Today's Boomer Vol.3 No.4 July/August 2014

s ’ y a d o T Vol.3 No.4

Boomer Travel Brazil World Cup Rio & Sao Paulo Boomer Healthy Eating:

Summer Sides

5 debt traps to avoid The risk of spending your retirement savings Social Security: Retirement is a big decision

Remembering the battle against Alzheimer’s

F– Being Old: 7 Magnificent Age Buster Strategies Today’s BoomeR

Featuring The Only B2B -Business 2 BoomeR Marketplace!

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This Issue July / August 2014 Volume 3, Number 4

The Risk of Spending Your Retirement Savings

5

Social Security

6

Founders John Vardallas & Alexandra Maragha

Retirement is a Big Decision

Beware these 5 Debt Traps 7 Boomer Travel

8

Brazil: Rio and Sao Paulo

Remembering Alzheimer’s

10 14

Boomer Healthy Eating

15

Favorite Summer Sides

16

7 Magnificent Age Buster Strategies

B2B Marketplace

Editor-In-Chief Alexandra Maragha Contributing Writers : Karyl Richson: Social Security Chef Eben Atwater: Healthy Eating Advertising: Team For Letters to the Editor, articles and feedback as well as advertising inquiries email Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com

The American BoomeR.com

World Cup Fever

New Blog: F-Being Old

’s y a d To

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Business 2 Boomers Marketplace

John Vardallas CEO/Founder Professional Speaker Business/Lifestyle Strategist Boomer Sage and Blogger JohnVardallas@TheAmericanBoomeR.com (608) 577-8707 Alexandra Maragha Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief Today’s BoomeR Alexandra@TheAmericanBoomeR.com Today’s BoomeR Vol.3 No.4 Today’s BoomeR is published six times (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/ June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) a year by The American BoomeR.com 769 North Star Drive (Suite 207) Madison, WI 53718 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

The American Boomer @American_Boomer Today’s BoomeR 3

EDITOR’S LETTER

’s

Today

Sweet Summer Sounds of summer. Laughter from a gathering of good company, the sizzle of a hot grill calling all that food is ready. Heavy breath from a good workout and water splashing from a cool dip. All bring relaxation; a time that is a part from any other time of year and brings feelings of happiness.

These are the times that create memories, and are the times that are supposed to last from future stories told. These important (feature) p. 10 aspects of life come for most. Our feature is dedicated to raising awareness about the devastating affects of Alzheimer's and how to preserve moments and happiness. World Cup fever is far from over as we look into visiting Brazil. Continue celebrating summer with our top picks for summer side dishes that will be big hits at your table.

Enjoy your people places and proclaim that life in the now is ever so sweet. p. 4

p. 12 Alexandra Maragha Editor-In-Chief Send Letters and Feedback to: Alexandra@theamericanboomer.com

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The Risk of Spending Your Retirement Savings Don’t ignore these pitfalls when drawing down your retirement investments

?

By David Ning After years of saving up for retirement, there will come a time when you need to start spending your nest egg. Drawing down your assets in an appropriate way can be just as crucial to your retirement security as saving and investing. Here are some risks to avoid when spending your retirement savings: Losses in retirement are especially problematic. You annual returns start to be very important in the years leading up to and immediately after retirement. When you are saving up for retirement, it's certainly better to get a 15 percent return than a 5 percent return or a loss, but over a 30-year career the returns of a single year won't make or break your retirement. However, returns make a much bigger difference once you start taking withdrawals from your investments, especially if you experience a decline it the early part of your retirement.

A few big declines in the first few years of retirement on top of yearly withdrawals can deplete your nest egg so much that the remaining portfolio can never recover. For example, consider an investor with 100 percent of his assets invested in the S&P 500 index at the beginning of 2000. If no withdrawals are taken, the investor would have roughly 62 percent of his nest egg at the end of 2002 and fully recover sometime in 2007. However, the recovery is much worse for a retiree withdrawing $50,000 a year. By 2002, just 50 percent of the portfolio is left. And even by 2007 he would only be left with 63 percent of the original amount. And this calculation does not account for taxes. Add a bit of tax costs and the picture is even bleaker.

