Simply Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide

Contemplating an e-book...

2011-08-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

I don't have an e-reader...no Nook, no iPad. But I do have the Kindle app for my Android phone so I guess that counts. I'm a fan of electronic books and get the appeal. I'm currently reading one on my droid. But I also have a soft spot for traditional books. The look, the feel, the ability to take notes in the margin...

But I wonder, would Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide be even more desirable as an e-book? One where you could easily look up a resource or use a recipe right from your iPad or e-reader? It would be at the reader's disposal any time they wanted it. And of course, the electronic version would cost less (but not have the keepsake pages included).

To e-book or not? That is my question...

4 Ingredients...cooking couldn't be easier.

2011-05-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

I've recently been trying to use my crock pot more to make providing healthy meals for my family easier. I don't like to cook (unless I have a lot of time to think about it and prepare...which is rare being a mom).

Enter 4 Ingredients - more than 400 quick, easy, and delicious recipes using 4 or fewer ingredients! Developed by Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham, this book is jam-packed with recipes I just have to try! Just listen to some of these recipes - Spinach and Ricotta Scrolls, Salmon Pitas, Orange and Yogurt Shake, Broiled Grapefruit, Southern Fried Chicken (one of my faves...our version in Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide)...and there are so many more.

Check out this quick video of Kim in action...the recipes are so simple and perfect for someone like me; a non-cook / wannabe cook.

The 4 Ingredients cookbook is definitely one I'll be using for years to come. I wish there were pictures of the recipes...I always find that helpful. But I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family. I may even start giving it as baby shower gifts!

**Full disclosure, I was not compensated in any way for this review other than receiving a copy of the cookbook.

At home veggie gardening

2011-04-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Ah, it's spring here in the mid-atlantic and I've got at-home gardening fever again...even if my green thumb is a bit spotty still.

No, my at-home garden does not look like this one, but I imagine it looking like that or the photo below it one day :)

To me at-home gardening is more than a hobby. It's a way for me to get the fresh air, sun and exercise I crave, but also a way for me to teach my daughter that we can (and should) try to live more sustainably each day - providing the family with vegetables (and hopefully this year berries) that we don't have to buy at a store. There is huge value in being able to plant a seed and watch it grow into something edible (and more tasty than store bought) with your child(ren). I see how excited my daughter gets when she she's green things sprouting from the ground or when the flowers start blooming. It is something worth all the dirt under my finger nails and mud on my shoes.

I've been pretty lax about blogging here on weeBgreen lately. For good reason, though. I've been training for my first 10-mile race coming up in early May and have had to turn off the switch on other interests to stay laser-focused on my fitness goals. Hey, I had back surgery a little over a year ago, so being able to run at all let alone 10-miles is HUGE for me. I'll also be training for my first sprint duathlon in the end of May. Yikes!

Anywho, I plan to track the progress of my at-home gardening experience this year more consistently. For personal reasons I want to see if our garden fares better this year compared to last. But I also just want to share with others my experience and prove that even someone who's had bad luck keeping house plants alive can produce edible, yummy vegetables in their own garden. So stay tuned for video clips, photos, recipes, tips and more...watch me (try to) turn my spotted green thumb into a deep, vibrant green.

Tuna Noodle Casserole revived

2011-01-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

Growing up one of my favorite dinners my mom made was tuna noodle casserole. I love making it, too, because it's easy and I'm not much for slaving in the kitchen. And my wee one can definitely help me with this one.

I recently stumbled on this amazing sight for healthy, easy recipes, and it just so happens there is one for "Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole".

Check it out and let me know what you think. It's going our menu for next week!

Give back creatively this holiday season

2010-12-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

This holiday season will be light on spending, gifts and material things for many this year (my family included).

In America it's become standard to want everything now, now, now.

I think our materialistic over- spending culture is doing a huge disservice to our children. When did the holiday season (Christmas especially) become solely about asking for things we want and expecting to receive a gift on the 25th?

I know it's not this way for all of us, but the media and all of the over-advertising is so much in our faces these days, even if you don't watch TV you still can't miss it. I don't know about you, but I want my child to understand the real meaning of Christmas and to grow up valuing how it brings our extended family together...not just the fact that she is going to get presents on Christmas morning.

To do this, I'm planning to give back more this year than last and find ways to share stories that explain the meaning of the holiday with my daughter. What are you planning to do this year to celebrate the season of giving?

As part of the season of giving, instead of donating just 5% of the proceeds from sales of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide, I will be donating 50% of the proceeds from now until January 1st. If you'd like to purchase a copy as a stocking stuffer, gift to a new mom, or a baby shower gift, please visit here.

Every family needs to get away...

2010-10-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

We recently took a break from work, book promoting, etc. and went up to New York to explore the beautiful fall colors. Here's a quick video of where we stayed and what we saw...

It's little adventures like these and times away from the "hustle and bustle" of life that help renew our energy and make me want to start writing again! Soon...hopefully soon.

