FamilyLife - September 2021

FamilyLife

GROW

& NURTURE AIR-FRYER RECIPES FOR KIDS

SEPTEMBER 2021

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 31

40

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LIFE

HOME

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

11 Babyproofing 101

19 We Traded A Cramped Apartment For A Sweet Home In The Country

26 Elections 2021

8 Editor's Letter

15 Do You Wanna Have a Sleepover?

FOOD 29 Air-fryer recipes for kids

36 Last Look

ON THE COVER Photography by Erik Putz.

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FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Karine Ewart

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa

TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler

ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale

EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic

HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay

NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS, TORONTO David Lawrence, John McDowell, Nicole Rosen, Roberta Thomson NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER, MONTREAL Ingrid Barfod NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, VANCOUVER Renee Wong BRAND OPERATIONS MANAGER Terry Smith

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE SALES & DIRECTOR, CLIENT SOLUTIONS Brandon Kirk DIRECTOR, MEDIA SALES Mike Lambe ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN + CEO Tony Gagliano VICE-CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER, SJC MEDIA Ken Hunt SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, REVENUE Lynn Chambers VICE-PRESIDENT, CONTENT & CREATIVE Maryam Sanati MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONSUMER REVENUE Allan Yue MANAGING DIRECTOR, RESEARCH & CONSUMER INSIGHTS Clarence Poirier MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARKETING Nadine Silverthorne DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER SUCCESS Terry Smith DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION Maria Mendes MANAGING DIRECTOR, Branded Content Sasha Emmons HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Jason Maghanoy DIRECTOR, MARKETING SPONSORSHIPS Jessika Fink Family Life is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2. Contents Copyright 2021 by St. Joseph Communications. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (6 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. Family Life, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.

St. Joseph Communications can be reached at 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2

Family Life ‐ September 2021

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EDITOR'S LETTER

I can’t wait...

Growing up in a small town in southern Ontario, when I wasn’t at my father’s horse farm, I spent sunny summer days either with family at my grandmother’s home on the St. Lawrence River or with friends at our local beach on Lake Ontario.

My love of the water led to jobs as a lifeguard and swimming instructor; my wardrobe from Canada Day to Labour Day consisted of bathing suits, flipflops, tank tops, sunglasses and a hat, with the obligatory zinc oxide on my nose.

Rainy summer days would find me under my grandmother’s homemade quilts, my face buried in a book. My transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood is easily traced through the evolution of my authors of choice: Dennis Lee, Beverly Cleary, Carolyn Keene, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Judy Blume, V.C. Andrews, Jackie Collins, Tom Wolfe, John Irving, Robert Ludlum, Anne Rice, Margaret Atwood, Amy Tan, Nora Roberts.

(And, yes, I just put those authors in the same list; it tells you a lot about me, actually.) I am still transported to my grandmother’s porch whenever I pick up my kids’ Choose Your Own Adventure books, as well as Calvin & Hobbes and Archie comics (I wanted to be both Betty and Veronica).

Karine Ewart Editor In-Chief

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LIFE

Babyproofing 101

By JESSICA SAMUEL

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LIFE So, your baby is moving and shaking now! Babies in motion can be hard to handle. I know, you carried them for 9 months, feed them, clothe them, watch them poop on everything and this is the thanks they give you! I know the feeling all too well. Believe it or not, this is only the being of an amazing process. Before you know it, your little one will be off to prom and then to college, and then you’ll be asking yourself where the time went. For the moment, though, let’s focus on the present—crawling comes before getting a driver’s license. And now that your baby is ready to roam and explore on her hands and knees, the time has come to babyproof the house. So, let’s get into it!

We all believe our home is the safest on the planet until something happens. So how can we prevent accidents from happening to our little ones—especially the dangers we don’t see?

‪Get on Baby’s level.

‪ ou’d be surprised what you can see when you experience a little tummy Y time. The first time I got the floor with my little one, I immediately saw all the sharp edges and the shiny things I keep on my entertainment center.

