Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Healthy Oils

We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween tomorrow night … it’s really hard to believe that it’s almost November!  Everyone at Pathfinder Village sends out thanks to our volunteers who helped out at our successful Community Trick-or-Treat event this past Saturday.  We had crews from NYCM Insurance, who assisted with creating our Haunted Hallway, and students from Hamilton College, who came to help with the ghostly duties as families went through our very spooky Village Commons.

We hope to see all our friends and neighbors at Pathfinder Produce this week on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m.; please help us spread the word about our well-stocked and competitively-priced market.  If you know of others who would like to get onto our regular weekly produce price email list, please just let me know at lgrace@pathfindervillage.org
 
Also, a few reminders: We’re offering our tremendous 10% off coupon through November, and we have our convenient online ordering, which is open from Friday through noon on Wednesday.  Just put in and pay your order from the convenience of your home, and stop by either our Morris or Edmeston pick-up locations.  It’s easy!

Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel considers some healthy oil options to try to help make your recipes and cooking healthier.


Healthy Oils

People usually think of olive oil when it comes to healthy oils. It is true that olive oil is a good source of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6), and is a better nutritional choice than saturated fats such as butter. But there are several other liquid vegetable oils out there, and they lend themselves to a variety of uses.

Grapeseed oil: A versatile oil with a higher smoking point than olive oil, so it can be used to cook over high heat.

Peanut oil: A good cooking oil due to its high smoking point, as long as nut allergies are not a concern.

Avocado oil: It has a mild avocado flavor, making it a nice change of pace for salad dressing, and also has a high smoking point.

Canola and Sunflower oils:  These are both very neutral-flavored, good for almost any kind of cooking, and have the added benefits of being fairly inexpensive and readily available.

Sesame oil: While not usually used for cooking, it has a nutty flavor, and is often added to Asian-inspired dishes.

One word of caution: While these are all referred to as healthy oils, they still need to be used in moderation as they contain a significant amount of calories. Fortunately, adding just a small amount of fat to a dish can enhance its flavor without becoming too calorific.

Until next time, eat well and be well!

Martha (and Lori)


Monday, October 22, 2018

Autumn Transitions

Hello everyone, we hope your week is going well, and that you’ll be able to enjoy lots of Halloween and Trick-or-Treating activities this coming weekend.  Come on down to Pathfinder Produce this week for the freshest fruits and veggies around, so that you can balance out the tempting treats from the spookiest night of the year.  We’re open at the Village Commons this Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m.  You’re invited to place your order early using our online shopping service … just place and pay for your order online and arrange for pick-up late Thursday in either Edmeston or Morris.  It’s easy and convenient!

As always, there’s a lot happening here at Pathfinder Village over the next few weeks.  We’re looking forward to visits with volunteers from Hamilton College this weekend, as they help prepare a Haunted House in the Commons for our Community Trick-or-Treating event on Saturday (for children under 13 from Edmeston and Burlington, who must be accompanied by a parent/guardian). We’ll be sure to share pictures of the goings-on at our Facebook page.

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Each evening at Graceland, the migrating geese glide down to stay on our pond, a sure sign of winter’s approach.  Other creatures are also getting ready for the cold … deer are constantly feeding to build up their fat reserves, their coats having gone from coppery-brown to dark grey.  The mice and squirrels are scurrying too, making sure they have their stores ready for the long winter ahead.

We too have our seasonal routines … we finished our mowing for the year and put the lawn tractor into hibernation.  The blower is out and serviced, waiting for the first big snow.  The woodshed is filled and the outdoor woodpile is covered. The chimney has been cleaned with a wire brush (we have a neat pulley arrangement which speeds up the job), and our venerable cast iron stove now has a new baffle and door gaskets to burn more efficiently.  The storm windows are installed making our homestead a little more-snug on these colder days.

Other chores are slated for next weekend, namely putting on snow tires and cleaning the dryer vent … a chore that is often overlooked but is effective in preventing house fires.  While I’m doing that, I’ll check our carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms, to make sure that they’re working well too, as they’re our first line of defense against home disasters.

Though important, these measures are nothing compared to what I recall my grandparents telling me about when I was a kid visiting their “Happy Angus Farm” in the 1970s.  By that time, they had retired from farming, but they would tell us about what life was like back in Depression and World War 2. They raised their own produce and livestock, and preserved everything -- canning was a huge part of the farmwife’s late summer.  I know Grandma’s routines got easier when home freezers became common in the 1950s; they had a huge chest freezer in the “back kitchen,” an uninsulated part of the rambling post-and-beam farmhouse that served as a summer kitchen when my Great-Grandparents took in boarders.

(The boarders were escaping the oppressive New York City summer heat, so many farm families in Sullivan County took in guests during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as another form of income.  Later, the area became known as the Borscht Belt and featured bungalow colonies and hotels, like Grossinger’s, the Concord, and the Nevele.  Many of television’s early comedians, like Sid Caesar and George Burns, and later stars, like Billy Crystal and Andy Kaufman, performed many times before Catskill hotel audiences).

