Inspired Living - January - February 2022

January/February 2022

QUICK CRAFTS

for Kids

SETTING FITNESS

Goals

BIEROCKS

Recipe

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January - February

CONTENTS

6 RECIPE 7 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION 8 PLAN FOR SUCCESS 9 GREEN LIVING 10 GETTING CRAFTY 11 PET CARE Bierocks

Find a new love in readings

Setting fitness goals

Try green cleaning

Quick crafts for kids

Does your pet need a diet?

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Mocktails: DRINKS

WITHOUT THE

ZING 5

Recipe

BIEROCKS Nancy Zelenka Harmon Nancy Zelenka Harmon grew up in Great Bend and is a member of a Kansas Home Cooking Group, she now resides in Garden City, KS.

BIEROCKS Bread Dough 2 pkg fast rising yeast 3/4 c. warm water 3/4 c. warm milk 3/4 c. sugar 1-1/2 tsp salt 3/4 c. softened butter 3 eggs 6-1/2 to 7 cups flour

INSTRUCTIONS

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, milk, salt, eggs and 3-1/2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Add remaining flour to make a stiff dough. If dough seems too sticky, you can add up to another ½ cup of flour. Knead 2 minutes in stand mixer or 5-7 minutes by hand.

Place in greased bowl and grease top of

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dough. Let rise until double. Punch down and divide into 24 pieces. Roll out into 6×6 square, add ¼ cup bierock filling to center, fold in 2 opposite corners and then other 2 opposite corners to form a square, sealing corners well. Place on greased baking sheet and bake in preheated 400° oven 15-18 minutes until golden brown. Brush with butter while hot.

Bierock Filling 1½-2 lbs lean hamburger (I use 90%) 1 medium onion, diced 1 medium head cabbage, chopped (6-8 cups) Salt and pepper to taste While your dough is rising, crumble hamburger into large skillet or dutch oven.

Cook until browned, breaking up any large chunks and drain excess grease if needed.

Add diced onion and chopped cabbage, stir and cook until vegetables are soft and any excess moisture has cooked away. Remove from heat and season well. Make sure you can taste the seasoning well as the dough will absorb some when they are baked. Fill and bake as above.

NOTE: You can also make these with frozen Rhodes rolls. I use 2 regular rolls or 1 Texas size roll per bierock. Just thaw and roll out.

Alternative additions: Add allspice and garlic to the meat mixture or add finely chopped jalapenos or add a slice of cheese before closing the bierock.

New Year’s Resolution

Find a New Love in

Reading

For many, a New Year’s resolution to read more books falters as the hustle of daily life gets in the way. However, there are strategies to help.

One of the most important tactics is to schedule the time you have for reading. Think about when your day slows to create a window to read. For instance, is your home quieter in the evening when the kids are winding down, or can you find more free time early in the morning before your housemates’ days begin? Consider how much time you spend watching television and try to replace screen time by diving into a great book.

Eliminate Distractions E-readers and smartphones make compiling good reads in one compact

package simple. However, reading from your phone can introduce distractions like text messages or social media notifications. Once these intrusions make their way onto your device, it can be easy to push aside the book to respond or scroll through your news feed.

You can eliminate electronic interruptions by committing to buying physical copies of your favorite novels and put the phone in silent mode. If you worry that hard-copy books may be more expensive than their digital counterparts, consider signing up for a membership at a local library or looking for bargains at a bookstore.

Mix It Up Avoid becoming bored with reading by choosing stories from a variety of genres. Rather than sticking to the same books or authors, explore the shelves to find a great adventure from a different perspective. As you

navigate your store’s shelves, look for novels geared toward a diverse audience, or ask the store clerk for their recommendation of famous writers.

You can quickly research upcoming books on review-based websites or find lists of highly anticipated inclusions from a variety of authors.

Try to include various genres like selfhelp books, mystery, nonfiction and science fiction to entice your mind and potentially find a new passion for reading.

Join a Book Club Find a network of bookworms in your area by seeking a club to discuss different stories. Most groups will designate the reading material and meet to discuss its themes, ideas and impressions that were gained. It’s an efficient way to stay on track for New Year’s resolutions that are dedicated to getting back to the books.

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Plan for Success

Setting Fitness GOALS

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or break the goal into steps.

Another factor in your ability to achieve your goals is having support. This can be a personal trainer, an online or phonebased health coach (check to see if your health plan or

employer offers this service), or a supportive friend or family member. Talk to them about your goals so they can help you stay accountable and be there to discuss challenges you face along the way.

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There are as many different health goals as people, and no one goal is right for everyone.

Work with a personal trainer to determine what you want to accomplish and set realistic goals.

