Banana Treat

This looks interesting:

Crispy Baked Bananas
Recipe Rating:

Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 20 min

Makes: 4 servings, two banana halves each

1-1/2 cups POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS with Almonds Cereal, crushed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. honey
4 small ripe bananas, cut crosswise in half
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
PREHEAT oven to 375ºF. Line 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil; set aside. Mix crushed cereal and the cinnamon on large plate. Pour honey onto second plate.
ROLL each banana piece in honey, then in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Place in prepared baking pan.
BAKE 15 min. or until bananas are soft. Place two banana halves in each serving dish. Top evenly with the whipped topping.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS
Jazz It Up Mix 1/4 cup BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut with the crushed cereal and cinnamon before using as directed.

Another Hit/ Another Miss

Here's a statement from John Edwards:

Preparing Every Child to Succeed: As president, Edwards will launch a national “Great Promise” partnership to give a quality early childhood education to every four-year-old in the country – starting with poor children in neighborhoods with struggling schools. To reach even younger children, Edwards will create a national “Smart Start” program that will improve child care and invest in child health.

Here's the problem:

Everyone on earth could make this statement. Two things are nearly always the case: Mr. Edwards is not spending his own money; he's dipping into the big national pond to empty it into a small idea pond. And secondly, he has no idea about what toes his national "Smart Start" program might step on.

In our own city, childcare, preschool, all day dumping zones for children fail to teach, so how can they participate in "Smart Start." Locally as well as nationally, childcare is provided by people who don't want to teach. Evansville Living Magazine has voted "the best childcare" place award to one of the worst offenders. Letters are apparently not age appropriate for the oldest children in care which is five years old. These children can't hold a pencil, listen to a story, know what circle time is or color a picture.

When teachers lament a classroom of infants who are supposed to be kindergarten age, it's no wonder. It's no wonder kindergarteners are not ready to learn to read. It's a national problem across the board.

This week we will enroll yet another child who is coming from "strictly daycare." Strictly daycare places do not teach - anything.

Strictly daycare forces a toddler's program on children yearning to learn. Children from the earliest age have a great curiosity to know. The ages between birth and big school is the time when children will learn the most in their whole lives. Stifling this natural child's effort is tantamount to stealing his future.

When politicians vie for acceptance based on the assumption that "these places" will teach simply because it's a good idea, a whole score of years have passed that have bred a notion in early childhood that teaching is a bad thing, and that's no easy overthrow. In fact it's not a good idea; it's an idea that early childhood mogals despise.

The only way this is going to work is at a grass roots level. Parents have to begin to desire, inquire, and require that their day care, childcare, preschool dollar is actually offering their child more than a few toys on a busy floor.

Refusing to buy childcare that refuses to teach a child is the first real step to changing the foundation of early childhood.

Something for the Family

The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is hosting a FamilyTime Entertainment Showcase Event on November 1, 2007 at Central Library's Browning Room from 3:30-5 pm. FamlyTime Entertainment is based in Indianapolis.

They will have several entertainers do short performances so we will have an idea about performers we might want to book at a later date.

This showcase is open to the public, so if you know any other teachers, librarians or school personnel who might be interested, please feel free to invite them. Kids can come for the show too.

To pre-register for this event, call the READ center at 428-8225 or (ext.1225)

Readers!

Well, it's been a weekend! Good news; no blog change. I managed to re-establish my password and keep both accounts.

Now, back to the fun stuff.

Friday's party was really a nice one. I congratulate Miss Kelly and Miss Amy on a spectacular achievement: getting the kids to one, stand still, two to sing loud enough to be heard, and three, to remain there until their little gifts were given to them.

Thanks to parents who brought all the really nice treats. We will continue to use those treats through the week. It means a lot to the children to have special treats at snack time.

The children did a beautiful job singing and making this a special event. They are a cute group.

Some of the older children who have metriculated on to big school have been dropping by. They look so big compared to our little guys this year. It makes the program on Friday a really splendid effort.

This week we will be going out to the Stay Alive House. This is an actual full size house and front street the fireguys built to demonstrate to children the importance of knowing what to do in case there is a fire. The children will experience a smoky room, a ladder climb, a call to 911 and a movie about fire.

After the trip to the Stay Alive House, we will be going to the park at the 4 H center in Vanderburgh County for a run and lunch.

Posted are pictures from last summer's field trips and the recent trip to the farm.

Readers!!!!

Dear Readers,

It's been a small nightmare recently trying to coordinate my email and my blog site.

There may have to be a new blog. If so, please go to the old blog and link to my web site at the Garden School where it will be announced.

