LorainCounty.com Blog

I love macaroni & cheese. It is a dish that can please all ages. It is not, however, thought of as a healthy meal. I found this recipe for a healthier version on Eatingwell.com and gave it a try. It came out really well!

You could find everything you need at any local grocery store. Some of the ingredients are probably things you already have in your pantry. I already had a few of the items but still needed many of them, so went to Fligner’s Market in Lorain to get the remaining ingredients. They have a great selection, so I knew I would find everything I needed.

Here are the ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 16-ounce or 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed
• 1 3/4 cups low-fat milk, divided
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 8 ounces (2 cups) whole-wheat elbow macaroni, or penne

Here are the directions:

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil. Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat an 8-inch-square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika in a small bowl. Place spinach in a fine-mesh strainer and press out excess moisture.
3. Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup milk and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar until melted. Stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
4. Cook pasta for 4 minutes, or until not quite tender. (It will continue to cook during baking.) Drain and add to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the spinach on top. Top with the remaining pasta; sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.
5. Bake the casserole until bubbly and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

You can always tweak the recipe if needed. It is a good base for a healthier version of macaroni & cheese but can always be altered to be more to your liking. I’d suggest giving it a try!

I’ve always heard the phrase “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Growing up, I always ate breakfast. It was just part of my day. As an adult, I have continued that. Breakfast is an important meal because it helps your body get going in the morning after having no food all night. It also helps you eat more steadily throughout the day instead of binging on food all at once. For example, I have a friend who hardly ever eats breakfast. He then justifies eating more food later because he didn’t eat breakfast. All research I have seen has said that you should eat numerous smaller meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism going instead of eating one or two large meals. This all starts with breakfast. Plus, by beginning your day with breakfast and possibly a small mid-morning snack, you won’t be starving by lunch!

There are many great local places to go for breakfast if you don’t feel like preparing something or just want a nice breakfast out with family or friends. One place I enjoy going for breakfast is Oberlin Inn. They have a good breakfast menu, and they also have a Sunday brunch!

If you have people in your family that don’t like vegetables, here is a recipe I found on Eatingwell.com to spice up cauliflower. I tried it out last night, and it was really good!

Ingredients:
• 8 cups 1-inch-thick slices cauliflower florets, (about 1 large head)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Toss cauliflower, oil, marjoram, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast until starting to soften and brown on the bottom, 15 to 20 minutes. Toss the cauliflower with vinegar and sprinkle with cheese. Return to the oven and roast until the cheese is melted and any moisture has evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes more.

Sure, eating plain cauliflower is the best choice, but this is a good way to get some nutrition from a vegetable and make it taste better for those who do not normally like it! One key to making sure your dish tastes the best it can is to make sure you get good, fresh vegetables.  Local farm markets are great places to get fresh vegetables and fruits.  I got my cauliflower for this recipe at Vermilion Farm Market in Vermilion.  They always have great produce and the fresh cauliflower helped make this recipe a success!

As I was getting in my car the other day, I could not help but notice the birds were chirping.  With this crazy but wonderfully mild winter we have been experiencing I have noticed birds everywhere.  They must be as confused as we are about the mild weather and spring like temperatures we have had this winter.  I checked in with local expert Laura Mould, of Don Mould’s Plantation and here are their recommendations to help take care of our feathered friends.

Winter tips for bird watchers from Don Mould’s Plantation:

• A good high-quality mix is almost always better this time of year for general feeding. Pick something with about 50% Black-Oily Sunflower, 40% White Millet, 5% Safflower, and 5% Shelled Peanuts.
• In cold weather provide seed late in the day and early in the morning to help birds stay warm at night and get a burst of energy at dawn. Birds need food to stay warm.
• Sprinkle extra White Millet on the ground in a snow free area or on ground trays for Juncos, Towhees, and Sparrow species.
• This time of year feed a heavy Black-Oil Sunflower seed mix for a higher fat content to help keep the birds warm.
• This month think about adding seed blocks to your feeding routine. Use blocks with Sunflower and Nuts for a steady supply of food. Seed blocks last longer than some seeds so you do not have to go out as often.
• Do not forget about feeding Dried Meal Worms and Dried Fruit, the birds will love you for it. Feed these mixed in with your seed or by themselves. Use a platform feeder for this.
• Keep feeding the Nyjer seed. The Goldfinches are here all winter and they will be looking for this seed. You my even see a Pine Siskin at your feeder.
• January can be very cold and that means the birds need your seed even more than ever. It can be mixes or blocks or just a single kind of seed, no matter what it is make sure it has a high fat content to help keep them warm.
• Do not forget to join the bird seed club at Don Mould’s Plantation! It is a good way to get FREE stuff.
• Please do not forget the Water!

