Willamette Living Life is good, in the Valley
September / October 2010
Complimentary Copy
Vintage Racers At Portland International Raceway
In This Issue Yoga Primer - You Can Do It! Comfort Food - From The Farm Fall Fitness For All
Fabulous Fashion Designer Labels For Less
“There are people who have money and there are people who are rich.� Coco Chanel
Eugene | Corvallis | Albany | Lebanon | Salem | Portland
Annette Sievert B R O K E R
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Annette Sievert
Licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker 1109 NW 9th Corvallis, OR 541.207.5551 CELL 541.257.3402 DIRECT ASievert@ValleyBrokers.com
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121 NW Second Street Downtown Corvallis 541-754-6261
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• Remodeling • New Construction • Energy Efficiency Visit our Corvallis Design Center Mon. -- Fri. 9:00 am -- 5:00 pm 644 NW 4th St. Corvallis, OR
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Contributors Dr. Jonathan Evans, D.O. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Corvallis Clinic, lives in Corvallis with his wonderful wife Allison who is working on her Ph.D and their dog Bruiser who’s working on another trip to the dog park!
Randy McCoy
Randy McCoy and Denise McCoy are owners of The Little Gym of Corvallis, OR. Randy McCoy has studied child development while teaching The Little Gym program for over 25 years. He holds a B.S. in Education and Physical Education from Western Oregon University
Melissa Steenhoek
Melissa is the Director of Community Relations and Marketing for The Regent. She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Marketing in 2004. Melissa’s favorite hobbies include knitting, crocheting, reading, playing board games with friends and listening to bands at local venues. Since her husband played football through college and now coaches, she is heavily involved with football season when it arrives -- always rooting for the great University of Michigan!
Willamette Living Managing Partners, Scott & Gayanne Alexander Willamette Living is published bi-monthly by Willamette Life Media LLC. On Oregon Registered Limited Liability Company Contact: 541-740-9776 Advertising Inquiries: adsales@willametteliving.com Comments: feedback@willametteliving.com
Ryan Thompson
Project Supervisor at G. Christianson Construction in Corvallis Ryan has graciously volunteered to administer the Willamette Living “Ask the Builder” Column. Got a building question? Send it to us, and Ryan will give you the answer.
Dr. Michael Bittner and Dr. Kelli Harrington
Own ZenSpot, Inc., a holistic lifestyle center in Eugene, that offers hot yoga, feng shui interior design, reiki, holistic life and stress-management coaching, ayurvedic lifestyle and weight management counseling, organizational development. ZenSpot Radio may be heard live every Friday, 3-4 pm PST, on 1320 am or 1320inforadio.com. Zenspot is located at 1615 and 1659 Oak Street in Eugene.
Annette Sievert
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Annette, licensed broker with Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers, immigrated from Germany 10 years ago and moved to Corvallis from New York. She lives in Corvallis with her husband Frank, a family practitioner with The Corvallis Clinic, their two sons, Carl (11) and John (9), two dogs, 4 cats, 7 hens and 1 rooster - at last count.
Just click the Facebook link at www.willametteliving.com
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All editorial material, including editorial comments, opinion and statements of fact appearing in this publication, represents the views of the respective authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of Willamette Living or its officers. Information in Willamette Living is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. The publication of any advertisements is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product of service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement. Products advertised may or may not be available at the time of publication. Offices: 1900 NW 14th St. Corvallis, OR 97330
In This Issue...
September / October www.willametteliving.com
Pg. 7
Pg. 8
Love To Live Here
The Active Kid
My Summer Vacation
Keep em’ Healthy
Pg. 9
Pg. 10
The Active Senior
The Doctor is In
Stay Sharp
It’s a Matter of Diet and Exercise
Pg. 14
Pg. 20
Vintage Racers
Yoga
You Can Do It!
Sleek and Fast in Portland
Pg. 24
Pg. 28
Affordably Fabulous!
Ask the Builder
Retail Resale is Making a Splash
Home Efficiency -- How To
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From The Home Office...
O
ne of my life-long obsessions is vintage auto racing, and one of the best venues on the west coast for spectators is right here in our Willamette Valley. I had the pleasure of covering the “Portland Historics” for this month’s vintage racing story at Portland International Raceway. I strongly encourage enthusiasts to make the trip to PIR for the next vintage event. It’s much more relaxed and accessible than the venues I’m used to in California (Laguna Seca in Monterey and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma) at PIR they still let you get “up close and personal” with the drivers and the track. I think you’ll get a kick out of Annette’s article this time about “the end” -- the end of Summer that is. After last winter, we could all stand about 6 more months of sun, backyard fun, and the pool! But, with the chill in the air comes the beginning of the holiday season, and of particular interest here in the Valley -- the new school year.
mer mood going all winter long. We’ve got a number of options for all ages this time. Take a look at our Yoga article in this issue. Not just the domain of practiced yogis with elastic spines, yoga is a great way to build or maintain fitness. Not to leave anyone out, we’ve also got an article this time on fitness for the younger crowd, and an article on bone health from one of our local surgeons, Dr. Evans of the Corvallis Clinic. You probably want to keep your interaction with him on a social level, so read his article and avoid visiting him at work! And finally, our article on resale and consignment shopping is music to the ears of the budget minded shopper, and who isn’t watching the pocketbook a little closer these days? No longer do people shop at resale stores because they can’t afford new, people are shopping resale because they’ve wised up to the values to be found and to the sustainable sense it makes to keep the garments flowing. Thanks for picking up Willamette Living, we hope you like what you see. Let us know how we’re doing at feedback@willametteliving.com Scott & Gayanne Alexander
Now is a particularly good time to concentrate on fall fitness, to keep that good sum-
Willamette Living is printed on PEFC Certified Paper Stock Visit pefc.org for more info. Let us help you reach your Willamette Valley Audience
We’ll help you present your business in it’s best light. All of our ads are full color, glossy, high resolution pieces. We don’t do newsprint, or black and white. We have a page on our web site where you can select your ad size, and view ad specifications. All of our print ads include an ad in the on-line edition of the magazine - where your ad can be seen for months! Contact us, or your media buyer to discuss your advertising plan, eMail: adsales@willametteliving.com, visit the web site and click the “Advertise with Willamette Living” link, or call: 541-740-9776.
