PEARLAND
CELEBRATING & DISCOVERING LIFE’S FINEST
Local Happenings Bon Appetit Celebrate the Season of Giving UltraMagTexas.com
UltraMagTexas.com
PUBLISHER Juliet Hubbell
EDITOR Tamara Abel
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nancy Moreland December 2017
ART DIRECTOR Adra Staord
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ann Greer
CONTRIBUTORS Byron Barclay Karen Bunch Newt Harlan Stephanie Brown Howaniec Ahmad Khan Bobby McCallitt Anice Shelton Susan Scott Watts Reader correspondence, editorial submissions and advertising inquiries are welcome.
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@UltraMagTexas.com
Let Us Hear From You! editor@UltraMagTexas.com
CONTENTS CALENDAR
HUMOR
FAMILY
PETS
Local Happenings
4
Holiday Season Events and Activities
The Perfect Christmas Tree
Newt Harlan Reminisces on Searching for a Tree
Celebrate the Season of Giving
8
Introducing New Pets into the Household
10
Passing the Torch for Holiday Hosting
13
World Series Champions
15
Bon Appetit
16
5 Ways to Help Those in Need During the Holidays
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
BABY BOOMERS From Gracious Hostess to Gracious Guest
SPORTS
FOOD
LEGAL
2
6
Astros Win and Rewrite the Record Book
Elegant Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding
Estate Planning, Part II
20
Why You Need to Update Your Will
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COOLEST HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN THE SOUTHWEST November 11 - January 7
Eight Holiday Attractions ● One Venue Ice Land•Festival of Lights•Cirque Joyeux Noel 3D Films•Rudolph 4D•Ice Skating Arctic Slide•Train Rides•And More!
Nov. 11 - Jan. 7
Nov. 11 - Jan. 7
A skilled team of master ice carvers has taken 2 million pounds of ice to create your festive journey through the rainforests of the world. See monkeys, beautiful birds, butterflies, colorful orchids and more with a giant ice slide and Shivers Ice Bar.
Brighten up the holidays with a tradition for families and groups alike. A mile-long trail with more than one million lights and lighted scenes take you around the Moody Gardens property with spectacular views of Galveston Bay.
Adults: $26.95 • Child/Senior: $21.95
Admission: $15.95
Dec. 15 - 25 • Moody Gardens Hotel
Enjoy a spectacular, exhilarating and joyous celebration of the holiday season with an enchanting mix of fantastic food, circus and music. Adults $59 - $109 • Child (3-12) $39 - $109 Infants Free (exception Premium Seats) For info: moodychristmasshow.com• 409-683-4186
VALUE DAYS: Save $5! Sunday - Thursday, Nov. 12 - Dec. 14 (Excludes Thanksgiving) Visit moodygardens.org/holiday_season for Value Days and Group Booking options
For More Information: 800-582-4673 Hotel Reservations: 888-388-8484 moodygardens.org/holiday_season UltraMagTexas.com
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ULTRA CALENDAR
appenings
By Tamara Abel Greer
Pearland Christmas Tree Lighting
Friday, December 1st, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pearland Town Center 11200 Broadway Street pearlandparks.com FREE
Zoo Lights
November 18th – January 14th Houston Zoo 6200 Hermann Park Drive Houstonzoo.org/lights
Dickens on the Strand December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Galveston dickensonthestrand.org
Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo
Photo courtesy of www.pearlandtx.gov
Feel the Christmas spirit come alive the Hometown Christmas Festival. The traditional lighting of the City’s Christmas tree and a special visit from Santa Claus begins at 7 p.m. The tree will be lit with the help of Mayor Tom Reid and Santa. Then, enjoy a live band, play in the snow, or take a horse and carriage ride. Come back out on Saturday, December 2nd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to stroll the Holiday Gift Market, watch local performances, enjoy milk and cookies with Santa, and much more.
