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Thanksgiving Leftovers Take 2


Arianna Johnson has A Bachelors 
Degree in English/Creative Writing from Dowling College.  She is very passionate about writing and cooking and her goal is to become a food writer and cookbook author. Arianna can be reached at 
arianna.ruth.johnson@gmail.com
    Thanksgiving Dinner….so much work goes into the big day, with lots of stress going along with it. As the holiday unwinds, the question remains…what do we do with all of the leftovers?
    There are only so many nights you can eat a full Thanksgiving dinner and there are only so many turkey sandwiches you can eat as well. So, what do you do with the rest of the leftovers?
    First, there’s the bird; what else do you do with it except put it between two pieces of bread?  Years ago, my aunt found some Paul Prudhomme recipes using turkey, and we decided to try them out. One of the recipes was Turkey Hash, which is browned potatoes with sautéed onions and peppers along with a combination of spices all tossed together with shredded turkey. That was delicious and something different to try. 
    My favorite recipe was the Turkey Tex. This also has peppers and onions, but it is in a sauce made with cream cheese and chicken stock, then spiced up to your liking. We actually put this in a tortilla because it reminded us of queso, and it was out of this world. We make Turkey Tex every year now after Thanksgiving because it is that good. 
    Next is the mashed potatoes…This is probably the simplest side dish to redo into something new.  All you have to do is put them in a bowl, add some chives and garlic (if they are not already in there) mold into pancakes, dredge in a little flour and fry in oil; serve with apple sauce or sour cream and you have potato pancakes.  If you have mashed sweet potatoes, it works the same way, except add orange zest or chopped pecans, instead of the herbs and garlic, and serve with crème fraiche. 
    If you make your own cranberry sauce, it’s really easy to turn it into a sweet sauce to put over ice cream. All you have to do is put the cranberry sauce into a pot, add some water and sugar (to your desired sweetness) and cook down until it is a thick syrup. Speaking of ice cream…If you have leftover pie, just place it in a blender with some ice cream and make yourself a pie milkshake. It sounds crazy, but it’s a wonderfully indulgent treat. 
    These are just a few suggestions of what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers. Don’t get stuck in a turkey rut, have fun with your leftovers too!

 

Dishin with Denise… Bella Bolognese


Denise Gianatasio is a Northport Village resident and freelance writer. She is a licensed agent at Signature Premier Properties, 172 Main Street, Northport 631-754-3600. Denise enjoys cooking and sharing her recipes and family stories, as she wants to inspire a warm sense of home with her readers. Please feel free to contact her for any advice you may need at  dishinwithdenise@yahoo.com.

    It must be Sunday, circa 1960. Upon waking I can hear activity and lots of movement going on early in the kitchen, on Sunday mornings. Clanging pots and pans, the sounds of meat sizzling, the can opener ~ opening cans, the blender mixing tomatoes, and the sounds of the Victrola softly playing music from Jerry Vale, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Loudly my Dad whistled while he worked. He was my Mom’s “prep and clean up Man”… or sous chef, I suppose. It was a sweet, fragrant way to begin the day. Ahh… It’s been more than a decade since all that sweet noise. My mother and father surely were determined to create an outstanding meal for their family, especially on Sunday. Dinner time was traditionally set for 2:00 p.m. ~ All must be at home, washed up, ready to sit down, share time together, and of course enjoy the delicious feast.
    My parents Sunday specialty was typically a Bolognese sauce. A meat and vegetable packed tomato sauce served with pasta, (any variety will do, rigatoni, papadalle, penne, ziti, or my favorite just straight!) Serve with a salad or antipasto and of course fresh crusty Italian bread and a sip of red wine. Looking back, only the early time of day was inconvenient ~ We’d just about get through breakfast and reading the Sunday newspaper and it soon was time to show back up for the next meal! No time for much else. This was fundamentally my parents Italian culture and Sunday’s Golden Rule.  Today Sunday’s are not quite the same, we have  the opportunity to go shopping at stores and malls. Some  even go to work, We can actually shop for a home at Open houses or buy a new car. Today’s lifestyle may include scheduled sports practice, games and activities, or playdates. Dinner at 2:00 is not an option anymore….  Do try to create that special time on Sunday with your family ~ even if life is more harried and the table is not set until 6:00 P.M. The magical gift for all is… “Timeless”! Talk, talk, share, laugh and mangia!  Turn Sundays into your own “La Bella Domenica!”  A beautiful Sunday! 
~ Ciao, xoxo, “Dishin with Denise”

