Inspired Living - September - October 2021

September/October 2021

HARVEST

Hash

SAVORY

Margaritas GETTING

Good Sleep

Keto

HARVEST Hash Mandy Pagano is a recovering food addict and long-time ketogenic practitioner, dedicated to creating simplistic and delicious ketogenic meals. As a no-nonsense wife, and home-educating mother of two, Mandy’s passions in life are reading, music, and teaching her children. She has a life-long love of cooking, and is a self-taught home chef.

You can find Mandy at www.myketogenickitchen.com

DESCRIPTION

This is finished with pecans, but it’s equally as delicious with walnuts, so feel free to swap it out, as desired! Those with blanket tree nut allergies may leave them out entirely.

INGREDIENTS

620-792-7868 4801 10th Street Great Bend

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1/2 lb (8 oz/ 227 g) jicama, peeled and cubed into about 1/4” pieces (weighed after peeling) 1 tsp apple extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp lemon juice 1/2 lb (8 oz/ 227 g) fresh pumpkin, cut from the rind and cubed into about 1/4” pieces (weighed after peeling) 1 stalk celery, diced 2 oz (57 g) red bell pepper, diced 1 oz (28 g) onion, diced

1 lb (16 oz/ 454 g) ground sausage 1 tbsp (1/2 oz/ 14 g) butter, salted 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp rubbed sage approx. 10 turns fresh ground black pepper 1/2 tsp maple extract 1/2 c (4 fl oz/ 118 ml) water 4 oz roughly chopped pecans or walnuts, your choice (nuts may be left out entirely for those with allergies)

INSTRUCTIONS

Jennifer Pfiester; Karina Valles; Dan Crites, PTA; Cheryl Ralston, PTA; Kevyn Soupiset, DPT; Bonny Schartz, PTA; Dalton Jones, PT; Jessica Pauly, PT

Your Health, Our Priority

2

In a small bowl, combine the cubed jicama, apple extract, lemon juice, and ground cinnamon. Set aside for a minimum of 15 minutes.

In a large skillet, begin browning the ground sausage over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks.

When the sausage is about half-cooked, add the butter, celery, red bell pepper, onion, sea salt, sage, and black pepper and continue to cook over medium

heat stirring frequently, until the sausage is almost cooked through.

Add the jicama, pumpkin, and maple extract to the skillet and stir well. Add the water to the skillet, put the lid on, and turn the heat to medium-low.

Cook over medium-low for 10 minutes, or until the pumpkin is fork-tender.

Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts (if using).

Serve hot.

Get the right care, in the right place.

When you need prompt medical attention, whether your condition is minor or serious, we have the care teams to meet your needs. Experts at the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic at St. Rose Medical Pavilion provide high-quality care for minor illnesses and injuries – from cold and flu symptoms to cuts and sprains. No appointment is necessary. And for serious or life-threatening conditions, our emergency room team at Great Bend Campus provides excellent care around the clock.

Learn more about where to go for the care you need at kansashealthsystem.com/greatbend.

Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic St. Rose Medical Pavilion 3515 Broadway Ave. Great Bend, KS 67530 620-792-2511 Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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September - October

CONTENTS

2 RECIPE 6 RECYCLING 8 EXERCISE 9 MEMORY CARE 10 MIXOLOGY 11 GETTING CRAFTY 12 LEARNING 14 OKTOBERFEST 15 OKTOBERFEST 16 RECIPE 17 FAMILIES 18 PETS 19 ENTERTAINMENT Harvest Hash

Rosewood recycling

Weight lifting for women

New Dementia therapy

Savory Margaritas

Revamp your old furniture

Learn anything online

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What is sauerkraut?

Bratwurst

Praise the lard!

Leaving an inheritance to minors

Freshwater aquarium setup

Protein for muscle health

5

Recycling

A Greener

PLACE

Y

ou have a place to conveniently take those antiquated or broken electronics products that you’ve been collecting over the years.

Drop them off anytime to Rosewood ECycle, located at 2200 Main Street, Great Bend. Use the 24-hour drop box, or stop in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Rosewood ECycle team will help unload your items.

“Instead of putting your throw-away electronics in the trash, bring them to us,” explained Rosewood ECycle Manager Duane Dipman. “By doing so collectively, not only do we drastically reduce what we are putting in area landfills, we are helping in building problemsolving opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.”

While Rosewood ECycle is helping to make central Kansas a greener place, it’s also helping to create employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Dipman said the Rosewood team recycles about 3,000 pounds of goods a month. The operation has expanded over the last few years, working with local businesses, government entities and schools around

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Things We E-Cycle: Computers – Laptops, Desktop Computers, and Accessories (keyboards, mice, etc.). We destroy all hard drives during recycling!!!

Mobile Devices - Cell Phones, Ipads/ Tablets, IPods/MP3 & MP4 players …

Networking Equipment – Servers, Switches, Routers …

Displays – Flat Screen Televisions and Computer Monitors …

Printers – Desktop Printers, Floor Copiers, Fax Machines, Scanners …

Audio/Video Equipment – Cable Boxes, DVD Players, Projectors, Cameras, Security Systems, Stereo Systems, including Speakers, Radio Equipment, Landline Telephones …

E-Scooter Parts – Memory, Processors, Circuit Boards, Cables/Wire, Motors …

Lights and More – Electronic Toys, Christmas Lights …

Household Electronics – Toasters, central Kansas. Part of that growth, too, has been the increase in knowledge and production by the workers in learning the task of e-cycling the varied electronics they receive.