Here's what happened:

I've had an email account at Sigecom for years. They were sold to Wowway. Wowway is about the worst email program I've ever encountered. I actually sent a whole book to an inquiring publisher and I have no record of doing so...

I switched my email to gmail and because my account with blogger was sigecom, I could either get my email or blooger but not both. Keeps wanting to say I don't have an account. ERRRRR!

So while trying to wade through a swamp of technomaze, I've finally gotten back into blogger after five days, and may not get into it again. So... There may have to be a new blog.

If anyone out there knows what to do, please post!

Thanks,

Judy

Summer Pictures Hemlock Cliffs

Looking back over the summer, and finally getting some summer pictures to post!, I wanted to share some of a field trip we took to a place called Hemlock Cliffs.

It's a box canyon about 25 miles north of St. Meinrad. It was a glorious day, and the kids enjoyed the climb down into the canyon. We'll do this again next year.

The importance of this trip was to allow the kids to see a really primitive place. It's full of animals, and natural wonders. I'd love to go up earlier in the summer and see the waterfalls.

On the way to Hemlock, we stopped at the Benedictine Archabbey at St. Meinrad - one of seven in the world.

Beets

Beets

It is difficult to believe how the hardy, crunchy often rough looking exterior of raw beets can be transformed into something wonderfully soft and buttery once they are cooked. While beets are available throughout the year, their season runs from June through October when the youngest, most tender beets are easiest to find.

Edible green leaves are attached to the tapered round or oblong root portions that we know as beets. While we often think of beets having a reddish-purple hue, some varieties are white, golden-yellow or even rainbow colored. The sweet taste of beets reflects their high sugar content making them an important raw material for the production of refined sugar; they have the highest sugar content of all vegetables, yet are very low in calories

This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Beets provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Beets can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Beets, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Remember all those legendary Russian centenarians? Beets, frequently consumed either pickled or in borscht, the traditional Russian soup, may be one reason behind their long and healthy lives. These colorful root vegetables contain powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and certain cancers, especially colon cancer.

Promote Optimal Health

The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color—betacyanin—is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets' potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies.

In one study, animals under the double stress of chemically induced colon cancer and high cholesterol were divided into two groups. One group received a diet high in beet fiber while the other group served as a control. The beet fiber-fed animals rose to the challenge by increasing their activity of two antioxidant enzymes in the liver, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. The liver is the body's primary detoxification organ where toxic substances are broken down and eliminated, a process that generates a lot of free radicals. Glutathione peroxidase and are the bodyguards for liver cells, protecting them from free radical attack, so they can continue to protect us.

In other animal studies, scientists have noted that animals fed beet fiber had an increase in their number of colonic CD8 cells, special immune cells responsible for detecting and eliminating abnormal cells. With the increased surveillance provided by these additional CD8 cells, the animals in one of the studies given beet fiber had fewer pre-cancerous changes.

In stomach cancer patients, when scientists compared the effects of fruit and vegetable juices on the formation of nitrosamines, cancer-causing compounds produced in the stomach from chemicals called nitrates, beet juice was found to be a potent inhibitor of the cell mutations caused by these compounds. Nitrates are commonly used as a chemical preservative in processed meats.

Protection Against Heart Disease

In the first study mentioned above, not only did protective antioxidant activity increase in the livers of beet fiber-fed animals, but also their total cholesterol dropped 30%, their triglycerides dropped 40% (elevated triglycerides, the form in which fats are transported in the blood, are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease), and their HDL (beneficial cholesterol) level increased significantly.

Protection against birth defects

Beets are particularly rich in the B vitamin folate, which is essential for normal tissue growth. Eating folate-rich foods is especially important during pregnancy since without adequate folate, the infant's spinal column does not develop properly, a condition called neural tube defect. The daily requirement for folate is 400 micrograms. Just one cup of boiled, sliced beets contains 136 micrograms of folate.

Description

Both beets and Swiss chard are different varieties within the same plant family (Chenopodiaceae) and their edible leaves share a resemblance in both taste and texture. Attached to the beet's green leaves is a round or oblong root, the part conjured up in most people's minds by the word "beet." Although typically a beautiful reddish-purple hue, beets also come in varieties that feature white or golden roots. No matter what their color, however, beet roots aren't as hardy as they look; the smallest bruise or puncture will cause red beets' red-purple pigments, which contain beneficial flavonoids called anthycyanins, to bleed, especially during cooking.