The National Institutes of Health recommends writing down short- and long-term goals before you begin working on getting fit. Shortterm goals should include steps you will take over the next one to two weeks. Longterm goals should outline where you’d like to be in six months or more. Meeting your short-term goals can inspire long-term success.

Here are three goal-setting steps from the NIH.

1. Short-term goals. Write down at least two short-term goals. This can include buying workout clothes or shoes, joining a gym or signing up for a fitness class. If you’re already active, set a goal to do more physical activity, increase the amount of weights you lift or try a new workout. Self Magazine encourages people to set their own unique goals, about which they are excited and can realistically achieve.

The goals should also be specific. For example, rather than making a goal of being stronger, set a target of doing a certain number of pushups.

2. Long-term goals. Write down at least two long-term goals. These are the goals you will measure your long-term progress against. Be realistic when setting long-term goals.

You won’t be able to do every yoga pose in a couple of weeks. Set measurable, achievable goals.

3. Revisit your goals. Goals can only be helpful if you continuously revisit them and track your progress. As you feel stronger and have more energy, you might decide to step up your goals a notch.

According to Self Magazine, you might need to be flexible about your definition of success. If it becomes apparent that a goal is unattainable, set a smaller, more achievable goal,

Morton

What are your fitness goals? Do you want to look great in a bathing suit? Do you want to improve your overall health or be less winded when climbing stairs? Having a goal in mind can help motivate you to stick with a diet and exercise plan.

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Green Living

Try Green Cleaning Green cleaning can have many definitions, but the term in general refers to using methods that limit or eliminate toxins and waste in our home and environment.

Chemicals can damage the earth’s water, air and ecosystem — to say nothing of our bodies. To avoid them, we might purchase a specifically designed green-cleaning product, or find a new way to use a naturally occurring item — like baking soda, lemons or vinegar.

Some of the easiest ways to make a positive environmental impact, however, don’t involve buying anything at all: Efforts to reduce, repurpose and replace help limit the amount of waste going into local landfills. All of it works in tandem to focus on environmental responsibility, sustainability, safety and health.

If you’re interested in a less wasteful, safer and more efficient way of cleaning, here’s a look at how you can make the process a little greener.

REPURPOSE It’s better to do stuff than to own stuff, so why not make fun projects out of green cleaning?

Toothpaste can be produced with coconut oil, baking soda and a few drops of peppermint.

Of course, you don’t have to be crafty to repurpose. Try boiling cloves, cinnamon or

other herbs instead of using air fresheners from the store.

(Plants with broad green leaves also help filter interior air.) Start composting for a garden full of nutrients that also lessens our impact on the planet. If the idea of tossing paper towels — even the recycled kind — bothers you, try reusable bamboo towels.

They’re washable and rated for use literally thousands of times.

Vinegar can be repurposed as a natural disinfectant, baking soda is an earth-friendly antifungal option and anti-bacterial lemon juice is also a natural bleaching agent.

REPLACE Energy Star-rated appliances are far more efficient than earlier models. LEDs use much less electricity than oldfashioned light bulbs. Tankless water heaters also save energy, since they only operate on demand. Even switching out regular soap and water for antibacterial cleaners is both a cost saving and green choice.

Bacteria that survive the chemicals in those cleaners can become so-called super germs.

REDUCE Buy refills or concentrated versions of everyday products.

It’s often cheaper, of course, but you’re also saving on packaging waste and the emissions from transport.

Switch to low-flow shower heads, and run dishwashers on shorter cycles to save water.

A big part of green living is

lowering energy consumption — and much of it doesn’t require a trip to any store.

Turning off lights, unplugging appliances that are not in use, and limiting use of air conditioning (especially when not at home) can make a notable impact.

Air inside your home or office can be more toxic than it is outside, especially when using chemical-based over-

the-counter cleaners. (Modern insulation is great from an energy perspective, but also traps these substances in the room.) Keeping windows open as often as you can allows fresh air to circulate while pushing potential toxins out. Also consider making donations to charitable organizations that accept things you don’t use, or sell them through online websites.

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9

Getting Crafty

QUICK CRAFTS for Kids

During the long weeks of quarantine or homeschooling, you probably had a whole lifetime’s worth of “I’m bored.” Next time cabin fever sneaks up, here are some DIY activities to keep the kiddos out of your hair.

Painting Rocks Next time you’re at the garden store, pick up some river rocks that are big enough for your kids to work with but small enough for them to pick up themselves. Let the kids loose with craft paint and see what they come up with.

Encourage them to make up a story or to paint the rocks in cheery colors and themes. For extra fun, coat them in sealant and hide them around the yard.

Doodle Art Grab some copy paper and markers. Let the kids create a single-line scribble using the black marker, then fill the shape with different colors of

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markers or crayons for a fun abstract piece.

Rainbow Rice Put uncooked rice in freezer bags, then drop in a few drops of gel food dye.

