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My post about dog biscuits got me thinking about all the wonderful things you can do with cookie cutters. You can take a cookie cutter - lets say a heart - and cut out the middle of a sandwich. Then take the leftover sandwich and cut it into four pieces. Then you have a puzzle sandwich that you can reassemble and eat. I got this idea from FamilyFun Cookbook from the folks at FamilyFun magazine.

FamilyFun Cookbook calls the sandwich a "Peanut Puzzler" since they use peanut butter, but you can use banana slices, honey and cream cheese, apple butter, ham and cheese - just use your imagination and have fun.

Another fun way to learn your ABCs is to make letter cookies. Nigella Lawson is coming out with a very attractively packaged letter/number metal cookie cutters set next month. Or you can go to a local crafts store and get Wilton’s plastic letter/number set.

FamilyFun.com has a recipe for gingerbread ABC cookies. In Colonial days, when children learned the alphabet, their families celebrated by making gingerbread letters.

Gingerbread ABC Cookies

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2. 3/4 cup brown sugar
3. 2 eggs
4. 1/2 cup molasses
5. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
6. 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
7. 1 tbsp. cinnamon
8. 1 tsp. ginger
9. 1 tsp. baking soda
10. 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the molasses and the vanilla extract.
2. In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Then add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time, stirring well each time. Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours.
3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the dough flat to a 1/4-inch thickness. Now your kids can cut out large letters with a butter knife.
4. With a spatula, set the letters on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cookies are set. Yield varies depending on the size of the letters.

Pictures from the Flickr account of chalk sbair.

Little Fun; Little Learning is blogged by Revka, a homeschooling, married SAHM to three girls. (She also blogs at The Porch Light.)

Revka says she’s always on the lookout for fun activities and educational ideas "the littles," kids ages 0-5. At Little Fun; Little Learning she shares complete on-site projects/ideas and links to valuable resources.

No only does she write about fun crafts like Hand Print Sheep, but she gives you very detailed instructions and ideas on how to combine the craft with other activities. She also highlights books, writing activities, and ways to teach children about money.

Revka’s only been blogging at Little Fun; Little Learning since January 8. I predict her site will be a great resource for parents of little ones, not just homeschoolers. Check it out!

I’m sure like many Boomers and Xers you remember the Reading Is Fundamental commercials. But it’s been awhile since I’ve seen any or heard what RIF is up to. Well, I’m glad Colgate-Palmolive got me to sign up for RIF’s e-newsletter because it’s chock full of good stuff:

• Monthly Activity Calendars (I’m sure I’ll be swiping a few good ideas off this section for A Readable Feast)
• Read Aloud Stories including The Wheels on the Bus. I’d let Lucie watch this one, but I’d never get my computer back.
• Printable Parent’s Guides
• How to start a children’s letter writing drive to let Congress know that RIF matters
• The RIF Reading Planet Club
• And so much more…

So subscribe now to Reading Is Fundamental!

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