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Pegasus Frame Studio & Gallery
Original Work Custom Framing Art Restoration 341 SW Second Street Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 757-0042
Love to Live Here Or... What I Did On My Summer Vacation Annette Sievert The end is near. No, not the end of days, the end of summer vacation for our children. 3 months of leisure time, waiting to be filled with camp, sports, and other meaningful activities. Blissful, definitely expensive, sometimes unharmonious. We have, since our children started school, tried to split this seemingly endless time up into manageable time units, giving the boys something to look forward to but also letting them experience boredom and the way to get out of it through their own imagination, not through TV and the like. And then there was our big trip: After 6 years it was time for us to visit Germany again, the country we immigrated from over 10 years ago, and use the time to also show the children a bit more of Europe. The 3 weeks abroad
were fun filled, stressful at times, eye opening for the boys (you actually can use that language… and those table manners?) and diverse (from 2 days in Paris and touring a medieval castle to hikes in the Italian Alps and a walk inside a glacier). After 3.5 weeks and 26hrs of traveling back (it’s like child birth, you would not do it again had you remembered it well enough) we are back, and are we happy to be back. One thing that I know now even more for sure is that we are actually very well equipped with food choices in Corvallis. I still cannot get German rolls and a decent liver wurst, but most items I missed before we moved here I can find. The Willamette Valley offers so much in organic produce, we are blessed with specialty stores like the Italian Deli downtown, the Patisserie for authentic French baguette and pastries, the Coop has lots of great products and produce and Trader Joes fills gaps here and there
Look What We Found... Cast Iron Tea Kettle
concerning German Style Whole Grain Bread, wonderful salami, a real good selection of cheeses, and a few other things (knowing that Trader Joes actually belongs to a German chain, Aldi, that makes total sense). Big River delivers great Pain de Campagne, Harry and Annette will sell you fantastic fish. My list can go on and on and the morning after our return I cheerfully strolled over the Farmer’s Market and enjoyed the bounty. So here we are back to routine and soon to those structured days that will be good for our children and their parents. And on the first day of school, when the kids are out of the house, I will lean back in my favorite chair with a good cup of coffee and listen to the enchanting sound of the bus leaving.
Ditch the Oil-Based Plastic Bags Reusable, washable, dishwasher safe sandwich bags. Very cool for back to school! $8.95 at The Earth Smart Store in Corvallis
Craftsman Style Stained Glass Lighting
Keeps tea hot in cool Chinese style.
Shorter days are coming, make the night interesting with these richly colored glass lamps.
$40 Oregon Coffee & Tea in Corvallis
Starting around $175 at the Inkwell in Corvallis
Oh Oh! Fall is in the Air
Keep the chill off baby’s head with a darling Peggy K Designs hand crocheted hat - in several chic styles! $30 at InsideOut Garden Visions in Corvallis
100% Recycled Bowls Recycled melamine bowls in vivid colors. Nested sets or separates. Find them at ModPod in Corvallis
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The Active Kid Randy McCoy
Choosing a Physical Activity Program for Your Child Has your child had a physically active summer? Playing in the park? Swimming at the local pool? Well, we all know that an active lifestyle is more difficult to maintain when summer is over: the days get shorter, the weather gets colder and wetter, and the free time they had during summer gets taken up with school. But kids and toddlers need to stay active; play, move, and exercise all year around. So the challenge becomes seeking out different avenues of organized activities (probably indoor) for your child during the school year. The following “criteria” will help narrow down the field in your search: Look for children’s physical activity programs that are FUN, CHALLENGING and SUCCESSFUL. Let’s break each one of these down, shall we? FUN – bottom line, children want to play and have FUN! An activity may potentially offer wonderful physical and educational benefits to your child…but if your child isn’t having FUN, they will not want to do it – at least not for very long! CHALLENGING – Children love to be challenged. They see a tree, they want to climb it; they see a mud puddle, they want to jump in it. If an activity presents no challenge to the child, they will soon lose interest. SUCCESSFUL – Last, but not least, a child needs
Les Claypool
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to feel successful in their physical activities. Activities that are too difficult, and/or do not allow a child to feel successful – or even worse, to feel a sense of failure – not only damage DM3 a child’s self confidence, but also end up creating a “fear of failure” in the child. This “fear of failure” can cause the child to shy away from all physical activities. On the other hand, if a child feels successful, their self confidence grows, the fear of failure evaporates, and the child is more likely to pursue more physical activities in the future – and possibly lead a more active lifestyle for the rest of their lives! Also, look for programs that are “child centered” – that is, designed and delivered based on the developmental needs and abilities of the intended age group. Shy away from programs that include a lot of “waiting in lines” or that are “overly-structured” to the point where the child’s actual “activity time” and “fun” are negatively impacted. A FUN physical activity program that allows your child to feel CHALLENGED and SUCCESSFUL will leave your child wanting more!!
The Active Senior Melissa Steenhoek
Mental Exercise Works Wonders! What does the day in the life of an Active Senior look like? This is a good question, and the answer may include things that most do not think of. For example, most think “Activity” and immediately allude to a sport or physical exercise. This is accurate but not complete.
I remember sitting with my grandma for 1 hour per day going through these word puzzles, Sudoku, Fillin-the-Blank trivia and others that came in a book we got at Walgreen’s. Within 1 month, my grandma was able to write a letter again! It wasn’t as neat and tidy as she would normally have made it, but it was recognizable hand-writing, the words formed complete sentences and she wasn’t getting nearly as frustrated with herself as she had been a month earlier.
The average senior that participates in activities does a lot more good for their body than just that of the physical! They are able to maintain stability and balance for longer periods of time and recall memory longer into their lifespan (just to name a few).
It is now 9 years later and my grandma put off going to a Memory Facility until last summer! She loves her new home but was so thankful that she was able to keep enough memory for such a long time after the stroke. Now she is in the Facility, and guess what they do with her to keep her memory longer? Word Puzzles!
You do not have to be gifted in athletics or have the drive of a marathon runner to enjoy the benefits of being active! The simplest walk, exercise program, Sudoku puzzle, or Crossword, on a regular basis, can have tremendous effects long into your life.
It’s never too late in life to start your exercises! Whether you’re benching 300 pound weights or sitting at your kitchen table working on a Crossword, you are just in time with caring about your long-term wellness.
