What's the BEST Way to fix Corn on the Cob?

I think we all agree that Americans love sweet corn but it seems when it comes to discussing the best way to prepare sweet corn, we can't agree.

Some people say the only way to prepare it is boiling it - others only microwave it while another group insists that the only way to cook it is on the grill - and even then the methods differs as much as the type of butter to use!


This article from the Huffington Post discusses corn on the cob techniques and includes recipes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-goldwyn/grilled-corn-on-the-cob-r_b_654572.html#comment
 
So, how do YOU prepare sweet corn?

Zucchini Recipes

It's that time of year - here are some links to zucchini recipes

Layered Zucchini

Zucchini Oven Chips

Zucchini Bread

Fried Zucchini Blossoms

The Brain Gym -Some techniques to keep your brain active

Problematic blood clotting may contribute to Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's diease continues to baffle scientists. Rockefeller University has released findigs from research that looks at the disease from a different angle.

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2010)  reports some new research results with Alzheimer's disease. It has longed been studied primarily as a disease of the neurons but research scientists at Rockefeller University have now shown how the disease process may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow.

In experiments published June 10 in Neuron, scientists at Rockefeller University reveal that amyloid-β, which builds up around brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, interacts with a common blood clotting agent to increase clotting in the arteries that feed the brain. Such activity could cut off blood flow to neurons, suffocating them over time. A drug that interferes with that process could reduce the memory loss and dementia that are the most wrenching consequences of the disease, the findings suggest.

More

BenefitsCheckUp.org Find benefits for Seniors

The Many Faces of Aging in America

Has the Fountain of Youth Been Discovered? Breakthroughs in Genetic Life Extension

Seniors Are Flocking to Social Media

One in Every 4.5 Minutes Online Spent On Social Media

 

The stats are amazing when it comes to the popularity of social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Facebook is  the 2nd most visited website. Nielsen recently released a report that says the world people spend 110 billion minutes on social network and blog sites.

Nielsen asked how much time the average visitor spends on each of these sites, accounting for 22 percent of all the time spent online or one in every four and half minutes.

"Also, social networking and blog sites were visited by 75% of all global consumers who go online. Brazil has the highest percentage of social networking users at 86%, Italy comes in second at 78%.

These figures show an online population who *loves* social networking and craves to be connected to friends and colleagues. Also, it shows that blogs and social networks continue to be great channels for getting the word out for organizations and brands."

Most seniors who engage in social media found out about it from their children or grandchildren.  One of the things seniors really enjoy about Facebook is the ability to read their friends' wall and be kept up today with what friends and families are sharing with each other - they no longer have to wait to be informed.

How has Facebook's Popularity spread so quickly with today's seniors?  Word of Mouth - still one of the best forms of advertising around.

From CreatingResults:

AARP has released new research into the social networking/social media and technology use of Baby Boomers and 65+ seniors.  The upshot:  Americans over 50 are definitely not technophobic.  And, social networking is on the rise, with 27% of Boomers/seniors using social media websites.  Consistent with older consumers’ desires for connections offline, the report finds that they are most often connected to – and most often motivated to join social networks by – their family.

Highlights from AARP’s Social Media Research

* 47% of Boomers and seniors originally heard about social networking from a family member other than their spouse.
* 70 percent of 50+ers first heard about social media from a child or grandchild.
* 24% of Boomers and seniors who are active in social networks were introduced to it by friends.
* Women were more likely than men to be introduced by family members (60% to 29%).
* Among adults 50+ who use social media websites, 73 percent are connected to relatives other than children and grandchildren.  62% are connected to their children.  36 percent are connected to grandchildren.
* Facebook was most popular among AARP’s respondents – 23% of their 50+ social networkers used this site.  LinkedIn was #3, with 4% and Twitter clocked in at #4, with 3% of respondents using or visiting the microblogging service.  Interestingly (and most likely driven by grandchildren) 4% had MySpace accounts."