From that perspective, it started to make sense why the baby always crawled over to it and used the openings to pull himself up so he could reach those appealing objects to pull down. To lower my blood pressure, I removed all the shiny glass and pointy objects from the entertainment center, made sure the furniture piece was anchored and gave my valuables a new place to live. Seeing the world on all fours can help you understand your child’s perspective and also give you peace of mind.

‪ tart in areas where S your kid spends the most time.

I‪ t’s easy to go out and buy bulletproof glass, shields and fireproof blankets to build an impregnable fortress with, but does that guarantee your baby’s safety? Maybe not so much. Instead, think about where your child spends the most time. Going all out on the most expensive trinkets isn’t necessary, but you can eliminate lurking dangers in a focused area. Living rooms take precedence in most households. Make sure your child can’t pull down things that could pin him underneath. Make sure heavy glass, small items and things with sharp edges are far out of his reach, too.

‪ roof as the child P grows.

‪ ou’ll be amazed at how quickly your child grows. You’ll be even more Y shocked at how quickly she learns how to open gates, pull things down from tall places and climb out of enclosures. My kid likes to climb out of the crib and touch electric sockets. I’m not quite sure whether that’s a mark of genius or a cause for concern, but I’ve taken precautions. I’ve found it helpful to cushion the outer perimeter of the crib and bought plastic covers that are hard for children to remove from sockets. It cost me a few pillows from my bed and, I believe, around 10 bucks for the plastic covers. Buy what you need, improvise creatively and remember before you spend hundreds of dollars on babyproofing gadgets that tots will outsmart them and outgrow them. Curious little ones learn daily, which means you’ll have to work to stay a step ahead of them.

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‪Always ask for help!

‪ ssistance is key! What most first-time parents make the mistake of doing is A thinking they can do it all. That’s just not true. Although some are really good at balancing a baby with the regular stuff of life, everyone does not have that gift—and even the very best can learn a thing or two. We all need a little help, and you’d be surprised at how many friends, family and colleagues are willing to jump at the opportunity when a little cutie pie is involved. It takes a village to raise a child, and you’ll need a village and your family plus two more. Make use of that network when the network is together because babies require a constant watchful eye. Family barbecues, for instance, are a great example of when you may be able to call for some safety supervision backup. If you’re hosting or even just participating, you can easily find someone to step in and watch your little explorer until you are back in the room. My favorite excuse is the bathroom. It’s an easy out for a quick break, and someone is always willing to watch the baby for the few minutes of solitude you need. My only cautions is to assign someone specific and trustworthy before you walk away.

‪ e smart when it B comes to hot and clean.

I‪ don’t know about the children in your life, but the ones in mine are obsessed with things that plug into the wall. And with colorful cleaners— particularly in the kitchen and the bathroom. To children, chemicals scream, “Juice!” The colorful packaging is dangerously appealing. My advice to you: Lock it up. I like to keep my cleaners in a bin that snaps shut because the lids are a bit harder for kids to open, and I lock up the bins somewhere safe, usually in the bathroom under the sink. When I use my curlers or anything hot, I try to stay in one place and I make sure the children can’t reach. One trick that I use when cooling my curlers down or even using them when kids are close in range is setting the hot coil inside the bowl of the sink and the cord on the counter. The house doesn’t burn down, and no one gets hurt.

If all else fails, create a checklist. You know what works best for your kids and for your home. Grow with the proofing and with your child.

LIFE

Do You Wanna Have a Sleepover?

By KIM ANTISDEL

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LIFE Being a kid can be tough. School, rules, chores—what a world! Fortunately, one of the greatest, most exciting childhood rites of passage still persists: sleepovers.

Though a sleepover is meant to be fun, silly and even a little crazy, it probably wouldn’t surprise you to hear that most adults regard this very common experience with a bit of anxiety. Whether you’re the parent hosting the sleepover or the one sending your child over to a friend’s home, here are some suggestions and tips to make sure the night goes smoothly.

‪Know thy child

I‪ f you ask 10 parents what age is best for a child to experience a sleepover, you’ll get 10 different answers. That’s because no child is the same. Some children are ready for a sleepover at their bestie’s home by the age of 3 or 4.

