Familia: Mas

Dad needs to step in & take charge of girlfriend’s needless negativity

Dear Ay Mujer,
I’m a freshman in high school and my dad is all caught up with this woman who is 12 years younger than him. There are less years in between me and her, than her and him (sick)!

What really bothers me is that she is constantly boasting about how she is so much better than my mom — prettier, not fat (even though she is) and is loved by my dad. I hate being around her and I’d wish she would stop publicly putting my mom down.

How do I stop this?
Frustrated mija

¡Ay chica¡
You don’t get to stop this, but take heart in the fact that “You reap what you sew.”

This is really old folk talk for — she’ll get hers y tu papá también. This mujer obviously has a very, very low sense of self. In order to feel good about herself, she needs to tear someone else down, which, in this case, that’s your mom.

Why your dad is with her is a bigger concern, but if he’s willing to tolerate such immaturity, she obviously fills some void in his life. And, when she’s unable to fill the other voids in his life that, in time, will assuredly occur with such a relationship, he’ll have to reconsider what complete meaning she brings to his life.

I predict this relationship is not long term and it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t realize the consequences of this relationship on that of his daughter. At some point, he may and it is always healthy for you — and everyone involved — to be open to reconciling old wounds. He is, after all, your dad — even though he’s misguided right now.

In the meantime, tell your dad that his girlfriend’s boasting is offensive and hurtful and that you will not be around her. Tell him you’d rather spend time with him out of her presence.

If he tells you that this isn’t possible, then you’ll have to take matters into your own hands and refuse to spend time with him. If he’s unwilling to check this mujer’s behavior for the benefit of spending time with you, then he isn’t a father of virtue and does not deserve the company of his daughter.

If it is a matter of custody and visitation, you’ll have to take it up with a minor’s counsel. It isn’t unreasonable for a child to not want or have to be tormented by an immature mujer seeking to feed her low self-esteem and hurting you in the process.

Do you need some advice? Is there a problem you’re having and you’re not sure what to do? Send your questions for Ay Mujer to:
tadamo@bakersfield.com

We are family!

The Rodriguez Family loves to get together, which means family reunions are a must.
Two years ago, the family met up in San Antonio,Texas for a large gathering of 200 people that celebrated seven generations!

Last weekend, the Rodriguezes reunited once again, but this time in Bakersfield. More than 150 family members gathered for food & fun at Coconut Joe’s on Saturday. Throughout the weekend, they enjoyed spending time together dancing, eating, playing baseball and just catching up on family news.

Some family members traveled to the reunion from as far away as Las Vegas, Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, Northern California and Southern California.

Though everyone made the 2008 Rodriguez Family Reunion a success, there were several Rodriguez mujeres who coordinated many of the festivities. The family sends out a special thank-you to: Lollie, Emma, Sarah and Amanda for all their hard work.

Don't forget about Father's Day!

Father's Day is just around the corner. To honor your padre on his special day of the year, your submission must be made to MÁS Magazine by Sunday, June 8.

Post your photo with 25 words or less at www.masbakersfield.com and tell your dad how he's made your life better, how he's helped you out, how his support has made a difference, or share your favorite dish he makes — let him know how he's the best dad in the world!

Win A Family Four-Pack of Tickets to 'Sesame Street Live!'

Want to win a family four-pack of tickets to "Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up," which is coming to Rabobank Theater June 10 and 11?

It's easy! MÁS just wants you to share your best memory of "Sesame Street" in approximately 25 words. Post your memory to: www.masbakersfield.com with the title "Sesame Street Memory" by June 5 for a chance to win!

Happy Birthday My Son!

Happy 12th Birthday Cirilo~ a.k.a. "Cj", "Angel", "Bubba" and "Seige"!

I can't believe I'm saying that! Just wanted to let you know how much your Dad and I love you and how proud of you we are!

Happy Birthday Josh Rico!

We are so proud of you son. For all that you've done and everything you're going to accomplish in life. Stay strong. Stay focused and never give up!

The ABCs of finances

Andrew is a first-grader, and it’s great to be a part of his education. We read children’s books together, and his mom and I enjoy guiding him through his homework each night.

Whenever I get a chance, I love to speak with him about topics that aren’t really taught in school, like finances and economics. Kids are so smart today! I find myself constantly amazed by how advanced they are and how much they understand already.

