IN SIDER Volume 7 + OCTOBER 2008
The CommunityAmerica Magazine YOUR WORLD. Get out. Get fresh. Get local.
Welcome to the FALL edition of the INsider. Ah, fall. The kids are back to school and a chill is in the air. But just because summer’s gone doesn’t mean that the fun’s over, too. Look inside to discover how to have a blast this autumn, and make a few seriously tasty meals while you’re at it. You (and your taste buds) will be really glad you did.
(NCUSIF), which is backed by the U.S. Government. And for large deposits, we also have Excess Share Insurance (ESI) for primary savings accounts (i.e., 00 suffix: regular share savings or trust) for an additional $250,000 for regular share deposit balances over $100,000 up to the amount of $350,000. And don’t worry, all this fancy stuff comes at no cost to you.
CommunityAmerican
real advantages
Without a doubt, today’s economic climate is a stormy one, and banks have been hit just as hard as anybody by a little bad financial weather. But we at CommunityAmerica have steered clear of the storm and are not only surviving, but thriving in the financial world. And just to make sure you’re fully reassured about the safety of your money, we want to make you aware of some of the security measures we have in place to insure your deposits.
• First off, you should know that we’re fully insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund
• CommunityAmerica is a responsible lender, and doesn’t offer sub-prime mortgage loans. That means we have been able to avoid the significant losses that many financial institutions are currently experiencing. Instead, we’re concentrating on growing the credit union to better serve you.
• We have a strong balance sheet and are well capitalized. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
defines well-capitalized credit unions at 7 percent equity to asset ratio. CommunityAmerica is at nearly 12 percent. In short, what you really need to know is that we’re working every day to keep your money as safe and secure as possible. That’s why we’ve been able to supply our members with over $14 million in ownership participation dividends over the past 10 years – a statistic that we’re pretty proud of. As always, we’re striving to come up with even more ways we can best serve you and your personal financial needs. We look forward to building even further financial success and stability – both yours and ours – in the future.
JUst for kids
Treat yourself to some Halloween tricks. Hey, kids! As you all know, Halloween’s coming up fast, and pretty soon you’ll have more candy than you know what to do with. That’s why I’m here to make sure you get more than just a stomachache this October 31st. Follow my tips and tricks to maximize your fun (and treat bag).
TIP 1: SAFETY FIRST We know it sounds dumb, but being safe on Halloween is easy, and doesn’t have to interfere with the trick-or-treating. Just follow these easy steps: • Take your buddies. They’re fun, and they help keep you safe. • Stick to the sidewalks – because that’s what they’re there for, right? • Wear a brightly colored costume that won’t block your vision. • Stick to familiar neighborhoods. • Only approach houses that have lights on and look inviting. • Carry a flashlight. • Let your parents inspect your candy to make sure it’s safe to eat.
TIP 2: GET CREATIVE Sure, you could just go to a store to buy a costume, but what’s the fun in that? Instead, try and make your own costume using only your imagination and stuff you can find around the house. You’ll get a big kick out of creating you own outfit, and people handing out Halloween treats tend to appreciate that you aren’t wearing the same
costume they’ve already seen 1,000 times. And that means more smiles – and candy – for you.
TIP 3: STRATEGIZE AND MAXIMIZE At Halloween, almost everybody gives out some kind of candy, but there are a few people in every neighborhood who go above and beyond their Halloween duty and give out tons of cool stuff to trick-ortreaters who visit their front doors. The key to a successful Halloween trip is to find as many of these fine folks as you can, and make sure you get to their front doors. If you’re an old pro at the trick-ortreat routine, then you know what I’m talking about. But even if you’re not, the jackpots can still be found with ease. A good place to start is with older siblings or friends. Any older kid worth his salt will help you find the best candy stashes in the neighborhood. And once you’re out and about on Halloween night, ask other costumed crusaders where they’ve found the best treats around.