On the other side, some children won’t be emotionally ready for the separation from their own beds until much later. Take a hard look at your child’s sleep patterns. Has he slept over at a grandparent’s or trusted relative’s home without you for a whole night yet? If not, it’s a good idea to try that first to get a feel for his response. If your child still wakes up in the middle of the night from nightmares or occasionally climbs into bed with you, it’s likely too early to try a sleepover. Although there is no official right time for a child to attend a sleepover, there certainly can be a wrong time.

It’s up to you to gauge the difference.

‪Ask the questions

I‪ f your child receives a sleepover invitation, you are always within your rights to ask as many questions as you feel necessary. (Check out our list of top “Sleepover Questions” at the end of this article.) In addition, if the home is new to your child, consider asking whether your child can come over for a playdate a few days before the sleepover. It may seem like an imposition, but getting familiar with new territory could help your child feel more comfortable and get a feel for the upcoming night, especially if he can see where he will be sleeping. Lastly, ask your child if he even wants to go.

Children feel pressure to attend sleepovers, but it’s possible they aren’t comfortable. Give them the out in case they want it.

‪Screen Safety

‪ e live in a digital world. The days of simply hiding R-rated DVDs are long W over. It’s fair for you to ask what types of screen exposure your child will encounter at her sleepover. Will there be iPads? Laptops? Amazon Prime?

Netflix? How are the hosts going to safeguard those crafty kiddos from getting into trouble online? Each host parent’s response will vary, so you must be prepared to make decisions based on your comfort level. Some hosts may choose to implement a “No Phone Zone,” where all of the guests’ devices are kept in a safe place. When children want to call or speak to their parents, they simply ask the host parent for their phones. You might also consider asking for password protections to be placed on devices with access to PG-13 and R-rated movies. Again, usage limits and allowances will likely change with the party’s age group, so decide ahead of time what you are comfortable with.

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‪Lights Out

‪ o you enjoy living with grumpy zombies? Probably not. Better check with D the slumber party hosts to see whether there will be an official lights out time. Obviously, flipping the light switch off doesn’t mean sleeping will happen, but it may at least jump start the process. If the host parents don’t plan to implement any strategy to encourage sleep, you may want to reconsider allowing your child to stay all night. Kids need sleep, even if just for a few hours.

‪ ive your child the G power

‪ ou’ll receive assurances from the host parents that your kids are in safe Y hands, but the fact is, your child will eventually come across a situation that’s tricky. Maybe it’s a friend who wants to sneak out. Maybe it’s a classmate making fun of another guest at the sleepover. For this reason, it’s imperative to have discussions with your children and equip them with the power to pull the plug. If they’re old enough to text, give them a coded message for an SOS. In our household, if my stepdaughter wants to come home, she simply texts a variation of the phrase, “Do we have macaroni at home for dinner tomorrow?” If we receive that message, we know she wants to come home and needs an excuse. We can then insist she come home. Her rep stays intact, and we’re happy to be the bad guy.

‪There’s a second option

‪ poiler alert: Sleepovers don’t have to be all night. Many parents are S beginning to implement a “stay most of the night” policy for their kids. In these situations, children can stay as late as midnight to enjoy the fun and craziness but then return home for restful sleep in their own beds. Some may argue this detracts from the whole experience of sleepovers, and to an extent that’s true. But if it means I can have a fully functioning child on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, it’s worth the eye rolls and “you never let me do anything fun” outbursts.

Sleepover Questions That Should Always Be Asked:

1. ‪Who will be present in the house at the sleepover? Make sure to ask for an inclusive list. You may think it’s just a child’s mom, but will her boyfriend be present, too? What about grandparents? Is there a teen sibling in the house who might have a friend over? You have a right to know.

2. What are emergency numbers for at least two people who will be in the home?

3. Are there any weapons in the home? Where and how are they stored?

4. Where specifically is your child going to sleep? Offer to provide her own sleeping bag, both for her comfort and your peace of mind.

5. What sorts of apps/cable channels/etc. will the kids have access to?

How will it be monitored?

6. Will the kids be leaving at any time? Where are they going, who is driving and will there be a need for a car seat for young kids?