However, while we teach our children to look both ways before crossing the street, we can easily overlook other principles that are just as basic.

Learning the value of money is something the entire family can benefit from, including our children.

Here are two ways to improve your children’s knowledge in finances:

Make financial concepts seem more real
Make financial concepts come to life by showing them different principles.

For example, at your local Kern County Library branch, locate old newspapers and compare today’s prices with prices 25 to 50 years ago.

Children may be surprised to know that because of general price inflation, a child’s fishing pole that would have cost $5 in 1973 would cost $23.35 today.

Or while you’re at the grocery store, teach your child how to determine the best price per ounce. This is a simple but effective way to show your child the value per unit of something you normally buy, like chicken, fish, beef, tortillas, vegetables or anything else. When you are eating out, teach them how to calculate a tip.

You can also try a new twist on playing house with your children. Give them play money to make payments for the electricity, gas, phone and water as if they are homeowners. Vary the cost of the utilities according to the season and add property taxes and homeowner’s insurance during the appropriate months. Offer the chance to buy privileges with the extra play money left at each month’s end. With the money they’ve “saved” at the end of the month, they can buy the privilege of deciding which movie to rent or choosing family meals for a week.

Set mutual goals
Establish joint goals for your children to strive for, like a special vacation or that video game they’ve been wanting.

Create reasonable amounts for your child to contribute toward the goal.

Your child will feel a sense of accomplishment when the goal is reached, and understand what it takes financially to make such things possible.

And you may be teaching your child the most important lesson of all:

By setting a goal and following through, “I can succeed!”

Teaching your children the basics is important.

So when you’re educating them on the importance of not playing with matches, don’t forget to include the ABCs of finances.

— Martin Reynoso is a financial advisor with The Principal Financial Group.

Babies have their day

At Baby Fest 2008 babies have their day.

Yes, they’re cute and they’re cuddly, but babies are a big responsibility, and Baby

Fest organizers The Doula Connection are there to help new parents.

During the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. event on Feb. 23 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, parents, parents-to-be and grandparents will learn the tools to keep their bouncy babies safe, healthy and happy.

Their questions and concerns will be answered.

“It’s a one-stop event to learn everything about babies. It’s about education. If we could have one year without one baby drowning in a pool or being shaken or harmed because of postpartum depression, then we did our job,” said Marsha Bidwell, organizer of the event and owner of The Doula Connection. “No matter what you do in life, even with driving a car, you need an education. You need the education in becoming a parent.”

Bidwell has been planning the event for the past four years. Currently the event has about 100 vendors on hand to answer parents’ questions and offer helpful info on childcare and child safety.

Vendors include Spoiled Rotten, Cal Treasure, Costco, Inky-Dinky-Do, First 5 Kern, the Kern County Fire Department and the Bakersfield Police Department.

“You will learn things like how to clean your home with natural, baby safe products,” said Bidwell. “You’ll also learn what kind of finances you will need to have a baby, and how to save for things like college. We’ll have a realtor, info on day care within the community, and local mommy support groups.”

For those fashionistas of all ages, there will be a fashion show at 12:30 p.m. Maternity, baby and children’s clothing will be modeled.

The Party Corral will keep the little ones all smiles and giggles with fun activities for them. There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, choo-choo trains, Watermelon the Clown, and food vendors at the event, as well as prizes for a diaper derby and a cutest baby contest.

Tickets to the event are $5 for adults and free for children under 10. Parking is $3.

Baby Fest 2008
Kern County Fairgrounds
Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets for $5, free for children under 10
Parking $3

Dial 2-1-1

Ever needed on-the-spot advice for non-emergency situations, such as information including childcare, healthcare, food banks, or maybe homeless shelters?

Then the simple, three digit 2-1-1 countywide information and referral system is the answer to your needs.

2-1-1 enables callers to get valuable social services at no cost and to cut inefficiency with the thousands of agencies and organizations by providing trained specialists at the touch of the dial 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Romala Ramkissoon, 2-1-1 coordinator for Community Action Partnership, explains that the 2-1-1 program was launched in Kern County during October 2007.

According to Ramkissoon, when you call the 2-1-1 line, you are guaranteed at least three referrals from different agencies found in their databases.