To avoid significant losses in retirement, many retirees shift their retirement money to more conservative investments that are less likely to lose value. While the growth might be slower, conservative investors are also less likely to suffer a financial setback they don't have time to recover from.

Debt is even more costly for retirees. It will be easier on your nest egg if you pay off debt aggressively before retirement, including your mortgage. Eliminating debt will allow you to significantly lower your retirement expenses and withdraw less from your savings each month, giving your money more time to grow. While mort-

gage rates do seem lower than the annualized returns of the market, it's not a sure bet you'll win financially after you account for the fact that money has to be taken out every month from a volatile market to pay for the principal plus interest owed on the loan. Taking additional money out of savings to cover debt payments each month in a volatile market can stress the portfolio too much.

Minimizing taxes is essential in retirement. Tax strategies may make an even bigger difference to your bottom line during retirement than they did while working. Retirees have many opportunities to save money on taxes because many of their income sources are no longer taxed at ordinary rates. Only part of your Social Security payments will be taxable, and the amount that is taxable depends on your income. When deciding when to claim Social Security, it's important to determine how taxes impact the calculations. Some retirees will come out ahead by holding off on starting Social Security checks until they convert pre-tax assets to a Roth IRA. While income tax is due on a Roth IRA conversion, if you make the conversion in a year when you don't have any other income you will typically pay a lower tax rate than if you convert while working or claiming Social Security benefits.

However, it's also useful to keep some money in taxable, pre- and post-tax accounts, and then each year in retirement you can determine the most tax-effective way to draw the income you need from these three types of accounts. You must pay income tax on withdrawals from pre-tax accounts, while Roth distributions in retirement are typically tax-free. It's important to weigh the tax consequences of each withdrawal to make sure you aren't paying more to Uncle Sam than you need to.

Take some time to consider the lasting effects of the retirement decisions you make. You have several opportunities in the decumulation stage to make your money last much longer. And if you don't end up spending it all, your heirs will thank you for the financial moves you make now.

Today’s BoomeR 5

Social Security: Retirement is a Big Decision

By Karyl Richson , Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

If you believe in going all the way or not going at all, there’s a

Another great tool is your own my Social

day to celebrate your extreme ways. July 26 is All or Nothing

Security account. Here you can get instant estimates of your

Day. Not a day for the undecided, All or Nothing Day is dedicat-

future benefits and verify that your earnings history is correct

ed to the idea of making decisions and plunging in. Whether it’s with your own, free my Social Security account. Visit overcoming an agonizing fear, trying something you’ve always

www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and join the millions of peo-

wanted to try, or making a big decision and seeing it through,

ple who have already created their accounts to help plan for

All or Nothing Day is your chance to make it happen.

retirement.

All or Nothing Day is a great day to think about your retire-

You can get Social Security retirement benefits as early as age

ment—whether it’s right in front of you or looming on the hori- 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age (currently zon. When is the right time for you to retire? Choosing when to

age 66, but gradually increasing to age 67), your benefits will be

retire is an important decision, but it’s also a personal choice

reduced, based on your age. If you retire at age 62, your benefit

and one you should carefully consider. There is no one-size-fits- would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you all answer. Social Security offers a list of factors to consider in

waited until you reach full retirement age. Find out your full

the publication, When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits,

retirement age by using our Retirement Age Calculator at

available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm. You may

If you’re a young or middle-aged worker, you still have time to

choose to keep working even beyond your full retirement age. If

ponder that decision. But don’t wait to begin saving for your

you do, you can increase your future Social Security benefits—

retirement. Start saving now and go in all the way. The more

up until age 70.

you save, the more comfortable your retirement can be. And

There is one more way that choosing to keep working can in-

remember, Social Security retirement benefits were not intend- crease your benefits. If you receive benefits, and if your latest ed to be your sole source of retirement income and planning

year of earnings turns out to be one of your highest years, we

early will make for a comfortable retirement.

refigure your benefit and pay you any increase due. For exam-

Social Security provides two top-rated online tools to help you

ple, in December 2014, you should get an increase for your

plan for your retirement. First is the Retirement Estimator,

2013 earnings if those earnings raised your benefit. The in-

which gives you immediate and personalized retirement benefit crease would be retroactive to January 2014. estimates. The Retirement Estimator is convenient and secure,

