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The Benefits of Napping - for Adults!

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As a mom with small children, you are well aware of the benefits of a nap for your little ones. You know that when they get cranky, whiny, unruly, easily frustrated, or just plain mean, it is time for a nap. And when they wake up later, you usually see a completely different child with a much more pleasant disposition.

So, why can’t this work for adults? American society frowns on midday sleep for adults. But, studies show, napping can increase productivity, reduce stress, increase learning capabilities, and lead to improved health. In many European, Latin, and Asian countries, napping is a way of life. In those areas of the world, instead of seeing someone as lazy and unproductive because she has taken a nap, they greet each other with, “How was your nap today?”

For example, in Spain, the entire country has a2-3 hour break from work or school in order to enjoy a huge lunch with several courses, and take a nap or “siesta” from about 2:00pm to 4:30 or 5:00pm. Everyone in Spain enjoys this afternoon break, including government workers and school children. After their nap, everyone returns to their schedule and their day runs longer than ours in the US, however, they embrace this time for rest and recharging their batteries.

New research may suggest that a daily nap may reduce the risk of heart disease due to reduced stress levels. (Dimitrios Trichopoulos, MD.) Scientists and physicians have both researched the Mediterranean culture for years and their low incidence of deaths associated with heart disease. According to Florida cardiologist Gerald Fletcher, MD, of the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, “It makes sense that lowering stress levels with a daily siesta or even a semi-siesta could benefit the heart,” he says. “We are increasingly recognizing the importance of sleep in cardiology.” (Webmd, 2/12/07.)

There aren’t many downsides to napping, but many benefits such as improved reaction time, improved mood, improved concentration, and calmer behavior (patience!). Even if you aren’t a daytime sleeper, you’ll reap the benefits by stretching out and relaxing for 20-30 minutes just to clear your mind and rest your body - some call this meditation - which produces the same kind of brain waves as light sleep.

The next time you put your child down for a nap, take one for yourself! The laundry, dishes, and the pile of work on your desk will still be there later, and you will feel much more positive and energized about tackling all of the jobs that await you. So, what are your thoughts on the nap issue?

Suzanne Wells is an eBay Power Seller, eBay Consultant, and mom of 2 in Atlanta, GA.

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Peanut Butter Balls

I have heard of Peanut Butter Cookies and Peanut Butter Play dough, but not of Peanut Butter Balls. I was surfing the net for some great kids cooking information, when I came across this cool recipe. I found the recipe at AmazingMoms.com.

No Bake Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 cup crushed corn flakes cereal
2 tablespoons powdered milk
Set corn flakes aside.
Mix all other ingredients well.
Roll into balls.
Then roll again in Cornflakes until covered.
Refrigerate leftovers!!
Yummy Snack! Great with milk !

This recipe sounds fast, easy, and something my kids would have fun making.
As I continued to surf the net for Peanut Butter Balls, I found two more recipes that were slightly different.

This recipe is from cdkitchen.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Ingredients:
2 egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
melted chocolate

Directions:

Beat the egg yolks and vanilla. Mix in peanut butter and powdered sugar until mixed and crumbly. Form dough into 1″ balls, then dip in melted chocolate and let cool on waxed paper.

This recipe for No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls serves/makes 1 dozen

The other recipe I found at everything2.

No bake peanut butter balls
The three ingredients:
1 1/4 cup peanut butter (either smooth or crunchy)
1 1/4 cup dry milk
3/4 cup honey
Measure the dry milk and put into the bowl. Next, pour (or squeeze, if you’re using a honey bear) the honey into the measuring cup; add to bowl. Grab your spoon and glop the peanut butter into the measuring cup; add to bowl. Mix thoroughly.

If you haven’t already, wash your hands. Spray a little of the cooking spray onto your hands; use enough to make your hands greasy but not dripping.

Plunge your hands into the mixing bowl and grab enough of the mix to form an approximately 1 inch ball. (This is why you want the cooking spray on your hands, it makes it a little easier to roll the mix.) Put ball onto waxed paper, repeat until the mix is gone (add cooking spray to your hands as necessary).

Put the waxed paper containing the balls of peanutty goodness into the refrigerator, let chill for at least half an hour before eating. Store in refrigerator.