“There is always a live person there, never a recording,” Ramkissoon said.

Another valuable result of the 2-1-1 program is the transportation component of the hotline. Callers can utilize 2-1-1 to find free transportation services for appointments and other personal needs.

Flor Hull, local administrator in the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Transitional Program and Sober Living Program, said that the transportation service they use through 2-1-1 has been a major help to her clients.

“Clients use it for a lot of different things. The people there we know almost on a first-name basis, especially a woman named Dora,” Hull said.

Hull added that the 2-1-1 program is very valuable for her clients at the treatment center, and they have been using the 2-1-1 system consistently for about six months.

The ease of the bilingual services also contributes to the success of the hotline for her clients.

The 2-1-1 hotline offers bilingual services in Spanish, as well as other languages.

Translators are on hand to support any language a caller may be more comfortable speaking, and the program strives to remain accessible to those with disabilities.

“Language is not a barrier to our program. We will be able to serve them,” Ramikssoon said. “Calls are also anonymous. The operator will only ask for the zip code to ensure that the services are closest to their residence.”

Since 2-1-1 is a hotline dedicated to non-emergency phone calls, the Sheriff's

Department and the Bakersfield Police Department transfer calls to 2-1-1 to alleviate the abundance of non-emergency calls they receive daily and to free up the lines for life-threatening situations.

The 2-1-1 helpline is free, and all cell phone providers give access to callers to directly dial from their personal devices. However, Ramkissoon explained that dialing 2-1-1 would use minutes from personalized cell phone plans, but calling from a landline has no charge.

Della Hodson, director of community impact at United Way, agrees with Ramikssoon that 2-1-1 is very accessible and open to all members of the Kern community.

“You can call from anywhere in the county,” Hodson said.

Hodson explained that 2-1-1 is part of a national initiative to reserve those digits for social services, and gives communities quick and easy routes to gaining information.

As of last year, 2-1-1 is available to approximately 65 percent of the U.S. population.

The United Way, First Five of Kern, County of Kern, and the Kern County Department of Public Health fund the 2-1-1 program.

The 2-1-1 information hotline originated from the Kern County referral system called “Helpline.” “Helpline” was developed to serve the same function as 2-1-1, but was a seven digit number callers needed to remember to gain access. Helpline began offering services in October 1996.

Since Helpline was seven digits long and harder to remember, 2-1-1 offered a great solution and boost in the number of callers per month.

According to Ramkissoon, access has increased to between 12, 000 to 15,00 calls per month, and as of January 2008, there will be at least three full-time staff available.

“We have no complaints so far. But since we have one bilingual staff member the wait line for bilingual callers can be long, so we are looking to hire an all-bilingual staff soon,” Ramkissoon said.

Choices in child care

First-time mom Valerie Mendiburu, 25, felt “horrible” when she had to return to work and put son Braden, then 6 months, in child care.

But her anxieties quickly vanished when she realized he was in capable hands with Barbara Espinoza of Tia Barbara’s Daycare in downtown Bakersfield.

“I know he is genuinely loved. And Barbara will update me when he does something new,” Mendiburu said.

Now 10 months, Mendiburu said Braden almost jumps out of her arms with excitement when she and her husband, Brian, approach Barbara’s door in the morning.

“You can’t buy that peace of mind,” said a relieved Mendiburu.

It’s a situation many parents seeking child care would envy. But quality child care is arrived at by choice, not chance, say experts like program director Lisa Duncan-Purcell of Community Connection for Child Care.

“Next to choosing a spouse, it’s one of the most important choices you’ll ever make,” said Duncan-Purcell.

Studies have shown that the early years and early relationships affect the way a child’s brain is organized, and may determine a lifetime of skills and potential.

“When you think that most parents work a 40-hour week, that means their child is spending around 50 hours in child care. They just go home and go to sleep,” said Duncan-Purcell. “Children are always learning. So while they’re in child care they’re either learning something positive, or something negative and unstimulating.”

The need for child care is growing. Duncan-Purcell said that at least 50 percent of parents with young children are in the workforce.

It’s the mission of Community Connection for Child Care (CCCC) to make choosing a child care provider a little easier for parents by providing the connection between licensed family child care providers and families throughout Kern County, she said.

