Westerville January/February 2022 by CityScene Media Group

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Inside

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

Repair Replacement Maintenance

06 community calendar 08 faces

Going the Extra Mile

Loss inspires runner to advocate for suicide prevention

13 Accessible Transportation for All

On-demand mobility service meets community needs

18 Innovative Biomechanics Institute

Otterbein University welcomes a new institute to capture motion

20 student spotlight

Seize the Day

Student makes the most of every opportunity

22 living

Old Home, New Family

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Sears catalog home gets makeover with integrity in mind

25 Luxury Living Real Estate Guide

Top Homes Sold in Westerville

26 on the table

Local Cook, Local Ingredients

Cindy Ramsey keeps her kitchen seasonal, messy and full of love

30 Bookmarks CONNIE@ CONNIES ADOWSKI.COM

26 @westervillemagazine

On the Cover Cindy Ramsey Photo courtesy of John Nixon See page 26

Read more online at WestervilleMagazine.com www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 5

2022

SAT FRI THU 4 3 2 11 10 9 8 18 7 17 6 16 5 15 25 14 24 13 23 12 22 21 31 20 30 19 29 28 27 26

WED TUE MON 1 SUN

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Dates and events are subject to change. Check with event organizers before attending.

January/February Jan. 1 OhioHealth First on the First 5K

11 a.m. Otterbein University, 180 Center St. www.m3ssports.com

Jan. 5 Pancake Breakfast

My Cousin’s Cottage

Quality Resale Home Furnishings & Décor

7:30-10 a.m. Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westerville.org

Jan. 7 Teen Night

6-8 p.m. Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. parks.westerville.org

Jan. 10, Feb. 14 Mindful Breathing for Seniors 11:30 a.m.-noon Westerville Senior Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westervillelibrary.org

Jan. 21 Friday Family Game Night

6-8 p.m. Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. www.westerville.org

Westerville Symphony

Jan. 24 Westerville Area Chamber Annual Lunch & Awards Program

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center 100 Green Meadows Drive South Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 www.westervillechamber.com

Treasures for the Home Monday – saturday 11 am – 6 pm

614-899-6110 16 E. College Ave, Westerville OH 43081 www.mycousinscottage.com 6 January/February 2022

Pancake Breakfast www.westervillemagazine.com

5 Branches Serving Central Ohio

Feb. 4-20 Curtain Players presents The Laramie Project

Various times Curtain Players Theatre, 5691 Harlem Rd. www.curtainplayers.org

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8 p.m. Campus Center Theatre, 100 W. Home St. www.otterbein.edu

Feb. 3-5 Otterbein Theatre and Dance presents Polaroid Stories

5-6:30 p.m. Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave. parks.westerville.org

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Jan. 27 Teen Trivia Night

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Feb. 26 The Arts Council of Westerville’s WesterBall

6:30-10:30 p.m. The Point at Otterbein, 60 Collegeview Rd. www.artscouncilofwesterville.com

Feb. 27 Westerville Symphony presents Masterworks 2 5 p.m. Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. www.westervillesymphony.org www.westervillemagazine.com

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Scene 75, 5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., Dublin www.westervillechamber.com

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Various times Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. www.otterbein.edu

Feb. 23 Combined Chamber Business Expo

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Feb. 10-19 Otterbein Theatre and Dance presents The Heidi Chronicles

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faces

By Cameron Carr Photos courtesy of Jo Ford

Kevin Ford during his 24-hour endurance run to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Going the Extra Mile Loss inspires runner to advocate for suicide prevention 8 January/February 2022

www.westervillemagazine.com

hen we think of the work day, we often think of something long and tiring. Eight hours of enduring. In the early hours of Oct. 17, Kevin Ford felt much the same, but his trial of stamina was something different. Ford was roughly two-thirds of the way through a 24-hour endurance run. Rather than being halfway through a tedious commute, he had already run some 80 miles at that point. “I’ve never had pain in my feet like that,” he says. “There were points where I was like, ‘Man, I still have an entire work day left and I might be walking all of it.’ But it was never a question of, ‘I might just stop and go home and rest for a little bit.’” But it was about much more than just running. Rather, he ran to raise awareness for suicide prevention and in memory of his dad, Mark, who died by suicide in 2010. The younger Ford’s October run at Westerville North’s stadium sought to raise money in support of the Westerville Education Challenge and its Hope Squad program. The event was a resounding success, raising more than $10,000, Ford says. Picking Up Speed Around 2017, Ford began running ultramarathon distances. He started with 50K runs, equal to roughly 31 miles, and worked his way up to 50-mile lengths. When he started, the runs were an outlet for Ford, not a fundraising effort. At a certain point though, he began to look for a bigger purpose in his running. “‘What am I really doing this for?’ Every runner has that in their mind,” he says. “I realized that I like having medals. They’re fun to look at, they’re fun to hold, but I just thought, ‘I can do more with this.’” After germinating for a couple years, the idea came to fruition in 2020. Seeing the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford decided to complete a 100-mile run to raise money for the Columbus-based Sankofa Project, which supports African American youth. For Ford, a history teacher at Brookwood Academy, supporting that organization aligned with his mission to give back and support young people in need. That event was proof of the potential for using Ford’s running to support fundraising efforts. “It was just kind of me and my mom building the hype,” he says. “It was really successful for what it was at the time, but www.westervillemagazine.com

