What's Up? Georgian Bay - January 2023

Cozy Cold-Weather Recipes to Warm You Right Up

(NC) As the temperatures dip outside, find warmth in the kitchen with simple meals that taste great and keep you energized. Here are two cozy recipes that feature nourishing and comforting ingredients like rice, for long-lasting energy that won’t weigh you down.

French Onion Rice Bake

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 2 hours

Serves: 4 – 6

Ingredients

7 cups (1.75 litres) sliced Spanish onions (about 6 medium)

2 tbsp (30 ml) butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

¼ tsp (1 ml) each salt and pepper

1 ½ cups (375 ml) long-grain brown rice

2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped thyme

½ cup (125 ml) cooking sherry

3 cups (750 ml) beef broth

2 cups (500 ml) shredded Emmental (Swiss) cheese

Coarsely chopped parsley to garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).

2. In a large, oven-proof skillet, cook onions with butter, garlic, bay leaves and salt and pepper over medium heat until golden brown and caramelized. Stir in rice and thyme; deglaze pan with sherry and cook for 1 minute. Stir in broth and bring to a simmer; cover tightly with foil.

3. Bake in the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until rice is cooked. Uncover and sprinkle evenly with cheese; return to oven and broil for 2 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

4. Garnish with chopped parsley to serve.

Chicken and Rice Alfredo

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 55-60 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 cup (250 ml) long-grain white rice, uncooked

1¾ cups (415 ml) water

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

¾ teaspoon salt or to taste, divided use

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 1 pound total

1½ teaspoons dried oregano

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup (240 ml) prepared Alfredo sauce

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Combine rice, water, oil and ½ teaspoon of the salt in an 8-inch by 8-inch (or 1 1/2-quart) baking dish. Stir gently until well blended.

3. Place chicken pieces on top of rice mixture and sprinkle evenly with oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt.

4. Cover tightly and bake 50 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed.

5. Remove from oven, spoon or pour Alfredo sauce evenly, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and peas. Bake, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.

Happy New Year! Welcome to our second issue of What’s Up? Georgian Bay. As we say goodbye to 2022, I’m grateful and excited to welcome 2023 and the promise of a new year and all the potential it holds.

Living in a snow belt as we do, we can’t avoid winter. As tempting as it is to hibernate, stay home, sip hot chocolate and cuddle your cat (and never stop!), there is much to enjoy about winter. Something simple will make a difference - take a walk in the snow, make a snowman, go sledding or make some snow angels. Whatever you choose, I hope you’ll get out and embrace the season, and while you’re out and about, snap some photos and share them with us. We’d love to see What’s Up? with you!

There are lots of new things happening in our community and we want to hear about them! Shoot us a message and let us know what’s happening in February and beyond. We want to be connected to our community and all the exciting things happening, and keep you connected to What’s Up? Georgian Bay as well.

Thank you for reading our new magazine, as you read through this new issue, please support our advertisers… and when you do visit them, let them know you read about them in What’s Up? Georgian Bay.” It makes a big difference!

As we continue to develop the magazine, we want you to be involved – let us know if you have feedback or a story idea. I wish you and your family an abundance of health, happiness and prosperity in 2023. I look forward to connecting with you in the community.

(Family Features) Following the COVID-19 lockdown, outdoor and drivable destinations were in high demand for domestic travelers. As the country has reopened, we embraced the idea of getting back to normal and began traveling much as they did prior to the pandemic.

However, travel trends for 2023 suggest there is no normal when it comes to travel planning. Instead, individual interests are driving decisions about where to go and what to do.

“We see a detailed and robust picture of travel into 2023,” Expedia Brands President Jon Gieselman said. “We’re seeing a surge in trips to culture capitals, a new wave of interest in wellness retreats and a spike in demand for outdoor destinations beyond just beaches and mountains. It’s not a new normal so much as people branching out to unexpected trends in what we’re calling the ‘no normal.’”

A close look at these trends suggests there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to travel in 2023. Insights sourced from the company’s first-party data, and from custom research of thousands of travelers and industry professionals across 17 countries, show value, alternative wellness options and hotels that cater to evolving traveler needs are heavily influencing travel choices.

3-Star Superstars

Travelers are seeking smarter ways to see the world without compromising on comfort or cool factor. Nearly one-third (32%) of travelers are more concerned with value for money than ever before with data showing interest is up more than 20% globally in three-star hotels.

