REAL | LOCAL | MOMS
Salem | June/July 2019 | FREE
COVER MOM
TRAVELING USA
FOOD FEATURE
DAISHA JOHNSON
ALL ABOARD
BLUEBERRIES
It’s what‘s
All Aboard
18
Meet the MOM experts... 4
inside that counts
You Rock
24
Blueberries 26
They know what they're
Cover MOM: Daisha Johnson...............10
You rock.............................24
talking about
This mom gets real
Because I said so............... 5
All aboard..........................18
Summer time in the blueberry patch..............26
A message from MOM
Traveling the United States
Recipes with NW blueberries
Healthy MOM..................... 8
On the road.......................22
Tips for a classic summer road
How to get your car road trip
trip, from Santiam Hospital
ready from Capitol Auto
Painting and hiding rock
Group
More ways to love your MOM Blog: mommag.com Facebook: facebook.com/ lovemommag
Cover MOM
10
Photos by J. Loraine Photography
Advertise today Want to get the word out about your business? Contact Kim Leighty at kim.leighty@mommag.com mommag.com 3
meet the
experts
[They know what they’re talking about] Move. Get moving with Cara Turnquist & Jill McLean, page 7
Health. Healthy MOM with Santiam Hospital, page 8
Road
on the Road with Stevie Torneskog, page 22
“Having children is like living in a frat house nobody sleeps, everything's
throwing up. ― Ray Romano
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“
broken, and there's a lot of
Because I said so! Published by GO Creative, LLC 263 29th Avenue SW Albany, OR 97322 Editor-in-Chief Managing Director Angela Hibbard angela@mommag.com Salem Advertising Representative Kim Leighty kim.leighty@mommag.com 503-510-9036 Mid-Valley & Lane County Business Development Manager Linda Blair linda@mommag.com 541-231-7250 Tri-Cities Business Development Manager Kim Harvey kim@mommag.com 509-460-6526 Designer Sean Carver
We love hearing from you. Email info@mommag.com with feedback, story ideas or nominations. MOM MagazineTM is produced by GO Creative, LLC. © 2018 All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Information in the magazine is provided for general information purposes only with the understanding that none of the content constitutes professional advice. Opinions expressed by the writers or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of the magazine or the publisher. Inclusion in the magazine does not constitute endorsement of information, products or services.
Are we there yet?
Our family has taken a lot of road trips over the years. In fact, one of my few mom brags is that my kids are great travelers. But that doesn’t immunize us from bumps along the road. I can’t think of a single journey that hasn’t involved some sort of derailment often related to vomit, lost lovies, potty mishaps, a trip to urgent care, or all of the above. At the time I can't help thinking, “Can't we just get there?” But it’s often these times, or how we respond to them, that we remember most and that have become family folklore. The destination might be forgotten, but we remember the moments. In motherhood, just like road trips, I can get too focused on the next mile marker and lose sight of the journey. Are we (sleeping through the night, walking, talking, potty trained) there yet? When my son was in preschool, I worked with him to identify colors for what seemed like forever. We selected a color each week and had fun spotting it all around town. Then, one day shortly after “red week,” we spotted a red truck and I was so deflated when he didn’t recognize it as red. I thought, “Are you kidding? After all that work, we’re not there yet? Now I see that the destination wasn’t learning colors (although that’s important), it was all the fun we had together exploring our town. My son didn’t care what color the truck was, he was just in the moment hanging out with his mom. So whether you’re on or off the road, the next time you find yourself wondering if you’re there yet remember that, yes, you are. You are exactly where you need to be: in the moment, however awkward, exhausting, amusing or messy it might be.
Angela's kids, Catherine and Liam, on the road.
Why? Because I said so!
Angela Hibbard MOM Magazine Editor-in-Chief
mommag.com 5
WE’RE 1 BECAUSE THEY’RE 1.
OREGON’S TOP-RANKED CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. Children are our greatest gift. At Doernbecher, we built a hospital around that belief. It’s why we have more specialists than anyone else in the state. And we’re the only children’s hospital in Oregon to rank among the best in the country.
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”
Find chances to keep moving
Travel workouts
”
Working out while traveling can be challenging, so try some of these tips to keep moving on the road. Hotel room workout. A hotel gym certainly helps, but you can also use the furniture in your room. Try using a chair for squats and push-ups.This and bodyweight exercises can give you a great workout!
