Tempting A Tired Teen with Popcorn Cereal

May 20th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

Years ago, I’d often awake to find my bright-eyed toddler perched on my stomach, patting my cheeks or perhaps singing me awake. It seemed that no matter how late he went to bed, or how often he woke during the night, this kid was up and ready to go at an entirely uncivil hour. It’s not going to win me any parenting awards to fess up to this, but many days I resorted to popping in a DVD to entertain him while I grabbed a little more shuteye. “Thomas the Tank Engine” always seemed to do the trick.

So what happened?

Because, never mind dear old Thomas, I don’t think a locomotive would be able to wake this kid these days. As soon as he hit 13, he went from being a cheerful early riser to a grumbling, grunting zombie that I have to beg, plead, cajole and harass out of bed every morning. And that’s just to get him downstairs, where he hurls himself onto the couch and hides under a blanket.

Of course, he’s not alone. Teens are notorious for needing copious amounts sleep. The National Sleep Foundation says that teens require between 8 ½ and 9 ¼ hours of sleep at night, and—no surprise—most of them aren’t getting it. The hormones that hit during adolescence affect a teenager’s circadian rhythm, causing them to fall asleep later at night and wake later in the morning. At the same time, most of them are faced with earlier school start times as they move through middle school and high school. Some districts have even adopted later start times for high school to address the teen sleep deficit, an idea I wholeheartedly support that was, unfortunately, abandoned in our town. (more…)

Posted in: Breakfast, Kids, Recipes.
Tagged: · · · ·

Wrapping up a Workout with Cranberry Almond Popcorn Muffins

May 13th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

My husband was born with a gift: he’s absurdly coordinated. Give him a ball, a bat, a racquet or a club and he’s in his element.

Thank goodness, because with him donating half their genes, our kids have at least a fighting chance. They need him to offset my DNA, which is pretty much coded for clumsiness. I stumble over nothing, collect random bumps and bruises all day and have even broken a bone while walking around my house. And sports? Let’s just say I’m still the last kid picked.

It’s no small wonder, then, that we’re together. Through courtship and the early years of our marriage, he was always out mixing it up on some field, course or court. Not to mention his marathon bike rides and two-day hikes on the Appalachian Trail or the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado. You’d never find him inside, much less cooped up at the gym, which he deemed a spot for muscleheads and uncoordinated folks like me, who needed to sweat it out in a controlled environment. He always maintained he’d rather be out playing.

But lately, something has changed. The poor guy is falling apart. He’s got weak ankles; early signs of arthritis; and, at 6’4”, a back and neck perpetually inflamed by living in spaces designed for much shorter people. What’s worse, a round of golf can put him practically in traction, and jumping for a fly ball while coaching our son’s Little League team recently landed him in a neoprene ankle brace, hobbled for three months. (more…)

Posted in: Family, Health, Nutrition, sports.
Tagged: · · · · ·

Godspeed, Roger Ebert

May 6th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

Roger Ebert (photograph by Anne Ryan, USA Today)

The movie world lost an icon and a treasure last month with the death of Roger Ebert. There’s not much I could say about his career that hasn’t been noted over the past month: he democratized film criticism; he won a Pulitzer Prize for his reviews at the Chicago Sun-Times; he reinvented himself from newspaperman to a guru of the Internet, blogosphere and social media; and he refused to let his illness stop him from doing what he loved, reviewing films until the last week of his life.

I know I’m not alone in this, but I’ve always held Mr. Ebert in a special regard. When I was a teenager first discovering the wonder of film, I’d eagerly await every episode of “At the Movies,” the television show where he’d spar weekly with Gene Siskel, his rival critic from The Chicago Tribune. I tuned in religiously to watch movie clips and see whether a particular film garnered their trademark “thumbs up or thumbs down.” There was a particular joy in watching those two trade opinions and barbs, and many have speculated whether they really disliked one another off camera. I like to think of them as having been friendly rivals, although in my opinion, Gene Siskel could be annoying. So, for his patience, I also have to hand it to Mr. Ebert.

