Reading Book Lists

Book Adventure --along with lists of books there is quizzes that kids can take on the books.

PPS Leveled Books Lists

1000 Good Books List

Carol Hurst' Children's Literature Site --collection of book reviews for kids and more

Children's Literature Web Guide

Teacher's and Families Reading Ideas -- reading lists by grade levels, along with a reading theme section for middle and high school students.  There is also a "lifetime reading list" link with a list of books that one should read at least once in their lifetime.

Teenreads.com Ultimate Reading List -- over 400 titles of young adult to adult books that should be enjoyed by teens. List is compiled alphabetically and in a downloadable PDF file

**updated list with additional links added!

Chex Peanut Butter and Chocolate Blast Mix

Ingredients: 
6 cups Rice Chex cereal (or Corn Chex)
1 cup white vanilla baking chips (8 oz)
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup candy coated peanut butter candies (Reese's Pieces or M&Ms)
1 cup dry-roasted peanuts

Instructions: 
1. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or waxed paper. Place 3 cups cereal in large bowl. In small microwavable bowl, microwave white vanilla baking chips uncovered on High about 1 minute or until chips can be stirred smooth. Pour melted chips over cereal in bowl; stir to evenly coat. Spread mixture in single layer on one of the cookie sheets. Refrigerate 5 minutes or until set.


2. Repeat the above using the remaining cereal and the peanut butter chips; refrigerate 5 minutes or until set.


3. Gently break up coated cereal into large bowl. 


4. Add candy and peanuts; stir gently to combine or just sprinkle on top of the mixed coated cereal. Store in airtight container.


Sonshine's Notes:  I made this twice over the holiday weekend and both times it was gone before I could get a picture of it or have any of it myself.  The reviews of teenage boys and my hubby are phenomenal considering they are known for being picky eaters.  They told me that I could make it on a consistent basis and they would not complain about having to eat again!    


The first time I made the mix I just switched things up by using mixing together Corn and Rice Chex and switching out the Reese's Pieces for milk chocolate M&Ms, I still used vanilla and peanut butter chips for the coating. The second time I made it I ended up burning the peanut butter chips during the melting process, so I melted milk chocolate chips with about 3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter for part of the coating. Also the second time I didn't have enough cereal to round out the 3 cups for the second half of the mix so I broke up some pretzel sticks in half and put them in with the cereal to coat.  As for the candies and peanuts, I didn't measure these items, I sprinkled them on top after mixing the coated cereal on one of the cookie sheets. 

Happy Mother's Day!

1 Corinthians 13 for Moms

~~Author Unknown

I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor--but if I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.

I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of my finger, but if I don't have love, I am nothing.

Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's 30 minutes past curfew. Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!" It does not envy the neighbors' swimming pool or their brand-new mini van, but trusts the Lord to provide every need.

Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments and insecurities, and love rejoices when other families succeed. It doesn't boast, even when I've multi-tasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.

Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?" It does not immediately seek after glory when we see talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise choices.

It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like the world revolves around her. It does not delight in evil (is not self-righteous) when I remind my 17-year-old that he's going 83 in a 55-mph zone, but rejoices in the truth.

Love does not give up hope. It always protects our children's self-esteem and spirit, even while doling out discipline. It always trusts God to protect our children when we cannot. It always perseveres, through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes and crossed arms, messy rooms and sleep overs. 

Love never fails.

But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes and painful labor(s), they will fade away. Where there is talking back, it will (eventually) cease. (Please, Lord?) Where there is a teenager who thinks she knows everything, there will one day be an adult who knows you did your best. 

For we know we fail our children, and we pray they don't end up in therapy, but when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you, God!)

When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us. Now that we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters us and holds us when we need to cry. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Cheesecake Cookie Cups

On my list to make again, so I decided to pull out this yummy recipe to share with everyone again...

The other day after taking my pantry inventory, I found that I had several boxes of cream cheese and a can of sweetened condensed milk that were getting close to their use by dates. I also had some ready to bake cookie dough in my fridge that I needed to use but I didn't just want to make plain ol' cookies.

So I went digging around on some of my favorite baking sites and blogs and I ran across this recipe on Nestle's Very Best Baking website and decided that they would make a excellent treat for the family so I made them today along with a few alterations.

Cheesecake Cookie Cups


1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) Ready to bake chocolate chip cookie dough
2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (14 oz.)sweetened condensed Milk, not evaporated
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling(optional)
or 1/2 bag chocolate chips, melted with 2 tbsp Crisco

Paper-line 24 muffin cups. Place one piece of cookie dough in each muffin cup.

BAKE at 325° for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookie has spread to edge of cup.

BEAT cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and vanilla extract in medium bowl until smooth. Pour about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture over each cookie in cup.

BAKE for additional 18 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Top each with level tablespoon of pie filling or drizzle melted chocolate chips.

Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Baking Notes: I didn't have any pie filling but I had a 1/2 bag of special dark chocolate chips in my fridge. I poured the chips into a microwaveable bowl and added 2 tbsp Crisco and put the bowl in the microwave for 3 minutes or until the chips are totally melted. Once the chips are melted, I transferred them to a plastic bag and clipped the corner of the bag and drizzled the chocolate on top of the cheesecake cookie cups while they were cooling on the counter.

I am sure that you could make up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough rather than using the ready to bake to dough and just put a 2-3 tbsp. dough in each muffin cup.

This recipe was easy to prepare although I did have to bake them longer than stated in the original recipe.  They will make an easy go to dessert for hubby to take to work or for those planned summertime potlucks!

Enjoy!

This post is linked to:

• Ingredient Spotlight at Eat At Home!

Singing Sunday--God Undefeatable!

I have been humming this song all day....during my prayer time while getting ready for church this morning...then singing it during the worship time of the morning service.

So I asked a friend who sings with the worship team what the name of the song was so that I could look it up and share it! Needless to say, I was amazed what I found....the writers of the song provided a pdf. of the theology of the song for others to ready and just the like the song, the thoughts behind the song are powerful too!

Simply powerful....enjoy listening to the song and then read the theology behind the song!!  Then praise God for His matchless love and power!