Chicken Wild Rice Blend and Broccoli Casserole

 

I've read how temperatures are predicted to plummet across the nation with icy conditions. I thought a comfort food casserole should be on your agenda.  The following recipe is an Ever Ready Special and serves six. Several steps for putting it together. can be completed the day before to save on preparation time. 

Chicken, Wild Rice Blend, and Broccoli with Cracker Topping 

Advance Preparation 

 Store ingredients in separate bags or plastic containers and refrigerate:  cooked rice, chopped chicken or turkey, chopped onions, minced cloves, celery, mushrooms, and cracker topping. Use a rotisserie chicken to make the recipe easier. 

Ingredients:  

• 2-3 cups cooked chicken or turkey, cubed 
• 1 cup cooked rice ( I used Lundberg wild rice blend following their directions on the bag)
• 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes and 1/2 teaspoon dreid thyme
• Dash red pepper flakes 
• 1 cup diced sweet onions
• 1 cup diced celery
• 3/4 cup diced mushrooms
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 cup dry white wine 
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar or Swiss cheese
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
• Sauté in a large skillet with olive oil and butter, mushrooms, onions, celery, and garlic with dried seasoning and red pepper flakes.  
• In a measuring glass, add broth, half and half, and flour. Whisk to blend and pour into the skillet. On low heat, blend the mixture until thickened, adding in the cheeses, rice, and chicken. Add in wine and blanched broccoli.
• Mix well and pour into a baking dish, and bake for 25 minutes uncovered. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the casserole and bake for 10 minutes more. 
• Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving.    

Cracker or Cornflake Topping Ingredients

• 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers, crushed or 1-1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
• 3 tablespoons crushed almonds

Directions:

• Place crackers or cornflakes in a Ziploc bag with parsley flakes and almonds. Use a rolling pin to crush. Add in melted butter and reroll crumbs. 
• Sprinkle over the casserole and bake 10 minutes more. 

How to Blanch Broccoli

• Add broccoli to boiling water, boil for 2 minutes.
• Drain and immediately rinse with cold water. Place on a paper towel to dry a bit before adding to the casserole mixture. 
  
• 
  
Always make room for the unexpected in yourself ~ Steve Martin

Book Review Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins The Great Troublemaker Book Two

 

Together, we can change the world one book at a time.

Read Your World is a non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness of children’s books that celebrate diversity and to get more of these books into readers' hands. Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative 13 years ago. They are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine a spotlight on the multicultural books and authors on the market, while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

With the alarming increase in children’s books being challenged and banned, giving kids access to diverse stories is more important than ever.
We do this by donating books to reviewers and classroom libraries.
We provide book lists and classroom kits to help parents, guardians, teachers, librarians, and readers find the diverse children’s books that they need.
Our weekly Ig Live Interview series also highlights children's books, spotlighting multicultural books and authors on the market and working to get these books into readers' hands.

Let the mayhem begin for two best friends, Sir DoGoody Button, an Afghan dog, and Fleabins the Great, a flea. Their hilarious adventures lead to mischief, misunderstandings, and some challenges to overcome. Even when they cause problems for each other, they always remain kind, helpful, and supportive. The storyline has an energetic pace, with imaginative settings, all told from the pets' whimsical perspective. The hand-drawn illustrations are outstanding and perfectly complement the lively storyline. bringing doggie and flea fantasies to life. 

This book series would certainly be of high interest to reluctant readers as well as readers moving up to the chapter book level.   

Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins The Great live in a mansion found inside Sir Do Goody Button's doghouse in the backyard of the Button's house. There is an elevator inside the doghouse that takes them down to the mansion. Step inside the mansion to a fantasy world of magical rooms that will excite readers as they explore it room by room.     

Fleabins is an energetic flea whose size can be compared to a chimpanzee when inside the mansion, but when outside in the world, he shrinks to the size of a small pea. Sometimes he can behave badly, and one never knows what he will do next, such as jumping in puddles, skipping off padded walls in the mansion, dressing up in fancy costumes, raiding the Treat Room, and even flying his tricycle to the park to help DoGoody, who really didn't need help anyway. 

