Winter 2016 Mind+Body

Mind Body +

WINTER 2016/17

STAY GREEN

LESS IS MORE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

BEAT CABIN FEVER WINTER DOESN’T MEAN THE END OF FUN

Superwomen 11

INCREDIBLE WOMEN

WHO GIVE BACK

M+B

contents WINTER 2016/17

12

FEATURES

18 SUPERWOMEN Celebration of amazing women who give back in our community

ASPIRE

12 GET OUTSIDE Winter doesn’t mean you have to become a shut-in

16 GIVE BACK How to avoid holiday self indulgence

30 CULTIVATE

GIFTS GALORE

4

This local shop offers feel-good holiday spending STAY GREEN

6

17

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Help the hungry this holiday season

NOURISH

30 COOK IT FORWARD Recipes that put our focus in the right place

36 DRINK TO HELP OTHERS We can all toast to this theory

6

What to do with all your holiday waste

ON THE COVER Portrait of Kathryn Higgins, photo by Danielle Peterson

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 1

Mind+Body President/Publisher Kathy Jack-Romero

kathyjackromero@coloradoan.com

Editorial Director Lauren Gustus

lgustus@coloradoan.com

Executive Editor/Digital Editor Mollie Muchna

mmuchna@coloradoan.com Designer Audrey Tate atate@gannett.com

Creative Director Tricia Reinhold treinhold@gannett.com

Fort Collins’ first piercing studio.

TAT T O O S PIERCINGS JEWELRY

Custom Production Designer Erika Moore erikamoore@coloradoan.com

Advertising Director Tyler Kidd tylerkidd@coloradoan.com

Production Manager Matt Varns mattvarns@coloradoan.com

High quality jewelry boutique, custom tattoos and piercings.

Bring your ideas and we’ll create something exquisite and unique.

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2 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

1300 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524 Call (970) 493-6397 | Fax (970) 224-7726

©2016 Coloradoan Media Group. All rights reserved. PLEASE NOTE that the articles contained in this publication are meant to increase reader awareness of developments in the health field. Its contents should not be construed as medical advice or health instruction on individual health matters, which should be obtained directly from a health professional.

EDITOR’S LETTER

CITY DRUG

Tis the season to

GIVE BACK

THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE ISSUE TO PUT TOGETHER, and it may be everyone’s favorite issue to read: The Superwomen issue.

Every year we feature a group of outstanding women in our community, and this year was no different. Each women was nominated and selected based on how she gave of her time, treasure or talent to the Northern Colorado community.

Let me just say, I am floored by the superwomen we’re featuring this year. From our cover woman, who built a nationally acclaimed and sustainable company that generously gives back to the community to women who help senior citizens and fight for food justice: All 11 women have their own unique story and all do so much for our community.

This issue also brings us to the end of the year, and the holiday season. With everything in this issue, from local stocking stuffers to ways to recycle your holiday waste, we continue to come back to the theme of how we can give back.

So as you read through the issue, I’d encourage you to reflect on their pre- and post-holiday seasons and take an extra minute to see what you can do for others.

I know hearing the stories of these inspiring women has made me take a second to think about things in a different light.

Happy holidays, and happy reading!

Mollie Muchna Executive Editor mmuchna@coloradoan.com

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Caring About Your Health For Over 30 Years!

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C U LT I V A T E GET BEAUTIFUL

LOCAL SHOP OFFERS FEEL-GOOD GIVING THIS SEASON

super

SALUS 4 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

WHEN YOU ENTER THE SALUS SHOP on Walnut Street in Old Town, your senses come alive. Soothing lavender, invigorating citrus or spicy cinnamon: natural aromas abound. Fully stocked with colorful bath bombs, soaps and shave creams, SALUS — Latin for health, well-being and vitality — has a gift for everyone on your list. All bath and body products are natural, organic and paraben-free, which helps gift-giving to the most particular recipient.

WHILE EITHER GIVING OR GETTING, THERE ARE MANY GREAT ITEMS AT SALUS TO CHOOSE FROM.

Coloradans Elissa and Jerell Klaver founded SALUS in 2004 from their garage and basement. Their goal was to make products that were more natural than what the market was currently offering.

Vanilla Cream Bath Cupcake: $11

The Klavers also recognized customers liked having choices. So many of their bath and body items can be customized with essential oils. They also use Colorado-sourced ingredients like natural baking soda and sunflower oil. The Klavers have turned their beginning industry into a milliondollar business, now boasting three stores and 45 employees.

All of this makes SALUS a great story. But what makes SALUS really special is the Klaver’s unique philosophy on giving back to their community.

They don’t just give back, they über give. And quietly (mostly anonymously) to about 60 to 70 organizations annually.

After losing their second son, the Klavers recognized how important it is to demonstrate you care. They understand there is no remedy for loss and sorrow, but small kindnesses are always appreciated. Making charitable contributions are their way of coming back full circle. It’s not terribly complicated, but “giving for giving’s sake,” explained Jerell. It’s just the right thing to do. The list of beneficiaries is too long to list, but the Christmas Tree Project, Buddy Bench and Kid Power are a few local organizations that have received past support.

In the season of giving, it’s nice to see a local company that does more than its fair share. How do they decide who to support? The Klavers select organizations that are non-political, help people in need and have nonprofit status. When asked how much they have donated, Elissa said, “We don’t know. We just don’t keep track.” Refreshing, since most businesses would tout a list of good-deeds in an effort to promote themselves. But, it seems like SALUS isn’t like most businesses: It’s honest, natural and from the heart. MB

Palisade Peach Chardonnay Organic Soap: $7

Yoga Sunrise Bath Bomb: $2.95 (buy 4 get one free)

Frankincense and Myrrh Shower Bomb: $2.45

WRIT T E N BY KRI STI N OW ENS PHOTOS CO URTESY O F SA LUS

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 5

C U LT I V A T E GET STYLE

HOW TO STAY GREEN THE HOLIDAYS CREATE ADDITIONAL WASTE. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.

RECOVERY AND RECYCLING Household waste typically goes up 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The city of Fort Collins has a lot of information on local recycling options on its websites fcgov.com/recycling.

Many items, including some that are hard to recycle, may be dropped at the city’s Timberline Recycling Center, 1903 S. Timberline Road.

Trees: The largest holiday item families typically have to deal with is a Christmas tree. The city’s annual tree recycling program will run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 16. Trees may be dropped off at the following locations.

• Edora Park – 1420 E. Stuart St., tennis court parking lot • Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday • Rolland Moore Community Park – 2201 S. Shields St., southeast corner of parking lot • Fossil Creek Community Park – 5821 S. Lemay Ave.

W RITTE N BY KE V IN D UGG A N

GETTING READY

PARTY TIME

Less is more when it comes to enjoying a greener holiday season.

Taking a few simple steps and using common sense can reduce the environmental impact of fun traditions such as gift giving, decorating and feasting.

When shopping for holiday gifts, bring along reusable cloth bags for carrying purchases. Buy gifts that have minimal packaging, or at least packaging that can be recycled.

According to some estimates, Americans waste up to 100 billion pounds of food each year.

Online resources fcgov.com/ recyclingcenters eco-thrift.com EPA.gov Use-Less-Stuff.com Ecocycle.org

Consider giving presents that don’t require much packaging, such as gift cards or tickets to concerts or sporting events.

Wrap gifts in paper that has been recycled or repurposed, such as the comic pages from the Sunday newspaper. Gifts also may be wrapped in cloth bags or scarves that can be used by recipients.

Perhaps there is something in your stash of stuff that is worth passing along as a gift to a friend or family member. Donate things you no longer want, such as old toys, to a thrift store.

An estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each year in the United States. Consider sending electronic greeting cards rather than paper. If you must use paper, use a type that can be recycled.

Replace old holiday lights with LED lights to reduce the amount of energy used by your displays. Use timers to have lights turn on at dusk and off at bed time.

The first step toward cutting down on food waste, especially during the holidays, is to carefully plan meals. Consider the size of portions and don’t buy more food than you need.

Other eco-friendly entertaining tips include: • Compost food scraps.

• Use cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glassware and silverware.

• Put leftovers in recyclable containers and share them.

Have guests take leftovers home.

• After a party, fill your dishwasher completely before running it.

• City Streets Facility – 625 Ninth St., which is southwest of the intersection of Vine Drive and Lemay Avenue • Wellington recycling drop-off – Corner of Sixth Street and Grant Avenue Wrapping/tissue paper: It can be placed in curbside recycling containers for pickup. If you choose to take it to the recycling center, drop it in the bin designated for paperboard. Do not include metallic paper, ribbons or bows. Those things should go in the trash.

Cardboard: Recycle cardboard at curbside or at the drop-off center. In Fort Collins, it’s illegal to place cardboard in the trash.

Styrofoam: Trash it or donate it to a local store for reuse. Some shipping companies will accept packing “peanuts” and bubble wrap. Eco-Cycle in Boulder accepts white blocks of Styrofoam for a fee. See ecocycle.org.

Cooking oil: Drop off used cooking oil in a clear, sealed container at Eco-Thrift, 314 N. Howes St., for a fee.

Don’t pour oil and grease down kitchen drains; it can clog pipes.

Batteries: Drop off at the city’s recycling center for a fee. Batteries also may be dropped off at the Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road, and some retail stores.

Plastic bags: All types of bags may be dropped off for recycling at grocery stores, Target and Walmart.

Bags must be clean, dry and empty. Drop-off bins are typically near store entrances.

Lights and extension cords: Bundle and drop off at RMB Recycling, rmbrecycling.com; Aragon Iron and Metal, AragonIronandMetal.com; or Colorado Iron and Metal, ColoradoIronMetal.com.

Electronics: Disposing of electronics in the trash is illegal in Colorado. For information on recycling options, see fcgov.com/recyclingcenters. MB

6 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

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ADVERSTISEMENT

The

Beauty Bar

by Charity Laine

The Beauty Bar at Charity Laine was created with one thing in mind: the client experience.

The lobby and consultation room sets the scene for The Beauty Bar by Charity Laine’s luxurious client experience.

“We come from a much different perspective than most people do when they are starting a medical spa,” Aubrey Stevens, co-founder of The Beauty Bar at Charity Laine, said of herself and her partner Charity Jara. “I come from the perspective of a client, and she is the best provider I have had the pleasure to know.

So we do things a little bit differently, but I think it is the way things should be.”

Stevens and Jara are devoted to providing elite services, the highest level of client education and maximizing clients’ inner and outer beauty. “We aren’t here to sell false promises about turning women into some perfect doll. That isn’t what we believe in. We believe in helping women feel good about themselves, and using our tools and knowledge to help them do that,” Jara said.

“We focus on the experience, and making every woman feel like a million bucks. I always call it bringing out your inner super model, letting your inner radiance shine. Every woman is beautiful, and we want to help all of our clients see that in themselves,” Stevens said.

ADVERSTISEMENT

The Beauty Bar feels more like a high end spa than a medical clinic, which is by design. The concept, created and executed by Stevens and Jara, focuses on “Old Hollywood Glam,” drawing inspiration from timeless screen queens like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Marilynn Monroe. And the clinic shows they have captured the glamor perfectly. The new location has been a labor of love, and stepping inside is like taking a trip to another place and time – exactly as Jara and Stevens want it.

“This should be an escape,” Jara said. “This is a stress-free zone for our clients. No pressure, no worries, just relaxation. We just want them to enjoy their time and feel good.”

“We believe in helping women feel good about themselves, and using our tools and knowledge to help them do that” With over 100 services, blending Eastern and Western medicinal practice, clients have a wide variety of choices on what will make them feel good.

And new clients can rest easy with the assurance that between the two founders, they have tried every treatment The Beauty Bar offers.

“We are really all about our clients and how we can best help them to have the best experience while they are with us and retain that glow when they go home. We really want to bring something special to Fort Collins, and we are excited to get started,” Stevens said.

Every room at The Beauty Bar

by Chairty Laine is designed to make clientele feel relaxed and pampered.

PAID ADVERTISING

holiday

fun finds Spread your wings with this original butterfly painting by Diane Findley, $200.

Trimble Court Artisans, 970.221.0051, Downtown Fort Collins, trimblecourt.com

The perfect gift for the cyclist or recyclist in your family. Fairly traded and hand crafted in India. $39.99.

Ten Thousand Villages, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.224.9501, tenthousandvillages.com

Tea Flight Gift Card: Three carefully selected and brewed teas that create an exotic and informative journey into the world of tea. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight. Great teacher and hostess gift! $15.

Happy Lucky Teahouse, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.689.3417 and Front Range Village, 970.672.8403 happyluckys.com

Warm heart & home with Thymes Frasier Fir “Buy One, Plant One” Collection. For each candle sold, a tree is planted. Shown with GurglePots & festive flour sac towels. Thymes Frasier Fir Northwoods Collection $35 - $48.50, GurglePot $25 to $45, Flour Sac Towels $18.50 each. Esscentuals, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.484.7862

Fairly traded ‘Tree of Life.’ A 55 gallon oil drum is transformed by an artist in Haiti into a beautiful work of art, $48. Ten Thousand Villages, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.224.9501, tenthousandvillages.com

10 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

PAID ADVERTISING

For the cigar and pipe enthusiast on your list. $5.99 and up. Al’s Newsstand, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.482.9853, alsnewsstand.com

Thymes Simmered Cider mulls freshly-pressed apples, bourbon, & malted rum with clove & cardamom. Consume the candle & refill the copper Moscow Mule mug with a brew of choice. $6.75 to $52.50. Esscentuals, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.484.7862

Cat teapot and cup set with 2 cups ($49.95) and double-walled cat mug ($19.95) keeps tea hot and hands cool. Ku Cha House of Tea, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.472.5696, kuchatea.com

Fortlandia proud: Enamel pins, pint glasses, kids & adult t-shirts and hats. $9.95 – $24.

Akinz, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.682.1750, akinz.com

Sticks hand-painted, handmade lazy Susan $429.99.

Other furniture and accessories from $121.99.

The Right Card, Downtown Fort Collins, 970.221.3030

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 11

ASPIRE GET OUT

Breaking up

CABIN FEVER HIBERNATION IS GREAT. You can grab your favorite book, bundle up and hunker down for a winter of warm socks and steaming mugs of hot tea. Before the impression in the couch from your Netflix binges becomes permanent, though, take a look at a few ways to get out of the house before cabin fever starts to set in. Head to a local sledding hill, try a new cooking class or learn how to weave a basket (yolo!). Fort Collins is full of outdoor activities, indoor options and educational opportunities. Here are a few:

GET OUTSIDE Sledding

Skating

Fort Collins has its fair share of sledding hills tucked away in parks and natural areas. Try taking a sled out to Edora Park, Pineridge Natural Area or Hughes Stadium to scout them out on snowy days.

Taking to an ice rink on a snowy day just screams winter. And, in Fort Collins, you have some choices. You can stay indoors by heading to Edora Pool and Ice Center (EPIC), 1801 Riverside Ave., or try out the new ice rink set to take over the Foothills Mall east lawn starting this winter.

