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Calling all soon-to-be college or high school grads! We're looking for someone to take part in our Makeover segment - courtesy of our friends at Planet Hair Salon in Fresno's River Park. For the next shoot, the stylists would love to help a teenager get ready for college... or a college student get ready to go job-hunting.
It's super easy to nominate someone for a chance at a makeover by Planet Hair.
Just send an email explaining why she - or he! - is in need a makeover. Please include a picture so that the Planet Hair stylists can check out the person's current hair situation.
Please include your name (plus name of person needing a makeover), your contact phone, your email address and a short explanation of why a makeover is needed.
Send entries and pics to the CBS47 Webmaster at SteveHawkins@cbsfresno.com.
Get cracking! We'll choose someone at the end of this week.
Good luck!
Click here to watch previous makeovers.
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TIME Magazine's new cover has created a social media maelstrom.
[courtesy: Martin Schoeller for TIME]
When I first saw the pic this morning, I did a double-take. I'm not prudish, by any means, but was a bit shocked to see the cover model nursing her (rather good-sized) three-year-old boy. I don't have a problem with breast-feeding. I think women should be able to do it anywhere, as long as they're modest. (I owned a very cute Hooter Hider that did just the trick!)
But what shocked me more was the headline: "Are You Mom Enough?" Without even reading the article, I knew the implication - "Is what you're doing better/worse than what other moms are doing?" Welcome to the newest incarnation of...
The Mommy Wars!
Turns out, the cover story is about Attachment Parenting, pioneered by Dr. William Sears. TIME's website says:
Its three main tenets are extended breast-feeding, co-sleeping and “baby wearing,” in which infants are physically attached to their parents by slings.
The article looks at the parents who follow Dr. Sears tenets to a T. But it also looks at those who obviously also want their babies to feel loved and protected, but think Attachment Parenting is just crazy. However, some of them can also feel inadequate - like they're not living up to some ideal.
And THAT'S what I have a problem with. As long as a child is fed, loved, protected... then mom or dad is doing fine. Want to nurse your kid til Kindergarten? Go for it. Want to sleep with a toddler's foot in your face all night? Fine. A breastfeeding mom is no better or worse than a formula-feeding mom. A mom who bakes every cupcake from scratch doesn't get more brownie points than the one who picks up a dozen from Costco and calls it a day. A mom who chooses cloth diapers is just like the one who spends a fortune on Pampers and Pull-ups.
Last things moms should be doing is turning on each other... or letting other moms feel judged and unworthy. We are part of such a privileged club. Let's support one another. I can't stand the judgy-judges. Please. We are under enough pressure these days. We should help each other carry the load. Not add to the pile.
Okay. Rant over.
You can't read the full article unless you are a subscriber. I'm not. I'm also not going to buy the issue... so I'll try to swing by the library later. If you do read it, please let me know what you think on my Facebook page.
Click here for TIME's Behind-The-Cover article.
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It's no secret the "CBS47 This Morning" crew loves to eat. A lot. Any chance to scarf down food, and we're on top of it.
This morning, Chef Anthony from Cheesecake Factory joined us live to whip up brunch dishes for Mother's Day - French Toast Napoleon and Warm Artichoke & Crab Dip.
Here's the video:
Click pic to play
By the way, if you don't want to mess with cooking - and cleaning - this Mother's Day, Cheesecake Factory at Fashion Fair Mall in Fresno opens for brunch at 9 a.m. Sunday. Call (559) 228-1400.
Here are the recipes. Hope you enjoy!
French Toast Napoleon
Ingredients
French Toast Batter:
· 4 Eggs
· 1 cup Half & Half (or milk)
· 1 Tbl. Vanilla
· 2 Tbls. Sugar
· ¾ tsp. Cinnamon
· 6 Slices Egg Bread or Challah Bread
· 2 cups French Toast batter
· ¼ cup melted Butter
· 3 cups Strawberries, sliced and tossed with a little sugar
· 2 cups Whipped Cream
· ½ cup Glazed Pecans
· 1 Tbl. Powdered Sugar
· Maple Syrup, heated
Serving Size: 2
Directions
1. Mix eggs, half & half, vanilla and sugar in a blender and blend together for a few seconds or until smooth.
2. Dip the egg bread in French toast batter. Gently squeeze the bread slices in several different spots (especially near the edge/crust) to help absorb the batter. Allow the batter to absorb into the bread while it rests for 10 minutes.
