Lisa’s passion is baking. Opening a store was a big step—one she made with support from PSEG Long Island. She earned incentives for choosing a vacant space that reduced her monthly energy costs. Now, her thriving business has made life a little sweeter for all of us.
Reduce your energy costs. Get a free business energy assessment. psegliny.com/businessassessment *Incentives, grants, and rebates will vary with every project.
Welcome to our October issue of South Bay's Seasons® Magazine! By now, kids are settled into their school routines, it’s officially fall and Halloween is right around the corner. Flip through these pages to find timely editorial, a delicious recipe or two and of course, ads from your favorite local merchants. With two issues left this year, we would love to invite you to be a part of our upcoming November and December issues. Contact us today for more information and new customer promotions!
Boo -Tiful Halloween Craft Ideas
Halloween
is a highlight of fall, as children and even adults anxiously await October 31. Similar to the holiday season, people often decorate their homes for Halloween, and even do so well in advance of late October to maximize the amount of time they get to enjoy the trinkets and other items.
Many people enjoy getting hands-on for Halloween. It’s possible to craft decorations, personalized treats and festive costumes. Consider these ideas for Halloween craft projects.
3D Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins is a popular Halloween tradition. But there are many people who feel the job is too messy. Instead, a fun way to add personality to pumpkins comes by way of some hot glue and
paint. Use a hot glue gun to create a pattern on the outside of the pumpkin. It can be designs, a jack-o’-lantern face or just about anything. Once dry and hardened, use craft paint to go over the entire pumpkin. The raised design will be evident and add dimension.
Spooktacular Wreath
Adorn the front door with something creative. It can be utterly frightening or something more festive. Start with a premade spring greenery wreath or a wreath frame that you cover with your own greenery. Purchase a round, unfinished wooden sign panel, and paint with black chalkboard paint. Add your own message with chalk or chalk paint. “Keep Away” or “Enter at Your Own Risk” are great Halloween phrases to consider. Attach the sign in the middle of the
chest or box from the hobby store. Paint it all black or your favorite Halloween colors. Then add additional designs like spider webs, bats or pumpkins. Fill the box with treats or small toys. Kids can have fun picking out their treasures.
Halloween Gnomes
wreath. You also can add some embellishments to the wreath, including black moss and floral stems and leaves. A glittery black and green ribbon or bow is the finishing touch before hanging.
Boo Treasure Box
Purchase a wooden treasure
Gnomes have been popular for years, and they keep turning up in different iterations. You can craft your own gnomes for Halloween with a few supplies. Start with a 9-inch-tall foam cone. Cut the bottom off the toe part of a solid colored ankle sock just past the heel, and pull it up so it covers the lower few inches of the cone. Add some hot glue to secure, draw a beard shape on the back of the faux fur and cut it out. Attach the beard to the lower part of the cone over the sock. Use a crew length patterned sock to create a hat for the gnome, and glue to the top part of the cone. Glue on a large wood bead for the nose. Decorate the gnome any way you’d like, such as adding felt patches to the sock hat.
Halloween can be even more fun with some creative crafts the entire family can enjoy.
Tips To Carve The Perfect Jack-O’-Lantern
Jack-o’-lanterns are one of many indelible symbols of Halloween. It’s hard to pinpoint the precise origins of jacko’-lanterns, but many historians trace the tradition to 19th-century Ireland. In fact, this instantly recognizable staple of Halloween decor actually gets its name from an Irish folktale character named “Stingy Jack.”
Jack-o’-lanterns are ubiquitous in October, but a refresher course on carving one can help those who haven’t dusted off their carving skills since last fall.
• Don’t carve too early. Though it can be tempting and fun to carve a jack-o’-lantern once the calendar turns to October, it’s unlikely the finished product will make it all the way to October 31. Horticulturists indicate that jack-o’-lanterns have a shelf life of roughly five to 10 days, though an especially cold October could shorten that life expectancy even further. If you want your jack-o’lantern to greet trick-ortreaters on Halloween, wait to carve it until a few days before the big day.
• Use a dry-erase marker
to outline the design. It’s easy to make mistakes when carving a jack-o’lantern, especially if this is your first time using a carving knife since last year. Use a dry-erase marker to trace the design onto the pumpkin before you cut.
• Avoid severing the stem. When many people envision jack-o’-lanterns, the image in their minds is one in which the top of the pumpkin is removed so candles or lights can be effortlessly placed inside. However, the custom pumpkin carving
experts at New Yorkbased Maniac Pumpkin Carvers note that removing the top cuts off the vine, which supplies the pumpkin with nutrients and moisture, even after it’s been cut. A hole in the back of the pumpkin can provide easy access when placing candles or lights inside, and cutting here won’t cut off the nutrient and moisture supply a pumpkin needs to avoid drying out.
• Scoop everything out. The interior of a pumpkin will be loaded with seeds, which can be removed and later roasted to make a savory snack. In addition to removing the seeds, be sure to get all of the pulp out. Pulp left in the pumpkin will soon get moldy, and that can shorten the lifespan of the jack-o’-lantern. In addition, when removing the interior, try scraping the front inner wall of the pumpkin thinly, which may make it easier to carve.
