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Show The Beaver Press - April 1, 2010 - Page 4 I .1 - ! A Juicy Holiday Ham Made Easy Blueberry Bliss: A Shortcut Planning A Successful Vegetable Garden Layer saucy blueberries with yogurt and granota In a glass for a great breakfast or snack parfalt.' •'' '• It's easy to serve a moist and succulent ham—just bake it in a simple oven bag. (NAPS)—Ham ie a deliTraditional ciously simple meal lo prepare. Holiday Ham Once you place it in the oven, there's no need to keep checking 1 Reynolds" Oven Bag, it, leaving you with plenty of turkey size <19n x 2354") time to prepare the rest of the 1 tablespoon flour meal. 1 12-fro16-pound fully Yet, some people worry about cooked whole ham, bone-in the ham drying out while it's Whole cloves cooking. The trick to serving a PREHEAT oven to 325°F. moist, tasty ham is to use an SHAKE flour in oven bag. oven bag. Place bag in roasting pan at . An oven bag helps to lock in least 2 inches deep. moist heat and juices while the TRIM skin from ham, leaving meat cooks, resulting in a succu- a thin layer of fat. Lightly score a lent and delicious meal without diamond pattern in the fat; any basting. Maybe just as insert cloves. PLACE ham in bag, important, though, the bags CLOSE bag with nylon tie; help keep the roasting pan cut six &-inch slits in top. Ttock clean, reducing the time it takes ends of bag in pan. to clean up after dinner. SAKE 2% to 3'/« h o u r s or You can prepare a simple yet until meat thermometer reads elegant ham or jazz it up with a 140°F in thickest part of ham variety of special sauces or glazes. not touching bone. Let stand And, don't forget that oven bags 15 minutes. are great for making a turkey breast. You can even roast two at Reynolds Kitchens Tip; If you once in a turkey-size oven bag. are preparing a smaller ham, use For recipes and tips, visit a large size oven bag instead of www.rej ^uldsovenbags.cotu. the turkey 3ize. (NAPS)—If you're one of those people with big cooking ambitions but little time,1 here's a quick recipe that gets right to the point. When you've got a bag of blueberries in the freezer, go ahead and make a batch of "Saucy Blueberries" then use it warm or put it in the fridge. It has only three ingredients, uses one pan, and stirs up fast on the stove. Besides, Ys-cnp has less than 100 calories and you get vitamins, fiber and other good things. Once you've made Saucy Blueberries, there are so many blissful ways to use it: ° Spoon it warm over pancakes or waffles.' • Layer some cold sauce with yogurt and granola in a glass for a breakfast or snack parfait. • Make a quick smoothie with milk or yogurt, cold Saucy Blueberries and banana. • Create an instant blueberry crisp: warm Saucy Blueberries sprinkled with crushed oatmeal cookies. Keep a bdg of blueberries in your freezer, so you can whip up smoothies, sprinkle over cereal, and add them to your favorite muffin recipe. Some people like to pop them into their mouths like candy! A whole cup offrozenblueberries has just 80 calories and provides fiber, vitamin C and manganese our bodies need. For more recipes go to www.blueberrycouncil .org. SAUC v BLUEBERRIES 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar* 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 pound (3 cups) frozen blueberries, not thawed In medium saucepan, stir 2 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch; add berries, toss until coated. Cover and cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to boil, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove lid, cook, stirring constantly, until boiling and thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Yield: 4 portions (about 2 cups) Per 34-cup serving: 92 calories; Og protein; 22g carbohydrate; lg total fat; Og saturated fat; Omg cholesterol; 3mg vitamin C; 3g fiber •Blueberries vary in sweetness; add more sugar if needed. (NAPS)—Edible gardening will continue to be a popular trend this year, according to a recent survey by the Garden Writers Association, More than 41 million U.S. households grew a vegetable garden laBt year and 37 percent plan to dp more edible gardening in 2010. (Only 1 percent planned to plant legs this year.) A combination of factors is driving the trend: The desire to consume locally grown foods and save money as well as Gen X and Y consumers embracing the idea of self-sufficiency. Add the year-old White House vegetable garden to the mix and seed companies tapping into reserves to keep up with demand and you've got a gardening boom. "In this