That’s it, kids. You’ve got all the trick-or-treat tips that ol’ Socky knows. Now go and get planning – the big night is only days away!
For loads of cool costume ideas, check out http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com 1
Simple, fresh meals right from your own backyard.
HARVEST RECIPES
Everybody knows that the best meals begin with the best ingredients. To make sure you’re eating well, try one of our delicious seasonal dishes that your family will love.
Polenta Cake with Warm Apple and Pine Nut Chutney
Sweet Potato Quesadillas with Goat Cheese & Green Chiles 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 tablespoons butter 4 ounces goat cheese 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon pinch nutmeg salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus additional as needed 6 flour tortillas, about 10 inches in diameter
Place sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan and add water to just cover. Cook over medium heat until sweet potatoes are just fork-tender. (Cook potatoes until they are about as tender as you would for potato salad.) Drain and place potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add butter, goat cheese, chiles and seasonings. Mash lightly with a fork until just combined. (Do not mash until smooth like mashed potatoes; leave them slightly chunky.) Divide the sweet potato filling among the six tortillas and fold over to create the quesadillas. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the filled tortillas, two at a time, in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until crispy and brown. Repeat with remaining filled tortillas, adding more oil as needed, until all the quesadillas are cooked. Cut each quesadilla into thirds. Makes 6 servings
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For the cake: 2 cups butter, softened 1 (16-ounce) package confectioners’ sugar 8 eggs, beaten 2 ¼ cups finely ground cornmeal or polenta (12 ounces) 1 cup less 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (4 ounces) 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract grated zest of 3 lemons For the chutney: 3 cups diced apples ½ cup pine nuts, toasted* ¼ cup brandy 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons cold butter For the cake: Heat oven to 375 degrees and butter two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans. Line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar together until creamy and light. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until all of the eggs are blended in and the batter is pale and fluffy. (If the mix looks like it’s starting to separate, add 1 teaspoon of the flour, then continue.) Combine the cornmeal, flour and baking powder in another bowl. Beat the vanilla extract and lemon zest into the egg mixture, then fold in the dry ingredients. Spoon into prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes or until risen and golden, but the center is still just a little moist and mixture wobbles under the crust. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving. For the chutney: In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except the butter. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20-30 minutes or until the apples are soft and the sauce becomes the consistency of maple syrup. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Serve the chutney warm over slices of the polenta cake. Makes 8 servings * To toast the pine nuts, spread them in a single layer in a baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 5 to 7 minutes or just until golden.
And to make our recipes as delicious for your wallet as they are for your taste buds, check out your local farmer’s market. For more information, visit thecitymarket.org (Kansas City), soulardmarket.com (St. Louis) or topekafarmersmarket.com (Topeka).
Butternut Squash & Arugula Lasagna Cauliflower Soup with White Truffle and Parmesan 3 bacon slices, chopped 1 cup chopped yellow onion ¼ cup chopped celery 3 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups organic low-sodium chicken broth 6 cups cauliflower florets 1 cup heavy whipping cream ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus additional as needed for topping, divided salt and pepper, to taste truffle oil (may substitute olive oil or other oil) Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the chopped bacon, onion, celery and garlic. Sauté, stirring frequently, until bacon is lightly browned. Add chicken broth and cauliflower and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 20 minutes. Add cream. Remove from heat. Purée using an immersion blender or, in batches, carefully ladle into a blender and blend until smooth, according to manufacturer’s directions. Return to the heat and heat over low heat until hot, stirring frequently. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, ladle soup into cups, drizzle with truffle oil and sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings
Recipes submitted by TK Peterson, executive chef TEN Restaurant, Lawrence, Kansas
3 medium butternut squash ¼ cup olive oil, plus additional as needed for brushing salt and pepper, to taste 1 (9-ounce) package no-boil lasagna 1 (15-ounce) carton ricotta cheese 1 cup mascarpone cheese 2 eggs 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups sliced mushrooms 8 ounces baby arugula ½ cup diced roasted red peppers, drained 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Slice the butternut squash in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Brush the cut surface of the squash with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place flesh side up on a baking sheet. Roast at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Scoop out flesh of squash, leaving rind and place flesh in the work bowl of a food processor. Add ricotta, mascarpone cheese and eggs and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat a large sauté pan heat over medium-high heat. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and sauté garlic until soft, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, 1-2 minutes or until soft. Add arugula and cook, stirring frequently, until just wilted. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Add roasted red peppers. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray coating or brush lightly with olive oil. Spread a thin layer of the butternut squash mixture on the bottom of the pan and then place about 1/3 of the lasagna sheets on top of mixture. (Cut lasagna sheets to fit, if necessary.) Spoon about 1/3 of the squash mixture over lasagna, then spread lightly to cover evenly. Top with about 1/3 of the sautéed vegetables. Spoon about 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the vegetables and spread lightly to cover evenly. Repeat each layer, in order, two more times. Top with shredded mozzarella. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. Makes 8 servings
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Autumn Activities
Fall into a season of fun. While summer may be the most popular season for getting out and about, it definitely isn’t the only season that’s synonymous with loads of outdoor fun. Whether it’s picking the perfect pumpkin or getting lost in the maize maze, you can have one rip-roarin’ good time in autumn – and without getting seriously sweaty like you would in the middle of summer. So grab your favorite sweatshirt and a good pair of jeans and come along as we explore the greatest pumpkin patches in CommunityAmerica country.
CAROLYN’S COUNTRY COUSINS Without a doubt the biggest and baddest pumpkin patch around, Carolyn’s Country Cousins in Liberty, Missouri, doesn’t stop with just big orange gourds (although they do have over 50 acres of them). The activities here are endless. Want to go on a hayride? Done. Train ride? You betcha. Petting zoo? Uh-huh. Corn maze? Absolutely. Plus, if you head out on the weekends, you can check out even more cool stuff like pig races, a carousel and special events that both you and the kids will love. “But surely,” you say, “a place such as this must cost a fortune.” Nope. You can get an individual pass for $8 or a family pass
for $30 (prices subject to change). Pretty reasonable for what amounts to an entire day of entertainment. For event schedules, directions, contact information and more, just hop online and jet over to carolynscountrycousins.com.
they don’t charge a whole lot for admission, feel free to donate as much as you want. It will most certainly go to a great cause. For more information, go to rellekefarms.blogspot.com or call 618.931.1529.
RELLEKE FARMS
WESTON RED BARN FARM
This pumpkin patch, located just north of St. Louis in Granite City, Illinois, is definitely a horse of a different color. Sure, it has all the activities like corn mazes and petting zoos that you see at most patches, but it also features cool and totally unique activities like camel rides, live music and straw slides that you’ll find at no other patch around. And as if you needed any extra incentive to have a little outdoorsy autumn fun, Relleke Farms donates a portion of each weekend’s profits to a different local charity. So even though
If tasty natural treats are your cup of tea, then your taste buds will really love the Weston Red Barn Farm. This pumpkin patch and petting zoo also features a country store that is chock full of delicious delicacies for the whole family. They’ve got private label jams, jellies, butters, preserves, soups, salsas, olives, dips and even varietals and specialty foods that aren't usually found in even the most upscale of grocery stores. Plus, these delicious morsels are very reasonably priced, so you can eat very well for considerably less than you’d spend at a gourmet store. Any day is a good day to visit the Farm. Give them a call at 816.386.5437, or stop on by. The Farm is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm.
$75 for a getting $75 brake job: for opening a checking account:
Bad good Make sure you spend it wisely.
