March 20, 2024 Pinch Rosauers

Refresh Spring Menus with Sweet and Savory Favorites

1 storebought pizza crust

minutes. Peel, core and thinly slice apples into large bowl; sprinkle with sugar, lemon zest and cornstarch then toss well to evenly coat.

Arrange apple slices in pastrylined tart pan, laying flat.

Beat egg with milk. Brush egg wash around pastry rim.

Cut 1/2-inch strips from remaining pastry sheet and make lattice pattern over apples, crimping edges once lattice is completed.

Brush tart with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Bake 35-40 minutes, or until pastry is golden. Allow to cool at least 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with ice cream, custard or cream, if desired.

Apple and Date Muffins

Servings: 12

2 Envy Apples

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup flour

1 cup bran flakes 3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup butter, melted 1 egg, beaten 3/4 cup milk butter or powdered sugar, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F and line muffin pan with cupcake papers.

Peel and core apples and dice finely; toss with maple syrup.

Apples – a leading apple variety – that provide balanced sweetness with flesh that remains whiter longer, even after cutting, so your favorite meals look as delicious as they taste.

Visit EnvyApple.com to find more patio-perfect recipe inspiration.

Classic Apple Lattice Tart

Servings: 8-10

2-3 sheets puff pastry dough

5 Envy Apples

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon finely grated

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar ice cream, custard or cream, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 365 F.

Use two sheets semi-thawed pastry to line fluted tart pan approximately 10 inches, pressing and trimming neatly to fit; chill 15

In large bowl, combine flour, bran flakes, brown sugar, dates, pumpkin pie spice and baking powder; mix well.

In separate bowl, whisk melted butter, egg and milk.

Add half maple-apple mixture to dry ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold together until mixed.

Spoon evenly into muffin tin cupcake papers. Add 1 teaspoon remaining maple-apple mixture to top of each muffin.

Bake 20-25 minutes until muffin mix is set and apple topping is golden. Allow muffins to cool 5 minutes before removing from tin.

Serve with butter or dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Stilton Cheese Pizza

Yield: 1 pizza

1 tablespoon pizza sauce

1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, divided

1/3 cup stilton cheese, divided

1 Envy Apple

4 slices prosciutto fresh arugula leaves, for garnish fresh basil, for garnish toasted walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 F. Combine pizza sauce and sweet chili sauce. Spread sauce over pizza crust.

Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the stilton cheese. Cut apple in half then core and slice into thin wedges. Arrange

Cook

Apple, Bacon and Brie

Whip Up Cheese and Scallion Biscuits for Irish Feast

BY DONNA ERICKSON

Whenever I run into my Irish-American friend Margaret Wachholz, I feel like I’ve just won a ticket to the Emerald Isle. It’s not just her catchy sayings and accent that inspire me; she simply exudes joy whenever I tell her about my attempts to be just a wee bit Irish, especially around St. Patrick’s Day.

When I recently shared a favorite biscuit recipe made with cheddar cheese and scallions, which I thought might be ideal for a Irishthemed dinner, she exclaimed, “’Tis, indeed, but be sure to add lashings of butter! Irish butter.”

Good thing, because this recipe calls for butter in the batter and for brushing on top of the warm biscuits.

This easy recipe skips mixers, kneading and biscuit cutters in the prep. Just set out a big bowl, grab a wooden spoon and call in the kids. They can measure and stir before you pop the doughy mounds in the oven. After it’s done baking, they can brush the lightly browned tops with “lashings” of butter and top them with a shamrock-shaped flat parsley leaf as a nod to the “green.”

CHEDDAR CHEESE AND SCALLION

BISCUITS

Makes 16 medium biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted melted butter (resources below)

2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (look for Irish cheddar)

2 teaspoons scallions, chopped

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 16 whole leaves from flat leaf parsley for garnish (optional)

To prepare oven and baking pan: Heat oven to 450 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

To prepare dough: In a large mixing bowl, let your kids measure and combine flour, baking powder, garlic powder, sugar and salt. Stir with a big spoon. Add milk and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Combine lightly until flour is mixed in. Do not overstir; it will be sticky. Fold in the cheese, scallions and chopped parsley.

To bake: Use an ice-cream scoop or large spoon to drop equal-sized mounds on the baking sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes, until lightly browned.

To serve: Remove from oven. Brush each biscuit with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter and press a parsley leaf shaped like a shamrock on top.

Extra idea: If you have leftovers, warm them up in the morning for a brunch to accompany an egg dish.