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TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights, which takes you on a journey throughout the zoo to see all the holiday displays and lights. The zoo will be illuminated with more than 2 million lights. Stroll through the front plaza and around the Reflection Pool, where musical performances and the majestic oak trees covered in lights set to holiday tunes will delight your senses. Next, follow the trail through the Enchanted Forest, the African Forest, the Watering Hole and all the magical displays. You’ll wind up back at the Reflection Pool for another chance to enjoy this majestic area. There’s so much to discover along the way, including plenty of photo opportunities! The zoo is closed December 24th and 25th. Check the website for “Family Value Nights” with reduced ticket prices.
Pearland Farmer’s Market December 9th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pearland Town Square www.pearlandtowncenter.com FREE
Shop for fresh, locally sourced items at the Pearland Farmer’s Market in its new location. Hosted monthly, the Pearland Farmer’s Market includes an assortment of vendors selling items such as fresh vegetables, handmade soaps, baked goods, honey and plants.
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Galveston’s Strand National Historic Landmark District welcomes tens of thousands of guests, both local and those visiting, to its storied streets each holiday season. In preparation of that, and in advance of its annual Dickens on The Strand festival, Galveston Historical Foundation makes sure downtown’s historic streets look holiday ready. Each November, GHF staff will install 140 wreaths and bows on gas lamps throughout the district; place and decorate the 30 foot Queen’s Christmas Tree in GHF’s Hendley Green park and run eight garland swags across the street, each adorned with oversized Christmas ornaments and 55 feet of garland. “In anticipation and preparation for Dickens 2016, GHF is bringing our spirit back
with boughs of holly and Christmas cheer,” explains Dwayne Jones, Executive Director of Galveston Historical Foundation. “For forty years, GHF has used its own resources to decorate the Strand for the season ahead. The organization raises funds through the event and other efforts so that we can make Galveston a destination for thousands of visitors each December.”
characters invited
The annual holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on six stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a host of other entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorianinspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items. The festival weekend also hosts a multitude of spirited fun with events such as the crowd favorite Dickens Victorian Bed Races; Victorian Costume Contest; and daily parades through Galveston’s National Historic Landmark Strand District. In addition, new and expanded events are planned for all days of the event!
Waugh Drive Bat Colony
December 1st and 15th Waugh Drive Bridge between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway houstontx.gov/parks/batpage FREE
The Houston Area Bat Team offers free, educational “Bat Chats” at the Waugh Street Bridge Observation Deck the first and third Fridays of every month. The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony lives in Houston year round. Every evening at sunset, 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the bridge as a group to feed on area insects creating an impressive sight. The cloud of bats is so immense that when they emerge, the Waugh Drive Bat Colony can often be seen on weather radar. Located in Buffalo Bayou Park, the bat colony can be seen by crowds from a variety of good vantage points. The bats prefer to emerge from the east side of the bridge, often in a whirling vortex to gain height, speed, and as a group to deter predators. The bats tend to emerge after sunset but as a natural event, it isn’t always predictable. Temperatures below 50° or rain sometimes delay or prevent the emergence.
