Sylvia Anderson
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008
Friday, Nov. 28, 2008
Sterling advice
Monday, Nov. 24, 2008
Little cabin in the woods
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Designed to sell
Monday, Oct. 27, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008
Here's looking at you
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
Not your ordinary farm house
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Williams comes to America
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Make your own cookbook
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Sensational settings
Monday, Sept. 15, 2008
Come home to dinner
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
The city of water gardens
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008
Making your own gifts is so much more personal and costs less, so they say. And I would if I had the time or talent to make something that someone would really want, but I don’t. However, I have discovered two companies that may have come up with a fun compromise: Myblendcoffee.com and Make MyOwnGranola.com.
Eats: Meet The Boucher at Uncle D’sFriday, Nov. 28, 2008
With 14 TVs, walls covered in sports memorabilia and lots of room, Uncle D’s is certainly the place to go if you’re wanting to watch a game and drink a beer.
They feature the game of the day (like the Chiefs on Sundays) on the big screen TVs, but if you’re interested in another team or a college game, viewing can be arranged on one of the smaller TVs, says Jeremy Leer, who helps run the place with his father.
“Uncle D is Dad to me,” he says, “but Uncle D to many.”
Sterling advice
Monday, Nov. 24, 2008
There was a day when holidays meant bringing out the silver. From flatware to water pitchers, it was just what you did to make the meal special. But sometime between then and now, casual took over, leaving silver in the dark, with stainless steel and even plastic taking its place.
So you may be wondering, should you sell those unused treasures? A spike in silver prices earlier this year may have you thinking this would be a good time, but the experts we talked to say no — at least not locally and maybe not at all.
Little cabin in the woods
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008
Hidden far away in the woods on the rolling hills of Ron and Bev McCulloch’s farm, time seems to have stopped. There are no roads, no cables or any sign of electricity. Just a small log cabin, a weathered covered wagon and a large, blackened copper kettle sitting over a fire pit made of rocks. The little cabin looks like it has stood there for more than a century. And in a sense, it has. But as I would soon discover, there is much more to it than the eye can see.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008
If you like your pizza with a thin and crispy crust, Pillsbury has come out with an easy way to make it. It’s aptly called Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Crust and is sold in the refrigerator section at your grocery store. Making your own dough actually isn’t that hard to do, but it takes time and it’s often messy. There really is no mess to this, and it goes together in seconds. Of course, a big plus to making your own pizza is that you can top it with whatever you want and you can eat it in the comfort of your own home.
Fix it and forget itWednesday, Nov. 19, 2008
When you drag home from work tonight, wouldn’t it be great to have a delicious dinner ready and waiting?
Well, you can and it’s easy to do — just ask Phyllis Pellman Good. The New York Times bestselling author has come out with 1,400 ways to do it in her latest cookbook, “The Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook.” It’s a mammoth-size book containing the best slow cooker recipes from her popular “Fix-It and Forget-It” cookbook series. The series has sold more than 8 million copies, with the first book published in 2000. She recently chatted with the News-Press about the book and ways to use your slow cooker for the holidays.
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
The dark is a scary place, or at least that’s the perception many people have. But if you are one of the 1.3 million blind people in the United States, it’s simply the world you live in. And it’s a world that sighted visitors will be able to explore at Dialog in the Dark, a new exhibit being presented at Union Station in Kansas City starting today and running through Sunday, March 29, 2009.
CharlegmagneFriday, Nov. 14, 2008
If you’ve ever been to Charlemagne’s in Weston, Mo. you know it’s also the site of the National Silk Art Museum, a collection of more than 150 rare French silk tapestries belonging to Charlemagne’s owner, John Pottie.
Proud to be an AmericanSunday, Nov. 9, 2008
Nancy Kellie had forgotten what day it was as she pulled up to Westchester Village in St. Joseph. But as soon as she saw the giant flag flying outside the office with all the smaller flags flying along the 60 red brick homes of the retirement community — she remembered. It was Sept. 11, and just as they did on July 4, the residents made a unanimous showing of patriotism. Everyone had their flags flying.
