November 07, 2009
Sylvia Anderson - Lifestyles Reporter
Sylvia Says: ‘affresh’ way of cleaning
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Midnight spaghetti
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Sensational squash
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
Crazy for cupcakes
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Tie dye is back — again
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009
One bite at a time
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
The cute factor
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
Monday, Sept. 14, 2009
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
To keep smelly kitchen odor at bay and ensure appliance workhorses run smoothly, Whirlpool has introduced a new dishwasher and disposal cleaner called affresh. (That seems to be the trend these days to use all lowercase letters.) They say it’s the only national two-in-one cleaner for dishwashers and garbage disposals. Now, if you are like me, cleaning your dishwasher is probably not anywhere near the top of your to-do list and you may not care about this at all. But according to most cleaning experts, they need cleaning about once a month. And the makers of affresh say even though you scrape or pre-rinse your dishes, minerals from your water can still calcify and build up, leading to odor.
Eats: Just like grandma'sWednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
You could say Galvin’s Dinnerhouse is like the St. Joseph version of Stroud’s in Kansas City. Although there are certainly differences in decor and some menu items, they both pride themselves on tender, pan-fried chicken served up family-style in a down-home setting. And they’ve both been around long enough to get pretty good at what they do.
Midnight spaghetti
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
It feels like little Italy at Lino’s Original Pizza in the East Hills Shopping Center. The aroma of sizzling garlic and olive oil is intoxicating as Lino Ingargiola tosses what is officially called “pasta aglio oilio e peperoncio” in a skillet. Bits of green parsley and crushed red pepper accent the thin, graceful noodles as they cascade onto a plate. You can almost hear Luciano Pavarotti singing in the background. And as he shakes some Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese on top, Mr. Ingargiola asks with his Sicilian accent if we want to try some. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009
If you love the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas, make the trek to Independence, Mo. Even Scrooge himself would get excited with the plethora of things to do, from sleigh rides to holiday home tours, plus the long list of events at the new Independence Event Center. And it all begins before most anywhere else: The weekend of Nov. 7.
“It’s been intentionally done that way for a couple of years because people love the old-fashioned Harry Truman hometown idea and the Main Street shops, with the magic of a homespun, heartwarming holiday,” says Janeen Aggen, who does media relations for Independence, Missouri, Tourism. “So they’ve put a lot of planning into trying to encourage the sites and attractions during this time.”
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009
You’ve heard of road rage, where seemingly normal people become crazed and out of control from frustration with other drivers. Well, this time of year look for wrap rage. It’s almost as dangerous. Seriously, there have been more than 6,000 reported emergency-room incidents resulting from wrap rage, according to a press release by Zibra, manufacturers of “Open It!” a possible new solution to the problem.
WonderscopeWednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Kids just want to have fun. And at Wonderscope in Shawnee, Kan., they can do that plus learn a little something in the process with the center’s imaginative, hands-on, inter-disciplinary arts and sciences exhibits and programs for children 10 and under.
Turkey carving 101Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
It’s the American holiday where everybody has an excuse to be a full-fledged glutton and eat their body weight in stuffing, casserole, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. But let’s face it, we all know that turkey is the bird that’s the word on every family member’s watering mouth.
Sensational squash
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
What would autumn be without pumpkins? How we love to admire their orbicular orangeness, carve them into jack-o’-lanterns and bake them into pies. But they aren’t the only squash in the garden.
Girl Scout cookie sales begin on HalloweenWednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
It won’t be just trick-or-treaters knocking on doors on Halloween this year. Oct. 31 is when the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and North Missouri will be kicking off their annual cookie sale.
Eats: A taste of home at Parker HouseTuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
After a morning of browsing through antique stores or working all day at the office, there’s nothing more enjoyable than being pampered with a home-cooked meal. That could be why it gets crowded fast at the Parker House Café in Atchison, Kan.
Making her listTuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
When you’re a child, there’s something exciting, almost magical, about opening gifts on Christmas morning. Even though you may have taken a tiny peek before the official opening time, the thrill is still there as you rip open the wrapping to discover that shiny new toy or doll you have wanted all year. But by the time you become an adult, things change. Getting a vacuum from your husband for Christmas may be practical, but not exactly magical. And although your mother-in-law means well, those sequined holiday sweaters miss the boat, too. The root of the problem must be they simply don’t know what you want.
