Apple Poems For Kids

I ran across some old apple poems I used when I taught first grade the other day.  They brought back some fun memories, and they looked as old as they are (about 7  years, or so).  I need to update the look of the poems, but the words are still as fun and engaging as they were back then.  They make me want to sit down with a group of first graders and do a shared reading!

In a perfect world, I've have printables for all of the poems for you, but that's not quite going to happen.  At least you can see the words, and make your own copy of each one.

Poems are such a fun way to bring in a literary element to your holiday festivities!   I have all these memorized (even from 7 years ago) and will just repeat them to my boys every now and again.  Often times in the car, or when we need a little settling down time.

If you have a copy of the poems you can do a bit of shared reading with your little ones at home.  Have them point out letters they know, or do an "I spy" game with them.  You could also count how many times the word 'apple' is used in each poem.  Just be creative.  Help your little ones fin any letter, punctuation, word, anything literary they can find is great!  And leave the poems up where your kids will see them often.  You'll be amazed with what they'll catch on to just by seeing it frequently.

This last poem can go to the tune of "Ten Little Indians" so I guess it could qualify as a song, instead of a poem.  Songs are great because they're so quick and easy to memorize and are so engaging!

Happy apple rhyming!

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Homemade Cider Carmel Sauce

I've been sharing a lot of apple recipes (caramel apple pie cake and homemade pear applesauce) here this month, and you really can't talk apples without talking carmel as well.  At least I can't!

I saw this recipe several years ago on Studio 5 (a local lifestyle show here in Utah).  The recipe was for an apple bread pudding.  It did look delicious, but bread pudding isn't always my first choice of dessert.  What did catch my eye was the cider carmel sauce she made to go on top of the bread pudding.  

I honestly cannot describe how amazingly delicious this sauce is!  Think of your favorite carmel candy with a hint of apple.  I almost hate to put it on top of desserts because sometimes the amazing flavor of the sauce gets lost in the other ingredients.  Don't get me wrong, I put this on plenty of desserts, but when I'm really craving it, I just eat it by the spoonful!  It is a bit thinner than most carmel sauces I've had, so I just keep it in a jar in the fridge, and it's perfect when I pull it out.  If you're eating it warmed, it will be a bit runny.

Click here for the recipe of cider carmel sauce.  The apple bread pudding, and an amazing cinnamon whipped cream recipe can be found there as well.

P.S.  I've used apple juice in place of cider, and it works just as well.  Not quite the intense apple flavor, but delicious just the same!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Printable Apple Banner

As you've probably noticed, I love everything apple this time of year.  I've been wanting to throw an all apple party for quite some time now.  I'm not sure I'll get around to it this year, but when I do, I'll have my banner already to go.

I used PicMonkey (as always) to design this cute and simple apple banner.  It would be adorable hanging on the front of you all-apple dessert table, wouldn't it?

Click here to print your 'APPLES' banner today.  Just be aware that when you see the banner letters in Google Docs, they'll appear small, but when you print them each letter will be about 5 x 5 1/2 inches.  

Thanks so much for stopping by !  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Apples Are The Perfect Treat {Printable}

My husband thinks I'm crazy, and a lot of you out there would probably agree with him, but I love Barney!  My twins grew up watching him, and my four-year-old will still watch him once in awhile.  And actually, they won't admit it, but my twins can easily get caught up in an episode every now and then.

Click to Print

I like Barney for a lot of educational and social reasons, but it's the seasonal shows that I really love (surprise!).   I found Barney's Halloween Party at Target years ago when my twins were young.  It was only $5, so I thought, why not?  Well, we have definitely gotten our $5 worth.  We've watched this DVD every year at our house for over five years.  I love to get it out each fall, and my boys really do love it too, they just won't admit it!

Anyway, there's a part of the movie when the kids and Barney visit a farm for items for their school carnival.  They talk about apples, and they do this cute little apple song/chant.  I've always liked it, and one year I was crazy enough to write down the words to it.  It's kind of fast, so I had to rewind, rewind, and rewind  to get it all.  I want to get it all typed up at some point, but for now, the first few lines will do.  

And if you're not into cutesy Barney song lyrics, then I have a chalkboard apple printable that might fit your style better.

Chalkboard Apples Printable

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Caramel Apple Pie Cake

I have the best mom in the world!  She is wonderful for so many reasons, but her love of helping others (especially her kids) is amazing!  

She's probably the biggest fan of my blog, and I know she worries about me keeping up with it.  And since she doesn't want me to stop blogging anytime soon (it is a great connection when we're a bit far apart), she's always giving me recipe ideas to help me out.  Last time she came to visit she brought a notebook with several fall recipes, and the groceries to go with them so I could easily make them.  See!  She's the BEST!

I keep thinking I've made every apple-related recipe on the Earth, but she proved me wrong.  She left two apple recipes, and I'd never made either.  So, today I have the caramel apple pie cake to share, and next week I'll share the other recipe she left (apple butterscotch bars!).

Click to Print

This cake comes together so, so quickly.   I didn't pour the caramel sauce over the cake after it baked, I just poured it on each individual piece of cake as I served it.  I knew we'd had leftovers, and I wanted to cake to keep a bit better, so that's why I left the caramel off the entire cake.  But go ahead and try it!  I'm sure it's delicious, moist, and it probably would keep just fine.

So, if you're in need of a quick apple dessert any time soon, give this cake a try.  It was a big crowd-pleaser with my family (in-laws included) the other night.

And here's another delicious, favorite apple recipe I make every fall.  Homemade pear applesauce.  Pears have been amazing here in Utah these past few weeks, and they add an amazing flavor to the already delicious applesauce!

Homemade Pear Applesauce

What are your favorite apple recipes?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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