Of course, farmers were busy too during the last days of autumn, making sure the hayloft and feed bins were filled for overwintering livestock, bringing in the last of the root crops, selling crops to urban markets (and probably the government in WW2), and making sure their wood supply was sufficient for the winter.  I think Grandpa’s life got easier when they switched from woodstoves to a central furnace in the basement. The advent of the tractor too simplified things, but I think something was lost when the draft horses were put out to pasture. (Apparently, there’s a new museum near where the family farm was that reflects the 1930s farming experience).

Anyhow, I digress with stories of the seasonal past.  And I would add that that is a perfect autumn-into-winter activity, as humans are hardwired to spend cold evenings gathered around the fire, revisiting stories of days gone by.

Until next time, get cozy, eat and be well,


Lori

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Healthy Halloween

Hello everyone!  We hope that you’re enjoying a Spooktacular October!  We have lots of healthy snacks and treats at Pathfinder Produce for you to share with your family this month -- a time for ghosts and goblins, more school sports, and good times in our communities!  Come to our Pathfinder Produce market this week at the Village Commons on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. for the freshest items around.

Here at Pathfinder Village, we’re also celebrating National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month at the market, and you get to SAVE on your purchases with the attached printable coupon.  With ten percent off your purchases for the 10th month of the year, October really rocks!  (And don’t forget our online ordering site … it’s a big timesaver!)

Speaking of good times, Pathfinder Village’s residential homes will be hosting our Community Trick-or-Treat event on Saturday, October 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. for Edmeston and Burlington children (up to age 13).  Children are invited to wear their costumes and must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  Our Hamilton College friends will be joining with our Pathfinder residents again to create another amazing Haunted House in the Commons … we’ll be sure to post pictures on our Facebook page to share with everyone.

Below, my colleague Sally Trosset offers her thoughts on some healthier Halloween options that you may like to try this year:

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Healthy Halloween

According to  Candy Store.com, Skittles, Reese’s Cups and M&M's were the top three Halloween candies in 2017.  I am definitely a chocolate fan over the gummy fruit Halloween candy.  Halloween is a fun and playful holiday for both kids and grownups alike!  Between costumes, home decorations, and tasty treats, there is something for everyone celebrating this fun day. 

Unfortunately, the treats can be the “gift” that keeps giving as they are tough on the waistline and the wallet when heading to the dentist for fillings!  The act of sharing treats on Halloween has been around forever, but nowadays Halloween brings more than a small bag of candy.  It brings pillowcases full of candy -- from school parties, office parties and trick-or-treating, a year's worth of candy can be hauled in just in one day!  I personally love Halloween and want to celebrate, but I'd like to do it without gaining five pounds and developing five cavities.  Following are some ideas to stay festive while de-emphasizing the candy intake.

First, why not try some non-candy alternatives.   Both Walmart and Target  have bargain bins with inexpensive, festive trinkets (Halloween erasers, pencils, mini Play-Dohs, spider rings, etc.)

Let's face it though, candy-free alternatives do not always go over well with kids.  If that's the case, try the "everything in moderation" rule. Make a plan after the holiday to lay out all the candy received and decide on a quantity to keep and a quantity to give away.  Check out organizations like Candy Store.com or Operation Gratitude.com for donation ideas, including donations to our troops overseas.

Aside from trick-or-treating, there are many other ways to celebrate Halloween.  Spooky house decorating, carving pumpkins, leaf peeping hikes in the woods, visiting haunted houses or corn mazes are all fun ideas.  The Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours have been a popular event for many years in my town (although make a reservation, as they fill up fast!).  All of these ideas are not only festive but they’re also active and keep your sweet tooth in check.

If you find yourself hosting or attending a Halloween party, check out healthy Halloween treats for kids for some nice, healthy, and interesting alternatives.  Or try some simple Halloween fruit ideas for fun ways to decorate healthy treats--carving out an orange and filling it with other fruits, then decorating it with some eyes, a nose, and teeth for a mini jack-o-lantern creation was my favorite!

This year, while keeping your celebration focused on Halloween fun, try working in other seasonal ideas besides trick-or-treating, that way you can take some of the focus off candy and give your family new ways to celebrate this fun-filled day!

Until next time, eat well and have fun!


Sally (and Lori)

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Soup’s On!

Ah -- the leaves are at peak color and cooler nights will be settling in soon.  Fall is in the air, and we’re ready at Pathfinder Produce to help you plan for savory and veggie-rich dishes that are so welcomed at this time of the year.  We hope you’ll visit us this Thursday, October 11, between 1 and 5 p.m. for our next delicious market!

This past weekend, Pathfinder Village held its biennial Family and Friends weekend … what fun!  It was so great to see so many good friends and share with our families the plans for the Mobile Market starting in early 2019.  If you haven’t read about this yet, check out this online article at The Daily Star’s website.

