Editor's notes

It's hard not to get overwhelmed by all that is wrong and unjust in the world, and it's harder still to answer the questions of our children, who often view the world simplistically, feeling that everything needs to be "fair."

"Why do we have so much when others have so little?" my kids often ask, especially as we approach the holidays. The truth is, I don't have a great answer to this question. But I have found that when I feel despondent in the face of injustice and inequity, it helps enormously to remind myself, and my kids, that we can all make a difference every day.

We might not cure cancer or end homelessness, but we can do something every day to improve the world-in our home, in our neighborhood, in our school, in our community. Sometimes it's as simple as greeting someone with a smile, or visiting with a neighbor even though we're in a hurry. I tell my kids that we might not be able to clothe and feed every person we see in need, but we can acknowledge them with the dignity that every human deserves. We can say, "Hello," look them in the eye and wish them a good day. Everyday we can find someone at school or work who needs recognition and inclusion.

When we focus on small things that we can control, our outlook feels more hopeful. Collectively, all of our microactions can create strong, thriving communities. I am constantly inspired by our Cover MOMs and readers who are making a difference every day in the lives of their families and communities. So the next time you feel discouraged by all of the need in the world, ask yourself what small act you can take today to make a difference.

Why? Because I said so!

Angela Hibbard
MOM Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Most of us know that we can reduce our cancer risk by doing things like avoiding smoking and sun exposure, but did you know that one-third of all cancers are linked to diet? That's according to Emily Ho, Director of Oregon State University's Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health.

Emily Ho studies the therapeutic value in non-nutritive compounds in vegetables, especially in the stinky stock compounds in broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. That's why broccoli is Emily's favorite vegetable. In fact, you might even call her a broccoli evangelist. So what does all this mean in plain English? If it stinks, it just might help prevent cancer. But you don't need to suffer through stinky vegetables to eat healthy. Try these quick and delicious recipes that are packed with powerful broccoli.

Bolivia
bowl

2 cups cooked quinoa, warmed

2 cups canned hominy, rinsed and warmed

1 head broccoli cut into florets

1 avocado

8 ounces grilled tempeh, tofu or chicken

1 cup shredded green cabbage

1/2 cup shredded red cabbage

1/2 bunch of cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 tomato, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lime, juiced

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon honey

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place the broccoli florets on a baking sheet with 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Roast until tender. Meanwhile, assemble the slaw. In a bowl combine cabbage, tomato and cilantro. In a small bowl whisk together garlic, lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, cayenne and approximately 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Toss the cabbage with dressing and let sit for 10 minutes. To assemble the bowls: In eight bowls place 1/2 cup quinoa, 1/2 cup hominy, 1/2 cup roasted broccoli, 1/4th of the avocado diced, 1/3 cup of the slaw and 1/4 cup of the protein of your choice.

Beaver Nation Broccoli Salad

½ cup nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt, plain

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

4 cups broccoli florets, bite-sized

½ cup red onion, chopped

½ cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup toasted sunflower seeds, salted

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. Adjust salt and pepper
to taste.In a large bowl, mix the broccoli florets, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and feta cheese.

Add the dressing and stir to combine. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes for best flavor.

Serve immediately or make ahead up to 24 hours.

Just when your family has finally settled into some sort of sleep rhythm, daylight savings time sabotages your Zzzzs. This fall, daylight savings time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3rd. So be prepared with this expert advice on how to help your kids make the transition.

Pro advice
Adjust your child's schedule gradually-make bedtime about 15 minutes earlier each day for four days before daylight savings time ends and try to wake your child up 15 minutes earlier each day. The same approach works in the spring when daylight savings time begins, just gradually adjust sleep and wake times later.

Mom translation
Spend an extra 15 minutes yelling at your kids to "Get back in bed!"

Pro advice
A blackout shade is always helpful when encouraging sleep and they definitely come in handy when adjusting to daylight savings time.

Mom translation
A dark cave wouldn't induce your child to go to sleep early but, sure, throw a dark curtain up and see if that helps.