The city also manages outdoor skating areas in the southwest corner of Sheldon Lake in City Park and in a zoned-off section on one of the ponds in the Prospect Ponds Natural Area. The city starts monitoring both sections once they freeze, usually in midDecember. Signs and barricades indicate whether the areas are open or closed during the winter months.

Hiking Capitalize on Rocky Mountain National Park’s down season by enjoying winter hikes on lesscrowded trails. Or from Jan 7 until March 19 try out a 2-hour rangerled snowshoe ecology walk on Sundays, Wednesdays or Saturdays starting at 12:30. Call 970-5861223 to reserve a spot on the walks no more than one week in advance.

WR I T T E N BY E R I N UD E L L

12 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

If the snow falling from the sky is enough ice for you, try lacing up skates at Rollerland Skate Center instead. Indoors and ice-free, Rollerland, 324 South Link Ln., lets you get away from the cold while still staving off that snow day boredom.

Head to the library With children and teen zones in every branch, the Poudre River Library District is a perfect place to stave off boredom when school is out or on occasional snow days. Programming through the winter includes world language storytimes, anime club, game days and more. For a full schedule of events, visit poudrelibraries.org.

STAY INSIDE Catch a movie...

...Or a show

Get cookin’

Try another class

Enjoy the Lyric Cinema Cafe’s last winter in Old Town by heading to the cozy little independent theater for a mid-day movie. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and $6.50 for a matinee.

The Lyric will be moving next year from its longtime home at 300 E. Mountain Ave. into its new building north of Old Town.

Some Fort Collins arts organizations are celebrating milestones in 2016. Bas Bleu Theatre Company is in its 25th season and putting on performances of “The Snow Queen,” “Bakersfield Mist,” “That Championship Season,” and “Bethany” this winter. And the Larimer Chorale will be presenting “A Dickens Dinner” on Dec. 3, its “Candlelight Christmas” in midDecember and a 40th-anniversary concert on Feb. 24 and 25. And, as always, Canyon Concert Ballet will be putting on performances of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker” Dec. 9 to 11.

If you’re going a little crazy at home, try mixing up your every day winter routine by mixing up your menu. Fort Collins businesses like The Cooking Studio, 123 N. College Ave., and Come Back to the Table, 2700 Brookwood Dr., offer up cooking classes that help you master anything from seafood to pies. And, as snow swirls outside, there’s nothing more comforting than gathering over a home-cooked meal. To make reservations at Come Back to the Table, call Linda Hoffman at 970-407-8828 and to sign up for a class at The Cooking Studio, head to the-cooking-studio. com for a full schedule and more details. The city also offers cooking classes, which are advertised in its winter Recreator guide.

If cooking isn’t your thing, try occupying your time with one of the many other classes in the city’s winter Recreator, which covers classes and events from December through February. Take a stab at swim classes or scuba diving, try your hand at pottery, woodworking or basket making. And stay fit with classes like yoga, Zumba, spinning or boot camp. You can register for Recreator classes starting on Nov. 17 by heading to fcgov.com/ recreator, visiting a city recreation facility or calling 970-221-6655. MB

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 13

ADVERTISEMENT

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

Dr. Michelle Glasgow, a family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Fort Collins, shares the steps to take to make this holiday season a stress-free one.

ADVERTISEMENT

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, full of family, fun, and happiness. But most people don’t have to look too hard to find the other thing the holidays usually mean: stress.

Dr. Michelle Glasgow, primary care physician with Kaiser Permanente in Fort Collins, describes holiday stress as a cycle that can be very difficult to stop once we get sucked in.

“We really get stressed out when we overindulge – and overindulging doesn’t have to just mean over eating or drinking too much,” Dr. Glasgow said.

The other overindulgences, eating and drinking aside, can include overbooking your social calendar, overcommitting to hosting family and friends, or overspending on gifts. Any and all of these overindulgences probably sound common to most people, and the real effects of “too much” can be detrimental to health.

“It is the stress that gets us,” Dr. Glasgow said.

“We get stressed so we stop sleeping which can lead to weight-gain which can lead to elevated cholesterol or blood pressure levels, and the next thing we know we are really not doing well. The lack of sleep leads to depression and anxiety, as well. It is no coincidence that lots of health issues like heart attack, stroke, and even suicide are more common during the holidays.”

responding to anything. A few moments of silence to assess a situation is ok, and it can really help.”

The purpose of this pause, says Dr. Glasgow, is to allow yourself to really take stock and examine your feelings about a commitment or impulse. With Michelle Glasgow, M.D., food, with a request from a is a family loved one, or with a desire medicine to make a purchase, taking a physician practicing moment to reflect can allow at the Kaiser yourself to reconsider and Permanente make a better choice.

Fort Collins Medical Offices.

“If you have a negative reaction, a negative feeling, a negative thought when you are taking that pause to consider, then it is something you should decline,” Dr. Glasgow said. “And a feeling of obligation counts as negative. Actions should come from a positive place, not a negative one.”

Dr. Glasgow also recommends setting boundaries and goals before the season gets into full swing. If that means only attending three holiday events in the month of December, setting a strict budget for gift purchases, or only eating one piece of pie for dessert, setting those guidelines before getting caught up in the emotional component of the holidays will help you regulate later.

“We have some confused messages about the holidays, where overdoing it and going above and beyond are the norm. But when things stop being fun, the whole meaning and connection to the special things people do at the holidays is lost. Taking a little time out to reflect, get some balance, and remember what is really important will do wonders for stress and overall health,” Dr. Glasgow said.

“Taking a little time out to reflect, get some balance, and remember what is really important will do wonders for stress and overall health.”

The real question becomes how to deal with all of the additional stressors and demands of the holidays without allowing yourself to overindulge or overcommit. It is unlikely that everyone will come together and simply decide to make things low-key for the holidays. So some sort of coping mechanism should be in place to help make better choices.

“I always advise my patients to pause,” Dr. Glasgow said. “It is easy to get caught up in the moment and we tend to automatically say yes, but I always tell people to just pause before

ASPIRE GIVE BACK

SEASON OF GIVING HOW TO GIVE BACK THIS SEASON AND THROUGH THE NEW YEAR As the holidays roll around, many Fort Collins residents nurse their generous spirit and look for ways to support the local community. Although a long-term commitment is ideal for most organizations, the giving season is a great time to start that relationship! Fortunately, Fort Collins — with more than a third of residents volunteering more than 50 hours each year — offers plenty of chances for those with magnanimous hearts to pay it forward. Here are a few of them.

W RITTE N BY STAC E Y MC K EN N A

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

LEND A PAW

FORT COLLINS RESCUE MISSION — operating under the Denver Rescue Mission since 2012 — provides meals, shelter, spiritual guidance and life-skills programs to Northern Coloradans experiencing homelessness. Year round, volunteers have loads of opportunities, including cooking and serving daily meals, mentoring a Steps to Success program participant, or assisting with prayers and religious services. As the holidays get closer, there are opportunities to bake holiday treats and sort gift donations.

ANIMAL HOUSE works to reduce the number of adoptable animals who are euthanized in the U.S. each year. The shelter and adoption facility provides community education and outreach as well as collaborates with overburdened rescues to place homeless dogs in forever homes. Volunteers are always needed to help with fundraising and event coordination. Animallovers can get their critter fix while helping those in need by walking dogs.

Since 1986, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LARIMER COUNTY staff and volunteers have helped youth build skills to cope with life’s challenges through a range of programs. Core areas include: the arts; health and life skills; sports, fitness and recreation; character and leadership development; and, education, technology and career development. Volunteers can offer their time on a long-term or short-term basis, oneon-one with students or assist in fundraising or coordinating events.

