Recipes/Nutrition

RENEE'S PUMPKIN ROLL UP

--CAKE--
1 C of sugar
2/3 C of cooked pumpkin
3/4 C flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 eggs
1/2 C powdered sugar

--FILLING--
1 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 T butter
8 oz. cream cheese

-Cake:
Combine cake ingredients, except powdered sugar, mix well. Cover a 12" x 15" cookie sheet with waxed paper and pour cake mix on top. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle 1/2 cup powdered sugar onto a towel. Flip cake over onto sugared towel. Remove waxed paper and roll cake up in towel. Unroll cake when cool.

-Filling:
Mix filling ingredients. Spread evenly onto unrolled cake. Reroll. Top with powdered sugar. Serve chilled.
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--Spinach Salad--

-Dressing Salad-
1 Lemon
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon poppy seeds

-Salad-
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups stawberries
1/2 med cucumber sliced and cut in half
1/4 sm red onion sliced into thin wedges
1 pkg - 6oz baby spinach

-Directions-
1. For Dressing zest lemon. measure 1/2 teaspoon. Juice lemon measure 2 tablespoons. Combine zest, juice, sugar,oil,and poppy seeds. Whisk until well blended. Cover, refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Preheat oven to 350. Place almonds in a single layer on pan and toast fro 10-12 min or until lightly toasted. remove from oven and cool.
3. Meanwhile hull strawberries, cut into quarters. Cut the cucumber in half remove seeds. slice. Cut red onion into thin wedges.
4. Place spinach in large serving bowl. add strawberries, cucumber, onion. Whisk dressing; pour over salad. gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately.

10 servings

You definitely want to serve right away. If the dressing is on to long it will make the spinach soggy.

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--5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE--

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

--Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.>
--Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
--EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
--And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

**Gift idea:
--Buy a mug or order a personalized one with your children's picture on it from walmart or kodakgallery.com
--Make the cake in a mug and attach the recipe to the handle
*You can bake any kind cake mix in a mug in the microwave, mix 1/2 a package of any flavor cake mix with 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 egg and 8oz of sour cream. Cook in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes...or substitute the sour cream with 1/2 a can of pie filling to make interesting combinations
--Variations:
* Yellow cake mix with pumpkin pie filling
* Spice cake mix with apple pie filling
* White cake mix with blueberry pie filling
* Devil's food cake mix with cherry pie filling
This should be enough for 3 or more mugs


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!Good Foods Good For You!

--Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research show that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

--Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

--Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

--Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary gland of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

--Onions look the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash (the paper got cut off after this)

--A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

--Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

--A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or fold on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

--Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like human kidneys.

--Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These food replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

You can look up the food and look at the inside to get a better idea. Just thought I'd share.

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!Foods from a Nutrionist!

*Proteins- all natural peanut butter, beans (kidney, pinto, black non-fat refried beans), canned chicken, canned salmon, canned tuna, clams, oysters, cod, eggs, egg whites, haddack, flounder, pallock, lamb (chops, roast), lean ground sirloin, lean ham, low/nonfat cheses, low/nonfat cottage cheese, low/nonfat milk, lean canadian bacon, lowfat yogurt, most nuts, orange roughly, pork tenderloin, protein bars, protein shakes, salmon, shrimp, lobster, crab, skinless chicken breast, soy products/tofu, swordfish, top round steak, top round sirloin, trail mix (high calorie), tuna, tuna steaks, veal, and veggie burgers

*Carbohydrates- 1/2 multigrain bagel, 100% fruit juices, apple sauce (all natural), apples, baked potato, banana, blueberries, dried fruit, whole wheat english muffins, fruit salad (no sugar added), graham crackers, cherries, lowfat flour tortilla, lowfat granola bars, mango, melon, nutrigrain bar, oatmeal (non-instant), oranges, wholegrain pasta, pasta salad, pears, whole grain pita bread, nectarin, tangerine, strawberries, sweet potatoe, whole grain bread, whole grain cereal, whole grain crackers, whole grain pancakes, whole grain/long grain rice, yams

*Vegetables- asparagus, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, green leaf salads, green peppers, lettuce, onion, peas peppers, pumpkin, radishes, spanich, spinach salads, squach, tomatoes, zucchini

