Chocolate Chip Day

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By Chef Diane

In the small town where I live, there was once a restaurant called the Annex Tea Room.  It was a wonderful little place where you could go for lunch with the girls, have parties, or even pick up something to go.  When I got married, some friends hosted a wedding shower there for me.  One of their specialties was Chicken Salad.  The owner of the restaurant passed away, and since that time, many different businesses have passed though that building, but the memories of that wonderful place with the delicious food and friendly people will last forever.  One of the most famous recipes from her restaurant was the Chocolate Chip Cake.  She was gracious enough to share the recipe with my church.  We were selling chicken dinners to raise money for our Youth's summer trip, and that cake was included in the dinner.  I don’t know if more dinners were sold because of the youth, or because of the cake.

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Today is Chocolate Chip Day.  There are many ways to celebrate.  You can make chocolate chip cookies, have some chocolate chip ice cream, and even make pancakes with chocolate chips, which happen to be one of my grandson's favorite.  Chocolate chips are great when you just want a taste of something chocolate.  You can add them to peanut butter cookies, oatmeal cookies or just make regular chocolate chip cookies.  You can add them to brownies or as a topping on pies.  So...you have no excuse not to try some chocolate chips today.  As a special treat, I am including the special Chocolate Chip Cake recipe from the Annex Tea Room, I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

Yummmm!

Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients

1 box Duncan Hines Yellow Butter Cake Mix

1 small box milk chocolate instant pudding

1 8 ounce carton sour cream

1/4 cup water

1 cup Wesson oil

4 eggs

Beat all together, at 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped pecans.  Grease and flour large sheet cake pan or a 3 quart Pyrex dish.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  Spread icing over cake and cut into squares

Chocolate Icing

Ingredients

1 stick butter

2 TBSP cocoa

5 to 6 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp vanilla

Bring to a rolling boil.  Add 1 box powdered sugar and beat until ready to spread.

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National Watermelon Day

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By Diane Forrest

You know its summertime when you see those big watermelons hit the tables.   There is nothing better than diving in to an ice cold slice and feeling the sweet juice dripping down your chin and fingers.  After all they are 90 to 92 % water.  Then holding the seeds in your mouth to spit them out for a seed spitting contest to see how far you can make them fly.

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Watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt and is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics on walls of their ancient buildings. Watermelons were often placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife.

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From there, watermelons spread throughout countries along the Mediterranean Sea by way of merchant ships. By the 10th century, watermelon found its way to China, which is now the world's number one producer of watermelons.

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The 13th century found watermelon spread through the rest of Europe via the Moors.

Southern food historian, John Egerton, believes watermelon made its way to the United States with African slaves as he states in his book, "Southern Food."

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The United States currently ranks fourth in worldwide production of watermelon. Forty-four states grow watermelons with Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and Arizona consistently leading the country in production.

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Today is National Watermelon Day.  It’s the perfect time to ice one down and slice it up.  Here are some fun facts about Watermelons:

• The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
• Watermelon is 92% water.
• Watermelon's official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
• By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
• Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
• The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

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In 1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN grew the largest watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record books (1998 ed. Guinness Book of World Records).

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month - Update

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By Terry Orr

“Eighty-six percent of kids start school without ever having had a professional eye examination. Eighty percent of learning is through vision, yet eye examinations are not mandatory before starting school”. (Source: American Optometric Association (AOA) 2009 report)

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The AOA recommends that babies have their first professional eye examination at or by 6 months, even if their vision seems normal. Parents and caregivers are advised to follow the "1-3-5 Rule" of professional eye examinations. By age 1, a child should have had his first eye exam by an optometrist. The second should occur at age 3, followed by a third exam around age 5, or before starting school.

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Makes sense folks!  We take our children to their pediatric and dentist doctors on a regular scheduled basis – taking them to the eye doctor should also be included as matter of normal routine. (I also recommend including a hearing doctor.)

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Those numbers listed above caused me to step back, read them once again and I am still shocked that parents are not taking their children for a professional eye exam before entering school. 

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Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of proper eye care for youths. When in doubt, the best thing you can do for your child is to get a comprehensive eye exam from an eye professional.  Take a few minutes, schedule that appointment for your kids!!

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Links:

http://www.preventblindness.org/eye-health-safety

http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-is-childrens-eye-health-and.html

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World Breastfeeding Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

Recently there was a picture of two military mother’s breastfeeding their children in uniform.  This picture stirred up alot of attention on the web.  The question was, should they be photographed in uniform breastfeeding?  There were many opinions floating about.  Some say breastfeeding is a natural thing, some say it wasn't proper to be photographed in uniform, and there are others who say, breastfeeding should be done in private, or covered up.  The one thing that most can agree on is that breastfeeding is best for the infant.  It provides the proper nutrients, antibodies, it’s at the proper temperature, and is always available.

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This week is World Breastfeeding Week.  The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed in 1991 to act on the Innocent Declaration (1990) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. As part of its action plan to facilitate and strengthen social mobilization for breastfeeding, WABA envisioned a global unifying breastfeeding promotion strategy. A day dedicated to breastfeeding was suggested to be marked in the calendar of international events. The idea of a day's celebration was later turned into a week.

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The first World Breastfeeding Week campaign on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched on 1 August 1992 to commemorate the adoption of the Innocent Declaration. WABA organizes WBW every year from 1 - 7 August as an opportunity for groups worldwide to take specific actions that will raise public awareness about breastfeeding and reap support for it.

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This year celebrates 20 years since the start of WABA.  Some of the things that will be going on this week is looking back, to see how much the organization has grown and how much education they have provided to mothers and others to eliminate the stigma of breastfeeding.   They also want to continue education the public on the positive aspects of breastfeeding.  To learn what you can do and how you can help...visit this site:  http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

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Respect for Parents - Update

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By Terry Orr

Respect:

• a particular, detail, or point (usually preceded by in ): to differ in some respect.
• relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.
• esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.
• deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.
• the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

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The 5^th Commandment:

King James Version: Honour thy father and thy mother

English Standard Version: Honor your father and your mother

New Living Translation: Honor your father and mother

I have always considered the Ten Commandment a fairly good guideline for people to follow.

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I also believe that one earns respect – it is not something given without cause.  Children learn by observing others – therefore, parents need to set the example and show respect for others and their children.

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One thing most parents agree on when it comes to parenting is that they want to teach their children to become respectful, polite and kind to others. Nothing makes a parent as proud as knowing you taught your child respect for other people. While most parents agree that this is important, many feel lost when it comes to teaching children this behavior. Teaching respect to a child is teaching them to become self-confident, mature and responsible. Respecting others' rights also teaches your child important core values that they will use throughout their lives.

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Read more: How to Help Children to Respect the Rights of Others | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_11367796_children-respect-rights-others.html#ixzz21vz4eUc8

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