Claypool
A few years ago, my Grandma Lila, had a stroke which triggered an early onset of Alzheimer’s. This disease is so slow moving and the combination of the two together was making it difficult for her to overcome the effects of the stroke. Guess what was recommended to her for getting memory back-such as writing and reading? Word puzzles!
Upon searching the web, we’re happy to report there are many free, printable crossword puzzles, word puzzles and Soduko games available. For Crosswords, try:
www.onlinecrosswords.net
Finding the
rightis important. doctor
There are many options to choose from when selecting a health care provider for you and your family. Call our Physician Referral Line and we’ll search Samaritan Health Services’ entire network of doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to find the provider who suits your needs.
Call us today at 1-800-863-5241. www.samhealth.org
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The Doctor is In!
Diet + Exercise = Better Bone Health By Jonathan Evans, D.O. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Corvallis Clinic
Osteoporosis is a condition that results in progressive loss of bone mass and subsequently increased risk of fractures. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over 28 million Americans are affected with this condition and 1.5 million fractures are related to osteoporosis in the United States annually. The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis are found in the wrist, spine, and the hip, with the hip fracture causing the largest economic and social impact. With such a large number of seniors affected, it is important to understand the basics about this condition, and how to prevent those devastating fractures. Osteoporosis affects everyone to some extent, but those women that are post-menopausal are most at risk. That being said, this is not just a disease that affects women. Men can and frequently do suffer fractures related to osteoporosis, but just at a lower rate than women. After the age of about 35 we all begin to lose bone mass, but there are certain factors that can increase a person’s risk of fracture related to osteopoMarley... Yes, Bob’s Sons! a lack of weight bearing rosis. Smoking, thin stature, exercise, and some medications can all increase the prevalence of osteoporosis. Now that we know what the problem is and who is affected, what can be done to prevent and treat this condition? The first way to help prevent osteoporosis is related to diet and nutrition. Calcium is a mineral that helps to increase the strength of our bones as wells as allow for the functioning of muscles. If a person does not get enough calcium in their diet, then our body steals calcium from our bones to allow our vital processes to continue. The result is osteoporosis. The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1200 mg per day for adults over the age of 50, but, it is important to remember that vitamin D is required to Tinyyour Tavern absorb that calciumThe from digestive tract. The 10
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recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200-600 IU (international units) per day which can come from foods like milk, cheese, or from getting some sunlight on your skin. Most calcium supplements also contain vitamin D, but one should check the label to be sure. Another important step to help prevent osteoporosis is exercise. Studies have shown that those exercises that create stress across the bones like walking, jogging, hiking, dancing, or weight lifting strengthen the bones. The current recommendations are for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 3-4 times per week.
Low impact exercises such as swimming, bicycling or yoga are beneficial to your body in numerous other ways, but will have little impact on strengthening your bones. Today, classes have been offered in balance training and fall prevention which are thought to be very helpful in preventing falls in seniors. So how do doctors know if someone has osteoporosis? There are several key clues that we can use including the presence of a fracture of the wrist, hip, or spine. Additionally, on a physical exam a physician can note the typical appearance of the rounded or humped back which indicates the partial collapse of a vertebra. Laboratory tests to measure the level of vitamin D in a person’s body, as well as thyroid and parathyroid function tests can help to diagnosis osteoporosis. The most definitive way to tell if someone has osteoporosis, though, is by using a bone density
test. This test, often referred to as a DEXA scan, measures the bone density at the hip, spine, and wrist to determine one’s relative bone density and subsequent risk of fracture. This is a painless test and takes only a few minutes and may save a senior a long and agonizing recovery from a hip fracture. Treatment of osteoporosis is usually done with one or more medications, but if a fracture has already occurred, then casting or surgery may be required. The medications used to treat this condition include estrogen replacement, calcitonin, and bisphosphonates. Each of these medications can be effective in treating osteoporosis, but each has its own side-effects and should be discussed in depth with your primary care physician. In regards to the most troubling consequence of osteoporosis, the hip fracture, the statistics are staggering. Approximately 300,000 hip fractures occur each year in the U.S. and those individuals that sustain a hip fracture have a 24% increased risk of dying within one year after the fracture. Additionally, one in four patients with a hip
fracture will require long term care in a nursing facility afterwards. Typically these injuries require a surgical treatment and a lengthy hospital stay with costs averaging $35,000. The best way to treat hip fractures is to prevent them from happening in the first place by properly screening those at risk seniors and treating individuals with osteoporosis. One other way to help reduce the number of osteoporosis related fractures is focused on fall prevention. There are some simple steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of a fall occurring in the first place. Stairs are a likely place to start, and by providing enough light, removing excess clutter, installing sturdy handrails and covering the stairs with a tightly woven carpet, stairs can be eliminated as a source of falls. Next, the bathroom can be hazardous unless one adds a nightlight, or installs handrails on the bathtub/ shower and toilet, and uses non-slip traction strips in the shower. Finally, in the living room seniors should remove any loose clutter, move any low tables or footrests out of the walkway, and keep any electrical or telephone cords out of the pathway. In summary, osteoporosis is a major public health concern particularly for seniors and has the potential to have devastating long term consequences if left untreated. Simple activities like quitting smoking, getting regular weight bearing exercise, sticking to a healthy diet rich in dairy products can help to prevent osteoporosis. Appropriate screening for this disease should not be understated, and if caught early, numerous effective medical treatments are available to help prevent unnecessary fractures.
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The second-generation owners of Midway Plumbing have the experience to benefit you, gained from years of satisfied customers in the Mid-Valley. If you’re considering an upgrade, call Lance, Brandon, Stephanie, or Melissa today. Midway is available for all your plumbing jobs, from residential to commercial. Midway offers you free estimates and an extensive home decor showroom to help plan your new kitchen or bath.
Midway Plumbing Showroom • Dealer: Moen, TOTO, Grohe • Visit us Today!
House in the Country
Fine Art Prints on Archival Canvas From California - since 1984
“Italian Life” by California Artist Josephine Amerigian.
House in the Country fine art prints have long been a favorite of decorators, designers, national catalogs and fine retailers. Not the “run of the mill” - House in the Country offers clients a choice towards the upscale with a long standing reputation for beautiful classic or contemporary images, and a tradition of quality. Most of our images are the work of company founders and owners Gary and Josephine Amerigian, the rest are prints of classic masterworks or exclusive licensed work. While offering you top quality, we also maintain very reasonable prices, and fast shipping from California. Call us today for factory direct service! Sale to the trade also available.
