B2 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 The FAMILY PAGE Focus On The Family Swell Recipes Kids Home Newspaper The Answer Man FOCUS ON THE FAMILY Love and Respect are the Keys to Good Parenting Dr. James Dobson Q A Could you summarize your philosophy of child rearing in a single paragraph? What’s the bottom line? Let me emphasize my approach by stating its opposite. I am not recommending that your home be harsh and oppressive. I am not suggesting that you give your children a spanking every morning with their ham and eggs, or that you make your boys sit in the living room with their hands folded and their legs crossed. I am not proposing that you try to make adults out of your kids so you can impress your adult friends with your parental skill, or that you punish your children whimsically, swinging and screaming when they didn’t know they were wrong. I am not suggesting that you insulate your dignity and authority by being cold and unapproachable. These parental tactics do not produce healthy, responsible children. By contrast, I am recommending a simple principle: When you are defiantly challenged, win decisively. When the child asks, “Who’s in charge?” tell him. When he mutters, “Who loves me?” take him in your arms and surround him with affection. Treat him with respect and dignity, and expect the same in return. Then begin to enjoy the sweet benefits of competent parenthood. What encouragement can you offer to those of us who are single parents? Each day seems more difficult than the one before it. Can you help plead our case to those who don’t understand what we’re facing? In my view, single parents have the toughest job in the universe! Hercules himself would tremble at the range of responsibilities people like you must handle every day. It’s difficult enough for two parents with a solid marriage and stable finances to satisfy the demands of parenting. For a single mother or father to do that task excellently over a period of years is evidence of heroism. Q A The greatest problem faced by single parents, especially young mothers, is the overwhelming amount of work to be done. Earning a living, fixing meals, caring for kids, helping with homework, cleaning house, paying bills, repairing the car (if she has one), handling insurance, doing the banking, the income tax, marketing etc., can require twelve hours a day or more. She must continue that schedule seven days per week all year long. Some have no support from family or anyone else. It’s enough to exhaust the strongest and healthiest woman. Then where does she find time and energy to meet her social and emotional needs -- and how does she develop the friendships on which that part of her life depends? This job is no easier for most fathers who may find themselves trying to comb their daughter’s hair and explain menstruation to their pre-teen girls. There is only one answer to the pressures single parents face. It is for the rest of us to give them a helping hand. They need highly practical assistance, including the friendship of two-parent families who will take their children on occasion to free up some time. Single moms need the help of young men who will play catch with their fatherless boys and take them to the school soccer game. They need men who will fix the brakes on the Chevy and patch the leaky roof. They need an extended family of believers to care for them, lift them up, and remind them of their priorities. Perhaps most importantly, single parents need to know that someone cares about them and is willing to help share their burden. Thankfully, churches today are becoming more sensitive to the needs of single parents. More congregations are offering programs and ministries geared to the unique concerns of those with special needs. I’d advise every single parent to find such a church or fellowship group and make himself and herself at home there. Fellowship and support can be the key to survival. (Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995(www.family. org). Questions and answers are excerpted from “Solid Answers” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. Copyright 2008 James Dobson Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.) SWELL RECIPES Simple and Quick Recipes are Just the Right Thing for Barbara Jones Kathy Ockey After reviewing past history and our common acquaintances during an interview with Barbara Jones, she said, “I’m really not a cook, but I like to cook as long as it isn’t some sort of a flaming doo-dah, because that is not my thing.” She said she would rather make bread and rolls than bake a cake or make a pie. Barbara and husband, Randy, have two children still at home and she enjoys making the basic dishes she has used throughout their married life for them. Barbara said her mother always worked and really didn’t do a lot of cooking. She said she cooked like she drove – fast, but she made wonderful pies. As a child her family never sat around the table to eat because television was the new thing and they always ate in front of the television. She remembers they always had a one item meal, usually a combination of macaroni, tomatoes and hamburger, ending with a dessert. She said this macaroni dish is still one of her favorites. Barbara works as a Nutrition Education Assistant for the Emery County USU Extension office. She gives free nutrition and basic cooking lessons and teaches others how to cook economically. She is also very supportive and involved with the local 4-H programs and said she would like to encourage the parents to become more involved with the children’s 4-H activities. Barbara said she loves to make bread and her small granddaughters like to help. They use smaller loaf pans and prepare the dough to put in them and when they are done, they proudly take them home for their family. Barbara has also been in charge of providing the homemade bread at the Castle Valley Pageant for many years. She said it has taken up to 15 loaves of homemade bread for one night, but the church members are good to help provide the bread. She also has her grandmother’s butter churn and makes butter every night to go along with the bread. Following are some of Barbara’s delicious and easy recipes she would like to share: Pronto Peanut Butter Fudge 1/3 cup margarine 1/2 cup white corn syrup 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups powdered sugar In a one gallon Ziploc bag, mix all ingredients together, adding the powdered sugar (gradually) last. Knead it until it is well blended and smooth. Roll into logs and slice or roll it into small, bite-sized balls. You may also flatten it into a cake pan and cut into squares. This makes about 2 pounds. Be sure to share! Friendship Fudge (No cooking) 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 5 cups powdered sugar (not packed) 1 cube margarine 3 ounces cream cheese 1/2 teaspoon vanilla In a one gallon Ziploc bag, mix the cocoa and powdered sugar. Add the next three ingredients and knead until it is all mixed well. Nuts may be added if desired. Add a little more powdered sugar, if needed, when it is mixed. This recipe makes about 50 pieces of fudge. This recipe gets its name because it is a great recipe to make with friends – everyone taking a turn kneading the fudge. Ain’t Your Mama’s Banana Bread (Delicious) Cream together: 3/4 cup margarine 8 oz. cream cheese 2 cups sugar Add: 2 eggs 4 very ripe bananas 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups flour 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional) Mix until well blended. Pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. This banana bread is much lighter in color and texture than regular old fashioned Barbara Jones banana bread. Kentucky Fried Chicken Coleslaw (I got this recipe out of the Salt Lake Tribune about 20 years ago and it really tastes like KFC coleslaw.) 1 head of cabbage (about 3 pounds) finely grated (Or two bags pre-packaged coleslaw mix) 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1/2 cup diced or grated carrots (Not needed if packaged coleslaw mix is used) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup Miracle Whip 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion In large bowl, mix cabbage, carrots, onion, sugar and salt. Set aside. Mix all other ingredients in another container and toss with vegetable mixture. Chill at least one hour before serving. THE ANSWER MAN A Judgment Call Andy Seamans 1. Name the NFL player who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. 2. What major battle took place 18 days after a treaty had been signed ending the War of 1812? 3. The general who led the forces in the preceding question bore the nickname “Old Hickory.” Name him. 4. Name the only predominantly Christian Asian nation. 5. What product was the earliest that the railroads put to use, drawn by horses and both men and women? 6. Name the NFL’s all-time winningest coach. 7. What is the spelled out word for “fax”? 8. The first major international TV broadcast took place in 1953. What event was it? 9. Who was the first film star to win a second Best Actor Oscar? 10. Who was the first actress to win a second Best Actress Oscar? Answers on Page B3. Duplex