“We’re here to teach and guide them, but their goal is to figure the work out on their own, as much as possible.” Dipman said. “Every day we focus on that, and we are seeing their problem-solving abilities

Blenders/Mixers, Slow Cookers,Vacuum Cleaners …

Even Car Batteries Other Items – Metal Desks and Exercise Equipment

Things We Do Not E-Cycle: CRT Televisions and CRT Monitors Refrigerators and Freezers Air Conditioners Mercury-Containing Equipment (Thermostats, Pressure/Vacuum Gauges …)

Solar Panels Universal Waste – Non-Automotive Batteries, Lamps (Fluorescent Tubes, CFL, LED, Incandescent) Hazardous Waste Items Find more about Rosewood Services online, http://rosewoodservices.com Follow us at facebook.com/ RosewoodServices

increase dramatically using that model.

We’re building skills in the process, but we are also building their self-esteem and confidence while they are getting more efficient and proficient at doing their job.”

We recycle most anything with a cord, cable, or battery. Contact Rosewood ECycle if you have electronics recycling questions, 620-603-8348; info@ rosewoodservices.com.

Great Bend Tribune’s

Tuesday September 28, 2021 Great Bend Events Center 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

ION

FREE ADMISS

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ORE

ES - DOOR PRIZ

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ATIO - DEMONSTR

Loads of fun & prizes! oin your gal pals at the Women’s Expo. This event has become a highly anticipated September tradition for women throughout the area.

Get your tickets at the Great Bend Tribune office, 2012 Forest or online at www.gbtribune.com As part of this annual event, donations and non-perishable food or pantry items will be collected at the door to benefit the Barton County Food Bank.

The Great Bend Tribune’s Women’s Expo is a chance for you to see what’s in and new in the worlds of fashion and beauty, health and fitness, personal and work life.

Check out exhibits, demonstrations, services and wares from area businesses as well as door prizes and give-aways provided by vendors and so much more!

Don’t forget to register for tons of prizes.

Sponsored by the Great Bend Tribune. For more info and photos visit our womens expo page at: www.gbtribune.com/womensexpo

Exercise

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that adults do resistance training at least twice per week, with 8 to 12 repetitions of 8 to 10 exercises targeting all major muscle groups.

Only 20% of women — less than the population as a whole — get enough resistance training, despite the fact that research has found benefits for women’s physiological, psychological and social health, according to a National Institutes of Health study. Weight lifting has particular benefits for women, in the way of decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. So why do women shy away from weights?

The Barriers Barriers to women doing more resistance training included being too busy, lack of desire, and too much discipline required to continuously take part in a regular resistance training program, according to the study.

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The NIH study found that access to a women’s weight lifting class or women’s only area of a fitness center might help women overcome barriers to lifting weights. It also found that better education about the benefits could help overcome barriers.

Even weightlifter Casey Johnston admits to having been intimidated by her gym, “the dirtiest, most poorly-lit box filled with men who had huge, rippling arms and teeny little legs,” Speaking of how she had long avoided weightlifting before trying it for the first time, Johnston pinpoints another possible concern for women. “I was terrified that if I touched a weight, I’d suddenly look like peak Arnold Schwarzenegger, so I just skipped it.” She reassured women that after four years, she had gained no more than 10 pounds of muscle.

Get Started Writing for Self Magazine Johnston says, “Some training programs are ridiculously convoluted, [but] you can make working out endlessly complex or actually pretty accessible and simple.” Weightlifting exercises can start out as easy as carrying groceries or putting your luggage into an overhead bin, because they are

modeled after such motions, Johnston writes. Before long, even smaller women can do impressive weightlifting. “You might surprise yourself!” writes Johnston.

“But either way, absolutely everyone starts somewhere.” She recommends that women “learn from trusted sources, start slow, master the movements before throwing on weight, and see where it takes you.”

Self Magazine suggest starting with just your body weight, such as doing squats and pushups, then progressing to using resistance bands, kettlebells and slider disks. The goal should be to challenge yourself each time you exercise. Then start weightlifting a couple of days a week.

Any weightlifting workout should begin with a warmup, according to Self. This should include using a foam roller to loosen up muscles, as well as stretching.

In any event, don’t ditch your cardio workouts. Self advises people to stick with the CDC recommendation of 150 minutes of light-to-moderate cardio or 75 minutes a week of high-intensity cardio.

Memory Care

While medical science has not been able to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and related dementia, a new therapy shows promise in treating the symptoms of dementia by practically transporting people back in time.

By 2060, the number of people with Alzheimer’s and related dementia will double from its 2014 levels to 13.9 million people, or 3.3% of the projected population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. As researchers are frustrated by a lack of progress in finding a cure, a treatment called immersive reminiscence therapy offers hope to patients and caregivers alike.