Beets' sweet taste reflects their high sugar content, which makes beets an important source for the production of refined sugar. Raw beet roots have a crunchy texture that turns soft and buttery when they are cooked. Beet leaves have a lively, bitter taste similar to chard. The main ingredient in the traditional eastern European soup, borscht, beets are delicious eaten raw, but are more typically cooked or pickled.

The greens attached to the beet roots are delicious and can be prepared like spinach or Swiss chard. They are incredibly rich in nutrients, concentrated in vitamins and minerals as well as carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin.

History

The wild beet, the ancestor of the beet with which we are familiar today, is thought to have originated in prehistoric times in North Africa and grew wild along Asian and European seashores. In these earlier times, people exclusively ate the beet greens and not the roots. The ancient Romans were one of the first civilizations to cultivate beets to use their roots as food. The tribes that invaded Rome were responsible for spreading beets throughout northern Europe where they were first used for animal fodder and later for human consumption becoming more popular in the 16th century.

Beets' value grew in the 19th century when it was discovered that they were a concentrated source of sugar, and the first sugar factory was built in Poland. When access to sugar cane was restricted by the British, Napoleon decreed that the beet be used as the primary source of sugar, catalyzing its popularity. Around this time, beets were also first brought to the United States, where they now flourish. Today the leading commercial producers of beets include the United States, the Russian Federation, France, Poland, France and Germany.

How to Select and Store

Choose small or medium-sized beets whose roots are firm, smooth-skinned and deep in color. Smaller, younger beets may be so tender that peeling won't be needed after they are cooked.

Avoid beets that have spots, bruises or soft, wet areas, all of which indicate spoilage. Shriveled or flabby should also be avoided as these are signs that the roots are aged, tough and fibrous.

While the quality of the greens does not reflect that of the roots, if you are going to consume this very nutritious part of the plant, look for greens that appear fresh, tender, and have a lively green color.

Store beets unwashed in the refrigerator crisper where they will keep for two to four weeks. Cut the majority of the greens and their stems from the roots, so they do not pull away moisture away from the root. Leave about two inches of the stem attached to prevent the roots from "bleeding." Store the unwashed greens in a separate plastic bag where they will keep fresh for about four days.

Raw beets do not freeze well since they tend to become soft upon thawing. Freezing cooked beets is fine; they'll retain their flavor and texture.

How to Enjoy

Tips for Preparing Beets:

Cook beets lightly. Studies show beets' anti-cancer activity is diminished by heat.

Don't peel beets until after cooking. When bruised or pierced, beets bleed, losing some of their vibrant color and turning a duller brownish red. To minimize bleeding, wash beets gently under cool running water, taking care not to tear the skin since this tough outer layer helps keep most of beets' pigments inside the vegetable. To prevent bleeding when boiling beets, leave them whole with their root ends and one inch of stem attached.

Beets' color can be modified during cooking. Adding an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or vinegar will brighten the color while an alkaline substance such as baking soda will often cause them to turn a deeper purple. Salt will blunt beets' color, so add only at the end of cooking if needed.

Since beet juice can stain your skin, wearing kitchen gloves is a good idea when handling beets. If your hands become stained during the cleaning and cooking process, simply rubbing some lemon juice on them will remove the stain.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Simply grate raw beets for a delicious and colorful addition to salads or decorative garnish for soups.

Add chunks of beet when roasting vegetables in the oven.

Serving homemade vegetable juice? A quarter of a beet will turn any green drink into a sweet pink concoction, pleasing both the eyes and the taste buds.

Healthy sauté beet greens with other braising greens such as chard and mustard greens.

Marinate steamed beets in fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh herbs.

Safety

Beeturia

If you start to see red when you increase your consumption of beets, don't be alarmed. You're just experiencing beeturia, or a red or pink color to your urine or stool. No need to panic; the condition is harmless.

Beets and Oxalates

Beets (notably beet greens) are among a small number of foods that contain measurable amounts of oxalates, naturally-occurring substances found in plants, animals, and human beings. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems. For this reason, individuals with already existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating beets. Laboratory studies have shown that oxalates may also interfere with absorption of calcium from the body. Yet, in every peer-reviewed research study we've seen, the ability of oxalates to lower calcium absorption is relatively small and definitely does not outweigh the ability of oxalate-containing foods to contribute calcium to the meal plan. If your digestive tract is healthy, and you do a good job of chewing and relaxing while you enjoy your meals, you will get significant benefits - including absorption of calcium - from calcium-rich foods plant foods that also contain oxalic acid. Ordinarily, a healthcare practitioner would not discourage a person focused on ensuring that they are meeting their calcium requirements from eating these nutrient-rich foods because of their oxalate content. For more on this subject, please see "Can you tell me what oxalates are and in which foods they can be found?"