3. Drizzle melted butter onto a pancake grill or large sauté pan. Place the soaked egg bread onto the oiled grill and cook until golden brown on both top and bottom (approx. 4 minutes per side).
4. When the French toast is done, place one slice on the plate. Using a large spoon, sprinkle a some of the sliced strawberries over the top of the French toast, making sure to spread it close to the edge, all the way around. Place the second piece of French toast on top of the first and sprinkle more sliced strawberries over the bread, again, making sure to spread it close to the edge, all the way around. Place the last piece of French toast on top of the others. Sprinkle a little more sliced strawberries on top of the bread, but this time with a little more in the center and allowing some of the strawberries to fall randomly onto the plate around the French toast. You can also drizzle a little juice around the edge of the French toast. Repeat this procedure with the second plate.
5. Garnish the French toast with some whipped cream and the glazed pecans.
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top and all around the plate. Serve warm maple syrup on the side.
RECIPE: Crab and Artichoke Mix
Ingredients
· 1 slice White Bread, minced
· 3 oz Cream Cheese
· 1 cup Heavy Cream
· 5 oz Sour Cream
· 4 oz Mayonnaise
· 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
· 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
· 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
· 1/4 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
· 6 oz Artichoke Hearts, drained, cut into 3/4” pieces
· 1/2 lb Crabcake Mix (personal choice)
· 1/4 lb Crab Meat (lump or backfin)
Yield: Approximately 2-1/4 lbs.
Directions
- Place the minced bread and cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Pour the heavy cream into the bowl and over the other ingredients. Mix the ingredients together evenly combined.
- Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and old bay seasoning into the mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together until evenly combined.
- Add the artichoke hearts, crabcake mix and crab meat into the bowl. Gently “fold” into the other ingredients being careful not to break up the large lump pieces of crab.
- Transfer to saute pan and heat on stovetop - or heat in baking dish in 350 degree oven - til bubbly.
- Top with buttered breadcrumbs and serve with toasted slices of sourdough baguettes, brushed with olive oil
 
Producer Wes and me scarfing down... as usual
Oh, and if you're wondering where Jenny was...
She was eating some Frosted Cakery desserts. Click here for HER food foray this morning...
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It started with a simple declaration on my Twitter and Facebook accounts: I didn't dig "The Avengers".
That led to several (sometimes heated) discussions with people over the internet and here at work. My problem? I found myself tuning out whenever Iron Man and Black Widow weren't on screen; I saw one explosion/crash/gunshot too many and I couldn't buy one character's change-of-heart (and color) in the third act.
For some reason, five different people countered my review with "Do you like the 'Twilight' movies?" Two on the internet and three people here in the newsroom. I thought that was so strange! [Answer: The first two were awful, the third was watchable, the fourth was decent, can't wait for the fifth and final one. So there.] But it got me thinking. What are my favorite films?
Movies I'd Take With Me On A Deserted Island
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Swingers
- Jerry Maguire
- Beauty and the Beast
- Fight Club
- Wedding Crashers
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Toy Story 3
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Face/Off
- Top Gun
Movies I Love, But Can't Take Because I've Hit My (Arbitrary) Island Quota
- Splendor in the Grass
- Shawshank Redemption
- Iron Man
- Goodfellas
- Babe
- Broadcast News
- E.T.
- The Untouchables
- The Dark Knight
- Good Will Hunting
- Monsters, INC
- Sense & Sensibility
- The Wizard of Oz
- Moulin Rouge!
- The Godfather 2
- The Karate Kid
Movies I'll Stop To Watch While Channel-Surfing
- Uncle Buck
- Legally Blonde
- Titanic
- Independence Day
- Sweet Home Alabama
- The Day After Tomorrow
- While You Were Sleeping
- Pretty Woman
- Shakespeare In Love
- Grease
- Back to the Future
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
- The American President
- Coming To America
Movies I Secretly Love But Will Deny Publicly (well, til now)
- Legends of the Fall
- The Notebook
- What a Girl Wants
- Notting Hill
- Maid in Manhattan
- Grease 2
- Center Stage
- For Love of the Game
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Wowzers. Girl Scouts of Central California South just released the final figures for this year's cookie sales. Troops around the Valley sold more than 987,000 cookies in six weeks. That's amazing.
  
Even more impressive? More than 80 troop members are also members of the Super Sellers Secret Society Honors club - or "SSSSH" - for selling at least 1,000 packages of thin mints, peanut butter patties and other yummy treats.
