Snacks

Yogurt Covered Popcorn? No Whey!

Apr 23rd, 2013
by Wendy.
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from www.popcorn.org

Water buffaloes, yaks, goats, mares, cows and even soybeans make it. You can eat it, sip it like a soup, or drink it as a drink. It’s yogurt – beloved by dieters and made famous by happy, bearded nomads living past the ripe age of 100. Yogurt made its appearance on American shelves in the mid 20th century, but it’s been around for thousands of years and is a staple in diets around the globe, including our own. Walk into the most remote of gas stations in the smallest of communities and you’ll find a container or two of this creamy concoction.

Many cultures claim yogurt as their own and each has a special recipe variation. It’s curious to think of how the first yogurt came into being. Who was that daring young herdsman carrying dairy in his goatskin bag on a warm summer’s day, suddenly deciding to give his soured milk a try? And would you be brave enough to try anything you thought had turned a biological corner?

Thankfully, someone did and now we get to benefit from the experience. Many yogurts contain live bacterial cultures that break down the milk sugar (lactose) to produce lactic acid, which gives it its refreshingly tart flavor. Breaking down the lactose is good news for lactose intolerant people, many of whom are able to eat yogurt without ill effect. Your body needs a certain amount of good bacteria to keep the body healthy and some yogurts contain these bacteria. (more…)

Taking The Bite out of Tax Time

Apr 4th, 2013
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

Are you grouchy at tax time?

When I was a kid, my grandfather commandeered the dining room table from mid-February on, scowling and sifting through drifts of receipts to prepare for his annual accountant visit. Same with my own parents. I could never understand what the big deal was with all the drudgery. Weren’t they paying somebody to do this?

Now, of course, I know. Even if somebody else prepares your taxes, there’s a ton of work beforehand. And at the end, you’re still handing over a sizeable chunk of change to Uncle Sam and (most likely) your particular state. Big sigh.

But this year, I’m turning things around. Yup, I’ll still be paying taxes. But I’m taking a moment to count a few of my tax-related blessings:

  • My three favorite deductions. They’re 14, 11 and 8, growing strong and eating us out of house and home. Thank goodness we can claim them.
  • Our jobs. I feel fortunate that my husband and I have income to pay taxes on when so many don’t. I am also comforted knowing we can–and have–gotten by on less when necessary.
  • Our house. I’m grateful that we’re settled in our “forever” home—and that we can deduct the mortgage interest along the way.
  • Public education. Our family benefits enormously from the public school system. From early childhood intervention to specialized academic and music programs, our children enjoy incredible opportunities that are forever enriching their lives.
  • Libraries. Public libraries are treasures, and yet one more reason to thank Ben Franklin, who coined the idea. Even in the digital age, libraries remain essential resources for information and media; community gathering places; and even, as was the case the recent hurricane, virtual offices and shelters.
  • My refund. I’m embarrassed to admit that I over-withhold. Tax experts, including our accountant, lecture that it’s financial foolery do this…that I’m giving the government an interest free loan. But other tax pros agree with my strategy. This forced savings gives us a little cushion in the budget to take a family vacation or maybe even invest in some energy-efficient home improvements (that we can deduct next year!)

I’ll try to keep all of the above in mind as I buckle down to prep my taxes this weekend. But in case my attitude tanks, I’ve got a comfy chair, a library book (thanks, Mr. Franklin!) and a yummy snack waiting to recharge me. I’ll make a pot of tea and refuel with these tasty Blueberry and Pomegranate Power bars. Made with budget-friendly popcorn (just pennies a serving!) and packed with chocolate and fruity deliciousness, these bars are certain to power me through my blizzard of paperwork. They may not get me a bigger refund, but they’ll put a smile back on my face. And at tax time, that’s more than enough.

We’d love to hear from you…what’s the most outrageous or exciting thing you’ve ever done with a tax refund?

Blueberry & Pomegranate Power Bars
Yield: 12 bars

Ingredients
• 8 cups popped popcorn
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup dried blueberries
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 cup whole natural almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

Directions
1. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine popcorn, oats, blueberries, pomegranate seeds and almonds in large bowl.
3. Combine honey, brown sugar and butter in small saucepan; cook over low heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Pour over popcorn mixture and mix thoroughly.
4. Using damp hands, press mixture firmly into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Cut into 12 bars.
5. Dip bottoms of bars into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper lined pan; refrigerate until ready to serve. Store in tight covered container in refrigerator.