Brought to you by
Mini bands. Mini bands are a great tool. They’re easy to pack and offer resistance. Try using them for things like monster walks and glute bridges. Park workouts. If your travel includes outdoor time, using playground equipment can be a fun way to get your movement in. Try using the swingset for rows and ab work.
Movement Duets
info@movementduets.com | 1655 Capitol St. NE, Salem Cara Turnquist and Jill McLean are co-owners of Movement Duets, personal trainers specializing in pre and postnatal fitness.
mommag.com 7
HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY FOR SOME CLASSIC SUMMER FAMILY FUN. Stay classic Roadside attractions were the mainstay of road trips back in the day. While many of them have gone the way of the dodo bird, there are still a few in Oregon that are worth the drive.
In the middle of the last century, a road trip was the quintessential family vacation. Air travel was not yet readily accessible and folks sought adventure from the seats of their station wagon. In a time when we’re all busy, fragmented and distracted, a good old-fashioned road trip is a novel way to slow down and reconnect with the ones you love.
1 2 3
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Stay healthy
Stay connected
In the 1950s, fast food was the restaurant industry’s response to America’s new love of the automobile. It’s tempting and convenient to stop at a drive-in for every meal when you’re on the road, but high sugar and salt content can leave everyone feeling drowsy—and cranky. Pack some healthy snacks for the drive, and limit the restaurant experience to once a day. If you know what town you’ll be in for dinner, for example, have the whole family do some research to find the coolest spot to eat. It’s an activity that gets everyone talking, and makes the meal something to look forward to.
Hours on the road can be tiresome, and close quarters can make everyone a bit testy. Channel the family’s energy and attention into engaging games and put the phones away for awhile. Again, the classic road games are classic for a reason! They are easy to follow and many age groups can participate.
Pack fruits and nuts for snacking that do not require refrigeration. Make sure everyone has a water bottle, and fill it up at each stop.
ABC
Alphabet games can be played with a number of themes. For example, players take turns spotting and naming cars that start with consecutive letters of the alphabet. See if you can spot license plates from every state. Put on music that everyone can sing along to!
Stay safe The rules of the road are even more important when a large portion of a family trip is spent in the car. Make sure everyone is buckled up and stays that way.
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Petersen Rock Garden in Redmond is the life’s work of Rasmus Petersen who began collecting rocks, petrified wood, glass and shells, and using them to build replica structures around his home.
Stop often so that passengers can stretch their legs, and the driver can get some air. With a little planning (and leaving some things entirely to chance) you can have a family road trip that everyone will remember.
Prehistoric Gardens in Port Orford is several acres of winding trails and hand-painted dinosaur replicas that will make you feel like you’re in a primordial rainforest. It opened the same year as Disneyland—1955—and still maintains its mid-century charm.
The Oregon Vortex in Gold Hill is still as mysteri-
ous today as it was in 1930 when it opened. Trees grow like corkscrews, brooms stand on end, tennis balls roll uphill and people seem to grow or shrink depending on where they stand. People of all ages will be mystified!
Brought to you by
www.santiamhospital.org mommag.com 9
Cover MOM
Q Photo credit: Joni Loraine Photography As a mother of eight children ranging in age from 16 years to 5 months, Cover MOM Daisha Johnson’s life and heart is full. But she also knows the pain of grief, having lost five babies to miscarriage. Her non-profit, Always in My Heart, provides comfort, inspiration and love for other grieving parents.
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Daisha Johnson ! l a e s r
Q& A Who is MOM?
COMMUNITY/HOMETOWN: Salem, OR.
FAMILY: Husband, Cole, orthodontist and
children: Macie, age 16; Dominic, age 13; Tessa, age 11; Claire, age 9; Alice, age 8; Anthony, age 5; Charlotte, age 2 and Thurman, age 5 months. PROFESSION: Homemaker and Founder/
Director of Always in My Heart.