THE NORTHERN COLORADO AIDS PROJECT (also known as the Colorado Health Network) offers care, prevention and advocacy services for those living with, at risk for, and affected by HIV and other illnesses. Volunteers fill a variety of roles at NCAP, most of them long-term. They drive clients to and from medical appointments, assist with special events and outreach, and work in the office, answering phones, greeting clients, and staffing the in-house food bank.

16 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

PROTECT NATURE

ARTS & SCIENCES

FORT COLLINS NATURAL AREAS do more than just conserve beautiful escapes in the city. They provide educational opportunities for the public while preserving fragile ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Volunteers can lend a hand via both short-term projects such as trail work days and wildflower seed packaging and long-term roles assisting naturalists, rangers and gardeners.

THE FORT COLLINS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY opened in 2012 to provide the city’s residents with fun, interactive, and educational experiences in science, history and culture. Regular volunteer opportunities include routine animal care, showing films in the digital dome, and helping out in the galleries. This fall, the museum will host its first traveling exhibit and is looking for Gallery Hosts who want to learn about the flying dinosaurs to support staff and interact with visitors. MB

ASPIRE GIVE BACK

RISING COST OF LIVING MAKES HUNGER-FREE VISION MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER

PROJECT: PURPOSE

WE MUST DO MORE W R I T T E N BY AMY P E Z Z A N I

With the holiday season upon us, food is on our minds. Food is our most basic need and something most of us think about at least three times a day. We have reality television shows, websites and blogs committed to food. Our meetings, holidays and some of our best family time is centered around food.

Given this, it is sometimes hard, even incomprehensible, for us to imagine someone here in our own community not having enough to eat. Yet, one out of every seven Larimer County residents faces hunger annually.

I’ve always been drawn to issues around social justice.

This, combined with the understanding that working full-time was not enough to ensure adequate financial resources, drew me to the work that I do today. The stress and the worry is something that you don’t forget.

My college years were a difficult time. People I knew had left home with the financial support of their parents. They did not have to worry about how to buy groceries, pay a medical bill, or how they were going to fix their car if it broke down. They just called mom and dad. My experience was very different. I held three jobs while taking full course loads and luckily found a mechanic that would get my car running for a six pack of Bud Light. And it was this, the experience of dealing with these real issues early in life, that impacted me in more ways than I could imagine.

I recall when a new experience shaped my determination that no one would go hungry in our community. It was the first time I was approached by a mother with no food for her two children, after having

recently become a mother myself. I could see the fear and desperation in her eyes as her little ones clung to her knees and it hit me hard. Fortunately, providing food to those that need it most is what we do every day and I went home that evening knowing they were taken care of.

Since I joined the Food Bank in 2004, our organization has grown and changed to meet the need in our community. We stepped up and have become the largest provider of summer food in our county. With determination, we expanded our services in Loveland.

When the recession hit and the number of people we served through our Food Share program alone swelled from just more than 21,000 per year to well over 29,000, we worked hard to ensure we were still able to provide enough food for one meal per day for the guest who needed our service.

But, we must do more. We are bumping up against external factors like rent increases and day care costs that are driving more people to need assistance and to need it more frequently.

We are all one community and when families and seniors struggle to make ends meet and to put food on the table we are not the best that we can be. Our vision is a hunger-free Larimer County but our dream is to deliver health, hope and humanity to stabilize the lives of our clients and build a vibrant community.

This holiday season I give thanks to the thousands of donors and volunteers in our community who make a hunger-free Larimer County a reality. MB

HOW TO HELP Every dollar you donate to the Food Bank for Larimer County provides $5 worth of food.

ONLINE: Donate online at www. foodbanklarimer.org/ donate-money MAIL: Mail your gift to Food Bank for Larimer County, 1301 Blue Spruce Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80524 PHONE: To make a gift by phone with a credit card, call 970-4934479

Amy Pezzani has led the Food Bank for Larimer County as its Chief Executive Officer since 2004.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 17

THE

UNSTOPPABLE KATHRYN HIGGINS Kathryn Higgins can’t remember the specific time when she began feeling a connection to the earth.

For most of her life, it’s been a part of who she is.

18 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

I

t’s reflected in how she raised her three daughters on a property up Rist Canyon where she had goats, used cloth diapers and hauled supplies in via a sled during the winter.

It’s how her curiosity of herbs and plants led to a small operation that later became the multimillion-dollar FortCollins based company called Motherlove which sells natural products and medicine.

It’s also one of the many reasons Kathryn is being honored as a 2016 Northern Colorado Superwoman.

An annual celebration of the unsung heroes in our community, this year’s superwomen were selected based on how they give back to better their community.

Whether it’s giving of her time to one of the many local boards she sits on, donating food or funds to the Food Bank for Larimer County or even starting her own nonprofit, The Nurturing Life Foundation, Kathryn is truly an “inspiration figure in this community,” says her daughter, Zenna Eastwood.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS You could say that Kathryn’s interest in medicine was somewhat genetic — both her father and brother were physicians.

“A medical background … was in my genes. I just took it in my own way,” she said.

Kathryn started retreating to a teepee she owned up Rist Canyon after earning a degree in anthropology at Colorado State University. Because there were hardly any books on the topic of herbal medicine at the time, she collected plants on her property and then would take them into town to be tested at CSU. The first concoction Kathryn made was a green salve that aids in healing and softening skin — it’s a product that Motherlove still sells to this day.

But it wasn’t until she was pregnant with her eldest daughter, Silencia, that Motherlove was really born. At the time, there were next to no natural products available on the market for expecting mothers. So Kathryn started making salves for nipples and creams to reduce stretch marks. She began gifting the products to friends, while also using it herself.

As demand for her products continued to grow, Kathryn began a dogged pursuit of marketing her products. She’d pick a major city at random, grab a phone book and call whatever local health food stores she could find. In the early ‘90s, Kathryn made a call to a small start-up company in Austin, Texas, and soon began selling her products in their store. Little did she know, she had just got her foot in the door with the first Whole Foods, a partnership that lasts to this day.

From there, Motherlove’s footprint in both the community and in the natural medicinal world continued to grow. Kathryn even published a book titled “Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants” that identifies plants of the Colorado foothills.

Kathryn Higgins, founder of Motherlove, is pictured above with her middle daughter Zenna, and below with all three daughters: Silencia, Zenna and Jasmin.

STORY BY MOLLIE M U C H NA PH OTOS BY DA NIELLE PETERSON

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 19

“Little by little, I worked with health care professionals, pharmaceuticals, health stores.

I came to realize that my mission with Motherlove is to combine the alternative with the professional, “ Kathryn said, “And that’s what Motherlove has done.”

EARTH FIRST Kathryn’s commitment to sustainability has been reflected in all aspects of her business. From the beginning, building Motherlove on a sustainable basis was never a question. It’s truly in the essence of who she is, and Kathryn attributes some of her success to “walking the talk.”

“She is a true example of someone who practices what she preaches, talks the talk and walks the walk,” her daughter Zenna said.

To Kathryn, being connected to the earth and living green was also “just where I felt at home.” It’s also how she came to name the company Motherlove, after Mother Earth.

“We need to take care of the earth, everything in the whole earth,” Kathryn said.

“Everything we need is outside our door if we only recognized it.”

Zenna says Kathryn’s “commitment to the planet is matched by few.” Motherlove is a zero-waste facility. It generates two times the amount of solar energy needed to run the business and is a B-Corp certified, a process that ensures a business meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Motherlove also operates a 120-acre organic farm in Johnstown where a small handful of the herbs used for its products are grown, among other things.