44th ANNUAL - DECEMBER 1, 2 & 3, 2017 - GALVESTON’S WORLD FAMOUS VICTORIAN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SPONSORS ™
continued on page 14 UltraMagTexas.com
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ULTRA HUMOR
The Perfect Tree Honest Lies and Other Misguided Thoughts By Newt Harlan
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A
ll youngsters have a set of benchmarks to use as they count down the days leading up to Christmas. My sisters and I certainly had ours when we were growing up. The first was the start of school just past Labor Day. Then we watched the calendar as it worked up to Halloween at the end of October. Then there were only a few short weeks until Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, Santa made his appearance at the big department stores and folks around town began putting up their outside holiday lights. Each of these milestones was duly noted and our excitement grew as we crossed each date off the feed store calendar hanging on the back of the pantry door, until finally we reached what to us was the most important benchmark of all—the first Saturday morning after school dismissed for the Christmas holidays. This was the day every year when my daddy, my two sisters and I went on our annual search for the perfect Christmas tree. When the morning chores were finished around 9:00 or so, we’d hook up the utility wagon to the old Farmall Cub and put in the ax and a saw and maybe some Cokes and off we’d go down to the patch of pines that grew at the very back of our back pasture, where we’d spend the better part of a half day selecting “the perfect Christmas Tree”. We didn’t have a lot of choices in what brand of tree we’d get, it was either loblolly pine or loblolly pine, since that was all that grew around our place. Now a loblolly pine doesn’t have the best shape for a Christmas tree, being shaped more like an oak or elm than what we picture as a Christmas tree shape, but with a lot of looking and visualizing, we would find a tree two or three years old, that had a real good Christmas tree shape up in the top…that’s what took so long for us to pick out the perfect tree. We’d find one that looked great until we got it down and then as we examined it closely, we’d see it had a flat side or maybe a bare spot or two, so off we’d go again searching for another. Usually after cutting 4 or 5 trees, we’d find one that was suitable, but we’d always take a couple of the others we’d cut earlier, just in case we had to do some filling in or other cosmetic repairs.
When we got back to the house, mama would inspect our choice and make suggestions whether we needed to drill a hole and insert a branch in the trunk to fill a bare spot, or perhaps just turn the bare spot to the wall where nobody would notice. Finally we’d get the tree in a bucket of wet sand and put it in its place in the house. Almost immediately the house filled with the fresh pine scent that we all associated with Christmas. We’d test all the lights, big and small, matched and mismatched, and string them throughout the branches. Next came all the decorations… antique glass balls, handmade ornaments, handicraft pieces made in school and scouts, and other bits and pieces representing Christmases past, until finally we placed the radiating star with one broken ray ( a long ago casualty) atop the tree. This was followed with draping tinsel and aluminum and cellophane strips called icicles from all the branches. For the final touch, mama would whip up some concoction made from laundry soap beaten with water, which she learned from the home demonstration club ladies. Whatever it was, it was supposed to look like snow and she spread it on all the branches of the tree. Finally, we’d turn off all the lights in the room and plug in the tree lights and TA- DA…The Perfect Christmas Tree. No matter that it had a few bald spots, no matter that maybe there was a branch or two that had been inserted and glued into holes drilled into the trunk, no matter that it was so top-heavy it had to be tied to nails in the wall so that it would stand, no matter that it was crowned with a broken star and no matter it was coated with a concoction that was supposed to be snow, but only succeeded in making the house smell like a laundry room instead of the evergreen scents of Christmas, no matter any of a half-hundred other flaws our tree may have had, it was the Perfect Christmas Tree. In retrospect, what made these trees perfect was not the way they looked, what made these trees perfect was the same thing that makes every Christmas tree perfect, all the love and traditions that go into each of them. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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ULTRA FAMILY
Celebrate the
Season of Giving 5 WAYS
TO HELP THOSE IN NEED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Giving is the true spirit of the holiday season. However, in addition to gift-giving in the traditional sense, there are other meaningful ways to make a difference in your community and give back to those in need - including the 3.5 million people who experience homelessness each year, according to the United States Census Bureau - during one of the most critical times of the year. By giving money, time or material items, or partaking in other small acts of kindness, you can spread holiday cheer and help instill a sense of giving in others. To get started, here are some ideas you can put into action this holiday season.
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Donate to a Food Pantry
Churches and food pantries are always in need of donations, and the holiday season is a great time to help provide a meal for someone who may not otherwise be able to eat. Canned goods and other non-perishable items like cereal, oatmeal, rice, peanut butter, canned tuna and spices are often needed. Some pantries can also use non-edible items, such as soap and other toiletries, and simply donating money is always an option, as well.
Getty Images
communities where they were collected. Learn more about how you can get involved at onewarmcoat.org/youcanhelp.
Attend a Benefit Event Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
Concerts, theatrical performances, walks and other exhibits are often held during the holiday season with the proceeds going to benefit a local charity or service organization. Many community service clubs also offer benefit dinners or bake sales that can provide a positive impact for those in need in your area.