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13
Classic Ginetta hand built in England, Ginetta now makes a 120 MPH electric car!
Vintage Racers Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines An old newspaper article refers to the an early Cooper formula car as “resplendent in the paddock”, not much has changed, resplendent indeed are these early works of flying art. Back in the day when men were men, there was no personal computer, no cell phone, barely was there air travel, and a Honda was a motorcycle. One had to “find” a phone to make a call now and then, music came from records, and the air travel taking place over England was often in a Spitfire -- there was definitely not an in-flight movie. In the day before the technological revolution, mechanically minded chaps had one thing to focus on -- cars. Well, motorcycles too, but cars were the romantic, and popular pinnacle of motor sport. 14
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Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Stirling Moss, correction, SIR Stirling Moss, these are the names I remember from my early days at the races. Back in the day when cars were more than just a means of getting from here to there. Or, in many instances, from here to almost there. Before the days when everything “just worked” and was automatic, there were daring young men with their hand-fashioned vehicles who were not afraid to prove their engineering ideas on the track. Emerging from garages in (Mostly) England were the splendid machines of Austin, Cooper, Healey, Brabham, AC Bristol, Morgan, Morris, and others all with the same vision... the fastest route from point A to point B. Back in the day, it wasn’t like modern racing where the cars are not even recognizable as such. Today’s guided missiles with wheels, funded by corporate
Mercedes 300 SL “Gull Wing” - So Cool!
money, and built by precision machines to go as fast as you want, for as long as you want, are of no interest to me. Today, planes fly around the globe, and the passengers don’t even dress for the occasion. Ships sail all over the globe, and the only things that catch the attention of potential passengers are the ships wave pool and theatre!
Carroll Shelby, and those wins helped Ford sell countless 1966 Mustangs. And most everyone has heard of the insanely powerful Shelby Cobra. Incidentally,
In the golden era of motor racing, the breakthroughs on the track were worldwide news. I remember when I was a young boy every year everyone would listen in to the Indy 500 to hear what was going to happen. Would it be Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, or Jim Clark and Team Lotus? It wasn’t about advertising dishwashing soap, or film, or chicken, or whatever someone was willing to plaster all over their car, it was about man and machine. Of course the major manufacturers or “Marques” would get in on the game and pour resources into winning the big events. A win at Le Mans would mean big sales for the companies’ cars and the public ate it up! Any true race fan can recall the year the Americans broke Ferrari’s lock on Le Mans when Ford’s GT40 cars placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Or in 1967 when Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt came in 1st and 2nd at Le Mans in the GT40 -- again. The GT40, car constructor from Texas www.willametteliving.com
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Lightning Fast Mini -- Won it’s Group Race!
the 1967 Le Mans winners circle was where Gurney shook the bottle of champagne and sprayed it all over the crowd, beginning the tradition seen at every race since. Afterward, Gurney autographed the bottle and gave it to Life Magazine photographer Flip Schulke, who used the bottle as a lamp for years before returning it to Gurney who now has it in his Southern California home. The early days of racing were serious business, but they were also fun. It was great fun to watch the daring young men compete wheel to wheel for the title of fastest man in the world. What we’re talking about here is not that long after man had gotten off the horse... really. There was no such thing as space travel, it wasn’t even conceivable, for some it still isn’t! Instant communication didn’t happen, travel was slow, and although some would agree it should have stayed that way, these men were who we looked to for technological breakthroughs. Trains burned coal to make steam - they certainly didn’t go 200 miles an hour and whisk passengers from London to the end of the Channel tunnel in under an hour! 16 www.willametteliving.com
Many of the dominant British sports racers of the early days contributed substantially to the cars we have today, and think nothing of. For example, Alec Issigonis, the Greek born engineer who worked for the British Motor Corporation conceived of the first transverse (sideways) mounted, front wheel drive car -- the Mini Cooper. Today, almost every car on the road uses some part of the Issigonis transverse, front wheel drive technology. But, very few have the same appeal of the original John Cooper racing Mini. Now THERE was a car. When I was very young my Grandfather had finished his service in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and moved to America where he befriended a German mechanic - Fred Splisgardt they also had a driver friend named Jim Bohem. Together they formed SSB Rac-
ing. Fred had gone to school in Germany to become a mechanic, and boy did he know what he was doing... I remember Fred walking around the garage with a stethoscope to listen to the engine of the race car... an Austin Cooper 1275 “S”. SSB had the fastest Mini in the Mid West for years. And every weekend we’d pack up the trailer and haul out to Wentzville -- to Mid America Raceway and administer a sound thrashing to all challengers. I remember the thrill of watching Jim in the Mini. One race, a bird hit and shattered the Mini’s windshield. The SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) rules state that a “C Sedan” must have a windscreen or be disqualified. To avoid disqualification, Jimmy stuck his head out the window and won anyway - no rules say the driver must be sane! Portland International Raceway was at one time the site of Vanport City Oregon. Vanport was a huge public housing city which was constructed to house workers from the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Vanport at one time was the second largest city in Oregon and the largest public housing project in the United States. The population at it’s peak was close to 40,000 people. After the war the Housing Authority of Portland opened Vanport College. Then at 4:05 pm on May 30, 1948 a 200 foot section of the dyke holding back the Columbia River collapsed. Vanport was literally washed away. When the flood subsided, all that was left of Vanport was the roads. The abandoned roads quickly became the site of a lot of illegal drag racing. The City of Portland was smart and decided to just make the former site of Vanport a city park. The newly organized drag racing was, and still is, a major attraction at the new Portland International Raceway. Today Portland International Raceway is the only city park that is a world class raceway entirely in the city limits. And Vanport college...? They relocated the site
and it’s now known as Portland State University. At the time it was dubbed by a national magazine “The College That Wouldn’t Die.” PIR is also very kid-friendly, particularly at the vintage races. Most of the car owners and teams don’t have anything at stake at this point -- they’ve made their mark, there is no prize money, this is all free time for them. The vintage racing scene is mostly a social event for enthusiasts. Since it’s such a relaxed atmosphere, many of the car owners are more than happy to chat with spectators, and allow fans to get “up close and personal with the cars”, many even let kids sit in their cars. They don’t quite let them find the key... but it’s a thrill for kids to sit in some of these beautifully prepared racing machines. There are always other events and attractions for kids at the race as well. This summer there was a “rock” climbing wall, a giant slide, and of course snacks and burgers. For the “bigger” kids, there is always a hospitality tent this year hosted by Fred Meyer. From the website: “The Fred Meyer Food and Wine Pavilion presents all you can eat samples of high-quality foods and a taste of local wines and craft beers in a tented chalet. Fill your plate with delicious Northwest food, grab a cold beverage, then settle in at a table and take a break from the adrenaline rush.
