IT'S A HOT ONE OUT THERE

Rochester is not known for hot weather...it is better known for cold weather, snow & ice.  But today it is expected that we will reach 100 degrees F. with a heat index of 105, or at least that is what my step-son just called to tell me :)...he does worry about us!  So, I just looked up the temperature on the net and it says that it is already 92 degrees here, but feels like 103.  I find that pretty strange as when I looked out, it looked to be very windy.  So, I began thinking, how can Senior Citizens protect themselves from the heat if they have to go out.  This is what my research dug up:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink.  Drink more than usual. Avoid beverages with caffeine and alcohol. 
• Dress in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Limit outdoor activities to early morning or evening hours.
• Spend time in air-conditioned areas as much as possible.
• Monitor high-risk individuals by checking on elderly neighbors and children.

1. Know the signs of heat stress, heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  Heat stress includes faintness, painful muscle spasms and cramps and prickly heat caused by a skin rash from clogged pores. Heat stress is caused by loss of fluids and minerals in the body needed for proper muscle function. 
2. Heat exhaustion, which is more serious, includes headache, dizziness, clammy skin, muscle fatigue, chest pain, breathing problems and nausea. Medical attention is necessary if these conditions persist. 
3. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that should be considered an emergency. Headache, hot and dry skin, temperature of 103 degrees or higher, rapid and shallow breathing, disorientation and changes in consciousness are all symptoms of heat stroke. The person should be cooled quickly with cold, wet sheets or a cool bath and taken to the nearest hospital.

• Avoid strenuous activity and outdoor activities during the heat of the day.  Save errands or chores until dusk.  
• If you have to go out, wear sunblock, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses & lip balm when you are in the sun.
• Make trips out in the sun short in duration.
• If you don't have air-conditioning in your home, go to your public library, the shopping mall, the movies or your local senior center, any place that is air-conditioned.  Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device during an extreme heat even.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Take frequent breaks to cool off.
• Eat light meals such as fruit and vegetables--salads.  Each apricots, bananas, cantaloupes, oranges, beans, broccoli, potatoes and tomatoes to increase potassium.
• Don't use the stove or oven to cook as it will make you and your house hotter.
• Check your local news for health and safety updates.

Here's a salad idea for you to keep in mind for these heat waves.  I am basing it on Wendy's new summer salad.

MARILYN'S HOT WEATHER DELIGHT

1 bag Mixed Greens

1/2 pound Fresh Green Beans; washed and stems cut off; cut into thirds

1 can Mandarin Oranges; drained

1 pint Fresh Strawberries; washed, hulled and cut into slices

1 pint Fresh Blueberries; washed with stems taken off

1 cup Shredded Cheese; use your favorite or try a new flavor of cheese

1/2 cup Nuts; use your favorite nut or sunflower seeds or pine-nuts

Your favorite light dressing, if you must (I don't use salad dressings)

Just mix this all up and put into a gorgeous bowl.  Serve it up with some ice cold lemonade and a nice roll.  Now, that is my idea of healthy summer eating!

This recipe is copyrighted by Marilyn Sultar 7/21/2011.  Please ask permission to reprint it.  You can contact me at 1spartica@gmail.com.  Thank you for this courtesy!

I'M JEALOUS!

All weekend I've been reading about my eldest grandson's activities in Israel.  Marc is 17 years old and is having the time of his life, talking with young adults of all nationalities and religions while learning about his own.  The educational value of this experience seems wonderful, but it's the social aspect that makes me jealous...so far in just a weeks time, Marc has gone hiking and kayaking.  He has gone to a bonfire and a community song fest, and has been on a disco dinner cruise.  The kids have only had one day of semi-rest.  They didn't even give the kids a chance to recuperate from jet lag.