Because extended exposure to cold weather can be dangerous, soup kitchens and homeless shelters are often more crowded during this time of year. While soup kitchens and other aid facilities often see an influx of volunteers during the holidays, most are still grateful for the extra hands to help serve a meal or assist with other tasks around the facilities.
Adopt a Family Host a Coat Drive
There are many organizations that can help you sponsor a family in your area to help provide gifts and other necessities for over the holiday season. Most can provide you with a list of items each family member needs and wants to make shopping easier. (Family Features)
Providing clothing, specifically coats, for the less fortunate during the colder months is another way to assist those in your community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a warm winter coat is considered a "budget extra" for nearly 15 percent of Americans living in poverty. National non-profit organization, One Warm Coat, is dedicated to providing a free, warm coat to any person in need. The organization has facilitated more than 27,000 coat drives nationwide and has a goal of collecting 1 million coats this winter in celebration of its 25th season of giving. Through its six-step process, the non-profit provides all the tools necessary to hold a coat drive and to distribute the coats in local
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ULTRA PETS
Introducing
NEW PETS into the household College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Bringing home a new furry friend can be an exciting experience. However, there are a lot of responsibilities to consider in pet ownership, too. including time, energy, and commitment. After all, pets are a part of the family, too
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MAN CENTERS The Center for Men’s Health Low Testosterone Fertility Evaluation Urinary Frequency Prostate & Urinary Issues Dr. Sarah Griffin, lecturer at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said to carefully consider pet ownership, especially if children are in the picture. “Pets can be great additions to a family, but parents must be leaders in showing children how to interact with and care for the pet,” Griffin said. “Younger children need constant supervision when they are interacting with the pet so that the child is not accidentally harmed and the pet is not traumatized by rough handling.”
Sexual Dysfunction
Additionally, parents should be attentive to signals that the pet is stressed, such as a tucked tail or pinned ears. In this case, the pet may be overwhelmed and need a safe place in the home for quiet time. “For dogs, this could mean the crate,” Griffin said. “Cats prefer towers or condos to climb on and get away from the chaos below.”
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If pets are already living in the household, owners should determine whether the existing pets would get along with new pets. In general, Griffin said kittens and puppies are more accepting of new pets, while older cats and dogs may require some time to adjust to the change in their lives. For introducing a cat to another cat or kitten, Griffin suggested housing the new cat in room that can be closed with a door for a least a month. This way, the new cat can get familiar with their new home. “The cats will be able to smell each other but won’t be able to have any face-toface interaction,” Griffin said. “After this adjustment period, the cats can be allowed to meet through a baby gate or kennel. This will limit any physical or threatening contact and safely allow their first face-toface interaction.”
Est. 1996
A similar method can be used for introducing a cat to a dog. However, when the face-to-face interaction is allowed, the dog should be on a leash so they don’t accidentally or intentionally hurt one another.
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“Make sure there is an escape route if the cat feels threatened,” Griffin said. When introducing two dogs to each other, Griffin recommended keeping both dogs on leashes until neither animal is showing any signs of aggression. Additionally, taking the dogs to a neutral territory, such as a park or front yard, for an initial introduction can help the animals be more accepting and less territorial. Feeding in separate areas can also decrease the chance for aggression.
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Passing THE TORCH
Share the history. As your offspring begin taking on their hosting duties, be sure to explain the significance of any traditions they may not know. They may be aware that you always served a certain dish, but not realize it all began with a story involving a cherished loved one. This might also be the perfect time for the family to sit down together and research your history online. When you explore your heritage and learn about family members, everyone can feel more connected.
for Holiday Hosting ULTRA BABY BOOMERS
For most families, the holidays are filled with time-honored traditions, many which have been passed down from one generation to the next. However, when the time comes for the next generation to begin carrying the torch for those treasured traditions, the transition can be a bit bumpy.