Nutritional Profile

Beets are an excellent source of the B vitamin, folate, and a very good source of manganese and potassium. Beets are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Beets.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Beets is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the %Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents; the nutrient density rating; and the food's World's Healthiest Foods Rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised. Read detailed information on our Food and Recipe Rating System.

Beets, Boiled 1.00 cup 170.00 grams 74.80 calories Nutrient Amount DV (%) Nutrient Density World's Healthiest Foods Rating folate 136.00 mcg 34.0 8.2 excellent manganese 0.55 mg 27.5 6.6 very good potassium 518.50 mg 14.8 3.6 very good dietary fiber 3.40 g 13.6 3.3 good vitamin C 6.12 mg 10.2 2.5 good magnesium 39.10 mg 9.8 2.4 good tryptophan 0.03 g 9.4 2.3 good iron 1.34 mg 7.4 1.8 good copper 0.13 mg 6.5 1.6 good phosphorus 64.60 mg 6.5 1.6 good World's Healthiest Foods Rating Rule excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10% very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5% good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Beets

Mayse Farm

We had a really good time at Mayse farm. It was hot, but not so hot that we were exhausted just sitting on the bus. We did a corn walk and Mrs. Mayse taught the children about corn, about fields, about farming.

Then we experienced a straw maze. The kids quickly found their way to the bell and then out. They enjoyed the ribbon maze as well.

Then we went on a hay ride. We were pulled by a very large tractor and all the kids sat on hay bales and we went out to the end of the farm where the pumpkins grow, and the kids got to pick one each to take home. Because of the drought the pumpkins were very very small. I noticed just how much damage no rain does to crops while we were out there.

After picking the pumpkins, we had a snack - cookies and juice, and then after I shopped for apples, corn and a bale of straw, we took off to Wesselman Woods. The kids were so intrigued by the large playground, they had little interest in lunch.

We left the park for home about 12:45. We landed at home and THEN they decided they were hungry. I said, "Next meal is snack."

It was a really nice trip.

Next trip is to the Stay Alive House at the 4H center in Vanderburgh County for a week of fire safety and rescue!

Pressing the Button

A favor to ask, it only takes a minute....
*I * 6 *Y
Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

You can find the web site by looking at the links to the right and clicking on Breast Cancer Site under Charities. It only takes five seconds to do. Please help those who can't help themselves and help those of us who care to do this simple thing to get free mammograms for women who can't afford them.

AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS TO TELL 10 TODAY

Mothers

I got this from Susie Englert who recently became a full time Mom. This reminds me of every single person on our staff at school, and so many of the mothers who bring their children to us.

I'm invisible..... It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Pick me up right around 5:30, please.?"

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going . she's going . she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.

My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip, and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of
what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will
ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if
I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand- bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Peanut Butter Pudding

From Kraft Kitchens Warm Peanut Butter Pudding Recipe Rating: Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 5 min Makes: 4 servings, 1/2 cup each Nutrition Information Kraft Kitchens Tips Ratings and comments You may also enjoy

2 cups cold milk 1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

POUR milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended.

SPOON evenly into four microwaveable dessert dishes. Top each with 1 Tbsp. peanut butter.

MICROWAVE on HIGH 30 sec. or until peanut butter begins to melt and pudding is heated through. Top each serving with 1 Tbsp. of the whipped topping.

Dear Deer

Just a story to love. Every child should have an experience like this. For me it was an 18 point deer in Yosemite National Park who ate marshmallows out of my hand every day, and the bear who used to come up on my porch to eat apples from the barrel, and the wild birds my family raised, and the raccoons who spent their winters in our basement.

Here's the story:

Our house was built in the deer's natural habitat in a remote rural area. Well worn deer trails cut through the property's abundant pine and sage. The oldest deer we've met (we call her Mama Rose) walked right up to us when we first arrived, sniffing and looking us over. We live in the middle of their foraging route, and so it seems okay to sometimes give them a few organic almonds out of our hands.

That's what we had on us when we first met Mama Rose, and the habit's stuck. Rose and her kin obviously think the yard belongs to them as much as anyone else, and they are just taking advantage of the wealth of natural foods growing everywhere. They especially like clover flowers, but it's amazing to see the variety of tasty flowers, leaves, twigs, nuts and berries they'll eat. They stay away from herbs and herbal flowers, but on occasion we've seen young deer eating the sweet medicinal berries of the Juniper tree.