In 2023, 40% of travelers plan to stay in 1-3-star hotels, and 34% plan to book a vacation with added value inclusions, such as free parking or breakfast. Showing a shift in mindset from the post-pandemic bucket-list mentality and moving toward a more spontaneous approach, one-third of travelers would rather go on more trips in three-star properties than splurge on one big luxury getaway.

New Wave Wellness

According to the survey, more than half (53%) of Americans are seeking wellness breaks but cite boredom with traditional retreats and want to experience something more exciting in 2023. Millennials are the top drivers of this as 60% of 25-34-year-olds are seeking alternative wellness getaways. Most travelers want to explore new offerings in the U.S. However, Gen Z has a different view and would prefer to book an adventure to Norway, Turkey, Switzerland, Iceland or Sri Lanka.

Hot Hotel Openings Around the World

Hotels that cater to evolving traveler needs are opening around the world. These properties offer far more than a place to sleep with destination restaurants, co-working spaces and beautiful interiors. From an art-filled social hub in London to unbridled luxury in Rome, these are some hotels to have on your radar for the year ahead:

• La Palma, Capri, Italy

• 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

• Ikos Odisia, Corfu, Greece

• Celestial Suites, Kefalonia, Greece

• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Princeville, Kauai

• Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Tamarindo, Mexico

• Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, Maldives, Indian Ocean

• Six Senses, Rome, Italy

• Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• art’otel London Battersea Power Station, London, Great Britain

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Real Estate Broker

Happy New Year!

I’ve always secretly loved January. Yes, the weather is cold, the days are short, the snow is deep and the clothes are a bit tighter than they were before Christmas, but it’s also the first chapter of your new story. Time for a fresh start, attempt to hit the reset button.

I’ll also be honest, I’m not a big fan of resolutions. It’s a lot of pressure to magically change everything once the clock strikes midnight. Any resolution I’ve made has ended in disappointment before long. I am a firm believer in change though, so now that I’m older and wiser, I embrace my shortcomings and choose instead to focus on successes, make incremental changes and await new challenges (they’re always there, right when you least expect them!) One thing I will be changing right away is my newly acquired holiday habit of 4 mini-chocolates with my breakfast every morning (and trying some new healthier options.)

We hope this issue gives you some inspiration, tips and tricks to lead you in a new direction in a modest measured way. Steady small steps that you can make while still enjoying the journey! January can be challenging, so this winter let’s all make an effort to reach out to family, friends and neighbours to connect, offer support… or ask for help if needed.

We hope you stay uplifted and connected, be gentle with yourself, ease into your goals, and enjoy the start of our new shiny year!

Joy Fleury Editor-in-Chief

ASK YOUR NETWORK

You never know who might have a lead on a home. Put the word out that you’re looking for a place and see what comes back. What’s more, if you hear of a place through a mutual connection with the landlord, your application might get priority with the help of your contact’s good word.

WATCH THE MARKET

Keep an eye out for listings you would consider for several months before you plan to begin your search in earnest. With more time, you’ll have a sense of where the market is at and what a good price looks like, and you will know if a place is worth it when the time comes.

SEE IT IN PERSON

Photos tell a lot about a place, but they don’t mean everything. The spot without photos may be hiding something or perhaps it’s a hidden gem no one else thought to check out. Just be sure to never rent a home sight unseen. If you aren’t available, send a trusted friend or family member to view the property in your stead to avoid a rental scam.

WORK ON YOUR CREDIT

Landlords want to know you can pay, so many prioritize rental applications with a great credit score. It’s the same with most mortgage brokers. If you’re thinking about moving in the future, request your credit report, look for any errors and work to improve your number. It will be worth it when you move. Good to know: If you request it, the Canadian credit bureaus must mail you your credit report for free one time a year.

APPLY FOR BENEFITS

There’s a new one-time top up to the Canada Housing Benefit available for eligible lower-income renters. If you made $20,000 or less as an individual, or $35,000 or less as family in 2021, and paid at least at least 30 per cent on rent, you might be eligible. You don’t need to receive other housing benefits to get the $500 top-up payment, and it’s not taxable, so you won’t need to report it on your 2022 tax return.

Air Fry Falafel Sliders

(NC) Want a healthy dinner that’s sure to be a hit for the whole family? Look no further than Anna Olson’s air fry falafel sliders. Packed with nutrients and topped with a tahini lemon yogurt, enjoy this Mediterranean spin on a classic dish.