Applying for Social Security retirement doesn’t have to be an

and lets you create “what if” scenarios. For instance, you can

“all or nothing” decision. Whether you want to retire at age 62,

change your “stop work” dates or expected future earnings to

your full retirement age, or even later, you can apply when you

create and compare different retirement options. If you have a

feel like it. When you’re ready to take that plunge, you can

few minutes, you have time to check it out at

apply online for retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov.

www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

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Beware These 5 Debt Traps Getting out of debt is one of the best ways to improve your retirement prospects. Here's how.

By Tom Sightings I have plenty of experience going into debt. I've spent over half my life paying down a mortgage. I've taken out more than one home equity loan and have made more than my share of car payments. Have I ever been debtfree? Yes, for the first 18 years of my life. But now that I'm approaching retirement, I am nearing that state of equanimity once again. So I know how to get in and also how to get out.

There are plenty of ways to dig yourself deeper into the hole. For most of us, these are the top five debt traps: 1. Stretch out the car loan so your monthly payments are less. If you take out a three-year loan of, say, $20,000 at 1.9 percent interest, your monthly payment will be about $573. But if you go for the four-year loan at 2.9 percent, the monthly payment is only $443. And the five-year loan at 3.9 percent is just $368. However, for that lower monthly bill, you will have paid $2,095 in interest by the end of five years, compared to only $628 for the three-year loan.

2. Pay the minimum balance on your credit card. When the bill arrives in the mail it tells you that you have options. You can pay the full amount -- say it's $1,200 -- or you can send in the minimum of $25. That seems like an easy choice, until you find out the interest rate on your unpaid balance is around 15 percent. If it takes you five years to pay it off the interest will add a whopping $500 to that initial $1,200 charge. And if you ignore the bill until it's past due you might incur an extra penalty of $25 or more. Even worse, if you write one of those checks the credit card company sends you, that cash loan could cost you a usurious 25 percent interest or more.

3. Keep going to school whether you need to or not. Some 70 percent of college students graduate with outstanding loans, with the average debt now around $30,000. Graduate students owe even more, averaging $57,600. Of course, your loan is only too big if you don't have the income to pay it off. So if your degree is in medicine or engineering you're probably going to be OK. But if your advanced degree is in art history or social work, or you're going to school because you don't know what else to do, then you may have a problem.

According to the nonprofit organization American Student Assistance, the people who have the most trouble repaying their loans are those still paying in their 30s and those who drop out without earning their degree.

4. It's a home improvement, so you'll get your money back. If you're a fan of the home renovation TV shows you might think the typical home renovation pays for itself and then some. But you'd be wrong. According to Remodeling, a builders' website, a typical kitchen remodel costing $40,000 would increase your resale value by $27,600, for a loss of $12,400. Adding a bathroom or home office? You'll be lucky to get half your cost back when you sell your house. Go ahead and improve your home if you can afford it, but don't kid yourself. Some of that money represents an investment, but you're spending the rest. And if you take out a home equity loan, you're spending even more.

5. It's not really a loan, you're borrowing against yourself. Many companies allow you to borrow from your 401(k) plan. Under certain circumstances you can also take a short-term loan from your IRA. However, the rules are complicated, and if you break a rule the penalties are harsh. You can also withdraw money from your IRA without penalty for certain expenses such as a first-time home purchase or some medical expenses. But you are subject to income tax on the withdrawal, and once you've spent the money you will no longer have it for retirement.

Borrowing money can be useful. But the recent bubble and recession taught us to be careful. In general, it's better to borrow to invest in an education, house or business. Borrowing to consume is much riskier. With all types of borrowing, you need a plan to pay it back.

Today’s BoomeR 7

World Cup Brazil:

BOOMER TRAVEL 8 Today’s BoomeR

In Rio and Sao Paulo go North Seth Kugel, The Frugal Traveler It is a startlingly pleasant anomaly in the normally intimidating 11-million-person megacity of São Paulo. On a quaint square across from a tiny 112-year-old church, a bar called Frangó (frangobar.com.br) offers worn wooden tables in cozy nooks, an astonishing 500label beer list and a celebrated version of the popular Brazilian chicken croquettes called coxinhas.