So what do you want? We’ve come up with a few ideas that would be great not only for you, but for any woman on your gift list. If you find something you like, just circle the one you want, post it on the refrigerator, wrap it around the TV remote or mail it out with your Christmas letters to get the word out. And if all that fails, keep a copy in your pocket so you can buy it yourself after you return that Christmas sweater.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
If you are like me and gave up your daily pop habit for your health (mine was two large bottles of diet Mountain Dew), you still crave something sweet and bubbly for those sluggish afternoons. Try TeaZer organic sparkling teas by Santa Cruz Organic.
Crazy for cupcakes
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
At Delish Bakery and Coffee Shop in St. Joseph, owner Cheryl George always tries to have some freshly baked cupcakes for sale. She bakes them in 18 flavors, with swirls of buttercream or fondant icing in a rainbow of colors. Cakes, pastries and cookies are popular too, she says, but in the last year or so, her customers simply have been crazy about cupcakes.
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009
John Ostertag remembers his grandfather well — “a sturdy, hard-headed German” and how he absolutely forbade his son from learning to be an auto mechanic. At the time, his grandfather and father were blacksmiths by trade, living in Atchison, Kan.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Mops have been around a long time — since 1893, according to madehow.com. That’s when Thomas W. Stewart received the first patent for a mop. So you would think we would be pretty much be at the end of the line for anything new as far as the design goes.
‘Dead broke’ for HalloweenThursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Halloween is THE season of the year for artist Patty Benedict of St. Joseph. Dubbed the “Queen of Halloween” in the October issue of American Miniaturist magazine, Mrs. Benedict works year round sculpting dimensional Halloween miniatures for collectors all over the country. And as you can imagine, the Benedict annual Halloween party is the culminating celebration of the season. But with the slow economy and a cut in her husband, Gan’s, salary, the Benedicts almost decided not to have it.
“But then we decided that everybody is in the same boat — let’s just have some fun,” Mrs. Benedict says. “When the going gets tough, have a party.”
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Halloween party recipes
Tie dye is back — again
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
In a large industrial kitchen at the Western Institute in St. Joseph, Valerie Jacobson looks like a cross between an artist and a mad scientist.
“You should always have a white area,” Ms. Jacobson says, wearing purple latex gloves, a blue-and-pink tie-dyed shirt and a long white apron splattered with all colors of the rainbow. The “white area” stands out easily among the counters filled with boxes, bottles, buckets and containers of colored dyes and fabrics. With a large yellow mop bucket at her side, Ms. Jacobson pulls a knotted orange-and-brown fabric out of a plastic bag, then rinses it in the sink with an industrial-size sprayer until the water turns from a muddy brown to clear. Then she cuts the twine that ties the knots, revealing a burst of color and a pattern like a fall sunset. She smiles with surprise.
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
A polka-dot Halloween chair with witches’ feet, a tie-dyed chair with jean leggings and a Christmas chair with ornaments are just some of the expected 50-plus artist-decorated chairs and other items to be auctioned off at this year’s Take-A-Seat auction on Oct. 16.
Sylvia Says: Starbucks VIA Ready Brew could be an instant hitSaturday, Oct. 10, 2009
I took the challenge and failed — the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew taste challenge, that is. It was quite a blow to my ego, since I consider myself somewhat of a coffee connoisseur. The only thing that made me feel better was that a five-year employee at Starbucks told me she failed as well.
One bite at a time
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Food and entertaining expert Denise Vivaldo has an impressive resume: She’s created and catered more than 10,000 parties with guests including presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, Prince Charles, Aaron Spelling, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bette Midler. Her catering recipe-development and food-styling firm, Food Fanatics, has been called on to cater events such as the Academy Awards Governors’ Ball. She’s authored several books and has appeared on The Food Network, ABC Morning News and HGTV. Her achievements go on and on, yet when it comes to entertaining at home, she says she used to get as flustered as anyone else.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009
When it comes to the search for a great latte in town, the Olive Garden is a place you may have overlooked. They may not be a coffee house, but their caffè latte is the real deal, served in large, wonderful Italian looking cups with a small biscotti on the side.
The scary man and the old ladySunday, Oct. 4, 2009
As soon as the lights go off, a shiver goes down my spine. It’s dead quiet in this room except for our breathing and the creak of the floor as we walk. “I’m not afraid of ghosts,” I remind myself, as I fear, but somewhat hope, to see the apparition who reportedly walks through the halls with an ax.
Weekender: Haunted LeavenworthSunday, Oct. 4, 2009
At the Santa Fe Depot Diner in Leavenworth, Kan., there have been numerous reports of “ghost” like activity, from doors opening by themselves to a full apparition of a woman in the kitchen. After Cathy Ramirez heard about that and other tales of the paranormal in the area, she knew she needed to add Leavenworth to the Ghost Tours of Kansas.
