Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

from Diabetic Living Magazine 

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup butter, softened
• ¼ cup 50% to 70% vegetable oil spread
• ½ cup packed brown sugar (see Tip)
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ cup full-flavor molasses
• ¼ cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed, or 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup white whole-wheat flour or whole-wheat flour

 

Preparation

• Prep
  40 m
• Ready In
  2 h 50 m

1. In a large bowl, combine butter and vegetable oil spread; beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and cloves. Beat until well mixed, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in molasses and egg. (Mixture will look curdled.) Add all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, beating just until combined. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill the dough for 2 to 3 hours or until easy to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough, half at a time, to ⅛-inch thickness. Using a 2- to 3-inch gingerbread person cookie cutter, cut out shapes; re-roll scraps as necessary. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes or until edges are firm and centers are set. Cool on cookie sheets on wire racks for 1 minute. Transfer to wire racks; cool.

• Tip: We do not recommend using brown sugar substitutes for this recipe.

 

Nutrition information

• Serving size: 1 cookie
• Per serving: 73 calories; 2 g fat(1 g sat); 0 g fiber; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 20 mcg folate; 3 mg cholesterol; 4 g sugars; 116 IU vitamin A; 0 mg vitamin C; 10 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 73 mg sodium; 53 mg potassium
• Carbohydrate Servings: 1
• Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate

 

Experience Gifts for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa

from familyconnect.org 

“This Christmas,” my parents told me when I was twelve “we are going on a family trip instead of buying presents. Here’s why: Do you remember what we bought you last year? No? Well, you never forget an experience.”

They were right. I never forgot that trip; we drove from our home in Raleigh to a cabin-inspired hotel in the North Carolina mountains for the weekend. It was my first time playing in the snow and it was marvelous.

And so began a new tradition where we had a small gift to open on Christmas, but the highlight was the forging of a memory. To my parents, thank you for that quality time.
Experience gifts. I can think of several reasons why they may be an ideal present for your child this year.

First, they typically require quality time. Time engaged in an appealing activity with parents, grandparents, an aunt, or an uncle is valuable and is the currency of love to a child.

Second, children with visual impairments learn through experiences. The first-hand experience of playing in snow for the first time, for instance, will teach your child the concept of snow.
Third, many children (though certainly not all) already have an excess of toys. Your home will be less cluttered and your family can appreciate time over “stuff”. 

Would you help me come up with experience gift ideas? Here are my suggestions:

• With usual hectic schedules, the greatest gift may be a short retreat from your high-pressure or fast-paced routine. A hotel in a nearby or faraway city may provide laughter in the heated pool, discovering a new restaurant and park, and a lovely evening walk.
• Consider a family friendly movie in theater with audio description headphones.
• Consider a trip to a theme park. Here in San Antonio, we have Morgan's Wonderland, a theme park designed for families with special needs “where everyone can play”.
• Perhaps your older daughter would enjoy a manicure and pedicure, or even a make-up lesson.
• Think about any professional lessons your child could participate in for the next year: piano, horseback riding, gymnastics, art, acting, martial arts, computer coding, or voice lessons. Read about the benefits of hobbies for children who are blind or visually impaired and consider a gift certificate to a year of hobby lessons.
• How about a coupon book filled with “dates” with you throughout the year? Your first date could be a trip to a toy store where your child can choose a gift within a certain budget. Read blogger Emily Coleman’s experience with her son, Eddie.
• Create a project together that would interest your child. For example, an invitation to build a treehouse in the backyard; wrap a piece of lumber.
• Purchase tickets to a hands-on museum, a petting zoo, a concert, or a play.
• Consider a weekly “mommy and me” gym class with your toddler.
• What about memberships for a rock gym, a trampoline park, or an indoor pool?

Most importantly, think about the interests of your child. What would she potentially find engaging, interesting, or exciting? 

Make it fun. Make a memory.

