloved older brother. I won't give away the ending, but I will tell you that after finishing the book I bit into my cold, shriveled hot dog wishing I had paid closer attention in my 10th grade U.S. History class.

Recipe to Read By: MARY TODD LINCOLN CAKE

The marriage of Mary Todd to Abraham Lincoln is best expressed by the words Lincoln had engraved inside Mary's wedding band, "Love is Eternal." Mary expressed her feelings in less dramatic, but lasting and tasteful terms. She baked him her favorite white cake.

This is her recipe. (If you really want to annoy your mom, tell her you want to be 100%AUTHENTIC and cook it over hot coals without any electric devices--just like in Lincoln's day.)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup butter (churned by hand)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 c. cake flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 1/3 cups milk (fresh from the cow)

1 cup finely chopped almonds

6 egg whites - stiffly beaten (collected from the hens out back)

Directions

Cream sugar, butter and vanilla.

Sift together cake flour and baking powder three times.
Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.

Stir in almonds. Gently fold in the egg whites.
Pour into two greased and floured 9 x 11/2-inch round baking pans.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Note: Although far more complicated, this is tastier than a cold hot dog any day.

*Recipe courtesy of the Southtown Star

More Lincoln Food Facts:

It is said that his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln had a hard time getting him to remember to eat at all. When she did discover things that he truly enjoyed, she made sure that they were available whenever he wanted them. For the most part, his food tastes were simple. He loved fresh fruit, particularly apples. One of his favorite meals was simply fresh fruit and nuts, cheese and crackers.

Thank you to Esme of http://planetesme.blogspot.com/ for the fabulous recommendation!

Al Capone Does My Shirts

"I want to be here like I want poison oak on my private parts."

How could you not want to keep reading after a line like that?

Friday, January 4, 1935
Today I moved to a twelve acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. Alcatraz sits smack in the middle of the bay--so close to the city of San Francisco, I can hear them call the score on the baseball game on Marina Green. Okay, not that close. But still.

Before beginning this book, not one of my 20 fourth graders had even heard of Alcatraz Island (Alca-what?? Is that a video game?) and thought Al Capone was the short Italian dude who delivered pizza from Dino's. However, not ten pages into this book the questions began rolling:

How many people did you have to kill to be sent to Alcatraz? How many people did Al Capone kill? Did anyone ever escape from Alcatraz? Where's San Francisco anyway--is that near the Everglades? Don't be so daft. They can't have an island in the Everglades. I think it's near my Gram's condo in Ft. Myers. Did the convicts really do the laundry? Can we take a field trip there? PLEASE, MRS. SCHREIBER????

Obsession is the word. We couldn't get enough of it. Set in 1935 amidst the Great Depression, Prohibition, and baseball fever is a historical fiction novel so well written that it very well could be true. (We in room 463 like to think that it is.) Moose Flanagan's family has just moved to the island of Alcatraz, leaving behind his friends, his neighborhood, and his favorite pastime: baseball. You can guess that he's not overjoyed at the prospect of finding a new home on a rocky island inhabited by the most notorious criminals in the nation. (Notorious means to be famous for doing something bad).

Moose's father works as an electrician and prison guard and his mother teaches piano lessons. While his parents are working, Moose is responsible for taking care of his sister, Natalie, who is autistic (although it wasn't known as autism back in those days). It doesn't take long for Moose to join the small group of children who also live on the island, namely the Warden's daughter Piper, a feisty beauty with trouble on the brain. Piper uses her elitist influence to persuade the other kids to join in her schemes; the most memorable of which was charging the school children money to have their clothes laundered by Al Capone. Although the plan backfires in the worst way, it doesn't stop Piper from her continuous plotting to get up close and personal with the convicts (or "cons" as they are called by the islanders). Readers will get caught up in Moose's personal struggle between doing the right thing and doing what his heart desires. The ending will leave you wishing for a time machine to jump back into the 30's and experience life as it was more than 70 years ago. (We are working on making that happen, but don't hold your breath.)

*If you ask any of my students what their #1 favorite line in the entire book was their answer will undoubtedly be the same. Moose, fed up with Piper's antics, tells her to "go stick her head in the crapper." Warning to all teachers of fourth graders: Fits of giggles, high-pitched squeals of the word "crapper," and all-around hysteria ensue after muttering that one phrase. Just a heads-up.

Recipe to Read By: Natalie's Lemon Cake
According to Moose, this recipe works wonders for bribing your sister to do what you want.
Glad my brother never knew about this--I would do ANYTHING for a moist slice of this too-tart- yet-supersweet lemony goodness.