Serves 6
2 garlic cloves, diced
½ cup of fresh basil, parsley, oregano chopped
½ t red pepper flakes or to taste
3 (diced very small) carrots
3  celery stalks
½ cup olive oil
1 large Vidalia onion chopped
1 lb. of fresh sliced mushrooms
3  large cans whole tomatoes ( San Marzano)
1 ½ lbs. of fresh ground chop meat
1 lb. of sweet (decased) Italian sausage
½ lb. of hot (decased) Italian sausage
2 lbs. of pork neck bones
½ small can of beef broth

 In pan use ½ cup olive oil to sauté onion, carrots, celery, use a handful of chopped fresh chives,fresh basil,parsley and oregano. ½ t of red pepper flakes, fresh ground pepper and salt. Sautee till vegetables are very soft. Add mushrooms and garlic for a few minutes. Add 3 cans hand squeezed San Marzano tomatoes or blend in blender, add beef broth ~ Cook for approx. 25 minutes on rapid simmer. Add 1 cup red wine. And beef broth. Cook for 5 more minutes. In a large pan brown meats until cooked. Remove excess fat and shave meat off bones. Add to tomato sauce, toss with boiled and drained pasta. A sprinkle of extra fresh basil, black pepper and grated cheese.  Serve in a red state ~ a merlot that is! Named for the black bird, Merle, it’s full bodied dark fruit flavors, cherries, blackberries, and fine tannins are excellent when paired with this dish. Moving well into Fall, the harvest is ripe and the merlot locally is running…full cup ahead!

 

Fast Food Breakfast


Paul A. Lauto, Esq. received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1990.  In 2002 Mr. Lauto established Paul A. Lauto, PLLC (Now located at 565 Route 25A, Suite 207, Miller Place, NY 11764; (631) 928-1430; www.liattorney.com), with a primary concentration on personal injury, all types 
of accident cases and more. 

In this age of busy schedules filled with stress and the need to get things done as soon as possible, more and more people are turning toward a fast food breakfast in order to save time. The market is so prevalent that even Taco Bell offers breakfast and McDonald's has gone as far as offering breakfast all day long.  But are people really saving enough time to justify a fast food breakfast which some consider to be tantamount to a health violation? 

Many fast food breakfast items contain in excess of 40 grams of fat and 1,000 milligrams of sodium and if you have two or three items for breakfast, the math speaks for itself. That doesn't even include a latte, frappuccino or other hot beverage of choice. Considering that you really are what you eat, perhaps a fast food breakfast is not the best example to set for our children on how they should start their day.  American childhood obesity has become all too common and parents sometimes look for someone else to blame.  This was arguably the case back in 2002 when parents sued McDonald's alleging essentially that their kids became fat from eating their food.  The parents blamed McDonald's claiming that they were somehow responsible and liable for their kids' poor eating habits. A federal court judge later dismissed the case and "threw it out of court." Is this really what has become of our society?

The ironic part is that people will often spend more time and money heating up or going out for a fast food breakfast, than they would eating a healthier breakfast at home such as instant oatmeal. Just because the fast food industry is now ringing the Pavlovian breakfast bell louder than ever, that doesn't mean we should all go running to eat a fast food breakfast. Perhaps our time, health and wallets would be better served if we don't allow big business to lead or mislead us with expensive advertising and marketing campaigns. Remember these restaurants are in the business of making money and only you are truly in the business of keeping your family and you healthy. 

 

Gift Giving Guide …Holiday Part 1


Rachael Severino is an incoming 9th grade school student at Sachem North High School in the Sachem School District. Though still quite young, this aspiring writer has a knack for the written word. She has penned several short stories and poems, and is working on her first novel.

    The holiday season is here, with advertising and holiday music marathons in full swing. If you haven’t even begun to put pen to paper for your list, you may need some assistance. We are here to help with some gift ideas for everyone on your list.