Shake and mash the rice and food coloring together – this is fun for the little ones – and then pour each color onto a baking sheet. Bake to set the dye and you’re ready to go.

Let the kids make their own pictures and sort the colors.

Scavenger Hunt Have the kids find items that match a color, a letter, a sound and more. If your kids are on the mischievous side, you might want to set some ground rules such as no live animals.

DIY Stress Ball Fill a balloon part of the way with cornstarch. Tie a knot and let the kiddos decorate their new homemade stress balls. These are great for road trips and fidgety kids.

Make Ooblek That’s fun word, isn’t it?

Ooblek is a gooey substance

somewhere between water and slime. Make it by mixing two cups of cornstarch with one cup of water and, if you’d like, food coloring. Mix to combine. Your ooblek should

be solid if you apply pressure and melt back into a liquid when you let go. If the ooblek is too wet, add a little more cornstarch and mix again. Too dry? Do the same with water.

New 2022

DOES YOUR

Pet Care

NEED A DIET? We love our furry, feathered and scaly friends, and want only the best for them. But how do we know when they’re getting maybe a little too much love? Keep reading to find out.

Dogs Dogs are overweight when you can’t feel their ribs without a thick layer of fat over them. Her chest should be wider than her abdomen, with a noticeable upward slant from chest to stomach (waist).You may also notice your dog panting when walking, moving around a little slower and napping a lot.

Cats If you can run your hands over your feline friend and can’t feel their ribs with a thin layer of fat over them, he might be overweight. Next, look at his abdomen for a swinging layer of low hanging fat. He should also have a distinct waist, just like a dog, and you should be able to feel his back bones as well.

Birds It may be a little more difficult to tell if your bird buddy is a little tubby. First, run your hands over your bird and feel her pectoral muscles. If the muscles are bulging out on either side of the keel bone, she may be overweight. Also feel or look for a fatty layer that’s yellow in color all over the bird.This is a condition called lipomatosis, and means the bird is overweight.

Hamsters It can be difficult to know if these pudgy little guys are overweight. Some keys are to see if they feel heavier when you handle them and to look for fat or loose skin anywhere else but their cheek pouches. But the real tell is when you weigh them. A fully grown golden hamster, for instance, should weigh between 5 and 7 ounces and dwarf hamsters between ¾ to 1 ¾ ounces.

To weigh your hamster, put him in a small container with a couple of treats. Weigh the container, then subtract the weight of the empty container and treats from the total.

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Mixology

Mocktails: DRINKS

WITHOUT THE

ZING NON-ALCOHOLIC SANGRIA

DIRTY TONIC

2 cups boiling water 2 black tea bags 2 cinnamon sticks 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups cranberry juice 2 cups orange juice 1 orange, sliced into rounds 1 lemon, sliced into rounds 1 lime, sliced into rounds 1 apple, cored and cut into chunks 3 cups sparkling water 1. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher. Steep for 5 minutes.

Discard the tea bags and stir in sugar.

2. Add the cranberry juice, orange juice and cut fruit.

Refrigerate erate for an hour or overnight.

3. Just ust before serving, add the carbonated water.

Serve over ice.

1 ounce olive brine 1/2 ounce lemon juice 4 ounces tonic water 3 dashes angostura bitters Green olives, for garnish Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into a glass. Garnish with olives.

FROM PLATED

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FROM REAL SIMPLE

STRAWBERRY WATERMELON SLUSH FROM TASTE OF HOME

1/3 cup lemon juice 1/3 cup sugar 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon 2 cups fresh strawberries, halved 2 cups ice cubes Place first four ingredients in a blender and puree.

P Add the ice cubes and blend into a slush.

Cover Story

Life is a journey for Yuchen Wang-Boswell and Korby Boswell

by Susan Thacker sthacker@gbtribune.com

Local photography by Hugo Gonzalez hgonzalez@gbtribune.com

hen Yuchen Wang came to the United States from her home in China, she wasn’t planning on settling down in Great Bend, Kansas. But then she met Korby Boswell in a marketing class at Fort Hays State University, and everything changed.

They were married on Nov. 16, 2018, at the Barton County Courthouse.

Their Great Bend home has several globes, some signed by people who attended their wedding. A U.S. map on one wall shows the national parks they’ve visited together.

Korby is the Marketing & Growth Specialist at CPA firm Adams Brown. In 2019, he was honored as Rookie of the Year by the Association for Accounting Marketing. Yuchen is a faculty member at Barton Community College. She teaches public speaking, photography, interpersonal communication and digital graphic design. She also produces promotional videos for United Way of Central Kansas.