Get
Family comes first. All families are unique. Tell us about yours. My husband Cole and I both grew up here in Salem, OR. We met at a church activity when I was 14 and he was 16. I was instantly in love and couldn’t wait to get to high school the following year so I could finally get to know him. I kind of became Cole’s stalker (in the sweetest and most innocent way) and would always take the longest way to class so I could be sure to pass Cole while he was at his locker in hopes that he would see me! We started dating when I was 16 and had a year together until he left for college and his LDS mission. We wrote letters to each other (email wasn’t possible where he was) during the two years he was gone. We got married almost 17 years ago and have a wonderful, very busy life with our eight children.
mom with little kids and trying to get a lot of things done between school drop offs and nap times, it just works better to put aside my pride, put on some extra deodorant and get the shopping done before heading home for a shower and the kids’ naps. What is your biggest wish for your kids? For them to learn to work hard and try things out of their comfort zone. We learn a whole lot more about life and about ourselves when we push ourselves to do hard things!
No one works harder than mom.
What is something you love to do with your kids during the spring and summer? Plant a garden! I love working outside in the yard. It can be pulling weeds, planting flowers—anything. It’s so therapeutic to me. It’s something I’ve loved since I was a child and now, working in the yard with my kids, is something I look forward to each spring. We love to plant flowers in the garden together. It’s so fun to see their excitement when those fruits and vegetables grow and then get to eat or can them!
We know that being a mom is a full-time job. Tell us about your work with Always in My Heart. Although my husband and I have eight children here on earth we also have five angel babies in Heaven. Our journey with miscarriage and pregnancy loss started after we had our first child. We had three miscarriages in a row and two more nine years later and it was hard! Losing a baby, no matter if it's early or late in pregnancy, is so heartbreaking. Your heart aches, your arms ache to hold your child, you feel lonely, broken and defeated. I had good family support but, even then, I still felt alone. I wanted to know the experiences of others who had lost a baby so that I could feel validated in my feelings and know that I wasn’t the only one who felt mad, torn and broken.
What is something you swore you’d never do before you have kids that you do now? Go straight from the gym, all sweaty and with no makeup, to the grocery store. As a
I never really did find a great resource for that support in all of my years of dealing with loss so when the thought came to me to start a charity to help comfort, support and connect mommag.com 11
parents who are on the journey of miscarriage or stillbirth I knew this idea was something I couldn’t just push aside. Without any non-profit experience I started slowly and simply. I asked lots of questions and wrote down all of my thoughts and ideas over the course of a year to form my charity: Always in My Heart. With a great team I was able to build a website which is now a place where we will love, support and carry moms, dads and families along the path to peace and hope after a pregnancy loss. At Always in My Heart we believe that sharing our stories will not only help heal our own hearts, but will help others find healing as well, allowing us all to remember the sweetness of carrying our babies and allowing us to carry each other as we go. I have also put together free care packages with special items to send to grieving parents to help them process their grief, know that they are not alone and always remember their baby. Our website is www.alwaysinmyheart.com and
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you can also find us on Instagram @alwaysinmyheart_charity and Facebook @alwaysinmyheartcharity for support, inspiration and love. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a supportive friend in situations of child loss, but doesn’t know what to do or say?
Even as a woman who has had many losses myself, I know how hard it can be to know what to say or do for a friend who loses a baby, but having been on both sides over the years I’ve learned that simple is best. Saying, “I’m so sorry, this must be so hard for you” or, “I’m praying for you” are some of the kindest words to offer. Avoid saying trite phrases like: “Maybe it’s for the best,” “At least it was early on” or “Maybe this is God’s plan.” While those phrases are well-meaning and perhaps even true, they can actually be hurtful to the parents who want nothing more than to have their baby back and are truly grieving. Just remember you’d probably never say those things to the Continue on page 14
"We learn a whole lot more about life and about ourselves when we push ourselves to do hard things!"
MOM’s favorite… ...Words to live by
“When you do good, you feel good!” This applies to so many aspects of life— spiritually, mentally, physically etc. I remind myself and my kids of this often.
...Binge-worthy podcast
Extraordinary Moms by Jessica Dalquist. Inspirational interview with amazing women who share their own personal struggles and triumphs as moms.
...Inspirational quote
I love inspirational scriptures and quotes. They fill me up. My favorite for many, many years is from a hymn, “Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side.” It has helped me through many trials.
mommag.com 13
Q& A Continued from page 12
parents if their child had actually lived for hours, days or years. The love parents have for their children is no different if the child was in the womb or in their arms. We have lots of suggestions and helpful tips from parents who have lost a baby on what was helpful and not helpful to them when they were grieving on our website on the “Ways to Support” page.
If mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy. What do you think is the most important life skill your parents taught you? How to work. I grew up in a house where we all contributed to the family and home by helping around the house. We had daily cleaning chores, larger Saturday chores and were expected to help out in the yard too. When we turned 16 years old we were expected to get a real job to earn and save money. As a teenager I worked at the State Fair, Roth’s, Mailboxes Etc. and as a secretary. It was such an awesome feeling to go off to college with money in my bank account that I had earned from my hard work. I’m trying to instill these same principles in our kids, including having them do their own laundry once they start kindergarten! What is the quality you like most about yourself? I can laugh at myself. When I do or say something stupid, I laugh. You tease me and I’ll laugh. Laughing is way better than crying! What is something you will never do again? Go on the New York, New York roller coaster in Las Vegas. I definitely gave in to peer pressure on this one. I closed my eyes, screamed so loud and pressed my legs into the front of the bar and had bruises when it was all over. I really don’t like roller coasters and am not a thrill seeker.
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Listen to mom. Is motherhood what you expected? What surprised you the most? Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a mom. I loved babysitting for other families when I was a pre-teen, so I thought maybe I was ahead of the curve when we started having children. I was wrong. I was surprised that being a mom challenges you mentally, physically and emotionally and it’s rare to get a break. Parenting is full of surprises, the good and the bad. It’s a whole lot of hard work, but it really is a whole lot of fun too. Who has influenced the mother you are today? My own mom was a great example to me. She was always serving us, spending time talking to and building relationships with us and teaching us how to serve others. My husband is another great
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parenting influence and partner. It’s a big job to raise a family and he is very active in teaching the kids valuable skills and to do hard things! He’s my greatest cheerleader and support in my role as a mom. What message would you give other moms? Forgiveness is key in motherhood. I make mistakes all of the time and, when I do, I make sure to ask for forgiveness. When I lose my patience with my kids, am late to pick them up or I cry about the spilled milk (that they or I spill) I make sure to apologize and ask for their forgiveness. In doing so, we teach them by example about humility and how to forgive themselves and others. Teaching by example is such a great way to influence our children and, although I fail often, I can always correct my behavior and show them how we/I can be better.
[ Momism #182: Don't make me turn this car around. [ FIREWORKS
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All aboard o! g we Here
For many families summer means the call of the open road and the annual summer road trip. That’s certainly true for the Evans family who have logged their fair share of miles over the years. But for their most recent adventure they decided to go off road or—more precisely— to hit the rails. This family of five crossed the country by train for their “bucket list” East Coast vacation. Here’s how they did it.
Albany
Sacramento Traveled through 19 states
How long does it take to cross the country by train? Albany, OR - Sacramento , CA
14 hrs Each railroad tie is 30 minutes
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Sacramento, CA - Chicago, IL
50 hrs
Inspiration for the trip. i n g to
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Visiting extended family on the East Coast and some pretty incredible cities was on our “bucket list.” We chose the train because we really wanted to give the boys the experience of seeing the vast and ever-changing landscape of our country—America and all her rich beauty and history. We also wanted to make sure John had a chance to enjoy it and not be driving the entire time.
93
4 hrs
1.5 hrs 2 hrs
1
Hours spent on trains.
Trip of a life time.
mommag.com 19
The Evans family: John, Noah, Ryan, Caleb, and Wendy departing for their cross-country train journey.
Cost.
We purchased Amtrak U.S. Rail Passes ($460 for adults/$230 kids ages 2-12) good for up to eight segments over the course of 15 days. Be careful because it is eight segments, not eight destinations. We were able to use our passes for our entire trip, including between cities on the East Coast. We did, however, choose to fly home.
The highs. One of the biggest highlights for us was just how easily the boys jumped into travel mode. They seemed to truly appreciate that what they were doing was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was also very fun to meet and visit with new people. When you are stuck on a train with strangers, it's amazing how quickly you can become friends.
The lows.
While the train from Sacramento to Chicago was very roomy and comfortable, the train from Chicago to Boston was extremely crowded. There was no room to stretch out and no observation deck to visit, so we were essentially trapped in our seats for 21 hours and running low on snacks. Boston couldn’t come fast enough!
