Working Mom's Recipe of the Week

Quick Whole-Wheat Corn Bread Muffins

Makes 6 Muffins

Time = 30 min

Ingredients

2/3 c whole wheat flour

1/3 c corn flour

1/4 c cornmeal, medium grind

2 Tbs sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

3/4 c milk

1 T melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F. In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients. Stir in egg, milk and butter. Fill lined muffin tins 3/4 full of mixture. Bake for about 15 min or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of one muffin comes out clean. Cool for 10 min before serving.

Options - Add fresh chopped chives or a cup of drained canned corn or 1/2 c finely chopped green pepper.

cityMamas – next meeting is September 8th

Welcome Fall and Back to School

We will have some informal discussion related to summer and start of school.

Then Jen Barth from 1oregonmom and Mom Congress member will speak about her experience at the Mom Congress. She will also share efforts and programs she is working on here in Portland.

Mom Congress: http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress
Jen’s blog, 1 Oregon Mom: http://www.1oregonmom.org

Thursday, September 8th
12:00 – 1:30
Blazed Alder Room, 3rd Floor
Portland Building

Food Preservation 101 Presentation

Follow this link to see the Food Preservation 101 presentation that was given on August 24, 2011.

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dc4fxhnd_18dng6pgdh&interval=10&autoStart=true

meeting preview - summer and fall 2011

Wednesday, August 24, noon - 1:00 in PDX Bldg Auditorium
cityMamas are partnering with PDC and Water Bureau Green Teams on a food preservation presentation. Will be similar the one we have last June, but if you missed it, come on down. There will be treats.

Thursday, September 8: Welcome fall/Back to school edition.
How was your summer? And how goes school prep/start of school?

Jen Barth from 1oregonmom and Mom Congress member. http://www.1oregonmom.org/

Thursday, October 13: Let’s get organized!
Beth Giles, Professional Organizer/Senior Move Manager with NW Organizing Solutions
www.nworganizingsolutions.com

Thursday, November 10 (note this is a PPS no school this year): TBA. Probably Technology and the modern family. Plus, sponsor a family.

Thursday, December 8: lunch and sponsor a family.

Working Mom's Recipe of the Week

This is an easy dish that makes enough for 2 meals. I was skeptical that my daughter would like it, but she declared this to be a "great dinner". Enjoy.

Ragu Bolognese

Servings = 8

Time = 30 min

Ingredients

Olive Oil

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)

1/2 c dry white wine or chicken broth

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 can diced tomatoes

1/2 c milk

1/2 lb spaghetti

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add beef/turkey and cook until done. Add wine, onion, carrot, celery, oregano, salt and pepper - simmer until liquid is almost all evaporated. Stir in tomatoes, with juices, and milk. Reduce heat and simmer while you cook the spaghetti. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add spaghetti. Cook to al dente then drain. Add spaghetti to skillet and mix well. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with a side salad.

Practical Parenting notes

Notes from our May mtg, with guest speaker Tracey Johnson of Practical Parenting

Practical parenting is on FB - Like it!

Tracey is the mother of two children, an 8 year old and 5 year old, one biological and one adoptive

Here are rough notes from her talk on talking with kids about sex:

