When I first started this blog, I was unsure how I would choose the letters I would represent. Today, I think I have decided to work the alphabet backwards.
Can be prepared in 35 to 40 minutes plus 5 minutes to cool
Ingredients:
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 13x9" baking dish with unsalted butter. Melt 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches and adding 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter between batches, cook 3 lb. yellow summer squash, sliced crosswise ¼" thick, tossing often, until softened and golden brown, 8–10 minutes. Season each batch with 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt and transfer to a large bowl.
Step 2
Melt 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter in same skillet. Add 1 medium onion, finely chopped, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and pour in ¾ cup heavy cream; stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat and stir in ½ cup sour cream and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt.
Step 3
Add mixture to bowl with squash, then add 4 oz. sharp white cheddar, grated (about 1 cup), ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan, 1 Tbsp. thyme leaves, and ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper; stir gently to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Wipe and reserve skillet.
Step 4
Using your hands, crush 1 sleeve Ritz crackers or other buttery crackers into coarse crumbs in a medium bowl. Melt remaining 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter in reserved skillet over medium heat. Stir in remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt until dissolved, then pour over cracker crumbs. Sprinkle remaining ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan over and toss to combine. Scatter cracker mixture evenly over casserole.
Step 5
Bake casserole until golden brown on top and bubbling, 35–40 minutes. Top with zest of 1 lemon and more thyme leaves. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Let’s look at a fun activity.
If the children already know how to write, have them write as many words starting with Y as they can think about. The child with the most words wins.
You can also choose as many categories as they want and list as many items per category as they can. Just make sure that all items start with the letter Y. Some of the generic categories you can use are: people, places, names, and things. Some of the more specific categories you might choose are: actors/actresses, cities, countries, first names, last names, things in the house (or even more specific, a certain room in the house), etc.
If the children do not know how to write yet, take them to the park or for a walk downtown and have them list as many yellow things as they see.
- Cardboard
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Hole-Puncher
- Tracing with Yarn: let the children contour the Y with the glue and then carefully place the yarn on the glue.
- Filling with Yarn: let the children spread glue inside the Y and then cover it with yarn (which can be cut in small pieces or “weaved” on the glue in one single strand).
Now, some fun facts about Yawning, courtesy of The Fun Times Guide (and, as you read, you can make it a game to see who will last longer without yawning, or who yawns the longest!)
- Yawning starts even before we come into this world
- Yawning is contagious (but I think you may have already figured this out)
- Animals yawn when they see other animals yawn
