It's been a busy month here at the cafe. Many, many treats for Passover and Easter were baked and consumed.
We've been dreaming of new exciting fruits and vegetables that will be grown for us this season in the Elijah's Promise kitchen garden and by volunteers at Rutgers Gardens, First Field and by home gardeners who want to donate produce to the cafe.
This month, we were happy to host presentations by nutritional counselor, Csilla Bischoff and psychotherapist, Donna DiStefano. We thank them for giving their time to come educate our customers.
Chef Nancy Kluberspies of Lovely Buns has been setting up shop every other Thursday in the dining room sampling and selling her artisan breads.
Our breads and desserts are always made by the baking and pastry students at our culinary school. The culinary students have joined us, doing production weekly of delicious special savory items, including the amazing chicken pot pies we started serving last week. Yum! Look for more delicious creations coming out of our culinary school.
We welcome a new addition to the cafe, a gorgeous new napkin dispenser for your mouth dabbing needs.
Volunteer news:
Long time volunteer, Dolores, has decided to move back to New York City. We are sad to see her go but excited for her as she turns the page on her new chapter in life.
Cafe volunteers, Lara Arp and Jacquelyn Juricic, will be acting in a Oh, Ah, Noah! A new musical by The Reformed Church of Highland Park. The play was written by Jean Stockdale, executive director of Who Is My Neighbor, which is one of the nonprofit partners at A Better World Cafe. Performances will be held on Saturday May 7 at 3:30 pm and 8 pm. The suggested ticket price is $12. All proceeds benefit Heifer International.
Our Tuesday afternoon cookie club volunteered to dye Easter eggs for us this month. They did a great job. People really too delight in selecting the egg that was just right for them to accompany their salads.
Rutgers student, Lauren K., helped us with our social media on Facebook and this blog
Tuesday afternoon volunteer, Koby H., distributed cafe flyers around town for us
Monday morning volunteer, Susan K. provided the table decor for the month of April.
Frequent volunteer, Shalini, decided to join us as regular on Tuesday mornings. When she is not here, she runs an Indian catering company.
From the Rolling Pin provided sensational vegan delights every Wednesday, including an olive oil polenta cake and key lime coconut muffins. Thursday volunteer, Agatha whipped up some vegan chocolate peanut butter and jelly sandwich cookies that we are still talking about.
Many of our regular volunteers enjoyed spring break vacations and we had new faces at the cafe with people coming in on breaks from school and work.
Birthdays Shout Outs Go To: Holly S, a Friday kitchen volunteer, Jacquelyn J. , our volunteer coordinator, and Chef Chrissy, the director of the baking and pastry culinary school program.
Friday, April 29, 2011
An ode to soup
April is National Poetry Month.
With lentil soup in the soup kettle and poetry on our mind, we thought we'd share a favorite soup inspired poem.If you feel inclined to drink a lake of lentil soup, we can arrange that for. Or more sensible sizes such as a cup, bowl, or a quart to take home to enjoy at home.
Sky Seasoning
A piece of sky
Broke off and fell
Through the crack in the ceiling
Right into my soup,
KERPLOP!
I really must state
That I usually hate
Lentil soup, but I ate
Every drop!
Delicious delicious
(A bit like plaster),
But so delicious, goodness sake--
I could have eaten a lentil-soup lake.
It's amazing the difference
A bit of sky can make.
Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Friday, March 25, 2011
Event Thursday, March 31 with Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, Csilla Bischoff
Have you been suffering from sugar and/or carbohydrate cravings? Fuzzy thinking, mood swings, and low energy? Fear of getting diabetes? Frustration because of your food and body image obsession? Not being able to lose those extra 10-15 pounds?
Please come out to A Better World Cafe on Thursday March 31, 2011 from 12:00pm- 2:00pm to talk to Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, Csilla Bischoff.
Bischoff's speciality is helping women who are in love with sugar and refined carbohydrates. As a result of this love affair, these women are suffering from fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, insulin resistance, and the inability to lose those extra few pounds. Bischoff is available to help clients double their energy, stablize their moods, lessen their sweet cravings, and they will be able to go through the day without crashing at 3:00pm every afternoon! Bischoff helps to create a healthy, balanced life. While she practices a holistic approach to nutrition, she looks at all areas of one's life that are connected.
What are people getting from working with Csilla?
"My self esteem has improved as a result of talking with Csilla. I have made so many positive changes with many areas of my life not just including food, lifestyle, and overall health. I have become a much happier person and Csilla encouraged me to contiue to explore new changes in other areas of my life including counseling and I have begun to continue to grow in so many more areas than just nutrition."
For more information, please visit www.shininghealth.com
We hope to see you there!
Please come out to A Better World Cafe on Thursday March 31, 2011 from 12:00pm- 2:00pm to talk to Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor, Csilla Bischoff.
Bischoff's speciality is helping women who are in love with sugar and refined carbohydrates. As a result of this love affair, these women are suffering from fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, insulin resistance, and the inability to lose those extra few pounds. Bischoff is available to help clients double their energy, stablize their moods, lessen their sweet cravings, and they will be able to go through the day without crashing at 3:00pm every afternoon! Bischoff helps to create a healthy, balanced life. While she practices a holistic approach to nutrition, she looks at all areas of one's life that are connected.
What are people getting from working with Csilla?
"My self esteem has improved as a result of talking with Csilla. I have made so many positive changes with many areas of my life not just including food, lifestyle, and overall health. I have become a much happier person and Csilla encouraged me to contiue to explore new changes in other areas of my life including counseling and I have begun to continue to grow in so many more areas than just nutrition."
Marissa Web, Speech Language Pathologist, UK
For more information, please visit www.shininghealth.com
We hope to see you there!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"Self-Growth, Feelings, and Understanding" Event, Thursday April 7th!
There will be an event on Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 12:00pm-2:00pm held here at A Better World Cafe. The event is labeled "Self-Growth, Feelings, and Understanding." It is about an exploration of identity, environment, family issues, and substance abuse concerns.
Come in to the cafe to join others as you will be able to ask questions concerning a variety of issues. They may be about Parent-Teen relationship issues, substance abuse concerns, anxiety, depression, confusion or crisis around family concerns, transitions, changes, and many opportunities for you to open up freely about what is on your mind. In the right environment, these concerns may be worked through to enable a person to live a complete and genuine life.
Donna DiStefano, MSW (Master of Social Work), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor), a psychotherapist based in Highland Park, will be here to discuss the various issues that include lifestyle changes, family, and loss. She also has a wealth of information about childhood pressures and methods to help teenagers make choices that support good health and self-esteem. DiStefano draws from a knowledge of psychodynamic, feminist, Jungian theory, as well as concrete techniques to help understand difficult situations and individual experiences. She specifically provides individual, family, and group counseling, and psychotherapy for pre-teens and adults.
To learn more information, please visit LetsTalkHighlandPark.com
Hope to see you there!
Come in to the cafe to join others as you will be able to ask questions concerning a variety of issues. They may be about Parent-Teen relationship issues, substance abuse concerns, anxiety, depression, confusion or crisis around family concerns, transitions, changes, and many opportunities for you to open up freely about what is on your mind. In the right environment, these concerns may be worked through to enable a person to live a complete and genuine life.
Donna DiStefano, MSW (Master of Social Work), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor), a psychotherapist based in Highland Park, will be here to discuss the various issues that include lifestyle changes, family, and loss. She also has a wealth of information about childhood pressures and methods to help teenagers make choices that support good health and self-esteem. DiStefano draws from a knowledge of psychodynamic, feminist, Jungian theory, as well as concrete techniques to help understand difficult situations and individual experiences. She specifically provides individual, family, and group counseling, and psychotherapy for pre-teens and adults.
To learn more information, please visit LetsTalkHighlandPark.com
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Good works by our volunteers and patrons
Good works by our volunteers and patrons:
Spoken word activist, Pandora Scooter, is putting on a one woman show, Outwardly Fabulous at the Crossroads Theater on March 10-11. The show's mission is "Every single one of us has the right to live without being made of fun of due to our appearance, religion, sexual orientation, politics, gender identification, gender, or race." For more information on the show and Pandora Scooter, visit Outwardly Fabulous.
Cafe volunteer, Stacy, best known for her killer cupcakes, is working with the W Girls NJ to collect dresses for New Jersey high school girls in need. Prom, cocktail and bridesmaid dresses are needed. Hair stylists and makeup artists are also invited to donate their services and expertise. For information on donation drop offs and volunteering, please contact wgirlsNJ@gmail.com
Let us know if you'd like to share something you're doing to make it A Better World out there
Spoken word activist, Pandora Scooter, is putting on a one woman show, Outwardly Fabulous at the Crossroads Theater on March 10-11. The show's mission is "Every single one of us has the right to live without being made of fun of due to our appearance, religion, sexual orientation, politics, gender identification, gender, or race." For more information on the show and Pandora Scooter, visit Outwardly Fabulous.