Resources: Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is widely available. Find it in a store near you by visiting KerrygoldUSA.com.

Donna

(c)

***

www.donnaerickson.com.

By

Cindy Elavsky

Q:

is “Law and Order.” Does he have another show

Mr.

A:

1. Name the NHL team that played from 1976-82 before moving to New Jersey and becoming the Devils. (Hint: It shares a name with an MLB club.)

2. What Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver caught nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown to be named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII?

3. Name the Basketball Hall of Famer and member of the 1981 Boston Celtics NBA championship team who was nicknamed “Tiny.”

4. What actor used a golf club to smash another driver’s windshield in a February 1994 road rage incident?

5. At the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, American Sage Kotsenburg won the first gold medal in what sport making its Olympic debut?

6. In what year did NBA greats Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain both have single games with 50-plus rebounds?

7. What youth-oriented gravity-racing event takes place every July in Akron, Ohio?

© 2024 King Features

Julie Bowen (Upcoming in “Hysteria!”)

Q: I recently watched the series Sofia Vergara starred in about a female drug lord, and it made me wonder if Julie Bowen is also doing something now that “Modern Family” is over? -- A.E.

A: It’s been four years since the smash-hit sitcom “Modern Family” ended, but Bowen has been selective with her next series commitment. She’ll soon star in the 1980s-set supernatural-thriller series “Hysteria!” on Peacock, where she’ll play the mother of a teenager who is accused of being a satanist. A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, but the highly anticipated series recently added Garret Dillahunt (“Raising Hope”) and Nolan North (“Pretty

Trivia Test

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. TELEVISION: Which TV sitcom featured a father figure named Philip Banks?

2. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?

3. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn’t just about horses, I lost interest”?

4. SCIENCE: How long is an eon?

5. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert located?

6. MUSIC: Which singer once was called the Material Girl?

7. FOOD & DRINK:

What is injera?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of cockroaches called?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Emerald City?

10. GAMES: How many blocks are in a Jenga tower? (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY LUCIE WINBOURNE

• In a process called rice-fish culture, Indonesian farmers introduce fish into their rice fields so the fish droppings will act as fertilizer. In turn, the fish also eat harmful insects and improve oxygen circulation, increasing crop yields by up to 10%.

• Anuptaphobia is the fear of being single forever.

• The people who falsely claimed the copyright to the “Happy Birthday to You” song made $2 million a year for decades, until the song was ruled to be in the public domain.

• A man who had received the transplanted heart of a suicide victim married the donor’s widow and took his own life in the exact same way as the donor did.

• After two thieves in England broke into a man’s house and made off with his laptop, they found child abuse material on the device and took it to the police. The pedophile received a sentence of three years in prison, while the thieves were given 12 months of community service in light of their “good deed.”

• During his presidency, John F. Kennedy refused to take his salary of $150,000 per year, instead donating the entire amount to charity.

• Hundreds of people die each year from shoveling snow.

• Who says cats don’t care? After one feline owner survived a series of strokes, he tried to train the animal to dial 911. While he wasn’t sure at first that the attempt would pay off, after he fell from his wheelchair following a seizure, police received a silent emergency call from his home and arrived to find him incapacitated and his cat next to the phone.

• Loneliness poses a greater risk to one’s health than obesity. ***

Thought for the Day: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Little Liars”) to the cast.

***

Q: I saw that Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes from “Real Housewives” are in a new TV movie on Lifetime. Who are the other two women in it? Are they also from the Bravo shows? -- K.S.

A: Despite the movie starring Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes, and having a title like “Hunting Housewives,” this new Lifetime movie isn’t about Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise. Instead, it’s a scripted movie about four friends whose plane crashes en route to a spa vacation, and they find themselves being stalked by someone -- or something.

Richards had a long acting career before returning to reality TV for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” As she’s no longer a regular cast member, she’s back to acting in television and films. Leakes is best known for her time in the Atlanta franchise of “Real Housewives,” but she’s also guest-starred on shows like “Glee.”

The other two women running for their lives in the movie are played by Kym Johnson Herjavec and Melyssa Ford. Ford has starred in several music videos, but is best known as a podcaster. Herjavec is best recognized for her days as a dance pro on “Dancing with the Stars,” where she met her

BY DANA JACKSON

husband, Robert Herjavec, of “Shark Tank.” She also co-starred in the holiday romance movie “Christmas with the Knightlys.”

***

Q: What happened to the show “Will Trent”? I hope it wasn’t canceled. It was one of the best new series I’ve seen in a while. -- A.K.

