Welcome!

Hello! Welcome to the North Creek Presbyterian Church MOPS Blog! A place to share words of encouragement, recipes ideas, book recommendations and more! Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to share on this blog, or any ideas you have! Just email mopsncpc@gmail.com.

Friday, October 26, 2012

November Mom of the Month, Meet Dottie

Dottie is a special mentor mom in our group.  She sits in the front table on the left side of the room.  Her smile and gentle demeanor are not unnoticed, we are thankful to have her in our group.
Here are the questions I asked.  She gave me a paper with her answers in beautiful cursive, I wish you could see her writing!  I hope you enjoy her insight as she is a woman of wisdom, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Tell us about yourself:  I have three wonderful children.  My son and his family live in San Diego.  My two daughters and their families live close to me in Washington.  I have two grandsons and two granddaughters and one little great-grandson.  They are all very attentive and good to me.  Lots of love is a good thing.  I had my wonderful husband for fifty-six years. 

What grounds you?  Actually, what grounds me, is being able to talk to my Savior anytime I want.  I know He hears me and I really give Him an earful with my conversational prayer.  I know he hears.  What a comfort.

What are some things you enjoy doing?  I love to dabble in watercolor painting of cards-a few pictures.  I also like to paint bird houses.  I am not allowed on a ladder anymore, so no more painting my bathroom or kitchen.

Looking back and knowing what you know now, what is the best advice you received as a mother?  The best advice given to me was, be sure your children know you are a parent and they are your children.  Always show interest in them and their interests.  Try to remember, God doesn't put a parent on earth to win a popularity contest.  You are their teacher, so teach them well.  Of course, all of this advice should be covered with tons of love, kindness, understanding and forgiveness.  Never leave out patience!

What makes a marriage last?  Never lose your ability to be romantic.  I think that's very important.  Laugh a lot together and be ready to cry together, when the time comes.  Find enjoyment in all you do, with the kids or without them.  These are the memories you will have later.  Listen to each other so you can learn and understand what your feelings are doing, inside of you or your spouse.  When you have no adequate words, just a little hug or gentle touch of a hand, can say a lot more than you know.  Most important, be happy, funny and most of all ROMANTIC! 

Thank you Dottie!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Pork Roast... Easy and delish!!!


Tender Pork Roast in the Slow Cooker

http://www.food.com/recipe/tender-pork-roast-in-the-slow-cooker-334014


Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F-170 degrees F. Remove roast to a serving platter and keep warm. If desired, skim fat from pan juices and thicken for gravy.

Yummy Butternut Squash Soup


Ina Garten’s Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and Curry Condiments (www.foodnetwork.com)

  • 3 to 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded
  • 2 yellow onions
  • 2 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored
  • 3 tablespoons good olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 to 4 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
  • 1/2 teaspoon good curry powder

Condiments for serving (I use one, some, or none!):


Scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and sliced diagonally

Flaked sweetened coconut, lightly toasted

Roasted salted cashews, toasted and chopped

Diced banana

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut the butternut squash, onions, and apples into 1-inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss them with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the squash mixture between 2 sheet pans and spread in a single layer. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, tossing occasionally, until very tender.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock to a simmer. When the vegetables are done, put them through a food mill fitted with the medium blade. (Alternatively, you can place the roasted vegetables in batches in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add some of the chicken stock and coarsely puree.) When all of the vegetables are processed, place them in a large pot and add enough chicken stock to make a thick soup. Add the curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste for seasonings to be sure there's enough salt and pepper to bring out the curry flavor. Reheat and serve hot with condiments either on the side or on top of each serving.

**I roast other veggies and put in the soup- add any flavors you like!

My Favorite Pulled Pork in the Crockpot


Williams Sonoma Pulled Pork Recipe... 30 minutes hands on time

Ingredients:
Canola or corn oil, 3 tablespoons
Boneless pork shoulder, 4 lbs cut into 3 equal pieces
Yellow onion, 1 finely chopped
Cider vinegar, 3/4 cup
Tomato ketchup, 3/4 cup
Brown sugar, 1/3 cup firmly packed
Light Molasses, 1/4 cup (dark or light)
Red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons
Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon
Dry mustard, 1 teaspoon
Salt and ground pepper
Soft sandwich rolls, split and toasted for serving (I use ciabatta rolls)

Directions:
1) Brown the pork
In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the pork pieces and brown well on all sides, about 12 minutes total. Transfer pork to slow cooker.

2) Make the sauce and cook the pork
Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon fat from the frying pan and return the pan to medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until the mixture begins to bubble. Pour over the pork in crockpot. Cover and cook on the high-heat setting for 4-5 hours or the low heat setting for 8-10 hours. The pork should be very tender.  Check time based on your slow cooker, some take less time.

3) Shred the pork and serve
Transfer the pork pieces to a platter. Using a pair of forks, shred each piece of pork, removing and discarding any large pieces of fat. Skim off the excess fat from the surface of the sauce and return the pulled pork to the sauce. Stir together to combine.  Serve the pork and sauce atop sandwich rolls.  Best when provolone cheese is broiled on rolls.  ENJOY!

Serve with potato salad, cold slaw, mashed potatoes, or sweet potato fries.


You Are Invited to... Playgroups!



NCPC Morning Open Playgroup
Are you at home on Thursdays with little ones looking for something to do? Join us in the Fellowship Hall at North Creek Presbyterian Church on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 10:00-11:30am for a drop in playgroup for kids 6 years and under and their parents or caregivers. We will have different play stations, a craft area, snacks, coffee, and a short group time at the end. The adults can chat while the children play. It is free and open to anyone so pass on the information to your friends!
Advent Lutheran Church PlaygroupTiny Tykes Play Group”.  Meets the 1st Wednesday of each month from 10:00- 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall.  Free playgroup, a chance for moms and children to connect.  Church Address: 4306 132nd Street SE, Mill Creek, WA 98012

Welcome to Your Blog

To my fellow MOPS mamas-

My name is Melissa, I will be your North Creek Presbyterian Church MOPS blogger for 2012-2013.  I am another mama like you, trying to navigate this adventure (obstacle course??) called motherhood! I am new to Mill Creek.  Prior to living in Mill Creek, we lived in Seattle.  Despite it being a 20 minute move, it feels like we have moved a world away just heading up I-5!  Prior to living in Seattle for a year, we lived in South Carolina for a year.  We were living in Seattle prior to South Carolina but we were moved temporarily for my husband's job.  Phew!  Lots of moving in the past few years!
I look forward to a new year in a new place and welcome new friends. I look forward to making memories and hopefully finding friendship that will last through the years as our children grow.  For those of you returning to MOPS, welcome!  I hope you enjoy reconnecting and making new friends.
This blog is a an opportunity for you feel connected to North Creek Presbyterian Church MOPS.  Feel free to send me those stand-by recipes, playgroups and events happening around the area. 
We do not know what life will bring our families in 2012-2013.  We are in this together!  It takes a lot to get to MOPS- timing breakfast, dressing children, dressing ourselves, finding keys, juggling bags and little ones to the car… and then running back in the house for sippy cups and whatever else didn’t make it the first trip.  We are on this adventure together.  It is my hope that this can be a place where we can... sit down…  relax... share, listen, and grow in our faith and friendships... 

Lots of love, Melissa