7. Are there nightlights? Many children sleep with them, but others don’t.

It’s a small detail, but it could matter a great deal to your child.

HOME

We Traded A Cramped Apartment For A Sweet Home In The Country With fresh eggs, flowers and a three-acre backyard, a family of former Torontonians has found joy in rural life.

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HOME

When she first saw the listing for her 1805 farmhouse in Bath, Ont., Kate Crothers Little felt like she had stumbled upon a set for Little House on the Prairie. Quaint antique tea things were on a table, a pot dangled from a cast iron arm over an open fireplace and an old-timey rifle was by the door, in case someone needed to chase down dinner. “The previous owner, an antiques dealer, had it staged as a pioneer village house. It looked like a museum,” says Kate, an interior designer who runs the eponymous design firm Kate Crothers Design. “My husband said to me, ‘We can’t raise four kids in an oversized dollhouse.’ ” At the time, the family—Kate; her husband, Noel; their four children, Maeve, 10, Charlie, 8, Hazel, 6, and Augie, 2; and Rigby, their golden retriever—was living in a small rental apartment in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood. Prompted by rising rents and impossible house prices, Kate started to dream about moving back to the country; she and Noel both grew up in Campbellford, about 85 kilometres northwest of Picton, the heart of trendy Prince Edward County, but were up for any rural locale. “My husband and I spent our childhood roaming free,” says Kate. “In the city, kids have limited freedom.”

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September 2021 - Family Life

In 2019, they took possession of the 2,000-square-foot white clapboard house, which happens to be just 40 minutes away from their childhood hometown. “The kids tore through it, and all of the china started to shake,” laughs Kate. “They immediately broke the antique doors that were not meant to be used.”

With five bedrooms, the storey-and-a-half structure set on three acres of land is palatial compared with their city digs. “Our property backs onto 50 acres of hiking trails with a stream,” says Kate, who has since welcomed a fat black cat named Tuck, two ducks and 13 chickens. The family built a coop so they can enjoy farm-fresh eggs every day. The kids have taken to the Silkie chickens, a fluffy, docile breed happy to receive clumsy cuddles.

“It has been lovely to see my kids come into their own,” says Kate. “They help feed the chickens, catch them and put them away; they dig up worms for them. They have no fear.”

HOME

Kate has also realized her dream of having a cut-flower garden: The 40-by60-foot plot bursts with cosmos, snapdragons, sunflowers, delphiniums, peonies, dahlias and zinnias. “The kids arrange and sell bouquets on the roadside in the summer.”

But it isn’t all rosy in the country, admits Kate. “I miss being able to walk to the grocery store. The closest one is 10 kilometres away,” she says. “I even miss public transit.”

That said, the property is a great escape. Indoors, fresh white paint covers previously dark-blue and mustard shiplap walls. Vintage treasures (largely inherited from Kate’s grandmother Margaret, a major design influence) and clever DIY projects (like the painted diamond-pattern pine floor in the kitchen) make for a character-filled home. “It brings a sense of playfulness, which I think is important in a living space,” says Kate.

The soulful kitchen was created out of a mix of old and new materials. Kate removed the upper cabinets, painted the lowers in Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green and asked contractor Adam Dalgarno to build an island out of a dead poplar tree found on the property, tucking in Ikea drawers below it.

Reusing old things is in Kate’s blood. “My grandmother was a real history buff and antiques collector. She valued well-made, beautiful items,” she says.

Slow living is to be cherished: “I didn’t realize how lucky I had it growing up. I wanted my kids to have that experience.” At first, Kate says the children were shell-shocked by the freedom—they used to complain they were bored. “It’s taken them a year to realize that our entire property is their playground.”

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SEPTEMBER

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”

– Lauren DeStefano

Family Life ‐ September 2021

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ELECTIONS

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2021 September 2021 - Family Life

Everything You Need To Know About Last Night’s Election Results

Our pandemic election is, for the most part, over—and we’re back to a Liberal minority. As of press time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals had won or were projected to win 158 seats, three more than in 2019 but 12 short of the number needed to win a majority government. Here’s what else you need to know about the results of Election 44.