Don’t forget about our convenient online ordering system … just cruise over to our website at https://pathfindervillage.org/our-village/pathfinder-produce.  Select the market closest to you (Edmeston or Morris), and pre-order and pay for your weekly produce needs.  Then on Thursday, stop by our delivery site for your order … it’s easy!

Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel shares some new ideas for soup recipes.  YUM!

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When the weather turns cooler, it seems like everyone starts craving soup. I enjoy making soup, sometimes from a recipe and sometimes making it up as I go along. I decided to look for some less typical soups that feature veggies and came up with a few that look like winners.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup: This one looks very easy, and has very few ingredients.  It would be great for a weeknight when you’re on a tight schedule or don’t have the energy for anything too complicated.

West African Peanut Soup: Our family was introduced to this soup by some friends from Ghana, and we loved it! I’ve seen many variations in my search for a recipe, and while none of them exactly duplicate what our Ghanaian friends served, some come very close. It is traditionally very spicy, but you can adjust the level of heat to your own taste without losing any of the rich flavor.

Corn Soup with Chipotle Sour Cream: This variation on corn soup has a little spice and a little smokiness to it. I love corn soups and chowders, and I think this recipe would be a nice change-up.

Green Velvet Soup: This soup features lots of different green produce—celery, peas, broccoli, zucchini, and spinach, plus potatoes and onions.  So nutritious! With its bright green color, I bet you could serve it on Halloween and call it Witches Brew Soup and the kids would get a kick out of it.

Helpful hint: I find that an immersion blender is indispensable when making any sort of creamy or smooth soup, like those above. It’s so much easier to bring the blender to the soup than to bring the soup to the blender.   

Until next time, savor those fall flavors!


Martha (and Lori)

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Finding our Path: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Hello, everyone! What a busy time … this coming week we're celebrating our family weekend at Pathfinder, and in my town we're celebrating our annual fall fete.  And of course, there are so many homecomings, sports events and special weekends at schools and colleges. Happy October!
Despite the hustle and bustle of the opening days of National Down Syndrome Month/National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we'll be here to help you and your family members get all the great fruits and vegetables you'll need to power through the week. Just stop by this Thursday (10-4!) at the Village Commons from 1 to 5 p.m. And don't forget our convenient online ordering system: You may place your order online, pay with a credit card, and then stop by our Edmeston or Morris delivery sites on Thursday afternoon for a delicious and fresh selection of healthy foods.
Pathfinder Produce … we're rooted in community!
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For many years, we've held both formal and informal observances at Pathfinder Village in celebration of October as National Down Syndrome Month.  Our residential community and support services were rooted in serving children and adults who have Down syndrome in our early years; since that time, we've expanded on our services to support families and individuals with diverse needs.
The observance of Down Syndrome Awareness Month was established in 1991 through an Executive Order by President George H.W. Bush which states, “…we know that many individuals with Down syndrome are both determined and able to lead active, productive lives. Thanks to early intervention and mainstreaming, as well as improved treatment of physical health problems related to Down syndrome, thousands are doing just that.”
But did you also know that October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month?  This is an important observance, and one that is being noticed more-and-more by employers around the country. First designated nationally by Congress in 1988, NDEAM has roots going back to the 1920s, when soldiers injured during WWI sought vocational training options to re-enter the workforce.  These efforts grew more extensive over time in supporting workers with vision and other physical impairments; they grew more inclusive in 1961 when President Kennedy created the President’s Panel on Mental Retardation and called upon America to address the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and their desires to be part of everyday life in America. 
This year's theme for NDEAM is “America's Workforce: Empowering All.” The Department of Labor also offers a series of activities, recommendations, and Public Service Announcements in support of hiring people with diverse abilities.  Nationally, we’re starting to see employment numbers for those with disabilities inch up, and there are more-and-more stories speaking on how workers and volunteers with disabilities are good for businesses
Here at Pathfinder Village, we know this first hand as many of the tasks associated with Pathfinder Produce are overseen and managed each week by the very capable members of our Adult Day Services program.  From set-up to assisting customers with their purchases, our ADS members exhibit a great work ethic and are proud of the work they do.  Their contributions are vital to the success and longevity of the program.
But in rural areas, access to jobs and quality vocational training programs remain elusive for individuals with disabilities.  That’s part of the reason why “we’re upping our game” at Pathfinder Produce.  Last week, we announced that through the support of a grant through the Leatherstocking Collaborative Health Partners, and in collaboration with Bassett Healthcare and other partners, we’ll be launching a Mobile Market route, sometime in early 2019.  This will provide even more opportunities for our ADS members to participate in vocational experiences in the community, and will also help provide fresh fruits and vegetables to area families who contend with the dual barriers of lacking public transportation and long distances to full-service groceries. 
Stay tuned to our Pathfinder Produce blog for more on the Mobile Market as it develops!  Until next time, eat well and be well!

Lori