Here are the top sellers for the 2012 Cookie Season:
- Kelsie Anne, Troop 638 (Tulare County): 3,504 boxes
- Desirae, Troop 983 (Fresno County): 2,174 boxes
- Kara, Troop 2870 (Fresno County): 2,101 boxes
- Hailey, Troop 376 (Kern County): 2,057 boxes
- Sofia, Troop 2870 (Fresno County): 2,050 boxes
When I was a Girl Scout, I was lucky to crack 100. 100! It was a deplorable showing for a salesperson. Was it the Dorothy Hamill haircut that turned people away? I mean, it WAS the 1970s!
Me, circa 1979 (I think)
Congrats to all the Girl Scouts for another incredible season. And don't feel guilty about scarfing down a box or two. All the money helps local troops. Yay!
For more information on GSCCS, please click here and don't forget to like their Facebook page, too!
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Zara the WARTHOG, that is!
The Chaffee Zoo's newest resident is a nine-month-old, 85-pound Phacochoerus Africanus Sundevallii, or "warthog" to you and me. While I'd love to claim that the cutie pie - YES, cutie pie! - was named after me... the San Diego Zoo already bestowed her with that moniker before transferring her to Fresno.
The warthog is native to Southern Africa. Its diet consists of grasses, roots, berries and insects. They're great diggers and live in small communities called sounders. Zara the Younger will likely double her weight by the time she's full-grown. (Thanks, Wikipedia!)
I've gotta say, I'm SO excited that I share my name with a warthog. Does that sound weird? I love the fact that it's such a so-ugly-it's-cute animal. Oh, and rumor has it, the zoo will name her firstborn "Arboleda" down the road. We'll see!
Zara is still getting used to her new home, so she won't be out in the exhibit full-time until next week. Til then, here's hoping Zara (Junior) will one day become as famous as another warthog... Pumbaa!
Click pic to watch "Hakuna Matata"!
~~~~~
And don't forget! The Chaffee Zoo's annual Breakfast with the Animals takes place Saturday, April 14th, from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. It's a chance for you to scarf down some yummy pancakes, sausage and drinks with the beasts. There will also be all kinds of shows, events and Earth Day festivities on the grounds. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids 2-11. Zoo members get a discount. For more info, call 559-498-5921 or visit the Chaffee Zoo website.
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It's the most wonderful time of the year... for sportos! CBS47's coverage of March Madness begins in less than 24 hours! Pouring over columns, statistics and articles... trying to fill out your coveted brackets... then watching them implode once the games begin.
Look who's released his annual NCAA Tournament picks:
Click pic for POTUS picks!
In years past, I've taken great issue with his selections - he had an awful 2010 bracket (the kU Jayhawks, sir? Yuck!) and equally awful 2011 bracket (again with the beakers, sir?)
But this year, I approve his message. He's got my beloved Missouri Tigers going to their first ever Final Four. [He went with Kentucky for the championship, but we all have our faults.]
Big 12 Champs!
I've chosen Kentucky, Florida State, Kansas [BOO! But sometimes, I can put aside my disgust for the greater good of my bracket) and Mizzou for the Final Four... with the Tigers going all... the... WAY! Oh, and I better send out a presumptive "Sorry!" for any obnoxious posts, tweets or comments I might utter over the course of the next 10 days. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger... and we are a very vocal group.
M-I-Z!
What does your bracket look like this year?
CBS47's live coverage of March Madness begins Thursday, March 15th, at 9 a.m. Tune in and good luck! Remember to enter our College Hoops Challenge, which can score you all kinds of treats - including a trip to Vegas!
Z-O-U!
Good luck... and let the Madness take over!
[Big 12 pic courtesy Jamie Squire/Getty Images]
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A huge THANK YOU on behalf of the Down Syndrome Association of Central California. Saturday's "Sweetheart Luncheon and Fashion Show" was fantastic... with tickets sales up 20% over last year's event. None of that would've been possible without the tireless staffers and volunteers who put it all together - and from celebrity guest Lauren Potter. She plays Becky Jackson, captain of the Cheerios on "Glee". I was lucky enough to get to co-host the festivities with her!
Striking a "Gleek" pose!
