Tribute to the Pancake

Tribute to the Pancake

Kim @ Kids Matter

Pancakes date back as far as ancient Roman times. In the seventeenth century the Dutch used something like a griddle and a flour batter to make them.  Here in America, Aunt Jemima’s boxed pancake mix came out in 1889.  Pancakes are so celebrated that they actually have their own holiday. March 4^th was National Pancake Day.

You can use a boxed mix or make them from scratch.  Pancakes are so easy to make!  My first memory of pancakes is with my dad, when I was about six years old.  I stood on a chair, up against the kitchen counter, and helped Daddy whip up some pancakes.  It is a great memory.  My husband and I use the Aunt Jemima mix and we make them at least once a month with bacon and pecans added.  

You can eat pancakes anytime; breakfast, lunch, dinner, or for a snack.  They even have them already made in the freezer section of your grocery store.   Pancakes are so loved, that some organizations have a Pancake Breakfast for a fundraiser.

Kids love pancakes.  Pancakes are very versatile; you can make faces in them, add anything you want into them, and a variety of things on top of them!  You can add chocolate chips, whipped cream, fruit, or the typical butter and syrup. Oh, and the syrups, there is every flavor you can imagine out there… strawberry, blueberry, and good ol’ maple.  Pancakes are just FUN.

Pancakes can make a rainy day, or any day better. They are a great project to do with your children or grandchildren.  Better yet, if you don’t want to make them yourself, you can always go to IHOP. That’s fun too!

Tiramisu Pancakes

Ingredients:

3 large pancakes

1 c heavy cream

3/4 c sugar, divided

1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz.) room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c espresso, brewed

cocoa powder (for sprinkling on top)

Directions:

1.     In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1 cup heavy cream, vanilla and 3/4 cup of sugar. Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.

2.     Lay 1 pancake down on a plate or in a pan and pour Espresso over top of it until pancake is moist, Spread 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture over the top of the pancake. Lay the 2nd pancake on top and pour more of the Espresso on top of that pancake then the cream cheese mixture on top. Repeat with the last pancake, making sure to use the rest of the mixture on top of the pancake. 

 3.  Put the cocoa powder into a small sieve and tap it gently over the pancake to dust the top. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Kim G

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Please allow me to introduce a loving mother of two beautiful children and four treasured grandchildren, with a fifth to arrive shortly. She says being a grandmother is, “pure joy” and that, “grandchildren are delightful little beings.” Kim has been married twenty-one years to the love of her life and her hero. When I say hero, that’s exactly what I mean. While vacationing with her family, she was snorkeling off the coast of Hawaii, Kim’s mask became dislodged. Quickly she surfaced to fix the problem. She plunged back under water only to learn the mask was still not properly secured and began losing her breath. With panic looming, she quickly popped to the surface again. Suddenly, a wave overtook her and she couldn’t breathe. To say she was scared may be an understatement. Her husband sped to her side and lifted her up. In the fear of drowning, she almost took her husband out as well. He was, however, able to signal the lifeguards who rapidly raced to her rescue. Today she gives credit where due, to her husband, her hero.

Kim has been an Eligibility Specialist for CCC, serving the counties of Warren, Edmonson, and Hart, for a year and a half. Her bubbly personality and genuine desire to help others are just two of her great qualities.  Kim says that sharing an office space with two very influential people in her life is what keeps her sane. She has such a deep appreciation for her co-workers saying, “They are with me eight hours every work day. They have taught me things, and have listened to me when I needed to talk. They are lovely women, which I am proud to call my friends and blessed to have them in my life.” Though Kim loves her job, when asked if not in the childcare business, what career would she choose? Her answer, “I’d be a judge on American Idol!”

What makes Kim who she is today? She gives credit to her Mom as being the most influential person in her life and giving her that “go get it” attitude. When asked how she maintains that attitude she simply replied while laughing, “I have to pay the mortgage”. Playing a huge role in forming Kim, were the years she spent in the Army. She states, “The Army taught me all that I could withstand and all of my strengths.” She emphasizes, “I’m pretty tough if I need to be, not physically, but mentally.” She also gives credit to her grandparents who taught her to be loving, kind, and patient. All are lessons that she uses in the care of her own grandchildren.