CCCC serves all parents — there is no income eligibility requirement — and has a database of more than 1,100 licensed child care providers and programs in Kern County, which can be accessed in person, online, or by phone.

Each family will receive a listing of providers (referrals, not recommendations) in their area that fit their specific needs, as well as useful information to consider while selecting care.

MÁS sat down with Duncan-Purcell for more tips on finding quality child care:

Types of childcare
• Licensed family care homes: Offer care and supervision for up to seven children in the provider’s own home. Large family child care homes offer care and supervision for eight to 12 children and have more than one provider. Family day care providers will sometimes keep children extra hours or even overnight if parents have to travel on business, and some are willing to care for your baby when he or she is mildy ill.

• Child care centers: Programs licensed by the state and operate in a facility designed specifically for the care of children. Size and the number of children can vary quite considerably — some centers being licensed for only a handful of children, while others may have over 100. Centers have to meet the requirements of state or local licensing authorities. Staff members usually have child development training.

• In-home care (Nanny Care, Au Pairs, and Baby sitters): Means hiring someone to come into your home and care for your child. In-home providers do not have to be licensed and there are specific tax and employment rules that apply. Both nannies and au pairs fall under the category of in-home care and can be found through agencies. Au pairs are often exchange students from foreign countries who care for children in exchange for room/board and a fee set by an agency. There is no training or licensing of such caregivers, though they should at least take an Infant/Child First Aid and CPR class. Also, it is recommended parents get a background check done.

There are pros and cons to each type of care, said Duncan-Purcell.

Some children are not ready for group care, she said, while others may want to be able to interact with their siblings, in which case family care homes would likely be more flexible than child care centers.

Sharon Brown, the director at Mercy Center, a licensed child care center that serves 225 children ages 6 months to 10 years, has been in the child care field for 30 years and is a former classroom teacher.

“Learning is child-initiated versus teacher-directed,” said Brown, who heads a staff of 52. Entry-level teacher positions require a minimum of 12 units of child development classes, and they eventually have to earn a teacher center permit. Lead teachers have their master’s.

Brown said their program is a great fit for most all children.

“Our program allows for the development of the whole child — socially and emotionally as well as educationally,” said Brown. “We see the relationship as a triangle with the child at the top connecting the parents and caregivers.”

The employee-sponsored program is not exclusively available to hospital employees — there are current openings and more expected in June, according to Brown.

But for those who work entry-level retail jobs with sporadic schedules and night shifts, relying on family and friends for child care may be the only option.

A downside is that those “friends” may not be licensed, meaning the adults in their home haven’t been fingerprinted.

“Your friend could be wonderful, but her 18-year-old-son could be a registered sex offender,” said Duncan-Purcell.

In terms of relative/family care, on the plus side, said Duncan-Purcell, “People know their relatives, and they usually love the kids.”

However, she cautions about mixing business and family.

“You might have a fight with your brother, and your mother sides with your brother, and no longer wants to watch your kids. In which case, you’re up the creek without a paddle,” said Duncan-Purcell.

Finding quality child care
Once you get your referral list from the CCCC, Duncan-Purcell recommends taking as much time as possible to settle on a provider — at least two months before you need the care.

“Every family is different, and every family wants something different,” said Duncan-Purcell, who recommends visiting five or six providers to get a sense of what you like and don’t like.

She also advises parents to look for red flags:
• Is there nurturing interaction between staff and children?
• What is the provider to child ratio? If kids are over 2, there can be up to 12 children to an adult. If they’re under 2, it’s four children per adult.
• TV viewing should be minimum.
• Look for a mix of inside projects and outside play.

Investigating complaints
Need to find out if your provider has complaints filed against her?

Licensed family child care homes, centers and preschool programs are licensed by Community Care Licensing.

As a parent, said Duncan-Purcell, you have the right to get information about any substantiated or inconclusive complaints about a child care provider that you select for your child. That information is public and you can get it by calling the local licensing office. This telephone number is 559-243-4588. You will need the facility (license) number to request the information and you will only be allowed to access the files of three providers per request.

Paying for child care
Duncan-Purcell said parents with two young children are likely to spend as much on child care as they do on their mortgage.