Back to School on a Budget

Aug 28th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

The days grow shorter, the morning air nips, and my three children prepare to head back to school. Signs of Autumn? Absolutely. But before we settle to fleeces and apple picking, we first have to navigate that tricky time of year I call “check-writing season.”

Launching two middle schoolers and a third grader into the academic year has turned me into a human cash machine. Almost daily, I’m shelling out for sports, activities, instrument rentals, PTA memberships and fundraisers. Not to mention school supplies, clothes and the sequined sneakers my daughter absolutely needs.

Luckily, with a few simple strategies, I’ve stemmed the September cash leak to a manageable trickle. (more…)

Finding Balance In and Out of the Gym

Jul 30th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

Until recently, I thought “core” meant the center of an apple. I certainly never identified it as a part of my anatomy. But evidently, I too have a “core.” And boy, did it need work.

I’ve never jumped on new exercise fads. I know my limits. I’ve always been far too clumsy for the fancy footwork of kickboxing, aerobics or dance. Instead I stuck to cycling class and weights, which kept me strapped in or safely planted on the ground. It turns out, however, that my clumsiness is partly the result of a flimsy core. Simply put, the core encompasses the abdominal, back, pelvic and hip muscles that provide stability and balance. They can be weakened by underuse, aging and, certainly in my case, pregnancy.

My fitness-instructor friend, Lauretta, recommended suspension training. Designed to strengthen core muscles, this class looked like circus school: people were hanging in all sorts of tortuous positions–pikes, pull-ups, lunges and worse. They had their hands and/or feet in long straps clipped to the ceiling and were using gravity and body weight for resistance. Yikes.

I was terrified, but enrolled anyway, certain I’d topple over once I got in the straps. And that’s exactly what happened. But I got up, and spent the next two months holding the wall for balance. I also couldn’t keep myself in the plank position for more than five seconds, much less do a push up while down there. It was brutal. (more…)

Into the Woods

Jul 10th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

I may be outing myself as a bad mommy but here goes: despite repeated pleas I’ve never taken my kids camping.

It’s not that they’ve never been camping. My boys have had plenty of scouting overnights under canvas. And I’m sure the day will come when my daughter will go off with her Girl Scout troop. We’ve just never done the full-on family trip where we pack up and pitch a tent at a campsite for a few days.

I’m afraid that my camping aversion is depriving my kids of precious childhood memories. So what’s my big issue? First, there’s the food. My camping friends conduct elaborate meal planning meetings weeks in advance of a trip. They have to shop, lug everything home and put it away–only to load it back up into coolers and haul it way out into the woods. Then they cook, eat and clean under completely primitive conditions. I suppose this is somebody’s idea of fun, but it sounds like too much work to me. Plus, all the gear that needs to be moved—tents, sleeping bags, tarps, lanterns—is completely overwhelming. Frankly, I had far too nomadic a childhood to relish any activity that requires this much packing and moving. For me, the point of vacation is to let somebody else do the work. (more…)

Harvesting Great Taste

Jun 25th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

I really should be a more judicious gardener.

Our house came with two raised planting beds—each the size of a bocce court—in the backyard. I start out every spring with an overload of enthusiasm, planting and fertilizing like a madwoman. As I’m digging away, I picture strolling out the garden every evening and serenely harvesting a variety of delicious, homegrown veggies for our dinner.

My plans don’t always work out. The first year here I decided to grow basil. I had no idea how much to plant, so I figured 36 would be a good number. I soon learned, of course, that basil grows like crazy—and that three dozen plants are way too many for anybody not supplying a restaurant. I spent that whole summer making pesto, and wound up delivering giant basil bouquets to my friends. I’m pretty sure the guys at the garden center are still laughing at me over that one. (more…)

Flipping for Popcorn

Jun 19th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

My eight-year-old daughter spends more time upside down than right side up.

Cartwheels, backbends, flips…and then there are the handstands. I’ve got footprints on every eye-level wall in this house. I feel like I’m living in a gymnasium.

I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. As a pre-schooler, Anya’s favorite activity was shimmying up the inside of a doorway with her hands and feet. I’d walk into a room to find her hanging out up at the ceiling, suspended like a spider. We almost lost a few babysitters over that one.