it really proved to me this can be an avenue The 24-hour run gave Ford a chance to give back.” to provide support for programs that he Ford looked to do something even larger believes would have been beneficial for the next year. His mom, a member of the him during high school. Westerville Education Challenge, told him Westerville started its Hope Squad about Hope Squad. The peer-led program program, part of a national initiative, for students in Westerville high schools in August 2021. The program seeks to focuses on mental health and suicide pre- improve culture within schools to destigvention education. matize conversations about mental health That program reminded Ford of his and also offers training for students, staff experience after his dad’s death, before and community members. The training anything like Hope Squad existed. focuses on the QPR method, which means “To say that I didn’t have support in question, persuade, refer. That 90-minute high school would be a lie,” he says, “but course teaches people to watch for signs of there was nothing systematically in place suicidal thoughts, ask questions, persuade and I think that there’s a systematic issue someone in need to seek help and assist in in place now, because of COVID, that just finding the appropriate resources. exacerbated the already present issues.” Though Ford generally doesn’t speak publicly about his or his family’s experience with suicide, the opportunity to share his story to help others put speaking up in a different perspective. “It wasn’t difficult because of the reason I was doing it,” he says. “I don’t really like sharing too much about my dad and his passing. I don’t really put stuff on Facebook about it. That’s how I am. But when there was a purpose to it, it became incred- The Ford family made a memorial for Mike Ford in the ibly easy.” stadium to remind Kevin Ford of why he was running.

The Westerville North cross-country team and coaches joined Ford for part of his run. January/February 2022 9

Student members of Hope Squad were present at Ford’s run, which raised more than $10,000 for Westerville Education Challenge and the Hope Squad program.

Run to Inspire For the event, Ford and his family placed a memorial for his father in the stadium stands. “Every time I came around the track, I had him and his struggles in my mind,” Ford says. “It kind of hit me, ‘I’m doing this for Dad, I’m doing this for everyone.’” Family and friends were present throughout the entire event. Community members, including students on Westerville’s cross-country team, joined him on the track as well. “I had several people come and tell me their story,” Ford says. “It just really resonated and helped to remind me why I continued to walk around this track at 5 o’clock in the morning when I felt like my feet were about to fall off.” Seeing others, particularly young people, moved or inspired by his running is especially important to Ford. He tries to set the example for his own students that if he can do something, they are capable of at least as much. “I’m a normal guy, I just put the work in for running,” he says. “If I can do 100 miles on the track, what are you guys able to do?”

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Cameron Carr is associate editor. Feedback welcome at ccarr@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Westerville Education Challenge will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade fundraiser, featuring dueling pianos from 88 Keys & the Truth, on Saturday, Feb. 26. The fundraiser, which takes place from 7-11 p.m., helps support the organization’s work to create a culture in schools where all students feel safe, supported and celebrated. Read more about Westerville Education Challenge on our website and find additional info at www. westervilleeducationchallenge.org www.westervillemagazine.com

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Accessible Transportation for All On-demand mobility service meets community needs

By Claire Miller

he Central Ohio Transit Authority wants to make transportation equitable and accessible to all. Its latest venture into microtransit is COTA//Plus, its solution to meet the modern needs of an expanding client base. For more than a year, COTA has provided residents and visitors with an on-demand mobility service not unlike Uber or Lyft. That program, COTA//Plus, came to Westerville starting in August 2020. The on-demand option for transportation helps fill in the gaps where fixed routes aren’t available as service moves outside the city and into suburban areas. Following the lead of Grove City, where the on-demand feature debuted in 2019, areas including www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 13