A: “Will Trent” returned to ABC for its sophomore season on Feb. 20. It’s based on Karin Slaughter’s best-selling novels about a special agent who grew up in Atlanta’s foster care system. Ramón Rodriguez, who plays the crime-solving titular character, earned a Critics Choice Award nomination for the role in his debut season.

Erika Christensen (“Parenthood”) co-stars as Detective Polaski, who was seriously injured by a serial killer at the end of the last season, and Iantha Richardson is back as Will’s partner. The great cast is a big reason why the show has earned accolades from fans and critics alike. The new abbreviated season is due to last year’s months-long strikes in Hollywood, but hopefully, “Will Trent” will be renewed for a third and longer season this fall. Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

A

PAW’S CORNER

BY SAM MAZOTTA

BY FREDDY GROVES

EXPANDED PACT ACT

Expanded benefits for the PACT Act have kicked in years sooner than expected. As of recently, March 5, 2024, veterans who were exposed to toxins can get VA health care without applying for VA disability benefits first.

The PACT Act covers over 20 presumptive illnesses for exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins, as well as the burn pits, radiation, oil well fires, depleted uranium and more. The covered illnesses include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, a dozen types of cancer and interstitial lung disease.

Deployment wasn’t necessary; veterans were exposed to asbestos, firefighting foam, paints, chemicals, pesticides, Camp Lejeune water and more here in the U.S.

If you filed before and were turned down, file again or call. The VA is supposed to go through the files and contact you, but don’t wait on that.

If you’re already enrolled in VA health care, call your local VA health facility and ask for your initial screening for toxin exposure. Don’t wait on this; get a baseline test.

To get more information, call 800-698-2411 (800-MYVA411).

Or go online to VA.gov/PACT and scroll through the information.

You’ll find links to file for VA disability, a supplemental claim and more. Read about military exposures at www.publichealth. va.gov/exposures. For all the millions the VA has spent to inform veterans about PACT, there are some they’re leaving out: members of the Maine National Guard who trained at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. In 1966 and 1967, the place was saturated with Agents Orange and Purple as a means of testing effectiveness in killing foliage.

In 2005, the Canadian government did site testing of the ground, water and air. They ended up handing out money to Canadians who’d been there.

Gagetown is still used for National Guard training, not only for units from Maine but other states as well. People became ill, of course, from exposure, but they’re not eligible for VA health care for exposure to Agent Orange or any of the other “rainbow” of toxin colors at Gagetown.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

SENIOR NEWS LINE

By Matilda Charles

You Know Better, Right?

Time

• On March 25, 2017, the world’s largest banana split made its debut in Innisfail, Australia. Concocted with 40,000 bananas, it stretched for an astounding 5 miles long. No word on the number of calories it contained.

• On March 26, 1971, East Pakistan declared its independence from Pakistan, forming Bangladesh, which started an eightmonth-long war between Pakistan and the newly-formed state. As many as 3 million people lost their lives in the conflict.

• On March 27, 1989, the groundbreaking soap opera “Generations” aired on NBC-TV, making it the first U.S. African-American show of its kind. Focusing on the relationship between two Chicago families, one white and one Black, the series tackled difficult subjects, including sickle cell anemia, racial bias and hate crimes, but failed to find a wide audience and was canceled in 1991.

• On March 28, 1949, English astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term “Big Bang” during a BBC radio interview, though he also refuted the scientific theory, remarking in a later interview with the network that “the reason why scientists like the ‘big bang’ is because they are overshadowed by the Book of Genesis. It is deep within the psyche of most scientists to believe in the first page of Genesis.”

• On March 29, 1984, the city of Baltimore refused to replace its antiquated stadium, so the owner of the Baltimore Colts decided to up and leave the state. The team loaded up all their equipment into 15 trucks, moved to Indiana, and renamed themselves the Indianapolis Colts.

• On March 30, 1842, inhaled sulfuric ether was used as an anesthetic for the first time, by American surgeon Crawford Williamson Long, the first obstetric anesthetist, in Athens, Georgia. Long was also a cousin of Western legend Doc Holliday, and may have operated on Doc’s cleft lip.