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Sleeping arrangements. Because sleeping cars for a family of five were so expensive, we slept in coach. On the cross-country train we were lucky to be in the very back of the last car so we had very few disruptions. Each of us had a fleece sleeping bag that rolled up nice and tight, and a travel pillow. The fleece sleeping bags were another golden ticket! They helped the boys get nice and cozy—and they now bring them on all road or plane trips. The seats themselves were comfy. Not only did they recline, but they also had a fold-out extension for your feet. At 5’3” and below, the boys and I were able to get a fairly decent night’s sleep. My poor husband though, at just shy of 6’, had a harder time.
Food.
We knew that, if we weren’t careful, we would blow our entire trip’s food budget while on the train. So we purchased a soft-sided cooler for the train that would also fold down flat and fit in a suitcase for the flight home. We filled the cooler and a grocery bag with food for the train before we left. For breakfast, we had oatmeal packets (we used hot water from the café car) or bagels and cream cheese. For lunch, we had PB&J, salami, cheeses, crackers, etc. For dinner, we brought burritos on the train the first night, and then an entire pizza in the cooler for the next two nights. We also brought an assortment of snacks that packed a nutritional punch because, on a trip like this, there’s no room for empty calorie meltdowns. And, of course, homemade cookies because they fix just about every mood swing. We did do one meal in the dining car because it is definitely part of the train experience.
Travel
ADVICE If you’re thinking about planning your own family train trip, take some advice from the Evans family
Are we there yet?
Set the tone. Attitude is everything. You the
For the train, each boy had a clipboard with a storage area for drawing paper, a chapter book (or four for the oldest), puzzle books, hand puzzles and a deck of cards. The deck of cards was golden! The boys also brought MP3 players for music but, otherwise, no electronics with the exception of a game on our phone here and there.
watching movies about American History so that what we saw on the trip would mean more.
We were really fortunate that we were able to get a table in the observation car each day of the cross-country trip. This allowed us to have a great view of the passing landscape, a table to eat or play games on, plus a lot of opportunities to visit with other travelers. The boys were able to go back and forth between our seats at the end of the train and the observation car in the middle of the train. We basically spent the days visiting, reading, playing a lot of card games, drawing, taking pictures, hanging out with other passengers and, honestly, just watching the country unfold out our window.
Stop the train! When traveling by train, the only true layovers are when you are switching trains. After the first night, we arrived in Sacramento early in the morning and had time to go out to eat breakfast and wander through Old Town Sacramento. It was a great introduction to our American History trip to the East Coast. Traveling across country most stops were just long enough for people to get on and off. However, every few hours they would have a slightly longer stop so that passengers could get off and stretch their legs. During these stops, we made our kids run laps back and forth on the platform to get the wiggles out and reset moods.
parents set the tone for the trip.
Study up. We spent weeks reading books and Scenario plan. Talk through potential
situations with your kids beforehand so they know what to do in different circumstances.
Empower your kids. Whenever possible,
let them make choices and allow them to handle their own ticket. The more you allow them to feel grown up on a trip like this, the more mature and easy-going the trip will be.
Keep something up your sleeve. Don’t show your whole hand at once. Introduce new activities (and snacks) throughout the trip.
Feed them. Often! Laugh a lot. Be able to laugh at the bumps in
the road (or on the train) that are bound to happen.
Praise. Tell them frequently that you are so
glad you have kids that can travel like this. Remind them that you can take a trip like this because you have kids that can handle it. Set the bar realistically high and they will reach it.
Special thanks to the Evans family for sharing their train journey with us.
mommag.com 21
on the road
Get your car road trip ready We can’t do anything about the fighting going on in the back seat, or the slow moving RV you’ve been following for miles, but we do have some tips to help ensure that your car doesn’t give you any hassle on the road. So before you hit the road this summer, make sure your car is up to the challenge with this road trip checklist: 1 Maintenance check If it’s nearing time for an oil change or routine maintenance, schedule it before you leave—even if it’s a bit earlier than needed. Do this at least one to two weeks before your trip to allow time for any needed repairs.
2 Fluids Check oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and windshield washer reservoir.
3 Tire pressure Check the tire pressure, including the spare, and if you feel any vibration when you are at cruising speed, have your tires balanced.