Yet when my pal Oliver texted a friend to join us, the response was curt and dismissive: “I generally don’t frequent those parts of the city.”

“Those parts” means the Zona Norte, or North Zone, roughly the regions of São Paulo north of the filthy Tietê River generally ignored by tourists and wealthier residents who haunt restaurants and bars in the tonier south and west. But, in my opinion, the distaste is mainly an issue of misperception: the north, “southerners” feel, is not interesting enough (untrue), too far (easy enough to get to by a combination of subway and bus or short cab ride), too dangerous (not if you take basic precautions, and southern zones are far from immune).

There’s a parallel geography at work in Brazil’s second biggest city, Rio de Janeiro, where the Zona Norte is largely ignored in favor of Zona Sul, home to the Copacabana and Ipanema neighborhoods, with their famous beaches and luxurious hotels. (Oncedowntrodden downtowns in both cities are also being revived, drawing more tourists.)

Yet in my traveling calculus, any place with millions of residents must have something worth doing. What’s more, in two cities, where the prices in more upscale neighborhoods typically leave visitors shellshocked, options are more affordable. So on a recent trip through Brazil, I set out to the north — and found plenty of good food, cultural charm, great views and, yes, even beaches.

Rio de Janeiro Denizens of Rio’s Zona Sul cannot entirely ignore the north: they’d never attend a soccer game at Maracanã, the stadium that will host the 2014 World Cup final, or watch the city’s samba schools put on their exuberant parades in the Sambadrome.

But the Zona Norte has much more to offer. Those same sam- scattered remaining parts of the Atlantic Forest, the partly ba schools hold weekly “rehearsals” — festive dance parties tropical biome that once covered vast swaths of coastal Brafeaturing the schools’ bands — and many of the most fazil. And part of it is within the Zona Norte. mous, like Mangueira, are in poor neighborhoods in the north. Even more elaborate fun can be found on a 24-hour clock on weekends at the arena-sized São Cristóvão fair (feiradesaocristovao.org.br), with foods and live music from Brazil’s distinct northeastern region.

Even on a Monday, when I arrived in town, the parties don’t stop. I waited in line at the Renascença Clube (renaclube.com.br), a traditionally black social club, for its weekly “Workers’ Samba,” which began as an informal gathering of musicians on their day off. The group still sits around a table, playing guitars, singing, drumming out the beat on tamborims and surdos, surrounded by hundreds of Brazilians who pay a bargain 10 reais (about $4.60, at 2.18 reais to the dollar) to crowd into a sprawling outdoor space.

The primary attraction (9 reais to enter) is the area around Pedra Grande, or Big Rock. At its namesake attraction, a twomile hike up a rutted road from the entrance, you hop up onThere is plenty of dancing, but the crowd seems happy to spend the time talking, singing, drinking and eating (the fare to the expansive sloping surface to take in the view. The fortends toward heavy but affordable heaping plates of classics est spreads out below and then, suddenly, breaks into a mind like linguiça sausage covered in onions, 15 reais). I found the -boggling infinity of urban towers that stretches almost to the crowd friendly and diverse (I met both street cleaners and a horizon. Or take one of the narrower trails closer to the Pedra Grande entrance and the city disappears entirely, leaving you professor of geography). amid great fig trees draped with vines and monkeys calling Beaches in the north could not be more different from Ipane- from above. ma. Before visiting the club, I had spent most of the day on the Ilha de Paquetá, an island in Guanabara Bay easily acces- More civilized is Mocotó (mocoto.com.br), a top-rated São Paulo restaurant that is rare for both its affordability and its sible by a 45-minute, 4.50-reais ferry from downtown.