Food is of course a major concern, but we also think they visit because they like our company. Often we see deer we don't know nibbling in the yard, but nearly every day some or many of Rose's extended family come by. All of the deer are likely to lie down on the grass and hang out, whether we know them well or not. Many of them know us personally, and while often running into the yard to greet us with their quiet enthusiasm, they will also swiftly shy away from strangers.

Although notoriously skittish, able to leap meters in the air in an instant when startled, a few deer we know, most notably Eva and her kids, will let us touch them as if we were family, letting us scratch them or pick something out of their fur. Eva even enjoys a hearty backrub! We've certainly learned a lot about how to act around them so as not to disturb them. We think they appreciate our efforts in fitting into their neighborhood.

Dogs and Kids

. . . Not All Heroes Are People. . .

Thanks to my good friend Kathy Singleton for sharing this story with me, so with the Anniversary of 9/11 being next Tuesday I thought it appropriate to share this with you.

Daisy - New York First Canine Medal of Honor Winner

James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He was blind and had a golden retriever named Daisy. After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew he was doomed. Out of an act of love, he let Daisy go. She darted away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke, James was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy came back, along with James' boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112.

On her first run of the building, she led James, James' boss, and about 300 people out of the doomed building. But she wasn't through yet. She knew there were others who were trapped. Against James' wishes, she ran back into the building.

On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapsed. James heard about this and fell on his knees into tears. Against all known odds, Daisy made it out alive. But this time she was carried by a firefighter. "She led us right to the people, before she got injured", the fireman explained.

Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg while saving 967 human lives. The following week, Mayor Giuliani awarded Daisy the New York Canine Medal of Honor.

Daisy is the first civilian canine to win such an honor.

“A Dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” Josh Billings

Comment: Except for a very good child. Children love their parents more than they love themselves. This is only unlearned through abuse and neglect.

Fun Stuff

I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

It sounds so true! This is the kinds of thing we hear all day. My favorite is "Your shoes are on the wrong feet."

"But Miss Judy, they are the only feet I have." And so the day goes!

It was a funny day. Mondays are horrible. Too much only child syndrome over the weekend. It takes nearly a whole day to re-community the children. By Tuesday, the play is better, the listening is better, and the results of work are better - even the eating is better.

I am enchanted with the learning of the letters in our preschool class. I teach letters by stories, and our stories are short. If your child says, "That's upstairs downstairs in my house," he means an H. It won't be long before he says "H," but before he says "H" he has to recognize it from all the other letters. So we offer the children short little stories to help. It makes the letters go so quickly.

A is Airplane
B is Butterfly
C is Mr. C Clam
D is Dg house
E is EEEEEEE
F is Fishing Pole
G is God's Head
H is Upstairs downstairs in my house
I is Ichabod who has one eye
J is Jungle Jumper
K is Mr. Kicker K
L is long lick lollipop
M is Mouse house
N is Not a mouse house
O is "Very Useful..."
P is Paint brush
Q is Queen's ring
R is Rabbit
S is Snake
T is Turtle table
U is Underwear
V is Victory
W is Waterworks basement for the mouse house
X marks the spot
Y are you doing that to my road
Z is for Zorro, Zap, Zap, Zap

We are making great strides. We have not done Y, Z, W Q or J. We've covered the rest, and 50 % of the kids know them.

The Garden School Tattler

School is very hectic this year. We have a very young crew and that means a lot of just getting order to be order - it's like driving chaos into a corral and branding it. Sometimes it's a chore, and sometimes it's not.

The kids are all very sweet and seem to like being at school especially when we serve Popsicles and other treats. Clean up is another story. I think this year the collective thought it, "Who me?"
Clean up is important to share. The little ones are learning that. I asked a few kids standing over a rather substantial mess to help clean it up. Not one child moved but Phoebe, and she cleaned up the whole mess, and I gave her a candy bar. She was so delighted. The other kids all had their hands out too. I said, "But Phoebe cleaned up the mess; what did you do?" They said, "But we want one too!" And I said, "Then you should help with cleanups." It's a quick lesson to learn, and many of those kids learned it on the spot.

Lunch has been an eye opener. Just keeping chairs pushed in so most of the food continues to be in the vicinity of the table is another chore. I'm always surprised when children don't know how to sit at a table for more than a few minutes. Our lunch time goes between prayer and prayer. It's about twenty minutes long. They learn that quickly, however, and are making strides.

Understanding which class they are in is another very funny task to learn. When there is a dismissal by class, every child rises and heads toward the bathrooms. We try to get the older kids out first because they can do it all by themselves, and they go fast. The smaller they are, the more help they will need in the bathroom, so we leave the youngest class for last. But when we call the classes, it doesn't matter how much we explain, every child rises. We have to laugh.

