The Home Front
March/April 2009 Issue | Posted by Danielle Bean in Home Front
FOOD by Danielle
Bean Basics
High in fiber and low in fat, beans are an inexpensive way to add flavor, texture, and nutrition to your family’s meals.
For great variety and the option of buying dry beans in bulk, try your local health food store. Canned beans, though a bit more expensive, are nutritionally equivalent with the added bonus of convenience — they are ready to use straight from the can.
My friend Laura made this cheesy white chicken chili for a Super Bowl party last year — deliciously different!
Cheesy White Chicken Chili
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 (4-ounce) cans chopped green
chiles
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano,
crumbled
1/4 teaspoon cayenne or crushed
red pepper
(depending on taste)
3 (16-ounce) cans great northern
beans,
drained and rinsed
6 cups chicken broth
3 cups grated Monterey Jack
cheese
Salt and pepper
Sour cream
Heat oil in large heavy pot.
Add onions and sauté until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, chiles,
chicken, cumin, oregano, and hot pepper. Sauté 2 minutes. Add beans and broth.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 2 hours or more. Add 1 cup of grated
cheese. Stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Top servings with
remaining cheese and sour cream.
— Visit Danielle at DanielleBean.com
SELF
Awesome Accessories by Mary
Fashion designer Carolina Herrera once said that a full-length mirror is a woman’s most important accessory. That’s certainly true, but shoes and bags and jewelry are so much more fun! Here are elegant and economical options:
1. Figure out what you really need. Then, shop in your closet to see what accessories you already own that could be reincorporated into your current wardrobe.
2. Know yourself. Fashion Personality is the key to keeping a theme to your wardrobe and will help to save you from wasting money on fashion mistakes. Find out yours by taking a Fashion Personality test online (MarySheehanWarren.com offers a free one).
3. Remember balance.If you enjoy really large earrings, keep your necklace a bit more subtle (and vice versa). If a silk scarf is your thing, opt to wear no lapel pin or one that doesn’t compete with the scarf.
4. Expand your options. For jewelry and novelty bags, local consignment retailers and museum shops are useful and creative options. Try SmithsonianStore.com andMetMuseum.org/store. For shoes, try DSW.com, WilsonsLeather.com, and Overstock.com.
— Visit Mary at MarySheehanWarren.com
Home Safety on the Go
Pack peace of mind by keeping a basic first aid kit in your car.
Items to include:
• adhesive bandages
• instant cold packs
• pain reliever
• latex gloves
• antibiotic ointment
• alcohol pads
• tweezers
(for splinters and stings)
• antibacterial wipes
• gauze pads
• scissors
• clean bottle of water
DIY Draining
Fix a clogged or slow-draining kitchen sink without a trip to the hardware store or phoning a plumber. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup white vinegar down the drain. Cover with a rag while the mixture foams and breaks down fats and oils. Flush with boiling water.
MONEY
Bargains in Bulk
Those trips to your local super center save you and your family lots of money ... or maybe not. Some tips to consider when buying in bulk:
List it. Write a list of what you need before going to the store — and stick to it.
Bring a buddy. Bring along someone whose job is to remind you that you don’t need 150 granola bars this week.
Consider storage. You might find a
great deal on banana yogurt. But do you have room in your fridge for all of it?
Sneaky Fees
Your bank account might be called “free checking” but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be charged fees at your institution. According to SmartMoney.com, fees account for 56% of banks’ income — a whopping $80 billion in 2006. Some sneaky fees to watch out for:
Paper Fees
In this age of digital banking, most banks no longer send customers a pile of canceled checks at the end of the month. If you request a paper copy of a canceled check for proving a purchase or donation, however, you may be charged up to $5 per copy.
Courtesy Overdraft
This happens when a bank covers the cost of a check that would have otherwise bounced. Banks charge $20-$40 for this “courtesy” and $2-$4 per day until the amount is repaid. Instead, set up your checking account to automatically draw from a savings account when the balance goes below zero.
Point-of-Sale Fees
Some banks charge for each debit card transaction and others charge a set fee for any month in which you use PIN transactions. Skip these fees by choosing “credit” instead of “debit” and signing for your purchases.
health
Spring Forward With Allergy Relief
Blooming buds and warmer weather are harbingers of early spring. But if you’re among the approximately 40 million people who suffer from seasonal allergies, you’ll soon be adding itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing to your list of signs that springtime is approaching.
According to Dr. Mark Dykewicz,
chief of allergy and clinical immunology at the Saint Louis University School
of Medicine, there are simple steps you can take to minimize your suffering
during allergy season.
1. Treat it. Over-the-counter antihistamines can be very effective in reducing the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies. Try the latest ones that cause little or no drowsiness, such as Claritin or Zyrtec.
2. Clean house. A surprise visit from the in-laws isn’t the only reason to give your home a good spring cleaning. Regular cleaning controls dust and other allergens in the home. Look for products with electrostatic properties since ordinary brooms and rags can stir dust up in the air.
3. Stay in. Avoid being outdoors on windy days or when pollen counts are high, typically in the morning, from about 5 to 10 a.m. Take a shower and change clothes if you’ve been outside. Pollen can collect on fabric and in your hair.
When all else fails, call your doctor. There are prescription pills and nasal sprays available, and allergy shots are another option.
— Kate Wicker
She Lost It!
Name: Cindi Leeman
Hometown: Columbus,
Ohio
Diet program: Small
dietary changes such as eating more whole grains, but no deprivation dieting!
Everything in moderation — even french fries.
Fitness program: Regular
walking
Weight loss: 15 pounds
When Cindi Leeman was in her late 30s, she had a fitness wake-up call after she found herself winded during a family hike. “I began walking in the neighborhood after dinner and started feeling better immediately,” she says.
Since then, Cindi has walked 18 half-marathons and two full ones. “It wasn’t until I lost the inches around my waist that I realized I’d been a little soft around the middle. I also started to build muscle in my legs, muscle I never had before. I felt better, felt healthier, and the weight loss was an added bonus.”
Perhaps the greatest perk of her walking is how it has helped bring her closer to her children and to God. “I really enjoy walking with my kids because they will talk to me more about their day and things going on in their lives. I’ll tell God what’s bothering me or ask for help. By the time I’m finished, my walk seems more important than just physical fitness.”
Walk On!
Cindi started publishing WALK! Magazine four years ago and offers the following tips for walkers:
1. Track your progress. “You can buy a mileage log, use one of the many online mileage logs, or just pick up a cheap spiral-bound notebook. Keep track of the date, how far or how long you walked, and how you felt.”
2. Set a goal. “Most walkers I know train better and more consistently if they have a goal. You might train to enter a 5K race or to finish a set distance faster.”
3. Wear good shoes. “You may have to pay from $60 to $100 for a pair, but it’s worth it to be able to walk without pain. Good shoes are still much cheaper than a health club membership.” Replace shoes every 400 to 500 miles.
— Visit Kate at KateWicker.com
Homework: Share your weight loss success story with Faith & Family. See page 6 for contact information.
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