This is one of the main fundraisers for DSACC, which provides education and support services to those with Down Syndrome and their families. This year, the event coordinators were lucky enough to get Lauren to drive up from LA. She's in the middle of shooting the fourth season of "Glee", serves as an advisor to President Obama and does advocacy work across the country. But still, she found time to come to Fresno and share her inspirational story with the luncheon attendees. Lauren's smart, charming and hilarious. Her spirit is just contagious. I had such a fun time with her.
Lauren & Me Post-Hosting Gig
Here are more pics from Saturday's event, courtesy of photographer Michael Gonzalez of Banana Blue Photography. Thanks, Michael!
Meeting Young Guests
With the DeLaCerda Family
Gabbing with Elijah, Toys R Us Spokesmodel
Models Deborah McCoy & Sara Allshouse
Lauren and her "Momager", Robin
Silent Auction Tables (I lost every bid!)
Int'l Catering's Owner, with Models
Lauren Making Her Exit
Related Links:
Down Syndrome Association of Central California
Diamond Learning Center
Break the Barriers
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I'm so excited about co-hosting the annual Sweetheart Luncheon & Fashion Show tomorrow (Feb. 11th) for the Down Syndrome Association of Central California. Check out who'll be up on stage with me!
That's Lauren Potter, who plays "Becky Jackson" on Glee. She's a media spokesperson and advisor to President Obama for people with intellectual disabilities. I hear she was very excited to come to Fresno to take part in this fundraiser for DSACC.
The event features a one-of-a-kind fashion show, featuring models with Down Syndrome walking down the runway... escorting volunteers and sponsors. It's tomorrow (the 11th), from 10:30am - 1:30 pm, at International Catering (4277 N. West Ave. in Fresno). Tickets are $40/person. For info, please call 559/228-0411.
Then after the event, Lauren will hold a meet-and-greet over at Break the Barriers from 2-4pm. Click here for more information on that wonderful organization.
Check out my post from last year's event to see pics and video clips.
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When I get fired up about something, I tend to talk about it a lot. And loudly.
My co-workers got an earful this morning, when the convo turned to a group I never heard of til today - One Million Moms, which bills itself as "the most powerful tool you have to stand against the immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media is throwing at your children." Its latest target is that magnet of controversy, that black hole of sin... JC Penney. The reason? Ellen DeGeneres is the new spokesperson.
She's coming for your children!
From the group's website:
"Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families. More sales will be lost than gained unless they replace their spokesperson quickly. Unless JC Penney decides to be neutral in the culture war then their brand transformation will be unsuccessful."
I'm really glad One Million Moms is around to protect the rights of "traditional families". Oh, wait. What's that? Wondering what a "traditional" family is? Me, too! Cuz I'm married to a Caucasian man and we have two bi-racial children. As recently as 60 years ago, we would've been considered "immoral" and "non-traditional".
Also from the website:
By jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon, JC Penney is attempting to gain a new target market and in the process will lose customers with traditional values that have been faithful to them over all these years.
There's that pesky word again. "Traditional"... this time attached to "values". What are those? I was raised in the Catholic faith. I went to Catholic middle and high schools. The one message I was always taught was to treat others as I would like to be treated. The Golden Rule.
This week, Ellen addressed the campaign against her. Watch for yourself:
Click pic to play video
JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson appeared on "CBS This Morning" Thursday. He stood by his decision, saying it's a "no-brainer" to have Ellen represent his company:
"We don't look at it like a controversy. One of the great things about America is people can speak their mind. And you know, the organization that believes one thing has spoken and it was great to see Ellen share her views yesterday. And we stand squarely behind Ellen as our spokesperson and that's a great thing. Because she shares the same values that we do in our company. Our company was founded 110 years ago on The Golden Rule, which is about treating people fair and square, just like you would like to be treated yourself. And we think Ellen represents the values of our company and the values that we share."
When I look at Ellen, I see a funny, caring and successful woman who brings a smile to my face every time I watch her. I don't see "the gay". I don't see some kind of hidden homosexual agenda. She makes me laugh. She interviews some of my favorite celebs. She always has those cute, tutu-clad British girls on her show.
One Million Moms says it represents Christian mothers. Well, OMM... I'm a Christian and I'm a mother, but you don't represent me. I could keep going, but my coworkers are trying to put the afternoon newscasts together in peace...
Now you'll have to excuse me, but I have some shopping to do at Penney's before getting home in time to catch today's "The Ellen Show". [Weekdays, 4pm, on CBS47!]