4 Tire tread Check tires for wear. Simply insert a penny in the tire groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head your tread is no longer deep enough and it’s time to replace your tires. If you have any doubt, have your tires checked at your service department.
8
Owner’s manual Make sure your owner’s manual is easy to locate.
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Lights and signals Turn on each light and signal and have one of your kids tell you if they’re working. Replace any bulbs or fuses as needed before your trip.
10 Emergency kit Check that your emergency kit is properly stocked and replace or repair any necessary items. Key items to include: cell phone, spare tire, tools, flares, flashlight, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, blanket and water. With the proper service and maintenance, your car will surely be ready to hit the road this summer. Now the only question is: Are you?
5 Air filter Check air filter and replace if needed to improve engine performance.
6 Battery A car battery typically lasts from two to five years. So if you feel that your battery’s cranking speed is slower than usual, it might be time to replace it.
7 Jack Make sure that your jack is still operable in case you need to change a tire on the road.
MEET STEVIE TORNESKOG
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Stevie Torneskog is the Fleet Assistant at Capitol Auto Group and brand new mom to 6 month-old Roman. She enjoys her work at Capitol Auto Group because of the family atmosphere and supportive work-life balance. When she isn’t working or taking care of Roman she enjoys the outdoors: camping, hiking and scuba diving! Contact Stevie at Capitol Auto Group for all of your automotive needs.
Brought to you by capitolauto.com 1-844-361-9185 Come see us at Capitol Auto Group to get your car road trip ready.
[ Momism #190: We'll get there when we get there. [ Space here
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You Rock! ck ” o r g m in o k r c “F ro to Who knew that rocks could be so cute? People are having so much fun painting rocks that it’s becoming a movement across the country to paint and hide rocks for others to find. The idea is to spread a little kindness and joy by sharing an inspiring word or phrase, a whimsical design or, simply, a cute image. It’s easy, really. Just paint a rock and leave it behind on your next hike or adventure for someone else to find. Be sure to put a message on the back so folks know what to do when they find it.
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Feeling ready to paint?
Just follow these simple tips from MOM reader, Kim Long.
Tip Nº1 Hiding and searching for rocks is a great way to keep your kids engaged during your summer hikes and adventures. Be sure to join the painted rock movement so you can tag and share your finds. ...GROUPS TO CHECK OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA PAINT ROCKS in SALEM West Coast Painted Rocks #WCPR Pacific Northwest Painted Rocks #PNWPR
Tip Nº2 A note about collecting rocks to paint. The best place to collect rocks is a river bed, right? Well you can’t, or aren’t supposed to for obvious reason—if everyone did that, there wouldn’t be any rocks left. So when you are on a hike you can collect rocks, just as long as they’re not near water.
Start by cleaning your rocks with warm, soapy water.
Tip Nº3 Make it a family affair. It’s easy to involve the whole family in your rock art. Little kids are great at applying base coats and making simple shapes or designs. Older kids love to search Pinterest for ideas. And, of course, everyone loves to find and hide rocks.
Prime with white acrylic paint to help enhance color. Sketch letters with pencil first, then use small brushes to make an outline.
Don’t forget to write a message on the back
Use a mix of acrylic paints and paint markers to achieve bold or watercolor looks. Some markers will wash away, so test an area before the final design is finished or placed outside.
Rocks can be sealed with a spray so colors don’t bleed. Apply sparingly and let dry completely between coats. Apply at least two coats.
mommag.com 25
One of the sure signs of summer in the Northwest is blueberries. They’re delicious all on their own, or try mixing things up with some of these blueberry-inspired recipes.
Blueberry & mint spritzer
Blueberry cheesecake
When mom needs a cocktail, this refreshing spritzer is just the thing. Or forego the alcohol and make it a mocktail everyone can enjoy.
As if blueberries weren’t good enough, this cheesecake recipe pairs the sweet-tart flavor of fresh blueberries with savory cream cheese for a decadent-tasting dessert.