Today in Mrs. St. Louis's and my class, we will try to string again. The children got the idea, but they didn't like the fact that the tasty cereal was not to put in their mouths, but instead had to be put on this irritating string! Again laughs for the moment.

Busy days, blessed days!

Mushrooms

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Mushrooms, crimini

Coffee colored and richer in flavor and nutrients than the more common white button mushroom, crimini mushrooms are available throughout the year.

Mushrooms are as mysteriously unique as they are delicious. While often thought of as a vegetable and prepared like one, mushrooms are actually a fungus, a special type of living organism that has no roots, leaves, flowers or seeds. While mushroom can be cultivated, they can also be found growing wild in many regions of the world.

This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Mushrooms, crimini provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Mushrooms, crimini can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Mushrooms, crimini, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Powerful Phytonutrients Promote Optimal Health

For the past twenty years, phytonutrients found in mushrooms have been the object of anti-cancer research. Most of this research has centered on carbohydrate-related parts of mushrooms, including their polysaccharide and beta-glucan components. In addition, most of this research has focused on the "specialty" mushrooms, including Shiitake, Maitake, and Reishi. More recently, however, the common button mushrooms, including crimini, have been shown to have anticancer properties as well. In particular, adding these mushrooms to the diet may help protect against the development of breast cancer by preventing circulating levels of estrogen in the body from becoming excessive. (Excessive estrogen, or hyperestrogenemia, has been repeatedly linked to increased risk of breast cancer). This effect appears to be accomplished through inhibition of an enzyme in the body called aromatase (estrogen synthase) that is necessary for the production of estrogen.

The range of traditional nutrients found in crimini mushrooms is equally impressive. Our food ranking system showed crimini mushrooms to be an excellent source of selenium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), copper, niacin (vitamin B3), potassium and phosphorous. Selenium is needed for the proper function of the antioxidant system, which works to reduce the levels of damaging free radicals in the body. Selenium is a necessary cofactor of one of the body's most important internally produced antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase, and also works with vitamin E in numerous vital antioxidant systems throughout the body. These powerful antioxidant actions make selenium helpful not only against colon cancer by protecting colon cells from cancer-causing toxins, but in decreasing asthma and arthritis symptoms and in the prevention of heart disease. In addition, selenium is involved in DNA repair, yet another way in which adequate intake of this mineral is associated with a reduced risk for cancer. Five ounces of raw crimini mushrooms provide 52.6% of the daily value (DV) for selenium.

Copper is another trace mineral that may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Copper, along with manganese (yet another trace mineral for which crimini mushrooms is a very good source), is an essential cofactor of a key oxidative enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells). Copper is also necessary for the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme involved in cross-linking collagen and elastin, both of which provide the ground substance and flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints. Low dietary intake of copper may also be associated with increased fecal free radical production and fecal water alkaline phosphatase activity, risk factors for colon cancer. Five ounces of raw crimini mushrooms supply 35.5% of the DV for copper and 10.0% of the DV for manganese.

Crimini mushrooms are also a good source of iron, which is primarily used as part of hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for transporting and releasing oxygen throughout the body. But hemoglobin synthesis also relies on copper. Without copper, iron cannot be properly utilized in red blood cells. Fortunately, Mother Nature supplies both minerals in crimini mushrooms.

Our food ranking system also showed these mushrooms to contain a variety of B complex vitamins. Crimini mushrooms qualified as an excellent source of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin, as well as a very good source of thiamin, and vitamin B6, and a good source of folate, all of which are nutrients that are necessary for carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) plays at least two important roles in the body's energy production. When active in energy production pathways, riboflavin takes the form of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN). In these forms, riboflavin attaches to protein enzymes called flavoproteins that allow oxygen-based energy production to occur. Flavoproteins are found throughout the body, particularly in locations where oxygen-based energy production is constantly needed, such as the heart and other muscles.

Riboflavin's other role in energy production is protective. The oxygen-containing molecules the body uses to produce energy can be highly reactive and can inadvertently cause damage to the mitochondria and even the cells themselves. In the mitochondria, such damage is largely prevented by a small, protein-like molecule called glutathione. Like many "antioxidant" molecules, glutathione must be constantly recycled, and it is vitamin B2 that allows this recycling to take place. (Technically, vitamin B2 is a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione reductase that reduces the oxidized form of glutathione back to its reduced version.) Riboflavin been shown to be able to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches in people who suffer from them. Five ounces of crimini mushrooms supply 40.6% of the DV for riboflavin.