    For young children, educational games are in full swing. For girls, the project MC2 is a great choice. A series of dolls that come with their own science experiments. Boys can be proud owners of home-built robots. Many robot kits are in stores, mixing fun with smarts. For boys and girls, miniature science kits (physics, geology, biology, and chemistry) are available. There are new dolls and toy cars for more light hearted presents. Iscream microbead pillows are a fun and colorful addition to your holiday shopping. Choose fun food themes with matching scents or sports themes. Available at Lesters clothing store or Iscream-shop.com. If a room re-do is part of the gift idea, consider a fun wall mural from fathead.com. From Disney Princesses, Star Wars, Minions to sports teams and more, the options for an easy to apply decal mural are seemingly endless.

    For tweens, there are plenty of options. For girls there are mini-microphones to show off their voices and an array of musical instruments if they wish to dabble with music. Boys may find themselves being drawn toward building. There are plenty of kits available for building airplanes, ships, and buildings. Legos are also a popular choice for freelance building. For artistic children of any age the Kiwi Crate is a great choice. There are a variety of art tools and crafts for them to engage in. Again, should your child be more interested in doing their own thing, buy them an art set with plenty of supplies and a good sketch pad. They’ll feel grown up and have the art supplies to prove it. 

    Teenagers may seem more challenging to shop for. If they are interested in books, a Barnes & Noble gift card and a mug with several types of coffee should be great. Dr. Dre headphones and an iTunes gift card should serve any music lover well. If they desire new electronics, a new phone, a new laptop, a bluetooth speaker, or a Kindle/Nook are always good ideas. If all else fails, a gift card paired with clothing from their favorite store should make them happy.

 

Gift Giving Guide …Holiday Part 2


Tammy Severino is the President of RPC Development, a business and 
development consulting firm for local businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She has more than 20 years of experience in writing, from business writing to journalism to creative 
writing. In her spare time, this 
fashionista follows and writes about fashion trends and styles.
    The holiday season is here, with advertising and holiday music marathons in full swing. If you haven’t even begun to put pen to paper for your list, you may need some assistance. We are here to help with some gift ideas for everyone on your list.

For the man in your life, consider gift ideas that spark from his interests. Is he a James Bond fan? With the release of Spectre, he may love a 007 cologne gift set. If he enjoys playing 18 holes of golf on his days off, consider a Big Bertha driver to enhance his game. If grilling is his game, a great choice may be a briefcase of grilling tools. UncommonGoods.com has this and many other gifts for men. Perhaps your guy is more interested in comfort, consider a loungewear set in a plush fabric. His smile will be evident every time he puts it on. If he is a fan of Star Wars, he won’t be disappointed if you choose a gift from the wide assortment of Star Wars themed merchandise on the market to coincide with the December 18th release of the The Force Awakens.

    For the woman on your list, consider what makes her smile as you choose the perfect gift. If she is a fan of handbags, but your budget doesn’t permit her favorite label, consider a smaller version or even a wristlet from the brand. She will know that you took her taste into consideration. If she loves make-up or skin care, you can consider a new set of make-up brushes. Veneffect.com offers many high end beauty products she will surely love.  Or, give some thought to a one year subscription to BirchBox. With this gift, your smiles will carry on all year through.  A favorite gift of mine is always a book for note taking. There are beautiful designs from which to choose and, paired with a lovely pen, they make a great gift she will carry with her.

    Gift giving for couples can be harder, look for their common interests and do your gift giving from this perspective. Gift baskets filled with their favorite goodies are a great option. If they love breakfast in bed, fill the basket with pancake mix, syrup, lovely plates and cups and a wonderful coffee. If they are coffee fiends, go with an array of blends, along with biscuits, cookies, and cups and saucers. Movie lovers may appreciate a basket with a few blue-rays, microwave popcorn and crunchy snacks.  For a couple always on the go, how about a basket of spa products, candles and microwaveable heat wraps to melt away stress.  Whishbody.com offers an array of pampering holiday products that feel great and are reasonably priced. Whish Beauty introduced two new holiday sets to give the gift of smooth and hydrated skin amidst a winter wonderland. Available at ulta.com.