In Book Two, Sir DoGoody who does not have a shrinking problem, meets several challenges. He rescues a baby bird, tries to get it to eat, and finds things in the mansion to keep it happy. DoGoody tries to impress a lady dog named Dumpling in a costume competition at the dog park, dressing up as a lion but his plan backfires.  DoGoody gets frustrated when the Button family decides he needs healthier dog food. Each new crisis  Fleabins and DoGoody face bring on hilarious results.  

Book Two is just as delightful and fun-filled as Book One. There are several more books planned in the series, and I am looking forward to DoGoody and Fleabins next adventures. I highly recommend this book for students, teachers, and parents.

Sue Ready is a freelance writer, food blogger, former elementary and middle school teacher, and book reviewer of all genres on Facebook at EverReady Book Reviews. 

to Foo Dee Doo Press LLC for gifting me a copy of the book. 

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K. Frances Carson is a children’s book author, physician, and, most importantly, the mom to three amazing young adult children. She lives in Los Angeles, in the neighborhood where she grew up, in a house filled with rescue dogs who are as big, silly, and ridiculous as the characters she writes about.

Shannon McKeon is an illustrator based in Oxfordshire, England. She began her art education at an early age, absorbing passion and technique from her mother, who is also a mixed-media artist. Shannon now spends her time illustrating children’s books and pursuing her own small art brands.

Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Medallion Sponsors
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey
🏅 Gold Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight
🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press
🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor: Kathy Choi
🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press
🏅 Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education

Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk, Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Tami Lehman-Wilzig, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Nancy Tupper Ling, Teresa Robeson, Crystal Z. Lee, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Elly Swartz, Robbin Miller, Shifa Safadi, Tonya Ellis,Lisa Stringfellow, Sylvia Liu, Kimberly Biddle, Robbin Miller, Eric Clock, Tonya Ellis, Nadine Pressley, Natahsa Yim Carter, and Lisa Chong.

Read Your World is honored to be supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations!

Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
Do not overlook this fantastic opportunity 📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day
FREE RYW2026 Poster
FREE Building Community with Bilingual Books 2026 Classroom Kit
FREE Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit
FREE Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
Gallery of Our Free Posters
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

Game Day Foods

 

Cook's Notes: Game Day Foods to keep your guests happy, though you don't need a Game Day to enjoy a yummy appetizer and a comforting bowl of soup.   

Guacamole Dip

Cooking tip: Mashing avocados can be a bit of a pain depending on their ripeness. But I found a little trick in my utensil drawer that does the job just right. I use my pastry blender. It keeps the avocados chunky and mashes super quick. Give it a try. The dip is best made the day it's served.
Ingredients:

• 4 ripe avocados (they should be a little soft and outer shell darkish in color)
• 1 cup Roma tomatoes. diced and drained on a paper towel 
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons  lime juice
• 1/4 cup red onions, diced
• 2 tablespoons prepared chunky salsa mix
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Dash of Tabasco sauce or Worcestershire sauce
• Sriracha

Directions:

• Use a medium-sized bowl and scoop out the avocado mixture. Use a fork to mash avocados and blend in rest of ingredients. Don't skip the sriracha as it gives the dip a good punch of flavor. 
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Spinach 

Cook's notes: One of the best things about this soup recipe is its versatility with lots of options: Italian sausage or turkey sausage, green beans or peppers or cubed yellow squash, chicken broth or beef broth, cheese tortellini or tri-color tortellini, spinach or cabbage, spices. Here's my version of this hearty rustic soup, which works well as a main dish. It is also one of those soups that tastes better the second day. Pair the meal with artisan or French bread.

Recipe serves 4.
Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 lb. Italian sausage
• 1/3 cup each diced carrots, celery, sweet red pepper
• 1 cup zucchini, diced
• 1-32 oz. container of chicken broth (low sodium and fat-free)
• 2 fresh tomatoes, diced and drained on a paper towel
• 1 can (14 oz. ) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1- 2 cups torn spinach leaves (remove stems)
• 1- 9 oz. package fresh or frozen tortellini
• 1/4 -1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

• In a soup pot, brown the sausage and drain off fat. Set the meat aside on a paper towel.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté onions 3 minutes, add in garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
• Add in zucchini, peppers, carrots, celery, tomatoes, spices, cooked meat, canned diced tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
• Add in tortellini and spinach leaves, cook uncovered about 10 minutes, until pasta is al dente.
• Stir in yogurt (I used Fage brand, which is thicker than other Greek yogurt products) 
  

Note: Leftover soup on the second day will need more broth, as the tortellini will have absorbed some of the liquid.