Ingredients: 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
Ingredients:
1 cup simple syrup:
3 tablespoons honey, divided
½ cup lime juice
1 container (8 ounces) nonfat orange or tangerine yogurt
2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 cup mint leaves, torn 4 cups club soda 8 fluid ounces vodka (optional) 1 cup blueberries, fresh Directions:
To make the blueberry base combine the first four ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, remove from the heat and add the mint leaves, then stir with a wooden spoon to release the mint aromas. Chill completely and strain out solids into a container by pushing on the blueberries to extract as much juice as possible. For each drink combine 3 ounces of the chilled blueberry base in a shaker with ½ cup ice cubes; 1 fluid ounce vodka, if using, and shake to muddle and strain into a chilled glass. Add 4 ounces club soda and garnish with a few blueberries and a mint leaf.
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, from an 8-ounce package ¾ cup nonfat cottage cheese 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 eggs 2 cups fresh blueberries Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and 2 tablespoons of the honey, then transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. With the back of a spoon, press mixture onto bottom and halfway up sides of plate. In a food processor container, place yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese and cornstarch. Whirl until smooth, about 1 minute. Add eggs, whirl until blended. Pour about half of the cheese mixture onto the crust. Top with ½
HAN DLE WITH
CARE
Looking for more blueberry love? Try the blueberry coffee cake recipe on oregonblueberry.com
If you’ve gone to the effort of picking those luscious berries, make sure you’re handling and storing them correctly. FRESH & FROZEN BLUEBERRIES When buying fresh blueberries, select firm, plump and unblemished berries in dry, unstained containers. The blueberries should be free of surface moisture, which accelerates decay.
Color is the best indicator of
blueberry maturity and fully developed flavor. Blueberries should be deep purple-blue to blue-black, with a natural powdery bloom or fine snowy white dust on the surface.
Shelf-life for blueberries is
longer than other berries— generally 10 days to two weeks from harvest.
STORAGE & THAWING TIPS: • Arrange unwashed blueberries in a shallow container. • Cover blueberries while storing. • Wash blueberries just prior to use.
cup of the blueberries, then cover with remaining cheese mixture. Bake until firm, about 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. In a microwaveable dish, microwave the remaining 1 tablespoon honey just until liquefied, about 15 seconds. Add the remaining 1 ½ cups blueberries and toss to coat. Top pie with berries. Loosely cover pie and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
• Blueberries should be thawed under refrigerated conditions to ensure an optimal defrost. • Never refreeze thawed fruit. Properly thawed, cultivated blueberries will maintain their original freshness.
Thanks to the Oregon Blueberry Commission for these recipes and tips www.oregonblueberry.com
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INTERESTED IN FOSTERING? We are an association dedicated to supporting foster families and promoting foster parenting for Marion Polk and Yamhill counties in Oregon. Learn more at our website at www.myfpa.org
Our mission is: To provide a support system that enables foster/adopt parents to meet the social, physical, educational and emotional well-being of the youth in their care. To promote participation in the professional development of our members by actively seeking private funding to facilitate educational workshops and conference opportunities. To advance and promote collaborative partnerships that strengthen policies, programs, and services which improve the individual care and support provided to the children and families.
28 mommag.com
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ARE YOU READY TO ROAD TRIP
If you have questions about car seats, healthy snacks for the road, or what medicines to bring along on your next family adventure, visit our Childhood Health facebook™ page for great info.
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While there, you’ll also learn about our locally-owned five-star* pediatric clinic of doctors and child development experts. To learn even more, visit one of our clinics or find us online at childhoodhealth.com
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(503) 364-2181
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mommag.com 29
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30 mommag.com
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How do you
FA IR ? Date t? Nigh
s’ Girl t? Nigh
July 11th - 14th, 2019 Oregon State Fairgrounds · Salem
ily Fam ? Fun
We’ve got some ideas for you! Live Music on the MAIN STAGE! FULL BAR
Open Fri. & Sat.
Featuring
Restless Heart Friday Night · Jerrod Niemann Saturday Night
Plus, Rodeo Action Saturday Night! And come back Sunday for Family Day!
Kids 12 and under are FREE all day and you can meet your favorite Superheroes, Disney & Star Wars Characters. Visit our website for Advanced Discount Tickets!
Main Stage Entertainment included with fair admission
There’s so much to do at the Fair! ALL DAY · EVERYDAY Art Jam · STEAM Labs and Games · Pirate Parrot Show · Puzzlemania Human Water Balls · Carnival · 4-H & FFA Animals · Flyball Dogs Barnyard Adventures · Contests, Competitions, and More!
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TheMarionCountyFair | www.marioncountyfair.net