• Avoid candles when lighting the interior of the jack-o’-lantern. Candles might seem like the most authentic and even spooky way to light the interior of the pumpkin, but the heat produced by a burning candle can shorten the life expectancy of the jacko’-lantern. An LED light won’t give off much heat and will provide ample illumination.
A few simple tips can help Halloween celebrants ensure their jack-o’-lanterns make it all the way to the big day at the end of October.
Beautifully landscaped half-acre in the sought-after Commack’s Candy section. The true chef’s kitchen features ample counter space for meal prep and overlooks the expansive backyard, complete with sliders leading to the deck and paver patio. You can enjoy summer BBQs and swimming in the semi in-ground pool. $979,000 contact Lynn Witz
Welcome to this newly listed, pristine home — a perfect blend of comfort, modern upgrades, and thoughtful details throughout. The kitchen has brand-new quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances. $749,990
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Located in the sought-after Smithtown School District!
This beautiful home sits on a .35-acre property and boasts a true resort-style backyard. Updated chef’s kitchen is a true showstopper. The yard is an entertainer’s dream, featuring a sparkling inground pool with a new liner and heater, plus a relaxing hot tub. Full basement. $1,175,000 Contact Lynn Witz
Pride of ownership when you step inside this colonial style home. Enjoy cozy winter nights by the replace and sunny summer days by the sparkling in-ground pool. The openconcept oor plan connects the updated eat-in kitchen to the spacious den and living room, creating an ideal space for entertaining year-round. $799,000 Contact Lynn Witz
Nestled in the famed Candy Section and within the soughtafter Commack School District, this 4-bedroom, 3-bath Hi Ranch sits on a true half-acre with room for a pool. Updated eat-in kitchen opens to a sunlled great room with vaulted ceilings and sliders overlooking the yard. The lower level o ers sliders to the backyard, a cozy den, a fourth bedroom, and a full bath. $1,075,000 contact Lynn Witz
Beautiful Colonial in the famed Candy Section, set on half-acre property. In-ground pool and inviting indoor and outdoor living spaces. Updated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. spacious den, living room and formal dining room. $839,000 Contact Lynn Witz and Traci Gazzo
How To Take A Game Watch Party To Championship Heights
Sports fans are a passionate lot. When a big game is on the schedule, diehard fans want to gather with fellow supporters, and that’s turned game watch parties into a popular way to cheer on the team.
Game watch parties can be hosted at any time of year, including during football season. As the action on the gridiron heats up, game watch hosts can consider these ways to take their parties to championship heights.
• Prioritize comfort. Depending on which sport hosts and their guests are getting together to watch, games can last anywhere from two to three hours, if not longer.
Guests tend to arrive before the game begins and may stick around to discuss the game once it’s over. That means guests will be sticking around awhile, which makes it necessary for hosts to prioritize comfort. Comfort should be considered when choosing seating but also which room to host fellow fans. If the weather allows and hosts have the space, a backyard makes the most sense for a game watch, particularly if you already have an expansive patio and outdoor living room. When hosting an indoor watch party, choose a spacious room so guests won’t feel like they’re sitting on top of one another.
watch. A new screen can provide the crystal clear image fans have come to expect, and the updated technology can ensure fans streaming the game won’t be frustrated by outdated operating systems that can lead to excessive buffering and frustrating mid-game interruptions.
• Stock up on snacks. Formal dinner parties may be all about the main course, but sports fans like their game day snacks. Traditional fare like chips and pretzels can be offered, but hosts also can serve up additional finger foods that can be eaten while watching the game. Chicken wings, sliders, homemade nachos, and a vegetable tray are fan-friendly finger foods that can be eaten while watching all the action on the field.
• Upgrade your screen. Hosts who have not upgraded their television in awhile can consider doing so in advance of the season or prior to hosting a game
• Set up more than one viewing space. More than one viewing space is ideal if your go-to game watch room is a little cramped or if you’ll be inviting guests with varying degrees of interest in the game. Diehards can congregate in a main viewing space while those who are there to have fun first and watch second can gather in a separate room to take in all the action. If possible, designate a separate area for children, complete with their own snacks as well as games and crafts to keep them occupied if the action alone is unlikely to keep them occupied for several hours.
• Start early. When sending invitations, encourage guests to arrive between 30 and 60 minutes before the start of the game. That ensures no one will miss a moment of the action, including hosts who will be tasked with welcoming arriving guests.
Game watches are fun ways for sports fans to get together. Some simple strategies can ensure all fans have a good time at your next watch party!
Exercise is just as beneficial for older adults as it is for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, engaging in regular physical activity is among the most important steps older adults can take as they seek to safeguard their health. Such activity can prevent or delay many age-related health problems and strengthen muscles while improving balances. The CDC notes that certain physical activities can be characterized as multicomponent activities, which means they combine aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance training. Examples of such activities include dancing, yoga, tai chi, gardening, and even sports participation. Stay active!