Having a cell phone to call home from is a wonderful thing.  So far Marc has called his parents to let them know his mother didn't pack the right water bottle and that his backpack is giving him problems.  His dad asked him what he wanted them to do about these problems from thousands of miles away.  Ah, kids!  They think they are so grown up.  Marc is a very smart young man, book and knowledge-wise, but when it comes to broken things, well, there is just nothing like mom and dad to do your thinking for you!  LOL

Ok, now that I've said that about Marc, I must tell you that I still go to my mom when things are broken.  I don't know how many times I called home with problems about things that were wrong.  So, brains and age really don't have anything to do with true independence.  Never having achieved that state, I cannot give any advice on obtaining it and helping your children to obtain it.  Oh well...

In honor of Marc's trip, here is a link for a recipe for Israeli Dates which sounds wonderful!  All Recipes is one of my favorite recipe websites.  Let me know what you think!

HAPPY JULY 4TH

It's Independence Day here in the good ole USA!  In honor of this wonderful holiday, I'd like to share some thoughts on what it means to be independent...here is what some famous people have to say...

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, of making a mistake,... of searching and experimenting,... of saying No to any authority - literary, artistic, philosophical, religious, social, and even political.  ~Ignazio Silone,The God That Failed, 1950

 Liberty: One of Imagination's most precious possessions.  ~Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

(The above quotes were found online at Quotegarden.com)

To me liberty is having the ability to have the freedom to live a safe, secure, happy life.  It means that no one can tell me what I can and can't do to my body.  It means that I am entitled to the same responsibilities as all people in my community.  It means having the freedom of living the faith I choose, as long as that does not hurt anyone else.  Freedom means I can have a say in my government and have choices  in how I live.  It means I can live with whom I want and love whomever I fall in love with.  Freedom means that I can have the choice of when to have children and how many children to have.  It means I have the responsibility of bringing that child/children up to the best of my ability in a loving, safe environment.  It also means I can think for myself and I have to respect the thoughts of others.

I am glad that there is a day in my country that allows me to celebrate having all of these things.  And in honor of The 4th of July, here is a recipe for apple pie! I have not tried this recipe yet, but hope to soon, so if you make it, please share your thoughts with the rest of us! I hope you enjoy it!



Honey Apple Pie With Orange Lattice Crust
=========================================
Bon Appétit | March 1998

Main ingredients
Honey, Cherry, Orange, Peach, Apricot, Apple

Cuisine
American

Type
Pie/Tart

Yield: Makes 8 servings

"Using orange juice instead of water in the crust enhances the fruit flavors in the filling. To prevent the dough from sticking, lightly flour the work surface and the dough, sprinkling with more flour as needed; also, roll just to the edges of the dough, not over them, rotating the dough often."

Ingredients:

For crust:

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 to 7 tablespoons chilled orange juice

For filling:

2 generous tablespoons coarsely chopped dried tart cherries
2 generous tablespoons finely chopped dried apricots
2 generous tablespoons finely chopped dried peaches
2 tablespoons orange juice
2-1/2 pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
3-1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Preparation:

Make crust:

{Step One} Combine flour, sugar and salt in large bowl; add butter.
Using fingertips, rub in butter until pieces range in size from rice
grains to peas. Add shortening; rub in until pieces are size of small
peas. Sprinkle 5 tablespoons juice over, tossing gently with fork to
blend. Continue adding enough juice 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing
with a fork, to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; divide into
2 parts, 1 slightly larger than the other. Flatten dough onto disks.
Wrap in plastic; chill 1 1/2 hours or up to 1 day.

Make filling: Mix cherries, apricots, peaches and orange juice in large
bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Mix in apples, flour, cinnamon and
cardamom; then mix in honey, butter and orange peel.

Position rack in bottom third of oven, and preheat to 425°F.

Roll out larger dough disk on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round.
Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhand to 1/2
inch. Roll out second dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch
round. Using fluted pastry wheel or knife, cut dough into 1/2-inch-wide
strips. Spoon filling into bottom crust.
{Step Two} Arrange 6 pastry strips evenly atop filling. Arrange 6 more
strips at right angles, forming lattice. Fold under ends of strips with
overhanging dough.

{Step Three} Crimp crust edge decoratively.

Bake pie 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until
apples are tender and juices bubble thickly around edge, about 1 hour
10 minutes longer. Transfer pie to rack. Cool 1 hour.