Cook time: 12 minutes

Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 12

Ingredients:

Falafels:

19 oz (540 ml) can chickpeas, well-drained

1/4 cup (50 ml) chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup (125 ml) roughly chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup (125 ml) roughly chopped fresh cilantro

3 tbsp (45 ml) all-purpose flour or chickpea flour

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp (10 ml) finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp (5 ml) ground cumin

1 tsp (5 ml) ground coriander

1 tsp (5 ml) fine salt

1/2 tsp (2 ml) baking soda

Tahini Lemon Sauce:

1/2 cup (125 ml) plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp (15 ml) tahini sesame paste

Garnishes

Mini pitas, sliced radishes, sliced cucumbers

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 ° F. Line a baking tray or the air fry rack with parchment paper.

2. Place all the ingredients for the falafels into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until well combined.

3. Use an ice cream scoop or two spoons to portion the mixture into 12 balls and place onto the baking tray or air fry rack lined with parchment paper – the mixture will be soft. Use the palm of your hand (wet your palm to prevent sticking) and gently press the falafels down to flatten them a little.

4. Bake or air fry the falafels for 12 minutes, until they brown lightly all over. Let the falafels cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a platter.

5. For the sauce, stir the yogurt, tahini and lemon juice together and spoon into a serving bowl.

6. Assemble the sliders by adding cucumber, radishes and falafels to the pita and drizzle with sauce. Or arrange them on a platter or bring everything to the table and let everyone assemble their own. Leftover falafels can be wrapped and refrigerated for up to 4 days and reheated for 4 to 5 minutes at 400 °F on air fry.

Tips to Boost Your Mental Health

(NC) Alongside physical health, mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being. Being mentally healthy can help you enjoy life, while coping with its challenges.

Many factors can affect it, and they aren’t all within our control. But we can take some actions to care for ourselves and help protect our mental health overall. Here are some ideas to help you boost your mental health on a dayto-day and longer-term basis.

Get some regular exercise:

Whether it’s playing a team sport, going for a walk or doing yoga, and whether it lasts 5 minutes or 50 minutes, getting your body moving can have a positive impact on your mental health

Reach out to others:

Feeling lonely and socially isolated can harm anyone’s mental health. Connect with family and friends or join activities like recreational sports or a choir where you can meet new people. Even if it feels intimidating to reach out, positive social connections are a crucial part of well-being.

Find what’s meaningful to you:

We all need something fulfilling in our life to help give it meaning. Experiment to see what activities or practices bring you joy or satisfaction and make them part of your routine. Re-evaluating your goals can be an important part of this process too.

Learn to recognize your patterns:

Do you binge on junk food when you’re stressed and then feel guilty about it? Or forget to eat when you’re overwhelmed? Maybe you tend to get snappy when you’re feeling tired. Once you recognize common patterns in your own thoughts or behaviours you can try to plan ahead to prevent them, like stocking up on healthy meals ahead of a busy season at work or doing your best to get enough sleep.

Remember what you can and can’t control:

Taking a few moments to be mindful, thinking about the big picture, and recognizing the things you can and cannot change can be valuable ways to shift perspective and get you thinking more positively.

Consider working with a professional:

If you feel like you’re struggling with your mental health, there is help available. Seeking out extra support can help you get through whatever challenges you’re facing in the moment.

While we all struggle from time to time, if you find you’re experiencing longlasting sadness, worry, loneliness or anger, or if these feelings are interfering with your daily routines, consider reaching out for help.

There are free and credible resources available online, including self-guided therapy, one-on-one counselling with qualified health professionals and moderated peer-to-peer support.

There are also culturally safe mental health resources for Indigenous Peoples available.

Find more information at canada.ca/mental-health.

(NC) Your financial wellness is as simple or complicated as you want to make it. If your money supports the life you choose to live – for as long as you need it to – then consider yourself successful.

Money sometimes feels overwhelming. It doesn’t have to. Here are some tips to help:

TRACK YOUR SPENDING

Budgets are like dental floss. Boring, and sometimes a little painful. They’re also easy to do and worth the effort. Know what your take-home pay is each month. Subtract the amount you need to commit to basics like housing, food and other obligations.

What’s left can go in one of two directions – in or out. Decide what you want to save each month and do your best not to spend it.