**Full disclosure, Hope Lake Lodge did provide us with a discounted room rate in return for sharing our experience with you...we had a great time and would definitely return!

Baking with preschoolers - Rainy Day Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's one of our fave rainy day recipes from the book...can't wait to make them again this fall!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 1 cup butter
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2-3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (optional—omit if anyone at home has a peanut allergy or if you are sharing with friends/classmates)
• ½ cup flaxseed (good source of vitamin B, protein, and zinc)
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Combine the baking soda, salt, flour, peanut butter and flax seed and stir into creamed mixture. Add oats and chocolate chips and stir until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Makes about 24.

Stroll off into the sunset with friends & family & raise funds for LMS...

2010-09-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Event registration for Sunset Stroll for LMS (LeioMyoSarcoma) powered by Eventbrite

Every lasting memory has great ingredients...

2010-09-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

“Our earliest memories and experiences do mold us, because they are our first reality.”

~ Ellen S. Haser

Do you have lasting childhood memories?

My guess is there's at least one memory from your childhood that makes you laugh, smile, feel a strong connection to family members. What were the components of that memory or all of your fond childhood memories?

There's usually a list of "ingredients" that made it a lasting memory; not just one specific thing. The ingredients that made my childhood memories "spectacular" and full of love included many of the things listed below. Some of the ingredients of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide are ones that I hope will help make my daughter's childhood one full of simple pleasures and lasting memories.

Ingredients

II. Recipes & Activities for Long Car Rides
a. Grand Canyon Trail Mix
b. Headed West Fruit Smoothies
c. Let’s Hit the Road Granola Bars
d. Car-Ride-Ready Activities
III. Recipes & Activities for Camping Trips
a. Campy Scrambled Eggs Benedict
b. Great Outdoors BBQ Chicken & Baked Potatoes
c. Campfire S’mores
d. Camping Activities
IV. Recipes & Activities for Rainy Days
a. Rainy Day Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
b. Grumpy Cloud Treats
c. MAH Style Sculpting Clay
d. Rainy Day Activities
V. Recipes & Activities for Under-the-Weather Days
a. Veggie-packed Chicken Soup
b. Healing Tea & Citrus-Splashed Shortbread
c. Make Your Own Boo-Boo Animals
d. Under-the-Weather Day Activities
VI. Recipes & Activities for Museum-Hopping Days
a. Dinosaur Dogs
b. Under-the-Sea Snack Mix
c. Bite-Size Pachyderm PB&J
d. METRO Munchies
e. Museum Hopping Activities
VII. Recipes & Activities for After-School Chat Sessions (the offline kind)
a. Grandma’s Grilled Ham & Cheese
b. Feel-good Milkshakes
c. Banana Chocolate Chunk (or chip) Muffins
d. After-School Activities
VIII. Recipes & Activities for Anytime Comfort
a. Fried Green Tomatoes
b. Breakfast for Dinner
c. Southern Fried Baked Chicken, Biscuits & Okra
d. Anytime Comfort Activities
IX. Recipes & Activities for Saturdays in the Yard
a. Strawberry Lemonade
b. Garden Fresh Veggies & Hummus
c. Egg Salad Sandwiches
d. Saturdays in the Yard Activities
X. Recipes & Activities for Sunday Family Time
a. Sweet as Pie Sugar Cookies
b. Backyard BBQ
c. Sunday Family Time Activities
XI. Recipes & Activities for Getting Back to Nature
a. Ladybugs on a Log
b. Animal Cracker Sandwich
c. Getting Back to Nature Activities

A book signing event...

2010-08-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take part in a fun grand opening event at the Kid Company. I brought a table and some books and gave out a ton of bookmarks...and one lucky door prize winner won a free copy! Here's a quick video of the day...

Missing my mom today...

2010-07-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you have ever lost a parent or close friend, but if you have you'll understand the feelings of loss that just creep up every now and then. For me, it usually happens the anniversary of my mother's passing, holidays and her birthday. Today it happened unexpectedly. My daughter picked up my journal from the first couple years after losing my mom and asked me to read some of it to her. I didn't expect to get so emotional.

The reason I'm sharing this personal story with you is because Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide was 100% inspired by my late mother. So sharing with you how I felt about her and what type of person she was makes sense. Gives you an even deeper understanding of why I HAD to write this book.

So here are a couple of entries from October 2001 (less than a month after my mom lost her battle to LeioMyoSarcoma).

"I'm really missing my mom right now. I can't believe I can't call her up anymore just to say hello. I wish I could hold her hand right now and hear her voice telling me everything will be okay. One major thing about my mom was that I always felt like I could tell her anything. Of course, I could have been like most kids and lied to my mom about what was really going on in my life and my head. But I could never lie to her, I respected her too much. If I did lie to her, I ended up telling her the truth anyway. I could not look at her and tell her anything but the truth. She had my complete trust and honesty. We always talked about what was going on and mom always had a way of making me feel better.

