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At my house, my children seem to be on the "Orange Food Diet." They love anything orange - mandarin oranges, Cheetos, cheese, nachos with queso cheese, mac ‘n’ cheese, cantalope, honey, and peaches. So let’s celebrate the color orange with Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach and the Disney movie version. (I must say this is one time I’d recommend the movie just as much as the book.)

According to the official Roald Dahl website, James was the first major book he wrote for children. It’s a fun-filled, slightly crazy book, filled with magical nonsense and fantastic characters that only Roald Dahl could provide:

When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible rhinoceros accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, and becomes the saddest boy ever. Then a wizened old man in a dark-green suit gives James a bag of magic crystals that promise to reverse his misery. James accidentally spills the crystals on his aunts’ withered peach tree, and a single peach grows, and grows, and grows some more, until finally James climbs inside the giant fruit and rolls away from his despicable aunts to a whole new life. James befriends an assortment of hilarious characters, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider, and Centipede.

Activities
FamilyFun.com has a full page of bug related crafts. Then there’s Parents magazine’s recipe for pint-sized peach pies. These can be made year-round since they’re made with frozen fruit.

Mini Peach Pies
Parents magazine - March 2006 issue

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cups frozen peaches
2. 1 refrigerated piecrust
3. 2 1/2 Tbsp. graham cracker crumbs
4. 2 Tbsp. sugar pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Defrost peaches.
2. Heat over to 400 degrees.
3. Using 4-inch bowl as a guide, cut 5 circles from piecrust. Roll out slightly, then place on a baking sheet.
4. Place 1/2 Tbsp. of graham cracker crumbs in center of each crust.
5. Using a plastic knife (for kids), cut thawed peaches into chunks.
6. In medium bowl, mix peaches with sugar and cinnamon.
7. Divide peaches among crusts. Fold edge of each crust up and over peaches to form pies.
8. Bake 30 minutes until pies are golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Suggestions: Try using berries or other kinds of fruit - fresh or frozen. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or powered sugar, and garnish with some of your bug crafts.

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