The Hamlet

A magazine for Palm Valley residents

Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@EstrellaPublishing.com

Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor Talia Uretksy, Assistant Editor Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.398.5541 info@EstrellaPublishing.com

All contents © 2010-present Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the content of contributing writers and advertisers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.

From Me To You...

I have an issue with quantities, I order too much food at restaurants and my online assessment of sizes leaves much to be desired. There was one amazing deal I found for 100 red solo cups on the internet. Turns out they were red solo cup shot glasses. That incident was over 10 years ago and we still have at least 50 knocking around in the kitchen cabinets somewhere. Then there was the TV console that I bought 3 times before I got the one that was the right size.

My spatial awareness in person, however, is phenomenal. I can buy exactly the right amount of food to fit in our freezer and I can pack anything into a suitcase or car trunk. One time I went on a cruise to Alaska with only a carry on bag, including evening wear, a winter coat and boots. In hindsight though I would not recommend that one, if you are cruising you should not have to limit your clothing options, it takes all the fun out of travelling in style.

As some of you know we have been travelling since January, living out of a small RV and visiting our children who decided that Tennessee and Washington State would be ideal places to live. I planned on bringing a capsule wardrobe and managing with

less. Let me tell you, packing 4 months of clothes in a medium sized suitcase has put even my skills to the test. We have suffered through frozen nights (and pipes - but that is a story for another day), spring showers, hot, humid days, snow (thanks Montana) and even dodged a few tornadoes.

By the time you read this we will be home, (complaining about the heat, I am sure) having travelled across the country and back - and it has been amazing. We have stayed by mountain lakes, in river valleys, on snow capped mountains and checked out a few nice hotels along the way (sometimes you just need to stretch out!). I crossed off a bucket list item and visited Mount Rushmore, well worth the trek, and most importantly got to spend time with our children who moved away. We may not have always been able to get the quantity of time with them that we wanted, but we certainly made up for it in quality; and that my friends, is priceless.

Catherine Uretsky

Editor, The Hamlet Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com

623.398.5541

Cook With Zona

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you decide you’re going to eat really healthy so you buy a bunch of zucchini, and tell yourself you’re going to eat zoodles all week, and then you just eat take out instead because it’s easier? I don’t know, maybe that’s just me, but if that’s you too, take that zucchini and turn it into double chocolate zucchini bread. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the double dose of chocolate from the cocoa in the batter and the generous helping of chocolate chips. The zucchini makes this bread so moist, and has a ridiculously fudge-like texture. In my opinion, I would much rather get my veggies for chocolate bread, than any other way!

If you have any recipes you’d like to share with me I would love to try them out! Email me at ArizonaCooks71@gmail.com.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups zucchini, shredded and pressed

¼ cup greek yogurt

⅓ cup vegetable oil

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

¾ cup all purpose flour

¾ cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Steps

Preheat your oven to 350°

Using a cheese grater, finely grate zucchini over a paper towel. Wrap the zucchini in the paper towel and press it to release some of the moisture. Don’t completely dry it out because this is what makes the bread so moist. Firmly press the zucchini into a measuring cup to measure out 1 ½ packed cups.

In a large mixing bowl combine the greek yogurt, oil, and brown sugar. Beat until combined. Add vanilla and eggs. Stir in the zucchini and set aside. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the wet ingredients. Fold in ⅔ cup of chocolate chips, setting the other ⅓ aside for the top of the bread.

Pour the batter into your loaf pan and sprinkle the top with remaining chocolate chips.

Bake for 45 mins, or until the bread springs back when you touch it and with a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

ENJOY!

We love to see our neighbors’ delicious creations, so send us a picture of your gorgeous double chocolate zucchini bread or tag us on social media @ EstrellaPublishing.

Father’s Day

This year Father’s Day falls on Sunday June 16th. A day dedicated to honoring fathers or the father figure in your life and celebrating fatherhood. The history of Father’s Day dates back to the early 20th century when a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised his six children as a single parent.

In 1909, Sonora proposed the idea of Father’s Day as a way to show appreciation for all that fathers do for their families. Her idea was embraced by many, and the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. Since then, Father’s Day has become a tradition in many countries around the world.