"One funny memory of mom -- When my sister L and I were young and in elementary school, we'd sometimes forget our lunches. So mom would have to bring it to us. A lot of the time she would be busy getting ready for work or whatever and come drop off our lunches with rollers in her hair. At the time it was a bit embarrassing but now as I look back and am a mother myself, I can completely understand why. Like any mother, mom was always trying to do 10 things at once to keep her four girls and husband well taken care of.

"What I would say to mom if she could hear me -- I love you more than you ever knew. My heart has a whole in it because I've lost you. I have a little hope that we still have you in spirit. I never doubted your faith and your strength. I consider you the most loving, fun, giving, kind, beautiful and caring person I will ever know. I tried and will continue to try to live my life the way you would want me to. I will aspire to be as great a woman as you were. I dream of being a mother as good as you were and hope my kids look like you, or have part of you in them somehow. I am sorry for being such a brat and testing you so much. I will visit dad and my sisters as much as possible. I will not intentionally leave anyone out. I will do my part in helping to take care of dad. I will forever be proud of being your daughter. I will always be your baby, even when I'm 80. I will strive to help raise awareness for LMS; even if it takes my whole life. I will make you proud!"

Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide now available...coupon code included

2010-06-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to quickly share that the book is now available and I am breathing a huge sigh of relief! This was a big project...and actually the work is just beginning. I want to hugely support the three causes I will be donating a potion of proceeds to - One Day Living, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation.

Here is the link to the book with a discount code-save 30% for a limited time:

Discount code - WVJM97Y7

Link - http://bit.ly/bpI4bI

Recipes from Gunning It

2010-05-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Here's another great one from my friend over at Gunning It!

Shrimp Lo-Mein – Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

A healthier version of a take-out favorite in the Gunn Household. Serves 4 at $2.74 per serving.

8 oz. Barilla® Whole Grain Spaghetti

1 Tbsp. Kikkoman® Soy Sauce

½ tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Domino® Cane Sugar

1 Tbsp. fresh Ginger, grated

2 tsp. Argo® Cornstarch

1 lb. Berkley & Jensen® 21/25 Frozen Raw Shrimp, defrosted

4 Tbsp. Berkley & Jensen® Peanut Oil

2 stalks Celery, finely sliced

1 ½ cups Fresh Express® Cole Slaw (undressed)

1 Green Onion, minced

1. Cook spaghetti until al dente and drain immediately. Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly. Set aside.

2. Mix soy sauce, ginger, cornstarch, salt and sugar in large bowl. Add shrimp and let marinate for 20 minutes.

3. Heat wok or large, straight-sided skillet over high heat until very hot. Add 2 Tbsp. of oil. Using slotted spoon, carefully add shrimp to hot pan. Reserve marinade. Stir-fry until shrimp is just opaque. Immediately remove from pan and set aside.

4. Add remaining oil. Stir-fry celery, slaw and green onion until just tender, about 5 minutes.

5. Add shrimp to ingredients in pan, along with reserved marinade. Stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes, or until sauce boils and thickens.

6. Add spaghetti to pan and toss to mix. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Enjoy! And be sure to hop on over to Gunning It if you tried this recipe and liked it!

Recipes from Gunning It

2010-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

My friend over at Gunning It has been doing a really neat project with the help of BJ's and I wanted to share with you all here. BJ's is giving her these fab recipes and the opportunity to get a FREE 60 day trial membership...the link to grab yours is below!

BJ's Wholesale Club is offering a Free 60-Day Trial Membership which can be activated between now and July 5. The risk-free, trial membership includes full member benefits including savings and no surcharge. A basic 12-month membership is $45.

Click on this link to find and print the pass to take to any BJ’s club:
http://www.bjs.com/about/news/content/item1,127.shtml?sc_cid=PRMediaOutreachPass

And for the recipe!!

Pasta Primavera

Serves 4 at $2.44 per serving

8 oz. Barilla® Linguine

1 small Summer Squash, thinly sliced

10 oz. Asparagus Spears, 2" pieces

8 oz. Green Giant® Baby Carrots, quartered lengthwise

1 cup Berkley & Jensen® Grade A Fancy Peas, defrosted

1 recipe White Sauce (below)

¾ cup Sargento® Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Grape Tomatoes (Optional)

1. Add pasta to large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water. Cook 4 minutes.

2. Add all vegetables except peas to pot with pasta. Cook until vegetables are tender and pasta is al dente.

3. Drain immediately and transfer to large serving bowl. Add peas and toss to mix.

4. Prepare white sauce according to recipe. While still hot, add ½ cup shredded cheese and stir until melted.

5. Pour cheese sauce over pasta-vegetable mixture and lightly toss to mix.

6. Serve immediately garnished with remaining ¼ cup shredded cheese and Grape Tomato halves (optional).

Basic White Sauce - Makes 2 cups.

Your microwave’s cooking times may vary. Please watch carefully.