(Although Paquetá is officially administered by the downtown ability to attract southerners to the North Zone. Rodrigo Zona Central, it is actually the northernmost point in the city.) Oliveira, the chef who took over his father’s traditional neighborhood restaurant and updated it to great acclaim, now tours the world. But despite endless offers from investors, he And while Ipanema’s streets are lined with fancy high-rises, stubbornly refuses to leave Vila Medeiros, the working-class boutiques and restaurants, Paqueta’s dirt roads, which are Zona Norte neighborhood where he grew up. And so the car-free (horse-drawn carriages cart visitors around town), feature 19th-century homes, stores that rent banged-up bicy- moneyed class comes to him, as a sort of a daring urban adventure. cles (5 reais an hour) and diners that offer up simple pleasures like fried fish or grilled ham and cheese.

Prices have gone up a bit as buzz has grown, but skip the The crowds, too, are different. On the ferry to Paquetá, I sat most expensive dishes (though not the caipirinha cocktail of in front of a nun who worked as a nurse at a hospital recently the day, 12.90 reais) and a meal can be had for about 50 visited by the pope (“I kissed him twice,” she told me excited- reais. Mr. Oliveira’s version of escondidinho, shredded dried ly). I later spotted her on the beach; nuns are not frequently beef hidden under a layer of puréed manioc root au gratin, is flawless. And virtually no one skips the “tapioca dice,” cubes spotted amid the toned bodies of Ipanema. Neither are battered swan boats, rentable for 20 reais per half-hour. The of tapioca with coalho cheese fried and served with sweetbackdrop, however — mountains in the distance, mesmeriz- sour chile sauce. ing rock formations just offshore — is the same.

Earlier this year, Mr. Oliveira opened up Esquina Mocotó, a pricier, fancier restaurant next door. Would he ever consider São Paulo expanding farther south? “Mocotó is 40 years old,” he said.

“We just opened Esquina Mocotó next door. Maybe in anothThis vast, sprawling city is a sea of high-rises that can seem never-ending. But on clear days, a mountain range called the er 40 years we’ll open one in the South Zone. Maybe.”

Serra da Cantareira appears far to the north. It is one of the Today’s BoomeR 9

What Boomers need to remember about Alzheimer's Ten million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.

By Kari Paterson kpaterson@alz.org.

In 2011, the first baby boomers turned 65, an age when developing Alzheimer’s disease becomes more likely. Alzheimer’s is not typical aging, but age is the greatest risk factor for developing the disease, the majority of people with the disease being 65 and older.

living with Alzheimer’s disease or caring for someone who has it.

“My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her late 60’s, but she was already progressing to the middle stages of the disease by then. Sadly, this disease robbed my mother of her golden years.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, She worked hard all of her life, but never had the a general term for memory loss and other intellec- opportunity to enjoy her retirement. I used to think tual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily of Alzheimer’s as solely a memory disease. Then I life. This devastating disease is a global epidemic. watched my mother deteriorate, little by little, year Currently, at least 44 million people worldwide are after year, until she became just a shell of the perliving with dementia. In the United States alone, son she once was. I now know that this disease more than 5 million people have Alzheimer’s, and destroys every aspect of one’s daily functionaliover 15 million are serving as their caregivers. ty and every aspect of one’s health. This disease is terminal,” said family caregiver, Kim Peterson of “We need to start talking publicly about how our Sun Prairie. systems are going to handle the surge of Boomers Kim has used her voice as an advocate for Alzheientering into this disease in coming years,” said mer’s disease by participating in the nation’s largKari Paterson, Executive Director for the Alzheiest movement, Walk to End Alzheimer’s with the mer’s Association South Central Wisconsin chapAlzheimer’s Association. This year, she walks in ter headquartered in Madison. “How are they gotribute to her mother, who lost her battle with Alzing to care for parents and their spouses, friends heimer’s. and family with dementia? It’s not what we plan for our retirements, but unfortunately, many of the “I also walk in an effort to create greater awareboomers are going to be hit hard with this disness of this disease, and the huge emotionease.” al and financial impact it has on families and on our country,” said Peterson.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer's and other dementias will escalate rapidly in coming We need to overcome the fear and stigma associyears as the baby boomer generation ages. By ated with having memory impairments. It is really 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with time to take action to make sure we can fund the Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple, from 5 mil- science so this doesn’t become a larger issue in lion to as many as 16 million, barring the develop- the next ten years. That action can be partnering ment of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or with the Alzheimer’s Association as an advocate stop the disease. Too many of America’s baby for public policy change and participating in the anboomers will spend their retirement years either l nual Walk to End Alzheimer’s (alz.org/walk) in 10 Today’s BoomeR

Today’s BoomeR 11

including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

Unless something is done, Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) in 2050.