Sylvia Says: O’Cedar Scrub Fresh toilet bowl brush gets an ugly job doneSaturday, Oct. 3, 2009
Unlike baking a cake or even mowing the lawn, cleaning the toilet bowl is a job that gets little respect and no appreciation. When is the last time someone told you what a wonderfully clean toilet bowl you have? So the goal is to just get it done as fast as possible.
Eats: Get your piece of the pie at Jerry’s AgainThursday, Oct. 1, 2009
In Atchison, Kan., Jerry’s Again is the place to go for pie.
The pies were made famous by the original Jerry’s restaurant co-owner, Virginia Kuckelman, who made and still does make all kinds of pies daily, from blackberry to coconut cream. They are sold whole or by the slice and usually sell out by the afternoon. In fact, if you want a whole pie, you had better call ahead.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Octoberfest may be winding down in Munich, Germany, (where it runs Sept. 19 through Oct. 4), but in St. Joseph, the celebration has just begun — at least the feasting part.
At the Cabbage Roll restaurant at 26th and Lafayette, owners Larry Matt and Andy Halamar are gearing up to start another month of reservation-only Friday buffets featuring the hearty German cuisine.
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009
His yellow-and-black stripped bumble bee costume is a bit tight around the middle this year, but that doesn’t matter to 5-year-old Remmie, an energetic black pug. He is more concerned about getting the attention of those passing by, which is easily achieved once they see this giant bumble bee with a wagging tale, big grin and long pink tongue.
Remmie is trying on some of the costumes he has worn in past years for the Canine Costume Contest sponsored by the Humane Society of St. Joseph. He’s won three out of the four years he’s competed: first as a spider, then a soldier, then last year as a pirate with his own ship. Surprisingly, the bumble bee costume was not a winner.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
Who could say no to trying something called Yummnuts? Yummnuts are a line of all-natural healthy snacks created by Michael Cochrane and Tyler Ricks, former athletes and health advocates, who wanted to make not only a healthy snack, but one that tastes good, too.
Puppetry Arts InstituteFriday, Sept. 25, 2009
Hidden away in an unassuming strip mall in Independence, Mo., is the Puppetry Arts Institute, a place where children and adults alike can let their creativity and imagination take flight.
Eats: A buffet with German flavorThursday, Sept. 24, 2009
I travel a lot in my sales job, and one thing I usually do not eat at is buffets. But there is one little place here in St. Joseph that has the best homemade food on its buffet and that’s the Cabbage Roll.
The cute factor
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Be assured, when Dawn Forsberg packs a lunch, it won’t be boring. No slick meat or gloppy peanut butter on lifeless bread here. The lunch will be healthy, attractive and, dare we say, cute? That’s because Mrs. Forsberg has discovered the secret of Bento.
From the ground upMonday, Sept. 21, 2009
They look like big Styrofoam blocks stacked like Legos — not what you would normally see at a construction site of a new home. That’s because this is not going to be an ordinary home. The blocks are ARXX brand insulated concrete forms, one of the relatively new innovations to date in sustainable and energy-saving housing materials. And if all goes according to plan, this home will save the owners more than half of what they would normally spend on energy costs.
Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Home & garden briefs for Sept. 21, 2009
Sylvia Says: Pyrex kitchen tools are as indispensable as their bakewareSaturday, Sept. 19, 2009
The right tool can make all the difference between frustration and success in the kitchen. And Pyrex, the maker of glass bakeware, prepware and storage, has come out with new tools that are so innovative you will wonder why someone hasn’t come up with these before.
The new Pyrex box grater has see-through sides with measurement lines and a slide door on the bottom, so can grate exactly what you need and release it exactly where you want — not all over the kitchen counter.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
When you’re shopping in Atchison, Kan., perhaps searching for ideas at Nell Hills (Mary Carol Garrity’s legendary decorating store) consider taking a break at Snow Ball for ice cream, sandwiches and their espresso bar.
A house for livingMonday, Sept. 14, 2009
Wouldn’t it be great to have all the storage space you need and more? And what about a home large enough to host a sit-down dinner party for 150, with your own home-office, three kitchens, separate rooms for sewing and crafts and a hot tub, plus a pool room, playroom and a miniature golf course in back for the kids?