Today, Motherlove is carried on birthing floors of multiple hospitals, found in most major natural foods stores, some drugstores and major chains, like Walgreens, and is distributed to 40 countries.

GIVING BACK “The mission (of Motherlove) started as how do we help women and children in need,” Kathryn said.

More than 10 percent of profits from the company is given to charities and nonprofits.

Kathryn and the company also started the Nurturing Life Foundation, a nonprofit that supports “organizations that nurture people,

20 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

“Little by little, I worked with health care professionals, pharmaceuticals, health stores. I came to realize that my mission with Motherlove is to combine the alternative with the professional.

And that’s what Motherlove has done.” communities and the environment,” per the Motherlove website.

And how do they choose where to allocate their funds? It’s basically word of mouth.

“The way I choose to is I see it. I meet people … I hear about them in a magazine.

I see where there is a need … If you look, believe me, you can find it.”

Motherlove also donates thousands of pounds of corn yearly to the Larimer County Food Bank, supports Realities for Children, Trees, Water & People, along with a long list of other organizations. Kathryn was also a founding member of WomenGive, which provides child care scholarships for single women in need.

Kathryn also does what she can to give back to her workforce. Motherlove matches the donation of any employee’s charitable contribution, provides a gym membership or massages for employees, and pays them

to spend their time volunteering. Employees can also ride their bikes to work and cash in their miles for gift cards and other incentives.

“They know they make a difference in the world, and I want them to know they make a difference to me,” Kathryn said. She said the company regularly receives love letters from both employees and consumers. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

Kathryn’s daughters — Silencia, Zenna and Jasmin — are also an irreplaceable piece of the Motherlove puzzle. “It never ever would have been without my three daughters,” Kathryn said. “They took me on the path that became Motherlove.”

The 66-year-old is now retired, but her presence in the company and the community is still strong. “She is absolutely hands down, my hero,” Zenna said, “(She’s) a self-made rock star. She had a dream and she would not let that dream die.” MB

2016 Northern Colorado

SUPERWOMEN

M

eet this year’s Northern Colorado Superwomen. In this issue, we’re spotlighting the unsung heroes of our

community who give of their time, talent or treasures to benefit the greater community of Northern Colorado. Read on to learn more about these amazing women in the words of their nominators.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 21

Colorado State University “Jennifer is a researcher at Colorado State and, working with the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County and USDA, helped establish and return a genetically pure herd of bison to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in late 2015.

In recent years, she has become the go-to expert across the country for parks, zoos and natural areas who want to raise brucellosis-free bison.

JENNIFER BARFIELD, 38 “She also leads an innovative master’s program at Colorado State University in assisted reproductive technologies and is training the next generation of people like her to work at fertility clinics or in cattle reproduction.

“Jennifer is incredibly down to earth and humble, despite the countless media interviews and attention she’s garnered over the last year. She is a role model to the young women who work in her lab and who are enrolled in the master’s degree program.

“Through her work, she has been interviewed by media from across the country and has helped to shine a light on Northern Colorado ... bringing a great deal of positive media. In addition to her day job, Jennifer takes part in fun community events like Tour de Fat, so she’s not all work and no play (though it’s a wonder she finds the time to do it all).

“She also raises a chicken and is a mom to a special needs cat, Taxi. Jennifer is a fun person and an inspiration.”

One describ word to e this w oman:

REMARKA BLE

22 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

LISA CLAY, 54

One describ word to e this w oman:

INVESTED

Advance Tank and Construction “Lisa is the CEO and General Counsel of Advance Tank and Construction — a Wellington-based company that works to support the local boys and girls club as well as the United Way Foundation.

“Lisa was able to eventually take over Advance Tank to make it a Women Business Enterprise, while also raising three successful children. Lisa also owned and operated two Ace Hardware stores, one in Windsor and one in Fort Collins.

“Lisa used money from Advance Tank to help fund Betty’s Kitchen at the Food Bank for Larimer County.This kitchen was set up in order to prepare meals for children at many after before- and after-school programs as well as programs with the Boys and Girls Club.

It has greatly expanded since 2009 and now also prepares meals for senior citizens as well as children.

“On top of these feats, Lisa gives her time to multiple organizations through sitting on their boards including but not limited to Food Bank for Larimer County, and has chaired the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Collins Junior League and the local advisory board of the Northern Colorado Community Foundation. She also contributes to Colorado State University’s athletic department and sings in a choir at Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

“Lisa is the type of person that puts everything she has into every project.

She has and always will be very invested in not only the success of those around her, but also in the success of the community in which she has become such a big part of.”

Mantooth Marketing Company

WildRock Public Relations & Marketing “Kristin started her own business, WildRock Public Relations & Marketing, in her late 20s while also being a mom. She’s a hard worker, and it shows.

“Kristin is always pushing her employees to be the best version of themselves. She has not only created a successful and profitable One company describ word to e this w over the oman: last four years, but she has also built a highperforming, passionate team through her dedication and support for each team member.

ROCK STA R

“Kristin is also a committed member of the community. Kristin serves as the PR Adviser for the Epsilon Beta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at CSU, where she helps undergraduates thrive in their roles within the chapter. She also volunteers at several events to give speeches on her expertise in business, networking, public relations and marketing. Kristin will take time out of her day to volunteer at local schools and do informational interviews for those looking for advice in future careers.

KRISTIN GOLLIHER, 33 “This woman has not only created a successful and profitable company over the last four years, but she has also built a highperforming, passionate team through her dedication and support for each team member. One of Kristin’s best qualities is the ability to juggle multiple things with ease and grace. She may have one million things going on, but she will always take the time to make sure that each employee is doing OK.”

“Connie founded Mantooth Marketing Company nearly 21 years ago and has since dedicated her life to helping local, communityoriented businesses thrive. Her dedication to her clients, employees and company has never wavered and only gets stronger every year.

CONNIE HANRAHAN, 53 “Connie is a proud steward of the Fort Collins community, which is exemplified through many endeavors. She supports multiple organizations, including Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, WomenGive, Colorado State University athletics and countless other nonprofits.

“One of the many ways in which Connie has demonstrated excellence in her community is her devotion to Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program.

The Women Build program unites women of all backgrounds and ages by the belief that families should have access to safe and affordable housing.

“Connie’s leadership on the Women Build committee — and as the Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity Board President — has led to the creation of multiple homes for families in the community.

Thanks to Connie’s exceptional commitment, these families now have secure and durable homes to raise their children and build their lives.

“Not only has Connie’s unparalleled hard work earned her much personal and company success, but she truly cares about helping others succeed as well.”

One describ word to e this w oman:

COMMUN ITY

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 23

CYNDY LUZINSKI, 54

Seniors Helping Seniors

Dementia-friendly Communities of Northern Colorado

“After arriving in Fort Collins about 10 years go, Linda founded and is the CEO of Seniors Helping Seniors, a program that provides in-home care in Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Laporte and all of Larimer County for those who need it, but especially for seniors.

“Cyndy has dedicated herself to improving the lives of those living with dementia, starting a grass-roots movement she calls Dementiafriendly Communities of Northern Colorado.

Cyndy has trained well over 30 businesses in an effort to become more dementia friendly. In collaboration with others at Alzheimer’s Association and the Sharing the Care Campaign, Dementiafriendly Communities of Northern Colorado has presented to more than 50 groups.

LINDA GABEL, 68 “The foundational idea is to provide freedom through assistance with day-to-day living which helps seniors stay in their homes and continue to participate in their own care. An important objective of the is to lighten the care-giving burden provided by loved ones.