A Chocolate Splurge

 

This pie is my offering for a Saturday Pie Bake Off I am participating in with a local group here. Will let you know how I fare after the event.  

Bailey's Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Pie with Oreo Crust offers plenty of possibilities.  A decadent pie that took a lot of willpower to pass on a second slice. It was one of the easiest pies I've ever made. Lots of ways to customize your pie include: Oreo Cookie or graham cracker crust, semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips, Amaretto or Bailey's Irish Cream, mint-flavored additions, and topping the pie with crushed cookie crumbs or sprinkles. A great addition to your baking, as it can be made a day before a get-together. Be sure to use a good quality chips e.g. Ghirardelli. Recipe adapted from cooks.com 

Bailey's Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Pie with Oreo Crust

Cook's Notes: Ordinarily, I would make my own cookie crumb crust, but a prepared Keebler crust seemed like an easy way to go for this event.

Filling Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3/4 of one 10 oz. bag Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
• 1-1/2 cups milk (I used 2%)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream

Oreo Pie Crust Ingredients:

• 2 rows of cookies from a regular package of Oreo cookies
• 2-1/2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

• Use a food processor and crush cookies. Place the crumbs in a bowl and mix with the melted butter. Press crumbs into a glass pie pan and pat firmly into the dish.
• Chill in freezer.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and chips. Gradually whisk milk into the chocolate mixture over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, add in Baileys. Whisk to mix and transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature.
• In a small bowl, whip cream, adding in confectioners sugar, beat until stiff.
• Fold whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Spoon into prepared crust. Refrigerate for several hours to firm it up. 

The photo below is from another time when I made the pie with cookie crumbs on top. 

Book Review Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great Troublemaker

 

Together, we can change the world one book at a time.

Read Your World is a non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness of children’s books that celebrate diversity and to get more of these books into readers' hands. Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative 13 years ago. They are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine a spotlight on the multicultural books and authors on the market, while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

With the alarming increase in children’s books being challenged and banned, giving kids access to diverse stories is more important than ever.
We do this by donating books to reviewers and classroom libraries.
We provide book lists and classroom kits to help parents, guardians, teachers, librarians, and readers find the diverse children’s books that they need.
Our weekly Ig Live Interview series also highlights children's books, spotlighting multicultural books and authors on the market and working to get these books into readers' hands.

“Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins The Great Troublemaker” by K. Frances Carson is Book One of a Five-Book series, and it's one of the most creative and imaginative children's books I have come across. The hand-drawn illustrations by Shannon McKeon scattered throughout the text perfectly complement the storyline, adding an element of magic and light-hearted moments. The illustrations help readers visualize a fantasy world and enhance the text's meaning.

Sir DoGoody is a special Afghan Hound dog, and his best friend is Fleabin the Great, a flea who enjoys dressing up in flamboyant costumes.  Sir DoGoody is the only one who stays the same size when he leaves the house. But Fleabins, a flea when outside in the real world, shrinks to the size of a pea, hardly apparent to the human eye. Their unusual friendship takes them on many hilarious escapades. The author writes with a sense of humor. Sir DoGoody's doghouse inhabits the backyard of the Buttons' family home, but is no ordinary doghouse. Once you step inside and take an elevator, you enter the most marvelous mansion ever. It's spread across multiple floors, taking the reader to a grand ballroom, a spy room, a map room, and a parking lot, among others. One of the most ingenious rooms was the spy room. Multiple screens inside the mansion allow Sir DoGoody and Fleabins to monitor the Buttons family's activities, both inside and outside, by using a control panel. But when Fleabins disregards all the signs Sir DoGoody puts up to remind him to stay inside the mansion to avoid any calamities, that's when their madcap adventures begin. Readers also learn that one thing the two must avoid is the Twirl song, as it often leads to disastrous consequences.

As a former teacher, I find this book to be an easy chapter book and would entice even the most reluctant reader. Teachers and parents would enjoy sharing this book in the classroom and at home. There are so many opportunities within the book to encourage creativity with art and related language lessons. Ages 7-10 would be the target audience.    

to Foo Dee Doo Press LLC for gifting me a copy of the book. 

