Fighting Christmas Stress
Mom’s Night Out
by Karina Hunter
Early arrivals get started enjoying foot baths prepared by Kelly.
Kelly Sagle prepares nachos for those in attendance.
Wednesday December 9th Manitouwadge Mom’s and caregivers gathered at the Family Place Best Start Hub invited by Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle to participate in a fun, relaxing evening hoped to offer some relief from the inevitable stresses of pre-holiday preparations. From 7 to 9pm, Sagle welcomed a full house to Mom’s Night Out, treating the ladies to relaxing foot baths, snacks and refreshments plenty of laughs and even, once the evening concluded, some sweet parting gifts. Those gathered, new and returning participants of the center’s drop-ins and workshops, swapped holiday stories, recipes and tips to keeping it all together but most of all they offered each other support and friendship, inarguably the most meaningful gifts of the evening. For foot bath and cake recipes from this fun evening, visit www.karinahunter.com/?p=7328
Rosemarie Bellerose and Linda Jetté enjoy foot baths prepared by Kelly Sagle.
The Best Start Hub Manitouwadge invites all families to their Christmas Brunch December 18th, sign up at the centre or call 826-2883 for information.
Submitted to The Echo 12.11.09
…Earlier that day, here in my home Emeraude and I were preparing a treat for me to bring to share with the Moms. Emeraude made the cake with my help and then later when Lloyd arrived home I decorated the cake with some help from the kids. Emeraude really liked the fondant and made a Christmas wreath as well; brother mostly liked to eat the fondant but did manage to make me some berries for the cake lol.
My double layer Mom's Night Out Christmas Cake, I kept it simple and opted to pass on text.
Emeraude is very proud to show off her fondant wreath - so creative, I was pretty proud too 🙂
The cake was a big hit with everyone at the evening but I did manage to bring some home for the kids who also gave it two thumbs up. I had never made this recipe before, it was delicious! Emeraude described it as “I can still taste the eggs and butter and sugar” and it was pretty accurate, I thought the same thing when I tasted it. Kelly described it as very light (I agree with that also). Here is the recipe (notice how few ingredients it involves!) I encourage everyone to give it a try. You will notice that it is very thick once ready to be put in the baking tins for the oven, that’s normal, don’t panick hahaha! (E & I made a double batch which was perfect for our layer cake.
Simple White Cake (from All Recipes at www.allrecipes.com)
Original Recipe Yield 12 cupcakes or 1- 9×9 inch pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch
Kelly’s Super-Relaxing Foot Bath recipe:
Mix:
- dried peppermint,
- cornstarch
- baking soda
Fill a rectangular container with hot water, add foot bath mixture and feet. Enjoy!
Mom’s Night Out
by Karina Hunter
Pictured are Mom’s in Manitouwadge who were treated Wednesday December 9th to Mom’s Night out where Family Place Best Start Hub Program Coordinator Kelly Sagle prepared to relaxing foot baths, snacks, refreshments and plenty of laughs. When the evening concluded, some sweet parting gifts gave the Mom’s an opportunity to continue indulging once they were home. The Best Start Hub Manitouwadge invites all families to their Christmas Brunch December 18th, sign up at the centre or call 826-2883 for information.
Submitted to the Chronicle Journal,