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F
or some seniors, spending the holidays as a guest and not the host can be a bit unsettling after years of orchestrating the festivities. For inspiration, check out resources such as AARPAdvantages.com where members can find savings on travel and gifting needs to help switch to the guest mindset. With the right approach, handing down traditions and helping your children host their first holiday can bring its own set of rewards. Hand down the heirlooms. Although they may be deeply beloved items, as you pass on hosting duties, go ahead and pass on the family pieces that make the holidays complete. Watching your children and grandchildren enjoy a bountiful holiday meal using the same china your own grandmother set out for the holidays is sure to elicit warm memories and still enable you to enjoy them as you create new ones. Similarly, if there are ornaments or decorations that have held a place of honor in your home through the years, gift them to your children so those same memories can be created anew. Shipping these treasured items ahead of time can ensure gifts arrive safely and securely before your arrival. UltraMagTexas.com
Offer suggestions, not directives. When you've established a pattern for hosting activities, it can be difficult to watch someone else take a different approach, especially if you see mistakes being made that you learned the hard way. Just remember that you, too, had to learn the ropes and often mishaps create funny stories to share at future family occasions. You might offer tips and ideas from time to time, but once you've handed over the reins, allow the new host to do the navigating. You may find yourself the recipient of a few panicked calls - or you may not. Either way, remain helpful in your new role while letting someone else establish new traditions. Be a good guest. As you may remember, hosting a holiday celebration can be stressful. Do your part to ease the nerves by being a gracious guest. Offering to bring a small item such as the centerpiece flowers can go a long way. Also practice traditional etiquette, such as cleaning up after yourself and honoring household practices like removing shoes at the door. Handing over the holiday hosting role can feel a bit unsettling, but remember that passing on that responsibility gives you the opportunity to enjoy the festivities from a whole new vantage point and more time for playing with grandchildren. (Family Features) 13
HAPPENings continued from page 5
2018 TAAF Winter Games of Texas January 12th -14th TAAF.com
The Winter Games of Texas are coming to Pearland after a 12-year run in Frisco, Texas. Sanctioned by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF), the 3-day event debuts in Pearland January 12-14, 2018. The TAAF Winter Games of Texas is a sports festival created for Texas amateur athletes of all ages and skill levels patterned after the Olympics. Amateur athletes are invited to register for 15 different competitions: archery, youth basketball, football, golf, gymnastics, kickball, lacrosse, martial arts, pickleball, powerlifting, youth soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and wheelchair rugby.
“We’re very excited to host this prestigious event in Pearland and look forward to welcoming athletes from across the state to our City,” says Kim Sinistore, executive director of the Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau. “TAAF is extremely excited about the confirmation of the City of Pearland hosting the 2018-2019 TAAF Winter Games of Texas. The location, quality of sport venues, along with the “South Texas” welcoming attitude are the perfect ingredients for an awesome event,” according to Mark Lord, executive director of TAAF. Register www. TAAF.com. Events will play out at various venues throughout Pearland.
The Nutcracker Ballet December 8th, 9th and 10th The Stafford Centre 10505 Cash Road, Stafford balletforte.org 281-799-7554
family outing during the holiday season with tickets starting at just $12 and ample and free parking at the Stafford Centre.
Pre-professional ballet company BalletForte presents its 22nd annual full-length Nutcracker ballet at the Stafford Centre Dec. 8-10, featuring a cast of more than 100 dancers from the local area. It’s the perfect
Directed by Michael Banigan and Dianne Jarrell, BalletForte provides training and professional-quality performance opportunities for serious dancers from the Houston area. continued on page 19
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HOUSTON ASTROS 2017 WORLD SERIES
CHAMPIONS ULTRA SPORTS By Bobby McCallitt
HISTORY E AR N E D
✩
THE HOUSTON ASTROS AND LOS ANGELES DODGERS REWROTE THE WORLD SERIES RECORD BOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR EPIC SEVEN-GAME SERIES. Here’s a look at some of the crazy records the 2017 World Series produced:
✩ ✩
3 – First Game 7 where both starting pitchers failed to go three innings. 4 – Batters hit-by-pitches thrown by Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullars Jr. in Game 7.