Make it from scratchWednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as hot, buttery biscuits topped with creamy, sausage gravy to start the morning. It’s one of those old-fashioned comfort foods that leaves you satisfied and ready to tackle the day. Sure, it’s a not something a health-conscious person would want to eat all the time, and it does take time to prepare, but for a special treat, it’s hard to beat. That’s why biscuits and gravy is one of the favorite breakfasts served at Museum Hill Bed and Breakfast in St. Joseph. Chef and owner John Courter makes the buttermilk biscuits from scratch and has developed a recipe for gravy that’s rich and flavorful. And the best part? He agreed to show us how.
Lapel politicsSunday, Nov. 2, 2008
The presidential race may seem close this year, but in the campaign button contest, John F. Kennedy is clearly in the lead — at least on eBay.
That’s where a 1960 Kennedy presidential campaign button is selling for $200, which is considerably higher than the 99 cent asking price for some of the Obama and McCain buttons. On the other hand, you never know what the future will bring.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
If you are looking for more flavor from your grill or simply something different for your taste buds, you’ll want to try the Johnsonville’s new Bold Smoked Sausages. They come in two flavors: chili-cheese and jalapeño and cheese. You can cook them in the microwave, heat them up in a skillet or grill them. And since they are have already been hardwood smoked, they are ready to eat in about seven to 10 minutes.
Looking for BBQ? Say Goochy GooFriday, Oct. 31, 2008
You won’t have trouble finding Goochy Goo Barbecue if you follow your nose. Owner Michael Ventucci has his smoker fired up right in front of the restaurant with wafts of barbecue aroma beckoning you inside.
Farmers' markets for Oct. 29, 2008Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Farmers' markets for Oct. 29, 2008
Designed to sell
Monday, Oct. 27, 2008
If that red-haired carpenter on HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” looks familiar, that’s because he is St. Joseph native Jason Eslinger. He will appear in 13 episodes at various times throughout the year. In each 30-minute episode, a team of carpenters and designers fix up a home that is either going on the market or is not selling.
For Mr. Eslinger, the show has been a dream come true. The 30-year-old Benton High School and Missouri Western State University graduate always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles and becoming an actor. Little did he know that it would be his years of working on rental properties with his parents, Linda and Martin Eslinger, that would get him there.
In addition to appearing on the television show, he now has his own construction company in Los Angeles and sells real estate part time. Mr. Eslinger discussed the show with the News-Press recently and shared some ideas about selling your home.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Pumpkin Masters has come out with a new way to decorate for Halloween with its Kids Deluxe Fright Lights. It’s a “fun and easy” pumpkin-decorating kit designed for children ages 4 and up. The kit comes with 30 translucent plastic pegs in a several colors, six shapes (like ears and bats), a battery-operated light, three patterns and a small wooden mallet. When finished, the pumpkin looks something like a Lite Brite using the pumpkin as a screen.
Farmers' markets for Oct. 22, 2008Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008
Farmers' markets for Oct. 22, 2008
Here's looking at you
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008
It’s amazing how delicious eyeballs can be. Whether it’s newt eyes, evil eyes or green-lashed red eyes, they all make spooktacular Halloween party food and add to the fun of the holiday.
“They should have good flavor and look disgusting,” instructs Geoff Coburn as he adjusts his “blood”-stained chef’s apron. “They are both necessary for Halloween.”
Geoff is one of three chefs with apt9kitchens catering company who present monthly cooking demonstrations at Riverwood Winery outside Weston, Mo. The trio like to joke around with each other during their presentations while adding informative bits of information, such as what is the best kind of knife for slicing roasted peppers (Santoku) or what is bocconcini (a semi-soft, white mild cheese originally made in Naples from the milk of water buffaloes). To add a little more humor for today’s show, they are decked out in matching “blood”-stained aprons, chef’s hats and ghoulish painted faces.
