Celebrating Uncle Duane

It was so nice to see everyone this weekend.  I can't think of a better reason to get together than to celebrate and appreciate Uncle Duane.  

If you'd like to receive photos from the event, please email Aaron at aweisenborn@gmail.com.

Thank you, to all of the special people who worked tirelessly to plan and host the event.  Glory in the well-deserved recognition for your hard work - it was appreciated.

Whoo Hoo!

Thanks to the kind hearts and generosity of Alex's family and friends, he reached his goal today.  To date, he's raised $2,694.

Consider for a minute, that only fifteen years ago, children with Down syndrome were not receiving an education in regular classrooms or integrated into school activities.  Thanks to organizations like DSA and parents and children that keep looking up, children with an extra 21st chromosome now have the opportunity to learn, grow, participate and contribute in very significant ways.

We don't worry about Alex being ready for the world; it's our role as his family to make time everyday for that.  In return, he works hard and shares a million smiles a day.  We do worry about the world being ready for Alex.  Your donations will make a positive difference in his world.

May 20, a very special day

Today is a celebration of your loveliness, your kindness, your uniqueness, and your life! Happy Birthday, Grandma/Great Grandma.

Alex's Friends Update

We wanted to share with you the great progress Alex has made with his fundraising efforts.  He is currently ranked 14 out of 102 teams at $1629.  This does not include the additional donations we raised tonight by partnering with Chick Fil A.  CFA agreed to host a spirit night and to donate 15% of sales generated from 4:00 - 8:00 pm tonight.  There was a terrific turnout!  Hopefully this will get him very close to the goal and ranked even higher.  Way to go Alex!  At 11 months old, he's proving to be very passionate about making a difference (and also pretty competitive).

Cucumber Salad

I called my Mom/Deb/Aunt Deb yesterday looking for a Cucumber Salad recipe - only to find out that their actually is no recipe for one of my favorite summertime side dishes. She's been making it so long that she has no idea how much of anything to actually put in it - it's all by eye-balling it!

She gave me her best "guesstimates" and I went to work to look for a recipe. Allrecipes.com is perfect for such a task. This is the recipe I found and it tastes almost identical to the one that Grams Marie and my Mom have been making for years.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 1 hour, 10 Minutes (or less)
Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
2 Cucumbers, Thinly Sliced
1/2 Small Red Onion, Thinly Slices (Mom said use green onion which I prefer)
1 Large Tomato, Halved and Sliced
3 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise (I used Light Mayo)
1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

Directions
In a medium bowl, toss together the cucumbers, red onion and tomato. Gently stir in mayonnaise, vinegar, alt and pepper until coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Nutritional Information:
- 99 Calories per serving
- 8.4 Grams total fat
- 4 mg Cholesterol

Enjoy!

Moni's "Mac & Cheese"

 From Monica Nelson  Fitness

 

 

Note: I made this twice over the weekend, once without adding any veggies- very bland. And once, exactly like the recipe and adding mushrooms, red peppers, leek, and tomatoes- yummy!

Quinoa, pronounced ”KEEN-WAH!” is SO good for you.  Why? Well, Quinoa packs a powerful nutritional punch and is just so versatile. It has protein and fiber to keep you satisfied, improves your overall health, and quinoa contains ALL the amino acids as well. A good alternative to rice or pasta.

Serving Size: Can serve 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 med. leek white and pale green parts halved and sliced (1 cup)-OR chives are fine too
• 1/2 cup diced tomato, or red/green pepper
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained (OR you can just use pre-cooked and cut back on the water and cooking time)
• good pinch of salt
• a few grinds of seasoning salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups of water (or stock)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup soy milk, non-fat milk, or milk of choice
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, more for sprinkling- NOTE: (You may find you need more cheese, BUT I use this amount to still keep the dish 'lighter' yet very flavorful.)
• Optional- Crushed Red Pepper, Panko Bread crumbs for topping
• Toppings (optional)- salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, scallions (you get the picture)

Directions

1. Heat oil in med. saucepan over med. heat. Add leek and tomatoes (or bell peppers-or any veggies you want really); cover and cook 5 mins or until tender. Stir in quinoa and garlic, and cook, uncovered, 3-4 mins, or until grains start to turn opaque.  (They will not fully be cooked yet.)
2. Add 3 cups water (or stock) and season with salt and the Seasoning Salt (I like Lawry's or Everyday Seasoning). Cover and reduce heat to med-low and simmer 15-20 mins or more, (depends and also what kind of quinoa you use) or until most liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand 5 mins.
3. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 inch dish with cooking spray. Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese (if you feel you need more cheese, add here.) Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt. (Will seem a little "soupy", do not worry, it will all mold together.)
4. Transfer to prepared baking dish and if using Panko Crumbs or Bread crumbs, add now. You can also sprinkle a bit more cheese on now if you prefer for topping. Bake 25-35 mins, (or until browned around edges.) 
5. Now you can toss with many toppings, some ideas: salsa, scallions, sour cream,  and hot sauce!  I serve with a side of steamed broccoli or a salad and a nice slice of good hearty bread.

Divided into 6 servings:  339 Calories per serving.

Alex's Baptism

Updates, please.

Uncle Duane - How's your new adventure going so far?
Aunt Dina - What's new with Charlie, Natalie & Joey?

Recipes to share?