Creative Kids in the Kitchen
Young chefs give PB&J a makeover
Everyone loves a classic PB&J sandwich. Now, with a little culinary creativity, your family can liven up lunch and win money for college.
Over the past 10 years, Jif(r) Peanut Butter has inspired thousands of kid chefs to reinvent the peanut butter sandwich for the chance of earning a fund for college. This year, in the 10th Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest(tm), families can foster creativity in the kitchen for a chance to win a $25,000 college fund, plus $10,000 to purchase educational products.
-Sandwiches will be judged on creativity, taste, nutritional balance, appearance and ease of preparation.
-10 semi-finalists will be selected to compete in a national online vote in January.
-Five finalists will be selected to compete at a live judging event in New York City in March.
-Four runners up will each receive $2,500 college funds.
Visit www.jif.com and www.jifenespanol.com between July 28 and October 12 for Official Rules and the entry form. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., between 6 and 12 years of age by October 12, 2011. Contests void where prohibited. See Official Rules for complete details.
The 2011 winner was 8-year-old Margalit M. of Raleigh, N.C. for her Wushu Chicken Tacos, pairing Jif Creamy Peanut Butter with chicken, asparagus and squash, all wrapped in a tortilla. Check out these other winning recipes for inspiration.
Wushu Chicken Tacos - 2011 Winner
Margalit M., Raleigh, N.C.
Serves: 1
1/2 cup diced rotisserie chicken
1/4 cup asparagus pieces, about 1 inch long
1/4 cup yellow squash pieces
2 fajita-size flour tortillas (6-inch)
2 lime wedges, optional
Sauce:
Fresh ginger slice, 1/8 inch thick, peeled and cut in half
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/8 teaspoon chili paste with garlic
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 1/4 teaspoons sesame oil
3 1/2 teaspoons water
Chop ginger and garlic in food processor as finely as possible. Add next seven ingredients and process until sauce is completely smooth. If sauce is too thick, add more water. If sauce is too thin, add more peanut butter.
Toss about half the sauce with chicken and put aside in a covered bowl.
Boil about 1 inch of water in a large skillet and add asparagus. Cover skillet and turn off heat. In 1 to 3 minutes, lift off cover and remove asparagus using tongs.
Cut off ends of squash and cut into half-moon pieces. Put 1/4 cup squash pieces into microwave-safe bowl and add a little water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave about 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly and carefully drain off water.
Place tortillas in microwave and cook about 15 seconds, or until warm and bend easily.
Put chicken in tortillas, top with asparagus and squash and drizzle with additional peanut butter sauce. Serve with optional lime wedges.
... Continue reading Creative Kids in the Kitchen.
"What Not to Wear" is CASTING in Minneapolis Now!
TLC is coming to Minneapolis and we need YOU to nominate a friend, family member or co-worker whose wardrobe is screaming for a make-over! If you know someone who has a BIG, great personality and a horrible wardrobe we want to hear from you! This season we are looking for the CRAZIEST dressers we can find. If you know someone who's a chronic costumer, looks like a bag lady, thrift store, or craft obsessed etc. we want to hear from you!
About the show:
"WHAT NOT TO WEAR" provides fashion intervention to people nominated by friends/family/co-worker as someone who desperately needs a style overhaul! Fashion experts, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly then confront the person and reveal their plan to teach them "WHAT NOT TO WEAR" sorting through the person's current wardrobe and providing them with rules for maximizing their best assets and personal style. They are given a credit card worth $5,000, and it's time to hit the shops. After a consultation with Stacy and Clinton on these new clothing choices, along with a dramatic hair and makeup revamp, viewers will see a complete transformation and a stunning reveal.
Visit the website:
For fashion before and after photos visit the official Web site of "WHAT NOT TO WEAR" at www.discovery.com and click on TLC. More than 10,000 people per month are nominated by their friends and family members through the Web.
Connect with the TLC Audience:
• TLC is in 85 million homes in the US
• 23.3 million viewers tune into TLC each week
• 83 million viewers tune in to watch TLC each month
• TLC ranks #1 in concentration of upscale adults 25-54 and 18-49 in prime time
• 'What Not to Wear' averages over 1.3 million viewers per week.
To nominate someone for the show please send the following info to:
Meghan Griffin / Casting Associate Producer
MGriffin@bbcnyproduction.com
Name:
Age:
Size:
Height:
Marital Status:
Occupation:
Home location:
Describer her personality:
Describe her style in full detail:
At least 2 pictures that illustrate her lack of style:
Nominator's contact info:
****REMEMBER THIS NOMINATION MUST REMAIN A SECRET****
... Continue reading "What Not to Wear" is CASTING in Minneapolis Now!.