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Westerville, northeast Columbus and the South Side have added service zones for COTA//Plus. “The population is growing out instead of up in central Ohio,” says Jason Yanni, senior director of product management and innovation for COTA. “So how do we support that population that’s growing outward from those other counties that are connected into our jurisdictions to make sure that they have a pleasant experience as well?” COTA’s solution is a hybrid system of fixed routes and on-demand service, blanketing the area in transportation options and connections. In other words, even clients who may not live or work near a fixed route can now access transportation through COTA – all they need to do is pick up the phone. Vaughn Francis, superintendent of transportation for COTA, says that a fixed route service doesn’t make sense to run in all areas due to variations in customer needs by location. On-demand can provide access to less-frequented routes and eliminate the need for travelers to make their way to and from bus stations as part of a trip. “With our transit system redesign, along with implementing COTA//Plus, we’re able to fill in those gaps in public transportation,” Francis says. “I call it a hybrid of public transportation.” COTA//Plus operates 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday in Westerville. Using the COTA//Plus mobile app, riders can request service and a COTA driver will arrive to the location within 15 minutes to take the traveler to any location within the service zone.

Dan Nase 614.572.1243 dnase@cityscenemediagroup.com 14 January/February 2022

www.westervillemagazine.com

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COTA//Plus offers on-demand service in Westerville, which expands transportation options and bridges the gap between bus line access.

Rides cost $3 per trip, $2 for people 65 years of age or older. A single-day pass can be purchased for $6 and a weekly pass for $20. Rides do not require a fee if the start or stop location is a COTA fixed-route bus stop. There is no fare with a student pass. The zone of service includes Otterbein University, Uptown Westerville and Polaris. According to Yanni, the two fixed lines in Westerville are the 43, on Main Street, and the C-Max, on Cleveland Avenue, which makes gaining access to public transportation a challenge for many Westerville residents who live more than half a mile from those stops. “What we wanted to do, and what Westerville wanted to do, is make more of Westerville available to get on a fixed route without having to expand fixed routes in an area,” Yanni says. “We put the system www.westervillemagazine.com

in there with the partnership with the City of Westerville to allow those that needed public transportation to still be able to access it.” Devayani Puranik, mobility development director for COTA, says Westerville is a very supportive community to COTA’s mobility services. User uptake, however, did face a slow initial launch during the height of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. “For about six months that we launched service, everybody was working from home, so it took a while,” Puranik says. “Over the summer they have lots of special events, farmers’ markets and pool parties and we saw a huge bump in ridership (with) people trying to get to events.” More than just a way to get to and from pre-existing routes, COTA//Plus increases transportation options for the

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COTA//Plus operates in a zone of service that includes Otterbein University, Uptown Westerville and Polaris.

workforce and can give older adults greater independence. “That is also the focus,” Puranik says. “People who are not able to drive and who will age in place gracefully. That’s another focus of these solutions.” Francis says a significant amount of their positive feedback in Westerville comes from senior centers due to the services COTA//Plus is able to provide to older adults and those with mobility issues.

“(The service) operates on what we call a corner-to-corner service, so the goal is to not have you walk more than 500 feet,” Francis says. “That’s just for efficiency and routing purposes, but if you are a senior or someone that needs mobility assistance, there’s a timer in the app that, once you flip that timer, it converts it to door-to-door service, so that way we’re not asking someone with mobility issues to walk close to 500 feet to get to the next stop.”

The COTA//Plus app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Riders who do not have access to a smartphone or mobile apps can instead call 614-308-4400 to request a ride. Claire Miller is the assistant editor. Feedback welcome at cmiller@cityscenemediagroup.com.

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LET US HANDLE ICY ROADS for you In Westerville, you can book COTA//Plus rides right from your location to your destination. The cost is just $3 per ride or no fare if your trip connects you to or from a COTA transit stop. Think of COTA//Plus as the solution to get you to your destination and home again without trekking through the snow. Westerville seniors are eligible for discount COTA//Plus fares ($2 per ride). Students ride for no fare. Explore the Westerville COTA//Plus service zone and learn more at COTA.com/cotaplus.

Download the COTA//Plus mobile app or call 614-308-4400 to book a ride.