    As you shop for the holidays, don’t forget your four legged loved ones. New squeaky toys or mice to bat around the house are always a fan favorite for Fido and Fluffy. The family cat will have hours of fun with a SmartCat Peek-a-Prize or one of the many chase tracks available. A new pet bed may be a good choice as well, unless your pet is like ours and treasures his old one. If you get a new bed, choose one based on size, comfort and quality.

    Shopping this time of year can be stressful, but there are shopping avenues for everyone. You can shop locally, go big box, try the mall or shop online. Whatever works for you, the key is to avoid leaving it all for the last minute. Enjoy the process and enjoy watching your recipients open their gifts.

From our home to yours, Happy Holidays!

 

Decorating Smart For The Holidays


Natalie Weinstein is President of 
Natalie Weinstein Design Associates, 
The Natalie Weinstein Home 
Decorating Club and Uniquely Natalie, 
a quality consignment outlet. Hear 
Natalie’s design tips on WALK 97.5 FM, enjoy her Long Island Focus featured in House Magazine or call: 631.862.6198
    The holidays are fast approaching, shopping for loved ones this year seems to be an even more stressful task and you want your home to look its company best. So what to do, if time is running out and your major decorating projects are still undone?

    For one thing, do not attempt to begin a design project that may leave you in a disrupted or incomplete state. It’s better to put off a kitchen renovation or a whole house paint job until after the holiday season. Instead, devote yourself to a major clean-up project. Start with the entry foyer and move into the living room, dining room, kitchen and powder room areas (all highly visible visitor spaces). Throw out what is worn, put away or store (in labeled boxes) articles that make your rooms look overly cluttered or sloppy and donate or consign what you don’t use anymore. Remember neatness counts! A restful orderly room can now be punched up and have a new look with simple additions such as area rugs, throw pillows, new curtains and some interesting art.

    Basic repairs should be a priority (leaky faucets, toilets that don’t work properly, fireplace flues that need to be cleaned, etc.) Good lighting is also important. Replace all blown out bulbs in lamps and fixtures. See to it that your front porch is well lit and free of leaves or ice so that no one is in danger of falling. 

    Holiday decorations are wonderful additions to a home and can usually transform a room into something special all by themselves. More may not be better. Proper showcasing can make inexpensive objects look grand and beautiful. Try to group holiday accessories as you might any other collectible. For example, your existing bookshelves may be the perfect place to display a whole Christmas village. Focus on staircases with decorative garlands and plants (if the steps are wide enough). Fireplaces can also be wonderfully dressed for the season with mantle covers, candles and stockings. Most of all, place your tree in an area for greatest enjoyment leaving enough space for presents and people opening them! Think about rearranging the furniture just a bit for maximum use and effect.

    Chanukah can be holiday celebrated with festive displays, as well. Many families have large collections of menorahs from old and traditional, to contemporary, to child made. Judaic art collectibles are very popular and are available in specialty shops and department stores.

    Whatever holiday you celebrate, the dining room table plays a most important role. Dress it beautifully with table runners, cloths and napkins. Light it with candles, scent it with flowers, and display your best china, crystal and silverware. Use your special things, enjoy them and share them with those you care about.

        Happy Holidays to all!

 

Long Island’s Music Hall of Fame

   

 

Don’t Shop, Adopt


Victoria is an accomplished 12 year old Animal Educator and Journalist
recognized by Dowling College for her excellence in the field of Arts and
Sciences. Victoria also teaches in schools and libraries where she shares first hand her knowledge and experiences in a
series of educational programs that
she developed.
VictoriasAmazingWorld@yahoo.com