The Power of Memories The therapy involves recreating the sights, sounds and experiences from seniors’ teenage or young adult years. This can be as simple as singing familiar songs or watching old movies, or as elaborate as recreating entire rooms or locales using elaborate sets. Even telling old stories can bring back good memories.

Immersive reminiscence therapy can improve

cognition, mood and general behavioral function, and help alleviate caregiver strain, according to a 2018 study published by the National Library of Medicine. A study by Aarhus University in Denmark found that the therapy improved “autobiographical memory,” or memory about one’s personal history.

The first immersive reminiscence therapy facility was constructed at a longterm care facility for dementia patients in the Dutch village of Weesp, in 2009. The scene is set as a gated town called Hogewey, with 27 group homes designed with the aesthetic of past decades.

The “town” is complete with a supermarket, barber shop, restaurant, courtyard, theater, pub and more. Caregivers wear street clothing to add to the immersive experience, and residents go about their lives much as they did before they had dementia, doing tasks such as shopping for groceries, cooking dinner and going to the hair salon.

In the U.S., a Chula Vista, California senior daycare center transformed a warehouse into a 1950s Main Street, complete with a diner, barber shop, movie theater and a classic Ford Thunderbird. It’s known as Town Square. The Vogue Theater in San Francisco put on an event called Movie

Moments at the Vogue, intended to help dementia patients recall familiar actors and scenes, spark conversation and inform caregivers.

Technology Health care companies are leveraging technology to implement immersive

reminiscence therapy. Virtue Health’s LookBack (www. virtue.io/) is a research-based virtual therapy tool created in consultation with Oxford University that allows users to visit familiar places virtually.

Caregivers can upload custom tours of places a dementia patient remember fondly.

Medical Park Pharmacy Kevin Regier, R.Ph.

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Mixology

A classic Margarita has tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice. Fruits such as berry and citrus are natural pairings with tequila to make a fruity concoction.

You can punch up the flavor, however, with some more creative flavor profiles.

If you’re willing to adventure outside sweet and fruity flavored margaritas, try these outside-the-box recipes.

Jalapeno Cilantro Margarita Source: Epicurious.com.

1 lime wedge 1 to 3 thin slices jalapeno (stemmed, seeded, sliced lengthwise) 2 cilantro sprigs 1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce Cointreau 1/2 ounce agave syrup or simple syrup 6 to 10 ice cubes

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Muddle jalapeno and one of the cilantro sprigs. Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, agave and ice. Cover and shake.

Green Tea Margarita Source: HomeWetBar.com.

1 1/2 ounce Patron Reposado tequila 1/2 ounce Zen Green Tea Liqueur 1/2 ounce sour mix 0.2 ounce Triple Sec 0.1 ounce lime juice Shake over ice, strain and serve straight up in a glass of your choosing. Garnish the rim of the glass with salt and add a lime wedge, if desired.

Roasted Tomato Margarita Source: The Cookie Rookie 1 pound cherry tomatoes Drizzle olive oil 1 clove garlic minced 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon chili powder optional 1/4 cup water 1 shot (1.5 ounces) good quality tequila 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice 1 cup ice Chili powder, course sea salt, lime slices for garnish

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and chili powder.

Spread tomato mixture onto a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 15 minutes.

Add tomatoes to a high powered blender with 1/4 cup water. Blend on high until totally smooth.

Add tomato puree to a cocktail shaker with tequila, lime juice, and ice.

Shake.

Mix together the chili powder and course salt on a small plate. Use a lime wedge to wipe the rim of your glass, and then dip in the chili/salt combination.

Fill glass with more ice.

Pour margarita into the glass and garnish with lime wedge. Enjoy.

Getting Crafty

Save some money and try out some trendy furniture finishes.

Here are some tips for giving your old furniture a brand new look.

Step 1: Clean It Remove your furniture to a well-ventilated work space that’s also well-lit. Give it a good scrubbing with some oil soap and water, making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. Take out any drawers and vacuum hard-to-reach spots. If you’ve got excessive wax build-up, attack it with fine steel wool.

Step 2: Make Repairs While you’re cleaning, look for any spots that need repair.

You might need to glue some laminate or tighten or replace screws. Fill in cracks with wood putty. If you’re changing out hardware, you want to take the old hardware off now and fill or drill any holes you’re going to need or not need.

Step 3: Sand It This is the hard part. To refinish the piece, you’ll first need to remove the old finish.

The easiest way is through a combination of chemical strippers and sanding. Start with the coarsest sand paper and work up to the finest paper. If you’ve got a solid wood piece, consider staining it over painting. Once you’re done sanding and stripping, it’s time to clean it again. Use a damp cloth and a vacuum for best results, and make sure you get up all the dust.

Step 4:The Fun Part This is where you apply your new finish. Don’t be afraid of staining, especially for higher end pieces.

There are great acrylic stains out there that clean up easier than the old oil-based ones, but be aware that they won’t last as long. Other trendy finishes right now are colored stains, chalk paint and distressed finishes that start with a lighter color under a darker color, which is then deliberately scored or dented to show the lighter color underneath.

Research the types of

finishes you want to use carefully and get everything you need before starting.

For many of these

pprocesses, you have to finish wha you start all inn the what th same th go or you risk havi having ing to start over on the project.