“Linda created, nurtured and has successfully secured the future of a program that provides help and supportive care to those in need, while also serving as President of Poudre River Library Board of Trustees.

“Linda, a mother and grandmother, saw a need in her community, and created a business that employs around 80 people and to serve those in need.”

One describ word to e this w oman:

CAPABLE

Linda was also on the Larimer County Mental board and was the first recipient of the Colorado Behavioral Health Care Board Member of the Year Award.

Linda worked with the Early Identification, Early Intervention Task Force with Larimer Health District and also is the recipient of the 2016 Hope Lives Champion award.

Though she’s made a home in 10 different states, Linda always strives to learn about the communities she enters. When Linda moved to Fort Collins, she took both County 101 and City Works 101, two courses that provide in-depth information about the area.

24 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

“Cyndy runs a support group for care partners of people with dementia, has been a driving force behind the Music and Memory movement in Fort Collins trying to provide iPod shuffles with personalized playlists to nursing home residents diagnosed with dementia, and she is involved with the B Sharp program at Colorado State University, which provides free attendance to the Fort Collins Symphony for those with dementia and their care partners.

One describ word to e this w oman:

PIONEER

“Cyndy also home schooled two daughters that are now in college.

She and her husband Craig serve as clinic administrators once a month at Christ Clinic.

“Her area of excellence is community service.

Cyndy is involved in many other areas of community service, but all involve her passion for helping those with dementia. Her energy and joy is so powerful and healing to those who are walking this difficult road.

“All the work that Cyndy does is volunteer. She is full of joy and energy and gives others hope.”

Colorado State University “The group of teenagers fell silent as the confident young woman, a bioengineering student at CSU, started speaking.

She described a seemingly pedestrian life: how much she loved her studies, how she got a job in fast food and how she earned her manager’s trust, eventually becoming a manager herself.

“This was the kicker: ‘I discharged straight from here to my freshman year dorm room at CSU. You won’t believe this, because I didn’t either, but what they teach you in here, the stuff you think is stupid, that I thought was stupid, really works on the outside.’ Her audience was a bunch of kids ‘the outside’ would label as ‘troubled youth,’ or just ‘trouble.’ ‘They’ was clinical director Shari Simmons, and her staff of therapists and mental health counselors. And ‘here’ was the adolescent Residential Treatment Center (RTC) at Mountain Crest. Shari created and ran the RTC from her office across the hall from the kids’ rooms. Staff and residents alike entered her office, knowing that regardless of conversational outcomes, Shari had their back.

SHARI SIMMONS, 46 “Being indefatigable, she simultaneously taught at CSU’s School of Social Work, which she continues to do today. Shari has impacted countless adolescents as a fighter for quality mental health resources for teens. She is a superwoman.”

One describ word to e this w oman:

INDEFATI GABLE

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 25

ELIZABETH MOZER, 38 MOZER, 38 ELIZABETH Colorado State University “Grace currently teaches entrepreneurship and social and sustainable venturing at CSU. Grace uses her role as an educator to empower students to recognize their ability to do something about the problems they see in their community and the world.

GRACE WRIGHT, 29 “She is a Fort Collins native who from a young age has set her sights on tackling social injustice.

LoCo Food Distribution “Elizabeth started the first and only all-local food distribution company, LoCo Food Distribution, to help local farmers and food producers get their products into grocery stores, restaurants and other wholesale accounts. She started the business in her basement and now serves all the major grocery stores and institutions along the Front Range from Cheyenne to Colorado Springs, and has closed the gap in how people can buy local food.

“Elizabeth has two beautiful boys whom she has raised while working and supporting her husband, who also opened a business, The Lyric Cinema Cafe, all while tending to a full garden. All of that on top of building a major community-oriented company into a multimillion dollar business.

Grace advises the Net Impact Club, mentors in the GSSE program, mentors in the Institute for Entrepreneurship, is the president of the GSSE Alumni association and serves as a personal mentor to many other students. Grace’s door is always open, even after students have graduated.

“There are countless tales illustrating Grace’s sense of adventure and zest for life.

Whenever there One describ word to is a vacation or e this w oman: break in routine, Grace buys a country’s Lonely Planet book and plans a noreservations style trip.” When Grace talks about trips she has taken, it’s hard to wipe the smile off her face. From South America to Africa, Grace has literally spun a globe and stopped it with her finger to find her next travel destination.

PASSION ATE

“On top of all the travel and mentorship, Grace also ran her first marathon this year.

“Grace is a dreamer who has been working to create epic impact since day one. Beginning with junior high fundraisers ... to the last three years, launching a 501(c)3, Ascent, which focuses on developing affordable health care solutions to the world’s poorest individuals, Grace has been working to empower and impact others.”

26 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

“Through all of her endeavors, Elizabeth has remained true to her core beliefs and has tried to model her life around them. She knits, cans food, recycles everything and creates an example for her children to live sustainably.”

One describ word to e this w oman:

ENERGET IC

One describ word to e this w oman:

REMARKA BLE

MELANIE VOEGELI-MORRIS, 59 Poudre School District “Melanie supervises, coordinates and inspires 13 mental health specialists who work as a team to provide mental health support in 53 schools across Poudre School District.

Poudre School District Mental Health Team was developed as part of a safe schools and healthy students grant.

Now in its17th year, it was created to provide mental health support to PSD students and their families.

“As the staggering breadth of need became more apparent, Melanie advocated for more specialists to join the team. Melanie now wears multiple hats as a PSD administrator, including managing the PSD Mental Health Team working with the PSD student safety team to ensure safety in the schools, working with multiple community organizations as an advocate for student mental health and providing training to school staff and families regarding traumainformed care in the school context.

“School administrators and counseling teams know they can rely on the mental health team to address complex mental health issues professionally and compassionately.

Melanie’s relentless focus on student wellbeing guides the work of this team.” MB

These bios have been edited for clarity and space.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 27

ADVERSTISEMENT

KITTY CAR RIDES Keep your feline friend calm and safe when taking them on the road.

By Dr. Brittany Alvillar

One of the biggest barriers owners face when seeking veterinary care for their cat is transporting them.

“Fraidy-cats” have a variety of responses to going to the vet, anywhere from promptly hiding once the kennel comes out, to meowing in the carrier, to becoming fearful and aggressive. Unfortunately, this can be traumatic to both to you and your cat, which

sometimes then prevents proper and timely medical care.

As a Cat Friendly Practice, Advanced Animal Care of Colorado is dedicated to making your and your cat’s experience as stress-free as possible. While we take extra special measures to make your kitty’s visit with us is as pleasant as possible, here are some tips you can work on at home to help

Advanced Animal Care of Colorado — Combining the best of conventional, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine Advanced Animal Care of Colorado, bringing Integrative Veterinary Medicine to Northern Colorado

» Full service wellness care – puppy, kitten, adult & senior » Certified Cat Friendly hospital

» Integrative Veterinary Medicine: • Acupuncture, • Chinese Herbal medicine • Cancer therapies • Pain management

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ease their stress when venturing out: Starting at a young age, get your kitten used to the carrier much in the same way you would get a puppy used to a crate. Keep it out in the open, put familiar blankets and bedding in there, and reward them with toys or treats for going in. By getting them familiar with their carrier at a young age and

·

ADVERSTISEMENT

· ·

making it a positive experience, they will not be scared when they have to go in there. Even if your cat is older, it is not too late to start acclimating them to their carrier!

Use a secure, hard, plastic carrier where the top lid can be removed.

Not only does this creates a safe travel environment, if they are scared and

·

do not want to come out, the lid can be removed as opposed to “dumping” them out. The vet can even perform much of the physical exam with the cat still in the carrier.