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
It sounds like a good idea when the voice on the radio tells you how easy it will be to become debt-free. All those nasty credit card bills can be reduced into one low payment, plus you’ll only have to pay a fraction of what you owe — or so the commercial promises.
Unfortunately, signing with a debt-settlement company is probably not the easy solution you’re hoping for, says Doug Tschauder, consumer attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri.
“Those guys keep me in business,” he says. “In theory, it works. It never works in practice.”
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
If you like freshly ground coffee in the morning and freshly ground pepper on your salad, you will appreciate McCormick’s new cinnamon and cinnamon-sugar grinders. The grinder is built into the top of the glass, so you work it just like a pepper grinder — turn upside and twist.
You can adjust the grinder to either “fine” or “coarse.” They both would be great for adding a gourmet touch to foods like French toast, oatmeal, applesauce, coffee or hot chocolate.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
Hidden away in a primarily residential area of St. Joseph’s midtown, you’ll find the Cabbage Roll, now in its 19th year of business. It’s a German-themed restaurant decorated with all kinds of German knickknacks and a wall-size mural of a castle in the Rhineland.
Owners Larry Matt and Andy Halamar are of German ancestry, and the recipes are authentic, Larry says.
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
Farmers' markets for Oct. 15, 2008
Not your ordinary farm house
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
As soon as you pick up the receiver on the old-time telephone in David Hearn’s Farm House, you know this is not your ordinary home decor store.
“Mrs. Plump, I know that’s you on the line,” an irritated woman’s voice says. “Tell Mr. Dillinger if he’s got any of those new-fangled union suits to put away a size 42 for me.”
The phone is just one of the ways Lori and David Hearn have created an illusion of an early 1900s shop mixed with some Disney-esque whimsey and Americana-style furniture and accessories. The business is actually split into two buildings that sit across from each other on Main Street in Dearborn, Mo. One looks like a furniture store from 1906. The other is a former hotel that was actually built in 1892 with offices for a bank, barber’s shop and doctor’s office. The ladies’ entrance sign on one side of the old hotel always gets a question or two from those new to the area.
Williams comes to America
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
Amy and Scott Johnston were living the American dream. They had three healthy, blond-haired, blue-eyed children, a beautiful home in a safe neighborhood, good jobs, extended family nearby and enough money to live comfortably.
But then God upset the applecart in the form of Williams Kofi Nketia Ankomah, a 5-year-old boy from Africa. And on Aug. 13, their lives were changed forever.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
When those caffeine drinks just aren’t giving you the zip you need, you might want to try Engobi caffeine-infused chips. When they were launched in New York, Rudolph Foods, the maker of Engobi, supposedly couldn’t keep them on the shelves. According to their marketing materials, a 1.5-ounce, single-serving bag of Engobi contains approximately 140 milligrams of caffeine — about 60 milligrams more than a can of most popular energy drinks. And they come in two flavors, Lemon Lift and Cinnamon Surge.
Go greenFriday, Oct. 10, 2008
St. Patrick’s Day is great, but getting to be Irish once a year is just not enough. There’s something about all that hand-clapping, toe-tapping and shamrocking that makes you want more. That’s why more than 7,000 people are expected to attend the ninth annual Weston Irish Festival scheduled to kick off tonight at 5 p.m. at O’Malley’s Pub and Courtyard in Weston, Mo.
Going local year roundWednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
It’s a crisp Saturday morning at the Pony Express Farmer’s Market in St. Joseph. Joan and Wayne Hall stand with orange pumpkins, red tomatoes and shimmery purple eggplant looking like a vibrant still life spotlighted by the early morning sun. All shades of blooming chrysanthemums decorate a nearby booth. And homemade cinnamon rolls, breads and pies beckon customers to another.
These sensory delights along with the opportunity to buy from local producers bring customers here in the parking lot of East Ridge Village on Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting in the middle of April.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Farmers' markets for Oct. 8, 2008
Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art hosting 1924 dinner eventWednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Rob Dalzell of 1924 Main Restaurant in the Crossroads District of Kansas City will present a special dinner at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art at 6 p.m. Oct. 20.