Kid in a car, familiar sight at the Historics
From brats to flame crafted spiral ham, handcrafted www.willametteliving.com
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A Vintage Chevron Lying in Wait
cheeses to artisan breads, gourmet olives to ice cream treats, the Fred Meyer Food & Wine Pavilion offers a culinary smorgasbord of food not typically found at a race track! The fee of $20 for adults includes a souvenir wine glass, six drink tickets, and unlimited samples. (Minors and non-drinkers pay $14). All net proceeds benefit the Community Transitional School, a Portland-based organization that provides important educational services to children who are homeless or
otherwise at risk of school failure. The Fred Meyer Food and Wine Pavilion is located on the infield, across the Bridgestone pedestrian bridge and to the right.” The Food and Wine Pavilion is a great deal, but if you’d like to bring your own lunch, it’s certainly not a bad idea -- don’t forget lot’s of water, or... beverages of your choice. It can get hot at the track, and you can do a LOT of walking to see all the cars and take in all the action. Another fun attraction for spectators is the “hot laps” around the track. Tom Anderson of Carrera Motors in Bend usually sends over a few of their cars -- and these aren’t your run-of-the-mill cars. For just $20 you can take a couple of laps in one of the Carrera Motors cars. Mine was in the Porsche Panamera. The Panamera is Porsche’s new four door... sedan doesn’t seem like the word. We were treated to a lift in the Panamera “S”. And boy did that S Car Go - sorry couldn’t resist. I sat in the rear passenger side seat. Once seated in the car, it seems pretty tame,
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leather everything, nice cushy seats, electric windows -- the works. One doesn’t suspect anything is up until our driver, no, pilot started the car. Twin turbocharged and around 500 horsepower, you definitely know you’re in for a ride. Once on the track, it was nothing short of surreal. Here were the four of us, in this luxu-
rious four door car - going 126 miles an hour in about 100 yards. And into turn one, you’re sure you’re going to die because there’s no way a big, 4 door car like this can make this turn - surprised again. The Panamera stuck to the track like it was on rails - I’d have to say it was probably the most impressive ride I’ve had in a car. I’ve been in fast cars, and I’ve been in luxurious cars, but this car was the best of both! Not an inexpensive car, but if Mom needs to go get some milk and drop off some dry cleaning, in a BIG hurry, this is the car for her! So it went for our fun weekend in July. If you’re a race fan, or even just curious, I strongly recommend the vintage races at PIR. It’s fun for everyone!
Where to Stay: Jantzen Beach is minutes away and has several nice hotels with pools etc. How Much? Adult admission to the races is only $40 for the weekend. From the Valley: For a low-stress trip Amtrak leaves Eugene, Albany, and Salem on a
regular schedule, and once in Portland the light rail will drop you right at the track. Amtrak from Eugene: about $30 or less. If you prefer to drive, it’s a breeze -- just avoid Friday at 5:00!
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A Higher State of Being Yoga: Bringing Balance to Our Lives by Uniting the Mind, Body and Spirit Upon looking into the yoga scene, it became clear to me, that one almost needs a Ph.D to decipher all the implications of a yoga lifestyle. Not historically the domain of rail-thin supermodels in trendy clubs, yoga is a lifestyle, like a religion to some, a path to a higher state of being. In the Hindu culture yoga is as much mental as physical -- it’s not just a “workout.” Yoga is an entire set of principles which dictate a way of life for the dedicated practitioner. Of course, yoga to many, IS just a workout - and a good one at that. There are many “yoga avenues” for one to explore and two here in the Valley are The Yoga Center in Corvallis, and ZenSpot MBS in Eugene. The Yoga Center offers Iyengar style yoga classes for all skill levels from total beginner to advanced students. What’s Iyengar yoga you ask? Well, the official B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga web site has this to say: “Iyengar Yoga, created by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form
Dr. Michael at ZenSpot Leading a Class
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of yoga known for its use of props, such as belts and blocks, as aids in performing asanas (postures). It is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, emphasizing the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration (Dharana) and meditation (Dhyana). A form of Hatha Yoga, it focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas. Through the practice of a system of asanas, it aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. This discipline is considered a powerful tool to relieve the stresses of modern-day life which in turn can help promote total physical and spiritual well-being.” Anything that relieves stress is a plus -- in my book!
In Eugene, you’ll find ZenSpot MBS. The MBS extension stands for Mind, Body, Spirit - a nod to the idea of yoga being more than just a physical workout. ZenSpot offers “hot yoga.” Hot yoga is practiced in a room that is heated to approximately 100 degrees and has an elevated humidity level. They say to simulate the original conditions in India, to allow greater flexibility, and to allow the release of toxins in the body. Whatever the reason, it’s nice and warm and beats being outside in the Oregon winter -- even if that also includes an “elevated humidity level.”
The Corvallis Yoga Center
Bhakti yoga embraces prayer as the path of
Many of the terms used in the discussion of yoga are Sanskrit, and are so foreign that they are for the most part unpronounceable. So instead of becoming a Ph.D to deliver the full story, I cheated and found someone who already did -- two of them in fact. Dr. Michael Bittner, and Dr. Kelli Harrington (who founded and own ZenSpot MBS in eugene).
devotion and enlightenment. This path of yoga often involves the individual following a guru or some entity that is believed to have achieved enlightenment.
Compliments of Dr. Michael and Dr. Kelli...
Mantra yoga
“Imagine being unfettered and free, enjoying youth and vigor, de-stressed and detoxified, strong and flexible, lucid and focused. All these sensations are within your grasp. Through yoga, you endeavor to balance the essence of yourself, ultimately discovering that everything you need is within you. It comes from practice, effort, dedication, time and proper guidance.