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Grrr. It's so easy to hate, isn't it? And that's so sad. Right now, a whole lot of hate is directed at a 23-year-old athlete named Kyle Williams, born and raised in the Bay Area (San Jose) and now villified by his own neighbors.
Williams After OT Fumble [Courtesy: Julie Jacobson/AP]
Sugarcoat it all you want, but #10 cost the San Francisco 49ers the NFC title. He fumbled punt returns TWICE. The second one happened in OT, leading to a Giants field goal and a heartbreaking loss for a team that's gone from Bad News Bears to one of the best in the NFL. In ONE season. But so did #11. Alex Smith was only able to convert one third-and-long into a first down. ONE. And so did my favorite coach since Bill Walsh... Jim Harbaugh, who I thought should've made some personnel changes and playcalling adjustments when the team didn't appear to click on the field.
[Courtesy: AP/Jeff Chiu]
Yet after the Giants got their NFC trophy and tickets to Indy, all the internet booing, insults and rage post-game were pretty much directed at Williams. Hateful, awful things. One person wrote to Williams - Twitter name @KyleWilliams_10 - "I hope you die in your sleep". Another tweeted, "I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it".
Really?
Really?!?
What an awful, awful thing to wish upon anyone.
Yes, right after the game, I tweeted "So proud of the Niners and what they accomplished this season. Except for you, Kyle Williams". I hurled a few obscenities at the tv. I started calling him names like "Buckner". But then I stopped.
What was I doing? I was being a sore loser. Picking on an easy target. Setting an awful example for my two little kids. I always tell them that if you try your hardest, then the outcome doesn't matter. Yet here I was showing such hatred for a kid who bobbled a ball a couple of times on national television.
Don't get me wrong. I'm FURIOUS the Niners lost that game. But all those fans spewing such venom on the web is just classless and idiotic and embarrassing. So stop, everyone. It's football. It's a game. Nothing more.
Take time to read this fantastic column by CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel. He was in the locker room after the game, and was astounded by what he saw from the Niners. In a good way.
Anyway, there's always next season...
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I never thought I could give up books. I mean, in the traditional sense - how could I give up holding an actual book in my hand, feeling the weight of it, turning from page to page? How dare anyone suggest I switch to an ereader! But guess what?
I'm now a convert to the Kindle cult... and it took a whopping day and a half. My husband surprised me with a Kindle (4th generation, non-Touch version, $79 at Target,with a $10 gift card back) the week before Christmas. By the time the kids opened their presents December 25th, I was already on my second ebook. Last night, I downloaded a third.
The screen is amazing. Unlike my iPhone or work iPad, it doesn't strain my eyes after hours of reading. It's so light, I can hold it in one hand while lying in bed. I can download a book within seconds of thinking about it. Most suprisingly, I don't miss paper one bit.
Even better, there are so many free books you can download from Amazon's library, featuring authors like Jane Austen, Mark Twain and Phillip K. Dick. And instead of driving to the library (which isn't far anyway), I can download novels directly from the Fresno County Public Library's website. The wait list is usually no more than a day or two.
I will never get rid of my dog-eared/cover-falls-off-when-you-pick-it-up copy of "100 Years of Solitude" or my hardcover collection of the Harry Potter series. But I will never get rid of my Kindle, either.
Thanks, Kindle creators, for changing my life. Seriously.
 Click here to browse Amazon's Kindle Store.
 Click here to download books from FCPL. (You'll need a library card, though... so go sign up for one!)
Happy reading!
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Elf on the Shelf - Effective Yuletide behavior-modification tool or creepy kewpie-faced stalker? I've gone back and forth all year on whether to join the craze. Do you have one of these in your house? The premise behind it is that Santa's way too busy to keep an eye on every single boy and girl on Earth. So, he's dispatched his little elves to help monitor any bad behavior. In reality, parents end up stressing out, finding a new place for the little guy to perch on while the kids sleep each night.
The elf. On a shelf.
After spending the last six weeks hemming and hawing over whether to buy one of the spies for my 2- and 4-year-old kids, I realized it's too late for the little guy to really work. So on the advice of a good friend, whenever the kids act up, I've been grabbing my phone and saying, "If you don't eat-your-food/let-go-of-the-dog's-tail/put-your-clothes-back-on, I'm texting Santa!" (Works like a charm, by the way...)