In many respects, Roger Ebert shaped my taste in movies. I went to college in Chicago in an era when many films were being made in and about the city: “The Untouchables,” “About Last Night,” and every film made by the late director John Hughes. It was an exciting time, and racing to grab the paper on Fridays to see what Mr. Ebert had to say about that week’s releases became a habit I maintain to this day (although now I do it on his website). While I didn’t always agree with him, he’s forever been my go-to guy for deciding whether and when I’ll check out a movie, from the smallest indie films to blockbusters.

What I loved most about Roger Ebert, though, is how much he truly loved the movies. He wasn’t a snob–he called the original “Star Wars” a masterpiece—but never shied away from blasting a bad film that wasted money and time. Mr. Ebert also believed that movies were, or at least should be, made-to-be-seen on the big screen in theaters. He understood, in his blood, how transformational the experience of movie going itself could be, and why it could never be replicated at home in the living room, no matter how big our flat screens get. As a busy mom who often finds refuge and renewal alone in a dark theater, I applaud that view heartily.

So thank you, Mr. Ebert, for sharing your life, your work, and your passion with all of us. You will be greatly missed. Godspeed.

Check out Roger Ebert’s compilation of The Great Movies. We’d love to hear which are your favorites.

Posted in: Movies, Uncategorized.
Tagged: · · · · ·

Maize: Staple of the Americas

May 3rd, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

from www.popcorn.org

Holidays like Cinco de Mayo whet the appetite for flavors south of the border. Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines are typically knows for bold and blood-pumping ingredients. And while other cultures may use rice, potatoes or pasta as the base for meal making, Mexican cuisine is based in corn, or maize, and features a wide range of corn products (tamales, tortillas, tacos).

Maize is native to the Americas. It is a cereal grain that has been part of American culture for centuries. Maize varieties were grown throughout the pre-Columbian Americas, domesticated in Mesoamerica and eventually spread to the rest of the world after European contact with the Americas in the late 15th century and early 16th century. Some of the oldest examples of maize, including a primitive type of pod-popcorn, were found in the Bat Caves of west central New Mexico and in the Tehuacan Valley of central Mexico. Pods at various sites were found to be some 4,000 to 7,000 years old.

In South America people valued their popcorn enough to be buried with it. Bowls or bags filled with popcorn were often found in burial grounds of ancient people of the coastal deserts of North Chile. The kernels were so well preserved they still popped even though they were 1,000 years old. Talk about shelf life!

Apart from food, sixteenth century Aztec Indians used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornamentation. Young women danced a “popcorn dance” and wore garlands of popcorn in their hair.

If you’re looking for an indigenous taste of the old, old “South” try this recipe for Chili Lime Popcorn. Popcorn pays homage to its birthplace with this simple recipe that combines a splash of lime juice with a dash of chili powder for a snack that shouts Viva Mexico!

Chili Lime Popcorn
Makes: 1 quart

Ingredients
1 quart popped popcorn
1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast powder (or nutritional yeast; available in health food stores)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 300° F. Spread popcorn on a baking sheet. Sprinkle yeast powder, lime juice, chili powder and salt over popcorn. Heat about 7 minutes and toss just before serving. Serve warm.

Posted in: Culture, Holidays, Recipes, Spring.
Tagged: · · · ·

Spicy pre-Prom Popcorn Party!

Apr 30th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

from www.Popcorn.org

Prom is one of the season’s biggest rites of passage for teens and it’s only a few weeks away. Now is the time to work on fancy dance moves with a pre-prom party. Let your kids invite their best pals over for a night of in-house clubbing and fun – light show and fog machine optional! Whether they’re into techno, re-mix, house, club or pop, they’ll need plenty of energy for the big night ahead. Pop up a big bowl of Spicy Italian Popcorn (recipe below) for a welcome tasty treat before – or after – tearing up the dance floor! You’ll keep your teens interested and safe, and they’ll have fun too!

Take the fun a step further with a creative, hands-on activity. After explaining to these tender youngsters what a vinyl LP is, invite them to melt a few of yours! What took hours to musically create will take only seconds to undo as they reshape the likes of Chicago and Beatles record albums into interesting bowls in which to place their popcorn goodies (see directions below) (more…)

Posted in: crafts, Kids, parties, Recipes.
Tagged: · · · · · ·

Yogurt Covered Popcorn? No Whey!