Karma yoga
reflects ongoing selfless action carried out through deeds.
relies upon sacred sounds, words or phrases as the vehicle to achieve union. Through silent or vocal practice, the yogin directs attention to the mantra, excluding everything else.
At 5,000 years old, yoga traces its development to India. Today, yoga is a testament to the test of time. The success and purity of yoga rest with its straightforward approach and its goal of transcending ego and uniting the mind, body and spirit in a balanced whole. Because of the many attempts to market yoga and create offshoots, it is helpful to clarify the six primary paths of yoga.
Jnana yoga
employs study and meditation. Through these acts, the devotee strives to find his or her true self. www.willametteliving.com 21
Raja yoga
refers to “Royal Yoga” and is described in the Yoga Sutras as written by Patanjali. Adherence to the eightlimb path is the means of achieving enlightenment. The eight limbs consist of yamas (moral principles), niyamas (inner discipline), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (turning inward), dharana (concentration), dyhana (meditation) and Samadhi (absolute bliss).
Hatha yoga
emphasizes physical exercise and breath control. Hatha yoga is the most popular form of yoga practiced in the West. Hatha means forceful. When broken up, “Ha” refers to sun and “Tha” relates to moon. Together Hatha evokes the balance between opposites such as masculine and feminine, soft and hard and bright and dark. Through the physical practice, breathing, cleansing of the body and focus on the presence, the practitioner readies for a contemplative state, then meditation followed by enlightenment or union with truth and the one. 22
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Within the Hatha yoga path one finds several different styles that bring together characteristics found in the six paths of yoga. For instance, Hot yoga brings together the Raja and Hatha paths in a heated room of 100+ degrees; Astanga yoga draws from Raja, Hatha and Mantra yoga paths; and Jivamukti yoga joins elements of Hatha, Raja and Jnana paths. Iyengar yoga emphasizes alignment, asana and breathing. Power yoga integrates Hatha path with Vinyasa. By no means exhaustive, the list of different styles of yoga is both a reflection of the tradition of yoga and the innovative trends of an interested public.
What continues to popularize Hatha yoga in the west has been the physical nature of the practice and the results. Among the many benefits are improvement in overall strength; loss of fat; improved range of motion and flexibility; more efficient respiratory system; happier disposition; regulation of blood sugar; improved digestion; heightened senses and improved focus. And along with the physical improvements come the mental and spiritual benefits, completing the whole.
SM
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What yoga offers is nothing less than phenomenal. To see the benefits only takes a few classes. So remember, if you are looking to be unfettered and free, full of youth and vigor, de-stressed and detoxified, strong and flexible, lucid and focused, find a professional yoga studio and a style that you resonate with and integrate yoga into your lifestyle. The benefits are well worth the effort and the “high pro yoga glow” is very becoming. Namaste!”
Dr. Michael Bittner and Dr. Kelli Harrington own ZenSpot, Inc., a holistic lifestyle center in Eugene, OR that offers hot yoga • feng shui interior design • reiki • holistic life and stress-management coaching • ayurvedic lifestyle and weight management counseling • organizational development. ZenSpot Radio may be heard live every Friday, 3-4 pm PST, 1320 am or 1320inforadio. com. Zenspot is located at 1615 and 1659 Oak Street, Eugene, OR 97401. 541-337-8433, info@ zenspotmbs.com or http://www.zenspotmbs.com.
Consultation for Home or Business
ZENSPOT RADIO - FRIDAYS LIVE 3-4pm PST 1320am or Web 1320inforadio.com 1615 & 1659 Oak Street Eugene www.zenspotmbs.com 541-337-8433
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Affordably Fabulous Resale Retail is Coming Out of the Shadows and Stepping Into the Limelight. Jennifer L. Butler • Scott Alexander
Rumors heard in the news: “Ann Taylor closing 117 stores. Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherine’s to close 150 store nationwide. Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January. Cache will close all stores. GAP closing 85 stores.” The financial health of major retailers is always very hush hush -- until they’re selling the furniture! So regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, big retail is not enjoying it’s best returns we’ve ever seen. Last year NPR Radio reported on a national trend where large commercial landlords (read shopping malls) were starting to “cave in” to small resale stores. Many malls across the country are facing big financial
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troubles in the face of chain store closings. Empty spaces dont’ generate a lot of rent, so... hello upscale resale stores! We’ve done some scouting around and there are definitely some bargians to be had. There are a ton of great stores right here in the Willamette Valley with some very nice lightly worn merchandise. Three of which are Second Glance in Corvallis, Restyle in Albany and BeeZoo in Portland. Not so long ago, “resale” meant “thrift” and thrift shops were dingy little stores hidden behind dated storefronts. There was a fair amount of shame in-
volved with shopping in them – it indicated something unpleasant about who you were. Pleasant people shopped at Nordstrom and might make a yearly pilgrimage to Macy’s in California or Saks in New York. Fortunately, our collective social conscience has begun to shift, and our awareness awakened. We’ve started to think about social responsibility, respecting the environment, minimizing our carbon footprint, the indecent level of consumerism and consumption present in our culture, the struggle of the locally-owned company, trade deficits…. Can we live more simply? Can we consume less, recycle more, support each other in better, more mutually beneficial ways; can we live our lives with a global mindset – remembering that every decision we make contributes to a wave of impact? How can we live conscientiously while honoring our inner fashionista? Must we give her up? We don’t think so. We believe that resale shops like Second Glance in
Corvallis, Restyle Resale in Albany and BeeZoo in Portland are a wonderful way to experience the thrill of fashion while remaining socially responsible. We could all drive to the city to our favorite department store or boutique for that piece our wardrobe is missing… but when we have the chance to support a “green” method of shopping, a locally-owned business, and save gas, why wouldn’t we? After all, what we’re wearing doesn’t determine who we are – the choices we make, and the way we live our lives, does. Shopping resale is another way to engage in a sustainable lifestyle. Ecologically, it’s making a choice to recycle your closet - rather than adding to the staggering volume of consumer clothing and textile waste that ends up in landfills each year. It’s a savvy way to engage in the world of consumer fashion. Why pay $500 for a new Kooba handbag when you can find one at Second Glance in Corvallis for less than half its retail value? Shop smart. Resale is not vintage or thrift shopping. Second Glance & The Annex only carry items that have been manufactured within the last two years. They spend the time to hand-select the most pristine items for each season from consignment groups. Their stylist works diligently to spot the major trends and classics each season, and makes sure the shops represent the most current face of fashion.
