brunch ideas: Top 5 Recipe Recap (12.16.12) and Support for Sandy Hook Elementary

To contact us Click HERE
Before I share the Top 5 Most Viewed Recipes from last week, I wanted send my condolences to all of those affected by the senseless shooting in Newtown, CT this week. 26 people lost their lives; 20 of them elementary school children (including several children of my husband's coworkers). Like most of the nation, we are still in shock at how devastating this is and can't even imagine what would possess someone to do this gruesome act of hate. It is truly a parents worse nightmare and I personally cringe every time I get a call from our own school system just waiting to hear the worst. This is definitely not the same world I grew up in as a child and it's so frightening. Please keep the family and friends of all those lost in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks.

Charlotte Bacon, 6Daniel Barden, 7Rachel Davino, 29Olivia Engel, 6Josephine Gay, 7Ana Marquez-Greene, 6Dylan Hockley, 6Dawn Hocksprung, 47Madeline Hsu, 6Catherine Hubbard, 6Chase Kowalski, 7Jesse Lewis, 6James Mattioli, 6Grace McDonnell, 7Anne Marie Murphy, 52Emilie Parker, 6Jack Pinto, 6Noah Pozner, 6Caroline Previdi, 6Jessica Rekos, 6Avielle Richman, 6Lauren Rousseau, 30Mary Sherlach, 56Victoria Soto, 27Benjamin Wheeler, 6Allison Wyatt, 6
If you would like to send a condolence message to the families and victims, you can do so at We Are Better Than This, a national conversation on how we can prevent gun deaths and injuries.

Thank you also to The Huffington Post for the following information:Find out how the area’s nonprofits are getting involved in the relief effort and how you can help:Newtown Youth and Family Services
Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc., a nonprofit mental health clinic, will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for emergency counseling for families, community members or staff involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. All donations made to the organization will benefit those affected. Find out how you can help here.Newtown Parent Connection
The Newtown Parent Connection, a nonprofit that addresses issues of substance abuse, also offers bereavement group counseling on the first Wednesday of every month. The organization told The Huffington Post that it’s going to try to bring in additional counselors to accommodate the needs of those affected by the Sandy Hook shooting. Find out how you can help here.The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross of Connecticut immediately responded to the shooting scene and provided more than 50 units of blood platelets and plasma to the Danbury Hospital, where some of the victims were transported, spokesperson Melanie Pipkin told the Huffington Post. The aid organization has also distributed food and water to first responders and is setting up a family reception center that will provide initial grief counseling. The aid organization is not seeking blood donations at this time and doesn't anticipate any additional need. Learn about how you can help here.
Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog. And surprisingly, they are not necessarily what I happened to post that week. To view the recipe, click on the recipe name to be taken to the original post. Also, if you are looking for a specific recipe or food type, type the name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page.
Top 5 Viewed Recipes for December 15, 2012
#5 Spinach, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin