| From Kraft Kitchens
Warm Peanut Butter Pudding    
Prep Time: 5 min Nutrition Information |
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| 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. |
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.
. . . 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.
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.
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!
The George Mateljan Foundation is a non-profit organization free of commercial influence, which provides this website for you free of charge. Our purpose is to provide you with unbiased scientific information about how nutrient-rich World’s Healthiest Foods can promote vibrant health and energy and fit your personal needs and busy lifestyle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?”
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.
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In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Mushrooms, crimini
Comment:
I just love this!
A round watermelon can take up a lot of room
in a refrigerator and the usually round fruit
often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves.
Smart Japanese Farmers have forced their watermelons
to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into
square, tempered glass cases while the fruit
is still growing on the vine.
Are they in your lo
Comment: Here is Robyn’s new favorite site. Kids love bugs and the studying of bugs encourages scientists. You can find it in the links.
All Abuzz About Bugs!
We are an online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures.
We enjoy the opportunity to instill in others the fascination and appreciation that we share for the intricate lives of these oft-maligned creatures.
Our Mission
Using the best resources we have access to, we are creating a knowledgebase to help each other and the online community.
We summarize our findings in guide pages like the one shown at right.
Our Method
We collect photographs of bugs from the United States and Canada for identification and research.
Making New Discoveries
More than just a clearinghouse for information, this site helps expand on the natural histories of our subjects. By capturing the place and time that submitted images were taken, we are creating a virtual collection that helps define where and when things might be found.
We capture never before seen behaviors and we have photos of species that you won’t find anywhere else on the web.
Comment: With the cooler weather coming in, a lot of us will begin new physical fitness programs, and this is great to do for parents who sit all day and come home to active children. Here is an article from Baby Fit web site that’s excellent.
Avoid Common Fitness Pitfalls
Do’s
Don’ts
“One of the most common mistakes first timers make is taking on too much at once. You’ll be too sore and too tired within a few short days to continue. Always start out slowly, ALWAYS.” – D. Cavalone, Personal Trainer
Always remember to keep an open mind and remain flexible when starting a new exercise routine. At times you may find it necessary to change your routine slightly. Life is a dynamic ride and you’ll find your fitness journey is too. If you’re willing to try new things and set reasonable expectations, you’ll reap the rewards of your fitness program and successfully achieve your fitness goals.
Comment: I’m always interested in what’s going on in the world outside of the US, and I used to post a lot of articles about world childcare. I have a real interest in Roma or what we used to call Gypsy children. These children live an interesting and sometimes really hard life. I saw a lot of them in Ireland when I traveled there. Here’s an article.
The educational level of the Roma population, which suffers from poverty, unemployment and discrimination, is generally much lower than the average. In Europe, for instance, as much as 50% of Roma children fail to complete primary school. In Central and Eastern Europe, 50% to 80% of Roma children enrolled in school are still systematically routed into “special schools” established in the 1950s and 1960s for children with learning disabilities (Source: Council of Europe, 2006).
They are also under-represented in pre-primary school. For example, in Bulgaria and Romania where three-quarters of children participate in preschool education, only 16% and 17% respectively of Roma children are enrolled in this level (Source: UNICEF, 2007). And as shown in the 2007 Education for All Global Monitoring Report, “Strong Foundations”, published by UNESCO, the most vulnerable children who would benefit the most from early childhood educational programmes, are also those least likely to have access to them.
The meeting will make it possible to identify key issues in education for Roma children and to review effective strategies to promote their access to schooling. It is organized within the framework of UNESCO’s activities related to education of children in difficult circumstances. Expansion of early childhood care and education is the first of the six goals adopted by the international community at the World Education Forum in Dakar (Senegal) in 2000. The meeting is also part of a wider Council of Europe project, “The Education of Roma children in Europe”.