economy, everyone ie looking for a way to make their money go farther," says Bayer Advanced'11 Garden Expert Lance Walheim, author of "Vegetable Gardening." "Growing your own healthy vegetables in your garden is a great way to reduce your grocery bill while creating a nutritious supply of food from your own backyard." Here are a few tips on making the most of your backyard vegetable garden: • Choose your veggies: Do your homework on 'seed, plant and variety options, and involve your family in the selection, • Pick a sunny spot for your garden: Most vegetables heed six to eight hours of direct sun each day. The area you choose should drain well, but will still benefit from the addition of lots of Growing your own vegetables Is a great way to reduce your grocery bill. organic maitwr, 31* you have the best growing coalitions. • Mark your rows: Use string to mark off the individual rows of vegetables you'll plant and make plans for irrigation. Remember , that rows running east to west will get the best sun exposure. • • Add mulch and fertilize: Mulch your rows to keep weeds from popping up and fertilize regularly. • Protect against pests and diseases: The new Bayer Advanced NatriarJ Insecticidal Soap protects your vegetable garden against pests such as aphids, thrips, spider mites and whiteflies, as well as diseases such aa blight and powdery mildew, among others. Be sure to read and follow all label directions. Visit BayerAdvanced.com for niore information and how-to videos or call (877) BAYERAG. **# Common-looking people are the best in the world: That is the reason the Lord makes so many of them. —Abraham Lincoln •** Brunch Dishes • (NAPS)—When you are looking for a quick, easy and delicious dish to bring to a get-together, focus on incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients that are available in the market. It's a great way to maximize the flavors in your meal without a lot of prep work. The season's bounty includes California-grown avocados, which are at peak availability how through September. This versatile and delicious fruit is a terrific ingredient for branch menus because avocados can he incorporated into both savory and sweet dishes. Widely known for their creamy, delicate flavor, avocados also contribute "good fats" and nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to one's diet. Renowned chefs and restaurateurs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, of the acclaimed Bonier Grill ir* Santa Mcnu-a, Calif, and Las Vegas and Ciudad in Los Angeles, as v/eO as the Border Grill Truck, have such an affinity for California avocado3 that they have teamed up with the California Avocado Commission to create an exclusive recipe that features the delicious fruit. Milliken and Feniger developed an easy frittata recipe that pairs California avocados with spicy piquillo peppers and fresh egg's—a dish that is ideal for breakfast, brunch or even a light lunch. Tb view or download a video of the chefs demonstrating this recipe, visit CaliforniaAvocado. com. California Avocado Piquillo Pepper Frittata Serves: 4 Prep lime: 40 minutes, including marinating time; Cooking Tinie: 15 minutes; Tbtal Time: 55 minutes Specialist: Do you have tax withholding Tips? 2. P r e h e a t the oven to 400T. ' 3. In a separate bowl, whisk t o g e t h e r eggs, cheese and parsley until frothy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the avocado mixture. 4. Heat oil in a 10-inch, nonBtick, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add t h e egg mixture, reduce heat to medium and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until the bottom is set and the top is still runny. Occasionally lift the outer edges so the uncooked egg con run underneath. '•' 5. Place the skillet in the oven and cook until the eggs are set and golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. 6. Remove the skillet from A simple and delicious frlttata the oven and loosen the botmade with California avocados tom of t h e ifrittata with a makes an idea) dish for any spatula. Place a serving plate , meal. over the skillet and invert the f r i t t a t a onto it. Cut into Ingredients: wedges and eerve hot or at 1 ripe, fresn California room temperatureavocado, seeded, peeled Tip: Crumbled goat cheese and cut into K-inch dace % cup jarred roasted piquillo may be substituted for Spanish manchego cheese. peppers, cut into %-inch Nutrition Information Per strips Serving: Cal6ries 300; Total 1 olove garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil Fat 23 g (Sat 6 g, Trans 