4 Tbsp. Land O’Lakes® Sweet Butter

4 Tbsp. Gold Medal® All-Purpose Flour

2 cups Milk

Salt and Black Pepper to taste

1. Melt butter on high in 1-qt., microwave-safe bowl, about 20 to 30 seconds.

2. Stir in flour, using spoon to break up lumps, until smoothly blended.

3. Add milk, salt and pepper and stir until completely blended.

4. Microwave on high, pausing to stir every 30 seconds or so, until sauce is thick and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Variation: Add 2 cups of shredded Cracker Barrel®
Sharp Cheddar Cheese and toss with cooked elbow macaroni for mac and cheese.

Hop on over and let Margie know if you tried this recipe and what you thought of it!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the book cover! Getting very, very close!

Email me (info (at) weeBgreen dot com) and let me know what you think!

Newest supporter - One Day Sharing

2010-04-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that people come into our lives for many reasons. We have family members that support us and love us unconditionally. We have friends that share and laugh with us throughout the years. But often, we need outside support that "gets us" and motivates us to be our best selves. That's what I've found in the support from One Day Sharing and its Communicator's Clique. Founder Esther Hughes also coached me through the process of writing Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide, so I feel truly honored to have her continued support throughout this launch. I believe that Esther and I were meant to meet and partner with each other on projects, supporting one another in achieving our business goals and dreams.

More on One Day Sharing:
Located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, One Day Sharing is a company that produces materials and seminars that help women establish goals to reach their potential and techniques to achieve those goals. At One Day Sharing, we are passionate about helping individuals share their messages by training and equipping them to be better speakers, presenters and writers. The name "One Day Sharing" has the message that it takes one day to set a course for a new direction. Life can drastically change in one day so prepare yourself for life-changing circumstances by making today a new beginning and become a better communicator.

One Day Sharing offers seminars that integrate professionalism with real life because we believe life is to be enjoyed--not endured.

Recipe - Shane's Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream

2010-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Jessica shared this great recipe with me for dairy-free ice cream...I just had to share it with you. If you make it at home with your kids, email us a photo and we'll share with our book launch group and here on the blog (with your permission of course)!

Shane’s Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream

Requires an Ice Cream Maker!

Ingredients:
3 Cups Dairy-Free Rice Milk (can also use Potato or Soy Milk)

½ Cup Corn Oil (can also use Canola Oil)

½ Cup Pure Cocoa Powder

¾ Cup Sugar

3 tsp xanthan gum

Place in blender and blend until sugar dissolves. (This typically takes 1-2 minutes.) Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and use according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We let the ice cream maker run for 35 minutes.

(Recipe provided by bucksmontmom. Not included in our book, Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide.)

Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide - Cohesive Outcomes

2010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

As a parent, I know we don't have all the answers. No parent ever knows how to handle every challenge or situation effectively all the time. And as parents, isn't one of our most important tasks to be the best role model and teacher we can be for our children? At times we'll feel lost and need support and guidance. This is where Cohesive Outcomes comes in.

Karen Richter, founder of Cohesive Outcomes, is a life coach, speaker and devoted parent. She is passionate about partnering with other parents who seek more balance, fulfillment, and success in their lives. In working with Karen, parents can "discover, develop and leverage their strengths, recognize obstacles to their success, and identify a course of action to achieve identified goals." By helping others reach their potential as parents, Karen is also helping them improve relationships and raise confident, courageous and compassionate children.

Karen's coaching and workshops are infused with enthusiasm and driven by her wealth of experience. She is a member of the NJ Professional Coaches Association, as well as the ICF. Cohesive Outcomes has several upcoming events and if you'd like to learn more, please visit their website.

Disclosure: You should assume that any post recommending a product or service is due to a relationship with that organization. I will only post about organizations and supporters that understand and identify with the message developed in Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide. This post is provided by our supporter, Cohesive Outcomes.

In the kitchen with kids...

2010-03-21T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a look at some of the creations we came up with in our kitchen. They are super simple and easy to customize according to your child's likes, dislikes and dietary needs.

If you have young children you know they love to help out in the kitchen. In an effort to keep all recipes in Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide kid-friendly, my little one and I worked together to make each one. So the recipes in the book are kid-tested for sure.

A fruit-infused snack mix.

Oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies with an added fiber-rich ingredient

Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide is due out this spring. Part recipe book, part activity book and part keepsake, it's inspired by a mother of four who truly new how to make every day count.

2010-03-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sharing the legacy of a grandparent who'll they'll never meet...

2010-03-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you lose a parent before becoming one yourself? What do you tell your children when they ask where grandma or grandpa so and so is? How do you share with your children what their grandparent who passed away too early was like? How do you communicate what that person meant to you; how special they were and how they are such a huge part of who you've become?

These were and are questions I ponder almost daily.