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While Korby hails from Onaga, a small town in Pottawatomie County in northeast Kansas, Yuchen grew up in Xi’An, China, a metropolis with 7.16 million people, on the eastern end of the Silk Road. Steeped in history, Xi’An served as the imperial capital for some 3,000 years. It is famous for the Terra Cotta Army, comprised of thousands of life-size, hand-molded figures buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi. Onaga’s history is considerably newer.

Its claim to fame is a round barn built by the Onaga Fair Association in the 1930s for the Pottawatomie County Fair.

“Onaga has about 700 people, so to me Hays was the big city,” Korby said.

“I grew up on a small farm and did the 4-H thing.”

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Of course, they’d met on FaceTime. He even asked my parents’ permission to marry me on FaceTime, Yuchen said.

Family ties Korby grew up in a farm family but knew his career would take a different path. His grandparents were farmers and his dad still works at a farm but also runs a tree clearing business. His mother is the activities director at the local nursing home.

Yuchen’s paternal grandparents are also farmers, although farms in China are different from those in the United States, she said. “The land my grandparents own is probably no bigger than our house.” Her maternal grandfather used to be an accountant and her grandmother was a clerk at the local grocery store.

Her father is co-owner of a small tea business and her mother works at the City Hall. Her parents both used to teach history; her father taught at a high school and her mother taught at a community college. Yuchen never saw herself as a teacher, but now that she’s an instructor at Barton Community College, she said, “it feels like I’m following their path, accidentally.”

Coming to America The university where Yuchen earned her undergraduate degree in China had a relationship with Fort Hays State University. After she graduated and started working, one of her advisors called. “He said, ‘hey, we have this opportunity studying overseas. Do you want to give it a shot?’ So I said yes.” She expected to be gone for two years, but it’s been eight years now.

“My original plan was to finish grad school and get some work experience in the United States, and then go back to China. I’m the only child and very close to my family. It’s Chinese tradition that you’re not supposed to be that far from your parents,” Yuchen said. “But, you never know; life is a journey.”

The summer before their marriage, Yuchen and Korby traveled to China so her parents could meet their future son-in-law in person for the first time.

“Of course, they’d met on FaceTime.

He even asked my parents’ permission to marry me on FaceTime,” Yuchen said. “So, I finally took him to see my family – my grandparents, my cousins, my uncles.”

In 2019, when COVID-19 was still unheard of, Yuchen’s parents and three other family members traveled to the United States for an east-coast, west-coast tour, then flew to Kansas City where Yuchen and Korby brought them to Great Bend for an in-person visit.

While the families were together, the couple had a late wedding reception in Onaga. The trek included a visit to Hays and then Yellowstone National Park. “And then my parents went to Vegas,” Yuchen said. “They spent over 20 days here in the States.”

“They event went to Tijuana, Mexico,” Korby said.

“They had so much fun.”

Settling in Moving to Hays, and later to Great Bend, Yuchen experienced some culture shock after living in a city that is 10 times the size of Denver. But she came to appreciate some of the luxuries of small-town life.

“Growing up in China, I remember, there’s always a line – at the bus

station, at the movie theater, you have to wait for everything. But here, traveling is great, everything is close, and it’s definitely quieter.”

Both have been active in community events from the beginning. They are members of the Barton County Young Professionals and they were co-chairs (with Paul and Elise Snapp) for the United Way of Central Kansas’s 2021 fundraising campaign. They attend Barton basketball games and volleyball games. They also participated in the “Great Bend – Better Than Great!” community engagement meetings, where Korby suggested curbside recycling as a potential improvement for the city.

The couple have two cats and a dog – “officially,” Yuchen said. There are some community cats outdoors that Korby and Yuchen feed when they visit their house.

“The pets were so excited when we put up a Christmas tree last year,” Yuchen said. When their first cat, Korben, saw it, “he was so impressed.”

Before COVID, Korby played the clarinet in Barton Community College’s Prairie Winds band, something he said he’ll probably do again. Yuchen creates illustrations of people’s houses using a graphic design computer program.

She also creates jewelry that she sells online as “Boswelly Design.”

They enjoy traveling and are big fans of National Parks. The next place they’d like to visit is Alaska. The journeys continue for this Kansas couple.

A romantic Valentine’s Day Knowing this edition of Inspired Living would be published before Valentine’s Day, we asked the Boswells about a typical date night and how they might celebrate this year.

“He usually gets me flowers for Valentine’s Day,”Yuchen said.

However, Feb. 14 comes at the end of a string of celebrations, from their anniversary in November through the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and Yuchen’s birthday in January, not to mention Chinese New Year, which is on February 1 this year.

“We’ll probably go out and eat or order takeout,” Korby said.

They like tacos and also enjoy eating at the Sarocha Thai Restaurant in Great Bend.

“Occasionally we go to Perkins.

We’re usually the youngest couple there,” he said.

“We’re nerds,”Yuchen said.

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