Innovative Biomechanics Institute Otterbein University welcomes a new institute to capture motion By Megan Roth Photo courtesy of Otterbein University

tterbein University is moving ahead by slowing down. The school’s new Biomechanics Institute confronts the challenge of studying actions that are too fast and complex for the naked human eye to process. The institute is a collaboration between Otterbein’s departments of engi-

neering and health and sports sciences that will allow for the study of the complex biological and muscular activities that make up biomechanics. State of the art technology, including cameras and software that allow researchers to view all planes of motion and manipulate them to understand a person’s movements on

a muscular and skeletal level, will push for innovative discoveries. The Biomechanics Institute, located in the Point, has a camera setup ranging throughout the entire room, which allows researchers to study motions that require large spaces. The technology works by setting up motion-capture body markers on

Cameras around the Biomechanics Institute allow researchers to observe motion with far more detail than the human eye can typically see. 18 January/February 2022

www.westervillemagazine.com

an individual’s body in key points such as joints and major muscle groups. Then, the software creates a 3D model of that person. Imagine a stick person that researchers can manipulate to focus on specific motions or parts of the body. Shelley Payne, associate professor of health and sports sciences at Otterbein, as well as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, is excited to welcome the institute as it will further both her own research and her students’ education. “When you think about labs in an institution,” she says, “they’re mostly focused on research. While we certainly will use (the institute) for research, we really have a three-pronged approach to what will happen at the Biomechanics Institute, which involves, first and foremost, excellence in our teaching.” Payne says the institute is a great way to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, allowing them to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to the real world. The second prong focuses on how Payne and other faculty members can use the institute for their own research. “We all are different practitioners with different groups we’re working with,” she says. “We’ve spent a great deal of our professional lives being very connected to things related to injury prevention, including the way someone runs or the way that they throw. Our research will really be centered within, very likely around, a sports population.” The final prong looks at how the institute can be used to enhance sports performance. Payne says the institute can help researchers understand movement patterns, how they might change in regard to some sort of strength training or conditioning exercise and how that can benefit that specific athlete and others. These three prongs allow the institute to conduct a range of research and studies while, of course, putting the Otterbein students’ education first. “(The institute) gives us a tremendous opportunity to let our students learn to use an up-and-coming technology,” Payne says. “It increases their ability to become employed in different settings, to pursue different types of master’s work that maybe they’ve never thought of. It’s one more tool for them to add to their toolbox.”

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Megan Roth is an editorial assistant. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 19

student spotlight

By Juliana Colant Photo courtesy of Iris D’Costa

Seize the Day

Student makes the most of every opportunity

As a student ambassador for her school, D’Costa volunteers time for events such as the St. Francis DeSales High School Open House. 20 January/February 2022

here are only 24 hours in a day, and Iris D’Costa strives to live each one to the fullest. D’Costa, an 18-year-old senior at St. Francis DeSales High School, spreads her time across 10 different clubs and extracurricular activities, including everything from National Honor Society and the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association to Ski Club and the Evangelization Team. Her inspiration to be an active member within her school and community comes from the famous Latin aphorism, “carpe diem.” “There’s always been this desire in me to do good,” D’Costa says. “I personally know a lot of people that have a lot of potential and I want to live up to my potential. Making the most out of every day is really important to me. … I want to make the most out of every opportunity that I’ve been given.” Volunteering at school and in her community is another way D’Costa seizes the day. At DeSales, she volunteers with the ski club by raising money to support adaptive ski lessons. Through adaptive ski lessons, skiers with disabilities can access the assistance they need to hit the slopes. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, D’Costa frequently baked goods for the Huckleberry House, which provides a safe place and resources for children and teens leaving abusive parents or an abusive household. Now, she regularly donates in-demand items, such as toiletries, to the organization. Outside of school-related organizations, D’Costa volunteers time to the central Ohio chapter of Parents of Murdered Children. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be particularly difficult for parents in the group, and D’Costa makes and sends cards around www.westervillemagazine.com

those holidays to let the parents know she’s thinking about them. D’Costa’s heart for volunteering in her community stems from her role model, Saint Mother Teresa. The saint’s famous quote, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love,” especially inspires D’Costa. “I really like her mentality towards doing good deeds,” D’Costa says. “It’s too overwhelming to do everything at once. She really inspires me to make the most out of every small opportunity that I’m given, because even if it’s a small thing for me, it can make a big impact in somebody else’s life.” Beyond volunteering, D’Costa serves as a leader within her school community through roles as a DeSales Student Ambassador, Kairos Retreat leader and others. She also founded the school’s Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association. The new club showcases Asian Americans and recently raised money for an Asian American Paralympic athlete. Though D’Costa’s time at DeSales is coming to an end with the 2021-22 school year, she’ll be taking her ambitious and caring spirit with her. Next year, she hopes to attend The Ohio State University and pursue a career as a surgeon. Until then, D’Costa is soaking up the rest of her senior year and encourages other high schoolers to do the same. “My advice is to take a lot of pictures and videos because I know I take a lot of stuff for granted right now that I’m not going to be able to have in a year or so,” she says. “It’s a time in your life where there are a lot of things that are going to be changing. High school is kind of a one-time thing.” Juliana Colant is an editorial assistant. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 21