Ingredients
1 pkg. lemon Jello
4 eggs
3/4 c. water
1 pkg. yellow cake mix (or lemon-flavored if you really want a citrusy sensation)
3/4 c. oil
2 lemons
2 c. confectioners' sugar
1 well greased 9x13" cake pan


Directions
Mix first 3 ingredients and beat 2 minutes.
Add next 2 ingredients and beat another minute.
Pour into greased cake pan.
Put into preheated oven (325 degrees if glass pan, 350 degrees if metal pan.)
Allow 40-45 minutes to rise and brown; should spring back when poked with your finger.
Mix juice from 2 lemons with confectioners' sugar, pouring slowly to avoid lumps.
Prick cake while hot all over with fork (this is the best part!), then pour lemon-sugar mix all over warm cake.
Call your sister in your most syrupy sweet voice and be prepared to get whatever you want from her.

*Recipe courtesy of http://www.cooks.com/

This book has won the following prestigious awards:
Newbery Honor Book
ALA Notable Book
Parent’s Choice Silver Medal
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

If your love of the book grows into a boundless obsession (trust us--we've been there), here are some websites to satisfy your thirst for anything Alcatraz:
The History of Alcatraz: http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/
Al Capone History Files: http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html
Alcatraz Escape Attempts: http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/history/aindex.htm

Catherine, Called Birdy

I am a firm believer that every child should have a historical fiction novel amongst his/her list of Top 10 Favorite Books.

What? You don't have a historical fiction book on your Top 10 List of Favorite Books? WHAT??? You don't have a list of Top 10 Favorite Books???

Deep breaths.

Okay. Here's what you need to do right this instant: read this review, then go track down a copy of the book and bury your nose in it until you're finished. (No, you may NOT get a snack and no you may NOT sleep. If you must use the bathroom I expect the book to accompany you.) Once you have accomplished this, form a list of your Top 10 Favorite Books and place this one somewhere close to the top.

There, you are now whole.

Not only is Catherine, Called Birdy one of my all-time-absolute- favorite-no-questions-asked historical fiction books, but it also includes one of my all-time-absolute-favorite-no-questions-asked characters. I love this book and I love this character. Here's why:

The story takes place in 13th century Medieval England. Catherine (or Birdy, as she is called by her family) is the 14-year-old daughter of a country knight who spends her days pining for freedom from her mundane chores and foiling her father's attempts to marry her off. As part of a bargain with her older brother, Edward, Birdy keeps a diary for a year, and it is through her writing that we learn about daily life in the manor. Birdy is remarkably clever and has a sharp tongue to match, often earning her a day locked in her chamber as punishment. She invents wonderful songs, catchy curse words, and potions to cure the villagers of everything from "ale head" to "putrid stomach." More than anything, I loved reading Birdy's hilarious accounts of warding off potential suitors. As the book drew to a close, I couldn't help but wish for Birdy to journal another year in her life. Strangely, I also had a sudden urge to take a steaming hot bath, and to call my dad and thank him profusely for not forcing me into a marriage with someone called Shaggy Beard.

24th Day of September

The stars and my family align to make my life black and miserable. My mother seeks to make me a fine lady--dumb, docile, and accomplished--so I must take lady lessons and keep my mouth closed. My brother Edward thinks even girls should not be ignorant, so he taught me to read Holy books and write, even though I would rather sit in an apple tree and wonder. Now my father, the toad, conspires to sell me like cheese to some lack-wit seeking a wife. What makes this clodpole suitor anxious to have me? I am no beauty, being sun-browned and gray-eyed, with poor eyesight and a stubborn disposition. Corpus bones! He comes to dine with us in two days' time. I plan to cross my eyes and drool in my meat.

Disclaimer: This book is for MATURE readers only. How do you know if you are mature enough to read it? Do you giggle uncontrollably at the mention of "passing wind" or "making water?" Does the thought of kissing make you hurl and gag? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, wait another five years before you check out this book.

Recipe to Read By: Soul Cakes
Children in medieval villages such as Birdy's went from door to door on Oct. 31 (All Hallow's Eve), Nov. 1 (All Saint's Day), & Nov. 2 (All Soul's Day) begging for Soul Cakes:

"Soul Cake, soul cake, please good missus, a soul cake. An apple, a plum,
a peach, or a cherry, anything good thing to make us merry."

Birdy snuck extra soul cakes for eating in her chamber. If you choose to do the same, make sure you eat over a napkin because these little yummies are especially crumbly. Don't forget to dispose of the evidence.
Ingredients1 cup butter, two sticks American
3 3/4 cups sifted flour
1 cup fine sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
2 eggs
2 teaspoons cider vinegar (I know, weird!)
4-6 tablespoons milk
powdered sugar, to sprinkle on top

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or a large fork.
Blend in the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice; beat eggs, vinegar, and milk together.
Mix with the flour mixture until a stiff dough is formed.
Knead thoroughly and roll out 1/4-inch thick.
Cut into 3-inch rounds and place on greased baking sheets.
Prick several times with a fork and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar while still warm.
Lick off the powdered sugar and sprinkle them all again. No one will know.
(This is Birdy's idea--not mine!)

Read more about medieval food here:
http://www.medieval-life.net/food.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/food_and_drink_in_medieval_engla.htm