Quarantine Cooking with Young Kids

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April 3, 2020

When in doubt, I cook. This period of self-isolation has provided ample opportunity for me to indulge my inner child with my actual children. Yesterday, we played some videos on the Google Display and made a great recipe I found in The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs from America’s Test Kitchen. It’s easy to make, easier to devour, and it has fruit in it, so it’s healthy, too!

Tahini-Banana Snack Cake

Set oven to 350 degrees and line an 8-in square metal baking pan with parchment paper
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups of flour, ½ tsp salt & ½ tsp baking soda
Peel and mash 3 ripe bananas in a separate bowl – about 1 cup worth
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened, 1 ¼ cups sugar and ⅓ cup tahini and beat until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes
Add 2 eggs, one at a time, and beat for 30 seconds each. Add mashed bananas and ¾ tsp of vanilla extract and beat for 30 seconds more
Carefully add the flour mixture, with the mixer on low speed and mix for 1 minute Slowly pour in ¼ cup of milk with the mixer running and combine for 30 seconds
Stop mixer. Add remaining flour and mix until well combined, about 1 minute
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour batter into cake pan.
Sprinkle 2 tsps sesame seed (optional)
Bake for 40-50 on middle rack until golden brown

Baking Playlist

Happy by Pharell Williams
Roar by Katy Perry
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
Puff the Magic Dragon
Herman the Worm
I’m a Gummy Bear
Firework by Katy Perry
Old Town Road by Nas X
Stressed Out by 21 Pilots
Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @toledoareaparent. Tag us in your best social distancing antics! Use the hashtag #toledoparents.

April Giveaway—Summer Fun!

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Digital Media

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April 1, 2020

Summer fun giveaway! Protect your little one from harmful UV rays with My First UV Skinz rash guard (size 12/24 months), TrustyTrunks leak proof diaper cover whose patented design keeps accidents in and pool water, dirt and sand out (21-29lbs), and the iconic look of WeeFarers sunglasses, reimagined to protect young eyes (ages 0-2 years), so he can play safely in the sun with his new pail and shovel or flick water balloons with Splish Splash Catapult by HABA!

Bombay Kitchen Indian Street Food Opens on Monroe

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Erin Schoen Marsh

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March 31, 2020

“Behind every success there is a hand of a woman,” quips Bombay Kitchen’s website touting the restaurant that opened in the midst of COVID-19 quarantine in the building that previously housed the Vietnamese restaurant, Amango. Bombay Kitchen is the first Indian street food restaurant in the West Toledo/Sylvania area. Offering carryout. 5228 Monroe St, Toledo. bombaykitchen419.com

Georgio’s Grill Takes Over 5th Street Pub on Monroe

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Erin Schoen Marsh

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March 31, 2020

Georgio’s Grill, a new venture from the owners of the downtown Georgio’s Cafe, featuring lighter fare, recently opened in the former 5th Street Pub location on Monroe St, west of Whiteford Rd. The menu includes classic sandwiches, pasta, pizza (with from-scratch dough) and a short list of shareable desserts. Georgio’s Cafe is offering carryout and catering during COVID-19.

5577 Monroe St Suite D, Sylvania | georgiosgrill.com

Reopening of Briarfield Café in Maumee

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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March 31, 2020

Briarfield Café reopened last month after a fire in September of 2019 closed the business for five months. The restaurant has served the Maumee area for 15 years, and all of the customer favorites are back, including a variety of made-in-house soups, homemade chips, and fries, and the famous Briarfield Salad. Friday night fish dinners and family-style dinners are available for pickup during COVID-19.

3220 Briarfield Boulevard, Maumee
419-865-7260 | Briarfieldcafe.com.

The Avalon Foundation

By

Joy Hajjar

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March 31, 2020

Kids Caring For Kids with rare diseases

When Avalon Budd was 10 years old, she began a treatment for an extremely rare metabolic disease called Hypophosphatasia (HPP), commonly known as “soft bones.”

Avalon had been living with HPP without any hope of treatment, but the FDA finally approved an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) that consists of several injections per week, dramatically improving the quality of life for children living with HPP.

The effects of treatment

Those first three months of treatment were excruciatingly painful, filled with side effects and adverse reactions. Avalon insisted on giving up…until her family put together an incentive plan they called a “PainBox,” reminding her that the payoff would be worth it. The PainBox encouraged her to continue the treatment, a protocol which she follows to this day, for the rest of her life.

“I remember the day when she got a ¼ inch off the ground…she could never jump or run before,” said Avalon’s mother, Deborah Ayres, President of the foundation. “She went from a wheelchair part-time to the volleyball court in just six months! It was amazing, but it was also a heart-wrenching journey, not unique to us.”

Avalon immediately felt the desire to share her incentive with other kids going through the same thing. Avalon, her family, and a group of friends joined together, and The Avalon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was born.

#PainBox

The goal of the #PainBox is to provide psycho-emotional help to patients and families beginning ERT. This support program was created by the Kids Caring for Kids (kc4k) Advisory Board with the guidance and expertise of a group of licensed professionals to address the needs of the entire family during this time of critical transition.

After patients and families learn about The Avalon Foundation through various advocacy groups, they fill out a patient profile created by kc4k that details the patient’s challenges, likes, and dislikes so that the team can tailor the #PainBox specifically to the patient and his/her family.

The team of kids then plans, budgets, shops, wraps and organizes the incentive schedule in a personalized way for the patient and the patient’s family. Parents and patients extol the powerful success of the program because it is executed by kids — peer-to-peer caring is the key.

“Kids this age have such great ideas and passion; they just need the outlet to give to the world,” explains Jennifer Gruber, founding board member and current Program Director. And from this, grew the kc4k Leadership Program.

Kc4k Leadership Program

While under the guidance of the adult Board of Directors, the kc4k Leadership Program offers a formal way for young people to learn and grow while helping other kids.

The Avalon Foundation relies heavily on volunteers of all ages–the board currently has approximately 10 members ages 10 to 16–and is a great opportunity for children and teens to give back and support struggling families in the Toledo area. The kids are currently planning an upcoming recruiting event this summer.

Visit KidsCaringForKids.org to learn more.