 

Dollar General Circular November 25-December 1

Dollar General Circular November 25-December 1

3/$6 mix and match General Mills Cereals/Kellogg's Cereals

$5.95 Folger's coffee 22.6 ounces

BOGO 50% off select toys

2/$7 Tombstone Frozen Pizza

$4.50 DG Home toilet paper 12 soft rolls

$2.50 Crisco vegetable oil

Dollar General Circular November 18-24

Dollar General Circular November 18-24

$2.75 Welch's Sparkling Juice 750 ML bottle

$3.50 Edy's Grand Ice Cream 48 ounces assorted flavors

$4.95 DiGiornio rising crust pizza 24.8 ounces assorted toppings

$5.95 Maxwell House coffee 30.6 ounces

$3 Smithfield bacon 12 ounces or sausage 16 ounces

$1 Clover Valley seasonal spices

$2.50 Libby's pumpkin 29 ounce cans

3/$3 Heinz homestyle gravy 12 ounces or Stovetop Stuffing 6 ounces

Fun Thanksgiving Appetizer: Savory Party Bread

Savory Party Bread

from tasteofhome.com 

Ingredients

• 1 unsliced round loaf sourdough bread (1 pound)
• 1 pound Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 2 to 3 teaspoons poppy seeds

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cut bread widthwise into 1-in. slices to within 1/2 in. of bottom of loaf. Repeat cuts in opposite direction. Cut cheese into 1/4-in. slices; cut slices into small pieces. Place cheese in cuts.
• In a small bowl, mix butter, green onions and poppy seeds; drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Unwrap; bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

 

How to hack your gratitude just in time for Thanksgiving

from abcnews.com

Nearly every piece of advice these days for finding happiness includes something about gratitude, including everything from saying three things you're thankful for each day to keeping a gratitude journal. 

The advice is sound -- research shows gratitude makes us happier, healthier people -- but actually practicing gratitude is the bigger hurdle. 

The good news, experts say, is there are easy ways to improve. 

"We used to think you inherit optimism and pessimism, so some people will be better than others at gratitude," explained Shawn Achor, author of "The Happiness Advantage" and a positive psychology expert. "But we now know you can train your brain to see more positives in the same way you train your body to swing a golf club." 

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, there is no better time than now to make gratitude a part of your daily life. 

Starting to train your gratitude muscle now means that at Thanksgiving, you'll be able to look past the burned turkey or the negative family member to see the moments that bring you joy, Achor explained.

Here are the why's and how's of practicing gratitude, just in time for the holidays.

How can gratitude help me?

Gratitude is the brain’s ability to find meaning in whatever environment you find yourself, Achor said. 

To make gratitude a habit, it helps to understand what a positive impact it can have on your well-being. 

"Your life is what you focus on, so focusing on gratitude means living with a grateful heart," said Rachel Hollis, author of the New York Times best-seller "Girl, Wash Your Face." "It's about being intentional with your time and your thoughts so you can focus in on the blessings in your life." 

Practicing gratitude can reduce stress, reduce depression, reduce symptoms of physical illness and just make you an all-around happier person, research shows.

"Gratitude deepens your connection to others and strengthens your relationships," said Gabrielle Bernstein, bestselling author of "The Universe Has Your Back." "When you embrace an energy of gratitude, people will want to spend more time with you and support you."

Does it matter what I'm grateful for?

The short answer, according to experts, is yes. 

"Most people believe that they are very grateful, but then can only think of the obvious things, like, 'I’m grateful for this family member or my job,'" Achor said. "But what really makes someone grateful, in my research, is the ability to scan for multiple, varied and non-obvious things, even in the midst of stress or change." 

In other words, practicing real gratitude takes digging a bit below the surface.

Instead of saying you are grateful for your job or your son, think of why you are grateful for your job and why you are grateful for your son. 

"It's not what you're grateful for that matters, it's why," Achor said. 

So how do I practice gratitude?

Be intentional about noticing what you are grateful for all around you as you move through the day, experts say. 

To make it even more powerful, take time each day to write down the things for which you are grateful. 

Write your list in the morning or the evening, or both. Both have benefits, according to experts, but the more important thing is that you write it. 

If you struggle to find what you're grateful for, try these tips: 

Focus on little moments: "I tell people to look for little moments: a great cup of coffee, your 5-year-old telling you a joke, someone letting you into rush hour traffic on the freeway," said Hollis. "It helps you to appreciate today."

Think of gratitude like you think of a noun: "Focus on a person you’re really appreciative of today, like your partner or your parent," recommends Hollis. "Then focus on a place -- your favorite chair or your cozy bed. Imagine yourself there. See it in detail. Lastly, focus on a thing, like your favorite sweater."

Send a note to a family member, friend or colleague: Bernstein recommends using the Thanksgiving season to write a letter to a family member or a friend to let them know why you're grateful for them. On a daily basis, sending just a quick email of thanks and appreciation each day to someone will have a positive impact on you, not to mention the recipient.