Our family has been checking out web-sites of local animal shelters for the last month looking for our newest 4 legged family member. Back in December we lost our 14 year old Australian Shepherd, Mulligan. Mully was 5 months old when we brought him home from the Cleveland APL. We have never had a more loving and loyal companion. He was our first experience in dog adoption. While I had grown up with several different Boxers, Old English Sheep Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, Boston Terriers and a mutt…all had been purchased from local breeders.

I will forever more ONLY get our furry friends through adoption. The Humane Society of America gives the following 5 reasons for adoption and I completely agree.

1. You’ll save a life

Sadly, between 3 and 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply because too many people give up their pets and too few people adopt from shelters. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. By adopting from a private humane society or animal shelter, breed rescue group, or the local animal control agency, you’ll help save the lives of two animals—the pet you adopt and a homeless animal somewhere who can be rescued because of space you helped free up.

2. You’ll get a healthy pet

Animal shelters are brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. Most shelters examine and give vaccinations to animals when they arrive, and many spay or neuter them before being adopted. In addition to medical care, more and more shelters also screen animals for specific temperaments and behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle.

It is a common misconception that animals end up in shelters because they’ve been abused or done something “wrong”. In fact, most animals are given to shelters because of “people reasons,” not because of anything they’ve done. Things like a divorce, a move, lack of time or financial constraints are among the most common reasons why pets lose their homes.

3. You’ll save money

Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is much less expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through other sources. In addition, animals from many shelters are already spayed or neutered and vaccinated, which makes the shelter’s fee a real bargain.

4. You’ll feel better

Pets have a way of putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups.

5. You won’t be supporting puppy mills and pet stores

Puppy mills are “factory style” dog-breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Most dogs raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care, and the parents of the puppies are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family. And after they’re no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction.

Puppy mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the Internet and through newspaper classified advertisements to whoever is willing to pay for them.

By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren’t supporting cruel puppy mills with your money. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing their dogs. Instead of buying a dog, visit your local shelter where you will likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies and adult dogs—including purebreds—just waiting for that special home—yours.

Tom, Riley and I have found that our Mulligan-Man is irreplaceable. He will forever be in our hearts and we will meet him on the rainbow bridge one day. But we are actively looking at several local shelters and foster homes that do a wonderful job of helping pets in need meet their forever families. If you are in Lorain County, please check out Friendship APL or the many references available through the Pet Network of LorainCounty.com. I will keep you posted when we find our new friend.

My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at Jackalope Lakeside in Lorain. We hadn’t been back in a while, so we decided to go there for dinner on Saturday. Everything was just as good as we remembered!

Jackalope has a wonderful atmosphere because it is located on Lake Erie. You can look out the windows as you dine and enjoy the view. The restaurant is multiple stories and the top floor is reserved for banquets. When we had our wedding rehearsal, they had it set up with round tables and service just for that room. Also, it had its own private deck to overlook the marina. We dined on the main floor on Saturday and still had a great view out the large windows.

The food at Jackalope was great. I had chicken and my husband had steak. Both were delicious! Our waitress also gave us great service and was very friendly.

I would recommend Jackalope Lakeside to anyone looking for a good meal out. They have a large menu, so almost anyone could find something to try!

I love doing home projects. I watch HGTV all the time and am always getting new ideas. My husband always teases me because, once I get a room finished, I find a something new that I want to do. We are looking at finishing our basement, and I am always looking for deals on home improvement items. I saw on the website for Ted’s Floors, Inc. that they are currently discounting their remnants at up to 50% off. The space we are finishing isn’t huge, so I figure it is worth checking out! I wanted to pass this deal along to anyone else who may be in the market for floor coverings!

As a working mom, I find that I am thankful every day that I work part- time and have a job that has flexibility. Can you relate to the fact that there are not enough hours in the day? Would your business and employees benefit from having flexible work?

What is meant by ‘flexible work’?

Simply put, flexible work arrangements are alternate arrangements or schedules from the traditional work day and week. Employees may choose a different work schedule to meet personal or family needs. Alternatively, employers may initiate various schedules to meet their customer needs.

Why should a business consider offering flexible work arrangements?

Many benefits have been reported by various studies. Common findings include:

* Increased ability to attract, retain and motivate high-performing and experienced employees.

* Reduced absenteeism.

* Helps employees manage their responsibilities outside of work.

* Increased job satisfaction, energy, creativity, and ability to handle stress.