Each recipe is slightly different. So depending on the ingredients you have on hand that day, may depend on what recipe you use.
When you try them out, please let me know what your thoughts are on these scrumptious little treats.
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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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Learning to Cut

I remember being 4 years old and taking my first cooking class. I was so excited the day we cut something. I was given a white plastic knife to cut a banana. “Wow!” I thought to myself. “I am big enough to cut a banana. I can use a knife.” I was so proud of myself. I was so very careful too.

When my mom came to pick me up from my class, I could hardly keep from blurting out my excitement right then and there. “Mommy, I can cut with a knife.” In my 4 year old mind, I was becoming an adult. Adults are the only ones that can cut with knives.
Well, my daughter continued to ask me, “Mommy, when can I cut with a knife? When am I old enough?” Well we started with plastic knives with playdough. Occasionally, I would allow her and her brother to use the little cheese spreaders to spread butter on their pancakes. But the question was still asked. “Mommy, when am I big enough to cut? When I am 6? When I am 7? I really want to cut something. I want to help.”

I got out a butter knife for her to cut some butter. I had her take her time and cut slowly. I explained to her where the sharp part of the knife was and showed her how to properly carry a knife from the drawer to her working area. She was very attentive and did all that I said. Then she cut the butter I had given her. She LOVED it.
Now, Penelope, my oldest, has cut butter, cheese, pancakes, bread, and zuchini. She is gradually moving from soft foods to harder foods. She is still afraid of the sharp knives. I am glad that she is. This will help protect her and keep her safe. She lets me knwo when she is nervous or doesn’t think she can cut something. But she is always excited about learning how to cut something new.
Have you worked with your kids on cutting? What did your kids start cutting with first? Do you have any fun stories to share?? Please leave a comment and share your story.
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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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Meal from a Kid

I was browsing through the newsletter that I get every month from Homemade Gourmet. The newsletter includes meal planning ideas, grocery lists for those meals, what to do with left overs, and Kids Can Cook section. I wanted to share the recipe from the Kids Can Cook section. The reason being is because it was contributed by a 14 year old. Wow! How wonderful to know that a young person is trying to come up with recipes and enjoys making things. I was so excited I wanted to share the whole meal that was placed in this newsletter.
For those of you who might already receive this newsletter you can find this in the July 2007 issue. This is Meal 7. For those of you that might be interested in singing up for the newsletter, go HERE. More instructions on signing up are after the recipe.

Chicken & Spinach Roll *
Texas Cobbler

Chicken & Spinach Roll
Contributed by 14-year old Mason D.

Ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese

1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and well drained

1 Homemade Gourmet® Garlic Lemon Marinade Mix

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls, 12 count

1 ½ cup chicken, cooked and chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a blender or food processor, cream spinach, cream cheese and mix to make a paste.
Combine crescents into a ball. Using a rolling pin, roll ball out on a lightly floured surface to form a rectangle. Spread the spinach mixture over the middle of dough, lengthwise; and top with chicken.
Fold each side of the dough over the chicken; pinch seam. Place seam side down on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray and bake 8-12 minutes, until roll is browned.
Let cool slightly and slice into 2 inch pieces.

Serves: 6

Nutritional Information per serving: Calories 240(calories from fat 140) * Total Fat 15g * Carbohydrates 8g * Fiber 2g * Sugars 1g * Protein 19g * Sodium 580mg * Cholesterol 70mg

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Texas Cobbler

Everyone’s favorite, Homemade Gourmet® Texas Cobbler will have “yums” emanating from your kitchen. Apple, cherry, blueberry, peach – add your favorite fruit filling to our mix for the easiest old fashioned cobbler! Add butter or margarine, milk and the pie filling of your choice.

Serves: 8

TIP FROM TAMI: For a great dessert to feed a large crowd, use a large aluminum baking pan and 3 Texas Cobbler mixes. Put in the cobbler mix and milk mixture and then pour one line of cherry pie filling, one line of apple pie filling and one line of blueberry pie filling for a patriotic dessert that will satisfy every taste.

****Pictures and Recipes taken from In The Mix Newsletter written by Homemade Gourmet.****
I love this patriotic cobbler idea. How clever is this. The founder, Tami Van Hoy, has such wonderful ideas.