I was fortunate enough to have a mother who unconditionally loved my sisters and I. She was my confidant for 22 years and I was her baby for those years, even when I towered over her in my pre-college, pre-marriage, pre-baby lanky self. I miss her daily, as does my entire family. My growing girl has a growing curiosity about her Grandma Ellen and has clearly inherited her grandmother's love, gentleness and compassion.

Here's just a piece of what I will tell my children, when they are older, about their Grandma Ellen, the inspiration behind Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide.

Two things I will never forget are when she confidently took her wig off in the middle of a meeting with the National Leiomyosarcoma support group, baring her bald head, and when she traveled by car with my Dad two-plus hours to see me graduate from college. (She had just recently had surgery on her leg and had a titanium rod placed there where a tumor had been removed. The pain must have been immense...I can only imagine.)

That day in May was one of the proudest of my life; not because I was receiving my diploma, but because as my mom saw me walk across the stage, she took off her hat again, baring her bald head, and waved it in the air proudly. To see her triumph over pain that day and on many other days was unforgettable. She was and forever will be the strongest, classiest, most giving person I’ll ever know.

As a mother, she loved unconditionally and with her whole heart. She gave every bit of her energy and time to others…especially her children. And let me tell you, we were demanding. I was the “whiny” one. My mother almost never let on how hard motherhood is. She made it look easier than it is and faithfully and sacrificially did her best. No one could have raised my sisters and me better.

Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide - Hugs

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

A hug can go a long way.
It’s been said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” ~ Virginia Satir, family therapist. This I believe to be true.

Hugs are healing. Kids (and parents) need human touch, affection, and to feel safe, especially on under-the-weather days. My mother was full of hugs. She was always there when we needed her for a hug. Our world has become so go, go, go that our kids are over-scheduled and under-loved at times. They need us now more than ever to help them and be with them on their under-the-weather days. Give hugs like they’re going out of style. Show your children, friends, and family you love them today—because you just never know what tomorrow holds.

“It is up to me to make a house a home by my mood, my care, my love, my comforting, soothing presence. When boredom or frustration or loneliness begins to creep in, let me remember that there is always something interesting or important to do. No one is drafted into being important; people make themselves needed and important not by sitting back and waiting to be asked, but by doing.”

Our newest sponsor - Jenny Childs, Arbonne Independent Consultant

2010-02-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

When I set out to publish Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide, I couldn't have imagined how well-recieved the message and concept of the book would be. It's been amazing going from the writing process to editing and now to promoting what was once just a dream to share what my mom shared with my sisters and I. And through the promotion of it I'm meeting and connecting with amazing, inspiring and like-minded people; maybe some I'd never get to know otherwise.

I'm happy to introduce the newest supporter of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide, Jenny Childs. She is an Arbonne Independent Consultant. Jenny helps provide women and men (and babies) with Swiss formulated health and wellness products that are safe, pure and nutritional. I've used Arbonne's baby care line when my daughter was born and the Figure 8 nutrition and weight loss products before and have loved them! Jenny is such a kind person and truly works hard to help others.

Thanks Jenny for your support of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide (and for delivering that cleanse when I was still recovering from back surgery)!

Cooking with kids - veggie packed chicken soup

2010-02-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

Veggie-packed chicken soup and chocolate chunk banana muffins...mmm, mmm!
These and other recipes will be in our cook/coloring/keepsake book due out this spring.

Recipe for Veggie-packed Chicken Soup:

4-6 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2-4 chicken breasts, cut in 1-inch cubes
3-5 carrots chopped in small circles, shredded, or baby carrots, chopped
3-5 celery stalks chopped into bite-size pieces
8-12 small red potatoes, quartered
1 medium-sized onion

For the chicken broth, either buy 3-4 cans at the grocery or make a homemade version. For a homemade broth, take a roasted chicken carcass and put it in your slow cooker for 6-8 hours with salt, pepper, or salt-free seasonings and 2 cups water. Once it’s done, strain out the broth into a container for your soup. You can also store your broth in a freezer-safe container for later use. Dispose of the chicken carcass, and add the broth and the 2 cups of water to the slow cooker on low. Cook the chicken in a pan lightly coated with olive oil (or you can grill the chicken, then cut it up in cubes once fully cooked). Set the chicken aside. Add the vegetables to the broth along with your seasonings—we used salt-free seasonings. You don’t need much to season it…but add what your kids like (also consider allergies and low-sodium options).

Cook in the slow cooker for 6-8 hours. Check the potatoes to make sure the soup is ready; your fork should push easily through the potato. Enjoy this recipe on under-the-weather and feel-good days alike! The kids can help shred the ingredients or combine all the ingredients into the slow cooker depending on their age.

BucksMontMom.com sponsors Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide

2010-02-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

As I quickly approach the expected launch date of my first book, Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide, I am feeling the pressure to make the launch the best it can possibly be. It's extremely scary going into something new feeling completely blind. The main objective of writing and promoting this book is still first and foremost to share what a wonderful, loving and creative mother my mom was and how she helped make my days growing up fun and full of memories.