0 g, Poly 1.1 g, Mono 6.9 g); Choles2 tep, sherry vinegar terol 440 nig; Sodium 370 mg; ' 8aU, to taste Freshly ground black Total Carbohydrates 8 g; pepper, to taste Dietary Fiber 3 g; Protein 16 g • Large avocados are rec8 eggs ommended for this recipe. A % cup grated Spanish manchego cheese large avocado averages about 2 Tbsp. chopped Italian 8 ounces. If using smaller or parsley larger size avocados, adjust 2 Tbsp* extra virgin olive oil, the quantity accordingly. for cooking For other recipes that feature ' fresh California avocados, inInstructions: 1. In a small mixing bowl, cluding additional original recitoss together avocado, pep- pes developed by chefs Milliken pers, garlic* oil, vinegar, salt and Feniger, visit the California and pepper. Let marinate 30 Avocado Commission Web site at CaliforniaAvocado.com. minutes. cant amount, it may be best to have more withheld so you can avoid a crisis next April. Taxpayers can change the withholding amount on their paychecks by submitting a W-4 Form to their employer, increasing the number of allowances on the form '• will decrease the refund, but you'll have a bigger paychepk each month. Reducing the number of allowances increases the amount withheld, and you'll owe less at tax time. Form W-4 includes a worksheet that can help pinpoint the appropriate number of allowances to submit. Answer by: Dean Miner, Utah State University Extension Financiat Education Committee it's that time of year again.Young men's 'fancies turn to thoughts of iovet April showers bring May flower and Americans divide themselves into two groups: those who are expecting tax refunds and have already filed their returns, and those who fear a tax bill and are putting off filing to the very last moment. There are several^ situations Regardless of the group where not adjusting withholding that claims your membership, rates can cause problems. now is a good time to take a Consider these. look at the withholding instruc• One situation pertains to tions you gave your employer to young people claimed as see if the amount is still the best dependents by their parents. fit for your current situation. If Many young adults who have you receive a large refund, you summer or after-school jobs may want to consider having less withheld so you have rr/Ofe lpave,found Jhey qvye additional' cash on hand t d ; meeT-'ifeliry faxes* ratheMirVari £ettind the//; expenses. If" you owe a signifi,- small refund they expec general reason for this is the Making Work Pay Credit that was put in place in 2009 and continues through 2010. The Idea behind the program was to stimulate the economy b y . putting a few more dollars into workers' paychecks each month. As part of this credit, less tax was withheld from all taxpayers, even though the actual tax rate remained the same. At tax time, most workers receive a $400 credit to make up for the reduced * withholding. Unfortunately, If you can,\tteY claimed as a dependent Vb^ someone else, you1 are not eligi- • ble for the credit If your kldfe have after school or summer jobs, have them [-.review their withholding status/ Otherwise, they may be coming to you for help with $200 or\$300 to payUncle Sam. 'V Yi1 •• Another circurnstance th,g{ catches taxpayers by surprise Is when they fail toVfedjust withholdings when family circumstantes c^ange;YConsider this Plant A Healing Garden (NAPS)—Here's an idea that's growing in popularity: Plant a garden to help you or someone you care about heal physically, spiritually or emotionally. " For most of history, gardens have had a atrong relationship to health and healing. Tbday, people use healing gardens to restore the body, spirit and mind. Gardens create a sense of calm, balance, hope and inspiration, which greatly improve the recovery process. A healing garden is an opportunity to observe and be a part of the life cycle, giving a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Gardens offer freBh'air, exercise and sunlight, important for reducing stress, anxiety and depression. That's why hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and cancer-support centers across the nation use healing gardens for their patients. In fact, doctors* at the Jupiter Medical Center in Florida discovered that patients who had a view of the healing garden from their rooms took less pain medication and had shorter hospital stays than those without such a view. Healing gardens are often used to help women in their battles against breast cancer. That's important, since the National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during