Subsidy for Sibling Group/Older Child Adoption

Great news in the adoption community in Ontario!  Hopefully this will get children into adoptive homes sooner!  This really would have been handy in 2010.

Targeted Adoption Subsidy

Financial Assistance for Adoption and Legal Custody

Children’s aid societies (CASs) provide supports to families who give children in their care a home through adoption, legal custody, kinship and customary care. As of June 15, 2012, CASs will provide additional financial help to families who are adopting or taking legal custody of Crown wards who are siblings or 10 years and older. The Siblings and age 10 + subsidy is tax free.

Who is eligible for a sibling and 10+ subsidy? 
You are eligible if:
1. You have taken legal custody of a child or children on or after June 15, 2012, OR have a child or children who are Crown wards placed in your home for adoption on or after June 15, 2012.
2. You are eligible if the child you adopt is 10 years of age or older. You are also eligible if you adopt a sibling group of 2 or more children.
3. Your family has a combined annual net family income of $85,000 or less.

How much is the sibling and 10+ subsidy?
Eligible families will receive $950 per month (or $11,400 annually) for each eligible child.

How do I apply? 
You may apply for this or any other subsidy available through your CAS as part of your adoption or legal custody application. To be eligible for the sibling and 10+ subsidy, you will be asked for proof of your combined annual net family income, as shown on line 236 of your most recent Canada Revenue Agency personal income tax return.

If I am eligible, when will I start receiving the sibling and 10+ subsidy?
You will begin to receive the subsidy when the child or children are placed in your home for adoption, or on the date of the legal custody order. The subsidy will continue until the child or children turn 18, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Your CAS will review the eligibility criteria every year.

Best Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

I was searching the best homemade macaroni and cheese recipe…. And I found the best one!  I like to cook, but I know I’m not amazing at it.  So, I was looking for something that was fairly easy, but ooey-gooey cheesy and yummy… Sometimes it’s hard to find something that ticks all the boxes.  For those of you who love mac and cheese, this is the recipe to try.  No dry noodles, no gritty texture from the sauce.  It was the best homemade mac and cheese I had ever eaten.  I am really looking forward to the leftovers for lunch!

I got the recipe here at Kitchen Treaty.

The Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Ever

 

Prep time 30 mins

Cook time 25 mins

Total time 55 mins

Yield: 5 – 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups macaroni or other medium tubular pasta (like penne or conchiglie)*
• 3 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard *I used a squirt of mustard because I didn’t have any dry mustard
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika plus more for sprinkling on top
• 2½ cups 2% milk *I used 2 cups milk and 1/2 cream because I didn’t have enough milk
• 3 cups grated medium cheddar cheese
• *bread crumbs (optional)

Instructions

1. Boil the pasta until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking, and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside. (Mix in a little butter to keep the noodles from sticking if it’s going to be awhile before you make the sauce)
2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
3. Over medium heat, melt the butter.
4. Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika. Stir constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
5. Stir in the milk.
6. Keeping on medium heat, whisk constantly for about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
7. Remove from heat, and stir in 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted.
8. Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and toss gently until all noodles are covered.
9. Add half the noodles to a two quart casserole dish. *I used a 2.5 quart dish so there was more top surface area for the boys’ topping.
10. Sprinkle on half the cheese.*I didn’t do this, I put the full cup on top as Jon and Makaio love the crispy crunchy cheese.
11. Add the rest of the noodles.
12. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese, and dust lightly with the smoked paprika.
    *This is where I added the breadcrumbs to help make a toasty crispy layer of cheesy crunchy goodness on top for the boys.
13. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until it starts getting a slightly dry and a tiny bit brown on top.
14. Serve 

Notes

• Adapted from the Bev’s Macaroni and Cheese recipe on Food.com
• Please resist the urge to add more noodles to stretch the recipe. You need a lot of sauce with that pasta because the pasta soaks so much and it otherwise cooks down. Over-dry mac and cheese is such a disappointment – don’t do it!
• Also resist the urge to add more cheese to the sauce. This can do weird things. Sprinkle more in between and on top if you must have more cheese.

So Good Sugar Cookies

I found this SUGAR COOKIE recipe online… And it worked perfectly.  You don’t have to chill the dough before rolling out to cut.  You can do that right away!  Thought I’d share the recipe to the easiest thing I’ve ever baked… They are perfect for decorating!

Thanks to YUM YUM YUM – Cooking with Erin

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a large stand mixer, cream softened butter and sugar together.
2. Add egg and vanilla.
3. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda and add to bowl and mix well.  (I don’t dirty a second bowl – just toss it all into one big mixing bowl.)
4. Divide dough and roll it out!
5. Cut into shapes.
6. Bake at 375 on cookie sheet (lightly sprayed with cooking spray or on parchment) for about 8 to 10 minutes.