By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Cooking up something with apples just seems right in the fall. This apple crumble recipe is one that kids can enjoy getting their hands into, while everyone else can enjoy eating—right down to the very last crumb.

Cooking is something that Brianna likes to help us with. In fact, she says she might like to be a chef when she grows up! Here’s a recipe we especially enjoy in the fall. It’s from the Usborne Farmyard Tales Children’s Cookbook by Fiona Watt. This colorfully illustrated cookbook for children, full of step-by-step instructions, has simple and delicious recipes that are fun to cook and eat.

Apple Crumble
Serves 6

3-4 eating apples
6 tablespoons of water
ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon of sugar

For the Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup light brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 350˚F. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

Remember that? It’s the opening line to one of my favorite childhood books, Ludwig Bemelmans’ “Madeline.” The series of Madeline books are ones I’ve read to my oldest daughter and now my five-year-old many times. There hasn’t been a new Madeline book for 50 years, but recently we traveled to the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur to hear Bemelmans’ grandson, author John Bemelmans Marciano, read from his new book “Madeline and the Cats of Rome.”

The Decatur Book Festival is in its third year and although you might not think of a book festival as a fun jaunt with your young one, think again! The festival holds a children’s parade at 9am on Saturday morning where children come dressed as a favorite storybook character. This year the parade theme was Madeline, of course, and we arrived early with our Madeline-bedecked Brianna, expecting about 30 to 50 kids to show up. Imagine my surprise when there were more like 500! (more…)