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Learning

While online classes have become commonplace, you might not think about learning hands-on skills online. Everything from plumbing to playing the guitar can now be learned online, thanks to technology.

If you know where to look, you can learn anything online.

Here are some ideas to get you started on picking up a new skill virtually.

Music Websites such as GuitarTricks.com and JamPlay.com offer lessons on everything from music theory to master courses by famous artists. The former even offers one-on-one lessons for an added fee. You can also check YouTube for

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small steps and provide advice and tips on tools and equipment, as well as technique.

For some inspiration, you can check our Imgur.com’s online DIY channel at imgur. com/r/DIY, where hobbyists post step-by-step photos of their home projects.

videos to get you started, but at a certain point, you’ll want to progress to more advanced materials offered by sites that specialize in online music learning.

The app Synthesia is something akin to Guitar Hero for learning to play piano. You’ll need a keyboard and an adapter to connect the keyboard to your computer. The app then analyzes your playing to help you master accuracy, timing and more. It’s a great way for

visual learners to get started with learning piano.

Home Improvement If you’ve always wanted to get comfortable completing home improvement projects, the web offers endless resources for doing jobs big and small — from fixing a leaky faucet to building a new deck. Some places to start watching videos include BobVila.com and FamilyHandyman.com. They break projects down into

Arts and Crafts SkillShare.com is an online portal where you can sign up for a membership that allows you to learn a wide variety of art sand crafts skills, including graphic design, illustration, photography, writing, music, sewing and more. Classes are usually less than two hours long and are typically taught by professionals with training in their field. You could even consider signing up to teach yourself, in order to share your skills with others. Udemy. com is a similar platform with course offerings that include health and nutrition, pet training, gaming, beauty, cooking and many more.

Healthy Habits

Getting Good Sleep Getting good, quality sleep is essential to a healthy life.

Not enough sleep can cause many mental and physical issues. Here are some tips to help you get better quality sleep at night.

Make a Sleep Schedule You should sleep for no more than eight hours each night although the recommended amount for adults is seven hours. Most adults in the United States don’t even sleep seven hours.

Setting a sleep schedule begins with setting a time to go to bed and setting

a time to wake up. Creating a sleep schedule also creates a sleep cycle in your body; being consistent will help your body’s sleep cycle line up.

How to Fall asleep Have you ever tossed and turned in bed struggling to sleep at night? If you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes of lying down in bed, leave your room and do something that relaxes you.

You can read a book, listen to soothing music or sit down and draw.

As soon as you feel tired, go back to bed. Repeat this as many times as it takes for you to finally fall asleep. Do not watch television. Although this can be relaxing, it is easier to be tempted to stay up and watch what ever series you may be binging.

Limit Naps If you ever find yourself tired throughout the day and feel the need to take a nap, don’t. Daytime naps can interfere with your sleep cycle, causing you to be wide awake at night. If you do need to take a nap, lay down for 30 minutes. Avoid napping if it’s close to whatever time you are scheduled to go to bed.

Get Your Worries Out Sometimes your thoughts and stress can keep you up at night. Try and get rid of those thoughts or worries by solving them or writing your feelings down into a journal to get them out of your head.

Find a relaxing activity such as reading, drawing or painting you can do close to when you are scheduled to sleep to help relax you and destress you.

You deserve a good night’s sleep.

We can help.

If you find it hard to sleep restfully each night, your health could be at risk. Rest assured. Our sleep medicine experts offer the skills and technology to provide the right diagnosis and treatment. If you are bothered by snoring, morning headaches and high blood pressure – or if you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea – you may benefit from a sleep study. Talk with your healthcare provider about a referral to our sleep lab. Home sleep studies are available.

Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital 923 Carroll Ave. Larned, KS 67550 620-285-3161

Learn more at kansashealthsystem.com/pawneevalley.

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Oktoberfest

Sauerkraut is cabbage that has been fermented in a long, natural process. It has a long shelf life and a distinct sour flavor. The cabbage is pickled using lactic acid fermentation, similar to the process used to make traditional kimchi.

Before freezing and refrigeration, sauerkraut provided an important source of nutrients over the winter.

How It’s Made Cabbage is layered with salt in an airtight container and left to ferment. The pickling process for sauerkraut relies not on heat, but on carefully controlled temperatures and lactobacilli, which culture on raw cabbage leaves and break down the sugars. Yeasts are also present, and can result in soft, foul sauerkraut if the temperature becomes too hot.

Properly cured sauerkraut is acidic enough to kill off botulism bacteria.

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Pork and Sauerkraut Recipe is from Land O’ Lakes.

1 32-ounce package sauerkraut, undrained 1 medium apple, cored and sliced thin 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar 2 Tablespoons maple syrup 1 2-3 pounds pork loin roast ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 2 Tablespoons butter

How to Eat It Sauerkraut or a dish like it is made in many cultures, but it’s Oktoberfest, so let’s talk Germany. Cooked sauerkraut in that country is often flavored with juniper berries, caraway seeds, apples, or white wine. It’s served warm with pork or sausages and steamed potatoes or dumplings.