The need to fight Alzheimer’s is now.

The Alzheimer’s Association addresses this epidemic by providing information, education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing

September. This relentless and debilitating disease is the ultimate thief — of memories, independence, control, time and ultimately, life. Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia..

In addition to the human toll, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive condition in the nation. In 2014, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s will total an estimated $214 billion, 12 Today’s BoomeR

critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention, and ultimately, a cure. We’re here to help.

We have great services locally at our chapter with caregiver education classes and support groups, but also have many tools available on at alz.org, such as our new social media tool called AlzConnected, for caregivers that want online tips and strategies but cannot attend support groups. Our most powerful tool is that the Alzheimer’s Association is available nationwide with local support.

With more than 80 local chapters in the United States, the Alzheimer’s Association serves those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their loved ones and caregivers. We provide multiple resources including a professionally staffed 24/7 Helpline (1.800.272.3900) and online information and tools. While providing support services and education programs, the Alzheimer’s Association also advocates for Alzheimer's-related legislative issues and funds Alzheimer's research.

Together, we can end this devastating disease, and the Alzheimer’s Association offers many ways to join the fight against Alzheimer’s. Opportunities to help include volunteering for special events such as Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the local board of directors or community volunteer educators, office support, and participating in the annual advocacy day coming in spring 2015. We all have a reason to end Alzheimer’s.

To learn more, call 608.203.8500 or email Kari Paterson at kpaterson@alz.org.

Today’s BoomeR 13

World Cup Fever It’s football time! Brazil is the hot spot the world has turned to enjoy and experience the greatest competition at an international level. The 2014 World Cup has brought 32 nations together to compete for greatness and the entire world to experience the beautiful people, hospitality and pride that proves why Brazil is synonymous with football.

The game itself brings people together to dialogue, fight, love and meet. Walk on the street and any game that is on would make one think two strangers resemble life long friends through the love and experience shared. Visiting Brazil is like visiting 32 countries. The cultural flavor that takes you away is heard through each countries chant, colors, flags and dress that even the United Nations could not replicate. The moments from this World Cup will last forever and the streets of Brazil will remain flavorful and eventful for destination seekers, adventures and any sports fanatic to witness for years to come.

For more news visit www.worldcupnewz.com

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Photos courtesy of worldcupnewz.com twitter.com/cupnewz

BOOMER HEALTHY EATING: Favorite Summer Sides

Recipes and Photos from Chef Eben Atwater www.urbanmonique.com

Summer means backyard BBQ and grilling your favorite meals with your best friends and family.

A relaxing day to prepare a meal can be stress free when you know and plan exactly what you will be offering for all to enjoy. Try some of these spicy sides to enhance your next course.

Smoked Guacamole Here’s a great twist on the standard chip fodder.

The lightly smoked components add a really savory, distinct note to a wonderful dip.

2 ripe Avocados.

1 medium Onion.

1 firm Tomato.

1-3 cloves Garlic. ½ fresh Grapefruit.

5 – 8 sprigs fresh Cilantro.

Juice of 1 – 2 fresh Limes.

Salt, Pepper and Chile flake to taste.

Build a small charcoal pile, then spread the coals to a thin, even layer. Prepare some smoking wood of your choice by soaking it in water for about half an hour, then placing that on top of the hot coals. Cut all ingredients to be smoked in half, and leave the skins on the halved avocado.

Load the grill with the avocados skin side up, and allow them to grill for a minute or two, then flip them to skin side down.

Add the onion, garlic and grapefruit to the grill, then close the cover and damper the vents so the air flow is minimal, allowing the smoke to work low and slow for about thirty minutes. * NOTE: We didn’t smoke or grill the tomatoes, (Which were very fresh at the time), ‘cause they get too mushy, but my big Sis pointed out, post production, that green tomatoes are a thing of beauty, which is absolutely true: So try that option if you like, ’cause we’re sure gonna!

