Cookies, Lipgloss and smiles!

Recently, we had a delightful, charming, happy and very shy girl come to our center.  The grown-up that brought her was sure that she would not want to talk to us because she was shy around strangers.  This is often the case.  Most kids are a little hesitant when they first come to our center, and rightly so.  Sometimes kids don't know why they have to come to the CACCC, they are  just told they had to come.  Some kids do know why they are coming and they are not happy about having to talk about it.  Whatever the case may be, it is not a surprise to us that kids need a little bit of TLC before they are ready to talk.  What is surprising, though, is when parents and caregivers are shocked when their kids open up, talk, tell their story, laugh, play, and smile by the end of our visit.  This surprises me because the CACCC, and all CAC's, are in the business of making kids feel safe and comfortable enough to tell their story.  It's what we do!!!!  It is the reason for our existance in the community.  If we aren't able to help kids relax and feel safe, we're not doing our job. Everything about the CAC is designed to make kids feel comfortable and safe... 

From the way our building looks, like a house
To our family room, full of awesome toys and games
To our kitchen filled with snacks, something for everyone!
and our child friendly interview room

 Some kids take a little longer than others.  Some kids need a little more work before they feel ok, but most of the time, with the combined efforts of Family Advocates, Family Care Coordinators and specially trained Forensic Interviewers, under the direction of an amazing Executive Director, these kids are smiling and happy and ready to talk before they leave.  Some need a snack, some need to watch a movie, some need to play Wii or other games.  Some just need to sit down and chill in a big comfy brown chair.  Some need to color, or play cars, or princesses.  Whatever they need to do, we will figure it out and make sure they have what they need. 

So back to this delightful girl and her very worried grown up...As they entered our center, we gave them a tour, with the girl hiding behind her grown up, obviously shy and unsure of us. We showed her the bathroom, the kitchen, then the talking room and finally the playroom.  All the while trying to figure out a way to put her at ease.  It turned out to be a two step process.  First, she was delighted to see the playhouse and Barbies.  After she played for a while, she asked her grown up to ask us if she could have a snack.  We walked into the kitchen to find her snack, and there were the Oreo's... "HER FAVORITE!!!!!" 

Armed with cookies and juice for bravery, this shy, unsure little girl started chatting me up!  Every 2 minutes she would wander over to my desk to tell me something else.  As she was telling me a story, she looked up, saw my cupcake lipgloss, took it down from the shelf, opened it and put it on her cookie covered lips, put the lid back on (crumbs and all) and placed it back on the shelf, without missing a beat.  By the time she was ready for her interview, she was happy and comfortable and feeling safe enough to talk, much to the surprise of her grown up! 
At the end of her interview, as we do with every child, she picked out a blanket and stuffed animal, and because she liked it so much, I gave her the cupcake lipgloss with the cookie crumbs in it...

After her visit, I decided to make some Cookies and Cream cupcakes, in honor of all the CAC's that work to make kids feel comfortable and safe enough to tell their story.  If you would like to help, find your local CAC and see how you can use your talents to help create a safe, child-friendly environment for kids who have been abused.

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients - Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 3/4 flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp slmond extract
• 10-15 oreo cookies, double stuffed finely crushed and a package of oreo mini's.

Directions - Cupcakes

• Beat butter and shortening at medium speed until creamy, gradually add sugar until combined.  Beat in eggs one at a time until combined.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add to butter mixture alternating with buttermilk in 3 batches, mixing until combined.  Stir in extracts.
• At this point you can stir in crushed oreo cookies or place whole cookes in the bottom of the liners before fillif them.  I did both.
• Using an ice cream scoop or a 1/4 measuring cup fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until done.

Ingredients-Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 16 oz package of powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 15 oreos finely crushed

Directions - Frosting

• With and electric mixer on medium, beat butter until it's creamy.
• Turn mixer to low and Slowly add powedered sugar alternating with whipping cream until well blended.
• Add salt and vanilla until incorporated. 
• Stir in cookies until combined then beat at high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Pipe onto cupcakes and sprinkle with cookie crumbs and top with miniature cookie. 

Note - these are also great with your favorite chocolate cake recipe!!!