Rising to the Occasion:
Tips for Seasoning Your Meals with Soul
with Karen Mitchell-Wilcher

How Labor Day Really Should Be Celebrated

Most people equate the Labor Day celebration with a Monday in September however, for many of us it is can be any day of the year.  This is because women have babies every day of the year!!   I can't help but want to provide a helping hand to those families that just had a newborn. 

As a busy mother of three, I can remember those days of chaos. Indeed, it was hard labor just to get to the kitchen let alone make anything to eat.  It becomes exponentially more difficult with each addition to the family.  I remember the best gifts I received during those days were prepared food and helping hands to do household chores.

I have wonderful friends and family so it is a privilege to pay it forward.  My neighbor and another good friend just welcomed new babies to their households.  Since I know from experience, everyone inundates the family with a visit in those first weeks home from the hospital.  I like to give them a second wave of assistance as they adjust to the new bundle of joy.

I try to bring some goodies that can be easily reheated and not too spicy in case the new mother is nursing. Blueberry and Banana Muffins made with wheat germ help restore folic acid and add a little fiber for the new moms.  It is also nice to bring a little something for dear old dad, who in all the mayhem may have been living in and out of the proverbial "dog house".  Honey Lime Chicken with Soba Noodles is a take out at home kind of treat.

What ever kindness you extend will no doubt make their day and definitely be seen as a labor of love!!