Not much has changed for the Liberals Although Trudeau called the results a “clear mandate,” his minority government is nearly identical to what it was before the election call. Some races, however, are still too tight to call as mail-in ballots—nearly one million of them—won’t start to be counted until today. This could mean that certain close races, especially in Toronto and Vancouver, may not be called for a few days.

That said, the major players in the Trudeau government remain the same: deputy prime minister and minister of finance Chrystia Freeland, defense minister Harjit Sajjan, foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau and minister of health Patty Hadju were all re-elected.

What’s next Getting on with the business of governing (we hope), managing the fourth wave of the pandemic, and trying to finalize a child care deal. Trudeau will still have to get Ontario—set to hold its own provincial election next year— and Alberta to sign on to a plan that promises $10-a-day child care across the country in the next five years. (Eight other provinces and territories have already signed agreements.) The Liberals also need to make good on ambitious proposals to tackle climate change, with a crucial UN climate conference coming up in Glasgow in November.

Trudeau called this election—fewer than two years after the last one— hoping he’d be rewarded with a majority. Instead, he’ll once again have to make a minority government work.

The Conservatives remain the Official Opposition As of press time, Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives won or are projected to win 119 seats, the exact same total as in 2019. And, just like in 2019, the Conservatives appear to have won the popular vote, on track to receive 34 percent of Canadians’ support versus 32 percent for the Liberals. This means that for only the third time in Canada’s history, a government has been formed by a party who received less than 35 percent of the national vote.

The Bloc Québécois and the NDP both made slight gains last night: As of this writing, the Bloc have gained two seats, for a total of 34, while the NDP picked up one, for a total of 25 seats.

Notable winners and losers The leaders of the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP all held on to their seats. Justin Trudeau won his seat in Montreal’s Papineau district, while Erin O’Toole was elected for a fourth time in Durham, Ont. and Jagmeet Singh was re-elected in British Columbia’s Burnaby South. But Green Party leader Annamie Paul failed to pick up a seat in Toronto Centre, a Liberal stronghold that went to the incumbent, former journalist Marci Ien. As of press time, the Greens looked likely to take two seats, down from their 2019 party record of three, with Elizabeth May winning again in the B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands and Mike Morrice in Kitchener Centre becoming the Greens’ first Ontario MP. Incumbent Paul Manly trailed in B.C.’s Nanaimo-Ladysmith and said early Tuesday morning that “the current margin will be hard to overcome.” (Former Green MP Jenica Atwin, who crossed the floor to the Liberals in June, held on to her seat in Fredericton.)

Other notable results: Two Liberal cabinet ministers lost, with former minister of rural economic development Maryam Monsef out in Ontario’s Peterborough-Kawartha and Liberal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan failing to hold on to her seat in Nova Scotia. Both of these seats are now Conservative.

Former Conservative leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis won a seat in southern Ontario’s Haldimand-Norfolk riding, despite having only recently moved to the area.

People’s Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier failed to win his seat in Quebec, but the party “more than tripled its support since the last election,” according to the CBC, with, at press time, just over five per cent of the popular vote.

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FOOD

Air-fryer recipes for kids Take a break from the grill with these easy air-fryer meals.

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FRESH &

FAST 3 easy and kid-friendly dishes you can make in your air fryer

Air fryer salmon with five-spice vegetables

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Air fryer falafel pitas

Air fryer oatmeal-stuffed apples

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FOOD

Air fryer falafel pitas PREP TIME:20 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS 8 6-inch pitas , cut in half crosswise 2 cups shredded lettuce 2 plum tomatoes , cut into 1/4-inch rounds 1 cup tzatziki baby sprouts , (optional) Falafels 1 540-mL can chickpeas 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley , leaves only 3 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 tbsp za'atar spice blend 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 tbsp olive oil Pickled vegetables 1/2 English cucumber , cut into 1/4-inch rounds 1 large shallot , thinly sliced 3 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar 1. Reserve 4 tbsp aquafaba (liquid) from the canned chickpeas in a small bowl. Drain remaining.

2. Mash chickpeas with a potato masher in a large bowl until crumbly. Stir in parsley, flour, za’atar, garlic powder, baking powder and salt until combined. If mixture seems dry, stir in aquafaba, 1 tbsp at a time, until mixture binds together.

