HELP HAITI

The recent earthquake in Haiti has left countless people homeless, injured and hungry. I urge you to please donate whatever it is you can to your local Red Cross, or any other center that is collecting water, food, medicine, diapers, etc. Many local tv and radio stations are receiving goods. Check for any center in your area in which you can help. If every single person could give just a little, for Haiti it would mean a lot. Take your children with you when you donate, this will help them see that in today´s world we all need to help each other during hard times. Take this opportunity to mark in them the joy of helping others when you can. We have all been touched by tragedy near our homes one time or another, from 9/11 to hurricane Katrina, we have seen disasters up close, now, just take a moment to think that this time, it happened to the poorest country in Latin America. They need our help. Don´t miss this opportunity to lend a helping hand. Donate today. Thank you!

DAILY RECIPE: Ham Spaghetti Rolls

10 thin slices of ham
3 cups cooked spaghetti
1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
salt and pepper
oil
grated Mozzarella cheese

Pour a tablespoon of oil into heated pan. Sautée onion and bell pepper. Add spaghetti and toss well. Place spaghetti on ham and roll up. Place in a glass oven pan. Continue this with all slices of ham. Top with cheese and heat until cheese is melted, but NOT browned. Serve immediately.

TIP OF THE DAY

Put left over candy from birthday parties in a jar. This way you won´t have candy in unwanted places!

ARTICLE: Turning healthy food into quick snacks for kids!

Obesity and children being overweight is a big problem in today´s society. I believe that this is the result of the busy lives we all live today, it´s much easier to grab quick processed food than to prepare a healthy meal. However, here are some ideas to make it easier on you to give your children healthy food without making you go crazy!

• Right after returning from the grocery store, slice fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, mango) and place in individual tupperwares in the fridge. Easy and accesible for children by just grabbing a fork.
• Place apples in a bowl in the kitchen counter. Older children can grab one as they go by. You can take one and quickly slice it for younger ones.
• Fill small sandwich ziploc bags with plain cheerios, almonds or plain corn flakes. Put them in a box inside the pantry. Show children how they can open up a bag to munch on for a snack.
• Peel and slice cucumber. Place in a tupperware in the refrigerator. Squeeze a lemon and sprinkle a bit of low sodium salt. Great snack!
• Buy plain yoghurt and offer it to your children with granola mix.
• While making dinner, prepare a box of jell-o and pour into individual cups.

DAILY RECIPE: Easiest Cream Cheese Frosting!

1 large cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 can condensed milk

Beat cream cheese until softened. Add vanilla extract and condensed milk and beat well until desired consistency. Perfect for chocolate and carrot cakes!

TIP OF THE DAY

Always put your computer or laptop in the family room or next to the kitchen so you can keep a close eye on what your children are surfing through in the internet. Another plus? You can give a quick check on emails while working in the kitchen!

DAILY RECIPE: Healthy Kid Pizza!

3 English muffins

Olive oil

2 small tomatoes

Salt and pepper

2 zuchinni

2 carrots

1 small squash or eggplant

1 cup Mozzarella cheese (grated)

Slice the english muffins into two halves horizontally. Place in oven pan. Drizzle with olive oil. In a shallow pan heat a little olive oil, add blended tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Spread over muffins. In the same tomato pan, pour a little oil and cook diced vegetables, seasoning well. Divide onto english muffins. Sprinkle cheese and bake in 400° F oven until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Enjoy!

TIP OF THE DAY

When measuring vegetable oil in a glass measuring cup, spray it first with cooking spray (Pam). Oil will pour much easier and will not remain in the cup.

DAILY RECIPE: Lentil Soup

1 cup lentils

4 cups water

1 potato

salt, pepper, garlic powder

5 strips bacon

2 tablespoons chopped onion

oil

1 tomato

Cook lentils in water with a little bit of salt. When tender, set aside. In a large pot heat oil and sauteé chopped bacon and onion. Add lentils with the water you cooked them in. Peel and dice potato and add to soup. Blend tomato with a little water and seasoning and add. Cook well. Check for seasoning once more and serve hot.

TIP OF THE DAY

Oil fell on your clothes while cooking? Sprinkle salt on top of the stain right away. It will absorb the oil and make it easier to wash later.