The overwhelming majority of these boomers are using the social web — at least to some degree — to keep in touch with family members. Almost three quarters of AARP’s survey group said they’re connected online to relatives other than children and grandchildren, 62% are connected to their children and 36% are connected to grandchildren, as well.

And don’t forget, many of these older Americans probably have the loot to spend on high-tech gadgets, if they so choose. Of the 1,360 respondents, 83% knew about the iPad, and 11-14% said they planned to purchase one. Two percent said they’d already bought an iPad.

If you’re in the age-50-and-older crowd, do you use the social web, and why? Is keeping in touch with family an important part of your online routine?

Helping Your Children Learn to Deal with their Aging Parents

Statics over the last 20 years show that people are living longer. Because they are blessed with the opportunity to grow older, there is usually a greater need for assistance as they age. For the majority of people, that assistance comes from their children, especially if their children live close.

Most of us never thought we'd need assistance from our children nor did most of them ever anticipate they'd be assisting us as we age. When this role reversal happens, it can lead to conflict and confusion. Help your children learn to deal with this new role by opening communicating your plans and needs while realizing compromises are both sides are often needed.

Prepare your family for this new role. Your children and their spouses should be aware of your plans and actively participate when they can.

Remind them that development doesn't stop as we age, we all continue to learn and change throughout our lifetime.You are now different than you were when you were raising them and have different interests.

Try to look at their concerns from their perspective and help them to understand your concerns as your world changes and "shrinks". Remind them that the only thing worse than change is change you have no control over. Be sure to help them understand that you still need control over many things in your day to day life and that your goal is to have the highest level of independence possible. When you need additional assistance, try to be the first one to vocalize that need.

Inform them where your essential paperwork is kept... health plans, money management, medical records, - let them know who your doctors are and what medications you take. Visit your attorney and get your affairs in order - have a medical power of attorney set up and someone appointed to take care of your finances if and when you are not able to do so.

Be proactive and do what it takes to maintain the best health possible - nothing is more important when it comes to making a difference in our quality of life as we age.

Maintain a positive attitude and be grateful for their help and assistance. It is not easy for adult children to watch their parents age - often they are pulled in many directions with their own families, spouses, work, etc.

Thank them often - it makes both of you feel better.

Do It Yourself - Old Fashioned Weddings and Parties

This site is one of my favorites and it is just out and out pretty, like looking at Victoria magazine.  I could spend hours "browsing" through this type of site - especially the "Do It Yourself" section.

If you have a family member with a wedding coming up you'll enjoy it even more!

Grab a glass of lemonade and spend some time here - lots of beautiful photos, great ideas and information.

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/category/diy/

Aging Well

From Mather LifeWays

Monach Butterfly Metamorphosis

This beautiful, informative video from the Chicago Nature Museum is a must watch for butterfly lovers. It shows all the stages of a Monarch butterfly’s metamorphosis through time lapse photography.




Lifecycle of the Monarch Butterfly from Duncan Scott on Vimeo.

Summer Heat and Seniors

High heat is hard on everyone, especially seniors. Caregivers need to check on seniors more often during periods of high heat and make sure things are Ok and that they are not suffering from heat exhaustion. Get them into a cool environment - even if it means visiting the library or a mall in the heat of the day.   

Stay Safe in Summer Heat

  ● Drink plenty of liquids -- eight or more 8-ounce glasses per day and or fruit juices -- every day to stay hydrated. Thirst is the first sign of dehydration - you should drink sufficient amounts of liquids so you don't feel thirsty in order to prevent dehydration. 

  ● Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Eat light meals.

  ● Dress appropriately.  Wear loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics like cotton and dress in light colors that will reflect the sun and heat instead of darker colors that will attract them.

  ● When outdoors, protect your skin from damage by wearing hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen of 30 SPF or more.