Allow the grilled/smoked stuff to cool. Dice the tomato, onion, avocado and garlic, then combine in a non-reactive bowl and mix well. Add chiffenaded cilantro, juice from one lime, and squeeze juice from ¼ of the grapefruit.

Add salt, pepper and chile flake to taste, and add additional lime and/or grapefruit juice as desired – When you get the balance right, you’ll have a nice, tangy citrus counterpoint to the smoky veggies.

Raspberry Pico de Gallo I love pico de gallo. The bright fresh flavors and colors, the scent, the way it marries so well with so many things – what’s not to love?

Almost all picos want a bit of sweet in them. Most often I lean toward a shot of agave nectar, but I had these berries, some of which were getting on the soft-to-mushy side. I was wondering what to do with them when the light bulb came on. The fact Today’s BoomeR 15

that they were really ripe was actually a benefit; they were super easy to break down and incorporate that way, and their sweet fruit notes were picked up by the roasted corn and touch of garlic really nicely. Here’s what I did; this’ll make about a pint or so.

1/2 Sweet Onion 1 Tomato 1 ear Roasted Corn 5-6 stems Cilantro 1/2 Cup very ripe Raspberries 1-2 Jalapeño Chiles 1 small clove Garlic 1/2 small Lime Pinch Sea Salt Rinse all produce and fruit well. Seed and core tomato and chiles, then dice both those and the onion, chiffonade the cilantro, peel and mince the garlic. Cut corn off the cob and separate kernels.

Zest and juice 1/2 the lime.

Strawberry Shortcake If you’ve had strawberry shortcake while out and about, chances are good that it wasn’t, and you weren’t impressed. More often than not, what you’re served is kinda like a little sponge cake thing with some whipped cream and strawberries. If you’re lucky, the whipped cream is fresh and so are the strawberries, but luck is rare in this regard. You’re almost certain to be outa luck with the shortcake.

Lucky for us, Gen-U-Wine strawberry shortcake is easy to make; easier, in fact, than all that faux crap. I’ve been known to say that, “In the kitchen simple is always best, but not always easy”; here’s a case where it’s both.

Traditional shortcake, done right, is far more like a biscuit than a cake. This is precisely what you want, because it has the density to stand up to strawberries, juice and whipped cream without becoming a gloppy, saturated sponge.

‘Short’, in baking term FYI, means a higher ratio of fat to flour, resulting in a tender, crumbly cake. Flour variety matters as well, and pastry flour is what you want. Its relatively low protein content, (about 8% to 10%), makes it perfect for stuff that demands a light and flaky consistency, like biscuits, tart crusts, pastries, and cakes. All purpose or bread flour is right out for this recipe; they’ll make things hard and chewy.

Good strawberries mean ripe, local berries at the prime of their season. Yes, you can make strawberry shortcake at other times, but this is when it’s meant to be made, so that’s kinda what you need to do.

Work raspberries until they’re broken down to the individual Good cream means real cream; local, heavy or whipping cream, not that ultra-pasteurized, mass produced crap that fruitlets, or close to it.

Combine all elements in a mixing bowl, including a small pinch of sea salt. Taste and adjust seasoning as you like; you can add more raspberry, or a squirt of agave if your berries aren’t very sweet, or a touch more salt or lime.

Refrigerate in a non-reactive bowl for at least 30 minutes prior to serving, and as long as overnight; the flavors will do nothing but get better.

Great with freshly made, cut, and fried corn tortilla chips and an ice cold lager or pilsner. Enjoy!

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you see most often. My local version comes in a glass pint, and the real cream absolutely plugs the top of the bottle – That’s cream. Here’s how you do it.

For the cake: 2 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour 1 Cup Whole Cream (1/2 & 1/2 or Buttermilk are also fine) 1/2 Cup Honey or Agave Nectar 4 teaspoons Baking Powder 4 tablespoons unsalted Butter Sea Salt

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

For the Berries.

4 Cups Strawberries 1/2 Cup Honey or Agave Nectar Rinse, top and cut berries into quarters.

In a mixing bowl, combine berries and sweetener and blend thoroughly.

