Yummy Breakfast Sandwich Casserole

Here is a yummy breakfast recipe to try at your next gathering!!

12 pieces of English Muffin bread
1/2 lb thin sliced ham
1/2 lb sliced swiss cheese
1/2 lb shredded cheddar cheese
8 eggs
3 cups milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt

Grease a 9x13 pan. Butter bread and lay, butter side up, in the pan. Cover with Swiss cheese slices, layer ham and cheddar cheese. Cover with another layer of bread, butter side up. Blend egg with milk, dry mustard and salt. Pour over the bread. Refrigerate overnight

Mix together:
1 1/2 cup corn flakes, crushed
1/2 cup melted butter
Sprinkle this mixture on top of bread, before baking. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Thank you table 7 for the yummy food at our last meeting!!

The Great White Pumpkin Cheese Ball

 

Thought this was too cute not to share with you! Thank you Table 5 for sharing this with us at our last meeting:)

 

 

 

 

2 (10-oz.) blocks extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded*

1 8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Braided pretzel, muscadine vine and leaf

 
1. Stir together first 3 ingredients. Shape mixture into a ball to resemble a pumpkin. Smooth pumpkin's entire surface with metal spatula or table knife. Make vertical grooves in ball, if desired, using fingertips. Press pretzel into top of cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin stem; place muscadine vine and leaf beside pretzel. Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.
*Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese may be substituted.Crackers and assorted vegetables

Corralling Kid Clutter

What a treat to have the opportunity to listen to Heidi Leonard last Friday speak about containing the kid clutter!  Not that any of us have a problem with kid clutter....but in the event that you do and you missed our last meeting or you weren't able to take notes, here is a summary of some of the great tips from Heidi:

• Limit access to toys - see the link below for a great article that Heid handed out!

Too Many Toys

• Assign toys a home within a zone in your house.  Limit play to one "toy set"" at a time and put away after play.

• Toy Rotation.  Make toys new again by putting them away for a few weeks or swapping with friends. 

• Eliminate/Donate.  Before birthdays or holidays, go through and donate toys that are not being used any longer.  If your child is old enough and can handle the decision, involve them in the process.

• Educate Kids.  Expect your children to clean up.  Heidi recommended reading The Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room.  Explain the toy boundaries (if it causes a fight, the toy gets a time out), set regular clean up times (often helpful to do following a snack or meal), and clean up together! 

• Label and use visual reminders for children.  If you have the ability, put pictures on the front of storage containers so children know what toys are to go in which containers. 

Behavior Chore Chart - Spider Man
Behavior Chore Chart - Cinderella

Heidi also has plenty of articles and free printables on her website for your use as well!

Operation Organization MN


Heidi's Discussion Questions:

1.  Do your children do chores or responsiblity checklists at home?
2.  Share what works in your home.
3.  What is your biggest kid clutter challenge?

Lastly - Heidi shared a poem with us called "Housewife's Prayer" as a reminder that those that have the clutter and the mess, are the lucky ones. 

Thank you dear Lord, For things to do;

Tasks to complete, That are never quite through.

 

Thank you for the laundry, That piles up so fast;

For the tub I just cleaned, Though I know it won’t last.

 

Thanks for the toys,That litter my floor;

For the mud-caked shoes, That sit by the door.

 

Thank you for the fingerprints, On once-cleaned glass;

Thanks for my carpet, Now covered with grass.

 

Thanks for the kitchen, That never stays clean;

For the skillets to scrub,That lay in my sink.

 

These things in my life, Just prove that I’m blessed;

God gave me a family, I can live with the mess.

 

~Sheila Hammock Gosney

And what would a MOPS meeting be without great food??!  This week's spread was provided by Table 3 and was delicious.  Following is the pumpkin bread recipe --- Who can resist pumpkin bread in the fall???

Delicious Pumpkin Bread

from our Mentor Mom, Lisa Glover

 

5 eggs

1 ¼ cups vegetable oil

1 can (15oz) solid pack pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2 packages (3oz each) cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix (just the dry mix)

1 teaspoon baking Soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine remaining ingredients; gradually beat into pumpkin mixture. Pour batter into two greased 8in. x 4in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Taking Care of Your Glass Ball

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, aol hairs your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

If you couldn't make it to our last meeting we had amazing woman, Caroline Mandich, give us some great insight on how we as moms can spend time with God all the while taking care of our babies, our hubby, home, work and more!