Some low-income California families qualify to receive financial assistance from the government to help pay for their child care.

The CEL of Kern County can tell you more about help paying for your child care.

Problems with your provider
Duncan-Purcell warns that your relationship with your child care provider is — much like your relationship with your spouse — never going to be perfect.

She said open communication is key.

“You won’t always agree. Just don’t let it get so bad that you can’t talk about it,” said Duncan-Purcell, who recommends addressing issues while they’re small.

She said continuity is crucial for children, and that “hopscotching” from place to place is detrimental to growth.

“If it’s a good place for your child, then make every effort to make it work,” said Duncan-Purcell. “Unless your child is not safe, in which case you should pull them immediately.”

Things to remember
When looking for a provider, look for someone who will be able to provide care long term, even if your child is only 6 months old.

Also, said Duncan-Purcell, make sure you’ve resolved your personal issues about putting your child in care.

“If you don’t want to have to return to work and would rather stay home, take the time to resolve your personal issues,” she said. Much of the anxiety can be alleviated by taking the time to choose a provider you trust, and then building that relationship.

Most licensed facilities have an open-door policy, said Duncan-Purcell, so take the time to drop by and chat with the caregiver. Offer to help with field trips and other excursions.

Finally, if you’re only returning to work for the second income — and you love children — she encourages people to consider becoming a licensed child care provider.

“It’s a great career you can do from your home or apartment,” said Duncan-Purcell, who said CCCC can help you get started with classes and licensing. “And high-quality child care is really needed.”

— For more information about Community Connection for Child Care, call 861-5200 or 877-861-5200 (Toll free), go to: http://kcsos.kern.org/cccc/, or visit them in person at: 2000 24th St. Suite 100.

CCCC recommends approaching a potential day care facility as if from your child’s perspective:

• Who’s going to care for me?
• Are there plenty of toys I can reach and enjoy?
• Where will I keep my stuff?
• Is everyone having fun?
• What will I do all day?
Use your common “senses” when looking for a child care provider:
Look: Begin by visiting several child care homes or centers. Does the place look safe? Do the caregivers/teachers enjoy talking and playing with children? Do they talk with each child at the child’s eye level?
Listen: Do the children sound happy and involved? What about the teachers’ voices?
Count: Count the number of children in the group. Then count the number of staff. Obviously, the fewer the number of children for each adult, the more attention your child will get.
Ask: Ask the background and experience of all the staff.
Be informed: Find out more about efforts in your community to improve the quality of child care. is your caregiver involved in these activities? How can you get involved?

— Courtesy of CCCC

Filing complaints

In the event that complaints about a provider in licensed homes or centers arise, CCCC encourages families to contact Community Care Licensing at 559-243-4588 to make an official complaint and ask for the “officer of the day” to file a complaint. CCCC is not the licensing agency and therefore is not responsible for initiating or effecting corrective action.

To facilitate the process, please have the facility’s license number and have details relating to the complaint. By law, parents can ask to see a licensed child care center’s complaint file, which is considered public record and must be on site.

What’s in a name?

San Francisco — BabyCenter en Español, the leading online resource in Spanish for new and expectant parents, has unveiled a new first — the Top 10 Hispanic Baby Names of 2007. The list was derived from names submitted on BabyCenter en Español by moms who had babies in 2006 and 2007 and are expecting in 2008.

Santiago made the top of the boys’ list for the second consecutive year, while Sofía emerged as the favorite among both Hispanic users of BabyCenter en Español and English-speaking users of BabyCenter.

When selecting a name for a new baby, many Latino families consider names that will make it easier for their kids to adjust to American life and culture, because they share the same or very similar spelling in both languages.

Helping take the guesswork out of selecting the perfect name for the newest arrival to the family, the site’s editorial and research team selected the top 100 names for boys and girls based on input from Web site visitors from across 20 Spanish-speaking countries, and the United States, where approximately one in four babies are born to Hispanic families.

“There is definitely a crossover phenomena taking hold. We found numerous English names, such as Brandon or Ashley, among the top 100 names in BabyCenter(R) en Español, as well as names like Sofia and Isabella making the top 10 on both Spanish and English BabyCenter lists,” said Isidra Mencos, editor-in-chief of BabyCenter en Español. “Interestingly, though, English names have a much stronger presence among Hispanic boys than Hispanic girls.”