When asked about advice for a happy, successful family, Kim says, “Instill the desire for education into your children and spend great quantities of time loving and laughing together”. She also encourages getting involved in charities. Helping others always gives the greatest of feelings and respect. Kim actively supports St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Warren County Rescue Squad, and Veteran’s organizations. With deep roots in the military, through her own contribution, her husbands, and her fathers, she has great respect for America and those who serve and support the United States. She says, “There are never enough resources to go around”, and encourages us all to give whenever, wherever we can.

The American Flag

The American Flag

Kim @ Kids Matter

Today I am blogging about my memories of the American Flag and how it has influenced my life. My first memory of the American Flag is from elementary school; placing my hand over my heart, and learning the Pledge of Allegiance.   When we are little we are functionary. When I was old enough to understand the meaning of the pledge, I was filled with a sense of respect, and the understanding that I was a part of something big and powerful. We find flags in various places in our community like church, the post office, the library, schools, and in our neighbors’ yards.

I remember being in high school, I attended a DOD (Department of Defense) school in Yokohama, Japan.  One day a classmate ran someone’s pants up the flag pole.  OH, there was BIG trouble for that boy, never mind that we were on a military base.  I think my hand was over my mouth that day.

I joined the Army when I graduated high school.  I felt such pride when I was sworn in to uphold The Constitution of the United States.  When the National Anthem was played, I remember getting goose bumps.  In the military, we saluted the flag; everything was about respect for the American Flag.

When my father passed away, we had a military funeral.  My mother had passed away three months earlier from lung cancer so, I accepted the flag on “on behalf of a grateful nation” and… I sobbed.

Now, the flag is enjoyed and honored at sport events such as the Super Bowl and the Olympic games. It is ingrained in my soul that the United States’ Flag is revered and represents my country.

One of my four granddaughters has started school in Texas.  I am happy that she is allowed to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in her school, every day. I believe that the Pledge of Allegiance is where children get their first knowledge of America and begin to understand who we are as a nation.

Winter Solstice - the Shortest Day of the Year

Winter Solstice - the Shortest Day of the Year

Kim @ Kids Matter

Winter or December solstice is coming to the northern hemisphere.   The December Solstice is when the earth is nearest to the sun and moving in its fastest orbit.  It is the time when the sun appears at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon.

The word solstice comes from the Latin word “sol” meaning (sun) and “sistere” meaning (to stand still). During the solstices, the sun stands still as it moves down the seasonal movement of the sun's path (as seen from Earth) comes to a stop before reversing direction. At that time the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun.

A solstice occurs twice each year as the sun reaches its highest or lowest position, relative to the equator.  As a result, on the day of the solstice, the sun looks to have reached its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, i.e., solar noon.

Time is measured as mid-day to the next mid-day which most of us do not know.  Days are counted by the earth’s spin and they are never exactly 24 hours.  Solar noon changes with the seasons.

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year.  In 2012, the December solstice coincided with the end of the Mayan Calendar.  Many saw this as a prophecy of the end of the world.  We are still here and the winter solstice will be 12:11 p.m. EST Saturday, December 21.  The sun will be in the lowest point in the sky for the year and winter begins.  On this date, all places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north (Arctic Polar Circle) are now in darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south (Antarctic Polar Circle) receive 24 hours of daylight.

References:

Timeanddate.com

Wikipedia (Solstice), Wikipedia (Winter Solstice)

Las Vegas Guardian Express

Christmas… Truly the Busiest Time of the Year

Christmas… Truly the Busiest Time of the Year

Kim @ Kids Matter

Christmas is such a busy time, especially when you work full time.  Most moms have to cook dinner and attend to the daily routine. There is never enough time to shop, have pictures made, send Christmas cards, bake, decorate, yada yada yada. The list is long. 