She described our relationship with God as if it were a glass ball. Just like our relationship with our husbands and our taking care of our kids, if we don't take care of those relationships they tend to break easily, like a glass ball. Think about the things you do everyday—go to work, spend time with your family, eat, or maybe watch TV. Whether it’s helping others or getting rest, you’ll find value in all of those things. But do you see value in spending time with your Creator? Spending time with God isn't just sitting down in a nice comfy chair with a cup of coffee, you can spend time with him by listening to worship music, or reading a quick blurb from a devotional calendar you have in your kitchen or bathroom. Just remember He is everywhere and when you start to feel discouraged or your frustrations running high because life is just way to hectic, turn to Him for comfort and to fill you with His peace.  God created you to spend time with Him. By doing so, you’re honoring Him, helping others, and getting spiritual rest and peace.
Reflection:
1. What keeps you from visiting and talking with Jesus?
2. Where is one place you would like to meet with Him?
3. What tangible thing(s) will you do to encourage your to draw near to Jesus?

Prayer:
Thank you Jesus for always being there for me, ready to take my worries and pain away and replacing them with your peace and joy. Thank you for your gift of love and eternal life.


 

Welcome Back!!

Welcome back to our MOPS of Woodcrest Blog site!! Hope y'all had a fun a relaxing time at our first meeting!! It was fun to see all the momma's again and to meet so many new ones. If you are new to our blog I will give you a little spill on what you can find here!! We will post recipes from the yummy food all of you momma's bring on Friday morning, pictures, upcoming events, blurbs on the steering team, what is going on in Moppets and inspirational devos here and there!! Also if you have a blog or a business and would like us to add you to our blogs to read or business moms list let LaDonna VerStrate or Sarah Brass know (we are your publicity gurus) via email or FB message!!

Here are a few of the yummy recipes from our first meeting!! Enjoy:)

LaDonna & Sarah

San Francisco Scramble (Serves 8-10)
by Anny

12 eggs
1/3 C milk
3/4 of a block of cream cheese, cut into 1/2" cubes
1/3 C chopped chives or green onions
1 bag of seasoned croutons (might not want to use the whole bag depending on how many you want in it)

Mix the eggs and milk together thoroughly. Pour into a skillet on medium and cook until almost fully cooked. Then add the cream cheese and chives/green onions. Allow the cream cheese to just about fully melt into the eggs, mixing well. Right before serving, add the croutons to the eggs and combine.

Sunshine Punch
by Laura
1 - 12oz can frozen orange juice
1 - 12oz can frozen lemonade
1 - 12oz can frozen limeade
Add the correct amount of cold water as stated on the cans.
Just before serving add 1 Liter of good quality ginger ale (or 7-up)
Serves around 36 4oz servings.

Some HEALTHY Recipes!

Just in case you missed it and were in another group, our MOPS group made some healthy snacks together last week. Here are the recipes!

Baked Zucchini Chips

Zucchini- washed and sliced thin- about a quarter size thick

Canola cooking spray

Seasoned salt or other seasoning (garlic, chili powder etc.)

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil. Spray with canola spray. Lay out zucchini and spray tops with additional cooking spray. Sprinkle with your choice of seasoning. Note: use less than you think as they will shrink up in oven.

Bake 30 mins. I turned them over at this point, but I don't know if you'd have to. Bake a little longer- maybe 10 min. Watch closely and take them out when they are first browning or feel a little crispy. They got a little too done when we did them at mops and left a bad aftertaste.

Can do this with other veggies like kale

Cinnamon Raisin Almond balls

1 cup almonds (we decided sliced almonds would work better)

1 cup raisins

1 tsp cinnamon

Rinse almonds and raisins with water. Toss in food processor with cinnamon. Whirl away. Form into balls!

No Bake Energy Bites

(makes 18-20)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

½ cup flaxseed

½ cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything in medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Roll into balls and enjoy. Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 1 week.

Meet Menor Mom Karen!