BabyCenter en Español Top 10 Baby Names for Girls in 2007 — the top names for 2006 are noted in parantheses.
1.Sofía (Sofía)
2.Valentina (Isabella)
3.Camila (Valentina)
4.Isabella (Camila)
5.Mariana (Natalia)
6.Valeria (Daniela)
7.Daniela (Valeria)
8.Nicole (Mariana)
9.Paula (Paula)
10.Natalia (Andrea)

Sofía (No. 1) has held the top spot for two consecutive years. Nicole (No. 10) is new to the top 10 list, replacing Andrea, which has dropped out of the top 10. However, the list of top 10 names for girls is remarkably stable from 2006 to 2007, with only one new name, while the other nine names have simply reshuffled their position.

BabyCenter en Español Top 10 Baby Names for Boys in 2007 — the top names for 2006 are noted in parantheses.
1.Santiago (Santiago)
2.Sebastián (Sebastián)
3.Diego (Gabriel)
4.Daniel (Alejandro)
5.Samuel (Nicolás)
6.Nicolás (Diego)
7.Alejandro (Tomás)
8.Mateo (Juan Sebastián)
9.Pablo (Juan Pablo)
10.Gabriel (Juan David)

Santiago and Sebastián remain in positions one and two, as they were last year. Making their way as new entries to the Top 10 this year are Daniel (No. 4), Samuel (No. 5), Mateo (No. 8) and Pablo (No. 9). Making their exit from the Top 10 List this year are double names such as Juan Sebastián, Juan Pablo and Juan David in addition to the single name, Tomás.

A clear trend is the loss in popularity of double names. Last year, there were three double names among the top 10 for boys, while in 2007 the first double name, Juan Pablo, is ranked 24.

“Hispanics seem to be less inclined this year to use the traditional double name, as well as to use saints’ names. They are often choosing instead original or foreign names. Among the Top 100 names for girls, for instance, you can find Luna (meaning, ‘moon’), which was unheard of a few years back,” Mencos said.

Anglo names also made a strong showing on the full Top 100 BabyCenter en Español list, including:
Boys: Alex, Brandon, Alexander, Kevin, Matthew, Brian, Ian, Anthony, Joseph, Michael, Christopher, Dylan, Jonathan, Alan, Justin, Derek
Girls: Allison, Ashley, Samantha, Melanie, Stephanie, Emily, Kimberly, Brenda

For the full list of most popular baby names, visit: http://espanol.babycenter.com/pregnancy/nombres/top_names_2007/

Happy 72nd Birthday Mom We love U

Wow not to many people can wish their mother happy 72nd Birthday. I m so glad I can. My mom is always so full of joy no matter where she goes she never meets a stranger. Here she was enjoying herself at the Montgomery World plaza singing and just enjoyed being with friends and some family. Hope you many many more birthdays mom....I love you

your daughter

Nothing like Family Time

One of my favorite pics of my kids at Pismo Beach having fun. Nothing like hanging out together. Here is my daughter Jenna Ojeda with her boyfriend Chris and my son David with his fiance Ana. Hope to see many many more pics of them together. It's all about ( La Familia )

¡Muy Delicioso!

They’re cute, they’re sweet and they’re perfectly proportioned. Cupcakes are not only one of the hottest food trends this year, but they’re also easy and fun to make at home. These Valentine’s Day cupcakes were created for the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) by renowned California pastry chef and dessert cookbook author Emily Luchetti.
A tip Luchetti offers bakers is to never skimp on ingredients.
“For truly delicious cupcakes, you need to start with high-quality ingredients, and the best cupcakes are made with real butter,” said Luchetti. “The rich, natural taste of butter gives cupcakes the ideal flavor and texture. I always use fresh, unsalted butter from California when I bake. I prefer unsalted butter for baking because it allows me to better control the amount of salt in the recipe. But, if you don’t have unsalted butter, salted works fine. Just be careful about adding extra salt.”

