Disastrous dates 101
Artist writes complete guide to Mr. Wrong
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008
If you don’t have hot Valentine’s Day plans, seek solace in this: A night of eating ice cream on the couch would be better than Aleah Menefee’s first date. She was 15, and everything was wrong.
State of belief
‘Bleeding Kansas’ author Sara Paretsky tackles Midwest mores in latest novel
Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008
Sara Paretsky, 60, came up with the idea for “Bleeding Kansas” when walking the prairie while both of her parents were ill a decade ago. The scenario for the book: Two farming families with long-standing roots are continuing their generations-old feuds over how to raise children and how to properly pray.
Healing after a broken marriage
Divorce Boot Camp offers women opportunity to help each other recover, heal
Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008
It’s been seven years since Teresa Dillon’s divorce was final, and she hasn’t dated anyone since then. She might have reason to be depressed, given the breakup of a 30-year marriage. But she remains hopeful.
Skin savers
Experts say healthier diet supports complexion from the inside out
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008
If you’re looking to diet this year for the sake of your waistline, there could be an added bonus. Eating healthy can help the way your skin looks, too.
The joy of gifting
Festive ideas will please your favorite foodies
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007
Looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or family member to use in the kitchen? There’s certainly no lack of kitchen gadgets, pots, pans, utensils and appliances to choose from.
Home sweet home
Gingerbread ‘subdivisions’ appear every holiday season in this household
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007
Jodi Trast doesn’t build gingerbread houses. She builds entire subdivisions. For 10 years, the sweet smell of gingerbread has permeated the Trast house for the month leading up to Christmas.
Fit for fall
Autumn, winter vegetable offers wide range of tastes and uses
Friday, Oct. 19, 2007
Janet Majure had to invent butternut squash ravioli out of necessity. This year, the local farmers alliance has enjoyed an abundance of the yellow squash. And there’s only so much soup and plain squash one can eat, it turns out.
Good eggs
Cracking the quality code to help shoppers pick a dozen
Monday, Sept. 24, 2007
Through the years, nutritionists’ opinions on eggs have flip-flopped more than a spatula at IHOP. Sometimes knocked for having too much cholesterol, eggs also are a good source of protein — hence the dilemma.
Kitchen transition
Cooking for two brings challenges and adventures for empty-nesters
Friday, Sept. 14, 2007
Things are different these days in Peggy and Dwight Hilpman’s kitchen. The Lucky Charms that used to be in the cabinet have been replaced with bran flakes. The couple eat more salads. There are actually leftovers occasionally in the fridge. And — gasp — they can keep vodka and wine in the freezer.
Trading law for laughs
Attorney returns to ventriloquism during banner year for hobby
Monday, Sept. 3, 2007
There are many jokes to be made about Bonita Yoder’s situation. You see, Yoder has been an attorney for 20 years. Now, she’s scaling back her law practice to step up her ventriloquism act. Yes, ventriloquism.
Chilly & refreshing
Cold soups take the edge off of sultry summer days
Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007
After working in her garden on a hot morning, nothing is better for Joan Vibert than coming in for a lunch of cold gazpacho. “It’s like heaven,” Vibert says. “It’s all your abundance, all put in a bowl of cold wonderfulness.”
Shelf life
Figuring out when to toss aging food can be tricky pursuit
Saturday, June 9, 2007
It’s a common culinary quandary. There’s a bottle of ketchup lurking in the back of the fridge, some mustard sitting in the door and a jar of pickles hiding behind the orange juice. Frankly, you can’t remember the last time you used any of them.
Deep-dish decadence
Couple’s chocolate pizza business sweetens with possibility of landing spot on TV shopping network QVC
Friday, May 11, 2007
It started as a 4-H cooking project, then became a “good luck” gift for fellow cast members in area stage productions. Now, Annette Cook is taking her signature chocolate pizzas to a new level.
Solid faith
Scientist balances her career as a chemist with her career serving God
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007
Medicinal chemist Dinah Dutta says even though her family represents two different religions, that has never presented any conflict. Likewise, she doesn’t see the conflict between science and religion that some Christians do.
Spreading yourself thinner
Margarine often healthier alternative, but butter may be better for baking
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007
Laurel Eastling understands any confusion a shopper might have in the dairy aisle. In addition to butter, there are dozens of butter substitutes on the market — in sticks, tubs and even sprays.
When to go organic
Research signals which produce most important to buy pesticide-free
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
When Nancy O’Connor is giving nutrition education classes, she often is asked which foods are most important to purchase from the organic shelves. Sometimes people can’t afford to buy both the organic papaya and the organic celery.
Arts duo raises ‘Brave Voice’
Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006
Their hands are both on a keyboard. One uses a piano, the other a computer, and they meet each other in the middle to write songs.
Mail-order munchies
Monthly food clubs deliver edible ‘gifts that keep on giving’
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
“Food of the month” clubs are becoming popular gifts for the hard-to-shop-for-but-easy-to-feed crowd. There’s one for just about anybody.
Hors d’oeuvres for the holidays
Monday, Nov. 27, 2006
If you’re stressed out, your guests will be. That means finding appetizers and other party snacks that aren’t too complicated to make — or that can be made in advance of your party or dinner.
Meditative motion
For Alberta Wright, dancing is the root of prayer
Monday, Nov. 6, 2006
Alberta Wright’s church didn’t allow her to dance when she was growing up. Now, she says dancing is all the religion she needs.
Women shrug off the tattoo taboo
Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006
Kendra Herring’s personal journal is on her skin, for all to see. The tattoo ink that marks her arms and legs is a narrative of the important moments in her life.
Novelist breaks date with romance
turns affections toward mother-daughter relationships
Monday, March 27, 2006
Kathleen Gilles Seidel is breaking up with romance novels. They will remain friends with benefits.