Sauerkraut is a great source of vitamins C and K, and is a great source of fiber. If eaten uncooked and unpasteurized, the sauerkraut contains live lactobacilli and other microbes and enzymes that may help digestion.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine sauerkraut, apple, onion, brown sugar and syrup in a bowl. Set aside.

Sprinkle the roast with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a 5-quart ovenproof saucepan or Dutch oven until sizzling, then add the roast. Cook over medium heat, turning several times, for 7-9 minutes, or until browned.

Add the sauerkraut mixture. Cover and bake for 1 1/2 -2 hours, or until the roast reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the sauerkraut to a serving dish. Place the roast over it and serve.

Oktoberfest

History The first recorded usage of bratwurst specifically dates to 1313 in Franconia,

In the United States Bratwurst is usually shortened to brat here in the States, and is most usually associated with the upper Midwest. Brat Fest, billed as the world’s largest bratwurst festival, is held in Madison, Wisconsin, over Memorial Day weekend. It’s a fundraiser that benefits more than 100 charities in the Madison area.

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Beer-Bathed Brats 2 lbs. bratwurst 2 onions, cut into thin slices 1 cup butter 6 12-oz. bottles of a good quality beer Ground black pepper, to taste Thick hot dog or sandwich rolls, for serving Stone-ground mustard and sauerkraut, for dressing

1. Poke holes in the bratwurst with a fork. Put them in a large pot with the onion, butter, beer, and pepper. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Heat the grill and oil a grate, then add the brats for 10 minutes or until crisp and brown. Warm the rolls on the grill and serve with fixings.

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M a in

Literally, it means a sausage of chopped meat.

It’s usually made of pork, though sometimes it can be found with veal or beef added.

now part of Bavaria.

Bratwurst differ slightly across Germany, but they are all commonly eaten as a street or fast food on a white roll with mustard, with sauerkraut or potato salad, or sometimes with a roll.

Morton

Unless you have German relatives that still speak the old language, bratwurst might be the most German word you know.

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15

Recipe

By Mary Hoisington

Lard

Do you remember Grandma’s delicious, melt in your mouth fried chicken?

She lovingly dredged each piece in a combination of flour, salt and pepper and then pan-fried in her cast iron skillet. There was nothing better at a Sunday family gathering, and no one could do it better.

Her secret? Lard.

Lard is the semi-solid white fat rendered from pig fat. It was a cooking and baking staple until chemically produced vegetable oils and hydrogenated shortenings became more common and affordable. In addition, animal fats were villainized as unhealthy because of the high concentration of saturated fat. Fortunately, today many experts are ready to put that myth to rest. Numerous recent studies and fresh reviews of prior studies, have found no link between saturated fat consumption and heart disease.

Lard is 60 percent monounsaturated fat most of which is the heart-healthy essential oleic acid which is also found in olive

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oil. And, because it is composed of mostly monounsaturated and saturated fats, it has a high smoke point and is less likely to oxidize and become carcinogenic like polyunsaturated fats.

Locally non-hydrogenated lard has been nowhere to be found, but you can easily make this neutral tasting versatile fat famous for creating lighter, flakey pie crusts and yes, that crispy fried chicken that Grandma used to make.

• 2 pounds of pork fat (leaf fat or visceral fat have the least flavor when rendered) Locally pork fat is available at Ellinwood Packing Plant, but it must be pre-ordered.

• Cube fat into 1” or smaller cubes and place in deep pot.

Fat will cut easier if you freeze first.

• Cook uncovered on stovetop or outdoor burner at a low to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until fat renders and the pork pieces (cracklings) sink and rise again. Once all of the cracklings have risen, the lard is done.Typical cooking time is 2-3 hours.

• Place a canning (or metal) funnel covered with a few layers of cheese cloth (or coffee filter) and topped with a sieve into a widemount quart canning jar or over a glass or metal container.

• Using a heat resistant ladle, scoop out rendered oil and pour through sieve/cheese cloth/funnel.

Be careful as the oil will be hot! Oil should be clear, but once it cools, it will turn white.

Yields approximately one quart of lard and 12-15 oz of edible pork cracklings.

Alternative cooking methods If you don’t want to cook on the stove top, try cooking on low in an uncovered crockpot or in the oven at 225-250 degrees F in an uncovered Dutch oven for 2-3 hours.

Crispier cracklings If your cracklings aren’t crispy enough transfer to a frying pan and fry at mediummedium high heat until they are puffy and crisp – feel free to add salt or other seasonings.

Families

While it’s not easy to think about, estate planning to provide for your children in case of an untimely death is vital.

The consideration of who will raise them is only one factor to consider. You should also delegate what happens with any money or property you leave behind and who will manage the inheritance until they become adults.

If you have young children, you may not think you are old enough to worry about making end-of-life plans. However, it’s never too early to begin making plans to secure your family’s future. When planning an inheritance and custody plan, hire a professional attorney to ensure your last will and trust are legally certified and uncontestable.

Property Guardian Unless you directly appoint a guardian for your children, the process will be settled in probate. The court process occurs when there is no legal will that expresses your wishes and the state handles your estate.

While in most cases, the surviving parent will manage the property or inheritance

until the child reaches adult age, this isn’t always the desired result. It’s essential to document your choice for your children’s property guardian legally.