Get away and learnSunday, Oct. 5, 2008
Age can have its advantages when you travel. One specifically is Elderhostel Adventures Inc.
If you want learning, adventure and fun all in one package, Elderhostel offers more than 8,000 programs each year in more than 90 countries, including several getaways in Missouri. The non-profit organization offers an all-inclusive price for its programs, which include lodging and food at a lower cost than you would find in traditional travel packages. The only catch is you must be at least 55 years old, or be with someone who is, to participate.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
General Mills has come out with a new way to eat its popular Chex Mix — bars. They are being promoted as a “crunchy, chewy, calorie-conscious snack that packs indulgence into every bite, yet has less than 150 calories.” With at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, combined with pretzels, nuts, chocolate and caramel, it sounds like a great idea. I personally love sweet and salty combinations, and Chex is one of my favorite cereals. But I think General Mills needs to go back to the drawing board.
Farmers' markets for Oct. 1, 2008Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Farmers' markets for Oct. 1, 2008
Saving the planet one home at a timeMonday, Sept. 29, 2008
A star was born at the Lakes at Oakmont subdivision in Platte City, Mo. An Energy Star, that is.
It’s a home built by Gary Kerns Homebuilders LLC in St. Joseph, and it’s one of the first to receive the Energy Star rating from Platte Clay Electric Coop, a rural electric cooperative that serves a six-county area north of Kansas City.
Although they are rare in this area, homes with this designation are increasing and are expected to approach 1 million nationally by the end of the year, says Sam Rashkin, national director of Energy Star for homes. The program was launched by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1995.
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008
Lara Muse was looking for a hospital table to put by her bed so she could work on her laptop computer during a difficult pregnancy. Steve Allen happened to have one in his basement that he didn’t want.
Even though they both live in St. Joseph, they would never have known about each other’s situation just a few years ago. But thanks to the advent of stjoefreecycle.com, Ms. Mose now has the table, and Mr. Allen has less clutter in his basement at no cost to either of them. Stjoefreecycle.com is a local online community of The Freecycle Network, a nonprofit movement of people all over the world who are giving and getting with no strings attached. The main goal is to keep things out of the landfill by keeping usable things from being thrown away.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
As Oprah likes to say, here are a few things I know for sure: We need to eat healthy meals if we want to feel good. And if you are busy working all day, that means planning ahead. But this I also know: stuff happens. So I don’t always plan ahead, my family is starving when I come home, and chips and snacks can be opened in seconds. So I was very anxious to try a new line of time-saving, family-size entrées from Stouffer’s called Easy Express. The claim is that you can take the entrées directly from the freezer, put them into the microwave and they will be done in less than 20 minutes. They also have no preservatives. I tried the cheesy garlic lasagna and cheese manicotti.
Religion in brief for Sept. 27, 2008Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Religion in brief for Sept. 27, 2008
Celebrate OktoberfestFriday, Sept. 26, 2008
So you can’t make it to Munich this year to celebrate their annual Oktoberfest. You can head to the next best thing: Oktoberfest at Crown Center and Washington Square Park in Kansas City.
Eats: When you want fried chicken, Galvin’s is the place to goFriday, Sept. 26, 2008
You could say Galvin’s Dinnerhouse is like the St. Joseph version of Stroud’s in Kansas City. Although there are certainly differences in decor and some menu items, they both pride themselves on tender, pan-fried chicken served up family style in a down-home setting. And they’ve both been around long enough to get pretty good at what they do.
Make your own cookbook
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Need a recipe? Literally thousands of them are as close as your fingertips with just a click of the mouse on the Internet. That’s in addition to all of the new cookbooks every year on bookstore shelves, plus different selections every day in magazines and newspapers.
So you might wonder, why anyone would go to the trouble of making their own cookbook?