Sue Ready is a freelance writer, food blogger, former elementary and middle school teacher, and book reviewer of all genres on Facebook at EverReady Book Reviews. 

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K. Frances Carson

K. Frances Carson is a children’s book author, physician, and, most importantly, the mom to three amazing young adult children. She lives in Los Angeles, in the neighborhood where she grew up, in a house filled with rescue dogs who are as big, silly, and ridiculous as the characters she writes about.

Shannon McKeon is an illustrator based in Oxfordshire, England. She began her art education at an early age, absorbing passion and technique from her mother, who is also a mixed-media artist. Shannon now spends her time illustrating children’s books and pursuing her own small art brands.

Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Medallion Sponsors
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey
🏅 Gold Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight
🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press
🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor: Kathy Choi
🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press
🏅 Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education

Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk, Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Tami Lehman-Wilzig, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Nancy Tupper Ling, Teresa Robeson, Crystal Z. Lee, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Elly Swartz, Robbin Miller, Shifa Safadi, Tonya Ellis,Lisa Stringfellow, Sylvia Liu, Kimberly Biddle, Robbin Miller, Eric Clock, Tonya Ellis, Nadine Pressley, Natahsa Yim Carter, and Lisa Chong.

Read Your World is honored to be supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations!

Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

Do not overlook this fantastic opportunity 📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day
FREE RYW2026 Poster
FREE Building Community with Bilingual Books 2026 Classroom Kit
FREE Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit
FREE Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
Gallery of Our Free Posters
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

Thai Basil Chicken Bowls

 

Like Emily Dickinson, I also dwell in possibilities with recipes that are only limited by one's imagination.

THAI BASIL CHICKEN BOWL 

Cook's Notes: As always, prepping ingredients ahead makes assembly go so much faster. 
This 30 minute meal is less than 400 calories per serving. The recipe was quick to whip up, budget-friendly, and SO GOOD. Recipe adapted from damndelicious.net and serves 4 in medium sized bowls.
Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground chicken
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 cup each minced onions, mini sweet red, yellow, and orange peppers
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2- 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1-1/2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 handful of torn basil leaves
• A squirt or two of Sambel Oelek or Sriracha 
• Optional crushed nuts

Directions:

• Sauté onions, peppers, and garlic for 2 minutes. Cover and sweat 3 minutes more to soften. Set mixture aside.
• In a bowl, whisk cornstarch and chicken broth, and add to soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Mix well and set aside.
• Cook meat until browned. Use a pastry cutter to crumble cooked meat. 
• Add to the cooked chicken peppers, onions, and garlic. Add in the sauce and cook until thickened. Stir in basil leaves and cook until leaves are wilted. Add in a squirt of hot sauce taste test before adding more.   
• Cook jasmine rice to serve 4, following the box directions. I used Minute Jasmine Rice that cooks in 5 minutes.

Other recipes using similar ingredients:

Thai Basil Grilled Salmon  

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2020/07/thai-basil-grilled-salmon.html

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/05/go-asian-thai-lettuce-cups.html

January Book Group The Personal Librarian

I am a huge fan of historical novels, so the book choice for January, "The Personal Librarian," was perfect for me.  I have read and enjoyed all of Marie Benedict's novels. Each of her books has spurred me to research more about her real-life characters.  Benedict co-authored the book with Victoria Christopher Murray, a best-selling black author. Murray's perspective added depth to the storyline.  The book is well written, and both authors expertly weave their voices as Bella da Costa Greene as she narrates her own story. The story highlights so many important issues as it explores the art world, women's rights, and racism all in an elegantly packaged novel that is difficult to put down.   

 J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a Black American woman,  was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard, and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of the alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

We all have our assigned roles for book club and this month my contribution was food. Francine hosted and set a very "fancy" table. 

I found these cute charcuterie cups on Amazon. They came with skewers that were perfect for fruits, olives, cheeses, and meats.  

At the bottom of the cup, I put in Chex Mix and nuts. 

The next book is Irish Girl by Multi-Award-winning Ashley Sweeney. The book is a family saga, a coming-of-age story, and an exploration of the Irish immigrant experience. Narrated by the protagonist, 13-year-old Mary Agnes Coyne, the story's time frame is between the 1880s to 1890s. It spans from a rural village in Galway, Ireland, to New York, Chicago, and Colorado.