Tips To Make Soup More Nutritious
Soup is a dish that wears many hats. When the weather becomes chilly, people often turn to soup to warm themselves up from the inside out. Soup, especially when soup is paired with a favorite sandwich, also can be a simple and light meal when one doesn’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Soup has been heralded as a remedy as well, a reputation that dates back thousands of years. In the twelfth century, Egyptian Jewish physician Moshe ben Maimonides prescribed chicken soup as a treatment for respiratory tract issues. And Penn Medicine suggests eating soup while ill is a good idea because the meal is nourishing, easy to digest and often full of nutritious components. People may wonder what
they can do to tweak their favorite soups to make them even more nutritious, as many modern soups have gained a reputation as being sodium-heavy. These ideas can give soup a powerful boost.
• Use a higher ratio of vegetables in the soup when compared to meats and grains. Vegetables are notoriously high in nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy, including antioxidants and vitamins.
• Make your own soup stock from fresh ingredients. Doing so helps retain control over what goes into the soup, helping to reduce potential additives or other ingredients like sugar and sodium.
• Vary the color of the
vegetables. Aim for vegetables of at least three different colors. The colors of the vegetables often correspond to the nutrients and phytochemicals they contain. For example, carrots are high in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene converts into vitamin A, which is necessary for eye health, healthy skin and a strong immune system.
• Replace the cream in soups with healthier ingredients. Soups that are cream-based tend to be loaded with calories and saturated fat. Instead, use Greek yogurt at the end (to prevent curdling) or even low-fat cottage cheese to amp up the protein content and give the soup a creamy consistency without the fat. Silken tofu or even
a vegetable purée made from potato and cauliflower can add creaminess as well.
• Swap meat for lean proteins in the soup. Lentils, for example, are a plant protein rich in flavor and nutrition. According to UC Davis Health, lentils have about 18 grams of protein per cup and also are high in fiber. Relatively inexpensive, lentils also can help keep meal budgets in check. Alternative legumes also can work in soups, as can seafood or lean poultry.
• Add texture to the soup. Pumpkin seeds or flax seeds have taste and texture, and can be a healthier option for topping soups over buttery croutons or crackers.
• Keep ingredients “whole” in the soup. Lean on whole grains, fibrous vegetables, fresh herbs, and lean meats to build a well-rounded soup that’s bursting with nutrition.
• Add some turmeric and ginger. If the flavor profile allows, incorporate some fresh turmeric and ginger to the soup. Health magazine says these ingredients are part of the same plant family and have been used in traditional medicine in India and China for centuries. Both are known for reducing inflammation and alleviating symptoms of digestive disease.
Experiment with different ingredients to create soups that are not only delicious, but nutritious as well.
4-Ingredient Moon Cookies For Halloween
Youonly need 4 ingredients to make these super easy cookies that are the perfect treat and add a celestial touch to your Halloween celebrations!
Directions:
Ingredients:
1¼ cups of flour
¼ cup of powdered sugar
¼ cup of butter melted
1 egg yolk +1 egg beaten
*Optional 1 cup of finely chopped almonds, some cinnamon, nutmeg, clove
Combine flour and sugar (and almonds if using).
Work in butter and egg yolk until well blended.
Set it in the fridge until chilled (minimum 1 hour, up to overnight).
Roll into crescent moon shapes.
Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. While still warm dip in powdered sugar so it sticks.
Recipe provided by Jayne Nicoletti
What To Do With Leftover Candy
What can be better than spending a day with friends, decked out in costume as you accumulate a mountain of sweet treats? That’s what trick-or-treaters do every Halloween, and sometimes the cache of candy is more than a person can consume in a lifetime. Rather than be wasteful and throw it away, they can utilize that candy in many different ways.
• S’mores cookie: Turn miniature chocolate bars into a campfire treat with a cookie twist. Press premade cookie dough into a round cast iron skillet and bake until cooked throughout. Add chopped up pieces of chocolate and marshmallows on top, and place under the
broiler a few minutes until melted and gooey. Slice up to serve or dig in with spoons.
• Confectionary pizza: Purchase premade pizza dough or make your own. Bake the dough on a pan with no toppings. Afterwards, spread a layer of peanut butter or hazelnut spread on top. Then set up a fixings bar with various candies that others can add to their pizza slices.
• Stained glass cookies: Turn hard candies (like Jolly Ranchers®) into works of art. Fill sugar cookie cutouts with hard candies in the middle. When the cookies bake, the candies will melt and then turn soft after cooling.
• Candy-topped brownies: Brownies are delicious on their own, but they’re even better with some embellishments. Mix chopped caramels into the batter, or add other candies for flavor and fun.
• Candy bark: Melt down any chocolate you may have and spread it on a baking sheet. Sprinkle chopped up leftover candy on top and allow to cool. Break into pieces for a homemade chocolate bark.
• Gingerbread house: Save the candy in a zip-top bag for freshness and reserve for decorating gingerbread houses around the holidays.
• Birthday piñata: If there is
a birthday on the horizon, use the Halloween candy to stuff the piñata.
• Donate: Various organizations will gather and ship leftover candy to troops stationed overseas or donate the goods to first responders, veterans and others.