Set Up Trusts Another strategic option is to set up a trust for each of your children. Within your will or living trust, appoint a trustee to oversee the minor’s inheritance until a specific age of your choosing.

The trusted family member or friend is required to act in the beneficiary’s best interests while following your written instructions. Typically, a financial inheritance can be used to cover costs such as those for the child’s health, education and living expenses.

Make sure to ask your chosen trustee if they are up for it, as the role requires regular challenges.

For instance, they must file annual income tax returns for the trust. They are also limited to what’s allowed in the will, except for the section that outlines their authority.

For this reason, they may be asked to bring the physical document to banks or other facilities when they attempt to perform business on behalf of the beneficiaries.

New 2021

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Pets

Aquariums can be great and relaxing additions to your home and family. Fishy friends are great for watching an entire ecosystem at work. Keep reading to learn how to set up the perfect environment for your aquatic critters.

Finding Equipment You need a solid, quality to tank of an appropriate size to the animals you want to keep. ep p.

Larger aquariums are actually ly easier to keep than smaller tta tanks, ank n s, the experts at Tetra say, because caaus usee it’s easier to keep the balance ce inn your environment with more ree water. The aquarium company anny recommends starting with at least a 20-gallon tank.

You’ll also need a filter appropriate to the size of your tank, an air pump for extra boosts of oxygen, a heater, a thermometer, lighting, gravel and tank decorations.

Setting Up Your Tank Pick a location in your home that’s away from direct sunlight, windows, air vents and high traffic areas. Once you’ve got everything home, rinse it well in warm water (no soap or cleaners, they’re toxic to fish) and let it air dry. Add the washed gravel to your tank in a layer, then add the water.

Fill your tank with water about a third of

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the way full w with room itith th roo ro oom om temperature wa water wate ter te er an aand d no nott just any water.r. Iff yyou ou uuse see ttap ap water, make su sure add water ure re tto o ad dd a wa wate terr te conditioner to make o iitt to om ake iti ak safe for your fish.

Connect the shh. Co C onn n eecct th he tubing from the he ai aair ir pump puump m tto o air outlets inside tank, side si de yyour o r ta ou tank ank nk, k, su ssuch uch c as air stones orr d decorations.

Make ecor ec orat atio ions io ns. M ns Ma ake ke sure your air pu aquarium pump mp hhas mp as aann aq aqua u rriiuum ua m check valve so o yyou ouu ccan o ann llocate ocat oc atee itt uunder at nder nd er your aquarium.

That way, water won’t mT m. haat w wa ay, y, w aterr w at ater o ’t on run out in case power se off a p ower ffailure. ow ailu ai lure lure re . plants other Add yo Add your yyou ouurr p laant n s an and d ot othe her he her decorations. you’re deco de corra rati atition o s. IfIf yyo on ou’ u re re using usi sing ng llive liliv ive v plants, pllaant nts, ts, s, make mak ake ke sure ssuure tthe hee water warm enough w wa ate ter er iiss w arm ar m en nou o gh g and plant the roots an nd p pl lant ant th an he ro root ootts ge ggently ntly nt lyy below off tthe b l tthe th h surface f h ggravel, leaving the crown eexposed. Live plants sshould be kept moist uuntil it’s time to plant tthem. Fill the tank up to tthe bottom of the top fframe. fr r Next, set up your N fifiltlltlter. ter er.r. Fo FFor o outside filters, fillll with them th em w itith th tthe h filter materials orr cartridge position according cart ca r tri rt rid ridg dgge an aand nnd d po p o to the instructions. Prime it with water and turn it on. For hanging filters, extend the tube as close to the bottom of the tank as possible without being in the gravel. You can trim the tube as needed and reattachh the intake cage. Open the filter lid and prime the pump by filling it with water before turning it on.

Cycle the filters or add a starting solution to make the environment just st right for your new aquatic friends.

Place your heater as near to the water flow as possible and then place the thermometer as far from the heater as you can. Make sure you can read the

thermometer easily don’t ther th her e mo mome meteer ea mete easi sillyy aand nd d onn’tt tturn o urn on ur on heater thee he th eat ateer er iiff itiit’s t’ss nnot o ffully ot ully ul lyy ssubmerged ub bme merg rged rg ed iinn water. will 24 w wa ate t r.r IItt wi w ill ttake a e th ak thee he hheater eater atter er aabout bout bo out ut 2 4 hhours hou ho our ur s to o sstabilize taabi tabi b lilize zee tthe h ttemperature he em mpe pera pera rattu turee iinn your yyo our ur ttank. ank. an k Adding Fish Don’t add your fish or other aquatic creatures until the tank has been up and running for a day or two. This will help conditions stabilize and allow you to make sure all of yyour equipment is correctly. rrunning ru u Before adding fish, purchase a test kit p and a make sure the pH p and hardness of o your water is good for your g go future fish. futt fu

Entertainment

Millions of children and brave adults have enjoyed letting loose on a go-kart track.

Families across the country have bonded over DIY builds, custom modifications and priceless adventures surrounding these vehicles. In addition to building memories, go-karts often serve as training wheels for kids to learn about personal responsibility and caring for a motorized machine.

