All About Chocolate

Hi Everyone,

So how much chocolate did you guys eat over Halloween? Tell the truth now! And I must know; is chocolate your favorite type of candy? If not, then what is?

I feel like people must be busy, because I haven't received any recipes. Hopefully the previous question will be simpler to answer :)

A few more questions:
In "The Chocolate Touch", John Midas' reflexes get weaker and he develops spots because of eating too much chocolate. Do you think this can happen in real life? What do you know about chocolate (besides that it tastes good, of course!)?

Here is a site all about chocolate, just in case you were curious and wanted to learn more:
All About Chocolate

And here is a Chocolate Manufacture Diagram from the University of Guelph (Please click on the image to enlarge it):

Quick Thoughts on Last Meeting and Chocolate Recipes

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts on Frindle and all of your cool made-up words. I really liked how some words were invented off the top of your heads (whose spellings I can't remember) while others were based on words that already exist (like "hungy" and "spectracula"). Also special thanks to Amy and Kenny for their Frindle cake! That was very creative.

Now let's get on to the next book, "The Chocolate Touch." Does anyone have a favorite chocolate food? Do tell us! Also, if you have a favorite recipe with chocolate in it, please share. My favorite chocolate food is chewy chocolate chip cookies. I also like Kit Kats.

Ok. This may be cheating, but did you know that Cincinnati chili has chocolate in it? So here is a recipe for Cincinnati chili from What's Cooking America:

Cincinnati Chili Recipe

1 large onion chopped
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) package uncooked dried spaghetti pasta
Toppings (see below)

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, saute onion, ground beef, garlic, and chili powder until ground beef is slightly cooked. Add allspice, cinnamon, cumin, cayene pepper, salt, unsweetened cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and transfer onto individual serving plates (small oval plates are traditional).

Ladle chili over spaghetti and serve with toppings of your choice. Oyster crackers are served in a separate container on the side.

I look forward to reading about your favorite chocolate foods and recipes!

Build Your Own Dictionary, Continued

So Everyone...

We are days away from the next book club meeting! Are you excited? I sure am.

A brief reminder that the following people are bringing refreshments:
Food - Amy Shotting
Drink - Sharon Flynn
Thank you so much ladies!

Also, do you remember the assignment from the last post? Well it looks as if my word has posted! If you go to Build Your Own Dictionary, you can now look up the word "sheeshkabob" to find out what it means.

You can still post information about your words if you'd like by responding to this post or the last one.

I'll see everyone soon!

Build Your Own Dictionary

So... can you believe our next meeting is almost here? Have you guys finished reading Frindle yet? (Besides Jeffrey of course.) Do you want to make up a word and have it added to the dictionary like Nick? Well you can! Click on the link below for Merriam-Webster's "Build Your Own Dictionary" activity. And please feel free to share your word and entry with us!
Build Your Own Dictionary

Frindle Update and Wacky Web Tales

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry I'm a little late on posting! I hope everyone still checks in every now and then. I'm going to make it a point to post every week from now on.

So... how far are we on Frindle? Have we gotten to the point where we know what a frindle is? Before Nick asked the question, did any of you ever wonder where words came from? Do you have a word that only you and one other person (like your baby sister or best friend) understand?

Now for a fun assignment. Have any of you heard of Mad Libs? Well this is an online Mad Libs! See below for screenshots from my Mad Libs entry and resulting story (Click on each screenshot to make it bigger). Now it's your turn. The only rule is that you guys have to use the word "frindle" (as a noun of course!). Then feel free to post your story.

Why did you choose your list of words? Are they words you use often? Are they funny words? Have some fun with this. I can't wait to see your stories.

Click Here to Write Your Own Wacky Web Tale

I'm not sure what to call this

Frindle is a good book, and it really gets my hopes up that the rest of it will be good. I am on chapter 5 right now.

My Favorite Book (What is Yours?)

I have so many favorite books that it is really hard to decide. My latest favorite book, though is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit who is cold and vain, despite the devotion and love from his owner, 10-year-old Abilene Tulane. Then one day, Edward falls overboard on the Tulane family's ocean trip. He falls deeper and deeper into the ocean, and thus begins his journey meeting and living with a variety of characters: a fisherman and his wife, a hobo and his dog, two abused siblings. It is through his travels that Edward's cold heart melts; but then, as with many open hearts it breaks. The question is whether it will be able to mend again...

So what is your favorite book and why? You can answer in a comment to this post or you can post your own entry!