    The holidays are here again and you may be considering getting a pet. If you're one of them – Don't Shop, Adopt. There are hundreds of wonderful pets that need a home this holiday season. When adopting, you’re saving a life and making it worth living. There are many shelters on Long Island including the Babylon Animal Shelter, Smithtown Animal Shelter, Friends of Freddie Pet Rescue and the North Shore Animal League. 
    I adopted my best friend Jasmine, an Old English Sheep dog from the North Shore Animal League. The North Shore Animal League is an amazing shelter that rescues hundred of dogs and cats every year. Friends of Freddie Pet Rescue is another amazing shelter. On their websites they have everything you need to get started when adopting a pet.
    I also adopted a senior dog I named Matilda. She's a pure breed Chihuahua that was rescued from a puppy mill where dogs are forced to have puppies in the worst possible conditions. She instantly became a loving member of our family. 
    Cats can be another best friend for life pet. They are playful little fur balls of cuteness that tend to be free sprits and mischievous angles. One thing you have to consider is that not all cats get along with other animals. So if you have a dog or bird at home, you have to see if they'd get along before adopting. No matter what kind of pet you hope to get, you should always try and get them from a shelter. Almost all dogs sold in stores are from puppy mills. Store puppies also cost A LOT. So remember – Don’t Shop, Adopt! 
    For more info on adopting a pet this holiday season go to my website VictoriasAmazingWorld.com.

Victoria’s Fun Facts and Tips

• People who own a pet become better as a person.

• A dog or cat can bring a family together. 

• Pets can provide motivation in the exercise department. Dogs can act as the perfect personal trainer, if only because most of them need to be walked several times a day.

• Studies have shown there are a number of proven health benefits for people who own pets, including physical, mental and emotional improvements, from enhancing social skills to decreasing a person's risk of heart attack.

• You can find many pure breeds at your local shelters.

• North Shore Animal League just got in hundreds of small dogs, puppies, cats and kittens.

• With a note from your Dr. your companion pet can possibly fly for FREE with you.

 

‘Tis The Season


Maria DiGiorgio is a lifelong New Yorker, who currently resides in Commack, with her family.  She is a devoted wife and mother, an educator and designer. Maria is active in her community, as a PTA mom and Girl Scout leader.  She has a passion for interior decorating and loves to garden. She is an avid reader, and enjoys writing about life experiences and parenthood, as well as her personal observations about the world around us.
    We are now entering the holiday season: the season of celebration, of religious observation, of giving. We give thanks for all our blessings and for all whom we love and hold dear. We give financial support to countless organizations, whose purposes are to make life less difficult, and the day-to-day existence of others, more bearable. We spend untold hours thinking of, searching for and purchasing gifts to shower upon the people we call “family” and “friends”, so they may celebrate the holidays feeling more valued and appreciated, (we hope), throughout the year. One thing we may forget to do, but one thing that is so very important, is to give, not only of and from ourselves, but also, to ourselves.
    Certainly, when we give to others, we are actually receiving the benefit of feeling kind, compassionate, generous, thoughtful and helpful. But, we must also think of our own personal needs, whatever they may be, and realize that we, too, deserve to be the recipient of self-love, in a way that transcends a specific time of year, money or tangible “presents”. Each and every day of our lives, we should be giving ourselves (as well, as others), positive affirmations for the goodness we possess and/or aspire to, for the talents and skills we possess, that work toward enriching our own lives and existence, as well as those of others, and we should remember to “feed our spirit’”, in the ways that make us feel most valued, most appreciated, most fulfilled, within
ourselves.
    For each individual, the list of gifts we bestow upon ourselves may vary, in many ways, while remaining constant, in others. It is our responsibility to discover the distinct needs we each have, through daily self-reflection, meditation, prayer or whatever means in which we connect deeply and meaningfully to our inner selves: our spirits. This is a lifelong endeavor, as our needs will change, in part, due to our life circumstances. If we make a conscious effort to always seek connection to ourselves, as we do to others, we will be giving and receiving a gift, that will be more priceless and more lasting than any offering we could ever hope to make! 

 

What Do Children Get When They Give


 Lisa Navarra M.A. Special Education offers Workshops, Professional Development and Support Groups teaching how to manage challenging behaviors in school and at home. With over 20 years of experience, Lisa is the Founder/President of Child Behavior Consulting, LLC. For more information, log onto
www.childbehaviorconsulting.com, email
Lisa@ChildBehaviorConsulting.com, or Verizon Fios Push Pause LI Parenting: Setting Limits.

Does the holiday season sound something like this? I want, I want and I want more? Are there unopened toys or an abundance of stuff and a drought of value? How do we teach them the benefits of giving back to others? How do we encourage them to give to others so they can be the receiver of having a sense of empowerment, feeling valued and appreciated? 