Cats are great at reading body language and detecting stress, so when it is time to pull out the dreaded carrier, keep calm and move slowly.

·

Your anxiety and stress may make them more anxious and fearful.

Ideally your cat will walk into the carrier on their own. This can be done by putting the carrier in a small room with your cat. Make the carrier more attractive by putting a familiar blanket or bed in the carrier, along with any toys, treats, or catnip.

Using a pheromone spray, such as Feliway, at least 30 minutes prior to travel within the kennel can help to decrease stress.

NOURISH FO O D

30 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

COOK IT

CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

FORWARD W

hether at a holiday gathering or a simple family dinner, winter is when we look forward to feasting on warm, festive meals.

However, there are those in our community who don’t have cupboards stuffed with goodies.

For this issue, The Cooking Studio partnered with the Food Bank for Larimer County to offer classic winter dishes made mostly of ingredients available at the food bank. So while you’re cooking up these delicious recipes, keep in mind how you can help those who may be less fortunate.

RECIPES BY TRISH O’NEILL AT THE COOKING STUDIO, AND JUSTIN KRUGER AND ELIZABETH DONOVAN AT THE FOOD BANK FOR LARIMER COUNTY PHOTOS BY ERIKA MOORE

BARBARA KAFKA’S ROAST CHICKEN

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 31

HOW TO HELP:

The food bank runs on volunteers during the holiday season. If you want to get involved in donating your time to help others in our community, head to www.foodbanklarimer.org/volunteer/. Also, for every $1 donated, the Food Bank for Larimer County can provide $5 worth of food. Learn how you can donate money at www.foodbanklarimer.org/donate-money/.

BEST BAKED APPLES Servings: 6 INGREDIENTS 7 large Granny Smith apples 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped 3 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats 1 teaspoon finely grated zest, from 1 orange 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon pinch table salt 1/3 cup maple syrup 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons apple cider

DIRECTIONS

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core, and cut 1 apple into 1/4-inch dice. Combine 5 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, cranberries, oats, orange zest, cinnamon, diced apple, and salt in large bowl; set aside.

Shave thin slice off bottom (blossom end) of remaining 6 apples to allow them to sit flat. Cut top 1/2 inch off stem end of apples and reserve. Peel apples and use a small measuring spoon to remove 1 1/2-inch diameter core, being careful not to cut through bottom of apple.

Melt remaining tablespoon butter in 12-inch nonstick oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once foaming subsides, add apples, stem-side

32 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

down, and cook until cut surface is golden brown, about three minutes.

Flip apples, reduce heat to low, and spoon filling inside, mounding excess filling over cavities; top with reserved apple caps. Add maple syrup and 1/3 cup cider to skillet.

Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until skewer inserted into apples meets little resistance, 35 to 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes with maple syrup mixture in skillet.

Transfer apples to serving platter.

Stir up to two tablespoons of remaining cider into sauce in skillet to adjust consistency. Pour sauce over apples and serve.

Serve the apples with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

NOTES: If

you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, transfer the browned apples to a 13-by-9 inch baking dish and bake as directed.

The recipe calls for 7 apples; 6 are left whole and 1 is diced and added to the filling.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Choosing the right apples — Granny Smith — was the first step to developing a baked apple recipe with good texture and flavor. Peeling the apples kept them from getting mushy in the oven, and sautéing their top edges before stuffing them with a dried fruit and nut filling gave the apples themselves an intense flavor. As the final step, we used the slices we had lopped off the tops of the apples as a natural covering during baking, so the filling wouldn’t burn.

BARBARA KAFKA’S ROAST CHICKEN Servings: 4 | Difficulty: Easy INGREDIENTS 5- to 6-pound chicken at room temperature, wing tips removed 1 lemon, halved 4 whole garlic cloves 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional Kosher salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 cup chicken stock, water, fruit juice, or wine for optional deglazing DIRECTIONS

Place rack on second level from bottom of oven. Heat oven to 500°F (or for convection, reduce to 450°F).

Remove the fat from the tail and crop end of the chicken. Freeze the neck and giblets for stock.

Reserve chicken livers for another use.

Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the lemon, garlic and butter, if using. Season the cavity and skin with salt and pepper.

Place the chicken in a 12x8x11/2 inch roasting pan breast side up. Put in the oven legs first and roast 50 to 60 minutes, or until the juices run clear. After the first 10 minutes, move the chicken with a wooden spoon or spatula to keep it from sticking.

Genius Tip: put the chicken on top of carrots, onions and celery. The vegetables will soak up some of the juices and you will reduce your oven splatter significantly. Bonus: the vegetables are delicious!

Remove the chicken by placing a large wooden spoon into the tail end and balancing the chicken with a kitchen spoon pressed against the crop end. As you lift the chicken, carefully tilt it over the roasting pan so that all the juices run out and into the pan. Place it on a platter.

Optional: Pour off or spoon out excess fat from the roasting pan and put the roasting pan on top of the stove. Add the stock or other liquid and bring the contents of the pan to a boil, while scraping the bottom vigorously with a wooden spoon. Let reduce by half. Serve the sauce over the chicken or, for crisp skin, in a sauce boat.

Notes: Barbara Kaf ka’s basic formula for roasting chickens in the high-heat method is about 10 minutes to the pound for a chicken at room temperature, untrussed. Feel free to adapt this recipe for larger or smaller birds using this rule (up to 7 pounds). Kaf ka urges us to have fun. “This is not astrophysics,” she says.

APPLE AND RED CABBAGE SLAW Servings: 24 (Scaled) | Difficulty: Easy INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 small head red or green cabbage (about 6 cups of shredded cabbage) 6 apples 3/4 cup raisins 6 tablespoons Dijon mustard 3/4 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoon sugar

DIRECTIONS

Prepare your ingredients: thinly slice the cabbage; shred the apples on the large holes of a box grater. In a large bowl, mix together the mustard, mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar.

Toss the cabbage, apple and raisins in the bowl with the dressing. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the sunflower seeds.

NOTES: Try with pear instead of

apple.

6 tablespoons cider vinegar 3/4 cup sunflower seeds, optional

Try stuffing instead with herbs, shallots, a quartered small onion, celery leaves, or juice or blood orange wedges.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 33

CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING Servings: 10-12 INGREDIENTS 3-4 cups cubed dry French bread 1 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup dried cranberry, raisins, or craisins plumped in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes 2 tablespoons butter, melted 4 cups milk 8 eggs 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons vanilla 1 teaspoon nutmeg DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, butter, and beat with a whisk until well blended. Slowly pour over the

bread, cranberry/raisin, nut and chocolate mixture. Poke the bread so that it’s completely covered with the milk mixture and let sit for 1015 minutes.

Place a pan larger than the cake pan or skillet in preheated oven and place the pan holding the bead pudding inside. Fill the outer pan with enough hot water so that it comes up one inch on the sides of the bread pudding pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the water bath, reduce the temperature to 325 degrees, and bake for 25 additional minutes.

Remove the bread pudding and allow to set for two hours before removing it from the pan.

Serve with warm fruit, vanilla or chocolate sauce.

CRANBERRY GASTRIQUE SAUCE Servings: 1 cup | Difficulty: Easy INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons water 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon dry red wine, such as Cabernet 1/3 cup fresh cranberries 2 sprigs thyme Kosher salt and black pepper DIRECTIONS

Combine sugar, water and cranberries in small heavybottomed saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved and cranberries start to soften. Continue to cook for about eight minutes, swirling gently to help mixture cook evenly. Add red

Remember Pathways on

Colorado Gives Day – Tuesday, December 6 “Pathways took a lot of stress off of me. They let me be my husband’s wife for the last week of his life. That was the greatest gift that hospice could have given me, and they let him keep his dignity.” – Monika Zielke’s Pathways story

Donate to Pathways on Colorado Gives Day.

