Tag: Lifestyle

In Key Largo, an Island Retreat With All the Amenities

By Susan Taylor Martin From Tampa Bay Times Key Largo—Florida has many fine restaurants where you can dine by the water. This might be the only one where you can eat in the water—table, chairs, feet all in the clear, warm waters of Florida Bay. On a recent visit to Key Largo, my husband and…


This Quick Version of Chicken Cacciatore Is Ready Fast on Busy Weeknights

Classic chicken cacciatore recipes are day-long stewed affairs, but this revised recipe is a quick weeknight dish that gets plenty of flavor from garlic, fresh basil, cremini mushrooms, and red pepper. We found that white or button mushrooms can be substituted for the cremini in our recipe. Be sure to scrape the browned bits of…


Tree Staking and Palm Trunks

Q: We planted some small trees last year and this spring. We tied stakes to them to hold them up. We tried untying some of last year’s trees and they seemed to be wiggly, so we tied them back up. How long should trees be staked after planting? A: You didn’t say how tight the…


Your Cell Phone and Other EMF Devices May Be Harming Your Heart

Electrical equipment and high-tech devices are everywhere, and while they may make life easier, research finds they can cause harm to your heart by emitting electromagnetic frequency (EMF) in the radio frequency range. Many people don’t realize their cardiac symptoms could be the result of EMF. Still, research continues to find a correlation between the…


Prevalence of IVF Could Create Genetic Haves and Have Nots: AMA

Australian Medical Association President Stephen Robson has warned that with the development of IVF technologies, society could be in “big trouble” if wealthier people can select better genes for their babies. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Robson said the rising use of IVF technologies could lead to a genetic divide…


Strawberry-Blueberry Strata Makes Fourth of July Sweeter

When I think of comfort food desserts, the first thing that comes to mind is bread pudding. And strata is a bread custard that has many creative adaptations. From chocolate to dulce de leche flavoring to a hint of caramelized peaches or pumpkin, strata is no one definitive recipe. Whether served in large souffle dishes…


Ask Me Anything: Recycle Prescription Bottles, Help with Student Financial Aid

Dear Cheapskate: Do you know of any place where I can donate empty plastic prescription bottles? It seems such a waste to throw them away.— Susan H., Tennessee Dear Susan: Call your local veterinarian. Most vets are more than happy to receive cleaned prescription bottles with labels removed for dispensing medicines for animals. Humane societies…


Meet the All-American Coppersmith Reviving a Nearly-Lost Tradition

Wisconsin native Sara Dahmen blissfully recalls childhood excursions to attend Rendezvous. The annual historical reenactments brought the state’s Fur Trade era back to life, with 18th- and 19th-century settlers, traders, and Native Americans gathering to exchange furs and goods. “I remember seeing these girls and boys, a little bit older than me, in full pioneer,…


Over 30 Percent of Aussies Can’t Afford to Travel Overseas: Research

Rising living costs and soaring airfares have left one in three Australians unable to afford to travel overseas. New research by price comparison website Finder has found that only about a quarter of Australians can now afford to travel for a holiday, with many cutting back on spending in order to enjoy it. The survey of…


Flag Day: Is America Still the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?

After visiting Fort McHenry, I reflected upon the flag that was still there after the British assault, and which gave rise to our national anthem. Does that banner still wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave? The flag represents America’s existence, but also symbolizes what America represents—freedom. That’s why…