  ● Stay indoors during extreme heat. Head DOWNSTAIRS since hot air rises, the upper stories of a home will be warmer than the ground floor. A basement can be a wonderful cool refuge from the midday heat. Remember that pets also suffer in high heat.  Give your pet a cool bath or shower to help keep their body temperature down. A cool towel on the floor to lay on or one laying over their skin is also helpful, make sure they too have plenty of cool water do drink.  Watch your pet for signs of heat stroke... hot skin, excessive drooling, vomiting, twitching muscles - call the vet if you think your pet has heat stroke.

  

  ● If you do not have air conditioning in your apartment, go somewhere that does.  A movie theater, the mall, a friend or relative's home or a community senior center are all good options.

  ● If you need to get out of the house and don't drive a car, call a taxi, a friend or a transportation service.  Do NOT wait outside for your ride in extreme heat.

  ● If you are absolutely unable to leave the house and do not have air conditioning, take a cool bath or shower to lower your body temperature on extremely hot days. Consider making a "homemade air conditioner" sit in the path of box fan that is aimed at an open cooler filled with ice. Spritz yourself all over and often with cool water..

  ● Temperatures inside the home should not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods of time. Use box fans and ceiling fan to circulate the air... closing windows and curtains during the day. At night, open windows so the hot air inside can escape and the cooler night air can enter.  Consider using buckets of water to soak your feet in to cool down... a wet towel around your neck and on your forehead can also help cool you down. Stay ahead of this... once you are overheated it is very hard to cool down quickly.

  ● Know the signs of heat stroke (e.g flushed face, high body temperature, headache, nausea, rapid pulse, dizziness and confusion) and take immediate action if you feel them coming on

Beware of nutritional information

How nutritional information is calculated

Pay close attention to nutritional labels - they can be very misleading. What looks like one serving may actually be calculated as 3 servings - many manufacturers "adjust" serving size to manipulate the nutritional value per serving, despite the fact that the serving size is considerably smaller than what is considered standard.  ( Some deli sandwiches are labeled as 3 servings).

Or you might read a recipe that lists "2 sticks of margarine or butter". The nutritional information will read '0' cholesterol because the nutritional values for recipes are calculated using the first ingredient when two ingredients are given. For example, when it says "margarine or butter", the nutritional are calculated using margarine. If butter were listed first, it would be calculated using butter.

Consumer beware and educate yourself.

Harry Potter's Butterbeer - How to Make it & Other Harry Potter Recipes

If you have a grandchild that is a Harry Potter fan, they may get a kick out of this recipe for ButterBeer - I understand it is a very popular at Disney World and can be made several different ways since there really isn't an official recipe.


Butterbeer is a very popular drink in the Harry Potter series – a nonalcoholic liquid confection that is described as “a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch.” It’s served cold or hot, in foaming tankards. The name refers to the butterscotch used to flavor it.


Butterbeer

• 1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
• ½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
• ½ tablespoon butter
• Scoop of Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.

Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.
Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (optional)

Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two! 

Pumpkin Shake 1 banana, peeled and frozen 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree 1 scoop vanilla ice cream 1/3 cup water or milk (creamier) Whipped cream (optional) Cinnamon (optional) Step 1: Cut frozen banana into small pieces and put all ingredients into blender. Step 2: Blend on high until smooth. Step 3: Pour into two tall glasses, top with whipped cream and sprinkle cinnamon over the pumpkinshake. Serve while still chilled! from Tennessee Home and Farm Illustrated - "Harry Potter's Pumpkin Milkshake"

Chocolate Coated Toads  -  Pumpkin Juice - Mini Dragon Eggs

Seniors - Cost of Living

Make Your Own Cleaners from Mary Jane Farm

Many people are looking for healthier alternatives to chemical cleaners.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/buy-cleaning-supplies.html

Alka-Seltzer - it's not just for heartburn

Most people think of  Alka-Seltzer for the relief of  heartburn or indigestion, but these tablets come in handy for many other uses.

1.Cleaning the Toilet - simply drop two tablets in, wait 20 minutes for the citric acid to loosen the grime, scrub and flush.