When I was younger, I actually dreaded Christmas. It was so much work for one day (December 25^th).  Now I reflect back and wish I knew then what I understand now.  Remember that old saying, “too old too soon, too smart too late”?   Yes, it is so worth it to run crazy for a month or more to prepare for that one day.   It isn’t until years later that the impact is understood through the memories of our children and what they have to tell us about yesteryear. 

My daughter made the statement; while she was dating her now husband that, “Mom transforms the house into a Christmas wonderland. It is so great. I love Christmas!”   My children appreciate the old Santa pictures and also tell stories remembering those special presents.  For me, over the past decade, I have grown to appreciate the family gatherings while watching the children grow. This year my daughter is the mother of a one year old.  She is experiencing the stress of all the Christmas chores, but she does it, as we all did, for the child(ren).   I do think she “gets it” even if she might complain a little. I have only heard her complain about the expense of it. She is beginning to think about maybe a scarf and gloves or a candle.  We found inexpensive toys for children at Walgreens too.  After all, it really is the thought that counts.

We have begun to draw names for children in the extended family.  My sister-in-law wished that we didn’t have to do that for our immediate family. She remembers going to Grandma’s for Christmas and having a stack of presents.  She wanted her children to have that same excitement and memories.   Times are not what they once were.  Things are so expensive.  She explained that the stack of presents could be a coloring book and crayons in one, or socks in another. It wasn’t the richness of the gift, but the excitement of receiving a gift.  She is so right.  We forget that children just love to open presents.  Ever watch children at a birthday party? They tear from one present to the next; barely even acknowledging what the present is at that moment.

So, I think we should remember it is all worthwhile, downsize our gifts, and that it’s the excitement of having the gift that is most important to children.   Christmas is all about giving and loving.  The Christmas “chores” we do might just be a gift of love.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Kim @ Kids Matter

In our family, as in most families, Thanksgiving, is a major holiday.  When I was young, Thanksgiving was so much fun because all the cousins played together the entire day.  Thanksgiving was about getting together with family.  Oh, okay, and the food. Yes, the food.  My mother was quite the cook.  She always bought the biggest turkey as the whole family was coming for dinner (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc).  She made the stuffing, stuffed the turkey (which was quite a production) sewed the turkey shut, and skewered the legs tight.  It was kind of scary the first time I tuned in to watch her do it. But oh, how the smell of that turkey cooking set in my memory, and ever after cemented the longing for turkey each Thanksgiving Day.  My mother began cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the family when my grandmother, the matriarch of the family, was not able to cook anymore. 

I love a story she told about mashed potatoes while she was growing up and I have to share the story with you. In the early 1930s, my mother and her two sisters had to mash potatoes by hand until they were creamy, with no lumps.  It was quite a chore sometimes, especially if there were going to be many guests at the dinner table.  The sisters would take turns mashing to keep the arguing to a minimum.  One day my grandmother bought a MixMaster to mash the potatoes.  My mother tells the story about the night my grandmother brought the MixMaster home.  They were peeling potatoes for the evening meal, and my grandmother had to leave the house to run down the street to a neighbor’s home.  She told the girls not to use the MixMaster because she had not yet trained them how to use it.   Well, sisters will be sisters.  Of course they knew they could use the MixMaster, and have it back in the box before my grandmother returned.  So the sisters opened the box and set up the MixMaster.  My mother put the beaters in the potatoes, slid the switch to on, and WHAM potatoes flew everywhere!   The story goes that my mother was up on a chair with a mop wiping potatoes off the wall when my grandmother walked into the kitchen.  Such a great story!  I had the best laugh when she told it to me.

My mother and one sister have passed away. My Aunty Pat is still with us and she has always been a character.  She is very witty, funny, and enjoys life very much.  I was named after her and when I was young she took care of me, sometimes.  I remember one Thanksgiving… something about Lancers wine and “Hey Aunt Mary, the peas are green”, but that is another story to be kept in the family.

I also remember being so upset one day after my mother passed because I could not find her fudge recipe. Thank goodness, I eventually found it while looking through her many recipe books.  I now make many of my mother’s dishes and her turkey and dressing are a tradition carried on by my son and his wife.  We now celebrate Thanksgiving with my husband’s parents as well but still also cook at our house so we can savior Thanksgiving all weekend. 