Place in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Whipped Cream 1 Pint real Cream 1 Tablespoon Honey or Agave Nectar 2″ Vanilla Bean, scraped, or 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Combine cream, sweetener and vanilla in a nonreactive mixing bowl.

Whip cream by hand or with a stick blender.

When the cream is holding stiff peaks, stop whisking, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 450° F. Butter needs to be cold for this recipe; quickly cut it into 1/4″ cubes, then place in freezer until you need it. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, a pinch of sea salt, and baking powder; blend thoroughly.

Add the butter and work it Into the flour blend by hand, until the butter is uniformly the size of small peas Add the cream slowly to the mix, mixing constantly.

Add the honey or agave and blend thoroughly.

The dough should be sticky; you can add a little more cream or flour at this point if you need to adjust.

Grab some dough and form a cake about hockey puck size, 3/4″ thick and roughly 4″ in diameter. Place the cakes on an ungreased baking sheet with a couple of inches between each one.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown.

Don’t wander too far from the oven, they darken up pretty quickly.

To serve, slice one biscuit in half. Place a half biscuit on a desert plate, add berries to cover evenly, then a soup spoon of cream.

Repeat the layering with the other biscuit half, berries, and cream. A mint leaf is a nice garnish, and the scent blends beautifully with the other ingredients.

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Johnny Vs New BoomeR Blog

F– Being Old 7 Magnificent Age Buster Strategies

By John A. Vardallas Founder/CEO, TheAmericanBoomeR.com This year I have been amazed by stories of the feats of some older (aka experiencers) people around the world who have defied their age by eng-aging in some really awesome activities.

The 100 plus year old Australian guy who still swims laps and competes by himself in races because there is no one else in his age bracket who swims; a retired seventy year old couple who have put their retirement on hold and are traveling the USA riding a Harley; former President George Bush Skydiving on his 90th birthday; the 96 year old Indian and 108 year old Iranian men who became fathers! And lest we forget America s Grandma--Mosses who was one of our most famous painters still productive at her century mark!

To help encourage you to think about your Boomer years as really Golden, I offer these Seven Age Busting Strategies: Keep Your Self Physically Fit- Mild and Moderate Exercise on a regular basis has been proven to maintain (and sometimes improve) our health as we age. Eat less but better foods to fuel your energy!

Maintain a Sense of Humor- laughter helps longevity by releasing good feeling endorphins that help boost the immune system. A friend of mine does not let a day go by without a joke de jure.

Keep Expanding Your Mind- engage in new activities to help stretch and challenge your mind like puzzles, reading, card and games.

A great way to ward off dementia and help keep one sharp.

Stay Connected- network with old and young alike to stay socially active and be with likeminded people who will accompany you for 18 Today’s BoomeR

your new experiences. Join clubs and groups that fit your interests and don’t forget social media is a great way to connect with buds.

Maintain Good Sleep and Meditation Time- keep a regular schedule of sleep and rest time.

Naps and meditation are a great way to rejuvenate the body and soul.

Anticipate the Excitement of Each New Daylook upon each day as a new adventure and the first day of the rest of your life. Keep an open and optimistic mind about what each new dawn may have in store for you.

Create an Encore Career—Keep a passion and sense of purpose for what you love doing!

Keep the creative juices flowing for all that you care about. Create an action plan for your second life and keep working and focused on your “Bucket-List”.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing” -George Bernard Shaw A positive, philosopher type attitude and mindset can go a long way to help bust the challenges posed by aging and --Never Let Your Dreams Become Memories!

So Boomers Don’t Sweat the Aging Process—Go with my favorite James Bond Movie Mantra: Live Now and Die Another Day!

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Contact Today for more information

What is a Senior Move Manager?

Senior Move Managers assist adults and their families with both downsizing to remain in their current home, as well as the entire process of moving to a new residence. Senior Move Managers specialize in helping their clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories in the transition process.

Moving Forward has been trained through the association of Senior Move Managers -- Check out their website to find a senior move manager in your area. www.nasmm.org

Moving Forward takes pride in the fact that they easy to work with and work really well under tight deadlines. They are still offering clients an introductory rate and always offer a free consultation.

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