HipKids December Project

Celebrate a Birthday! (December)

This month, we are going to make a birthday kit for the women living in the YWCA’s community housing complex so that they may experience having a birthday party just for them! Your kit could be wrapped in a pan or bowl and include a cake mix, icing, candles, a birthday card and even a small gift.
The YWCA of Calgary operates an affordable housing program for women and their children in the community. Rents are based on a formula according to incomes and there is no maximum length of stay.
www.ywcaofcalgary.com

Project AmentiT's & HipKids Christmas Project a SUCCESS!

Thank you so much to everyone, and there are a lot of you, who made this project such a success!  We were able to donate well over 200 stockings/socks to the Feet Street Program this Christmas season.

I will be running Project AmeniT's all year round, so please keep those amenities and socks coming.

So many people helped and donated, but I must give a special shout out to those listed below for going above and beyond:

Michelle K

Raluca

Leslie

Shawna

DeAnne

Thank you again!

Tania

Project AmeniT's - Got Socks??

Got Socks??

I am so grateful and completely overwhelmed by the response to Project AmeniT's.  We are teaming up with HipKids this November to make as many stockings as possible.  The deadline for this year to have all donations in will be in mid November to have them ready for Christmas.  I will be collecting donations for Project AmeniT's year round, as I am making this an annual thing, so please don't stop the donations in November....keep them coming!!

We do have a slight problem, tons of amenities, NO SOCKS!!  If you are looking for a great way to give back and make someones Christmas a little bit brighter, please donate some new socks.  As we are trying to make children's stocking too, there sock are too small to put things in, so Christmas stocking will be used instead.  We will gladly accept new children's socks to place in their stockings!

Below is a list of things that we still need to make complete stockings:

New Socks (Mens/Womens/Childrens/Enfants)

Tooth Paste

Tooth Brushes

Disposable Razors

Shaving Cream

Baby & Children's Toiletries (soap/diaper cream/shampoo)

Individually Packaged Wipes

Kleenex

Tampons / Pads / Panty Liners

Chap Stick

Small Treats (candy canes/chocolate bars)

Thank you so much for all of your love and support.  Every tiny thing you do, make as huge difference.

Pumpkin Qunioa Muffins

My friend Lisa sent me a recipe for these yummy muffins.  I, of course, added my own twist to the recipe.  If you like pumpkin, this is a must try recipe.  They are so good and so moist!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Quinoa Muffins

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 egg white
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/4 vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup cooked quinoa

In a bowl mix together flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, honey, egg, egg white, yogurt, oil, pumpkin, and quinoa.  Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Fill lined muffin tins 2/3's of the way full.  Bake at a 350 degree oven for 16 minutes.  Remove from the tin and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Pumpkin Cookies with Toffee and Chocolate Chips

This is a great cookie recipe for fall or anytime for that matter.  So so good!

Pumpkin Cookies with Toffee and Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie mix
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 ginger
1 cup *Skor Toffee Bites
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs on at a time.  Add in vanilla and pumpkin.

Stir in flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.  Add to butter mixture.

Stir in your toffee and chocolate chips.

Drop by the tablespoon on to a parchment lined cookies sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

HipKids October Project!

Welcome back to HipKids!!

Below is October's Project.  If you are interested in participating, please let me know!

This month’s project is: GIVE THANKS!

INSTRUCTIONS: This month, we are going to help bring a harvest of thankfulness for the moms and their children living at Highbanks. Think of “Homecoming," harvest, autumn, gratitude. You can make a little gift basket (you could use a roasting pan or pie plate) and fill it with items such as a gratitude journal, candles, serving utensils or other table settings, music CD’s. You can also make a harvest centre piece, or package a craft the women could do with their children. You can also write out your favorite holiday recipe or a note, a poem on what you can be thankful for.

Your project needs to be completed and ready for pick up the week of October 24^th, 2011.

IT’S FOR: HIGHBANKS

Young mothers and their children are vulnerable to the cycle of poverty and homelessness. By providing housing and support, Highbanks helps young mothers to reach their full potential by providing a place to live and community support.

Website: www.highbankssociety.ca

Contact: Stephanie @ 403-521-0082

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!

Thanks for being a part of the H!pKid program!

www.behip.ca

Qunioa for Breakfast

Someone told me how great Quinoa is for you.  To be honest, I tried it and didn't like it.  Then I heard someone made it for breakfast (like oatmeal), a gave it a go, make some tweaks, and this is what I got.  I love it!

Qunioa for Breakfast

1 cup Quinoa
1 cup water
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup raisins
2 tsp vanilla
brown sugar
skim milk
cinnamon

Add the Quinoa, water, and 1 cup skim milk to a medium sized pot.  Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.  Lower heat and simmer, covered, for 15 mins.  Stir occasionally.

Remove from heat.  Stir in raisins, vanilla, and brown sugar to taste.  Cover and let sit 5 minutes more.

Spoon into a serving bowl.  Add milk to taste and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Makes 4 servings.