As the holiday is fast approaching, I remember that my grandchildren are storing their family memories and traditions.  May each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with great memories to store, and remember to grab those recipes to carry on your family traditions.   Also, remember your children are storing memories.  Make them wonderful.

Halloween Tradition

Halloween Tradition

Kim @ Kids Matter

As soon as my children could walk, I would doll them up in cute Halloween costumes and we would go trick or treating!  They were so cute the first years; barely able to even say trick or treat.  I’m sure many of you remember how cute your children were and what that first “twik or tweet” and “tank you” sounded like.  It brings a smile to my face.  We would go to all of our relatives and friends homes and show off our cute toddlers. 

Each year as they grew older, we would carve the pumpkins.  It was a BIG scary ordeal when they were little. As they got bigger, the pumpkins had to be “cool” looking.  We had to decorate inside the house, make cookies and of course, decorate them.   I always found myself buying candy at least twice because by the end of the month, when we actually needed the candy for the night, it would be just about gone.

I remember warm trick or treat nights. I remember others when I had to drive the car up and down the street. The kids would pop out of the car, run up and visit a couple houses, and then run back to escape the frigid autumn air.

Now, my daughter is grown. This year she has her first toddler, Maddie, who will be a kitty cat.  She will be just three days shy of one year old, walking, and has no idea what we are doing.  My daughter has painted and carved pumpkins this year.  She has decorated the house but not bought candy.  She will take Maddie trick or treating down Main Street in town.  Trick or treating is a little different now than when my children grew up.  They also have the “Trunk or Treats”, which I think is a fabulous idea.  New traditions are being made before my eyes.  It is so much fun for me to watch my daughter carrying on old traditions and creating new ones.

I have so many memories; old and new.  Whatever the tradition… it’s all about how much family and Kids Matter!

Halloween: A Month Long Celebration

Kim @ Kids Matter

At this time of year, my mind leaps to a simpler time when I was about eight years of age.  It was the most exciting and fun holiday, rated right up there with Easter and Christmas.  I am talking, of course, about Halloween. 

Halloween starts way before its calendar date with almost every porch displaying the crazy, fun, scary, and sometimes gruesome decorations appeared. The big decision arrives. What would I be for Halloween?  Then the shopping began, the hunt for the most exciting and trendy costume that I could get my mother to purchase. Soon there were parties and local city Carnivals! You know the Halloween Carnival that’s held on the same corner year after year? It’s complete with bobbing for apples and a most fabulous cake walk. I won a cake one year. My fondest memory is the paint booth with the flying paint making wonderful designs. Do you remember the silly mirror exhibit; where we are tall, small, skinny, and fat?   Oh, and the rides!  Yes, the magnificent rides!  The ones that made me squeal with pure terror then beg and beg for more tickets to ride.

Then Halloween night finally arrived.  It was always more fun if you trick or treated with a friend who was also sleeping over.  Our laughter joined all the other children’s laughter as we raced up and down the streets of the neighborhood getting a thrill as we knocked on EVERY door.  The over the top costumes of adults answering the door and, if you were really lucky, someone in the neighborhood made a haunted house in their garage.  We would be duly scared to death and shrieking loudly as we bailed out the garage back door laughing and feeling that giddy childhood happiness.

Then, the moment of truth!  We sat on my bedroom floor sorting and stacking our mounds of each different, delicious candy we had received.  You remember bubble gum, suckers, the wonderful big thick Cherry Charms suckers (that we can’t find anymore), Pixie Stix, Now & Laters, SweetTarts, Mary Janes, and best of all… BIG candy bars!  We would eat and eat and eat and finally fall asleep exhausted by the greatest Halloween ever!

Now here we are as parents and grandparents watching our own little ones faces light up just the same way. The candy may be different. Popcorn balls may be extinct due to safety factors. But… one thing is for sure; Halloween is one short day within a month long celebration of fun, hauntings, and last but not least… CANDY!! Think back, what was that one special candy you just beamed over when sorting your haul?