Baking for a cause

Sometimes we feel helpless when faced with something we have no control over or cannot change. We want to do something. Something that will make us feel as if we've made a difference. And sometimes the situation just requires us to sit back and deal. You know, accept the things we cannot change and all that mumbo jumbo. I don't do the "deal" part very well. I want to help. My biggest challenge is finding out how.

Recently, I have learned a lot about pediatric cancer. I discovered that only about 30% of children diagnosed with cancer survive. 30%. That's not even half. The reason for such terrible odds is directly related to how little money is being spent on research by both the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. In fact, it kills more children than asthma, AIDS, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis combined.

Research can make a drastic difference in cancer survival rates. Take breast cancer for example. Due in part to all the research being done and all the organziations that help fund the research, the breast cancer survival rate now averages 90%. I'm not that good at math, but I know 90% is a lot better than 30%.

One day while glancing through a magazine, I came across an ad for Cookies for Kids' Cancer. The ad caught my eye so I jumped on the computer to check it out. Cookiesforkidscancer raises money for pediatric cancer research through local bake sales. I thought to myself, "Seriously? I love to bake. I can do this. I will do this." I mentioned this idea to someone who did not share my enthusiasm. "Why don't you just ask for teddy bear donations and deliver them to the pediatric cancer patients at the hospital?" While a noble thought, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Teddy bears are nice, but they don't save lives.

So, in a few weeks, we're "doing this." One of my very dear friends is taking on this challenge with me and we are organizing a bake sale. The outpouring of friends willing to help has been overwhelming. So far, we have 20 bakers and counting. We've set a big goal for ourselves, but I accept the fact that whatever we are able to raise will be wonderful. It might be a drop in the bucket, but it's a start. It's something.

In addition to raising money, I hope we are also building awareness. Please visit this site and learn more about how you can throw a bake sale in your area and help fund pediatric cancer research. Or simply make a donation. After all, as the mother/founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer says, “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the world to fight pediatric cancer.”

Do the mash

I love mashed potatoes. To me, they define comfort food (with homemade mac and cheese coming in a close second). This is a shared love in our house, but I have received some hints lately that we've entered the mashed potato doldrums. So, I have been trying to find new ways to enjoy what our house affectionately calls "mashers." I have found some pretty good alternatives to the basic mashed potato, and people seemed to be pleased.

Our favorite so far is white bean mashers. They have been a big hit with both the big and little man around here. And the best part is, they are super easy to make. Here's what you'll need:

3 cans of white beans, drained and rinsed (I use great northern beans)

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/4 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the EVOO, garlic and lemon zest in a sauce pan on med-low heat until it becomes fragrant and warm. Don't let the garlic brown. Add the beans, and with the back of a wooden spoon, smash the beans against the side of pan until they become mashed. Heat through, then add salt and pepper to taste.

If beans aren't your thing, try adding some steamed cauliflower or butternut squash to potatoes just before mashing. When blended with the potatoes, they boost the flavor and nutrition. Or try harvest mashers: a half-n-half blend of russet potatoes and sweet potatoes, mashed together with sour cream and a dash of horseradish. Yum.

Prophetic Lyrics

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies..."

Do you know the story behind the Beatles song, Lucy in the sky with diamonds? It's a rather sweet story, and has nothing to do with John Lennon wanting to spell out the initials LSD in code. In 1966, Lucy O'Donnell Vodden made a friend in preschool. That friend was Julian Lennon, John Lennon's son. 4 year old Julian came home from school one day with a drawing he had made of a girl with diamond-shaped eyes. He showed it to his dad, and when asked about it, Julian said it was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."

"Cellophane flowers of yellow and green, towering over your head."

The song is widely regarded as a psychedelic masterpiece, replete with haunting images of "newspaper taxis" and a "girl with kaleidoscope eyes." But listen to the lyrics now, with this story in mind, and you can see the world through the eyes of child.

"Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain, where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies."

Last week, Lucy died after a long battle with lupus. She was 46. Julian and Lucy lost touch after he left the school following his parents' divorce, but they were reunited in recent years when Julian tried to help Lucy cope with her disease. He sent her flowers, and upon learning of her love of gardening, sent gift cards for use at a gardening center near her home in southeast England. He also sent her frequent text messages in an effort to bolster her spirits. Julian said he wanted to do something to put a smile on her face. I'm not sure if he accomplished that, but I admire him for taking the time to try. Sometimes it's the little things. Just like the little picture that Julian brought home from school one day.

"Newspaper taxis appear on the shore, waiting to take you away. Climb in the back with your head in the clouds and your gone..."

Wanna trade?

School's back in session, and many Moms across the country are getting up extra early to pack lunches, me included. Yes, my son's school has a cafeteria. I've seen the food. I'm not impressed. I know the years when I will lose all control over what he eats are fast approaching, so I'm hanging in there while I can. I am trying to be creative with lunches, make them fun to eat and healthy at the same time. You know, stuff that will make other kids say, "Wanna trade?"