With that comes the responsibility of getting the story and the fun activities in the book the press they so truly deserve. I can't do it alone...no one could!

So I am thrilled to have the support of sponsors and business friends like Jessica Cohen, founder of www.BucksMontMom.com. Jessica signed on as one of the books' "platinum" sponsors and is extremely supportive of my mission and message. She founded bucksmontmom.com as "the essential guide for suburban moms"; a online magazine for moms developed by a mom. The pages within the site offer up a wealth of information on topics including parenting, new motherhood, books, financial planning, organizing, green living and more. If you are a suburban Philadelphia mom, or a mom who just wants to be "in the know" check out the pages of www.BucksMontMom.com; you will be glad you did.

More about the book:

Full-time mom and part-time public relations consultant, Teresa Berger will soon be publishing her first book, Mom’s Recipe & Activity Guide…for a life filled with lasting memories and simple pleasures. Inspired by her mother, Berger is on a mission to promote living simply, fun at-home activities on a budget and making memories with children.

Sponsors of Mom’s Recipe and Activity Guide are not only supporting efforts to share a very important message and spread the idea of living simpler lives, but also investing in the promotions of this book, as well as, their businesses. I’m taking the book launch and promotional efforts very seriously. It is my goal to help share amazing resources with readers of the book, and spread the word about new products and tools that many in our region and across the nation may not yet be privy to.

For more information on Mom’s Recipe and Activity Guide please visit
http://www.momsrecipeandactivityguide.blogspot.com or for sponsorship opportunities contact Teresa at info at weeBgreen.com.

Got kids bored by winter? Get them cooking.

2010-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year. The holidays are over, new toys have lost their glamour and cold-weather days are still ahead of us. This requires parents to be a little more creative when it comes to staving off the dreaded statement "I'm bored."

What can you do to keep kids entertained indoors this winter? Cook with them. Engaging kids in planning and making family meals has a host of benefits - including having someone to help with the dishes.

Cooking with your kids is beneficial for a number of reasons:

* Cooking is a bonding time.
* Cooking helps kids build self-esteem because they can see and taste the fruits of their labor.
* Kids who are involved in the cooking often become healthier eaters as adults.
* Cooking is a lifelong skill.
* Interacting with different kinds of foods teaches kids about the origin of the food and other cultures.
* Cooking teaches kids math, reading and chemistry skills.
* Kids who cook with their parents are less likely to use drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, according to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

When it comes to finding a good recipe to create with your kids, Noodles and Company, www.noodles.com, a family-friendly restaurant chain that serves some of the world's most-loved pasta dishes, has a couple of recommendations. First, start with a family favorite. Noodles and Company suggests their popular version of Spaghetti and Meatballs (recipe follows). The recipe is complex enough that kids will feel like they've accomplished something while being simple enough that they are familiar with the outcome. Plus they'll love using their hands packing and rolling the meatballs.

Once your kids have mastered more basic recipes, try something a little more challenging like Pad Thai to help kids flex their culinary muscle, while learning about other cultures. Last, don't assume that kids don't like vegetables or complex flavors. Kids who are part of the cooking process tend to be more adventurous. Before you know it, your 2-year old will be noshing on raw green peppers.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Serves four to six (about 18 to 24 meatballs).
Ingredients for marinara sauce:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 /4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons sea salt or to taste
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper or to taste
1 (32-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
1 (32-ounce) can of tomato sauce
2 dried bay leaves
1 bunch fresh basil, sliced
2 teaspoons crushed chilies
Aged parmesan or Asiago cheese

Marinara sauce preparation:

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the salt, pepper and sugar and stir. Add the wine to deglaze. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, then simmer uncovered over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Season the sauce to taste, adding the crushed chilies if you wish to have some heat.

Ingredients for the meatballs:

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
3 medium cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons half and half
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Meatball preparation:

Line a large shallow baking pan with foil and oil lightly. Combine all ingredients and shape into meatballs, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Broil the meatballs about 8 inches from the heat source for about 10 minutes. Turn and broil for 10 minutes longer so that the exterior gets seared evenly. Put the meatballs in a large saucepan and cover with marinara sauce. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes and serve over cooked spaghetti or with your favorite pasta. Garnish with fresh shaved parmesan cheese and fresh sliced basil.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Home-baked muffins and a little dance partner

2010-01-27T18:29:00.000-08:00

Elebelly and I are gearing up to bake some more Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins tomorrow. We got a boatload of bananas the other day from the market and it's time to use them up! I love it when I have time to create in the kitchen with Elebelly; which is not often...that darn "rat race" and all the "stuff" we have to do each day gets in the way. But we'll have time tomorrow; we're making time to "stop and smell the muffins" and are including our fave secret ingredient that adds a little health to anything! You'll have to leave a comment and guess what that ingredient is or wait until the book comes out in spring.

