Chopped winter salad
Serves 6 Start to finish: 50 minutes 1 pound cubed (3/4-inch) butternut squash Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 4 tablespoons olive oil,…
Blogs
How to succeed with your New Year’s resolution
While it’s difficult to gauge just how many people make New Year’s resolutions each year, various factors suggest millions of people resolve to improve their…
Pet of the day 12/28/17
Sammie Mae is a delightful, 18 month old, brindle Boxer mix who recently weaned a large litter of puppies. Still a puppy herself, Sammie Mae…
Korean grain bowl
Servings: 4 Start to finish: 80 minutes (45 active) For the miso sesame sauce: 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons white…
Pet of the day 12/27/17
Name: Screamer Breed: Domestic Shorthair Mix Age: 5 months Gender: Male Size: Small Color: Orange Declawed: No House-trained: Yes Adoption Price: $50.00 Screamer can be…
Vegetable carpaccio
Servings: 6 Start to finish: 1 hour Berbere Drizzle: 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 tablespoons safflower oil 1 tablespoon Berbere Spice Blend (recipe follows) Garlic…
Pet of the day 12/26/17
Josie appears to be an adult, female, Pug/Beagle mix that came to the rescue as a stray after being found wandering around the local Walmart…
Lentil soup
Servings: 8 Start to finish: 45 minutes, including cook time 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups chopped) 1 stalk celery,…
Winter Wings
As the snow falls and the temperatures cool, more and more winter birds are filtering into the region. Jeffrey Hall, of Franklin, a member of…
Being Santa
“Santa played properly is a beautiful thing!” – Ray Eldridge, the roaming Santa of Meadville, who personified the role for many years from the 1980s…
Still waiting
Area animal rescues highlight their available adoptable animals. Long timers Precious Paws Animal Rescue president Theresa Weldon posted earlier this week on the group’s Facebook…
Pet of the day 12/22/17
Name: Rocky Breed: Domestic Shorthair Mix Age: 1 year Gender: Male Size: Medium Color: White/ Black Declawed: No House-trained: Yes Adoption Price: $40.00 Rocky can…
Ribeye steaks with thyme-garlic butter
Start to finish: 30 minutes Serves 4, generously 2 rib-eye steaks, about 1 1/2 inches thick, and 1 to 1 1/4 pounds each Kosher salt…
Holiday travel tips
Millions of people travel to visit family and friends each holiday season. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, during the Christmas and New Year’s…
Pet of the day 12/21/17
Biggie is an approximately 7 year old , male, JRT that initially came to the rescue as a stray. He is active and playful and…
Spanish-style crispy potatoes
Start to finish: 1 hour 45 minutes (35 active) Servings: 6 For the potatoes: 2 pounds medium Yukon gold potatoes, sliced crosswise 1/2-inch thick 1/2…
Pet of the day 12/20/17
Kyle is an adorable male kitten. He likes to play and attention, although a little shyer than his brothers. He is current on vaccines, negative…
Almond and flax crackers with a smoked almond spread
Servings: 12 Start to finish: Active time: 25 minutes. Cooking time as much as 15 hours. 1 cup almonds 1 cup smoked almonds 1/2 cup…
Point of view
Whether or not folks like snow depends on their point of view. A new fallen fluffy snow that outlines bare tree branches and coats what…
Pet of the day 12/19/17
Maisie appears to be a young, petite ( no more than 30lbs ), female, Boxer mix that came to the rescue center as a stray….
Carrot and chickpea salad
Servings: 8 Start to finish: 15 minutes Salad: 3 cups shredded carrots 1 1/4 cup cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained if canned, about…
VFW Sets the Record Straight on Decision Ready Claims
On Dec. 14, VA sent veterans an email promising they would receive claim decisions in 30 days by working with organizations like the VFW through…
Be cautious of the cold
Residents are urged to pay a little more attention to their pets as cold weather settles in and area shelters have many adoptable animals available….