How do I include my family?

Including friends and family members in your gratitude practice not only makes it more fun, but more effective, Achor said. 

Here are his three tips, in his own words: 

1. Create a gratitude jar that you have everyone in your family add one or two things that they are grateful for from over the past year. Then read them as a family, and remind them again of them at New Year's.

2. Create a digital photo album of the past year showing all the things you have to be grateful for. Then watch it as a family.

3. Do something collaborative with family, even putting together a puzzle or a game of touch football or your own Macy's parade with your kids with balloon blimps.

Read more here.

 

Dollar General Circular November 11-November 17

Dollar General Circular November 11-November 17

$5 Folgers coffee or Maxwell House coffee 30-30 ounces variety

3/$6 Kellogg's cereal variety

BOGO 50% off Jiffy-Foil bakeware

$6 Glad kitchen or trash bags value pack

BOGO 50% off DG Home laundry products

3/$5 Fritos assorted varieties 9.25-9.75 ounces

Buy 2 get 1 free Trueliving bakeware gadgets

Cold or Flu? How to Know Which One You Have

Cold or Flu? How to Know Which One You Have

from healthline.com

Overview

Your nose is stuffy, your throat is scratchy, and your head is pounding. Is it a cold or the seasonal flu? Symptoms can overlap, so unless your doctor runs a rapid flu test — a quick check done with a cotton swab from the back of your nose or throat — it’s hard to know for sure. Here are some basic guidelines for telling the difference between cold and flu symptoms, and what to do if you have either one of these infections.

How to spot the difference

Viruses cause colds and the flu. Both are respiratory infections. The simplest way to tell the difference is by looking at your symptoms.

If you have a cold, you’ll probably have symptoms like these:

·         runny or stuffy nose

·         sore throat

·         sneezing

·         cough

·         headache or body aches

·         mild tiredness

Flu symptoms can include:

·         dry, hacking cough

·         moderate to high fever, although not everyone with the flu will run a fever

·         sore throat

·         shaking chills

·         severe muscle or body aches

·         headache

·         stuffy and runny nose

·         severe fatigue that may last up to two weeks

·         nausea and vomiting (most common in children)

Colds come on gradually over a few days and are often milder than the flu. They usually get better in 7 to 10 days, although symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks.

Flu symptoms come on quickly and can be severe. They usually last 1 to 2 weeks.

Use your symptoms as a guide to figure out which condition you have. If you think you might have the flu, see your doctor to get tested within the first 48 hours of showing symptoms.

What is the common cold?

The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 100 different viruses can cause the common cold. However, the rhinovirus is most often the one that makes people sneeze and sniffle, and it’s highly contagious.

Though you can catch a cold at any time of year, colds are more common during the winter months. This is because most cold-causing viruses thrive in low humidity.
Colds spread when someone who’s sick sneezes or coughs, sending virus-filled droplets flying through the air. You can get sick if you touch a surface (such as a countertop or doorknob) that has recently been handled by an infected person and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. You’re most contagious in the first two to four days after you were exposed to the cold virus.

How to treat a cold

Because it is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective at treating a cold. However, over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs, can relieve congestion, aches, and other cold symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Some people take natural remedies, such as zinc, vitamin C, or echinacea, to prevent or relieve cold symptoms. The evidence is mixed on whether they work.

A 2015 study in BMC Family Practice found that high-dose (80 milligram) zinc lozenges could shorten the length of colds if taken within 24 hours of showing symptoms. Vitamin C doesn’t seem to prevent colds, but if you take it consistently, it might lessen your symptoms, according to a 2013 Cochrane review. And echinacea hasn’t been shown to help prevent or treat colds. A 2017 study in BMJ found vitamin D helps protect against both colds and flu.

Colds usually clear up within 7 to 10 days. See a doctor if:

·         your cold hasn’t improved in about a week

·         you start to run a high fever

·         your fever doesn’t go down

You could have allergies or a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics, such as sinusitis or strep throat. A nagging cough could also be a sign of asthma or bronchitis.

Click here for more information

OIB Thanksgiving Dinner--Nov. 10, 2018

OIB Thanksgiving Dinner

November 10, 2018 

Place:  World Services for the Blind Auditorium

Time:  1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Please call Rosalyn to let her know if you are needing to be picked up!!!! 

(501) 664-7100 Extension 233