Ingredients

Cocoa Cupcakes
Bite into one of these rich cocoa cupcakes for a gooey marshmallow surprise. Topped with airy whipped cream dusted with cinnamon, these chocolatey treats are sure to be a hit this Valentine’s Day.
Yield: 12 cupcakes

For Cupcakes:
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted California butter, softened
1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 large eggs
1/3 cup California milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

For frosting:
12 tablespoons marshmallow fluff (for filling), whipped cream, ground cinnamon

Directions

Cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour insides of 12 muffin cups or insert paper liners.
2. In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. With an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next.
3. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Note: mixture will curdle slightly.
4. With electric mixer on low speed, add one-third of cocoa and flour mixture to butter and sugar mixture, mixing until combined.
5. Add half of milk mixture and mix well. Mixing well between each addition, add another third of the dry ingredients, the remaining milk mixture and then the remaining dry ingredients.
6. Evenly divide batter between cupcake molds. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pans.
Cool completely before frosting.
Note: If you are using cupcake liners, insert a table knife along the inside of the cupcake mold and gently pry the cupcake out. If you are not using liners, remove the cupcakes from the pan by running a paring knife around the inside edge of each cupcake.

Frosting:
1. Scoop a hole out of the center of each cupcake about 3/4-inch deep and 1 1/2-inches wide. Fill each hole with 1 tablespoon of marshmallow fluff. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
2. Just before serving, place a large dollop of whipped cream on top of each cupcake. Dust with ground cinnamon and serve immediately.

Score SUPER snack touchdown

California Monterey Jack & Blue Cheese Football
Inspired by the traditional cheese log, this new take on an old throwback blitzes the taste buds with garlic, cayenne pepper and three kinds of California cheese. Easy to prepare and simple to serve, the fans will be lining up to grab a bite.
Yield: 1 football
Prep time: 20 minutes

2/3 cup (6 ounces) California Cream Cheese
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups (8 ounces) grated California Monterey Jack cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) crumbled California Blue Cheese
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2/3 cup coarsely crushed rye crackers

1. In a large bowl or food processor, combine Cream Cheese, garlic, salt and cayenne pepper. Beat or process until blended and smooth. Add Monterey Jack and Blue cheeses as well as walnuts, and beat vigorously until ingredients are evenly mixed. If using a food processor, take care not to over-mix; cheese should retain some of its texture. Chilling is not essential; however, the mixture will be easier to shape if refrigerated for 2-3 hours.

2. Spread rye cracker crumbs on a large plate or sheet of waxed paper. Dampen your hands with water to keep the cheese mixture from sticking to them. Pat and press mixture into a football shape; don’t worry about keeping the shape perfect. Pat on cracker crumbs, pressing gently so the crackers stick. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.

Optional:
Decorate cheese football with laces made from sour cream. To pipe on sour cream, snip the corner of a plastic sandwich bag. Spoon sour cream into bag and gently squeeze out of the snipped end to pipe onto football shape.

Peppery California Ricotta & Sharp Cheddar Cheese Ball
This cheese ball is a classic party pleaser, featuring three kinds of flavorful California cheese and coated in a savory mix of chopped walnuts and green onions. Serve this cheese ball with sliced rustic breads or sourdough crackers.
Yield: 2 cheese balls
Prep time: 20 minutes

1/2 cup (4 ounces) California Cream Cheese
1/2 cup (4 ounces) California Ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups (12 ounces) grated California sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1. In a large bowl or food processor, combine Cream Cheese, Ricotta cheese, pepper and salt. Beat or process until blended and smooth. Add Cheddar cheese and 1/4-cup of the green onion and beat vigorously until ingredients are evenly mixed. If using a food processor, take care not to over mix; the Cheddar mixture should retain some of its chunky texture. Chilling the mixture is not essential; however, it will be easier to shape if refrigerated for 2-3 hours.

2. Combine walnuts with remaining 1/4-cup chopped green onion and spread on a large plate or sheet of waxed paper. Dampen your hands with water to keep the cheese mixture from sticking to them. Divide mixture in half, then pat and press each half into a ball about 3 inches across; don’t worry about keeping the shape perfect. Roll each ball in the nut and onion mixture, patting the coating gently onto the ball. Wrap each ball separately in plastic wrap and chill until serving.

Optional:
Add 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon (or bacon bits) to cheese mixture along with the Cheddar cheese.
— Recipe provided by the California Milk Advisory Board via Hispanic PR Wire.