Apr 23rd, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

from www.popcorn.org

Water buffaloes, yaks, goats, mares, cows and even soybeans make it. You can eat it, sip it like a soup, or drink it as a drink. It’s yogurt – beloved by dieters and made famous by happy, bearded nomads living past the ripe age of 100. Yogurt made its appearance on American shelves in the mid 20th century, but it’s been around for thousands of years and is a staple in diets around the globe, including our own. Walk into the most remote of gas stations in the smallest of communities and you’ll find a container or two of this creamy concoction.

Many cultures claim yogurt as their own and each has a special recipe variation. It’s curious to think of how the first yogurt came into being. Who was that daring young herdsman carrying dairy in his goatskin bag on a warm summer’s day, suddenly deciding to give his soured milk a try? And would you be brave enough to try anything you thought had turned a biological corner?

Thankfully, someone did and now we get to benefit from the experience. Many yogurts contain live bacterial cultures that break down the milk sugar (lactose) to produce lactic acid, which gives it its refreshingly tart flavor. Breaking down the lactose is good news for lactose intolerant people, many of whom are able to eat yogurt without ill effect. Your body needs a certain amount of good bacteria to keep the body healthy and some yogurts contain these bacteria. (more…)

Posted in: Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Snacks, sweet snacks.
Tagged: · · · ·

A Popcorn Party Cake for Girls and Dolls

Apr 16th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

My baby girl is turning nine next month, and for her birthday I’m buying her a doll.

It will be her fourth 18-inch doll. Over the past few years, she’s collected one that looks like her; a second that’s a historical character; and a third from a tag sale (who looks better than new because we sent her to the doll hospital for head reattachment after an unfortunate incident one Saturday). The dolls are outrageously overpriced, but I’ve shelled out for them; their companion books; their clothing and accessories; matching outfits for my daughter; and even trips to the doll megastore for doll lunches.

I’m a sucker. I admit it. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

I realize no child needs pricey dolls, much less four of them. But dolls serve an important purpose. For girls—and boys!—doll play provides an opportunity develop empathy and nurturing and serves as an outlet for creativity. Older children can use dolls to work through social situations and develop positive role models. (more…)

Posted in: entertaining, Kids, Recipes, Special Events, sweet snacks.
Tagged: · · · ·

A Tasty Treatment for the Common Cold

Apr 8th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

I felt it coming. I could have told you it was inevitable.

It started late Saturday night with an annoying little tickle in my throat. I ignored it and soldiered on, but I knew. Two days later, it’s here in full force: a stuffed head, body aches, can’t breathe, making-me-miserable cold.

Of course, I blame my husband. He’s the one that delivered this particular germ into our lives a week ago. Typically, when he’s sick, I seek refuge in one of the kids’ rooms. This round, however, I foolishly held my ground. As a result, I got kept awake night after night by his hacking cough, snoring and pacing. I realize I sound dreadfully unsympathetic, but on top of being sick, I’m sleep deprived.

Anyway, he’s cheerfully on the mend while I’m woefully circling the drain. And as everybody knows, there’s no “cure” for the common cold. I’ve had colds hang on as long as two weeks. Ask any mom if she can take two weeks off to nurse a cold. Ha! (more…)

Posted in: Health, Recipes, Spice.
Tagged: · · · · ·

Taking The Bite out of Tax Time

Apr 4th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

Are you grouchy at tax time?

When I was a kid, my grandfather commandeered the dining room table from mid-February on, scowling and sifting through drifts of receipts to prepare for his annual accountant visit. Same with my own parents. I could never understand what the big deal was with all the drudgery. Weren’t they paying somebody to do this?

Now, of course, I know. Even if somebody else prepares your taxes, there’s a ton of work beforehand. And at the end, you’re still handing over a sizeable chunk of change to Uncle Sam and (most likely) your particular state. Big sigh.