History of Go-Karts According to the National Museum of American History, go-karting was officially organized in the 1950s.

Manufacturers began g marketingg affordable motorized karts toward pre-teens based ased on open-wheeled cars used for or racing on oval tracks in the 1930ss and 1940s.

Before long, ng, creative parents began equipping pping the vehicles with more powerful rful motors and that led to children ren racing each other.

Early races were performed on regular paved tracks. Still, they were mainly held on specially designed signed d raceways designed forr the thee specialized karts. kaarts r ts.

Several professional racing drivers like Jeff Gordon, Al Unser, Jr. and Michael Andretti credit the competitions as their first taste of the racing world.

Go-Kart Driving Tips Whether you’re driving go-karts for fun or as a racer, it’s essential to learn tips to improve your speed and performance. Check out a few ways to dominate your friends during a ride of leisure or beat other drivers during a competition.

• Keep your hands steady on the wheel as go-karts are notorious for sensitive steering.

• Find the perfect timing to execute a turn. Slow down shortly before the turning attempt and aim for speed as you begin to straighten.

• Try to keep your eyes focused on the path ahead at long distances to help your brain process p pr ocess the track.

• Make wide turns at each corner to enhance your racing speeds.

• Use a gentle force on the steering wheel to prevent sharp or sudden turns.

Safety Tips While it’s fun to brag with friends about a souped-up go-kart, it’s essential to travel in these vehicles ess with wit the utmost care. Remember to insist ins that all drivers and passengers have hav appropriate safety gear like helmets and seatbelts. You should also he teach tea children about the importance of driving respectfully for their safety and an others’.

While go-karts are affordable means to get around, it’s essential me to perform routine maintenance periodically.

Ensure the ride is free of pe gas leaks before operating, the brakes are in working order and the tires are inflated to the recommended psi.

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Cover Story

by Susan S us u sa s an a n Thacker T hack c er sthacker@gbtribune.com sthack ker e @g @ g bt @gbt b riribu bunee c om m

Photography by Hugo Gonzalez hgonzalez@gbtribune.com

Virginia Sharp: From 20th century farmer to 21st century world traveler he first time Miss Virginia Lenora Lonnon planned to travel outside of Kansas was for her honeymoon. She was engaged to marry Leonard Sharp on March 13, 1948, and he promised her a trip to Colorado. However, the week of the wedding, a huge snowstorm hit central Kansas. They said their vows at the Baker Ave. Baptist Church in Great Bend and the newlywed couple headed west. They made it as far as Garden City, but Leonard got to worrying about his cows on his rural Barton County farm, so they turned around and came home.

It would be some time before Virginia got to travel past the state line, but eventually she would see the world.

Before that, Virginia Sharp lived the life of an active farm wife, working as a secretary at the Barton County Extension Office and raising a family in rural Barton County, staying active in her church and canning vegetables grown in her garden.

Later, she would gather eggs daily from 64,000 chickens, and when Virginia and Leonard were done doing that they got a job delivering newspapers on a large rural route.

Finally, Leonard and Virginia began to travel, visiting their youngest son, John, who worked for Caterpillar in Japan and later France.

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Leonard died in 2012, but Virginia has become a seasoned world traveler, visiting some 22 countries. After her 95th birthday in 2020, family members compiled a pictorial history of her life. Travel agent Larry Kopke from Cheyenne Travel/Please Go Away™ Vacations also shared some of her adventures.

“When Virginia went on an African safari, one of the special events she was going to enjoy was a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti Plains, observing wildlife from aloft,” Kopke said. “When it was pointed out to her while planning for her safari that it would be necessary for her to climb rather ungracefully into the basket of the

balloon before ascent and that it was advisable she be wearing jeans or slacks while doing so, she confided that in her long and full life she had never worn either, only dresses. Being the congenial good sport she is, jeans were purchased and a new dimension was added to her already full life of accomplishments.”

When she turned 90, Virginia took her four children – Lenora, James, Charles and John – and their spouses on a cruise to the Caribbean.

Virginia was in her 90s when she rode a jet ski in the South Pacific.

Kopke recalled, “the parfait-like layers of multi-colored waters and coral reefs were beckoning travelers to engage in waters sports, including jet ski rides. It was determined she did not have a swimming suit.

Fellow travelers solved this challenge for her and soon she was riding as the extra passenger on a jet ski piloted by a fellow traveler, again proving to be an inspiration to those much younger that made up her travel party.”

The early years Virginia was born Oct. 11, 1925, at her grandparents’ home in St. John. She was the only child of Myrtle and James Lonnon Jr., who lived and farmed near the Barton/Stafford County line.

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The Lonnons were members of a country church, Mount Pleasant Evangelical United Brethren, and Virginia attended the Prairie Home country school in Stafford County where her mother once taught.

She and Leonard Sharp knew eachh other since they were children, both growing up just a few miles apart. Shee can’t remember how they met, but when she was about 10 years old, Leonard rode his horse to their farm just to see her. As a young man he would have several girlfriends, but family members claim her excellent cooking helped Virginia win his heart.

In the seventh grade, the country school didn’t have a seat for her, so Virginia switched to District 41, known as the Rolling Green School, in Barton County. Her son James later attended school in District 41 as well. He wrote in her birthday book that his parents were great supporters of everything they did, including FFA and 4-H projects.

“One thing I remember was that (Mom) always packed up a great lunch and I always looked forward to seeing what we had for lunch.” Once, on April Fool’s Day, he found a piece of paper in his sandwich instead of meat and a note to look elsewhere in the lunch box for the filling.

Virginia herself attended Great Bend High School.

“I didn’t drive in those days,” she said.

“A lot of the kids drove back and forth.

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I didn’t drive in those days.

A lot of the kids drove back and forth. But I always stayed in town and came home on the weekends. I stayed with different people and my dad paid room and board for me.

But I always stayed in town and came home on the weekends. I stayed with different people and my dad paid room and board for me.”

Her senior year, Virginia shared an apartment in Great Bend with her future sister-in-law. After graduating from high school in 1943, she shared apartments with different girls in Great Bend and Larned until she was married.

She worked as a cashier for Kansas Power and Light, and also worked as a nurse’s aide for a time before becoming a secretary for the Barton b County Extension Office.

C After Virginia and Leonard married, tthey moved to the farm and the house LLeonard grew up in, raising cows and ssheep and maintaining a garden.

Fire broke out in their house on Kansas Day, Jan. 29, 1951. The temperature was about 5 below zero.

“We had a brooder house, which is what you raise young chickens in.

My husband Leonard was out milking the cows and I smelled smoke. The two little children are crying, James and Lenora, so I grabbed them and wrapped them in a blanket and took them out in the brooder house.”

I said that I wanted to get out and see God’s world. Those were my thoughts – Virginia Sharp She put the kids on the hay in the chicken house and returned to help fight the fire, but they lost the house and most of its contents. They set up housekeeping in a newly dug basement south of the former house, using curtains to divide rooms as they slowly began to build a new home and as their family continued to grow.

Staying active in church and social activities, Virginia continued to work at the Barton County Extension Office for several years.

Later, after she retired from that, they would go into chicken farming in a big way.

“We only had a small flock of chickens when we were married. We had, maybe 50 to 100 chickens. Then we got 2,000.

Then we got 64,000,” she said.

Their first automated operation, Sharp Poultry, was built in 1980. Virginia did the bookkeeping and gathered eggs twice a day. For a time they allowed school children to come out for tours of the poultry operation, but that stopped after biosecurity measures became more strict.

Farming kept the Sharps close to home. In 1995, they expanded into hog farming. When they “retired” again, they got a paper route with the Hutchinson News. Virginia filled out the application to become a rural carrier because they thought the paper wouldn’t hire Leonard, since he was then 80 years old.

“We’d get up around midnight, pick up the papers around one or two in the morning, and be back home by six in the morning,” she said. The route

kept growing, to the point that Virginia remembers driving more than 150 miles a day.

“It was off over in Stafford County and (the papers went to) people that we had heard of but we had never met in person.

We called on everybody in person that we delivered the paper to at least once.”

The world tour Virginia began her world tour with a trip in April of 2013.

“I said that I wanted to get out and see God’s world. Those were my thoughts,” she said.

The family didn’t want her to travel alone, so James’s wife Judi joined her on the trip.

“Oh, we had a great time,” Judi said.

“And I could tell she was hooked.”

For future trips, Virginia sometimes shared a room with another tourist, meeting her roommate shortly before the start of the adventure.

She prefers the comfort of cruises to long airplane trips. She has visited the Rhine River in Germany, ridden a paddle boat on the Mississippi, and taken a long trip from the east coast to the west coast, traveling through the Panama canal.

“I went from Tahiti all the way to Iceland. Tahiti was the most beautiful place,” she said. But seeing the African animals in their natural habitat was the most vivid thing she remembers.

Inspiring at 96 Today, at 96 years old, Virginia remains active, which is why Kopke finds her an apt subject for Inspired Living. He said, “Gathering eggs daily from 60,000 (that’s thousand) chickens, driving hundreds of miles daily in the wee morning hours delivering newspapers to rural receptacles, conquering the role of a farm wife, maintaining an active lifestyle in both church and other social activities, raising a family in rural Barton County, having an insatiable desire to travel the world, and always having a charming and pleasant smile and demeanor are just a few of the inspirational activities and attributes that come to mind when thinking of this special lady – Virginia Sharp.”

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CLARA BARTON WELCOMES

DR. ROXANNE STILES TO SURGICAL T EAM GET TO KNOW

Roxanne Stiles, MD GENERAL SURGERY HOMETOWN: Claflin, KS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Missouri State University

MEDICAL SCHOOL

Doctorate:: University of Kansas School of Medicine Residency: University of Kansas School of MedicineWichita General Surgery Residency

HOBBIES Reading, road/gravel biking, mountain biking, hiking, and traveling

WHY CLARA BARTON? This is the absolute ideal job for me. I get to come back home to the very hospital I was born and serve the community that helped shape the person I am today. With staff that is dedicated to providing great surgical care and advanced technology like the daVinci Robot, Clara Barton is truly a special place.

ADVICE FOR PATIENTS Try to do something active everyday but make it something you actually enjoy.