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Avoid the large traditional meal schedule
• Eat based on the activity level in the next three hours. High activity, more calories
• Never skip a meal
• To lose weight is simple, eat less calories than your body uses
• Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, include between meal snacks. Try to eat something every three hours or so, this prevents heavy mean bingeing
• Avoid eating before bed, the last calories consumed should be two hours before
• Reduce daily calorie intake by 250-500 calories only. Crash deiting does not work!
• Reduce carbohydrates and increase protein in meals, both animal and vegetable
  Carbohydrates should consist of foods with low Glycemic Index (GI) ratings, Use the GI to select carbohydrates for meals
• Reduce portion size. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLEAN YOUR PLATE!
• Drink plenty of water!
• Eat salads with dressing on the side, most dressings are very fattening
• Substitue mustard for mayonnaise
• Subtract 2 calories per pound of body weight from your daily calorie intake
• Increase calorie intake TWO days per week by 2 calories per pound of body weight, to ensure the you're getting enough calries to put on lean muscles.

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!The 10 Healthiest Foods to Eat!

1. Berries

Berries are extremely rich in antioxidants which help protect the cells in our bodies from damage and therefore from diseases like cancer. Among other things they are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and soluble fiber. Blueberries might help reverse the short term memory loss that often comes with aging.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli (and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage) helps fight cancer, especially breast, colon and lung. It boosts the immune system. Broccoli also contains antioxidants and a substance called sulforaphane, which research is showing to be a powerful cancer fighter and preventer.

3. Citrus Fruits

The citrus bioflavanoids in oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit have anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. Many of these citrus bioflavanoids have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and blood clot inhibiting abilities.

4. Garlic

Numerous studies have shown that regular consumption of garlic can lower our blood pressure. It also prevents the blood from being overly sticky and decreases LDL cholesterol (the "bad" one) while increasing the good HDL cholesterol.

5. Nuts

Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a special type of fat that is essential for our bodies, but that the body cannot produce. Omega-3 essential fatty acids protect us against heart disease.Almonds are also known for their ability to help lower LDL cholesterol levels.

6. Oats

Oats also help reduce cholesterol. Research shows that one bowl of oatmeal per day can reduce cholesterol by up to 23%. Oats are also considered an excellent grain for diabetics as they have less impact on blood sugar levels than some other grains.

7. Salmon

The Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and other fatty fish may help prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the body's rate of blood clotting.

8. Spinach

Spinach's secret weapon, lutein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly.

9. Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain high levels of lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and as such helps to protect the cells in our bodies from damage.

10. Turkey

Turkey is one of the leanest protein foods and is low in calories, making it an excellent healthy food choice. Turkey also contains selenium which has been shown to inhibit cancer development, improve the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of our thyroid hormone.

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--Crock Pot Meals--

-Crock Pot-
4 boneless pork chops
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 can chicken broth
2 tbsp oil

Heat oil in skillet, combine dry ingredients and dredge pork chops in it. Brown about 5 minutes on each side in skillet. Mix the remaining dry mixture with chicken broth in crock pot. Add pork chops and cook on high 2 to 2 1/2 hrs. I usually serve with mashed potatoes and green beans or carrots.

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--POT ROAST--

1 pot roast
1 can of reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 package of Lipton onion soup mix

Fill soup can 3/4 of the way with water and pour over top of the meat and soups. This will help make the gravy.
Thats it!!!!! I usually put it in on low from about 8am til 5pm...Comes out yummy and falling apart.
I usually serve a wild rice and veggies with it.

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--CHERRY CHAI CHICKEN--
2 1/2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 cup frozen pitted cherry
1 chopped onion
2 chai tea teabags
1/2 cup cherry preserves
1/2 cup port wine
hot cooked egg noodles

-Directions-
Preheat broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside. Trim fat from chicken. Place chicken thighs, skin sides up, on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 6 inches from heat for 10 minutes or until skin is golden and begins to crisp. In a 4 to 5 quart slow cooker, layer cherries, onion, and tea bags. Add chicken. In a small bowl, stir together preserves and wine. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on Low 4 to 6 hours. Remove chicken to a serving platter; cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Remove tea bags from slow cooker; transfer cherry mixture to a small saucepan. Over high heat, bring cherry mixture to a boil. Cook until mixture is reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Serve chicken on top of noodles Spoon cherry mixture over chicken.

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--Pulled Pork Sandwiches--
1 Pork roast
I can of beer (whatever you got)
Barbecue sauce

Throw the pork roast, beer & about 2 or 3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce in crockpot. I cook it about 6-8 hours depending on the size. Once done, I pull it apart, removing the fat. Once finished, empty the juices. Then I out the pulled pork back into the crockpot with more barbecue sauce, depending on how saucey you want your meat. I let it cook another 20-30 minutes, however long it takes to fix whatever is going with it. Then put it on buns & eat. We use wheat hamburger buns & usually serve with fries.