Light bulb! If you comment below and guess the secret ingredient correctly, we'll send you a copy of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide free once it's in print.

In the meantime, here's to taking time to stop and smell the roses
and dance to your favorite music!

Help Haiti Blog Challenge

2010-01-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

Since hearing of what happened in Haiti, I've had a burning desire to help but wasn't sure how. I'm joining fellow bloggers in this movement to help in some small way. I will be donating 10 cents for each comment here and 30% of all purchases from my online boutique to the efforts in Haiti for at least the next 3 months.

Below is a message written by Kelly Diels of the blog, cleavage. I'm copying it here because I feel I couldn't have said it better than her.

The Help Haiti Blog Challenge. You Can Do It. We Can Do It. Together.

Like you, I’m all torn up about Haiti.

But I haven’t said a word about it. To anyone.

There’s a reason why.

Talking Gets In The Way of Action.

I think complaining and venting can be enervating. You’ve got this uncomfortably hot issue simmering and boiling and producing steam…and then you vent. All that energy dissipates into the atmosphere. You’re comfortable again. And so you carry on.

And nothing changes.

So complaining – letting off steam – is an escape valve, and the escape is inertia. Complacency. A democracy of noisy theory and a prison of inaction.

I wore this skeptical hat during the Iran elections. We tinted our avatars green and changed our locations to Tehran while journalists and pundits and the US State Department discovered social media. OH YE GODS OF DEMOCRACY, the revolution will be Twitterized!

And yet. I’m an idealist, a believer in Democracy, and a lover of all things people. Your people are my people. My people are yours.

In this online, virtual world of ours, our people are everywhere. Our people is Haiti. And Haiti – our people – needs and deserves help right now.

I feel pretty helpless about that. What can I do? What can I really do? The magnitude of need is vast and my wallet is small.

So I’ve stewed and brewed and steamed about it – and refrained from saying a word about it, so that the pressure to do something would get so intolerable that I’d get an idea and be driven into action.

Here’s that idea, the action, and call to action.

The Help Haiti Now Blog Challenge.

In the blog-o-sphere, we talk a lot about making money: how we’re not making money, how we are, how we want to, how to, and please buy this because it will help you make money.

And we’re talking and blogging and social networking and creating products and selling services and talking and blogging and social networking and creating and you get the idea.

So, even those of us who don’t have a lot of money have something to contribute.

Ideas. Services. Products. A network of people who like you and listen to you. Influence.

Yesterday, Danielle LaPorte of White Hot Truth tweeted:

I’ll donate my full Fire Starter Session fee ($300) to Haiti causes to 1st person who books in and pays today…Please RT.

That’s smart and heartfelt. There’s a very big truth in that small tweet.

What have you got to give? YOURSELF.

That’s my challenge to myself, and to bloggers and readers and internet marketers and crafters and entrepreneurs and you.

You’ve got something to offer: whether it is an e-book, a course, a consultation, a mowed lawn, knitted booties, a tweet or an e-mailed plea to your closest friends. You have something to contribute.

Do what Danielle did, and offer a trade: your thing for cash, to donate to charity doing relief work in Haiti.

(The Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and Partners in Health are all great candidates for your donations.)

The ability to contribute is power and power is a gift. That’s a gift that you have and one you can share. Please do.

How To Join the Help Haiti Blog Challenge. What You Can DO.

Remember Gwen Bell’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge? It brought a LOT (700+) of people together. Which got me thinking…a blog challenge is a way to rally together and have a big impact through a lot of little actions.

Hence: The Help Haiti Blog Challenge. Let’s do it.

Here’s how we can share, together, so we can give, together, to our people who need and deserve help in Haiti.

Sign up for the Help Haiti Blog Challenge (below). Write about it on your blog and tag it “Help Haiti Blog Challenge“. Ask your people to join you and do the same.
Add the Help Haiti Blog Challenge badge to your blog.
Make your offer: I will donate ________ dollars to _________ on behalf of the next person who buys _________ from me.
Make your donation and tell us how much you donated.
Tweet about it using the hashtag #haitiblogchallenge. Update your facebook status with a request to pass on the message and the call to action. Send e-mails. Everywhere you are, online, talk about the Help Haiti Blog Challenge, tag it, and call your friends, family, colleagues – your people – to action.

Let’s gather our online people to help our real-life people.

You can do this. We can do this. And it will be bigger than anything we could have done alone.

Pass it on.

Our new look...book launch update

2010-01-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

“It is up to me to make a house a home, by my mood, my care, my love … and my comforting, soothing presence …” –Ellen Swain Haser.

I just wanted to share that the book blog has a new look. I was looking for something that would fit with the book theme better and since it's about living more simply, enjoying more time with our kids and "stopping to smell the roses" I thought this template would be great.

As far as the book goes it's in the editing phase and I can't wait to see how it progresses. This is my first time self-publishing so it's all very new to me. My hope is that my concepts can remain the same and it comes out with very little edits...I did have two people edit it prior to submitting to the publishing company so it should be in good shape.