But this year, I’m turning things around. Yup, I’ll still be paying taxes. But I’m taking a moment to count a few of my tax-related blessings:

  • My three favorite deductions. They’re 14, 11 and 8, growing strong and eating us out of house and home. Thank goodness we can claim them.
  • Our jobs. I feel fortunate that my husband and I have income to pay taxes on when so many don’t. I am also comforted knowing we can–and have–gotten by on less when necessary.
  • Our house. I’m grateful that we’re settled in our “forever” home—and that we can deduct the mortgage interest along the way.
  • Public education. Our family benefits enormously from the public school system. From early childhood intervention to specialized academic and music programs, our children enjoy incredible opportunities that are forever enriching their lives.
  • Libraries. Public libraries are treasures, and yet one more reason to thank Ben Franklin, who coined the idea. Even in the digital age, libraries remain essential resources for information and media; community gathering places; and even, as was the case the recent hurricane, virtual offices and shelters.
  • My refund. I’m embarrassed to admit that I over-withhold. Tax experts, including our accountant, lecture that it’s financial foolery do this…that I’m giving the government an interest free loan. But other tax pros agree with my strategy. This forced savings gives us a little cushion in the budget to take a family vacation or maybe even invest in some energy-efficient home improvements (that we can deduct next year!)

I’ll try to keep all of the above in mind as I buckle down to prep my taxes this weekend. But in case my attitude tanks, I’ve got a comfy chair, a library book (thanks, Mr. Franklin!) and a yummy snack waiting to recharge me. I’ll make a pot of tea and refuel with these tasty Blueberry and Pomegranate Power bars. Made with budget-friendly popcorn (just pennies a serving!) and packed with chocolate and fruity deliciousness, these bars are certain to power me through my blizzard of paperwork. They may not get me a bigger refund, but they’ll put a smile back on my face. And at tax time, that’s more than enough.

We’d love to hear from you…what’s the most outrageous or exciting thing you’ve ever done with a tax refund?

Blueberry & Pomegranate Power Bars
Yield: 12 bars

Ingredients
• 8 cups popped popcorn
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup dried blueberries
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 cup whole natural almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

Directions
1. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine popcorn, oats, blueberries, pomegranate seeds and almonds in large bowl.
3. Combine honey, brown sugar and butter in small saucepan; cook over low heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Pour over popcorn mixture and mix thoroughly.
4. Using damp hands, press mixture firmly into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Cut into 12 bars.
5. Dip bottoms of bars into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper lined pan; refrigerate until ready to serve. Store in tight covered container in refrigerator.

Posted in: Money Saving, Recipes, Snacks.
Tagged: · · · · · ·

Welcoming Spring with an Easter Egg-stravaganza

Mar 25th, 2013
by Wendy.
No comments yet
Share

by Nicole

After a long and punishing winter, Spring can’t come soon enough for me. And nothing helps me shake off the gray-sky blues like decorating for Easter.

As a child, my fondness for Easter was overshadowed by my near-fanatic adoration of Christmas. After all, it’s hard to compete with Santa, trees, mangers, elves and presents. Over the years, however, I’ve come to love Easter every bit as much. Not only do I appreciate its profound spiritual significance, but I also welcome all the totems and symbols associated with the holiday, many of which also signify the coming of Spring.

Some of these—hot cross buns, the pure white of the Easter lily—have visible roots in the Easter story. Eggs, which in the Easter tradition represent new life, were adapted by early Christians from pagan celebrations of the vernal equinox, in which they served as powerful symbols of fertility. Other traditions, including the Easter Bunny himself, arrived in the New World with European settlers.

So whether it’s Easter season, Spring fever or a reaction to being cooped up in the house for months, I’ve pulled out all the stops. My house looks like an Easter parade. I’ve got bunnies of all shapes and sizes perched on every available surface; a flock of ceramic chicks marching across the mantel; bouquets of flowers; and, of course, dozens of eggs. I have delicate china eggs on my dining room table; baskets of painted wooden eggs in my family room; and even a wicker “Easter tree” adorned with brightly colored mini-eggs. (more…)

Posted in: crafts, Holidays, Kids, Recipes, Spring.
Tagged: · · · · ·

← Earlier Posts