No matter what you fix, here is my biggest piece of advice, get the slow cooker liners. They are on the aisle with ziploc bags, aluminum foil etc....They are wonderful & make for easy cleanup. Idon't even use my crockpot with them anymore.

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---2 Mexican Food Recipes---

-Chicken Enchiladas-

1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped green onions
3 cloves garlic minced
½ lime
Taco Seasoning to taste
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 small can of Verde (green) enchilada sauce
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups chicken breast meat ( A lot easier to just buy a rotisserie chicken and then tear the meat from it in bite size- mix the dark and light meat in the 3 cups)
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
12 corn tortillas
½ red bell pepper, chopped fine
½ green bell pepper, chopped fine
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp cumin
1 small can of chopped mushrooms
1/4 cup milk
Small can of black olive slices

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease baking dishes - I use a 9x13 and a 9X9.

2. Mix sour cream with taco seasoning to taste, and both soups

3.Set aside a bit of bell peppers to garnish

4.In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and sauté the bell peppers until tender. Add the green onion and sauté until tender. Add the garlic, then stir in the green chilies, mushrooms, and cream of mushroom soup/sour cream mixture. Mix well. Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 of shredded Cheddar cheese. Stir together. Set on low and heat through for 10 min.

5.Fill each tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish. (you can quickly fry the tortillas to make them soft or dampen them and microwave for 15 sec- of course frying them tastes better)

6.In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining shredded Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with peppers and olives to taste. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
*This recipe makes enough to eat one night and freeze the rest for a lazy night. It's MUCH better with Cream of Pablano Chili soup v chicken soup- but so far I think we are too far north to find it in the grocery stores

-Very Basic Mexican Rice (good and simple)-
½ small can of tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup long grain white rice
1 tsp garlic salt
3 tbs vegetable oil
½ cup finely chopped onion

1. Mix chicken broth and tomato paste till paste dissolves
2. Heat oil in large saucepan and add rice over med heat-0 cook till rice is puffed and changes color- while cooking add cumin and garlic salt
3. Add in onions and cook till tender
4. Stir in broth and paste mixture- bring to boil- reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 min. Fluff with fork

7 Wonders of the World

Remember when...

Remember when you………...left all of your groceries in the cart to escort a tantruming toddler to the car?...woke up in the night to teething pains or nightmares?....uttered a phrase like, “Don't stick that in your nose?”...literally cried over the 3rd meal involving spilled milk that day?...called everyone you knew when your child finally used the toilet for its designated use?

Remember how good it felt to know you weren't alone?
Would you consider being an encouragement to moms who are still in the thick of the preschool days?

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 9:30 –11:30 am; Sept-June, at St Clement’s Catholic Church. We need moms like you, who've been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale! Or maybe you’ve never “been there,” but you love children, just the same! Could you come hold a baby or sing and read with a 2 year old, or play with glitter glue with a preschooler while some moms get a chance to defuse and breathe? Even once a month would be a HUGE help

To volunteer or to get more information, contact:
Sherry -886-8717
snegron@nycap.rr.com
Or St Clements office –584-6122 ext 18

Your 2008-2009 Leadership Team

Steering Team
Coordinator (Whole Program) Sherry N - snegron@nycap.rr.com
Co-Coordinator (assts coordinator) Bonnie Wells - blwells45@hotmail.com
Finance (registration, scholarships, fundraisers) OPEN
Hospitality (greeting, food, gifts, MOPPET Appreciation) Susan Turner turnerstage@yahoo.com
Discussion Group Team Leader (table groups) OPEN
Publicity (newsletters, pics, postcards, advertising) Jennifer Stevely - jennystevely@aol.com and Sherry Negron - snegron@nycap.rr.com
Creative Activities (arts, crafts) Erin Corrette erin.corrette@hotmail.com

Table Leaders
Open

Mentors
Open

Angels Explained By Children

Angels Explained By Children

I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.
-Gregory, 5

Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it
-Olive, 9

It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
-Matthew, 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
-Mitchell, 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
-Henry, 8

Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!!
-Jack, 6

Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.
-Daniel, 9

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado.
-Reagan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.
-Sara, 6

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.
-Jared, 8

All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it.
-Antonio, 9

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
- , 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.
-Vicki, 8

What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.
-Sarah, 7

Leadership Summit * Apr 2009

What does authentic living look like?