Baking shortcuts for time-pressed entertainers
‘Tis the season for baking cookies, cakes and other treats. However, during the holiday rush, it’s easy to get side-tracked or tired, and perhaps even…
Pet of the day 12/13/17
Name: Grayson Breed: Domestic Shorthair Mix Age: 9 months Gender: Male Size: Medium Color: Grey Declawed: No House-trained: Yes Adoption Price: $40.00 Grayson can be…
Green bean casserole
Serves 10 Start to finish: 45 minutes CRISPY SHALLOT TOPPING 5 shallots, very thinly sliced Canola or vegetable oil for frying Kosher salt to taste…
Go with the flow
Earlier last week, there was some open water on the neighbor’s pond. However, colder weather has currently encased the pond in ice. The moon was visible during…
Pet of the day 12/12/17
Name: Spry Breed: Chihuahua, Short Coat/ Terrier Age: 9 years Gender: Female Size: Small Color: White/ Brown Declawed: No House-trained: Yes Adoption Price: $75.00 Spry…
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Start to finish: 1 hour and 45 minutes, plus 8 hours chilling time Servings: Makes about 3 dozen cookies 1 pound bittersweet chocolate 4 ounces…
Beware of Phone Scams
There has been a lot of talk about phone scams in the news. People are calling and saying they represent credit card and telephone companies, wanting…
Pet of the day 12/11/17
Cora was found when she was heard meowing in the woods. She seemed unafraid and very interested in her rescuers dogs. Estimated age is one…
Under pressure quickie chicken and rice
Servings 6 Start to finish: 35 minutes 1 pound of mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional) 1 1/2 cups brown jasmine rice (White rice cooks too…
Pet of the day 12/8/17
Trudy appears to be an adult , female, Coonhound that was brought into the rescue as a stray. Unfortunately no one has claimed Trudy so…
Vegetable spring rolls
Servings: 12 Start to finish: 45 minutes 1 cup plain yogurt Zest and juice from 1 lemon Sea salt, to taste 6 to 8 leaves…
Christmas caring
A couple of Christmas events are planned and, as always, there are some awesome animals looking for homes. Pictures with Santa Tri-County Animal Rescue center…
How to cut back on holiday waste
The holiday season is a joyful time of year. But the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day also tend to be very wasteful. The…
Pet of the day 12/7/17
Quinn is a little girl kitten. She tested negative for fiv and leukemia, is current on vaccines and will be spayed. She is sweet and…
Orange and raspberry tart
Servings: 8 Start to finish: 1 hour, including baking and cooling time Base: 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda…
Pet of the day 12/6/17
Name: Lindy Breed: Mixed Breed Age: 9 years Gender: Female Size: Medium Color: Beige/ Black Declawed: No House-trained: Unknown Lindy can be found at Venango…
Mediterranean Beef Ragout
Makes 8 servings 2 pounds trimmed stewing beef, cut into 1-inch cubes and patted dry 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 onions, chopped 4 cloves…
It’s like night and day
This weekend’s full moon seemed to light up the night. Those who thought it seemed a little brighter wouldn’t just be seeing things. Author Gordon…
Pet of the day 12/5/17
Climber is an adorable male older kitten. He tested negative for leukemia and fiv. He gets along with other cats/kittens. CIimber is neutered. Climber can…
Black lentil and butternut squash
Start to finish: 50 minutes Serves 8 1 butternut squash 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 2 cups…
Ten-minute history of you
One of my tasks as a small community documentary-style photojournalist is what we call feature hunting. Editors who read designer books from the 80’s call…
Sending Packages to Troops
The time to send packages to troops to receive by Christmas is very near. For Priority mail, the last day to ship packages is Dec….
Pet of the day 12/4/17
Name: Chappy Breed: Terrier Mix Age: 3 years Gender: Male Size: Small Color: Brown/ Black Declawed: No Adoption Price: $75.00 Chappy can be found at…
Chai Ice Cream
Serves 6 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 4 slices fresh ginger root 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries 1 tablespoon whole cloves 12…
Who, who is hurting?
Both wildlife rehabilitation centers in the region are treating sick or injured owls and several animal rescues and shelters have adoptable animals. Took a slight…
Pet of the day 12/1/17
Tony is an adorable male kitten. He purrs like crazy and loves being petted. He is negative for fiv and leukemia. He is current on…
Z’paghetti Marinara with Shrimp
Makes 2 servings 28 ounces (about 4 medium) zucchini 8 ounces (about 16) raw large shrimp, peeled, tails removed and deveined 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning…