inBemidji Fall 2021

Fall 2021

9

BACK TO SCHOOL RECIPES

RIVER ANGELS

HELPING PADDLERS NAVIGATE THE MISSISSIPPI

SANFORD HEALTH’S

FR

EE

CREATIVE COPING ART CLASS

YOU DON’T NEED AN ILLNESS TO NEED A DOCTOR. Regular wellness visits with a primary care physician or provider at Sanford Health can lead to better overall health. Better health care starts with a provider who’s a familiar face. Someone who actually knows you and understands your concerns and your goals.

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Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 3

A BEMIDJI PIONEER PUBLICATION

802 Paul Bunyan Dr. SE, Suite 19 Bemidji, MN 56601 218-333-9200

STAFF Editor Jillian Gandsey Creative Director Mollie Burlingame Advertising Lindsay Nygren Business Larisa Severson

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Advertising Director Todd Keute Editor Annalise Braught Controller Tammie Brooks

TO ADVERTISE 218-333-9200 James Hanson jhanson@bemidjipioneer.com

Questions and Feedback Email inBemidji at inmagazine@bemidjipioneer.com Volume 8, Issue 4

Copyright © 2021 Bemidji Pioneer

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in Bemidji

All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained.

ON THE COVER River Angel Janet Rith-Najarian with her pug Chickadee near the Mississippi River.

Photo by Jillian Gandsey.

inBemidji’s mission is to be Bemidji’s and the surrounding area’s local lifestyle magazine. We strive to enhance the quality of life for the people of the Bemidji area by informing them about all of the amazing people who live in our community. Our concentration is on everything local: fashion, food, health, and most importantly, unique individuals and stories.

We strive to maintain a high level of integrity as an inspiring, local media presence for our readers and provide advertisers with a high-quality, effective marketing medium.

Bemidji online!

Bemidji near the bottom of the page.

Read the award-winning in Visit bemidjipioneer.com, then click on in

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inside Fall 2021

26

Features 06 Body balm & scrub

The inBemidji staff is sharing two homemade recipes for a hydrating body balm and a body scrub.

11

River Angels

18

Creative Coping

26

Learn more about the River Angels who assist paddlers on their journey down the Mississippi River as it travels through Bemidji.

Michael Miller hosts a fine art class as part of Sanford Health’s behavioral health program.

Easy breakfast & snack ideas

In the Larisa Cooks kitchen, we have easy recipe ideas for “grab and go” breakfasts and after-school snacks.

06 In this issue 10 17 23 30

Bookmarked #Bemidji on Instagram Halloween costumes Spot the difference

18 Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 5

Y I D

Body balm and scrub e Braught

by Jillian Gandsey & Annalis

in Bemidji staff writer

F Serving the Bemidji area for 50 years!

dicksplumbingandheating.com 427 Mag Seven Court SW, Bemidji, MN Phone: (218) 751-4964 | After Hours: (218) 308-0028 License #PC644057 6 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

or the fall edition of inBemidji, we’ve got a cure for your dry hands and everything else that comes with hand washing and less humidity in the air. First, a tested body balm recipe that we love. You can customize your scent and make it your own. If you want it to spread a little easier and be more like a lotion, go easy on the beeswax. This stuff is seriously hydrating though.

Then we’ve got a body scrub that is so simple to make.

All you need is a few ingredients and post shower, your skin will shine. It also works great as a shaving cream for those with sensitive skin. The scrub is really good at preventing razor burn whether you use it while shaving or just after.

We hope you enjoy these homemade recipes as much as we do. Knowing what goes into the products that soak into our skin is important. Enjoy!

Body balm Ingredients

Directions

1

Combine almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter in a double boiler or glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water. Stir occasionally until all ingredients are melted.

1/2 cup almond oil 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup beeswax 2 tablespoons shea butter Essential oils 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil, optional Vanilla extract, optional

2

3

When completely melted, add the essential oils and the optional ingredients like the vitamin E oil, vanilla extract or other scents.

Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. A small mason jar would work perfectly.

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Scrub Ingredients 2 tablespoons baking soda 1 tablespoon coconut oil 3 drops of tea tree oil 3 drops of lemon oil

Directions

1

Let coconut oil come to room temperature, or melt to make for easy stirring, then add in other ingredients and mix well. The mixture should be a thick toothpaste-like consistency. If it seems too thin, just add a bit more baking soda until it reaches your desired thickness.

2

Store the scrub in an airtight, glass container to save for later.

3

The scrub will last for a couple months as long as water doesn’t get inside the container.

8 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

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• Mail, office and school paper • Magazines and catalogs • Newspaper and inserts • Phonebooks

Boxes

• Cardboard • Cereal and cracker boxes • Shoe boxes, gift boxes, electronics boxes

Glass

• Food and beverage bottle and jars

Metal

• Food and beverage cans

Plastic*

• Empty Water, soda and juice bottles • Milk bottles • Ketchup and condiment bottles • Dishwashing and detergent bottles • Shampoo, soap, and lotion bottles • Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups • Margarine, cottage cheese and other containers • Produce, deli and take out containers

Packaging*

• Clear, rigid packaging from toys and electronics *Look for this symbol on your plastic item. Only 1 & 2 can be recycling in Beltrami County Lids can stay on. EMPTY bottles with necks and without necks are accepted.

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Beltrami County Solid Waste • 218-333-8187 • www.co.beltrami.mn.us Click on: Solid Waste tab Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 9

BOOKMARKED For the fall edition of Bookmarked, we’ve gone with some nonfiction favorites from 2021. Learn about the lives of others while reading the memoirs or broaden your horizons with the others. Happy reading!

What Happened to You?

By Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Crying in H Mart

By Michelle Zauner

10 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

The Anthropocene Reviewed

By John Green

Broken (In The Best Possible Way)

By Jenny Lawson

The Three Mothers

By Anna Malaika Tubbs Somebody’s Daughter

By Ashley C. Ford

Four Hundred Souls Edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

Under a White Sky

By Elizabeth Kolbert

Angels Ashore Paddlers who embark down the Mississippi find salvation in River Angels

by Bria Barton in

Bemidji staff writer

photos by Jillian Gandsey & Annalise Braught

I

t begins at Lake Itasca and ends in the Gulf of Mexico.

And for centuries, the great Mississippi River has rightfully garnered a host of admirers — from American literary icon Mark Twain to the soulful rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival — who have penned tales and crafted ballads in an ode to its more than 2,300mile expanse and its role as a lifeline of a nation.

Each year, countless people go “rollin’,

rollin’, rollin’” on the river — the same waters that Huckleberry Finn and Jim traversed in search of freedom and CCR hitched a ride on the river boat queen.

While most folks stick to limited portions of the river, others — a select and determined few — seek to experience its magnitude in full over a usually monthslong journey by, popularly, kayak or canoe, which begins in the wild Headwaters and continues through nine other states until pouring out just below New Orleans.

It’s a journey that even with careful planning can be taxing on the mind and body — after all, Mother Nature knows no bounds when it comes to one of her grandest formations.

Undoubtedly, adventurers find the Mighty Mississippi lives up to its name, and oftentimes, tackling it requires help from those who know it best: those who live along or near the river and possess special insight into its vital force as a mercurial being that demands respect.

Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 11

“With the Facebook group, I can get to know paddlers before I even meet them and be on the lookout for them as they come by my house.”

- Barry Lyons

Judy and Ron Vroom

Barry Lyons

The people who live along the river

from around the country and even the world — but, in this case, they come to you.”

Both Lyons and Rith-Najarian have been involved with the river angels for about five years and have utilized their knowledge of the Mississippi River Headwaters to support paddlers coming through the local area.

“The river angels aren’t an organized group of dues paying members. It’s more so just the tradition of people who live close to or along the river who are willing to help people doing these journeys,” Rith-Najarian explained. “But I think I’ve stayed friends with everybody that I have served a meal to.”

The Vrooms are newcomers to the group, having started last year when much of life — aside from outdoor activities — was on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Janet Rith-Najarian

Some river inhabitants belong to a small community known as the Mississippi River Angels who especially recognize the need to impart their wisdom and resources on voyaging outsiders. This can include providing navigational advice, portage assistance, a hot meal and clean water, a bed to sleep in, and, at times, rescue services.

Simply put, paddlers who embark down the Mississippi find salvation in the river angels.

Though not truly celestial, these human angels are heaven-sent for many on their river journeys. And with each person they help and send on their way, the river angels forge their own ode to the Mississippi River — one that speaks to the kindness and goodness of humanity.

Over the last decade, the far-reaching power of social media, particularly Facebook, has united both paddlers and river angels in a supportive online community centered around the Mississippi River.

For Bemidji-area river angels Janet RithNajarian, Barry Lyons and Ron and Judy Vroom, the network has not only connected them with one another but with strangers near and far.

“With the Facebook group, I can get to know paddlers before I even meet them and be on the lookout for them as they come by my house,” said Lyons, who lives along the river. “I can’t think of any other thing besides trail networks, where you can meet people

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“For some paddlers, it’s about the destination: how quickly they get there. And for other people, it’s about the journey and enjoying it along the way.”

- Janet Rith-Najarian

“When everything was so hectic in the country, we were struck by stories of the milk of human kindness that flowed all the way down the river as paddlers went by,” said Judy, who described a story she read of river angels chatting and sharing a pack of beer with paddlers to brighten up their day.

“And we saw that happen over and over and over again. When everything was so divisive in this country, it was refreshing to discover that there’s a lot of nice people, good people.”

According to the four, the Bemidji area has about six or seven regularly

involved river angel households, along with multiple others who help out on occasion — however, they insist they could always use more.

There are also up to 50 individuals or groups that paddle through every summer, but not all stop to encounter a river angel.

“For some paddlers, it’s about the destination: how quickly they get there.

And for other people, it’s about the journey and enjoying it along the way,” Rith-Najarian said. “Those who are interested in the quality of the journey on the way down, are more likely to stop, not necessarily because they need

help, but because they want to meet people who live along the river.”

In addition to linking paddlers with angels, the Facebook paddling community has inspired virtual friendships between angels living on different stretches of the Mississippi.

Despite never having met, they bond over their shared love for the river through messages, posts and photos.

“I feel like I’m really getting to know them because their love for the river is the same as my love for the river,” Rith-Najarian said. “Even if we’re in different places and we haven’t met, we share the same spirit.”

Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 13

Howard Jenkins and Eric Hilemon paddle on the Mississippi River on the east side of Lake Bemidji in July 2019. Jenkins and Hilemon were traveling down the river to raise awareness for Veterans Treatment Court.

campsite at the very end of it.”

She explained that many paddlers, and At times, each of the four river angels even locals, don’t realize the area between has played a role in a rescue, as paddlers Lake Itasca and Bemidji is still pristine often underestimate how challenging the wilderness “just like when Lewis Cass or Mississippi River’s headwaters can be.

Henry Schoolcraft came through.”

Not only is it winding and slow-going, So when the weary paddler discovers but paddlers can easily tip and lose their supplies when going around a bend. It’s also the river’s beginning is also the most challenging, it’s coupled with surprise — one of the few sections of river that doesn’t not only because of the obstacles that lie have cell phone coverage. ahead, but because of the area’s unbelievable “People may see how delightful it is as beauty. it comes out of Lake Itasca and think it’s a “For some people here, seeing an eagle is sweet little stream that they’ll just paddle a first-time experience, and we take that for along, but it’s a lot tougher than that,” Rithgranted,” Rith-Najarian said. “We also take Najarian said. it for granted that if you’re on the water, you To stay on the river’s course, paddlers can see to the bottom. For many people, must climb over about 15 beaver dams that is just amazing.” and countless downed trees with their Believing the headwaters to be the most watercraft and supplies. And if spending the night in the headwaters, they must also worthwhile part of a river journey, RithNajarian takes it upon herself to create a bring or filter their own water since most positive experience for paddlers, salvaging campsites don’t provide any — an aspect the first rough miles of the journey with many aren’t prepared for, which is where good food and company — as is the river the river angels come in. angel way.

“Sometimes when you meet up with “I want them to look back and have it be people, you realize that they thought they a good memory,” Rith-Najarian said. “So if could be independent,” Rith-Najarian I can bring a walleye and wild rice dinner said. “But they find that the headwaters down to a canoe landing and feed them is probably the hardest part of the whole river — other than the alligators in your after they’ve had a miserable day, I will.”

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Paddling to Persevere members Christa and Nate Denofre, a double amputee, look up at those awaiting the group’s arrival on the Nymore Bridge in May 2020 in Bemidji.

A sacred opportunity

Among paddlers and river angels there’s a mutual question posed to one another: Why do you do this?

“It often struck me when paddlers would be surprised when I brought a meal or even gave them helpful advice,” Rith-Najarian said. “They wanted to know why I do it if I’m not getting paid for it.”

To ask a paddler why they do it is like

asking what drives someone to scale the icy rugged slopes of Mount Everest, or spend months trudging along the Appalachian Trail.

Maybe there lies a level of personal fulfillment that can only be achieved through great mental and physical fortitude — a bucket list goal of sorts. Or perhaps, the journey attracts awareness for a cause that is near and dear to them.

“Nobody doing it now is going to be the first person to go down the river, and they know that, but they all have different reasons for doing it,” Rith-Najarian said.

“Sometimes it’s for a race and they’re trying to prove something, but usually it’s for something else.”

“There are surprising things that they learn — one of which is how friendly people are,” she added.

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Stan Stark, 80 at the time, heads out in July 2020 from the dock near Country Inn and Suites on Lake Bemidji. Stark was vying to become the oldest person to complete the voyage from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

For the four river angels, the answer to the question is simple: “Because it’s nice to meet these interesting people and hear their stories,” Rith-Najarian said. “This is a sacred opportunity because we’re meeting people who are doing this journey. It really is like a pilgrimage, and to hear their stories while they’re undertaking it really is so special and cool.”

While paddlers come and go and their stories are tucked away for safekeeping by those who listened to them, each angel occasionally pulls from their memory box the one that sticks with them most.

For Rith-Najarian, it was the first double amputee and his

Land of 10,000

veteran friend to make it down the river. For Lyons, it was the Utah kayaker that he saved from hypothermia. And for the Vrooms, it was the paddler who attempted the fastest time down the river for a woman, despite ongoing health issues.

“People often ask why we help, but I think we get as much in return as they do,” Judy said. “It’s just surprising how open and generous and kind people can be to each other.”

“There’s a line in Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Proud Mary’ about paddling on the Mississippi,” Ron added. “One of the lines is ‘People on the river are happy to give,’ and that’s my mantra.” n

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Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 17

The fine art of

healing Michael Miller hosts a Creative Coping art class at Sanford Bemidji

by Jason Anschutz, Sanford Health special to in

Bemidji

N

ot everyone who heals people is a doctor or a nurse.

Bemidji’s Michael Miller is one of those healers.

Every week he runs a Creative Coping class as part of Sanford’s behavioral health program, supporting and healing those in need through fine arts.

photo by Jillian Gandsey 18 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

A unique service

“Art has been such a healing thing for him,” said Jessica Hublit, adult rehabilitative mental health service supervisor. “That’s kind of where we started it from. Then he just kind of created an environment where people can come and feel safe and be able to learn and practice art in a supportive area.”

The Creative Coping class started as part of a state-sponsored adult rehabilitative mental health services program. The intention is to support individuals who have severe persistent mental illness, and teach them skills that may allow them to function better in life.

Some patients may have had a traumatic brain injury. Others may have suffered after long-term drug or alcohol abuse. But anyone who is assessed and referred to the program is eligible to join.

“That’s one thing that I feel like Sanford behavioral health is really doing a good job at trying to do is really integrate medical and mental health, because we’re a holistic human being,” Hublit said.

“To think that what’s going on with us physically isn’t affecting us mentally or vice versa is really kind of doing a disservice,” Hublit continued. “So to look at a whole person and say, ‘we’re gonna help you as a whole person to be healthy,’ I think is kind of the mission.”

photo by Jillian Gandsey

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A true artist and healer

“They’re doing something they don’t think they can do. It builds up their self-esteem and That’s where Miller enters the gives them confidence and helps story. them to reach out,” Miller said.

“I came in as peer support While building confidence, here in Sanford and there was a they’re building connections, girl that was doing crafts,” said Hublit said.

Miller, a peer support recovery “I’ve seen individuals flourish advocate. “So she asked me … and feeling like they can to come in and do caricatures express themselves where a lot because I did caricatures during of people in the past maybe the summer and traveled all have been more withdrawn over the state doing caricatures.” or isolated, especially with When the leader of that COVID and other things,” group left, Miller took over she said. “So it’s given them an and transformed the class opportunity to connect and be into something he was more able to express themselves and comfortable teaching: fine arts. be inspirations to one another, “I loved it,” Miller said. “It which is really neat.” was just like, you know, this was Miller explained coping goes what I was meant to do.” beyond calming.

Miller encourages his group “I think for a lot of people to create anything that inspires it’s deeper. For me it’s deeper,” them. Paintings are the most Miller said. “For some people common project, but his current it’s an escape, for peace. Time group also does bead work, and slows down. Everything else one patient even creates her own vanishes. And you’re just in that miniature animals. They listen project for the time, which is to music, eat pizza, and create a great coping skill. And the art, all while enjoying each satisfaction and self-esteem you other’s company. get from it just builds.”

Sanford Health photo

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Empathy and shared experiences

Miller shares a lot with his group, including his own struggles. He says he’s able to relate to where members of the group have been in their life, and where they’re headed, because he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and struggled with substance abuse issues himself. He’s been sober now for 17 years.

“This was my way of giving back to people, because of how much better it is

for somebody who’s gone through drug and alcohol and mental health issues to deal with people who have the same problem and deal with it with something that you love, which is art,” Miller said.

The Creative Coping group doesn’t just create art for themselves anymore. Some of their pieces are being brought over to the psychiatry department at Sanford in Bemidji. Now their work will be showcased for others to enjoy, as well.

Still, no matter the project, the skill

level or the medium, nothing compares to the camaraderie of the group itself and the bond they have with their leader.

“I’ve asked them, you know, ‘What does it mean for you to be seeing me?’ And one client said, ‘It gives me a reason to wake up and it puts meaning in my life.’ And that brought a tear to my eye,” Miller said. “So that means I’m doing something good.”

Miller shares his passion with a small group in need. He’s an artist. And a true healer. n

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Halloween

INSPO by in

Bemidji staff

H

alloween is just around the corner and sometimes it can sneak up on us. You might get invited to a last-minute festive gathering and be expected to dress up. We’ve got some “punny” and clever ideas for costumes that can take very little effort and still get a good laugh out of your friends and family. Let us know if you try any!

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Blessing in disguise

What you need: T-shirt, iron-on letters, fake mustache For this, just use iron-on letters to spell out “blessing” on a T-shirt.

Add the fake mustache when you’re about to go out and that’s all.

Sally sells seashells

What you need: Trench coat, seashells This one might require a little work. But really all you have to do is fasten some seashells to the inside of a trench coat. When someone asks, “What are you?” You just open up your coat and show off your shells.

Chip on your shoulder

What you need: Yellow/tan construction paper Cut out a large circle from the piece of construction paper and fold it accordion-style. Fasten it to the shoulder of a T-shirt or sweater, add a little bit of an attitude and you, my friend, have a chip on your shoulder.

Copy cat

What you need: Cat ears, photo of a cat, face paint Print about 10 copies of the cat photo and fasten them to a T-shirt.

Wear your cat ears, paint on a cat nose and whiskers and ta-da!

Chicken cordon bleu

What you need: Rubber chicken, phone cord, blue shirt You certainly don’t need an oven to come up with this chicken cordon bleu. You simply put on the blue shirt and wrap the phone cord around you with the rubber chicken underneath the cord.

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Contact the energy experts at Beltrami Electric to find the perfect power pick for your space.

218-444-2540 or 1-800-955-6083 www.beltramielectric.com

24 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

Up to

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Matt Demon

What you need: “Hello, my name is” sticker, face paint or eyeliner Even simpler, all you need for this is one of those “Hello, my name is” stickers and some eyeliner or face paint. You can draw on a “demon” face and then write Matt Demon on the sticker.

Voila.

Flu bug

What you need: Bug antennas, bug wings, a little blush The base of this one is just an overall disheveled look. Add the bug antennas and maybe some wings and then put some blush underneath the nose and maybe some dark circles on the eyes and there you have it.

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Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 25

Easy

‘grab and go’ breakfasts and after-school snacks I photos by Jillian

26 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

Gandsey in Bemidji

t’s back-to-school season so my daughter, Tasha, is back in the kitchen with me for this edition. Together, we’ve whipped up some of our new favorite “grab and go” breakfasts and easy after-school snacks. A few of these could easily qualify for both categories, especially the yogurt parfaits, banana wraps or the rice cakes.

Tasha’s no-bake energy balls could also make great snacks for kids to bring to school with them to munch on throughout the day. A few of the breakfasts would be simple to prepare on a Sunday and warmed up before school, too. It is the most important meal of the day, after all.

Enjoy!

Easy breakfast recipes Breakfast Sausage Crescent Rolls

Ingredients 8 fully cooked maple-flavored sausage links 1 8-ounce can refrigerated crescent rolls 3/4 cup warm maple syrup for dipping Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Separate dough into triangles. Wrap dough triangle around each sausage link. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with warm maple syrup.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Ingredients 1 cup old fashioned oats 1 cup milk 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 4 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Directions In a small mixing bowl, stir the oats, milk and yogurt until well combined.

Stir in the brown sugar, maple syrup or honey and cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight. Top with extra maple syrup or honey and diced apples or other fruit, if desired.

Note: This makes four servings. I divided the oatmeal into small mason jars for easy grab-and-go breakfasts.

Grab and Go Stuffed Breakfast Biscuits

Ingredients 1 16-ounce can of Homestyle Butter Tastin’ Biscuits 8 slices of Canadian bacon (cut to fit inside the biscuit) 4 scrambled eggs 2 slices of cheese (split each slice into four pieces) Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet about 1 to 2 inches apart. Split each biscuit into two pieces (you will have a top and a bottom out of one biscuit.) On the bottom of the biscuit layer Canadian bacon, cheese and eggs. Try to keep the ingredients away from the edge of the biscuit. Place the top biscuit over filling and reseal the biscuit by firmly pressing the edges together. Bake biscuits for 15-22 minutes or until golden brown. Place leftovers in a baggie and place in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave for 45 seconds.

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients 1 12-ounce package of breakfast sausage links 5 large eggs, scrambled 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese 14 flour or corn tortillas Salt and pepper to taste Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Add sausage links to a large skillet over medium high heat.

Cook, turning occasionally, until warmed through. Remove to a plate, leaving a little bit of the sausage grease in the pan. Crack eggs into a bowl and add a splash of water or milk.

Whisk well with a fork and then add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and scramble the eggs. Warm the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds until they are pliable, about 10-15 seconds. Divide the scrambled eggs among the tortillas and top with shredded cheese. Place a sausage link on top. Roll up and place, seam side down, on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Spray lightly with cooking spray and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with salsa for dipping. Place leftovers in a baggie and reheat in the microwave until warm inside, about one minute.

Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 27

Quick after-school snacks Banana Peanut Butter Rice Cakes

Ingredients 1 banana, sliced Peanut butter Rice cakes (any flavor) Honey (optional) Directions Spread peanut butter onto the rice cakes. Top with banana slices and drizzle with honey, if desired.

English Muffin Pizza

Ingredients 3 English muffins 1 cup pizza sauce 6 ounces mozzarella cheese Mini pepperoni Italian seasoning Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Slice English muffins open and place on a foil-lined baking sheet with the cut side facing up and bake for 5-6 minutes, or until they begin to brown at the edges.

Remove from the oven and place 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce on each, followed by 1 ounce of cheese and a few mini pepperonis. Place the baking sheet back in the oven and bake for approximately 5 more minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven.

Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of each pizza before serving.

Make-Ahead Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients 32 ounce plain or vanilla Greek yogurt 4 cups frozen fruit 2 cups granola 8 small mason jars or parfait cups Directions Layer about 2 ounces of the yogurt into the bottom of eight parfait cups or small mason jars. Add a layer of frozen berries, about 1/4 cup. Add another layer of the yogurt on top of the fruit, about 2 ounces. Add a second layer of frozen berries, about 1/4 cup. Set the parfaits in the fridge overnight. Top with 1/3 cup of granola before serving.

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28 | in Bemidji Fall 2021

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Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Wrap

Tasha’s No Bake Energy Balls

Ingredients 2 flour tortillas 2 bananas, peeled 2-3 tablespoons peanut butter Mini chocolate chips Directions Spread peanut butter on one side of a tortilla.

Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over peanut butter. Place peeled banana and straighten it a bit (it’s OK if it cracks a little.) Place on top of the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Roll tortilla up around the banana, trying to make it as tight as possible. Slice your “sushi” roll into 1/2 to 1-inch rounds and serve.

Ingredients 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup chocolate chips 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of sea salt Directions Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir together well to combine.

Place bowl of mix in the fridge for one hour or overnight so it can set up. Roll cold dough into balls about 1 tablespoon in size. Store in a covered container in the fridge or freezer.

Open 7 days a week 6 am - 10 pm

728 Paul Bunyan Dr. NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

(218) 444-8963 Dine in | Take out

Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 29

30 | in Bemidji Fall 2021 ANSWERS: 1) 15 mph sign now says 15 Bemidji, 2) white line half missing, 3) yellow leaves missing on left side, 4) white helmet now light blue, 5) extra patch on backpack in red crate, 6) right cuff on pants of biker on the right missing, 7) red reflector on bike on left missing, 8) extra pine needles on lower right side of bike path.

We hope you get out to enjoy the fall colors this season before the snow falls.

Can you find 8 differences between these two pictures?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

WHERE THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

BOWLING

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• Many Redemption Arcade Games

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PRIVATE PARTY ROOMS • Several Private Party Rooms Available (over 400 total seating) • Birthday Parties • Anniversary Parties • Retirement Parties • Wedding Receptions • Business Meetings

PLUS: GOLF SIMULATOR • DARTS • POOL TABLES 3455 Laurel Dr. NW, Bemidji Open 7 Days a Week

(218) 751-2153

www.bemidjibowl.com Fall 2021 in Bemidji | 31

Cabinet Corner of Bemidji

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