Nancy Kneisel of Second Glance
On a daily basis, you’ll find everything on the Second Glance floor from haute couture designers like Miswww.willametteliving.com 25
soni and Louis Vuitton, to boutique items from Anthropologie, shoes with labels like Frye and Kate Spade, handbags from Hobo and Marc Jacobs ... the list goes on and on. BeeZoo Exchange in Portland is a children’s resale shop specializing in European children’s clothing. In speaking with David, owner at BeeZoo, we discovered very nice European children’s cloting sells in the store for about 30% of retail. Not bad when you factor in the flight to France, hotel room, dining... you could be saving thousands just by purchasing one little dress -- assuming you were to go and pick it up at the source... BeeZoo also has a seamstress who works with store clients in need of capes (super-hero style) and halloween outfits. A very civilized way to acquire garments, even fun ones -- when you consider the alternatives. Restyle in Alabany has done a fantastic job of outfitting their store with fixtures, fittings and accoutrements. You’d never know you were in a resale store if it didn’t say it on the sign! All three stores in our lineup have very nice clothing. There are no holes or frayed edges or stains. Just superb quality at a fraction of the price of new. Most resale shops will do consignment, give your items a certain amount of time to sell and then either give them back or donate them to a charitable organization if you wish. Usually you can “run a tab” for your items and use the proceeds from the sale of your stuff to buy new (to you) stuff.
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“BeeZoo has a seamstress who works with store clients in need of capes (super-hero style) and Halloween outfits” Our recommendation: join the revolution, go take a look in your closet and start trading. You’ll feel better about yourself and your world, and you might have money left over to treat yourself to lunch out!
Where to Find Them Second Glance 312 SW 3rd Corvallis 541-753-8011 www.glanceagain.com Restyle 633 NW Hickory St. Albany 541-928-7315 restyleresale.com BeeZoo Exchange 2390 NW Thurman St. Portland 503-241-2800
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Ask The Builder
Ryan Thompson • G. Christianson Construction
Understanding and applying principals to weatherization. By working with companies like ETO (Energy Trust of Oregon) and taking advantage of the energy audits more people have become aware of the advantages of weatherizing their homes. Recent incentives have spurred the public to take more of an active interest in updating their homes to modern standards to reduce energy consumption and raise home comfort. Below is a breakdown of recommended upgrades to help you understand where the best bang for the buck lies and to dispel certain myths about home weatherization. Note that Federal Tax Credit of 30% of final cost for any insulation upgrade exists up to $1500.00 maximum. While best used for the below mentioned items in order listed it can also be used for heat pump, boiler, water heater or furnace replacement. 1. Bring your attic up to R38 code levels. This is a relatively simple and easy upgrade that the utility will reimburse you up to $0.25 per square foot for. On all houses with modern wiring this is a snap! Expect to pay extra for eve baffles as they are charged per unit and also for air dams around un-insulated light cans, chimneys or furnace flues. If your range hood or bathroom vents terminate into your attic it will be required to bring these up to current code by making sure that they vent directly to outside by either adding a roof vent, or connecting into to an existing one if it is available. This will keep your house cooler in the summer months as well as warmer in the winter ones. 2. Add insulation in crawlspace that will fill the framing depth completely. This depth 28
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will vary from house to house and in some cases may only be to R21 standards. Doing this will have a large impact on your comfort level as heat loss from your floor is felt directly by your feet. By insulating your attics and floors your house will be noticeably warmer and more comfortable. ETO pays $0.30 per ft. (These measures alone may aid in lowering the load requirements for your current heating system and make heating and cooling much easier to accomplish with your current equipment.) 3. Duct testing and sealing. Most of the houses we test have on average 30% to 50% leakage of heated air going directly into the crawlspace or attic area. With a blower door and duct-blaster test we can determine exactly how much your ductwork leaks and may be able to qualify you to receive money to seal the system if a large enough reduction can be made. ETO pays 50% of the cost of this up to $325.00 for gas heated homes, and 50% of the cost up to $400.00 for electric heated homes. An additional incentive of $35.00 for testing is available. Oregon State Tax Credit is available at 25% of the cost up to $250.00 for the sealing and testing costs.
(Qualifying for these programs requires a pre test and a post test that quantifies the amount of leakage before and after. Not every home will qualify after sealing for these incentives.) 4. Ductwork insulation. While your furnace does heat your air, the metal pipe that delivers it to your rooms is nearly always in an unheated area. By the time the warm air within your ducts gets to its destination in your rooms it is much colder than it should be. A typical heat run of 20 ft can reduce the delivered heat temperature drastically. This is a mandatory requirement on all new ducting for houses and retrofits. (If your ductwork is insulated but only to an R-2 or R-4 level, it is a mandatory requirement that the new duct insulation is replaced with R-11 to comply with the duct sealing incentives offered by ETO. The ETO rebate for this is only $100.00 max.) 5. Air sealing. Air sealing is simply reducing the amount of leakage from your attic crawlspace and walls. This is typically done before insulation and requires two additional blower door tests that must be done separate from duct sealing. (Duct sealing can influence these numbers drastically and improvement must be made without this influence.) Most air sealing is included in under-floor insulation upgrading and is a minimal expense. Attic air sealing requires sealing all ceiling fixtures and often installation of air dams over fixtures along with foam sealing and caulking. ETO rebates are as follows. 50% of costs up to: $275.00 for gas heated homes, $400.00 for electric heated homes. Careful attention must be made to keep minimum ventilation levels within guidelines for health concerns. 6. Upgrading windows and doors. While more aesthetically pleasing than attic or under-floor insulation, window replacement is actually the least effective way of weatherizing your house. Aluminum window frames, single pane glass are not effective thermal barriers from outside temperatures. While in the past a push to replace these has been the target of weatherization sales it should be realized that the bang for
the buck just isn’t there for this upgrade. Even modern insulated windows with every glazing option fall short of the performance weatherization mark. Follow up of performance testing have shown this to be the case and now incentives for this rebate has been lowered accordingly to reflect this and can no longer be taken by itself but must be done in conjunction with other improvements like the ones listed above. Windows of .30 u value or lower must be used and proof of this must be submitted at the time of rebate application. 7. Wall insulation upgrades. While this is every bit as important as the first two types of insulation it is located at #6 for bang for the buck on our list due to the expense of retrofitting costs. If your walls are lacking insulation there are a number of factors that bring the cost of this option up in price. While the cost of insulation is not very expensive by itself, the hidden costs of the completed project make this option more costly than one would think. First start by confirmation your home doesn’t have knob and tube wiring as homes with this type of wiring are not eligible for insulation retrofit without abandoning the existing wiring within building cavities. (This may require cutting open wall, ceiling or floor areas without access from inside or outside.) Second, figure the cost of siding removal and then drilling of sub siding to allow access to wall cavities. (This can be done from the inside of the house as well but often leads to far more difficulty in matching interior finishes while still retaining all the other hidden costs including wall patches.) Third, factor the cost of insulating the wall cavities themselves. Fourth, figure the cost of siding replacement or wall patching every stud bay. (Period specific siding options may no longer readily exist and may require special milling in order to match -- at additional material cost.) Finally figure the cost of exterior caulking and painting on top of all of this to complete the process -- inside or out. (Recent additional cost increases can be expected for this type of project due to the growing concern, required testing documentation and practices of lead based paint projects.) Do you have a building question? Send it to us at feedback@willametteliving.com and Ryan will answer your question in the next issue, or give Ryan a call at G. Christianson Construction in Corvallis.