To sign up for the newsletter: Click HERE. On the menu bar, go to newsletters and recipes. Fill out the form there. It is a great newsletter with great ideas. I love to see the newest recipes.
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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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What Shall We Drink?

My children are constantly asking me, “Mommy, I am thirsty. Can I have a drink?” If you have children or have even taken care of children, I am sure that you have heard this before. Do they ever stop? No. It seems that children just keep asking.
During the hot summer months, WATER is a must for our little people. We need to make sure that they get some into their systems.

JUICE of any kind is a popular thirst quencher at our house. But to cut down on the sugar in the juice, we water it down. Half Juice and Half water. My kids think this is how you make juice.
MILK is also a popular choice when my children are thirsty. We try to have some at least at one meal a day.
But occasionally, we want to serve something fun to drink at our house. Something a little different then our regular staple drinks. We like smoothies, shakes, and anything different.

JUICE WITH PIZAZZ
To add a bit of pizazz or life to our juice, I will take some carbonated soda or lemon lime soda and add that to our juice. The kids get excited about the bubbles popping in there mouths. They love this and think it is fun.
PARADISE PUNCH
(recipe taken from The Taming of the CANDY Monster by Vicki Lansky)
1 cup low calorie tropical fruit flavored drink
1 banana
2 TBSP powdered milk
Blend and serve.

FRUIT SLURP
(recipe taken from The Taming of the CANDY Monster by Vicki Lansky)
1 cup milk, ice milk, ice cream or plain yogurt
1 banana
1 peach or nectarine
a handful of strawberries
Actually you can use a combination of fresh fruits. Sweeten wiht honey, whip in a blender and then drink. If too thick, add ½ cup milk. This makes an excellent bed time
snack.

RUSSIAN ICE TEA
Ice Tea Mix—Sweetened
Tang
Mix equal parts of Tany and the Ice Tea Mix into a pitcher. Serve over ice or cold. This is a fun drink for adults or children. (My friend shared the recipe with me.)
Please let me know what some of your favorite family drinks are. Add it to the comments.
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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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A second recall of Hasbro?s Easy Bake Oven prompts serious concerns

You may remember a recall about five months ago on Hasbro’s Easy Bake Oven. If your child happens to have one, you may have gotten the retrofit kit and thought nothing more of it. You may have even been like me, a procrastinator who didn’t even get the retrofit kit yet (though you?ve been?meaning to). Read more

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Friday Feast # 11

Today’s Friday Feast is prepared for you by Eleisia.

Appetizer
Describe a toy you remember from your childhood.

One of my favorite toys was a baton that I used to twirl. My elbows were black and blue until I learned to twirl it correctly! An older friend of mine twirled fire batons in high school.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you?

I’m a very observant person. I’d say 9 or 10.

Salad
Where would you rather be at this very moment?

I’d like to be hiking in the mountains with the fresh scent of pine and cool mountain streams.

Main Course
When was the last time you learned something new?

I learned something new today. I learned how to add some new code to my web site.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have ____________ but I haven’t ____________.

I have skied but I haven’t snowboarded.

I have parasailed but I haven’t sky dived.

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Coleslaw, Yummy with Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

When I was growing up coleslaw was one of my least favorite foods. My mom liked tart tasting coleslaw so she always used a lot of vinegar. I prefer mine to be a little on the sweet side. Here are coleslaw recipes for your summer meals.

Watkins Coleslaw
2 cups shredded cabbage
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Watkins Coleslaw Seasoning
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 4 servings.

I use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise and I add shredded carrots or green pepper.

Here are some other recipes that sound good. One has a creamy dressing; the other has an oil and vinegar dressing.

Coleslaw
4 cups finely shredded or chopped cabbage
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Seasoning Salt
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Dry Mustard
Dash of Watkins Pepper

Combine cabbage and onion in a large bowl. Blend remaining ingredients; pour over cabbage and toss. Sprinkle with paprika. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Salad
4 cups finely shredded or chopped cabbage
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 teaspoon minced onion
3 tablespoons salad oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Watkins Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Dry Mustard
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Celery Salt

Place cabbage, green pepper, and onion in a bowl. Mix all ingredients and pour over cabbage mixture. Cover and refrigerate. Drain cabbage before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Barbecued Pork Sandwiches
Boneless pork roast
1 cup beef or vegetable broth
1 onion, chopped
Bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce (Watkins features two barbecue sauce concentrates - Original and Mesquite)
Rolls or buns

Remove all traces of fat from pork roast. Brown slightly on all sides in a dutch oven. Place roast and broth in slow cooker and cook for 6 to 8 hours on low heat. Carefully remove roast from slow cooker. Pour fat and broth from slow cooker. Shred roast and return to slow cooker. Add onion and barbecue sauce. The amount of sauce you use depends on the size of the roast. You might use more than one bottle of sauce. Cook for one hour and serve on rolls or buns with coleslaw.

Eleisia Whitney is a Watkins Home Business owner. She enjoys cooking and baking with Watkins extracts, spices, herbs, and sauces for healthy meals. Eleisia publishes a Watkins Newsletter, Around the Kitchen Table, that brings you recipes, cooking and health tips, and contests for free Watkins products.
Read the current issue at http://www.everydaynecessities.com/july15-07newsletter.htm
Visit her at http://www.everydaynecessities.com and
http://www.WatkinsOnline.com/eleisiawhitney

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Friday Feast #10

Today’s Friday Feast is prepared for you by Stacey.

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?
**About a 4. I would rather watch them in person or at a social gathering.**

Soup
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?
**Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss**

Salad
What is your favorite breakfast food?
**French Toast, Eggs, and bacon. Is it breakfast time yet???**

Main Course
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00.
**With some friend play a game called Chubby Bunny. Here is how it goes. Buy a bag of large marshmallows. Whoever wants to play, starts with one marshmallow. The first person puts the marshmallow in his mouth. Then he says Chubby Bunny. Continue putting in one marshmallow at a time and saying Chubby Bunny until you can no longer hear or understand the person saying Chubby Bunny. It is a great game. We played it at youth group on Wednesday night. They kids thought is was sooo funny. **

Dessert
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?

**It usually takes me about 5 to 10 minutes to fall asleep.**

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Berries Berries Everywhere

Berries are everywhere right now. Strawberries, Blueberries, blackberries. It is the time to enjoy these sweet treats.

Here are some ways you and your children can enjoy your berries a little bit differently.

U.S.A. Berries
(recipe taken from Kinder Krunchies, a Discovery Toys book.)

Ingredients:
2 strawberries
5 blueberries
Coconut

Instructions:
1) Wash the strawberries and the blueberries.
2) Put berries in a small cup.
3) Sprinkle with shredded coconut.
4) Eat!

This is an easy treat the children can make. They will have fun eating it.

Berries and Créme
(recipe taken from the Kitchen Connection magazine by Homemade Gourmet)

Ingredients:
1 Homemade Gourmet Spiced Dip Mix
8 ounces of whipped topping, thawed
Fresh or frozen berries of your choice (if frozen, thaw and drain before using)

Instructions:
1) Combine the Homemade Gourmet Spiced Dip Mix and the whipped topping and stir until blended.
2) In a decorative or festive glass, such as a parfait cup, layer the spiced whipped toping with the fresh berries.

Strawberry Shakes
(recipe taken from Better Homes and Garden New Junior Cook Book)

Ingredients:
1—10 ounce package of frozen strawberries, thawed
1 cup of milk
1 point strawberry ice cream or frozen yogurt (2 cups)
Instructions:
1) Put strawberries and their juice into blender container. With adult help, cover and blend till smooth. Add the milk. Cover and blend till smooth.
2) Scoop some of the ice cream or yogurt into each of 3 tall glasses. Put the rest of the ice cream or yogurt into the blender container. With adult help, cover and blend until smooth.
3) Poor mixture from blender over the ice cream or yogurt in glasses. Serve with long-handled spoons and straws. Top each with a whole strawberry, if you like.
Makes 3 servings.

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Stacey Walker has a Homemade Gourmet Home Business. She uses her Homemade Gourmet products regularly for cooking fast and easy to prepare meals. She is currently using Homemade Gourmet in her meal planning and when teaching her children to cook. Visit her website at www.4minutemeals.com

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