For Veda Heldenbrand of Gallatin, Mo., the reason is family. You could Google all day and never find Mrs. Heldenbrand’s secret recipe for salmon patties or her mother-in-law’s recipe for scalloped tomatoes.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Farmers' markets for Sept. 24, 2008
Beyond lil’ dogs and swordsSunday, Sept. 21, 2008
The sky is an ominous gray with the threat of rain, but John Perry isn’t worried. For the past five years, he’s been coming to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Parties on the Parkway and can’t remember the last time it was cancelled. Whatever the weather brings, he knows that soon there will be a crowd swarming him. So he carefully puts on his 30-pocket apron filled with all colors of the rainbow and gets ready to work his magic.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
It’s bad when you’re the one with the sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-head, fever, got-to-get-some rest cold. But it can be torture watching your child suffer with it. You can’t give a baby a slug of NyQuil. And with the recent ban on children’s decongestants and possibly a broader one to come, there’s not much you can do to make them feel better. Med-Systems has a new product they think will help. It’s called SinuCleanse Kids Mist. It’s a saline wash they claim will relieve allergy symptoms, nasal congestion, sinus drainage, dry air and post-nasal drip for infants and children up to 12 years old.
Farmers' markets for Sept. 17, 2008Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Farmers' markets for Sept. 17, 2008
Sensational settings
Monday, Sept. 15, 2008
Thanksgiving has become a lost holiday in the season of decorating. It tends to get missed in the fanfare of the more flamboyant holidays of Halloween and Christmas. As soon as the goblins come down, Santa goes up, and Thanksgiving is lucky to get a turkey on the table.
But that’s not the case for Sherry Trout, owner of Keeping Good Company, and Jamie Buczek, owner of Jamie’s Secret Garden. Thanksgiving is a time they like to go all out, especially when it comes to dressing up the dinner table.
Come home to dinner
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
It’s Thursday night at the home of Ed and Sharon Catron in St. Joseph, and they are about to sit down to eat dinner with their children. During the 1950s, that would have been the norm for most households across the country, but today, with both parents in the workforce and the never-ending sports events, practices and extracurricular activities competing for that time, fewer families are doing it.
According to a report this year by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), just over half of teens surveyed reported having dinner with their families on a regular basis.
Mayor Ken Shearin was struck by the prevalence of this trend when visiting a friend one evening.
“All the kids were just fending for themselves and getting their own dinner,” he says.
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Not every child can grow up to swim like Michael Phelps or perform on a balance beam like gymnast Nastia Liukin, two of the superstars from the 2008 Olympics. But with all the excitement, it’s inevitable that children begin to dream, and parents wonder if their child has a future in the Olympics or professional sports.
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Years ago, I remember how my neighbor seemed to always be drying her white tennis shoes out on her patio table. At least during the summer months, there they were, every day. I don’t know if she washed them every day or they just took a long time to dry. My guess would be the latter. I prefer to put wet tennis shoes in a dryer, but it has some negatives. You’re stuck with that banging noise that sounds like a small person is inside with a sledgehammer as the shoes are slung around the inside of the dryer. Eventually, the door swings open from all the pounding and your shoes are still not dry.
Try it, you'll like itFriday, Sept. 5, 2008
A trip to the Kirkpatrick Cafe in downtown St. Joseph is worth a visit, if not just for the unique decor.
The weathered barn paneling, stained-glass lamps, folk art paintings and unusual wood furniture are one of a kind. But even if you’ve been there before, you need to return to try the menu. In July of this year, Vincent Daunay became the new owner and Matthew Langford, the manager.
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
Farmers' markets for Sept. 3, 2008
The city of water gardens
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
St. Joseph may one day be known as the city of water gardens — that is if the St. Joseph Water Garden Society continues its present course.
The non-profit group is observing its 10th anniversary this year of encouraging and building ponds and water gardens throughout the area. To celebrate, they will be hosting a 10-pond tour at members’ homes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6. The tour is free and open to the public.