The B vitamin, pantothenic acid also plays an important role in the prevention of fatigue since it supports the function of the adrenal glands, particularly in times of stress. Five ounces of crimini mushrooms provide 21.3% of the DV for pantothenic acid.

Niacin (vitamin B3) is helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and in preventing osteoarthritis, while vitamin B6 is needed to convert homocysteine, a dangerous molecule that can directly damage blood vessel walls, into other benign substances. At high levels, homocysteine is associated with a greatly increased risk for heart attack and stroke, so crimini mushrooms which contain 26.9% of the DV for niacin, and 8.0% of the DV for vitamin B6 are of significant benefit.

Zinc for Optimal Immune Function

As if the above health benefits were not enough, crimini mushrooms were also determined to be a very good source of zinc. Zinc affects many fundamental processes, perhaps the most important of which is immune function. If one mineral was singled out for its beneficial effects on the immune system, zinc would lead the pack. A cofactor in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions, zinc is critical not only to immune function, but to wound healing, and normal cell division. Zinc also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and the body's metabolic rate, is necessary for an optimal sense of smell and taste, has been shown to prevent the blood vessel damage that can occur in atherosclerosis, and may help to reduce the painful inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. A strong immune system depends on adequate zinc levels, so the zinc in crimini mushrooms may also help to prevent illnesses such as recurrent colds and ear infections, and even some of the serious infections seen in patients with advanced or long-standing diabetes. Five ounces of crimini mushrooms provide 10.4% of the daily value for zinc.

Protection against Alzheimer's Disease and Age-related Cognitive Decline

Research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry suggests that regular consumption of niacin-rich foods like crimini mushrooms also provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Researchers from the Chicago Health and Aging Project interviewed over 3,500 Chicago residents aged 65 or older about their diet, then tested their cognitive abilities over the following six years. Those getting the most niacin from foods (22 mg per day) were 70% less likely to have developed Alzheimer's disease than those consuming the least (about 13 mg daily), and their rate of age-related cognitive decline was significantly less.

Mushrooms Found to be Top Food Source of Potent Antioxidant

L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant, has been discovered in mushrooms, thanks to a new analytical method capable of identifying this antioxidant in plant material. In research presented at the 2005 American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C., an American research team revealed that mushrooms contain higher concentrations L-ergothioneine than either of the two dietary sources previously believed to contain the most: chicken liver and wheat germ.

Testing mushrooms consumed in the U.S., the team found that shiitake, oyster, king oyster and maitake mushrooms contain the highest amounts of ergothioneine, with up to 13 mg in a 3-ounce serving. This equals forty times as much as is found in wheat germ.

Of the most commonly consumed mushrooms, portabellas and criminis have the most L-ergothioneine, followed by white buttons. White buttons, the most popular of all mushrooms consumed in the U.S., contain up to 5 mg per three ounce serving-12 times as much as wheat germ and 4 times more than chicken liver. And more good news, L-ergothioneine is not destroyed when mushrooms are cooked.

Description

Mushrooms are as mysteriously unique as they are delicious. While often thought of as a vegetable and prepared like one, mushrooms are actually fungi, a special type of living organism that has no roots, leaves, flowers or seeds. While they can be cultivated, they easily grow wild in many regions of the world.

Button mushrooms generally look like little cartoon umbrellas, having a dense parasol-like cap attached to a stem that can be short and thick or thin and slightly curvy. There are three different types of button mushrooms-white mushrooms, crimini mushrooms and portabello mushrooms. The white mushroom is the most common type and is the cream colored mushroom that often adorns salads. The crimini mushroom, which looks just like the button but is coffee colored, actually features a more distinctive flavor. The portabello mushroom whose large size and meaty flavor make it a wonderful vegetarian entrée, is actually an overgrown crimini mushroom. The scientific name for these mushrooms is Agaricus bisporus.

History

Button mushrooms have grown wild since prehistoric times, having been consumed as food by the early hunter-gatherers. Since ancient times, mushrooms have been thought to have special powers. The Egyptians thought that they granted immortality, and since only the pharaohs were felt to be worthy of this gift, the common people were not even allowed to touch mushrooms, let alone eat them. In ancient Rome, people oftentimes referred to mushrooms as cibus diorum-food for the gods. The folklore of many cultures, including Russia, China and Mexico held that eating mushrooms could give someone superhuman strength.