Hi Karen! Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I have been married to Paul for almost 27 years.  We both went to two different colleges and our time overlapped one year at Bethel.  Most of our courtship for the next several years was long distance, with him showing up two days before we were married.  Yes, we had lots of adjustments to make our first year.  We are far from perfect people, and while our end goal is usually the same, we generally have different approaches to get there.  It does make life interesting!  Our daughters have come through birth and adoption...Erica - 25, Jillian - 21, and Adriana - 15.  Yes, I was at home for 15 years with young children and can relate to MOPS moms. 

Do you currently work? 

While I don't receive a pay check, the closest thing I have to a "real job" is caring for my mom after my father's death several years ago.  He took care of their finances and wanted me to look after her investments as he didn't like paying a financial advisor.  While I grew up hearing terms and general ideas, this is a new area for me and I spend about 7-10 hours a week reading, thinking, and choosing investments.  I am far from an expert, but feel more confident as I go along.

What books are you currently reading?  

I love words, stories, learning, and libraries, so I usually have several I'm working through.  I also have found audio books to be wonderful as my hands and eyes are free to do other things.  This last month I have read/listened to "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, and "A Visual History of the English Bible" by Donald Brake.  Currently I'm working my way through 40 years of Ellery Queen mystery magazines, "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, and "Within My Heart" by Tamera Alexander.  One added bonus of using headphones is that my daughters assume I can't hear them and talk freely.  I have learned some interesting things this way.

 

What is a hobby you have that some of the moms may not know about?

I love seeing things grow and have come to see this in the things I enjoy...gardening, sewing, children, knitting, embroidery, photography, puzzles, travel, friends, cooking, and baking.  Well, perhaps the "growing" results of baking are ones that I would rather not deal with.  I delight in seeing children and adults understand things that are new to them and gain confidence in their skills.  Another quieter area of interest is being a friend to those who are easily overlooked or overwhelmed.  I have been involved in training and ongoing work for Stephen Ministry at Woodcrest for several years.

What was the most challenging part of being a young mom?  

There seemed to be so many!  One big area for me was learning how to work in partnership with my husband rather than working as two individuals.  Another was learning how each of my girls were different and how to work with them rather than being rigid in how I wanted things done.  Being far away from my family and friends was also difficult as it was hard to find a spot to fit in here in Minnesota where so many had grown up together and remained good friends.  I also felt isolated dealing with secondary infertility while other moms continued to have children.

 What is one piece of advice about motherhood that you would like to pass on?

As for advice, I'd probably suggest not trying to do/be perfect, and get to know God and trust Him.  When God is first in your life it doesn't mean that things are easy, but that He is there with you. Also, each stage of life has advantages and disadvantages.  It helps to find something to like and concentrate on being thankful for that rather than grumbling about the difficult parts.

 Do you have a favorite Bible verse you would like to share?

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 16:8 (NASB) "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  I find it easy to get "stuck" reading the psalms and return to them regularly.

How has your experience been with being a MOPS mentor mom?

As for being a mentor mom, I feel like I am just beginning and have much to learn.  While I wish I could greet everyone by name, my brain will mix everyone up...feel free to wear nametags and help me out.  I like hearing your joys and concerns.  I would love to be a part of encouraging you as women, wives, and moms.

Affordable Family Fun

Hi MOPS moms!

I just stumbled across a great resource for affordable ideas for family fun in Dakota County. Thought you all might be interested, there are some great ideas!

Click Here.

Have a GREAT week!

Recipe: Striped Delight

39 Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (1 package)
6-8 tbsp. butter, melted
1 - 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. cold milk
1 tub Cool Whip, thawed, divided
2 pkgs. instant chocolate pudding (small boxes)
3 1/4 cups cold milk

• Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press into bottom of 13x9 dish
• Refrigerate until ready to use (I freeze to set quicker)
• Whisk next three ingredients until blended; stir in 1 1/4 cups Cool Whip; spread over crust
• Beat pudding mixes with 3 1/4 cups milk for 2 minutes; pour over cream cheese layer
• Let stand until thickened (sometimes I'll leave in refrigerator overnight)
• Top with remaining Cool Whip
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving

 
For MOPS I used all light/low cal ingredients - it's just as decadent! Enjoy!


Kip T.

MOPS valentines dinner {sign up now!}

Please let us know you can join us and choose your entrees by visiting this link. Hope to see you there!