✩ ✩
4 – Consecutive games with a home run by World Series MVP George Springer.
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
14 – Players to hit at least one home run.
5 – Total home runs by Springer in the World Series, tying Reggie Jackson (1977) and Chase Utley (2009).
It was a magical season indeed for the Houston Astros. Back in 2014, Sport Illustrated magazine made the bold claim that the Houston Astros would be the 2017 World Series champions
17 – Strikeouts by Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger. 25 – Total home runs hit between the two teams.
and that claim was vindicated. Ben Reiter, the man behind Sports Illustrated’ s initial Astros
29 – Total bases by Springer, which included eight extra base hits.
GO ‘ STROS !
2017 championship prediction, is cashing in on his fortune telling skills. He predicts the Astros will repeat as World Series champions in 2018. Here’s hoping he’s right!
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BON APPÉTIT
ELEGANT PRIME RIB & YORKSHIRE PUDDING ULTRA FOOD by Anice Shelton Christmas is upon us. For my family, we have two meals that are set in stone: tamales on Christmas Eve and a prime rib on Christmas day. When I think of prime rib this always comes to mind: “And he, he himself...the Grinch... carved the roast beast” from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss. Roast beast...for years I thought roast beef was truly called “roast beast” thanks to Dr. Seuss. I am the daughter of generations of cattle ranchers and we ate beef all the time, but I only ate prime rib in restaurants. My mother was a fabulous cook and yet, I think it intimidated her. It intimidates a lot of cooks. It’s an expensive cut of meat that you don’t want to mess up. You spend a lot of money and if you over cook it until it is as dry as shoe leather (which is easy to do) you will probably never try to cook it again. The good news is that during holidays the stores greatly reduce the price and it is a lovely meal to serve your family.
RULE 1: You must have a meat thermometer. I prefer a digital probe attached to a small electronic thermometer that sounds an alarm when your desired temperature is reached. These are easily found at stores and online for as little as $15 and are worth the small investment. If you don’t want to buy a probe thermometer, then you definitely want one that will sit in the meat as you roast but you need to be vigilant about checking it.
RULE 2: You must put the roast
Believe it or not, I have stumbled onto a practically foolproof method of cooking a beautiful prime rib that will turn out perfectly delicious. Most conventional recipes call for you to sear the roast and then cook it low and slow. This method is the OPPOSITE and you roast it low and slow and then finish it off with a sear in the hot oven or a cast-iron skillet. Plan ahead with this because it can take up to 5 hours or more in the oven plus you need to add time for it to come to room temperature and for resting.
uncovered in the refrigerator the night
With this method, you can hold the meat over for a bit if it gets done before you are ready to serve and you end up with a juicy, tender roast with a nice crisp crust.
RULE 3: You must let the roast come to
before cooking to help it dry out a bit...this will help you achieve a nice crust. Place it on a rack over a plate or pan and just leave it alone.
room temperature before putting it in the oven. This will take ~2-3 hours depending
I have a few “rules” about baking a prime rib and trust me, you want to follow these rules! 16
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on the size.
Plan on 2 servings per pound if it is boneless or 2 servings per rib if it has bones. When you order it from the butcher, just tell him how many bones you want. I prefer the bonein style because the ribs are pretty tasty or you can cut them off and use as a roasting rack...and often times the bone-in cut is cheaper. Here comes the hard part--estimating how long it is going to take to cook. I usually get a 3 bone roast and leave the bones on. We prefer our meat rare to medium rare, so at 200 degrees it takes about 4 hours to cook. You need to plan on a minimum of 3 hours and closer to 6 if you like your meat well done or have a very large roast. The good news is that if the meat is cooking faster than you are preparing for, you CAN cut the heat back and it will slow down. If it is cooking too slowly, try turning the oven up to 250 degrees for a while.
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PRIME RIB The night before serving, unwrap the roast and place it on a rack over a plate and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator.