• On March 31, 1923, the first dance marathon took place in New York City, with dance instructor Alma Cummings setting a new record at the Audubon Ballroom by hoofing it for 27 hours with six different partners. In just three weeks, her feat would be surpassed at least nine times across the U.S. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Washington

Hollywood

BY TONY RIZZO

Tony Rizzo Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer”

HOLLYWOOD -- Exciting Oscars news! Cillian Murphy took home Best Actor for “Oppenheimer” (along with Christopher Nolan for Best Director). Murphy’s next film, “Small Things like These,” was well-received at the Berlin Film Festival. He plays a coal merchant in a small Irish town. Emma Stone received top honors in Best Actress category for “Poor Things.” Her next film, “Kinds of Kindness,” is with Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley. Robert Downey Jr. turned out to be a Best Supporting Actor shoo-in for “Oppenheimer,” which

also won Best Picture. “Oppenhemier,” Murphy, Nolan, Stone and Downey all won BAFTA Awards (British Oscars) for their respective work. ***

Hollywood’s not only content resurrecting “Frankenstein” (in three upcoming films). Make way for the big-budget “Dracula -- A Love Tale,” starring Caleb Landry Jones ( “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) as the Prince of Darkness, opposite two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz. ***

Stephen King has gone public with his confusion about why the film adaptation of his novel “Salem’s Lot,” starring Lewis Pullman (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Alfre Woodard and William Sadler, hasn’t been given a release date yet. It was completed in 2021, and King offers: “I’ve seen the new ‘Salem’s Lot,’ and it’s quite good. ... It has the feel of ‘Old Hollywood,’ when a film was given a chance to draw a breath before getting to business. When attention spans were longer, in other words.”

Come on, Warners! Let go of some of “Barbie’s” bounty and release his “Salem’s Lot.” ***

Director Craig Rees (“Annabellum: The Curse of Salem” ) is calling his upcoming film, titled “Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Death and Porridge,” an “intelligent” slasher film. Goldilocks, who lives with the three bears, decides to get rid of a group of intruders who suddenly enter their home. Definitely a grim fairy tale!

***

Calling all members of Beatles tribute bands! Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” among others) has announced that he’ll make four films about the Beatles with their blessing. One film will be devoted to each of the fab four -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

***

We were saddened when Kevin Costner announced that he was divorcing Christine Baumgartner after 19 years. The couple had two sons and a daughter. His first marriage to Cindy Silva begot him two daughters and a son -- and an $80 million settlement. He also has a son (out of wedlock) with philanthropist Bridget Rooney. Costner’s been ordered to pay his second wife, Baumgartner, $63,209 a month.

The good news is that the 69-year- old superstar is now dating 49-year old singer/actress Jewel, who divorced her rodeo-cowboy husband, Ty Murray, in 2014. Also, Costner’s currently prepping to produce, direct and star in “Horizon: An American Saga.” Between this and his new relationship with Jewel, maybe he’ll get over dancing with wives and live in sin for a change -- it’s a lot cheaper!

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

PATTI DIAMOND DIVAS ON A DIME

Photo credit: www.JasonCoblentz.com

Even though St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, the holiday is also a good way for people to discover and continue exploring Irish recipes.

Irish soda bread is not just a tasty treat, it’s also a symbol of Irish heritage and resilience. Its humble origins reflect the resourcefulness of the Irish people during challenging times, making it a beloved part of Irish culinary tradition.

There is an organization -- The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread -- that is very serious about defending this tradition. So, I’d better get it right.

One of the charms of Irish soda bread lies in its simplicity. Traditional recipes call for just four main ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk (although I add a pinch of sugar to mine). This straightforward recipe makes it easy to whip up a loaf at a moment’s notice with the bonus of costing less than a dollar! This truly qualifies as frugal and fabulous.

Unlike yeast bread, which requires time for the dough to rise, Irish soda bread can be made quickly. The wheat grown in Ireland is very soft with low protein, like cake flour, and doesn’t rise well using yeast. But it’s perfect for making soda bread. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acidic buttermilk causes the bread to rise immediately, resulting in a loaf that’s ready to bake right away.

There is a charming folk belief surrounding the cross sliced into Irish soda bread. While the practical purpose of the cross is indeed to help the bread bake evenly, folklore suggests that it also serves another, more whimsical function: to let the fairies out. According to this tradition, the cross is meant to ward off evil spirits and protect the household.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD

Yield: One loaf or 4 to 6 servings

Total Time: 1 hour

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 3/4 cups (14 ounces) buttermilk or soured milk, see below

If you’re going to “sour” milk instead of using buttermilk, mix 1 3/4 cups milk with 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice. Let this rest for 5 minutes. It should look slightly curdled. If it’s not, then add a bit more vinegar or lemon.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, sift and combine the dry ingredients. Make a well in the middle and add buttermilk, mixing by hand or with a fork to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead, just enough to bring it together into a round. Resist the urge to over knead, or the