2. To Clean Burnt Food Off Glass Cookware: drop 5 tablets in a sink full of hot water. Soak your cookware for about an hour and the burnt food should come off easily.  ( Baking Soda is cheaper and works just as well).

3. Polish  Your Jewelry: put two tablets in a bowl of warm water. Let your jewelry (do not use for pearls or opals) soak for about 20 minutes. It will come out looking brand new.

4. Catching Fish -: put a tablet inside your tube jig and cast off. Fish love bubbles, so they will gravitate toward the fizzing.

5. Clean a Coffee Percolator - Fill the water chamber and drop in two tablets, then run a cycle. This will clean out all the internal components. Run through another plain water cycle before using the machine again for coffee
 
6.  Cure Urinary Tract Infections - Take two tablets in a glass of water as soon as you notice symptoms. Results are almost immediate. Keep in mind that Aspirin is a main ingredient in Alka-Seltzer so those with Aspirin allergies shouldn't use it.

7. Soothe Insect Bites - Drop two tablets in warm water, then soak a cotton ball in the solution. Apply it to the infected area for 30 minutes for relief from the insect bites.

8. Unclog the Sink - A great natural solution for unclogging the drain! Drop 3 tablets down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let the hot water run for 5 minutes and you'll have a clear drain. This will also work to deodorize the drain.

National Do Not Mail List

It is estimated that 100 million trees are used to send junkmail to Americans every year. Junk Mail is a massive business, and it has a massive affect on the environment. Sign up to you local mail preference service and bin the junk!

Is it possible to STOP the unsolicited junk mail?

From WikiAnswers

Consumers should know that there is a solution to unwanted advertising mail, and that solution is DMAchoice.org. The Direct Marketing Association's DMAchoice (www.dmachoice.org) free online website, is among the offerings that enable consumers to remove their names from marketing lists.

DMAchoice is a powerful consumer preference service allowing consumers to truly manage their mail - providing tools for a mailbox makeover. Through DMAchoice, consumers can choose - from among categories of advertisements or individual businesses - what commercial communications they receive in their mail and email boxes, and thus, get more of the mail they want and less of what they do not want. Moreover, the site will stop most direct mail solicitations and reduce mail volumes by up to 80 percent.

Keep in mind, some advertising mail is very welcome, especially if it contains promotions and bargains during these challenging economic times…and shopping directly is convenient. Consumers would be well-advised to think before they cut themselves off completely from this helpful information. Direct marketers work very hard to make sure they only reach customers who would be interested in their products; they want to work hand-in-hand with consumers to honor their requests.

Calling for the elimination of advertising mail will only hurt jobs and stifle economic growth in these already challenging economic times. Keep in mind that direct mail represents $702 billion in US sales while supporting jobs at over 300,000 US small businesses. In fact, we have more trees today than 70 years ago  more than 4 million are planted every day -- more than 1.2 billion per year.

2010 Senior Costs - Senior Citizen League

http://www.seniorsleague.org/

Everything $6 Sale @ BRC

EVERYTHING $6 Sale*
*(almost everything)

July 15     11 AM - 6  PM
July 16       9 AM - 2 PM

Brick Room - Brethren Retirement Community

Mark your calendar – Everything $6 Sale will be set up in the Brick Room on our campus.
They will have a large selection of items to choose from - watches, handbags, fashion jewelry,
scarves, belts, socks, wallets, reading glasses, kids items etc.

Proceeds benefit Eden Alternative Fund.

Adaptive Clothing For Seniors

I checked to see if they would come to Greenville and they will not ........but you can order from their web site

http://www.clothesforseniors.com/

Cooking with Grandkids- A B C Twists

I am a big fan of King Arthur Flour and their recipes, kits, etc.

One of their Cooking with Kids kits I think is a great idea is the ABC Twists Kit.... the soft dough kids like is shaped into letters of the alphabet and baked... no rising time needed.

Click here to be taken to their web site and the kits