Credit cards are convenient, and a useful way to build a credit rating. If you can pay your full credit card balance each month, you won’t have to pay interest in addition to the amount you’ve borrowed.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

If the 2020s have taught us anything, it’s that life can go sideways in a hurry. Jobs can be lost, sometimes with little or no warning. A serious illness or injury can also put you out of work. For most of us, any one of several scenarios could mean real financial difficulty.

So, it’s important to manage these risks with the right insurance

coverage. If you can build one, an emergency fund is also valuable.

LOOK AHEAD TO YOUR RETIREMENT

We live in a country that combines the freedom to create a financial life for ourselves and our loved ones, with programs that can provide assistance. Understanding how these programs work helps ensure

you’re covering what you need to with your personal savings, insurance and investments.

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is an example. It’s designed to provide you with a portion of your retirement income, in addition to what you can save elsewhere. If you are at least 60 and have made one or more valid contributions, you qualify for CPP benefits. CPP Investments manages the Fund in the best interests of the CPP contributors and beneficiaries. With more than $523 billion (as of June 30, 2022), the Fund is sustainable for the next 75 years.

There is real value in maintaining a long-term perspective. The more you’re able to think about money priorities over your entire adult life – as well as your immediate income and expenses at any given time – the more successful you’ll be in building real financial wellness for many years to come.

The Meaning of Home is an annual writing contest for students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 in support of Habitat for Humanity. Students across Canada are invited to submit a poem or essay explaining what home means to them. It’s a great way to engage your students in an interactive and fun way, and it teaches youth the importance of safe, affordable housing.

Contest opens for entries January 3rd, 2023.

For more information contact Joy:

joy@habitatgeorgianbay.ca www.habitatgeorgianbay.ca 705-446-9542

What’s Up? Georgian Bay

What can we do to protect ourselves against rising costs now and plan for the future?

Join us in person or by webcast for an informative discussion on borrowing and investing in a world of higher inflation and higher interest rates.

Dates: 2:00 pm, Thursday, January 12th, 2023 AND 7:00 pm Thursday, February 23rd, 2023

Location:National Bank Retail Branch, 108 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, Ontario

To register please call (705) 445-2402 or e-mail douglas.easton@nbc.ca

Cheryl has over 25 years experience as a lending professional helping her clients achieve their home ownership goals.

Easton Wealth Management

Tips to Avoid Renovation Regret

National Bank Financial

Douglas has over 25 years experience as a discretionary portfolio manager helping his clients achieve their investment goals.

(NC) Whether you’re the kind of person who goes into a renovation excited or filled with anxiety, you should give yourself the time to carefully think through all the important decisions you’ll have to make throughout the process. To avoid spending money on choices you’ll regret, here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider your next home update.

How and when will you use the space? Think carefully about why you want to renovate in the first place and be realistic about how much use the room will get. How often will you use the home gym, or how much use will the kids’ playroom get?

How are you going to pay for this? According to a recent report from insur ance provider Aviva Canada, 14 per cent of those who renovated during the pandemic did it on impulse, with eight per cent saying they spent too much, and five per cent stating they have regrets. No one should have to regret their reno, but spending can easily get out of hand. Be sure to set out a budget beforehand, consider expenses and comparison shop. Having a plan and a solid idea of what you can afford is always best, even if you devi ate from it during the project.

“When considering making renovations to your home, it’s always a good idea to ensure you have a plan in place,” says Phil Gibson, EVP and managing director of personal insurance at Aviva Canada. “Canadians looking to make major chang es to their home should know that renovations like finishing a basement, remov ing structural supports or building an addition may impact their insurance cov erage as they can change the home’s rebuild value. Your insurance representative can help ensure that your home is covered for its true value, giving you peace of mind should the unexpected happen.”

Does return on investment really matter to you? Some updates are better than others for resale value and securing more equity in your home. For resale, a fresh coat of paint is the best reno you can invest in for ROI. Updating the kitchen or bathrooms is costlier, but can add that wow-factor when trying to sell in a challenging market. On the flip side, a pool might be a fun addition but don’t count on making back your investment. In fact, some buyers might be turned off by the cost of having to operate or remove a pool. While you shouldn’t base your reno plans based on ROI alone, it’s worth considering so you go into the project with a realistic mindset.

