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)

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 19^th and early 20^th 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

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 10^th 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)

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)

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

Desert Foods

Hello everyone, we hope you are well!  Things are busy here at Pathfinder Produce, and we can’t wait to see you at our next weekly market in Edmeston on Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m. With our competitive prices and fresh selections, there are sure to be items you’ll enjoy sharing with your family!

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of research on food deserts:  These are areas that have few stores or other sources for providing families with fresh fruits and vegetables.  In rural America, if you have to drive more than 10 miles to buy an apple, you live in a food desert, according to the US Dept. of Agriculture. Limited access to produce, either through distance or reduced availability to public transportation, can have some serious impacts on community health.  That’s why it’s so important to have a resource  like Pathfinder Produce available.

Switching from “food deserts” to “desert foods,” my colleague Martha Spiegel changes gears to explore her food favorites from the American Southwest.

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Desert Foods

As I write this, I am excitedly anticipating my annual trip to Tucson, Arizona. I love the desert. Some people think of it as nothing but sand and cactus, but there is so much more! I particularly love the food I get to eat when I’m there. Of course I will avail myself of the abundance of amazing Mexican food; I am especially hoping for some homemade tamales. There’s also a favorite treat of mine: fry bread, which they sell in open air stands on the Tohono O’odham Nation reservation. I’ve tried making it myself, but it’s never the same.

When my parents first moved to Tucson, they missed New Jersey tomatoes. Tomatoes don’t grow well in the desert climate, so they are either shipped in from elsewhere or grown in hothouses, so they tend to have thick skins, are often picked before fully ripened, and aren’t as tasty. However, mom and dad love being able to grow citrus right in their back yard. Dad goes out into the back yard and picks a fresh grapefruit for his breakfast, and neighbors have shared their lemon harvest—the biggest lemons I have ever seen.

Looking into what else grows in that region, and I learned that in 2015, Arizona ranked second in the nation for quantity of cantaloupe, second for lettuce, second for spinach, and eighth for cabbage. They also produce dates and pecans, which are a major export.

Many plants which are native to the desert are edible, or produce edible fruit. For example, the mesquite and palo verde trees have edible seed pods, and saguaros and prickly pear have oval fruits, and the pads of the prickly pear can be eaten too. Just watch out for the thorns when harvesting and prepping them!

So off I go, to soak up the sunshine, take in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, and eat of its bounty. I can’t wait!

Martha (and Lori)

September Sports

My goodness, the year is flying by!  I hope everyone has a healthy and fun autumn, now that we’re officially in Pumpkin Spice Season.  As always, our friendly and helpful staff at Pathfinder Produce will be at the Village Commons on Thursdays throughout this colorful time of year, to help you access the freshest, tastiest fruits and veggies.  We hope to see you this week!

And don’t forget, you can do your shopping online with our convenient online ordering on our website.  How easy is that … order and pay for your fresh items for the week, and then pick up your order at either the Morris or Edmeston locations on Thursday afternoons.  Our market staff is ready and waiting to fill your orders!

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The past few weeks have been filled with sports activities for many of us:  My son is on his high school soccer and cross country teams, which means lots of practices, games, and meets.  And at Pathfinder Village, things have been busy with our recent events, the Chobani Tennis and Juniors Tennis Classic, and our second annual EDD Memorial Fund Bike Clinic.  I served in a supporting role for all these events and had a great time taking pictures of people of all ages and walks of life enjoying sports and fitness.

Soccer seasons are now in full swing, and Grant’s Field is busy most nights and weekends with practices and games for youth athletes in the Tri-Towns Youth Commission League.  And this coming week, I’ll be taking more pictures of our area cross country runners as they take to the Pathfinder Village Community Trail for two scholastic meets, on September 18 and 25, starting at about 4:30 p.m.  We’re looking forward to seeing all our area XC runners compete!

I had a great time this past Sunday taking pictures of the bike clinic that the EDD Memorial Fund and Pathfinder Village co-sponsored, which was focused on encouraging people with disabilities to enjoy riding for exercise and as a social experience.  We had a great turnout with 25 participants, and I got to see some good friends and former Pathfinder School and Otsego Academy students.  The EDD Memorial Fund, a longtime partner of Pathfinder’s, is a regional non-profit organization that provides a wide array of recreational and competitive sports programs for individuals with disabilities.

The event was organized by Pathfinder’s Enrichment Department and EDD staff and board members.  Additionally, we had several staff and student volunteers from the Recreation & Sports Management program at SUNY Delhi.  Organizers laid out two courses for the athletes: a straight course for our Strider balance bikes -- sleek, two-wheeled bikes that are propelled by walking the bike; and a more-demanding figure-8 for those riding our sturdy adult trikes.

After a short break, some bikers felt confident enough in their abilities to take on the paved bike path in back of Pathfinder School.  Several individuals – Shawn, Marc, and Katie – felt so confident that they cycled around the quarter-mile track several times at a good clip.

"It was wonderful to spend the morning with so many friends from Pathfinder Village. After saying hello and catching up, we got right down to the business of riding,” said Gretchen Owens, EDD’s executive director.  “I was impressed with everyone’s willingness to hop onto a bike.  Every rider seemed to gain a sense of independence that happens when riding bikes; enjoying that feeling of the wind in their face and the sun on their back as they cruised around the paths.  We hope to inspire riders to come back and do it again!"

According to numerous articles on the internet, adaptive cycling is a fun way to exercise that offers the benefits of improved mental health; better breathing and circulation; improved ranges of motion, balance and trunk control; and can help with visual perception and cognitive development. If one thinks back one’s own riding experiences, it’s easy to see how biking can open up opportunities and adventures for all.

Until next time, take advantage of these beautiful autumn days for fun and activity outdoors,

Lori