Father’s Day is a time to acknowledge the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children. Fathers are not only providers and protectors but also mentors, role models, and sources of love and support. They teach their children valuable lessons, instill important values, and offer guidance and encouragement throughout their lives.

On Father’s Day, many people show their appreciation for their fathers by giving them gifts, cards, or spending quality time together. It is a day to celebrate the unique bond between fathers and their children and to recognize the impact that fathers have on their families.

So this Father’s Day, take the time to honor and thank the special fathers in your life. Whether it’s your own father, stepfather, grandfather, or another father figure, let them know how much they mean to you and how grateful you are for all that they do. Happy Father’s Day!

The Bug Guy

In the scorching summer days of West Valley, an unseen enemy lurks within the shadows of homes and businesses alike - pests. The brutal heat of the desert only seems to amplify their presence, driving them to seek refuge in the cool comfort of our shelters. But fear not, for there are valiant warriors who have committed themselves to the battle against these invaders - pest control specialists.

Armed with knowledge and experience, these brave men and women navigate the sweltering streets of the West Valley with determination in their hearts and sprays in their hands. From cockroaches scurrying across kitchen floors to ants marching in unison towards forgotten crumbs, no pest is safe from their relentless pursuit. As the sun beats down mercilessly upon the city, the pest control heroes work diligently to protect the homes of the people of the West Valley. With each victory over a swarm of unwelcome guests, they bring peace of mind to those who fear the

invasion of pests. But the battle is far from over. As the summer continues its reign, the pests grow bolder in their attempts to seek refuge from the heat. The call for pest control assistance rings louder and louder, stirring the heroes into action once more. Through their unwavering dedication and expertise, the pest control specialists of West Valley stand as a beacon of hope in the war against pests. Their bravery in the face of adversity shines bright in the sweltering heat, offering relief to those who seek sanctuary within their homes. As the sun sets on another day in the West Valley, the pest control warriors rest knowing that they have once again triumphed over the forces of nature. And as the stars twinkle in the night sky, the people can sleep soundly, knowing that their homes are safe from the invasion of pests - at least for now.

Submitted by Larry Cash, of Estrella Mountain Pest Control

Control Yourself!

Welcome to the series on getting ahold of yourself! We’re here to talk about controlling emotional reactivity. When we think about big emotional reactions that are problematic, we’re generally talking about things like anger and defensiveness, so those will be the basis of our discussion here.

As I’ve said before, anger is the fake news you see or feel that covers up the true story of what’s really going on beneath the surface. I’m not saying you should never be angry. Anger is a normal human emotion, and completely suppressing it is actually a bad idea. The key is to work through your anger, process it, understand it and express it appropriately vs. blindly and recklessly expressing it all over unsuspecting victims. Taking your anger out on others is not fair to them.

When someone has a big reaction to something that another person says or does, it’s because they’re being triggered. That is, something about what that person is saying or doing sets into motion the split-second thought of a past memory, which then sets into motion intense feelings and reactions. Often, the reaction seems to come out of nowhere, but this is just not

true. Instead, that trigger has the person responding as though they’re reliving a past situation or event.

So what flips the switch? Deep inside the brain is a tiny structure known as the amygdala. It’s responsible for constant scanning of the environment to detect threats. The problem is that it can’t really tell the difference between a psychological threat and a physical one, so we respond the same to both. Thus, we become defensive in the face of criticism because we don’t feel safe. That lack of safety and security triggers our fight or flight response, which means we need to protect or defend ourselves. Defensiveness comes out of fear and is an attempt to avoid pain and protect the psyche.

You CAN learn to control your reactions once you figure out where they’re coming from and why. You can work on not taking things personally and shifting your perspective to consider alternative interpretations and responses. Stay tuned for Part II next month…

Submitted by Jennifer Paweleck-Bellingrodt, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist

DISCLAIMER:

Material is for informational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed professional. Material is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with written permission of Dr. Bellingrodt.

Money Matters

This samurai sudoku puzzle is a great way to engage the brain and help develop logic skills. To solve this Samurai puzzle use standard sudoku rules for every 9x9 grid: each digit from 1 to 9 can only appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com