Cafe volunteer, Stacy, best known for her killer cupcakes, is working with the W Girls NJ to collect dresses for New Jersey high school girls in need. Prom, cocktail and bridesmaid dresses are needed. Hair stylists and makeup artists are also invited to donate their services and expertise. For information on donation drop offs and volunteering, please contact wgirlsNJ@gmail.com
Let us know if you'd like to share something you're doing to make it A Better World out there
March Cafe Community Bulletin
Sad news:
Leigh Davis, a valued member of A Better World Cafe's advisory board, died earlier this month as a result of a fall. Our hearts and thoughts are with her family and friends. To say how much we will miss her (her energy, dreams, actions, passion for a better world) is just a small reflection on the work and good vibes she has brought to Highland Park and the world. The cafe staff remember Leigh, as a woman always on the go, often donning a jaunty hat, plucking away at her laptop while absentmindedly munching on her lunch. She was an advocate and an activist for good food for all and empowering people with the knowledge to grow their own.
Good works by our volunteers and patrons:
Spoken word activist, Pandora Scooter, is putting on a one woman show, Outwardly Fabulous at the Crossroads Theater on March 10-11. The show's mission is "Every single one of us has the right to live without being made of fun of due to our appearance, religion, sexual orientation, politics, gender identification, gender, or race." For more information on the show and Pandora Scooter, visit Outwardly Fabulous.
Cafe volunteer, Stacy, best known for her killer cupcakes, is working with the W Girls NJ to collect dresses for New Jersey high school girls in need. Prom, cocktail and bridesmaid dresses are needed. Hair stylists and makeup artists are also invited to donate their services and expertise. For information on donation drop offs and volunteering, please contact wgirlsNJ@gmail.com
Congratulations!
Storey C., a Thursday afternoon volunteer, accepted a job at Rutgers.
Leigh Davis, a valued member of A Better World Cafe's advisory board, died earlier this month as a result of a fall. Our hearts and thoughts are with her family and friends. To say how much we will miss her (her energy, dreams, actions, passion for a better world) is just a small reflection on the work and good vibes she has brought to Highland Park and the world. The cafe staff remember Leigh, as a woman always on the go, often donning a jaunty hat, plucking away at her laptop while absentmindedly munching on her lunch. She was an advocate and an activist for good food for all and empowering people with the knowledge to grow their own.
Good works by our volunteers and patrons:
Spoken word activist, Pandora Scooter, is putting on a one woman show, Outwardly Fabulous at the Crossroads Theater on March 10-11. The show's mission is "Every single one of us has the right to live without being made of fun of due to our appearance, religion, sexual orientation, politics, gender identification, gender, or race." For more information on the show and Pandora Scooter, visit Outwardly Fabulous.
Cafe volunteer, Stacy, best known for her killer cupcakes, is working with the W Girls NJ to collect dresses for New Jersey high school girls in need. Prom, cocktail and bridesmaid dresses are needed. Hair stylists and makeup artists are also invited to donate their services and expertise. For information on donation drop offs and volunteering, please contact wgirlsNJ@gmail.com
Congratulations!
Storey C., a Thursday afternoon volunteer, accepted a job at Rutgers.
Donate and make a difference
Every donation to the cafe, large or small, add up to allow us to fulfill our mission of providing healthy delicious food to anyone interested, regardless of their means. Every day, we serve a considerable amount of our complimentary item and meals earned by our volunteers. On some days, that can add up to 100 per day!
Every week, volunteer bakers create several of our desserts using pantry items. We love to have good quality basics, spices and fun things that they can use in their sweet treats.
Donations of food items are always gladly accepted.
Some of the items we are currently in most need of are the following:
Dried Beans- green, brown or black lentils, chickpeas, black beans, canellini etc
Canned Beans- chickpeas, black beans, canellini, kidney etc
Rice -brown, wild or basmati
Couscous
Quinoa
Lasagna Noodles
Organic Peanut Butter
Jams (those that do not contain high fructose corn syrup, please)
Dried Fruits- cranberries, apricots, cherries, crystallized ginger
nuts- pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, walnuts
Chocolate Chips/Vegan Chocolate Chips
Cupcake Liners
All Purpose Flour
Sugar
Organic Soy Milk
Panko Bread Crumbs
Coconut Milk
We're open to other items you'd like to share with us, too!
Every week, volunteer bakers create several of our desserts using pantry items. We love to have good quality basics, spices and fun things that they can use in their sweet treats.
Donations of food items are always gladly accepted.
Some of the items we are currently in most need of are the following:
Dried Beans- green, brown or black lentils, chickpeas, black beans, canellini etc
Canned Beans- chickpeas, black beans, canellini, kidney etc
Rice -brown, wild or basmati
Couscous
Quinoa
Lasagna Noodles
Organic Peanut Butter
Jams (those that do not contain high fructose corn syrup, please)
Dried Fruits- cranberries, apricots, cherries, crystallized ginger
nuts- pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, walnuts
Chocolate Chips/Vegan Chocolate Chips
Cupcake Liners
All Purpose Flour
Sugar
Organic Soy Milk
Panko Bread Crumbs
Coconut Milk
We're open to other items you'd like to share with us, too!
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