Learn how to BE and LEAD authentically at this year’s

Leadership Summit • April 25th, 2009

Be AUTHENTIC

• Understand differing views of authenticity

• Explore your authentic story

• Rest in an authentic relationship with God

Lead AUTHENTICALLY

• Inspire others from an authentic understanding of who you are

• Lead authentically in your steering position

• Invite authentic conflict resolution

Experience the launch of “MOPSNext” – What to do after MOPS.

Broadcast live from Denver, CO to approximately 60 simulcast locations nationwide! Registration opens online Monday, January 12, 2009. To book a location, contact your local AC or email events@MOPS.org for assistance.

Group Pricing!* Bring your whole team!

Remote Locations:

0-3 attendees: $35

4-7 attendees: $32.

5-8 or more attendees: $30

*Group pricing applies to attendees currently in a MOPS group.

Spring Session Begins Jan 6th!

Our Spring Session begins Tuesday, Mar 3rd at 9:30am at Living Springs Community Church in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $23.95 for the year. If you have not yet registered, you sign up on Tuesday morning -- just remember to bring your checkbook! Also, if you need a brochure/registration form, you can get one here. Our dates for the Spring are as follows:

-January 6th

-January 20th

-February 3rd

-February 17th

-March 3rd
-March 17th

-April 7th

-April 21st

-May 5th

-May 19th

-Jun 2nd

We hope to see you there!

Christian Women's Club Luncheon--Divine Entertaining

Christians Women’s Club Luncheon
Divine Entertaining
All women are invited to attend a luncheon Tuesday, January 13, 2009 from 12:00-1:30 PM at Longfellows Restaurant, Rt. 9P, Saratoga. Cost is $13.00 inclusive. Kim Klopstock of Lilly and the Rose Catering and 50 South Restaurant will explain how we can ring in the New Year with some tips for making entertaining as easy as a piece of cake! Our featured speaker, Norma Dinkelmeyer, a former New York City business woman, will share her discovery of how to “Win over Worry”. For reservations please call Ellie at 584-3779 or Anita at 583-4043 by January 8th. Presented by Saratoga Christian Women’s Club.

How do I sign-up for MOPS?

To sign-up for MOPS, complete a registration form which you can download here. Fall registration begins in May, and Spring registration begins in January.

There is a $23.95 registration fee for each semester. Checks should be made payable to MOPS and must accompany your registration form in order to hold your place. Scholarships may be available. They are awarded by a separate application. Please contact the MOPS coordinator for information about scholarships. All scholarship application information will remain confidential.

Mail or deliver your completed registration form and payment to:

MOPS
Living Springs Community Church
59 Pine Rd
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

If you have further questions about registration, please contact Sherry Negron at 886-8717 or snegron@nycap.rr.com or Bonnie Wells blwells45@hotmail.com.

When and where does MOPs meet?

MOPS meets twice a month (1st and 3rd Tues) on Tuesday mornings from 9:30am-11:30am. Our Fall Session runs from September until December, and our Spring Session runs from January until June. We meet at Living Springs Community Church, which is located at 59 Pine Rd in Saratoga Springs. The church phone number is (518) 584-9112. It is located next to Knights of Columbus on the corner of Pine and Wash Ave/Rt 29. Check out our other website www.mopsofss.com.

What Happens At MOPS?

At our MOPS group, you will the chance to enjoy breakfast and socialize with other moms, hear from some great speakers, discuss important topics in mothering, participate in creative activities...and even enjoy a cup of coffee while it’s still hot!

What is MOPs?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and is an international organization that exists to encourage, equip, and help women become the best moms that they can be! Women who are pregnant or have young children (newborn through Kindergarten) are all invited to join MOPS!

MOPS is caring through:

• A program designed for all mothers of preschoolers (conception through Kindergarten) and is coordinated by the mothers themselves.
• An open, caring atmosphere where specific needs of today's preschool mothers are met.

MOPS is sharing in:

• Small discussion groups where women interact, encourage and learn from one another.
• A comfortable setting for social and spiritual enrichment for mother and child(ren).
• The enjoyment of completing a craft with the opportunity for creative expression, a sense of accomplishment and deepening friendships.

MOPS is preparing through:

• Building a sense of identity and personal worth.
• Instruction relating to womanhood, childrearing, marriage and building a home based on biblical principles.
• Social and creative opportunities for the preschool child