She’s also quite the escape artist. Anya was the only one of our three kids who managed to climb out of her crib (her older brothers being too lazy and/or rotund to free themselves). Another time, her dad and I made the mistake of walking out the kitchen when she was in the high chair; within minutes, she had slithered out of the belt, motored across the table and was literally hanging from the chandelier. Naturally, she hated to be confined; I had to muscle her in to her car seat every day. After one mighty struggle I looked back to see that–while technically still buckled in–she’d unlatched the entire seat from the car, effectively turning herself into a human projectile. (more…)

Spicing Up Snack Time

Jun 12th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

My sister Gabby is the original Spice Girl.

When I got married, she gave me a hideous wall-mounted spice rack for the sole reason that it contained 36 essential spices that I absolutely “needed” for my kitchen. Her intention was that I toss the ugly rack but keep the jars to stock my cupboard. And here I thought I was doing so well with just salt, pepper and garlic powder. Who knew?

Gabby’s obsession has only gotten worse over the years. She’s a foodie, and has grown into a serious spice snob. Take, for example, my favorite spice: cinnamon. My sister is only too happy to explain the difference between what most of us know as cinnamon–the spicy and sweet cassia root from Vietnam–and real Ceylon cinnamon, which has citrusy overtones that are great for baking. There’s also pungent Chinese cinnamon, which delivers an eye-opening pop of flavor. She’s got them all—ordered in artisanal quantities at great cost from a specialty purveyor. And that’s just one of dozens of spices on her shelf.

Along with changing how we cook and enjoy food, spices have an amazing history. In a world where almost everything can be found on the grocers’ shelf, it’s easy to forget how rare and prized spices once were. Medieval Europe’s appetite for cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cumin and other exotic flavors inspired the exploration of Asia and ultimately the world; the rise of the great Renaissance city states in Europe; the founding of America (Columbus was searching for a Western route to the Spice Islands); untold advances in shipbuilding and cartography; and several wars for control of trade routes and territories. Indeed, it may be impossible to overstate importance of spices in shaping modern civilization. (more…)

Remembering a Special Teacher

Jun 4th, 2012
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

I loved my fourth grade teacher. It was 1976, and Ms. Andrews was the coolest thing in my world.

Until then, my teachers had all been kindly schoolmarm types. Not Ms. Andrews. She was young, with long black hair, giant hoop earrings, and plenty of eyeliner. She wore fabulous clothes—elephant leg pants and jumpsuits in bold, primary colors. Her appearance alone commanded our attention. And she was fun; if we were good, she’d move our desks aside and give us Hustle lessons.

But Ms. Andrews was more than just a pretty face. By fourth grade, I had moved through five elementary schools. I was the perpetual new kid, always uncomfortable, and unsure how to fit in. Ms. Andrews guided me through that challenging year; she helped me sort out the complexities of making friends, and encouraged my love of reading and writing. She steadfastly refused to accept anything less than my best work, and even let me drop off missed assignments at her house. So even though I can no longer recall the name of that school (we moved again at that summer), I will forever remember Ms. Andrews.

Over the years, my kids have been blessed with a handful of these memorable teachers. While they’ve never been the new kids, they’ve had their challenges, even in our beloved neighborhood school. My oldest is a bit quirky, and it takes a special individual to understand and inspire him. The teachers who do are dear to my heart, and I’m thrilled when one of my younger children lands in their care. Last year, we said goodbye to our beloved first grade teacher as our youngest moved through her class. There were tears all around. (more…)

Garden Party

May 21st, 2012
by Wendy.
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There are few pleasures that compare to eating something fresh from the garden. And what simpler thing to grow than herbs? They require little space, need minimal care and yield big flavor. During winter months, packaged herbs are a godsend. But in the summertime, nothing beats grabbing a handful of greens from the yard to flavor a dish or adorn a table.

Growing your own herbs is more economical than the store packaged variety, too, especially when planting perennials. And at the end of growing season, herbs can be dried for winter use or tied together for aromatic bouquets. If you don’t have the space for a specific herb garden, plant them in your flower bed or vegetable garden, or if you lack a garden altogether, herbs will grow in a window box or windowsill. (more…)

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