living

By Brandon Klein Photos courtesy of Emily Glinski

Old Home, New Family Sears catalog home gets makeover with integrity in mind

fter living in Brooklyn for several years, Emily and Frank Glinski returned to their hometown in Westerville to be closer to family in May 2016. While living with one of their parents, Emily found the perfect house. Built in the 1920s, the house comes from the catalog of mail-order homes Sears offered in the early 20th century, Emily says. Frank, who was on a business trip at the time of this discovery, never saw the house before they put in an offer. But the house checked a lot of the couple’s boxes, so he had faith. The foursquare style house was already an upgrade from the couple’s prior 800-square-foot apartment with shared laundry services and two flights of stairs to reach it, Emily says. The home not only came with a backyard but was within walking distance of Uptown Westerville and its restaurant scene. “I love an established neighborhood,” Emily says. “Uptown Westerville is an amazing neighborhood.” The first floor, including the kitchen and several walls, was gutted. Pink carpet was scrapped to fully display the beautiful original hardwood floors hidden underneath, Emily says. The couple also opted to open the back of the house with French doors. “I wanted an old home,” she says. “I like the feel of them, I like the energy of them, I like the look of them. And it was important to keep the integrity of when the home was built.” The couple decided the basement wasn’t worth finishing. Instead, the house’s huge attic was retrofitted with drywall and insulation to become a playroom for their 7-year-old twin daughters, Harlow and Finn. The Glinskis plan to add a second full bathroom on the second floor that will be useful as their daughters grow older. There’s a hallway closet that might’ve been used as a bedroom and that’s big enough to become that bathroom, Emily says. “They’re going to want their own space,” she says.

Brandon Klein is the senior editor. Feedback welcome at bklein@cityscenemediagroup.com. 22 January/February 2022

www.westervillemagazine.com

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614.882.6741 180 Commerce Park Dr. Westerville, OH 43082 Located in office complex, last building on the left by the bike path. westervilledentalhealth.com www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 23

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Luxury Living

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T ON

The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588 5710 Sanderling Lane 31-571, Westerville – Sought after ranch condo located in Blendon Chase! Lovely setting with pond view and green space located off the large 3 season room. New carpet in Great Room, Dining Area and both bedrooms, Open floor plan that includes a spacious Great Room with cathedral ceiling. $230,000.

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com

The Powell Buehler Group (614) 915-4588 5998 Woodshire Drive 105, Westerville – WOW, this is a beautiful 3 story condo with a 2 car attached garage! So many updates, it shows like a model! Lovely hardwood floors, newly painted white walls, updated lighting throughout, nest thermostat, and the large Great Room opens to lovely eat in Kitchen with granite counters! $225,000. COLDWELL BANKER REALTY ThePowellBuehlerGroup.com

Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your home listings to every homeowner in Westerville. Your listings will also appear in the digital edition of the magazine, hosted on the Westerville Magazine home page: westervillemagazine.com Connie Sadowski (614) 943-0025 Outdoor living with deck overlooking the Olentangy River. River Valley Schools, new paint throughout, 2,816 sq. ft., large bedrooms, laundry on bedroom level, RV parking. Heated salt water above ground pool with surround deck. Pole barn with covered patio and metal roof with water, propane heat and electricity. New windows, exterior paint, gutters in 2019. Ask for floor plan. $395,000.

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY connieSELLShouses.com

Top Homes Sold in Westerville

Contact Dan Nase today for more information: 614-572-1243 dnase@cityscenemediagroup.com

1123 Markworth Ct. 4 beds 5 baths $650,000 Sold on 10/19/21

482 Beachside Dr. 3 beds 2.5 baths $465,000 Sold on 10/27/21

815 Bigham Ridge Blvd. 5 beds 3 baths $619,000 Sold on 10/20/21

639 Hickory View Ct. 4 beds 2.5 baths $460,000 Sold on 11/17/21

194 Tallowwood Dr. 4 beds 3.5 baths $519,000 Sold on 11/18/21

589 Willow Ct. 4 beds 2.5 baths $427,500 Sold on 11/2/21

181 N. West St. 3 beds 2 baths $500,000 Sold on 10/15/21

915 Prince William Ln. 4 beds 2.5 baths $425,000 Sold on 10/21/21

1398 Leesland Dr. 4 beds 3 baths $470,000 Sold on 10/29/21

386 E. Walnut St. 4 beds 2.5 baths $418,000 Sold on 11/24/21

112 N. West St. 3 beds 3 baths $470,000 Sold on 10/19/21

578 Westbury Woods Ct. 2 beds 3.5 baths $400,100 Sold on 11/4/21

All information is collected from the Delaware and Franklin County Auditor offices. www.westervillemagazine.com

January/February 2022 25

on the table

By Tess Wells Photo by John Nixon Photography, food photos courtesy of Cindy Ramsey

Local Cook, Local Ingredients Cindy Ramsey keeps her kitchen seasonal, messy and full of love

ood food is much more than flavor and ingredients, although those are important. For Cindy Ramsey, a cooking instructor with the Westerville Farmers’ Market and The Seasoned Farmhouse, cooking is about sharing. Ramsey, raised by parents who both cooked frequently at home, says she has been cooking and baking since her childhood. Early experiences tagging along with her father to the grocery store, watching her mother cook for six children and sitting down to eat as a family at the end of each day combined to create a strong association between food and connection for Ramsey. “Cooking and sharing food is just family, it’s just happiness, it’s love,” she says. “I think that it just stuck with me. All my siblings cook, but nobody cooks like me.” It wasn’t until 2012 that Ramsey decided to take her love of cooking and baking beyond sharing tasty treats with her neighbors. That’s when she started her blog, Cooking With Chez Cindy. The blog was a springboard, and Ramsey began working as a cooking instructor with the Westerville Farmers’ Market, at the Westerville Public Library and with The Seasoned Farmhouse, where she teaches classes for children from ages 10-15. When it comes to teaching younger cooks, Ramsey says the messier the better. She typically keeps the recipes she teaches in her children’s classes simple, with favorites including sloppy Joes and meatballs, which allow her students to have fun while cooking.

26 January/February 2022

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Sloppy Joes with Homemade Sloppy Sauce • 1 tbsp. oil • ½ cup chopped onion • ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper • 1 tsp. salt • 1 lb. ground beef or turkey • 8 oz. can tomato sauce • 1 tbsp. brown sugar • 4 oz. ketchup • 1 tbsp. mustard • ½ tsp. McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning • Buns • Butter for toasting the buns

Working with a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil, chopped onion and bell pepper, and salt. Stir together, cooking until the vegetables are softened, about 3-4 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high, add in the ground meat, breaking up the meat into small crumbles. Cook until the meat has browned deeply. Add in the tomato sauce. Rinse out the can with 3 tablespoons of water and add the tomato water to the pan. Stir in the brown sugar, ketchup and mustard, stirring to combine. Sprinkle in the steak seasoning, stirring occasionally until the sauce is thickened. Taste for seasoning, adjust as necessary. Homemade sloppy Joes with sloppy sauce are a dish Ramsey has demonstrated for her children’s classes, which she teaches at The Seasoned Farmhouse, a recreational cooking school.

www.westervillemagazine.com

Butter the buns for toasting if desired. Serve a generous portion of the sloppy Joes onto each bun and enjoy.

January/February 2022 27

“They would just roll it into this perfect meatball and insert it into the pan and go run back to the end of the line so that they could do it again,” Ramsey says. “It was like they were at Kings Island, ready to get on the ride again.” Ramsey also prioritizes cooking with locally sourced ingredients and making sure her classes accommodate participants with dietary restrictions. That local emphasis makes it easy for Ramsey to offer seasonal recipes in the classroom. “It’s cold outside, you really want something that’s going to be warm and really fill your senses with good comfort,” Ramsey says. “Or, if it’s summer, you want something fresh and light.” Find more recipes from Ramsey and upcoming classes on her blog at www.cookingwithchezcindy.com. Tess Wells is an editorial assistant. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com Avocado toast, made and arranged by Cindy Ramsey.

Orecchiette pasta with sausage and spinach, made and arranged by Cindy Ramsey.

Catholic School | Preschool - 8th Grade 61 Moss Rd. Westerville, OH 43082

For More Information: 614-882-2710 stpaulinfo@stpaulk-8.org | stpaulk-8.org

28 January/February 2022

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bookmarks

For online library resources such as ebooks, digital magazines, kids activities and more, visit www.westervillelibrary.org

From the Westerville Public Library

Westerville January/February 2022

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