Anyway, blogger Jill Krause of Baby Rabies is in the middle of a deal that'll definitely place you on St. Nick's "Naughty" list. She's concocted an "Inappropriate Elf Contest". Winner scores an iPad2. You can guess what the rules are. Before you click on the site, a warning - plenty of the images are NSFW... unless you work in a newsroom, where anything goes!
Here's a sampling of some of the submissions so far:
Dexter the Elf [my favorite]
Bourbon Street Bachelor Party Elf
The Shining Elf
Baby Rabies is one of my favorite mommy blog sites out there. The author loves her two young rugrats, but doesn't pretend life as a parent is all perfect. Her posts - and tweets - are hilarious and true-to-life. (Oh, and the fact she's a fellow Mizzou grad is a plus, gotta say!)
The Blogger Extraordinaire
So check out the Baby Rabies blog, like the Facebook Page and follow Jill on Twitter. Then go get started on putting YOUR little North Pole double agent in some very unique situations. Voting ends December 20th.
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These aren't ZERO calories, mind you, but the Got Milk? folks and Chef Lala - celebrity cook and nutritionist - have come up with some desserts that weigh in at less than 200 calories per serving.
Chef Lala visited CBS47 This Morning to talk about her push to help you eat heathier - without sacrificing taste. She does a lot of work with the American Diabetes and Heart Associations. Click here to watch her segments. My fave - the crepes with queso fresco and apricot/grand marnier glaze.
Try them out this Christmas!
SPICY MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 cups 1% low fat milk
1 large cinnamon stick
1 ½ tbsp. cocoa
1 ½ tbsp. sugar or sweetener
½ tsp. real vanilla extract
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions:
Mix milk, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and sugar or sweetener in a medium saucepan. Cook over a low heat until hot, stirring frequently. Be careful not to boil over.
For a spicy kick, stir in some cayenne pepper to taste.
Pour into 8 oz. serving cups.
Presentation:
Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream
Nutrition Content Per Serving:
133 calories, 3.4 g fat
CHOCOLATE VANILLA TIMBALES
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups 2% milk
2 ½ tbsp. chocolate cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp. real vanilla extract
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 envelope gelatin
¼ cup hot water
Powdered chocolate
1 cup vanilla yogurt
¼ cup dulce de leche
Directions:
In a saucepan, heat milk and stir in cocoa powder until milk comes to a boil. Remove from heat. In a bowl, separate the eggs. Beat the egg yolks and add vanilla extract and sugar. Slowly incorporate the yolk mixture to the chocolate milk while beating mixture.
Return the mixture to stove and stir constantly over low heat until thick and smooth. Do not bring to a boil. Dissolve the gelatin in hot water and incorporate in the chocolate milk mixture. Allow to cool until almost set.
Whisk the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Fold the chocolate milk mixture into the egg whites. Spoon the mixture into six separate molds. Chill until set.
To serve, run a knife around the edge, dip the molds quickly into hot water and turn out the chocolate timbales onto serving plates. Sprinkle with powdered chocolate.
Presentation:
Optional: Serve with vanilla yogurt and dulce de leche
Nutrition Content Per Serving:
57 calories, 2g fat
CINNAMON CUSTARD AND POMEGRANATE
Serves 8
Ingredients:
4 tsp. cornstarch
¼ cup water
4 cups 2% milk, divided
4 medium egg yolks
1 tsp. real vanilla
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Fresh pomegranate seeds
8 sprigs fresh mint
Directions:
Dissolve cornstarch in water in medium bowl. Add 2 cups of milk, 4 egg yolks, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
Heat remaining 2 cups of milk in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and lower heat. Slowly stir cold milk mixture into hot milk in saucepan. Cook approximately 20 to 25 minutes until mixture thickens to the consistency of a very thick sauce. Let it cool slightly.
Place plastic wrap directly on custard. Chill in refrigerator 2 hours (it should thicken to the consistency of custard). Serve cold with fresh pomegranate.
Presentation:
Garnish with mint
Nutrition Content Per Serving:
145 calories, 5.8 g fat
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Well, whaddaya know... Mattel does make a Filipina Barbie! And thanks to the Fresno Rescue Mission, I now have one!
My New Doll (ahem, for my daughter)
It's so pretty, I don't even want to open it. Amazingly, the Mission's Thrift Store was selling it for just $15. Look what it's going for on eBay!
Starting bid - $99!