— Roy and Emily S.
2-3 hours before cooking (depending on the size of your roast) take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. This is when you need to do a little math. If you want to serve your roast at 7:00 pm and you have a 3 bone roast and you like it medium rare, you need to plan to take the roast out no later than 11:00 am to be safe. This gives you 3 hours to let it come to room temperature and a little over 4 hours for cooking. At this point, if you decide to remove the ribs do so now and you can use them as a roasting rack.
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Liberally season with salt and pepper or, my favorite, a “Montreal Style” seasoning blend. continued on page 18 UltraMagTexas.com
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BON APPÉTIT continued from page 17 Place the roast fat cap up on a rack (or the bones if you cut them off). Sometimes I forgo the rack and make a rack of small Yukon gold potatoes, which soak up the juices and become a tasty side dish. I like to place a few sprigs of rosemary under the roast for additional flavor. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Once the oven has reached the temperature, place the uncovered roast (on the rack) in the middle of the oven. Insert the probe or thermometer in the middle of the roast taking care not to hit the bone. If you are using a digital probe thermometer, set it to the following temperatures. These will be below the actual “doneness” temperature but you need to allow for carry-over cooking while it rests. If you want medium rare set it for 120 degrees and for medium set it for 135 degrees. Now sit back and let it go low and slow...watch the temperature as it goes up and plan accordingly. Adjust the oven temperature if needed (this is why the probe type is so handy). Once it has reached the desired temperature, remove the roast from the oven, place it in a warm spot in the kitchen and cover it with foil. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Allow the temperature of your oven to come up to 500 degrees.
Sift into a bowl the flour and salt. Make a well in center and pour in the milk. Stir in the milk. Beat in the eggs and add the water. Beat the batter until large bubbles rise to the surface. (The batter can be covered and refrigerated for 1 hour then beaten again before cooking.) Pour ¼ inch hot beef drippings or melted butter into a 9 x 12 inch baking dish or 6 regular muffin cups. Heat the dish or pan in the oven until hot. Pour in the batter and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350°F and bake 10 - 15 minutes longer, until puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately. Source: Joy of Cooking
Place the uncovered roast back in the oven and roast for another 6-10 minutes (watch carefully!) until you have a lovely brown crust on the exterior. Remove from the oven and carve and serve...it does not need to rest again because it is only in the oven a very short amount of time and the heat is only penetrating the outside.
"My family enjoys prime rib with creamy horseradish sauce and Yorkshire pudding."
YORKSHIRE PUDDING Preheat oven to 400°F. All ingredients at room temperature. ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour ½ tsp. salt ½ cup milk 2 large eggs, beaten ½ cup water Hot beef drippings or melted butter for pan(s) 18
CREAMY HORSERADISH SAUCE: 1 cup sour cream (I like Mexican style crema) ¼ cup prepared horseradish 1 TBS Dijon mustard dash of Worcestershire 1 tsp white vinegar salt and pepper to taste Stir all ingredients together and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Can keep up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. UltraMagTexas.com
HAPPENings
Big Horn BBQ
continued from page 14
at 2300 Smith Ranch Road is a locally owned Pearland restaurant with a fun western vibe, smoked-to-perfection meats and a variety of genres playing live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Nutcracker Ballet
BalletForte Company members audition for and are accepted to attend summer programs offered by professional ballet companies nationwide. The BalletForte Guild also presents its annual Clara’s Tea from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 at Safari Texas in Sugar Land, featuring “The Nutcracker in a Nutshell,” refreshments, a meet-and-greet with members of the cast, a silent auction and boutique. Tickets are $30 per person for the tea and must be purchased in advance. BalletForte is a nonprofit organization and all donations to the organization are tax-deductible.
Live Music in Pearland
music on Fridays and Saturdays.
Floyd’s Cajun Seafood
at 1300 Broadway is a local favorite that offers a great selection of Cajun inspired dishes with a touch of Texas. A variety of genres are featured with live bands performing weekly on the patio every Friday and Saturday night.