That’s because flexible work arrangements, which include flex time, telecommuting, and job sharing, allow employees to manage their own schedules, work from home, and have a better work/life balance. That means happier employees, which in turn means higher productivity (and happier bosses). And offering flexibility is an attractive alternative to companies who want to increase employee benefits.

What are examples of flexible work arrangements?

Whether formally written into company policy or an informal agreement between the employee and employer, common arrangements include:

Flex time

Flex time is an arrangement where employees work a full day but they can vary their working hours. For example, the employee may choose to start between 7:30 and 9:30 AM, and finish between 3:30 and 5:30 PM.

Reduced hours/Part-time

Employees may choose to work fewer than the standard 37.5 or 40 hours work week. However, employee benefits and qualification for government programs (such as employment insurance or pension plans) may be affected and should be examined.

Compressed work week

Compressed work week occurs when an employee works for longer periods of time per day or shift in exchange for a day off. Compressed work weeks are often initiated to improve operational efficiency, to maximize production (reduced daily start up costs) or to establish longer business hours, which can enhance customer service.

Common arrangements for a 40 hours work week are working 10 hours per day, 4 days a week; working an extra hour a day with 1 day off every 2 weeks; or working an extra half hour a day and having one day every 3 or 4 weeks off.

Telework/Telecommuting

Telework or telecommuting occurs when people to do at least some of their regular work from home instead of going into the office. Details such as hours of work and how communications between the teleworker, co-workers and customers need to be outlined.

Job sharing

Job sharing occurs when two or more people share one or more positions or set of duties. It is very important that those in a job sharing arrangement work effectively as a team and communicate well.

What should be considered when designing a flexible work policy?

No matter which program or how many options are available, the duties, expectations and deadlines should be clearly outlined by the supervisor and agreed upon by both the supervisor and the employee. Supportive organizational culture, clear communication, teamwork and reciprocal support between management and employees will help ensure the success of these initiatives.

There are many things that we eat where substituting one ingredient with a healthier one can make a difference in the nutrition content. Here are a few examples:

Baked Goods – When making baked goods such as brownies, use applesauce in place of vegetable oil. It may sound a bit odd, but it really does not taste any different once they are baked!

Meat – Instead of using regular ground beef or turkey, try using extra lean. This makes a big difference in fat grams but not much difference in taste.

Pasta and Breads – Instead of getting white pasta or bread, try whole wheat. While it doesn’t make a big difference in calories, wheat is better for you overall.

These are just a few of the things I have done to help with overall nutrition without having to cut the whole meal altogether. After all, it’s not logical to think that every person will completely eliminate all of his or her favorite foods when trying to be healthier. Substitution is a good compromise! Try your own substitutions and find things that work for you!

Do you network for your job? Do you enjoy it? Networking is a key activity that is not only fun, but critical to your personal growth and business development. No matter what career path my life has taken over the years, I have found networking has tremendous value. Currently I attend networking functions of three different local Chambers of Commerce, which include the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, North Coast Chamber and West Shore Chamber of Commerce. I also regularly attend networking groups that have been formed by genre such as sales and marketing, health care and non-profits of Lorain County.

Let’s face it; there is so much to do when it comes to successfully building business. It’s good to have a network of associates to draw energy from.

I believe all business is about building good, solid relationships. Networking, building relationships and then following through on your commitments is key. With constant exposure and meeting new people on a monthly basis the return on your investment in time will be quite positive.

But that’s not the extent of networking benefits…Here are my top 3 reasons for stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing networking:

1. Shared Knowledge

Being a part of a network and sharing ideas leads to shared knowledge. As an individual it is unlikely that you will have the depth of knowledge and experience as that of a group, but collectively the power can be staggering.

Learning from others who have traveled the trail you are now navigating is always a huge plus for your advancement. Why not listen, learn and avoid some of the common pitfalls that most of us will experience without someone pointing the way?

2. Opportunities

Networking always results in the creation of opportunities, but you have no idea when or where they may materialize. This is why it’s important to be an action taker, ready to seize on a beneficial opportunity when it does come along.

Joint ventures, partnerships and even needs for services you provide are all possible results of networking.

3. Connections, Connections, Connections

People within a network of friends will have connections with many other people they have encountered in their own lives. When someone they know has a need and can benefit from products and services offered by someone within the network, that person will likely get the call.

The opposite is also true. If you need a service provider and have no one that you know and trust, receiving a recommendation from within your network can be both timely and comforting.

In conclusion, networking has many benefits, not the least of which is the great people you will come to build relationships with. It brings a strong purpose to your business building efforts and really makes for a pleasant experience.

I personally enjoy networking and have developed many great friendships. As you build your network of colleagues always think about what YOU can contribute and how you can make business better for others.