• self concept and self confidence are essential for a child/person to feel at peace with themselves
• name all the parts of your body without "funny" names - makes it less weird, inculcate your kids to sexual abuse, reduce vulnerability by having language to talk about it
• perpetrators pick kids who aren't comfortable with their bodies or lack self esteem/confidence...they test until they think they won't tell an adult, it's the kid who doesn't know enough/better who gets abused
• explain what private means - just for you - parts are permanent
• discussed prudeness/discomfort level of others - parents set their own personal/cultural boundaries for what is acceptable - there is no "right" level of exposure nudity
• share birth stories - child thought all moms had to be "sewn up" since their mom had a c-section - talk about it from the get go - book called "it's not the stork"
• don't dodge questions - kids who can understand aren't too young to learn - rather fumble with a two year old than get blushy with a two year old - be matter of fact "does it hurt? yes!" we were built to fit together like a puzzle
• 8 1/2 yo is suddenly grossed out by parents kissing - totally normal
• discussed media influence - once you tween/teens are on FB, make sure to friend them and post/check-in regularly - others with moderate themselves if a parent is paying attention
• kids are very curious about different families
• kids learn self concept about age 3 - start to play more gender specific roles/play ask questions to explore and differentiate - one daughter was a total princess at age 7 and a year later she's a total tom boy who has "banned pink"
• they are just figuring out who they want to be - indulge them to some degree
• sex play is normal, playing doctor is OK as long as the kids are the same age - track/engage closely - mitigate if needed, explain that you don't share private parts - ask them to get clothes back on to talk some more, answer their question (maybe read a book) - set limits for future play
• one parent shared how their 6yo son one minute doesn't want them to look at his penis and then five minutes later is jumping around naked, there is a new awareness
• is bathing together OK? Yes, usually they start to want their own privacy and there is no need to set any age limit, just a simple policy of no touching private parts
• use bath time as a small conservation about what OK with private parts - kids don't bathe with other adults

Stranger danger:

• make plans together for what happens if you loose each other
• ask kids to find women in the store (much less likely to abuse) or a mommy with kids
• have kids ask for their own stickers at the checkout line - if they are too shy to ask for a sticker, they won't be comfortable asking for help
• most dogs are friendly, but always ask the owner first
• explain that some grown ups don't know the rules about kids and how to keep them safe - if an adult ever makes you feel unsafe, tell me immediately
• sometimes it's just a funny feeling - it's important to listen to your body and let me know
• don't leave with another adult - a trust worthy adult would call me
• doctors are OK - they are a safe place
• recommended book - protecting the gift
• don't get in a car or go home or get off the bus
• just because you've met them before, doesn't mean it's OK - there is only a small circle of friends who it's OK, and they would call mommy/daddy
• sleep overs - review safety rules, don't climb out windows, no knives, private parts - no touching, more details as they get older - even when it get embarrassing (maybe for both of you)
• playgrounds - kids will let their guard down because it feels like a safe zone
• no one should make it scary - you know your kids
• set boundaries - make them earn your trust to gain responsibility
• 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused, 1 in 7 boys - 70% is from within family or acquaintances
• the long term impact of abuse is HUGE and deep
• make kids comfortable with their bodies early - more likely to have positive adult sexual relationships
• define stranger - someone mom and dad doesn't know
• strangers are like dogs - you can't tell until you are introduced, and it's important that parents are with you when you meet them
• different cultures have different views - explain/discuss them as they arise
• when is OK to let your child walk to school? - as with all parenting, you set your limits and decide your personal/family boundaries
• cell phone - limit access, lots of pros and cons, convenience and safety at a point, creates a much bigger world - kids don't look at each other...they are on their "phones"
• media - keep them gently aware, help them make choices
• limiting screen time makes them less vulnerable
• comfortable and confident kids make happy and safe kids

Working Mom's Recipe of the Week

Tandori Chicken

Servings = 4

Ingredients

1 small container plain yogurt

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp curry powder

1 Tbsp paprika

1 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp sugar

4 chicken breasts

Directions

In the morning before work ... In a small bowl, mix yogurt, ginger, curry, paprika, garlic salt, cinnamon, pepper and sugar. Spoon into a large ziplock bag. Place the chicken breasts in the bag and seal it while removing as much air as possible. Massage the chicken until completely coated. Place bag in fridge until after work.

Preheat oven to 425 F. Place chicken breasts on a roasting pan sprayed with olive oil. Discard the bag. Back 25 minutes or until done through.

Notes: I like to serve this with jasmine rice and steamed green beans. You can cook both while the chicken is roasting.