I'm a bit Barbie-obsessed at the moment. But I feel justified, because it's all for a good cause. I first wrote about Barbie on a Mission last week. Thousands of new dolls on sale - with proceeds benefiting the Fresno Rescue Mission. I scoured the tables on Black Friday, looking for dolls to give to my two-year-old girl. I found two: President Barbie (we don't do "bride" or "first date" dolls!) and Korean Barbie. That was the closest I could find to my own ethnicity. So I figured, that'll work. After all, I just had blonde/blue-eyed Barbies growing up. At least this one would REMOTELY look like my daughter!
I found POTUS Barbie for $10!
But last night, the Mission folks unloading new dolls found a box containing a 1993 Filipina Barbie. And now it's mine! Woohoo! I admit, though, this purchase will stay on the shelf. She's just too perfect to end up in the toilet. Or buried in the backyard. Or lost amid the Yo Gabba Gabba plushies, Legos and coloring books.
Anyway, there are still plenty of dolls left at the Thrift Store. It's located at 181 E. Sierra, just east of Blackstone in Fresno. Go visit. You never know what you'll find, and all the money you spend there goes back into the community. Can't beat that!
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It's Barbie to the Rescue... of the Fresno Rescue Mission!
Instead of lining up at one of the big box stores or at the mall on Black Friday, head to the Fresno Rescue Mission. There, you'll find hundreds of Barbie dolls - and other collectible toys - for sale. Prices are 50-75% lower than retail. These are all new, in their original packaging.
You can buy a Wizard of Oz Ken doll (dressed as the Scarecrow) for $10. Starting bid is $25 on eBay! There's also a really cute Barbie watch made by Fossil) that comes in a pink piano-shaped case - $15!
 
The Rescue Mission is also including a little note with all Barbies. It contains this verse of scripture from Song of Solomon: "You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw on you." It's a nice little reminder that we don't all have to look like Barbie for society to consider us "gorgeous". Of course, anyone who supports this great event is already a beautiful person - inside and out.
Here's a preview of the sale that aired on CBS47 This Morning on Wednesday.
Click pic to watch segment
The sale is Friday 5am - 6pm and Saturday 9am - 6pm, at the Mission's Thrift Store. It's located at 181 E. Sierra, just east of Blackstone in Fresno. Hope you can swing by, pick up some Christmas presents AND such a wonderful group! Click here to learn more about the Fresno Rescue Mission.
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This has seriously been one of those "therapy news weeks"... you know, the ones where the stories are all so... negative. Cain accusers stepping forward, stocks tanking again, demonstrators occupying this and students protesting that... and don't even get me started on the whole Happy Valley debacle. Follow my Twitter stream or stand within three feet of me, and you'll know exactly how passionate and emotional I've been over that story!
So it's time to do a detox. I just need to stare at cute pictures for a bit. You, too? Okay... here we go.
This just might be one of the cutest pics I've ever seen:
[Courtesy: Auburn Soul Photography]
Photographer and mom of three Stephanie dressed her son as Carl from "Up". Her studio's called Auburn Soul. Too bad she only shoots in Dallas and Salt Lake City. I want her to transform my family into Pixar characters!
Next up... my new favorite website: "Arthur Recreates Scenes from Classic Movies". The name really does say it all. Mommy blogger Emily stages some iconic film moments using her cutie pie son as a prop. (Thanks to Beehive Blogger Mike Oz for the link.)
The pics are brilliant. Some of my faves:
Blair Witch Project
Shawshank Redemption
The Godfather (my fave!!)
And finally, 8-year-old hip hop princess Sophie Grace made her triumphant return to the Ellen Show, with her hype girl, 5-year-old cousin Rosie, in tow. I think it's pretty cool she can drop Nicki Minaj's beats - in FRONT of the rapper - without a single stumble. Watch THAT performance here. And here's their latest appearance, nine minutes of precocious cuteness. Forget those Duggars. Give this kid her own show!
Click pic to watch
Hope the pics and video help brighten up your day a bit!
Back to work...
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I can't stop thinking about it. How in the world does someone see a 10-year-old child get sexually assaulted and not call 911? How does that person's BOSS not call 911? How does the BOSS' boss not call 911?
The horrific news out of Penn State is a slap in the face to humanity. To ethics. To morals.
Suspect Jerry Sandusky (Photo/AP)
Not up to speed? Here's the deal. Back in 2002, a football graduate assistant walked into the locker rooms at Penn State, heard something odd... and reportedly saw former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky raping a boy in the showers. Did he call police? No. The next day, he told Head Coach Joe Paterno. JoePa, beloved father of the Nittany Lions football team.