When I was young, one of my favorite books was Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell and Lillian Hoban. In this book, Frances liked one thing: bread and jam. She ate this at every meal. Her friend, Albert, however, had the most amazing things in his lunch at school every day. Finally, at the end of the story, Frances catches on and her lunches become amazing, too.

When it comes to packing lunches, most parents are not intentionally being boring, they're just being pragmatic. If your child likes peanut butter and jelly and it's easy to make, your child gets peanut butter and jelly every day. If this sounds boring to you, it probably is to your kids as well. Here are some ideas to help you get creative with your kid's lunches and ditch the brown bag blahs. Variety is the spice of life, so expose your kids early and allow them to try new things. They may take a while to warm up to your culinary experiments, but they will thank you for taking the time to pack a little love in with their food.

• Since sandwich bread every day can get boring, experiment with ciabatta rolls, focaccia, wraps, whole wheat english muffins, mini baguettes, pita pockets, etc.
• Use cookie cutters and cut out the sandwich after you've made it to make fun shapes, or use a circle cutter and make a face with raisin eyes and carrot lips.
• Make different variations of BLTs, like adding sliced avocado or making a turkey BLT. Try spreading cream cheese instead of mayo for nice change.
• Send a healthy stuffed potato. Bake large potatoes in a hot oven for 1 hr. Halve, scoop out the flesh, mix with canned tuna or chicken, broccoli and grated cheese. Pile back in the skins and crisp in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool and, voila, a perfectly packable lunch.
• Make a fruit wrap: thinly slice apples, grapes and strawberries. Spread pineapple or strawberry cream cheese on a honey whole wheat wrap and roll. Inlcude carrot sticks on the side to squeeze in those veggies.
• Pack a cold pasta salad with chunks of ham and peas.
• Try a Mexican Mango Madness lunch: pack a bean and cheese burrito, sliced mangos and a green salad with dressing on the side. Add a chocolate cinnamon pudding for dessert.
• A new twist on PB&J (and good for those allergic): Almond butter and honey and whole grain bread, carrot and celery sticks and applesauce.
• Pack chicken noodle soup in a thermos, include a whole wheat roll and rice pudding for dessert.

Oh yeah, including a little note is also a great way to pack some love in the lunch box. I love these Lunch Grams - cute papers to write your notes on. Find them here.

Happy Birthday

You are six today

Happy and full of fun

You are six today

Seems like yesterday you were one

You are six today

Healthy, handsome and smart

You are six today

And your smile still melts my heart

You are six today

Slow down, don't grow up too soon

You are six today

And I love you up to the moon.

xox, Mommy

When the going gets tough...

I hit the kitchen. Some women shop or hit the spa; I morph into a marathon chef. It's my answer to stress relief. I love to cook and bake anyway, but during tough times I become unleashed. I bake, and my mind clears because I can totally submerge myself in the process. I also cook, comfort food mostly, because there's something about a home-made dish that seems to wash troubles away. And it's not just me that reaps the benefits. My family eats pretty darn good when I get stressed. I can't wait for cooler weather so I can spend three days making Julia Child's boef bourginon.

At present, life seems to be dishing out its fair share to many of my loved ones. This past week alone, I knocked out two loaves of whole wheat bread, enough broccoli cheese calzones to fill my freezer, and six dozen banana-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies. I'm addicted to them right now, and thank goodness the recipe came from Cooking Light magazine, otherwise I could add weight gain to my list of woes.

Want to share how you cope under difficult times? Or better yet, want to give me some recipes to try? It'll help take my mind off things. Besides, I love to cook and bake, but I also get by with a little help from my friends.

Hi ho hi ho, it's off to school we go

How did the first day of Kindergarten go? Not as bad as I thought. My child's uncanny ability to be a pill kept my tears to a minimum. The craziness of the morning was too overwhelming to allow much fear or emotions. We just focused on getting to school on time, which we did by the skin of our teeth (note to self: make lunches the night before!). After getting his things settled and finding his seat, he looked pretty unsure of things. Until the most adorable little girl sat down across from him. Their conversation went something like this:

her: "This is my first day of Kindergarten!"

him: "This is my first day of Kindergarten, too!"

It was pretty cute. The two of them kept talking so I gave a kiss, told him I loved him and would see him later, and left the room. I expected to begin boohooing, but instead I felt so excited for him. About what he'll learn and accomplish this year, the new friends he'll make, how he'll grow, and how I get to watch and share in all of this. I feel very blessed. Of course, I signed up, along with my friend, to be room mom and joined the PTO and all that other stuff. I want to be involved while my little man still wants me to be. (but I'll still be involved even after he doesn't.)

And who knows, maybe there's new things on the horizon for me as well. My horoscope for today read:

There are valuable experiences waiting for you around the corner. The important thing for you to do now is simply recognize the opportunities when they come. Roads to success aren't always well marked. Take a chance on one that has no signs at all. You have the courage and pioneering spirit to pursue the adventurous route, so go for it.

When I picked him up after school and asked him how his day went, he told me he was ready for Kindergarten (good thing, because there's we kind of have to go back!). Whatever lies ahead, I think both my little man and I are ready. Ready for the adventures life brings our way.