More to come later...

A sneak peek at what Mom's Recipe and Activity Guide is all about

2010-01-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick taste of what you'll get when you get Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide: for a life filled with simple pleasures & lasting memories.

Whether your children are toddlers or tweens, as parents, it’s key to engage, celebrate, and connect with them every chance you get. In Mom’s Recipe & Activity Guide, new author Teresa Berger reveals fun family activities and a host of inspired, kid-crazy recipes to help parents make everyday life special for their kids. By keeping it simple, Berger does something extraordinary. For her, every day is a chance to make a memory. Even rainy days, snow days, and under-the-weather days can be filled with unforgettable magic.

In eleven engaging, easy-to-read, and well-considered chapters like “Recipes & Activities for Afterschool Chat Sessions (the Off-line Kind),” “Recipes & Activities for Museum-hopping Days,” and “Recipes & Activities for Saturdays in the Yard,” this activity guide has all the bases covered. From long car rides to sleepy Sunday afternoons, the author shows families how to make the most of each and every moment. Complimented by pictures and a moving narrative of how she and her three sisters were truly blessed to have a mother who made each day a celebration, the author ultimately creates a keepsake experience that honors the art of parenting, which if done right captures simple moments and makes them grand. From recipes like Let’s Hit the Road Granola Bars, METRO munchies, and Healing Tea & Citrus-splashed Shortbreads, kids are at the center of making, baking, and living.

Leaving nothing to chance, this remarkable debut is part cookbook, part activity guide, part memoir, part coloring book—and all family fun. Kids only get one childhood—make every bit of it count!

Book update: Creating memories in the kitch with Elebelly

2010-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Elebelly and I have had a blast in the kitchen over the last few months. She's a fab kitchen sidekick and really seems to enjoy baking with mommy. And of course the activities have been a blast too! The best part of developing this book was testing each recipe and activity!

Stay tuned for our 1st pre-sale book giveaway and more book tour deets!

Wordless Wednesday - Yummy snacks

2009-12-30T04:23:00.000-08:00

Check out just some of what we'll be including in
Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide: for a life filled with memories and simple pleasures.

And stay tuned for book tour deets, publish dates, and more! Fun stuff coming up for 2010!!

Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide - It's Cookie Time.

2009-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

It's holiday cookie time!
A couple of the recipes from our book made for the holidays:

Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide - Under the Weather Days

2009-12-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

Recently I had a cold and found myself looking back to the things my mom did with my sisters and I when we stayed home sick from school. As a mom to a young child, I try to provide the same comfort and sense of safety for my child as my mom did for me. Whether it's making homemade chicken soup or laying on the couch under a warm blanket watching a classic kids movie.

The book I wrote that will soon be published, Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide for a Life Filled with Simple Pleasures & Lasting Memories, offers up ideas for under the weather days among many others. Life is too short to not stop every now and then and create ever-lasting memories with our little ones.

Stay tuned for more recipe samples from the book, activity ideas and links, scheduled publish date and events!

Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide excerpt

2009-12-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my mother's birthday. She would have been 61.

Ironically, our book was going through the first round of edits on her birthday. This book has been in my head for over 5 years and I'm so blessed to have had the time and encouragement to write it.

In my mind this is as much her book as it is mine and Elebelly's. I thought we'd share a quick glimpse at just one of our recipes and an excerpt from the introduction today in honor of my mom. I look forward to bringing you more and the early spring publication of Mom's Recipe & Activity Guide. Stay tuned for more excerpts, videos and news.

Campfire Smores
Large marshmallows (Or try sugar-free marshmallow cream like the one listed
here, http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-FreeMarshmallow-Cream-Carb/dp
/B00020VHWS)
Dark chocolate candy bars Graham crackers Campfire roasting stick or long stick
cleaned off of course Napkins, paper towels or moist wipes

Excerpt:

My hope for this book is that it will conjure up fond memories of your own mothers and grandmothers, or help you make new memories with your kids or grandkids. I know if my mother were alive today, she’d be writing this book with me; she would have relished such a project. And for the children you’re sharing this book with, my hope is they will enjoy sharing time with family and making these recipes together. Spending simple moments together doing carefree things like making breakfast for dinner or listening to the different sounds birds make is important.

Because of the experience of watching my mother battle cancer, I have a stronger understanding and awareness of how quickly time flies and how important it is to spend precious moments with those you love because before you know it, time has slipped away. My mother was really good at appreciating each day. The quotes at the top of each page and scattered throughout this book are my mother’s (unless otherwise noted). I hope they speak to you as much as they do me. Maybe this book will help us remember that simple pleasures in life can mean the most.

Quick look at recipes from our upcoming book.

2009-12-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a preview of just some of our recipes from our upcoming book...stay tuned for more!

The book is due out in early spring of 2010!

Quick preview of recipes from Moms Recipe & Activity Guide

2009-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:00