her lifetime. When planting a home healing garden, consider the following to maximize its healing qualities: * Overall layout: Include places to sit and reflect, pray, meditate or relax, such as a wooden swing. Picture what calms or inspires you and include these elements and items. A small pond, garden art, wind chimes, even interesting rocks might add to your garden's tranquility. Enclose been filing as "head of household with one dependent" and had taxes withheld accordingly. Last year, her daughter moved out on her own; however, Mary did not adjust her withholding. At tax time, she was taxed at the higher single rate (compared to the head of household rate) and could no longer use her daughter's exemption. The result was $1,500 tax due for 2009 Instead of the $400 refund she received last year. . M Adding to her dismay was •the fact that she is still in the same predicament for 2010. The Internal Revenue Service provides a resource forthis kind of need. I t s : W§b site, www.lrs.gov features %['link to a withholding calculator. Using it requires entering information ftem the most recent paystubs and projections for' expected income, credits and adjustments. Mary used the site and received some very specific recommendations. Her current withholding rate was projected case. '!>/"•. Mary, a sirigfe mom, has at $1,050. Her tax due was pro- You can use a healing garden to help restore the body, spirit and mfnd with pretty pink plants such as the Invincibelie Spirit Hydrangea. it with shrubs or fencing to create * Attracting wildlife: Add a a secluded retreat and include birdbath, bird feeders or birdpaths for walking. houses and put in plants that • Aromatic plants: Sweet- attract butterflies. A new shrub, smelling plants can enhance the Lo & Behold Blue Chip buddleia. relaxing atmosphere. Plant herbs attracts flocks of butterflies as such as basil, rosemary, sage, well as hummingbirds. It's the lemon thyme or lavender. Sur- only miniature butterfly bush round your garden with scented with loads of fragrant blue flowers trees, such as pine and eucalyp- that blQpm continuously. 0 tus, to create shade and shelter. A Color: Plants with bright new compact, reblooming lilac, colors can lift the spirits. To show called Blcomerang, has clusters of support for overcoming breast purple-pink, sweet-scented flow- cancer, consider pink flowers. A 1 ers, making it excellent for creat- newly available choice, Invinciing a fragrant hedge. belie Spirit Hydrangea, is 9 Healing plants: Include the very first pink-flowered medicinal plants to symbolize the "Annabelle" hydrangea. You can health aspects of your garden. see more than 100 blooms on a Lavender, sage, basil, thyme and single plant. Its dark-pink buds St.-John's-wort have been prized open to hot-pink flowers, which for centuries for their medicinal mature to a soft pink. In addition, qualities. Fruits and vegetables can for every Invincibelie Spirit sold. symbolize—and supply—nutrition. Proven Winners ColorChoice will For example, the fruit of Sambu- donate a dollar to the Breast Cancus, also called elderberry, isrichin cer Research Foundation. antioxidants. An elderberry called These plants are at better garBlack Lace has intense purple- den centers. Tofindthe one closest black, finely cut'foliage. Its fruit to you, see www.provenwinners. can be used in jam or even wine. com/fin daretailer. jected at $2,450, meaning a projected bill of $1,400 next April. The recommendation was to change her W-4 to "single with one ,»i!rtwance." If this change is made in time for the next pay period, the projection is for a $50 refund instead of the $1,400 shortfall. The calculator did not suggest what the new withholding amount should be, but quick math indicated that Mary would need to have $105 withheld each paycheck for the rest of the year instead of the $42 that had previously been withheld. Though a tough adjustment to make, it may be easier than finding an extra $1,500 to pay in taxes come April. Spend a few minutes reviewing your income tax withholding rates, it will be time well spent to help ensure that next taxp season won't bring unwanted financial surprises. It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen. —Brigitfce Bardot •*# The federal budget for 199E showed a surplus of $70 billion! the first surplus since 1969, anf the largest ever. JULyour Trinttyj] hComeVoHht 'The 'Beaver <Bre$s *We Specialize in < ^Business farms i Cards $ fosters -I ftttiypes of MoerHsitig Checkout our low -'• everyday prices before. you tooi^dsewfim. ; |