A comforting and shareable dinner menu to accompany the children’s book Change Sings by Amanda Gorman.
Our Family Dinner Book Club theme for the year is Social-Emotional Learning! This month we’re learning to stand up to others and be an ally with Change Sings by Amanda Gorman. To accompany this themed dinner menu, Growing Book by Book has a reading list of additional books, and Sunny Day Family shares a selection of crafts.
Change Sings is a book that beautifully empowers the reader to make changes, big or small. This is a great book for kids and adults to read and absorb together. We all have what it takes to create change in our world. We can work together to reach out to friends and neighbors in our communities to support growth and foster peace.
Our menu for this month’s Family Dinner Book Club is made up of items that you can share with others in your community. Soup and cookies are both perfect recipes to make in bulk, pack up, and deliver to neighbors. Better yet, invite a new family over for dinner to share a meal together. Continue reading below the menu for tips and tricks to get the kids involved in cooking and how to make parts of this menu ahead of time.
Change Sings
Family Dinner Book Club
Menu
Potato Cheddar Soup Bar
-bacon, broccoli, chives, crispy onions, chopped pecans, avocado, shredded cheese, dinner rolls-
Winter Greens Salad
Sparkling Cherry Lemonade
Chocolate Chip Cookies
How do I get the kids involved in cooking this Change Sings dinner menu?
-Older kids can help carefully chop ingredients for the soup, salad, and drink.
-Younger kids can help juice lemons and stir the drink ingredients together.
-Kids can take turns using their hands to massage the kale for the salad, and then use their hands to mix all the ingredients together.
-Let everyone suggest ideas of what they want to use as soup toppings, then set the table with at least one of each person’s chosen ingredient.
-Cookies are the perfect recipe to make together as a family. Everyone can take turns measuring and mixing ingredients, as well as scooping dough, and of course licking the spoons and bowls.
What can I make ahead of time for this Change Sings dinner menu?
Potato Cheddar Soup – This soup is really best served the same day it is made, but can also be easily reheated and served later. Follow the full recipe to make the soup completely. Then cool and portion into airtight containers. Potato Cheddar Soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. The soup will thicken as it cools. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. Stir in water, chicken stock, or milk 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Winter Greens Salad – The salad dressing can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week. Store in an airtight container like a mason jar, and shake to combine before using. The remaining salad ingredients can be washed and chopped 1 day ahead of time and combined just before serving.
Sparkling Cherry Lemonade – This drink can be fully made and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week. The contents will separate a bit, but will come back together once stirred.
Chocolate Chip Cookies – The cookie dough can be fully mixed ahead of time. Portion the dough into 1/4 cup scoops, roll into balls, and place on a cookie sheet covered in plastic in the fridge until ready to bake. Cookie dough can be store this way for up to 2 days. When ready, remove the cookie dough from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Let come up to room temperature while the oven preheats. Fully baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
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