Hospice Care • Palliative Care • Grief & Loss Counseling More at pathways-care.org (970) 663-3500 • 305 Carpenter Rd, Fort Collins 34 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

wine vinegar all at once (mixture will boil rapidly). Continue to cook until sugar dissolves again, about three minutes.

Add wine to pan and reduce until slightly syrupy, about two to three minutes.

Add the thyme and cook until cranberries have broken down slightly and mixture is dark red with the texture of light maple syrup. If you want a smooth sauce you can strain it though a fine mesh sieve.

Otherwise remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.

NOTES: Will save nicely in the

refrigerator for several weeks. MB

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36 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

The giving

spirit WRITTEN BY HANNAH DITZENBERGER

PHOTOS BY ERIKA MOORE

WILBUR’S WORKS WITH HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS EACH YEAR MAT DINSMORE’S IS A FOURTH GENERATION resident of

Fort Collins.

His family — from his dad, who worked as a facilities manager at Colorado State University, to his wife, who is a nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital — is ingrained in Fort Collins.

Dinsmore says his involvement with the city is reflected at Wilbur’s Total Beverage, where he serves as general manager.

“This is our home, and this is where our heart is,” he says.

“We’ve always had that understanding that, if you’re going to operate in this community and you’re going to take from this community, you better give back.”

Wilbur’s Total Beverage works with 400 to 500 nonprofits in some capacity, but they fundraise specifically for the Children’s Heart Foundation, a breast cancer fund at Poudre Valley Hospital and other organizations. They have also worked with Pathways Hospice for the past 15 years.

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 37

38 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

Peace.

Happiness.

Massage.

Though the community partner cannot fulfill all the requests it receives, the store does what it can to support local nonprofit organizations.

“We realize there are so many great causes out there,” he says. “We don’t just fundraise, but we friend-raise. And you can make a lot of friends and you can help a lot of people just by caring about whatever cause it is.”

As an expert in his field, Dinsmore knows his drinks.

Although he isn’t a fan of the all-things-pumpkin craze, he recommends mixing Heritage Hills Pumpkin Spice Liqueur with French vanilla ice cream to create a shake.

A caution: plain vanilla ice cream doesn’t do the liqueur justice. It’s got to be French vanilla. Then blend the drink or use a fork to mix the two together. He says he loves the cream liqueur because of its versatility — it can also be mixed with coffee or with vodka to create a martini.

Dinsmore also recommends making a Moscow Mule, a cocktail that was popular in the 1940s, and has recently made a resurgence. To create this drink, select a good ginger beer, preferably one in a bottle. Mix it with vodka and squeeze in some lime juice.

“They’re crisp; they’re clean; they’re refreshing,” Dinsmore says. “This one is a year-round drink.” MB MOSCOW MULE

MILKSHAKE

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces Cock N’ Bull Ginger Beer

1 cup French vanilla ice cream

1 ounce Three Olives Vodka

Heritage Hills Pumpkin Spice Liqueur

Wedge of lime DIRECTIONS

Squeeze and muddle lime wedge and drop into glass. Mix in ginger beer and vodka.

Serve over crushed ice in a copper mug or rocks glass.

DIRECTIONS

Put ice cream and a few ounces of liquor (to taste) in a blender and serve. Don’t have a blender? Try making a float by pouring the liquor over the ice cream in a class and mixing.

PUMPKIN SPICED MARTINI INGREDIENTS 2 ounces Heritage Hills Pumpkin Spice Liqueur 1 ounce Stoli Vodka DIRECTIONS

Pour liquor and vodka over ice into a cocktail shaker. Close the top and shake for 10-15 seconds. Pour into serving glass and garnish with mint.

Not a vodka fan? Try adding this liquor to hot or ice coffee for another twist on this seasonal drink.

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YOUR KITCHEN STORE AND MORE

FINAL WORD

THE GIFT OF GIVING and receiving

WRITTEN BY K RISTI N OW ENS

O

152 SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE DOWNTOWN FORT COLLINS (970) 493-8585

thecupboard.net

NE OF THE BEST GIFTS I EVER RECEIVED was an electronic key fob to the Mazda.

Why? It was thoughtful.

When my husband and I purchased a second car last fall, the used car dealer was unwilling to cough up a second fob. This left me with a key that only opened the driver’s side door. After a year of manually opening doors from a center button in the console, extracting yoga mats from the back seat, and hanging my butt out of the driver’s side to load groceries. I needed a Boop-Boop.

Yes, that is the technical term. I complained loudly and vehemently to my husband it wasn’t fair that he had the only fob, even though it was his primary car. Seriously, why should he have it?

So he investigated. It turns out the cost of getting a second one was astronomical.

Seriously, in the hundreds of dollars. And he balked. So instead of buying one, he gave me his. On our anniversary. In a pretty gift bag.

No kidding. I laughed so hard, but gleefully accepted it. Next year, I’ll gift it back to him.

Thoughtfulness is underappreciated.

I hope it starts trending and makes a comeback soon. When giving or receiving gifts, sensitivities are important. As the giver, it’s really not about you, and what makes you feel good, warm and fuzzy.

Think about it, is writing a $5 check to a favorite charity, or sending an iPad to your 90-year old grandmother suitable? Take a step back. Will these gifts be welcomed in the spirit in which they were given? What

was the spirit? Stop, ask and listen. And then gift accordingly. Try contacting the charity and ask what it needs. It may simply be your time. Also ask your grandmother. Maybe she needs someone to clean the kitchen floor. Or maybe she would like you to call every Sunday. Exciting? No. But certainly appreciated. Truly a wonderful gift.

Expectations abound on both the giving and receiving sides. And they’re usually over a dollar sign. That’s a shame. Gifts do not need to be expensive to have impact. Again, who are we trying to impress? Ourselves? It’s not a competition. Disproportionate giving normally falls flat.

If the perfect gift lives at the dollar store or clearance aisle, so be it. A memorable gift means you know the person well enough to make them truly happy with your selection.

My sister just sent me dachshund-themed dishtowels and I’m ecstatically dizzy with joy.

Now to the receiving side. My mother-inlaw said, “It’s a gift to the giver to receive a gift well.” Wise woman. Whenever fortunate to receive a gift, whether well-meaning (hand weights) or insensitive (an oinking pig for your refrigerator), say, “Thank you.”

Even if through gritted teeth. It is the hallmark of living in a civilized society. A thank you doesn’t need to be written in the sky; a simple email or notecard is sufficient acknowledgement.

So in the season of excessive giving and receiving, be mindful. Be considerate. Pause and think of not just the what, but the why.

And most importantly, the who. Another piece of advice: Save your receipts. You just never know. MB

Kristin shops all year long, in hopes of finding just the right gift for people on her list. She is a writer working on her first book I Was a War Bride – A Memoir. She lives in Fort Collins, with her thoughtful husband and adorable dachshund.

40 Mind+Body DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 41

Meet Dave and Mat...

Dave and Mat are just a two members of the passionate team that makes Wilbur’s Total Beverage THE place to go for wine, beer and spirits. With the largest selection in Northern Colorado and a customer-centric approach to business, Wilbur’s has the perfect pairing for your next get together.

Stop in today and see how the whole team makes Wilbur’s Total Beverage more than just a liquor store.

2201 South College • (970) 226-8662

So much more than a liquor store.

www.WilbursTotalBeverage.com

Open M-Sat 9-10 • Sun 9-7