Presented by:

NATIONAL BANK, NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

Cheryl Adamson Mortgage Development Manager National Bank

Douglas Easton, CFA Portfolio Manager & Wealth Advisor

The Content Outweighs the Size of this Book

Our Changing Collingwood

It’s not often – perhaps never – that a newly-published book is dedicated to a hospital and a hospice. But that is the case with the publication of “Our Changing Collingwood” which is dedicated to both General and Marine Hospital in Collingwood and Hospice Georgian Triangle/Campbell House, also in Collingwood.

Author-photographer George Czerny-Holownia draws a parallel between the exploding growth of Collingwood and nearby Blue Mountains Resorts area – parts of both areas featured in aerial photographs in his book – and the ever-growing workload on both the local hospital and hospice.

“The staff at both our hospital and our hospice deserve tremendous credit for the work they do,” said Czerny-Holownia adding “and with my book dedication, my aim is to draw attention to both of these important, community facilities”. An aerial photograph showing the hospital and the hospice is among the 125 photographs and 88 pages of “Our Changing Collingwood”.

Czerny-Holownia, also known as George Czerny, has been taking aerial views in the southern Georgian Bay region of Ontario, Canada, since the late 1970s. In that time, manufacturing concerns have come and gone and residential development -- especially in the Collingwood and Blue Mountains areas -- has exploded in this popular region.

George, as he likes to be known, brings to your fingertips photographs of the Collingwood Shipyards, once an economic powerhouse locally and an industry which closed in 1986.

Collingwood still has industries but residential growth has taken this waterfront community to a population of 22,000 from the 10,000 population of the 1970s. “If you can’t find your house in my Collingwood photographs, you will likely be able to pick out a bird’s-eye view of your neighbourhood,” said George adding “This book is a conversation starter. The content outweighs the size of this book”.

Other aerial photographs, show areas of Blue Mountain Resorts before the popular “Village at Blue” was built and since. Some of George’s most-recent photographs of Collingwood and the Blue Mountains’ area were taken November 3, 2022.

In addition to his aerial photographs in “Our Changing Collingwood”, George includes historically-important ground-level photographs of such things as spectacular sidelaunchings at the Collingwood Shipyards. The shipyards closed in 1986 and the land on which this industry operated has been redeveloped with condominiums. You can see before and after views in “Our Changing Collingwood”.

There is nothing like “Our Changing Collingwood” when it comes to comparing various aerial views of parts of Collingwood and Blue Mountains, featuring development through the years, says George who last June self-published a separate, aerialviews book “Come fly with George”. That book, says George, features aerial views of Collingwood and the Blue Mountains but without a strong emphasis on the “now and then” aspect. “Our Changing Collingwood” is about half-and-half old photos and new photos, he said.

George has eleven books, including his latest, for sale from an on-line, book-publishing platform at www.blurb.com. He also has a book about democracy and voter apathy, “Kiss The Ground You Walk On, Canada!”, which he published in 2019, on a Canadian book-publishing platform at www.volumesdirect.com.

George is a retired newspaper publisher/reporter-photographer who continues to write and take photographs both from the ground and from the air. He lives in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada with his wife of 54 years, Nancy.

Submitted by: George Czerny-Holownia mailto:georgianblue@rogers.com

5 Tips for Driving in Cold Conditions

(NC) Whether we like it or not, winter is coming. For most of us, this season comes with colder temperatures, extreme weather and unexpected driving conditions. It is important to be prepared for winter driving to help keep yourself and others safe. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are on the road.

1. Slow down and give yourself extra travel time. This may seem obvious, but it’s a good reminder. Plan ahead and check the road conditions before you leave, then take the extra time you need to get to your destination safely. And when driving in poor weather, make sure your four-way hazard lights are on to help other drivers see you.

2. Try to avoid sudden braking. You should always try to brake in a straight line - especially before a turn - and do so gradually. Avoid heavy braking while completing a turn. Increase your following distance from other cars significantly. If your wheels lock and slide, release the brake pedal to recover traction, then slowly brake again.

3. Use winter tires. It’s proven that driving with four winter tires reduces your risk of collision by providing better traction on road surfaces in winter conditions. A set of winter tires such as the Michelin X-Ice Snow tires, provide the necessary traction to overcome winter conditions like snow, ice and slush for better performance and safety.

4. Clear snow and ice from your vehicle. To ensure maximum visibility, clear your vehicle of all ice or snow, and wait for the windows to clear of any .fog or ice before you head out.