This credit union federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For new checking accounts only, defined as new checking relationship with credit union opened between 9-22-08 and 12-31-08. Individuals with existing CommunityAmerica checking account in household, or who have closed one of our checking accounts within previous three months, do not qualify. Available on the Free, Interest or Premier Checking for personal accounts only. Limits: one per person, one per account, not valid with any other offers. Minimum age to open account is 18 years old. Other qualification requirements may also apply. Upon opening of checking account and funding with a minimum of $100, member will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card. Additional $25 Visa Gift Card will be mailed within 30 days after the receipt of the first payroll direct deposit. We may report to the IRS the value of any premium, and a 1099 will be issued at year-end. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the applicant. Annual Percentage Yield on Premier Checking is 0.60%. APY on Interest Checking is 0.40%. This credit union federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
North Kansas City Hospital 2800 Clay Edwards Dr, 4th Floor (in “The Link”) North Kansas City, MO 64116
Prairie VillagE hy-vee 7620 State Line Rd Prairie Village, KS 66208
North Oak 9310 North Oak Trfy Kansas City, MO 64155
Bresette’S Sun fresh 7613 NW Prairie View Rd Kansas City, MO 64151
Englewood Hy-vee 207 NE Englewood Rd Kansas City, MO 64118 LibertY hy-vee 1332 Kansas St Liberty, MO 64068
White Oak 7932 N Oak Trfy Kansas City, MO 64118 Blue Valley 6280 W 135th St Overland Park, KS 66223 Nall Hills 5601 W 95th St Overland Park, KS 66207
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Claycomo 8100 NE US 69 Hwy Pleasant Valley, MO 64068
23rd StreeT Hy-vee 1525 E 23rd St Independence, MO 64055 40 Highway Hy-vee 4545 S Noland Rd Independence, MO 64055 Blue Ridge 11501 Blue Ridge Blvd Kansas City, MO 64134 Blue Springs Hy-vee 601 W 40 Hwy Blue Springs, MO 64014
Noland ROAD 3622 S Noland Rd Independence, MO 64055 topeka 1129 S Kansas Ave Topeka, KS 66612 Topeka hy-vee 2951 SW Wanamaker Rd Topeka, KS 66614 Trans Air 10895 Lambert International Blvd Bridgeton, MO 63044
OPEN SUNDAYS
I N SIDER + OCTO B ER 2 0 0 8
Tiffany Springs 9060 NW Skyview Ave Kansas City, MO 64154
HIDDEN VALLEY 3100 S M-291 Hwy Independence, MO 64058
SHAWNEE station 16110 W 65th St Shawnee, KS 66217
Inside Festival Foods
4357 NE Chouteau Trfy Kansas City, MO 64117
blue springs Wal-Mart 600 NE Coronado Dr Blue Springs, MO 64014
RidgevieW hy-vee 18101 W 119th St Olathe, KS 66061
Shoal Creek 8450 NE Flintlock Rd Kansas City, MO 64157
Chouteau Crossings
blue springS Outer Road 1800 S Outer Rd Blue Springs, MO 64015
topeka
Antioch Annex 5400 NE Antioch Kansas City, MO 64119
Olathe 13590 S Black Bob Rd Olathe, KS 66062
St. Louis
64th Street 6390 N Cosby Ave Kansas City, MO 64151
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NORTHL AND
COMMUNITYAMERICA LOCATIONS
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PO Box 15950 Lenexa, KS 66285-5950
The Financial Makeover has changed their lives. Who’s next? The four Financial Makeover families have decreased debt, increased savings, budgeted expenses and cut costs. They’ve made changes that will stick for life, and you can, too.
This contest has made a major impact on our lives. We used to say, “Someday we’ll save.” But it seemed “someday” just never got here. With the help of Leslie and CommunityAmerica, we now have a plan and understand what to do to secure our retirement." [ the Morrows ] -the Carmichaels APPLY FOR the 2009 CommunityAmerica Financial Makeover!
[ the Weinands ]
Visit your nearest branch or go to cacufinancialmakeover.com to sign up. Hurry, applications must be received by November 30, 2008! [ the Blinzlers ]
[ the Carmichaels ]