Writings from behind the wallSunday, Sept. 13, 2009
As Robert Tyus stands on the steps of the News-Press holding his new book, “Reflective Thoughts,” published by Xlibris Corporation, he seems happy and victorious — just as any first-time author would be.
But his easy smile hides a less-than-happy past, which includes more than 12 years in prison. It’s something he doesn’t try to hide. “My life is on file,” he says, rather proud to have overcome.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
I have a new favorite snack: Nature Valley’s Granola Nut Clusters. Nature Valley is the same company that makes granola bars. These are similar to the bars in that they are made with all-natural ingredients such as roasted nuts, whole-grain oats and honey. The main difference is you don’t have to eat a whole bar when you just want a bit.
Eats: The Cordonniers are backWednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Just when you thought there was no place in town to indulge in fried carp, guess what? The Cordonniers are back.
Purple pleasuresWednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
“Think purple,” says the sign on the door at the monthly meeting of the Herb Gardeners Club in St. Joseph. And purple it was, in the form of lavender all over the room, from aromatic sprigs of the plant on each member’s plate to a purple/pink punch bowl of lavender-scented lemonade.
“Take the sprig of lavender from your plate,” instructs Bea Dobyan, who with Michelle Nelson is giving a demonstration on how to cook with lavender for the group. “Now rub it. If you like the smell, you will probably like eating it.”
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009
Visitors from every state and at least 44 countries have made the trek to Kearney, Mo., the birthplace of the infamous Jesse James. His boyhood home is there, along with his final resting place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. And in September, as it has for the past 38 years, the city will host the Jesse James Festival, featuring a carnival, parade, rodeo, historic re-enactments, craft exhibits, dances and more. It has grown so large, it’s been expanded to both the second and third weekends in September.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
One of my favorite indulgences as a child was mixing chocolate syrup and peanut butter with vanilla ice cream and turning it into my own rich and creamy custom dessert. Since then, I have learned that it’s also a fast way to put on five pounds in one sitting. So I gave up my indulgence hoping the memory would suffice. But then the other day, Blake Hannon, our entertainment reporter, brought in a jar of Dark Chocolate Dreams by Peanut Butter & Co.
Eats: Corbin Mill Restaurant is perfect for pieWednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Next time you’re shopping in Liberty, Mo., take a break at the Corbin Mill Restaurant.
The ‘other’ dinner drinkWednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
An Italian meal of pasta with rich Bolognese sauce and garlic bread can be delicious, but add a glass of ruby red Chianti and it becomes “magnifico.” The medium-bodied, dry wine has tart cherry aromas and flavors that enhance the taste and enjoyment of the meal, just as a white German Riesling does for fish or a Rhône red can do for a dark chocolate anything. But that’s wine. Did you know you can do the same kind of food pairings with beer?
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009
If walls could talk, the homes on Museum Hill could tell quite a story. Many were built during the 1880s and 1890s, a period called the Golden Age of St. Joseph, when immense fortunes were made and wealthy citizens moved up the hill to the “suburbs” to build homes of exceptional value. The stories of those times are slowly being forgotten as new generations move in and the old walls are torn down. But not all. One woman has made it her goal to not only remember and preserve what is left, but share it with the world.
A diamond of a different colorSunday, Aug. 30, 2009
Back in 1969, a man came into Halbert Jewellers in St. Joseph and asked for a black diamond ring.
“Are you sure you don’t mean an Alaskan black diamond?” Karen and Steve Read, Halbert owners, remember asking him. (The stone known as Alaska’s black diamond is actually hematite and is much less expensive.)
“No, I want a diamond,” the man insisted.
This was during a time of white shirts, white bread and before Hollywood stars began flaunting their colored diamonds — not at all a typical request. But they got him his black diamond, and it was impressive, Mrs. Read remembers. And unlike the charcoal-dull hematite, the black diamond has the brilliant, shimmery, reflective quality that true diamonds have, with the added depth of color. Ever since that day, the Reads have noticed interest in colored diamonds has continued to grow.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
If you want to go to a place that has good deli sandwiches and great live music, then Magoon’s is the place to go.
Throw a Julia Child partyWednesday, Aug. 26, 2009
Unless you are a chef or a foodie, the name Julia Child may not hold much significance for you. But that may change once you see “Julie and Julia,” a movie released this month. It stars Meryl Streep as Julia Child, the chef who got Americans hooked on French cooking through her books and TV show, and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, the famed blogger who cooked all of the 524 recipes from Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in 365 days.
Julia Child party recipesWednesday, Aug. 26, 2009
Try these recipes for your own Julia Child party.
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