5. Go back to basics. Always drive with two hands on the steering wheel and try to avoid changing lanes in slush. When you can’t avoid it, plan your lane change in advance and turn the wheel slowly and gradually so you approach the slush at a shallow angle. This will help minimize the force against the side of the tires.

Accomplish health goals with

better-for-you

family meals

(Family Features) Setting out on a mission to eat healthier starts with creating goals and working to achieve them with those you love. To help make nutritious eating more manageable, call together your family and work with one another to create a menu everyone can enjoy while staying on track.

Connecting an array of recipes that all can agree on starts with versatile ingredients like dairy. Gathering at the table with your loved ones while enjoying delicious, nutritious recipes featuring yogurt, cheese and milk can nourish both body and soul.

For example, the key dairy ingredients in these recipes from Milk Means More provide essential nutrients for a healthy diet. The cheese varieties in Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes and 15-Minute Weeknight Pasta provide vitamin B12 for healthy brain and nerve cell development and are a good source of calcium and protein, which are important for building and maintaining healthy bones. Meanwhile, the homemade yogurt sauce served alongside these Grilled Chicken Gyros provides protein and zinc.

Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes

Recipe courtesy of Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN, Culinary Dietitian, on behalf of Milk Means More

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

3 cups halved cherry tomatoes

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or dried dill weed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided

1 1/2 pounds salmon or halibut fillets, cut into four serving-size pieces

1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Line 18-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In medium bowl, toss tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano or dill weed, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Place fish pieces, skin side down, on one side of prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining pepper. Lightly press feta cheese on top of fish. Pour tomato mixture on other side of prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, 12-15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with fork.

4. Place salmon on serving plates. Spoon tomato mixture over top.

Grilled Chicken Gyros

Recipe courtesy of Kirsten Kubert of “Comfortably Domestic” on behalf of Milk Means More

Prep time: 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes chill time

Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 8

Ingredients

Chicken:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Yogurt Sauce:

1 1/2 cups plain, whole-milk yogurt

1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 cup diced cucumber

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

3-4 small loaves whole-wheat pita bread, halved lengthwise 1 cup thinly sliced tomatoes 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

Directions

1. To make chicken: Place melted butter, dill, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in gallon-size zip-top freezer bag. Seal bag and shake contents to combine. Add chicken. Seal bag, pressing air out of bag. Shake chicken to coat with marinade. Refrigerate chicken in marinade 30 minutes.

2. To make yogurt sauce: Stir yogurt, lemon juice, diced cucumber, dill, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover sauce and refrigerate.

3. Heat grill to medium heat.

4. Grill chicken over direct heat, about 10 minutes per side, until cooked through. Transfer chicken to cutting board and rest 10 minutes. Thinly slice chicken across grain.

5. Serve chicken on pita bread with tomatoes, red onion and yogurt sauce.

15-Minute Weeknight Pasta

Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 6

Ingredients

6 quarts water

16 ounces linguine or penne pasta

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup thinly sliced onion

1 cup thinly sliced carrots

1 cup thinly sliced sweet bell pepper

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 cup reserved pasta water

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1/2 cup smoked provolone cheese, shredded

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional) Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Bring water to rolling boil and prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente texture, reserving 1 cup pasta water.

2. In large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in onions, carrots and sweet bell peppers. Saute vegetables about 5 minutes, or until they brighten in color and begin to soften. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and garlic. Cook and stir 1 minute to allow tomatoes to release juices.

3. Pour reserved pasta water into skillet, stirring well. Bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat to mediumlow and simmer 3 minutes. Taste sauce and adjust seasonings, as desired.

4. Transfer drained pasta to skillet along with lemon zest and smoked provolone cheese, tossing well to coat. Serve immediately with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

CREEMORE COYOTES

Saturday January 7 8:30 pm Minto 81’s – Palmerston Arena

Saturday January 14 7:30 pm Minto 81’s – Creemore & District Recreation Centre

Friday January 27 8:30 pm vs Shallow Lake Crushers – Creemore & District Recreation Centre

Saturday January 28 7:30 pm vs Tavistock Royals – Creemore & District Recreation Centre

Visit creemorecoyotes.com for venue information and schedule changes.