3. Scoop a heaping tbsp of mixture and shape into a ½-in.-thick patty. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining mixture. (You should have about 16 falafels.) Brush oil over both sides of falafels.

4. Preheat air fryer to 390F. Arrange falafels in a single layer in air-fryer basket. (You may need to do this in multiple batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.) Air-fry until lightly golden brown, 8 to 10 min.

5. Meanwhile, combine cucumber, shallot and seasoned rice vinegar in a large non-stick frying pan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then transfer to a medium bowl. Cool slightly.

6. Stuff pitas with lettuce, tomato, tzatziki sauce, sprouts (if using), falafels and pickled vegetables.

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Air fryer Air fryer salmon oatmeal-stuffed with five-spice apples vegetables PREP TIME:20 MINS TOTAL TIME:40 MINS 1/3 cup large-flake oats 3 tbsp milk , or 10% cream 2 tbsp maple syrup 3 tbsp melted butter , divided 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice 2 dates , finely chopped or 2 tbsp chopped dried cranberries 2 tbsp chopped pecans , optional 3 honeycrisp apples , about 240g each, halved crosswise whipped cream , optional honey , optional 1. Line the bottom and sides of air-fryer basket with foil. Preheat air fryer to 350F. 2. Combine oats with milk, maple syrup, 2 tbsp butter, pumpkin pie spice, dates, and pecans (if using) in a medium bowl. Let stand until liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 min.

3. Meanwhile, using a melon baller, scoop out and discard cores from apple halves. Scoop out more apple flesh, leaving a ½-in. border with the peel.

(Apples should look like small bowls.) Finely chop the apple flesh and stir into oat mixture.

4. Fill each apple bowl with oat mixture. Arrange in air-fryer basket. Brush tops with remaining 1 tbsp butter.

5. Air-fry until apples are fork-tender, 18 to 20 min.

Serve warm, or transfer to a rack to cool completely before refrigerating in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Dollop with whipped cream and drizzle with honey before serving, if desired.

PREP TIME:10 MINS TOTAL TIME:25 MINS 1/4 cup maple syrup 4 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp garlic powder 4 skinless salmon fillets , about 200g each 1 tsp black or toasted sesame seeds , optional 1 454-g package mini bell peppers , halved and seeded 1 340-g package cauliflower florets 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp five-spice powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup chopped cilantro , optional 1. Preheat air fryer to 390F. 2. Stir maple syrup with soy sauce, Dijon and garlic powder in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Simmer, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened into a glaze-like consistency, 2 to 4 min. Brush hot glaze over salmon fillets. Set aside.

3. Toss bell peppers and cauliflower with oil, fivespice powder and salt in a large bowl. Add to airfryer basket. Air-fry until golden brown but still tender-crisp, 7 to 10 min. Transfer to a platter.

Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

4. Arrange salmon in air-fryer basket. Air-fry until a knife tip inserted into the thickest part of the salmon comes out warm, 7 to 8 min. Transfer to the platter with vegetables. Sprinkle salmon with sesame seeds and serve with rice or quinoa, if desired.

LAST LOOK

Movies

DEAR EVAN HANSEN September 24, In Theaters

Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) is a teenager who suffers from social anxiety. His therapist recommends that he write letters to himself detailing what will be good about each day. His mother, Heidi, suggests that he ask people to sign the cast on his arm - caused

by Evan falling out of a tree at Ellison State Park that summer - to make friends. Evan writes a letter to himself at school, wondering whether anyone would notice if he were not there (Waving Through A Window). Connor Murphy, a classmate of Evan's who is also friendless, offers to sign his cast. He happens upon Evan's letter and becomes furious at the mention of Zoe, believing that Evan wrote the letter to provoke him; he storms out with the letter in hand. Days later, Evan is called to the principal's office and is told by Connor's parents, Cynthia and Larry, that Connor has died by suicide, with Evan's letter found inside of his pocket.

The two misinterpret the letter as a suicide note addressed to Evan, with Connor's name on his cast only strengthening their belief.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

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