Although button mushrooms have been enjoyed by people around the world for millennia, it was not until the 17th century that they began to be cultivated. The first attempts at cultivation began near Paris, a city that still has hundreds of miles of underground caves and tunnels where mushrooms are grown. Cultivation of button mushrooms began in the United States in the late 19th century. Button mushrooms are grown throughout many regions of the world, especially countries in the Northern Hemisphere. The United States is one of the leading commercial producers of button mushrooms with the majority being produced in Pennsylvania.

How to Select and Store

Look for mushrooms that are firm, plump and clean. Those that are wrinkled or have wet slimy spots should be avoided. Since mushrooms darken as they age, choose those that are either creamy white or tan, depending upon whether you are purchasing white or Crimini mushrooms. If your recipe calls for caps only, choose mushrooms that have short stems to avoid waste. Fresh and dried button mushrooms are available throughout the year.

The best way to store loose button mushrooms is to keep them in the refrigerator either placed in a loosely closed paper bag, wrapped in a damp cloth or laid out in a glass dish that is covered with a moist cloth. These methods will help them to preserve their moisture without becoming soggy and will keep them fresh for several days. Mushrooms that are purchased prepackaged can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in their original container. Dried mushrooms should be stored in a tightly sealed container in either the refrigerator or freezer, where they will stay fresh for six months to one year.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.

Tips for Preparing Mushrooms:

Mushrooms are so porous that if they are exposed to too much water, they will quickly absorb it and become soggy. Therefore, the best way to clean mushrooms without sacrificing their texture and taste is to clean them using minimal, if any, water. To do this, simply wipe them with a slightly damp paper towel or kitchen cloth. You could also use a mushroom brush, available at most kitchenware stores.

If using the whole mushroom in a recipe, simply slice off the very bottom of the stem, which is usually a bit spongy. If your recipe only calls for the caps, gently break off the stems with your hands and discard (or save for making soup stock).

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Healthy sautéed mushrooms and onions make a great side dish to meat dishes.

Add finely chopped mushrooms to a pot of tomato pasta sauce.

After removing the stems from mushrooms, stuff them with your favorite vegetable medley or soft cheese.

Make the classic brunch favorite...the mushroom omelet.

Safety

Crimini Mushrooms and Purines

Crimini mushrooms contain naturally-occurring substances called purines. Purines are commonly found in plants, animals, and humans. In some individuals who are susceptible to purine-related problems, excessive intake of these substances can cause health problems. Since purines can be broken down to form uric acid, excess accumulation of purines in the body can lead to excess accumulation of uric acid. The health condition called "gout" and the formation of kidney stones from uric acid are two examples of uric acid-related problems that can be related to excessive intake of purine-containing foods. For this reason, individuals with kidney problems or gout may want to limit or avoid intake of purine-containing foods such as crimini mushrooms.For more on this subject, please see "What are purines and in which foods are they found?"

Nutritional Profile

Crimini mushrooms are an excellent source of many minerals including selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, and zinc. They are also an excellent source of B vitamins including vitamin B2, pantothenic acid and niacin. In addition, crimini mushrooms are a very good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 , zinc, manganese and protein.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Crimini mushrooms.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Mushrooms, crimini is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good or good source. Next to the nutrient name you will find the following information: the amount of the nutrient that is included in the noted serving of this food; the %Daily Value (DV) that that amount represents; the nutrient density rating; and the food's World's Healthiest Foods Rating. Underneath the chart is a table that summarizes how the ratings were devised. Read detailed information on our Food and Recipe Rating System.

Crimini mushrooms, raw 5.00 oz-wt 141.75 grams 31.19 calories Nutrient Amount DV (%) Nutrient Density World's Healthiest Foods Rating selenium 36.85 mcg 52.6 30.4 excellent vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0.69 mg 40.6 23.4 excellent copper 0.71 mg 35.5 20.5 excellent vitamin B3 (niacin) 5.39 mg 26.9 15.6 excellent tryptophan 0.08 g 25.0 14.4 excellent vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) 2.13 mg 21.3 12.3 excellent potassium 635.04 mg 18.1 10.5 excellent phosphorus 170.10 mg 17.0 9.8 excellent zinc 1.56 mg 10.4 6.0 very good manganese 0.20 mg 10.0 5.8 very good vitamin B1 (thiamin) 0.13 mg 8.7 5.0 very good vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.16 mg 8.0 4.6 very good protein 3.54 g 7.1 4.1 very good folate 19.85 mcg 5.0 2.9 good dietary fiber 0.85 g 3.4 2.0 good magnesium 12.76 mg 3.2 1.8 good iron 0.57 mg 3.2 1.8 good calcium 25.52 mg 2.6 1.5 good World's Healthiest Foods Rating Rule excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10% very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5% good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Mushrooms, crimini