1. Many young children want to be a police officer, firefighter, soldier or teacher when they grow up. If your children want to be in public service, they can bake a treat or mail a letter or draw a picture to someone in that profession.

2. Read a story to the residents in a nursing or adult home. The elderly love children and will be talking about the visit for days to follow.

3. Bring a new stuffed animal to a child who is in the hospital (usually immune systems are comprised so the toy will probably need to be new).

4. So many children have unopened gifts. Return one and use the money to buy a gift for a person in need.

5. Ask a neighbor if they need help decorating their house for the holidays.

Here Are Ways to Encourage Your Child:

Lots of times the efforts of gift giving can become a bonding experience. With the special memories that are made, children may decide to continue volunteering or doing acts of kindness throughout the year.

1. If your child is hesitant, tell him or her it only takes a couple of minutes to write a card and prove it to them. With your child gather the necessary supplies to make a card and set a timer for 10 minutes. When the bell rings, your child can stop if he/she wants.

2. Introduce a special memory or story by reminiscing about a time when someone helped you, your child or the feeling you had when you helped another person. If your child would like, share with the teacher how he/she is working to be a good citizen. The teacher can help support this effort and positive peer reaction always adds excitement!

3. Another approach is to offer choices. Choices can be given in the form of pictures, magazines articles or stories and they can choose which place or population they would like to visit or give to.

4. To begin the concept of helping others, (although I'm sure you help your child every day) ask your child what you can do to "help them." This will help create a current opportunity to talk about how it feels to be on the receiving end of someone doing something thoughtful for another person.

Acts of kindness can begin today! If you have any suggestions feel free to share them with us on our blog or Facebook page at www.childbehaviorconsulting.com and help make the holiday season extra special! 

We hope this was helpful and we wish you a very happy and peaceful holiday season!

 

The St. Nicholas Bazaar

   

 

Giving Thanks in Comfort

With Thanksgiving upon us, it’s safe to say this holiday calls for comfortable yet chic dressing. Dressing up does not mean barely breathing in a tight pencil skirt and blazer. Treating yourself to a second serving of sweet potatoes or an extra dollop of cream on your pumpkin pie sounds promising. Give thanks in style and comfort while selflessly indulging in food, family and friends.          
     If you are planning on sporting a dress this thanksgiving think about the shift. When choosing a shift dress, concentrate on fabric. Try cotton, natural fibers breathe which means your body wont heat up and turn you into a sweaty hot mess. Steer clear from tight body cons which have a tendency to not be very forgiving. If you do prefer a dress with a bit more structure for a fitted silhouette just remember a well-tailored garment will follow the line of your body without accentuating any holiday extras.
    Try a spot
on trend this year, carwash pleats. This skirt makes a splash this holiday season. It’s a dressy staple or easily translated into street style if you opt for one that hits around the knee (tribal version) teamed with a cropped sweater. A shorter turtleneck draws attention to the waistline. Finishing off the feet with an ankle bootie! Even though they spend a fair of time under the table, emphasize your ankle. Feel free to play up the fringe here. Perfect for giving thanks and ushering in the December festivities.
     The blanket poncho has become a huge fall trend. It’s comfortable and cozy, offered in so many fabrics and prints. Pick a poncho with a bold statement print, plaid, or fringe, paired with dark indigo denim or a black pointe pant. The poncho can be tossed over the shoulders while draping over the chest and tummy or cinched to the side with a funky embellishment or pin. 
     A great faux fur vest is one of my go to pieces for fall and winter. There are so many colors and options to play with don't be afraid to do so.
      After eating, comfort is priority during that extended family photo op and later lounging around. So do feel fabulous with lux fabrics and exciting silhouettes. This Thanksgiving many of the hottest styles conveniently conceal the tummy as an added side. Feel glamorous and most of all thankful for this very special day!

Juneve has a natural eye for picking trends, accessorizing and styling. She will continue her studies with a passion for English, Journalism, Business and Marketing. She intends on wrapping her four strengths
into a fashion career. She enjoys
spending free time with family and friends in St James.