When to Keep a Sick Child Home
It's cold and flu season, which means plenty of moms are facing that age-old parenting dilemma: Do I send my coughing, sniffly child to school? And if I make the wrong choice, will the school nurse call a few hours later asking me to take him back home?
Figuring out when to keep your child home from school and when he's well enough to go back isn't always easy, says Dr. Loraine Stern, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at UCLA School of Medicine in California.
"The truth is, you can't always tell how sick a child really is," says Stern. For instance, some kids may seem totally fine at breakfast but take a quick turn for the worse and end up very sick two hours later.
Jump to full text of this article here.
... Continue reading When to Keep a Sick Child Home.
Win Tickets to the Ultimate Pajama Party
The Ultimate Pajama Party has just booked Gretchen Rossi, a favorite Real Housewife of Orange County to join the January 22nd event. AND--- a lucky MomTalk fan will win 2 tickets to the Ultimate Pajama Party! To be eligible to win tickets, just add a comment to the post on our Facebook page. Names will be gathered and one fan will be chosen at random on January 10th.
Find out more about the Ultimate Pajama Party.
Bravo's Orange County episodes are beginning again in January so
Gretchen's visit to the Twin Cities is perfect timing!
... Continue reading Win Tickets to the Ultimate Pajama Party.
Scholarships for Student Athletes
High school student athletes now have the chance to score some extra cash for college. The National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign, in partnership with USA Today, is announcing the call for entries for the 14th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (Sammy) Award program. The Sammy Awards recognize 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership and include lowfat milk in their daily routines.
The Sammy scholarship rewards exceptional student athletes by helping to offset some of the costs associated with college tuition. The scholarship helps educate teens on the value of making smart choices - like drinking lowfat milk, eating right and staying active. Twenty-five talented teens will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, attend an awards ceremony with celebrity guests at Disney World, be pictured in a special Milk Mustache ad in USA Today, and have a chance to help their favorite charity in the process. To date, the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign has awarded 325 talented high school seniors with nearly $2.5 million in scholarships.
"It's an honor for the national got milk? campaign to continue to reward such extraordinary student-athletes who not only excel in their respective sports and communities, but also serve as advocates for drinking milk," said Vivien Godfrey, chief executive officer of the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" campaign. "Lowfat chocolate milk has the right combination of carbohydrates and protein, making it a great choice to help refuel and recover after a tough workout."
High school seniors who excel in the classroom, on the sports field and in their communities are encouraged to submit an application. This year's winners will be selected by a celebrity panel of Milk Mustache athletes, including Apolo Ohno, Chauncey Billups, Dara Torres, Andy Roddick and Lindsey Vonn.
"I am so excited to be championing the 2011 Sammy Awards and to connect with these exceptional student athletes," said speed skating superstar Apolo Ohno "I recently joined the Milk Mustache campaign, and as a judge for Sammy, this is a great opportunity to pass on my tips for staying ahead of the game. My coaches and trainers agree - grabbing lowfat chocolate milk after a strenuous workout helps me get nutrients back into my body quickly to help me refuel for the next race."
High school seniors who are interested in applying for the 2011 Sammy Awards program should visit www.bodybymilk.com. All applicants are required to describe in 250 words or less how they refuel with milk while excelling in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
Entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm ET Friday, March 4, 2011. For complete contest rules, applications, tips and exclusive Milk Mustache celebrity videos, log onto .
... Continue reading Scholarships for Student Athletes.
Easing Holiday Stress for Service Members
Holidays can be difficult for anyone. For Service members coping with invisible wounds and members of the National Guard or Reserve who return to civilian lives that do not involve those with whom they served, this time of year can be especially stressful.
"Citizen Warriors may feel isolated following deployment, and large events such as holiday parties can be overwhelming," Col. (S) Christopher Robinson, senior executive director of psychological health at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), said.
To help Service members and families reintegrate and manage stress, the DCoE-sponsored Real Warriors Campaign (www.realwarriors.net) provides tools, tips and resources such as the ones below to encourage Service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds to reach out for support.
Reconnect with Family:
"When Service members return from deployment, friends and family may want to celebrate their return," Robinson said. "If large parties feel overwhelming, Service members should talk about their anxieties and what friends and family can do to celebrate their homecoming."
* It is common to feel frustrated during the reintegration process, but it takes time to reconnect. It may help Service members experiencing stress to schedule time with their partner, children and parents to learn about new routines and to talk about experiences during deployment.