Hosting an event in 2018?
Wondering where you can go to catch some live music in Pearland? Here are 3 good options:
Let our readers know about it! To be considered for publication, the information must be received two months prior to the issue date. Please email a 100-word-maximium synopsis to editor@ UltraMagTexas.com. Be sure to include the event name, date, time, venue, cost and website. Please send high-resolution jpeg photos in a separate email.
King’s Biergarten
at 1329 Broadway offers authentic German/Austrian cuisine in a casual, inviting setting. The relaxed atmosphere is family friendly and includes live
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ULTRA LEGAL
ESTATE PLANNING, PART II (or why you need to update your will) Courtesy of Byron K. Barclay
In 2008, I prepared a standard package of estate planning documents for a nice couple in their seventies. I bumped into Mrs. in the grocery store last week, and she asked me to call her about changing her will. Life circumstances had changed for her and her husband. Although she had been in her early seventies and her husband in his late seventies when we executed their wills and other documents, her primary executor, a son, had passed away. She wanted to make sure that these changes in her life were accounted for in the way she wanted them to be. Since 2008, the Texas Legislature has made several changes to the statutory power of attorney. While the power of attorney I prepared for Mr. and Mrs. in 2008 were still probably enforceable, the changes in the law are significant in that there could be some scenarios that might arise for Mr. or Mrs. that could be addressed in the new legislative form. Other changes have been made to the medical power of attorney, and of course there have been nearly ten years of judicial decisions on wills, trusts and guardianships that needed to be taken into account. Of course these changes were just the legal circumstances that Mr. and Mrs. were facing now that she was in her early eighties, and he in his late eighties. Their family circumstances had also changed, since their documents were prepared in 2008. Grandchildren who were minors in 2008 were now married. College costs for those grandchildren had been paid, and the grandchildren were now thinking about their first homes. Of their three children, Mr. and Mrs.’s oldest son had tragically passed away about three years prior. Mr. and Mrs. had also reconciled with their youngest child, who was to receive only a token bequest
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in the 2008 will. Now, nearly ten years later, Mr. and Mrs. had not only mended fences with their youngest, but that child had also matured and his relationship with his parents was greatly improved. So much, that Mr. and Mrs. now wanted to not only include their youngest in their will, but wanted Jr. to serve as an alternate executor under the will, and also as the primary choice for guardian for Mr., should a nursing home be in his future. The only thing that does not change is change itself, and Mr. and Mrs. found themselves in 2017 wanting to fine tune their estate planning documents to ensure that the changes in their life were reflected in their estate planning documents. A family trust could be established for greatgrandchildren to help the next generation with college costs, assistance for down payments on grandchildren’s first homes was now in the cards, and of course long term care insurance, purchased in their sixties, would now help Mr. and Mrs. as their remaining years began to wind down. Estate planning ensures peace of mind, first and foremost, and as their life changed, Mr. and Mrs. were so glad that I bumped into them at the grocery store to help put those life changes back into order.
BIOGRAPHY & DISCLAIMER
BYRON K. BARCLAY BKBarclay@lawyer.com www.BarclayLawFirm.com 713.224.2334 Byron K. Barclay is a Houston, Texas attorney and Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. In addition, Mr. Barclay handles estate planning matters and is regularly appointed to serve various courts in Harris County as an Attorney Ad Litem for the estates of persons who have
died without a will. Mr. Barclay also handles commercial litigation, divorces, family law and child custody issues. The foregoing article is offered only as a public service to this community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site and column should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author. Nothing in this column or on any website where it may be published is intended to create an attorneyclient relationship and nothing posted by Mr. Barclay constitutes legal advice. Should you have questions, you may forward them via email to Mr. Barclay at BKBarclay@ lawyer.com. Questions may be edited for length or clarity. Mr. Barclay will choose questions submitted for brief answers and possible publication. Mr. Barclay reserves the right to choose which questions to answer, and submission of a question does not guarantee that he will provide an answer.
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