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Foodie
Cooler Days Call For Comfort Food Chrissie Zaerpoor
Boeuf Bourguignon
Servings: 6 Difficulty: Difficult Cook Time: half a day This recipe is adapted from “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck (Alfred A. Knopf, 1961). The slow preparation and fragrant long cooking are a luxurious way to spend a cold, rainy, lazy Saturday afternoon, and running the oven for four hours warms up a chilly house. Bonus: the leftovers are even better-flavored the next day.
Ingredients
One 6-ounce piece of chunk bacon 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 3 pounds lean stewing beef, cut into 2-inch cubes Half a cup of flour 1 carrot, sliced 1 onion, sliced Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons flour 3 cups red wine, young and full-bodied (like Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone or Burgundy) 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups brown beef stock – best if the broth is homemade and unsalted. 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 cloves mashed garlic 1/2 teaspoon thyme A crumbled bay leaf 18 to 24 white onions, small 3 1/2 tablespoons butter Herb bouquet (4 parsley sprigs, one-half bay leaf, one-quarter teaspoon thyme, tied in cheesecloth) 1 pound mushrooms, fresh and quartered
Cooking Directions
Remove bacon rind and cut into lardons (sticks 1/4inch thick and 1 1/2 inches long). Simmer rind and lardons for 10 minutes in 1 1/2 quarts water. Drain and dry. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sauté lardons in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a flameproof casserole over moderate heat for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly. Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon. Dry beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp. Heat fat in casserole until almost smoking. 30 www.willametteliving.com
Combine ½ cup flour, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper in a wide shallow bowl. Coat the beef pieces in flour. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, to the hot fat, and sauté until nicely browned on all sides. Add browned beef to the lardons. In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables. Pour out the excess fat. Return the beef and bacon to the casserole. Stir in wine and 2 to 3 cups stock, just enough so that the meat is barely covered. Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs and bacon rind. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove.
Cover casserole and set in lower third of oven. Regulate heat (about 325 Deg.) so that liquid simmers very slowly for 3 to 4 hours. The meat is done when a fork pierces Chrissie & Koorosh on the farm it easily. While the beef is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms: Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with one and one-half tablespoons of the oil until bubbling in a skillet. Add onions and sauté over moderate heat for about 10 minutes, rolling them so they will brown as evenly as possible. Be careful not to break their skins. You cannot expect them to brown uniformly. Add 1/2 cup of the stock, salt and pepper to taste and the herb bouquet. Cover and simmer slowly for 40 to 50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but hold their shape, and the liquid has evaporated. Remove herb bouquet and set onions aside. Wipe out skillet and heat remaining oil and butter over high heat. As soon as you see butter has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add mushrooms. Toss and shake pan for 4 to 5 minutes. As soon as they
Chrissie and her husband Koorosh own Kookoolan Farms in Yamhill, OR. Chrissie grew up in Hoopeston, Illinois, in the heart of corn and soybean country in the American Midwest. She married young and worked her way through university, first as a secretary and later as a technical writer. She worked full-time and took two courses per semester, finally finishing a BS in physics ten years after graduating from high school. She became a serious gardener and chef, with deep interests and skills in cooking, ethnic foods, wild foods, foraging during hiking trips in the forest, edible flowers, meats with high omega-3 content and human nutrition as it is influenced by the diets of the meat animals consumed. She also spent several years shopping at the elite high-end groceries, taking wine appreciation classes from the local community college, and eating many meals out in restaurants. All of this experience turns out to apply directly in terms of speaking with chefs at their level, suggesting recipes to consumers and chefs, speaking knowledgeably and confidently in describing and comparing the characteristics of farm products to serious foodies. She is also an amateur wine-maker and meadmaker. Food and Wine Magazine (May 2010 issue) named Chrissie’s little cheesemaking school one of the “100 Best New Food and Drink Experiences” Call Chrissie at 503-730-7535 to register.
www.kookoolanfarms.com
have begun to brown lightly, remove from heat. When the meat is tender, pour the contents of the casserole into a sieve set over a saucepan. Wash out the casserole and return the beef and lardons to it. Distribute the cooked onions and mushrooms on top. Skim fat off sauce in saucepan. Simmer sauce for a minute or 2, skimming off additional fat as it rises. You should have about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly. If too thin, boil it down rapidly. If too thick, mix in a few tablespoons stock. Taste carefully for seasoning. Pour sauce over meat and vegetables. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce several times. Serve in casserole, or arrange stew on a platter surrounded with potatoes, noodles or rice, and decorated with parsley. To farmer Chrissie’s sensibilities, this is at its best over buttered, parsleyed homemade noodles (or buy “Nanna’s Noodles” at your local farmer’s market) with a slice of hot, buttered French bread, and a glass of red wine. Oregon Pinot of course, and Chrissie’s partial to the Yamhill-Carlton AVA.
This recipe might be a little daunting, but remember Julia had to start somewhere too.
NEXT ISSUE:
Valley Spas Catering and Party Planning Holiday Foods Gift Guide NORAD - Tracking the Sleigh Thanks for Reading!
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