Pro advice
This is one of the many times when a consistent bedtime routine pays off. Stick to your normal pattern of bath, reading, cuddling, etc. to help your child's body get the message that it's time for sleep.

Mom translation
If by routine you mean, the whack-o-mole game of putting your kids to bed then having them get up endlessly for a cuddle, potty or their 89th glass of water then, yes, stick to the routine.

Pro advice
If your child is waking up too early put a fun digital (easy-to-read) clock in their room so they can monitor when it's OK to get up.

Mom translation
Having a clock in your child's room means that now he can yell, "Mom, it's 4 o'clock. I can't sleep!" so loud that the entire neighborhood is awake.

Pro advice
Despite your best efforts, everyone will likely be a little tired and grumpy for a few days. So give yourself, and everyone else, an extra dose of patience.

Mom translation
Give yourself a break. Everyone will fall into a routine eventually-just in time for the clocks to change again!

What is batik?

Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming more popular and well known in the West as a wonderfully creative medium. The art of decorating cloth in this way, using wax and dye, has been practised for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese tik and means to dot. batikguild.org.uk

Supplies:

Scrap paper
Embroidery hoop
Pencil
Sharpie pen
White toothpaste
Hand lotion
White fabric or
muslin
Squeeze bottle
Paint brush
Permanent tempera or acrylic paint
Colored Sharpies

Instructions:

1: Select your embroidery hoop size and trace your circle. Then kids can begin drawing their ideas on to scrap paper. Tape your picture to a piece of cardboard or hard surface and trace with a black Sharpie marker. Make sure there is something under your art in case the Sharpie bleeds through.

2: Then, tape a piece of white fabric over the drawing. The Sharpie lines should be visible through the fabric. Doing it this way, means there are no pencil lines on the fabric.

3: Mix toothpaste and aloe hand lotion together in squeeze bottles. The ratio is 1-to-1. It doesn't have to be exact, you just don't want it runny. I found the lotion and toothpaste at Dollar Tree and used glue bottles for squeeze bottles. You can use glue instead of the toothpaste-lotion mix, but it is less precise and the glue lines can seep together making it blobby looking. Right before use, shake your bottle, then trace over your lines beginning at the top so you don't smudge your work.

4: It takes about 24 hours to dry and will feel rubbery when dry.

5: Paint directly onto your fabric. Tempera paint is best because it drys soft while acrylic dries hard. Try your favorite brand, but remember: DO NOT USE WASHABLE PAINT!  You can paint right over the toothpaste/lotion lines.

6: Let the paint dry. To remove the toothpaste mix, run the fabric under warm water and rub gently. If you used glue instead of the toothpaste mix, soak in warm water for about an hour.

7: Add additional details as desired with Sharpie markers. Insert into the embroidery hoops, hang and enjoy.

Making cookies and treats with your kids is fun, but teaching them recipes they can use to actually feed themselves, is giving them an important life skill. That's what sisters, Esme and Calista Washburn, did in their new cookbook, 20 Recipes Kids Should Know. With tips, techniques and recipes written by kids and for kids, this cookbook will give your children the basics they need to be proficient in the kitchen.

CRISPIEST BREADED CHICKEN

PREP TIME 5 MINUTES    COOKING TIME 6 MINUTES SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

1/2 CUP(65 g) all-purpose flour

1 large egg

3/4 CUP (60 g) panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs

1 TEASPOON fine sea salt

1/2 TEASPOON ground black
pepper

4 pieces thin-cut boneless, skinless chicken breast or cutlets

2 TABLESPOONS canola or vegetable oil, plus more if needed

NOTE: You can substitute the chicken with a white fish, such as cod, tilapia, or sole. The cooking time is about the same.

DIRECTIONS

1Put the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in 3 separate shallow bowls.

2 Whisk the egg until it is a uniform yellow color with no streaks of egg white or yolk.

3 Add the salt and pepper to the breadcrumbs and stir until mixed thoroughly.

4 Place each piece of chicken in the flour and turn to coat in a thin layer of flour.

5 Dip and flip each flour-coated piece of chicken in the egg mixture so that it is completely covered with egg.

6 Place each egg-coated piece of chicken in the breadcrumb mixture and turn to completely coat in breadcrumbs.

7Heat a cast-iron skillet or any heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.

8 Add the oil and heat until a drop of egg sizzles when added to the pan. If you are using a large pan, you might need to use extra oil.

9Add the chicken and cook, flipping once, until golden brown all over, 2 to 3 minutes per side. If you use thicker pieces of chicken, you will need to cook it for longer. Add extra oil to the pan between batches as needed.

10 Remove the chicken from the pan and let it sit in a paper towel to remove
excess oil.

PERFECT PIZZA

PREP TIME FOR PIZZA DOUGH 15 MINUTES RISING TIME FOR DOUGH 45 MINUTES PREP TIME 5 MINUTES PER PIZZA COOKING TIME 3 TO 5 MINUTES PER PIZZA MAKES 6 (8- TO 10-INCH / 20 TO 25 CM) PIZZAS

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE DOUGH

2 (1/4-ounce / 7 g) packages active-dry yeast

1 1/2CUPS plus 2 tablespoons (385 ml) warm water

4CUPS (520 g) all-purpose flour

3TABLESPOONS extra-virgin olive oil

1TABLESPOON coarse sea or kosher salt

2TEASPOONS sugar

2TABLESPOONS cornmeal for dusting (optional)

FOR THE TOPPINGS

3/4 to11/4 CUPS (180 to 295 ml) Tomato Sauce or Pesto

15OUNCES (425 g) mozzarella cheese, preferably fresh

2TABLESPOONS (30 ml) extra- virgin olive oil

1 1/2cups (85 g) grated Parmigiano- Reggiano
cheese (optional)

Coarse sea salt or kosher salt to taste

Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

MAKE THE DOUGH

1 In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, or in a large bowl, combine the yeast and warm water then add the flour, olive oil, salt, and sugar.

2Using the dough hook, mix the ingredients on low for 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 1 to 2 minutes. Form the dough into a ball. You can also knead the dough by hand; see step 5 in the recipe for Back to Basics Bread (page 45) for kneading instructions.

3 Put the dough in a clean medium bowl that's been lightly oiled with vegetable or canola oil. Cover the bowl with a clean, damp tea towel (or plastic wrap). This prevents the dough from getting a hard crust while it rises. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.

4Divide the dough into six equal portions and shape each portion into a round ball. Place the balls of dough on a lightly floured work surface, cover with the damp tea towel, and let sit for 15 minutes.

MAKE THE PIZZA

1Preheat the oven to its highest setting, usually 550oF (285oC). Place a pizza stone or baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and let it heat up for 5 minutes.

2Dust a pizza peel or large cutting board with cornmeal or flour. Using your fingers and knuckles, gently stretch a ball of dough into an 8- to 10-inch (20 to 25 cm)  circle and place on the prepared pizza peel.

3Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce or pesto evenly on the dough using the back of a spoon. Tear 2 1⁄2 ounces (70 grams) of mozzarella into small (roughly 1-inch / 2.5 cm) pieces and scatter over the tomato sauce. Add toppings, if desired. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt to taste.

4With the help of an adult, slide the dough onto the pizza stone in the oven. Bake until the crust is lightly brown and the cheese is bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes.

5Remove the pizza from the oven and cool for 1 minute. Top with Parmigiano- Reggiano and basil, if using, and serve whole or cut into quarters.

Excerpts from 20 Recipes Kids Should Know (Prestel, 2019), recipes and text by Esme Washburn, Photographs by Calista Washburn.

Give back.
Those long school supply lists can be a burden for families, so remember those in need. Many schools and districts collect surplus supplies for those who need a helping hand. Some retailers also allow you to purchase supplies to be donated to local schools. Explore give-back programs in your community or start one of your own.

Shop local.
Online shopping is a busy mom's best friend. How else can you manage a 2 a.m. feeding while ticking items off of your back-to-school list? But it can be isolating, so don't forget about your neighborhood retailers when buying your back-to-school supplies this year. Supporting local businesses helps your local economy, builds your community and gets you out of the house!

Team up.
You don't have to do this alone. Get together with friends to buy items in bulk (at a cheaper price), then split the supplies. Or tap into social media groups to swap extra items with other moms-you might have unused notebooks from last year while they have unopened boxes of crayons to trade.

Don't break the bank.
While it's fun to splurge on one or two choice items like the ones featured here, save your wallet by purchasing bulk items for the remaining supplies: pencils, erasers, notebooks, etc. And before you do any shopping, be sure to take an inventory of what you already have. You might be surprised to find unused or barely used paints, pencils, folders and other supplies left over from last year. Thrift stores and garage sales can also be great places to find unique supplies like backpacks, pencil pouches and more.

At the beginning of the new school year it's easy to feel ambitious about our ability to get the kids up early, eat breakfast, pack healthy lunches, check homework and get everyone out the door on time every morning (bonus if both socks match). But let's be honest, as the year progresses we're lucky if a comb passes over their hair once a week. So if you've got grand ideas about slipping a loving note into your child's lunch box every day, or even once in awhile (we recommend the once-in-awhile approach), you need to be armed with some tools to make it easy.

Tips

Stock up. Keep notecards, Post it® notes, or scratch paper on hand in the kitchen so you can quickly scribble a message as you're packing all those healthy lunches. Heck, you can even jot down a little note on a paper napkin as you slip it into their lunchbox.
Get inspired. Raid your books or the internet for quotes, riddles and poems that will put a smile on your child's face during their school day.
Print it. The internet is full of free printable lunch notes like these.
Interact. Ask a question that your child can answer after school.

Get Started!

Click the photo to get our Lunch Box Love Notes Printable file, then Cut them out and add your own personal message on the back.

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.

When mom needs a cocktail, this refreshing spritzer is just the thing.
Or forego the alcohol and make it a mocktail everyone can enjoy.

Ingredients:

3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup simple syrup:

½ cup lime juice

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.

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:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons honey, divided

1 container (8 ounces) nonfat orange or tangerine yogurt

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 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.

Did you know that April Fools' Day was started by an exhausted mom who wanted to play a trick on her family by resetting all of the clocks in the house so that she could stay in bed? Just fooling!

The actual origins of April Fools' Day are unknown, but History.com tells us that historians speculate the holiday dates back to 1582. That's when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. People who failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as poisson d'avril (April fish), said to symbolize a young, "easily hooked" fish and a gullible person.

Kid-friendly April Fools' Day pranks

Don't be an April fish. If you want to get in on the joke, think Elf-on-the-Shelf meets a mischievous leprechaun and you'll be in the right mindset for some fun April Fools' Day pranks. Here are a few ideas to fool your family.

• Set the clocks forward an hour, then wake the kids up by frantically announcing that you're late. After they scramble to get ready, surprise them with a breakfast treat.
• Tell your kids you're having cupcakes for dinner. Then serve meatloaf "cupcakes" topped with mashed potatoes colored to look like frosting.
• Surprise your kids with a bowl of frozen cereal. The night before, pour cereal in a bowl and about half the milk, then freeze. In the morning top up with a little fresh milk before serving.
• Stuff the inside tips of your children's shoes with tissue or cotton balls. They'll be confused as to why their shoes suddenly don't fit. Throw in some casual comments about how their feet look like they've grown.
• Put a small drop of food coloring inside the bristles of your children's toothbrushes. If the drops are little, they won't even realize they're there until they begin brushing their teeth and discover a yuck mouth.
• Pour some baking soda in the toilet. Then, when your little ones go potty in the morning, it will fizz up and surprise them.

Keep it fun

April Fool's Day is a time for jokes and pranks, but kids sometimes lack the maturity to distinguish between a fun-loving joke and a hurtful one. Teach your child about "laughing with, not at someone." Emphasize that a good joke includes everyone laughing together, not picking on someone or leaving them out.