* Talking to friends and family may ease frustrations.
* Service members, veterans and military families can also reach out to health consultants at the DCoE Outreach Center (http://www.realwarriors.net/livechat / 866-966-1020) for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mentally Prepare for Parties and Events:
People may be curious about deployment, and some of their questions may make Service members uncomfortable.
* Service members may want to try to anticipate questions and think about their response before events.
* Service members can decide what they feel comfortable sharing and should know they do not have to go beyond that.
Limit Alcohol:
From cider to eggnog, alcohol may often feel like a holiday tradition.
* It is important, however, to limit alcohol consumption.
* Studies show that drinking alcohol can cause serious problems that could negatively affect Service members' health and relationships in the long run.
Overcome Isolation:
"After deployment, Service members may feel alone, especially if they are separated from their unit," Robinson said. "Service members may feel like no one understands how they feel."
* While Service members may want to isolate themselves from family and friends, being around others is important to their well-being.
* It may help to make plans to socialize with friends and family in comfortable places, and to stick with the plans.
* The Internet may be a valuable way for Service members to stay connected to their unit, but they should not let online interactions replace socializing with friends and family.
Reach Out for Help:
"Many warriors feel isolated after deployment, and those feelings are increasingly common among members of the National Guard and Reserve who return to a civilian job and may not maintain relationships with those with whom they served," Robinson said. "Our warriors aren't alone, though, and I encourage Service members and their families to reach out for support through resources like the Real Warriors Campaign, which provides tools and tips for warriors at http://www.realwarriors.net."
* Service members, veterans and military families can also reach out to trained health professionals at the DCoE Outreach Center for support 24/7 by logging onto http://www.realwarriors.net/livechat or calling 866-966-1020.
Source: Real Warriors
... Continue reading Easing Holiday Stress for Service Members.
Easy Ideas for Creating Custom, Memorable Holiday Cards
Even with the popularity of using e-mail, social media, and texting to communicate with friends and family, holiday cards continue to be a time-honored tradition. In fact, according to a survey from holiday cards and thank you cards retailer Cardstore.com, 43 percent of Americans prefer a greeting card from a loved one instead of $10, and 63 percent think sending a special occasion greeting through a social network is inappropriate.
While survey results show most people prefer to receive holiday cards, people mistakenly think that creating these custom cards is time consuming. Thanks to technology, new products, and online greeting card sites, this isn't necessarily the case. By following the tips below, creating custom, personalized holiday cards can be easy, fun, and inexpensive.
Picture Perfect - Getting a perfect holiday picture does not have to involve a three-hour photo shoot with an expensive photographer. Oftentimes the best holiday shots are the candid, everyday ones shot at home. For professional-looking DIY images, use natural light (if indoors, shoot near a window), get up close, and have the subjects involved in a favorite activity. Laugh, have fun, and shoot away. Even if the shots aren't perfect, use photo editing software - sometimes just simply changing the image to black and white or cropping out unwanted parts can transform the image.
Let Your Child Be the Artist - Instead of uploading a favorite photo for holiday cards, simply scan a child's favorite drawing and quickly upload to a photo greeting card site. This is an especially cute idea for classroom or grandparent holiday cards.
Collage Card - Instead of spending hours deciding which photo to feature for the holiday card, just choose several photos taken throughout the year that highlight favorite adventures and memories. Visit a favorite online card store and select one of the many templates available.
Keep It Simple - Scour the crafting and dollar stores where there are a variety of inexpensive products to make handmade cards. Use blank cards and embellish with just one or two items - any more and it can be daunting, especially if more than 50 cards need to be made. For instance, punch out polka dots in festive holiday papers using a circle punch and adhere them to the card front in a random, whimsical pattern. Or, run a piece of grosgrain ribbon across the front of card and adhere a glittered embellishment or button.
Use a Kit - For those who lack the creative bug or are really strapped for time, use pre-assembled DIY holiday card kits. Cardstore.com has embellished card kits that combine the time-saving elements of digital photo cards with the personal, hand-crafted touch of dimensional accents. Order the photo cards online. Once they arrive, decorate the cards with the provided coordinating stamps, gems, and glitter glue. Tips and creative inspiration included and no extra trip to the craft store needed!
By following these tips, you can create easy, thoughtful and meaningful holiday cards that share the festive joys of the season.
Courtesy: Cardstore.com
... Continue reading Easy Ideas for Creating Custom, Memorable Holiday Cards.
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