STAYNER SISKINS

Thursday January 5 7:30pm vs Schomberg - Tristan Centre

Sunday January 8 6:30pm vs Caledon - Mayfield Recreation Complex

Thursday January 12 8:00pm vs Penetang - Stayner Memorial Arena

Saturday January 14 7:30pm vs Innisfll - Innisfil Recreation Complex

Thursday January 19 8:00pm vs Caledon - Stayner Memorial Arena

Saturday January 21 7:30pm vs Orillia - West Orillia Sports Complex

Thursday January 26 8:00pm vs Penetang - Stayner Memorial Arena

Visit staynersiskins.pjhlon.hockeytech.com for venue information and schedule changes.

COLLINGWOOD BLUES

Friday January 6 7:00 pm vs Stouffville - Eddie Bush

Saturday January 7 5:30 pm vs. Aurora - Eddie Bush

Sunday January 15 1:30 pm vs. Markham - Markham Centennial

Friday January 20 7:30 pm vs. Pickering - Pickering

Saturday January 21 5:30 pm Milton - Eddie Bush

Sunday January 22 1:30 pm Markham - Markham Centennial

Thursday January 26 7:30 pm Stouffville - Stouffville

Friday January 27 7:00 pm Toronto Junior Canadiens - Eddie Bush

Sunday January 29 2:00 pm Oakville - Eddie Bush

Visit collingwoodblues.pointstreaksites.com/view/collingwoodblues for venue information and schedule changes.

WASAGA BEACH MINOR HOCKEY

View the full schedule at wasagaminorhockey.com/schedule

Scaling Back - 5 Ways to Manage Your Weight

(Family Features) For many people who wish to work toward a healthier weight, one of the greatest obstacles is figuring out where to begin. These tips show it doesn’t take a drastic lifestyle overhaul to make an impact.

EAT MINDFULLY

Many people who struggle with their weight benefit from being more conscious about what they’re eating and why. For example, consider your eating habits, such as eating even when you’re not hungry whether that’s because it’s mealtime and you think you should eat, you’re satisfying a craving or using a tasty snack to cope with stress.

Recognizing why you’re eating is an important step toward correcting destructive eating patterns, but so is paying attention to the other details of the eating experience, including what you eat and how it makes you feel. Ultimately, this may allow you to choose healthier foods that nourish your body for the long-term, rather than the brief satisfaction that comes with less nutritious choices.

TRACK EATING AND EXERCISE

When you’re not paying attention to what you eat and how you move, you may not even realize how your habits are affecting your health. Logging what you eat, especially if you use a tool like an app that helps you see the nutrition breakdown, may give you a clearer idea of the quality and quantity of your intake. Similarly, when you’re specifically writing down the time you’re committing to physical activity, you’ll find it easier to identify patterns and pinpoint where you can make adjustments to increase your exercise.

CONSIDER INTERMITTENT FASTING

One weight-loss method many people find success using is intermittent fasting, which involves abstaining from all food and beverages for a specified time period each day or week. While going too long without food can sometimes lead to excess hunger then overeating later, in shorter, controlled fasting timeframes one can often more easily achieve a caloric deficit, which is required for weight loss.

Prepare for your fasting phase by choosing foods that support satiety. Options like meal bars and protein shakes can help avoid a sense of deprivation

MANAGE STRESS

When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, which also raises insulin and can drive hunger and trigger cravings for comfort foods. In fact, that’s the very reason people tend to overeat when they’re under pressure. Light exercise and meditative practices can help you manage your mental strain. You might also consider talk therapy with a friend or professional or spend time unwinding with a book or music.

GET PROPER SLEEP

Poor sleep habits affect your weight in numerous ways. One is that when you’re feeling tired, your hunger and satiety hormones, ghrelin and leptin, can be affected, leading to an increase in caloric intake and subsequent weight gain. Additionally, when you’re tired, you’re more likely to take shortcuts like skipping workouts or opting for unhealthy convenience foods. All are reasons to make better rest a bigger priority.

3 TIPS FOR INTERMITTENT FASTING

If you’re new to the idea of intermittent fasting, these tips can help you find greater success so you can see results.

1. Pace yourself. Make a gradual transition so your body gets used to going without food for shorter periods of time before you work up to extended fasting periods.

2. Stay hydrated. Avoid confusing thirst for hunger by upping your fluid intake. Staying hydrated and energized while you fast helps keep fatigue and brain fog at bay.

3. Set goals. Know what you want to achieve and why, so your “why” can keep motivating you to follow your intermittent fasting plan even when you’re tempted to quit.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (woman and man exercising)

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