Did Paterno call police? No. He told the Athletic Director and another school executive.
Did THEY call police? No. Did they even try to find the victim? No.
The whole thing is appalling. Paterno is not criminally culpable in this case. The Pennsylvania Attorney General says he notified his superiors. That's all he had to do. But how does he report this to them... AND NOT FOLLOW UP? No, he wasn't legally obligated to do so. But as a human being - a father, no less - he should've done more. He should've taken a closer look at one of his closest aides and wondered, Hmmm... is he a pedophile? Is it even a possibility?
Sorry, but if I were to even suspect that a member of my inner circle were a monster, you bet I'd look into it more. After all, if I had an inkling something was wrong - but didn't do anything beyond tell my superior - and that person victimized more people, then I helped that happen. I shoulder some of that blame.
Sandusky now faces 40 criminal counts, ranging from inappropriate touching to rape. Read the entire grand jury report here. It's appalling. The Athletic Director and the executive are now charged with trying to cover up the allegations. And now, the calls are getting even louder for the mighty Paterno to step down.
Head Coach Joe Paterno
Jeff MacGregor of ESPN writes: "The failure here is complete. Utter. The failure of the institution and the failure of the individual. The failure of the community. The failure of common decency."
Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports writes: "Rather than call the police, Paterno seemingly gathered as little information as possible and slipped back into his JoePa facade... If there is an ounce of dignity left in Paterno's vain and delusional 84-year-old body, he will step down from his throne today."
And Bill Plascke of the LA Times writes: "It’s sad that the winningest coach in major college football history will end his career with a giant ‘L’ in the human-being department, but not nearly so sad as the idea that boys may have been abused because football’s most controlling boss did nothing."
What makes this even worse, in my eyes, is that Paterno always seemed like such an upstanding guy. I'm sure - to some extent - he is. His program always seemed above reproach. But I'll take the scandals at Miami, Ohio State and USC, over this any day. Those were about greed. Yes, bad. But this... this is about the death of decency.
To those within that athletics department who heard even the faintest rumblings about Sandusky... shame on you.
I can't stop thinking about that little boy. And all the other boys.
For the love of God, if you ever get wind that a child is in danger, call the cops. No excuses.
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But, they're growing out the facial hair for a very good cause...
    
Several Central Valley firefighters - from Clovis, CALFire and other agencies - are on the last leg of their six-week campaign to "Grow Your Stache For Cash". The goal? To raise $35,000 for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, which sends young burn victims to Champ Camp each summer.
Clovis Firefighter Chris Bridger spearheaded the local campaign. He visited us pre-Tom Selleck, halfway through... and yesterday. Chris - and his very understanding wife - can't wait to shave off his 70s-era mustache after Sunday's finale party. But they know it's all for such a wonderful cause.
Click pic to watch Chris on CBS47 News
Everyone's invited to attend Sunday night's finale party. There will be firefighters out there, silent auction items up for bid and other fun activities.
It's not too late to donate money for the cause. Please click here to visit the Grow Your Stache site.
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The video is difficult to watch. It reportedly shows Texas Family Law Judge William Adams whipping his 16-year-old daughter with a belt. This happened seven years ago. But Hillary Adams posted it last week, claiming her father has been harrassing her.
Warning - the images and audio are graphic:
Click on image to watch video
CBS News reported this overnight:
Police in Rockport, where the 51-year-old judge lives, opened an investigation Wednesday after receiving calls from several concerned citizens, Police Chief Tim Jayroe said. William Adams has been receiving threatening phone calls and faxes at the courthouse since the video went online, Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills said.
"People are upset, understandably upset. But emotions can't really run this thing," Mills said.
Adams, Aransas County's top judge, was elected in 2001 and has dealt with at least 349 family law cases in the past year alone, nearly 50 of which involved state caseworkers seeking determine whether parents were fit to raise their children.
Corpus Christi television station KZTV caught up with the judge while he was getting into his vehicle Wednesday, and he confirmed it was him in the video. But he said it "looks worse than it is" and he doesn't expect to be disciplined.
"In my mind, I haven't done anything wrong other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing," Adams said. "And I did lose my temper, but I've since apologized."
Judge William Adams
Click here to read the full story from CBS News.
Then go to our CBS47 Facebook page to share your thoughts.
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