10 • April 18, 2020 | The AJ/NE/TT Sun
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Libraries time to shine
CCE healthy living
Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup By MB Mitcham COLUMNIST
When I was a child, my mother’s first response when I told her that I was feeling unwell was always to make me chicken soup. Although the recipe changed a bit each time she made it, depending on what food was readily available in the house, eating that soup always made me feel better. Although my mother acted out of instinct, based on generations of moms who have used chicken soup as a means to promote wellness, modern science has supported the idea that chicken soup can help to boost immune system function, both from the airway-cleansing powers of hot liquids, and the nutrient-rich benefits of the food used to make chicken soup. Recent studies have shown that the chicken meat and
connectivity being one of the libraries’ most popular services, Wi-Fi passwords have been posted on the doors so people can patch in to the service from their cars. Temporary library cards are available online, allowing new customers to borrow materials electronically and access rich troves of research material.
Patron cards, ebooks, activities are a click away
broth contain naturally-occurring chemicals that help to reduce inflammation. Additionally, the protein from the meat, fiber and nutrients from the vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates from the potatoes help provide the body with the fuel that it needs to help fight off infection. This variation on a traditional Yemenite recipe showcases some items not usually found in many traditional chicken soups. Hawaij, a spice blend known for its antiinflammatory properties, further helps promote a healthy immune response. The sun-dried tomatoes not only provide a pop of flavor, but also give some additional immune-boosting response from the antioxidants it contains. If you do not have hawaij on hand, you can easily make it using the recipe below, or can substitute the spice for an additional tablespoon of yellow curry powder. Enjoy! ■
By Tim Rowland STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | An early casualty of state shutdown orders was a French conversation group that had been held monthly in a small meeting room in the Plattsburgh Public Library. But its demise was fleeting. The group wriggled out from the confines of isolation by meeting virtually, allowing members of the public to brush up on their French, chat about cultural issues and make new friends from the safety of their own homes. If anything, the conversation group, facilitated by Anne Jobin-Picard, a librarian with the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, is even more accessible now than it was before, when joining the group required a trip to Plattsburgh. With people confined to their homes, libraries big and small have stepped up with life-enriching diversions, from ebooks to virtual storytimes to vast research databases of any topic imaginable. “This is the silver lining of the stayat-home order,” said Steve Kenworthy, director of the CES Library System. “People have the time and need to explore services they can employ at home.” In some ways, libraries have been preparing for this day for a long time, as it became apparent that a building full of books was not going to be sustainable through the 21st century. They began lending out other items, from sewing machines to fishing poles to holiday cookie cutters. And they focused on activities — such as connecting with other readers, or learning a foreign language — and electronics that have been easily transferable to home environments. “Libraries are so much more than brick and mortar storefronts that check out physical books,” Kenworthy said. “And of course, what is getting attention now, is a wide array of virtual, online resources — providing wireless access to the internet, research databases, eBooks, eAudiobooks, and much more.” Even with libraries closed, they have found creative ways to meet community needs. Some have left stacks of books on the porch for the taking. Storytimes have been put up on YouTube. And, Internet
MB’S CHICKEN SOUP Recipe by MB
My take on a traditional Yemenite recipe, this chicken soup is nutrient-rich, easy to make, and best of all, delicious! It is a perfect choice for boosting immunity as well as for helping those who are feeling poorly to feel better! Ingredients: • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast halves, cubed • 3 Cups chicken stock • 4 russet potatoes, diced • 1 medium leek, chopped • 2 celery stalks, chopped • 2 large carrots, chopped • ½ cup sun dried tomatoes (dry pack) • 2 cloves (or 2-3 teaspoons) garlic, minced • 1 Tablespoon hawaij (recipe below) • 2 Tablespoons yellow curry powder • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper • 1 Tablespoon dried sage • Salt and cracked black pepper to taste Directions: Instant Pot: 1. Turn on saute setting. Add chopped chicken, potatoes, leek, celery, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, hawaij, curry
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
powder, crushed red pepper, sage, and chicken stock to pot. 2. Turn off saute setting, and cover. Set vent to seal, then press manual setting, and set for 30 minutes. 3. When timer is done, either manually vent (using safety precautions to prevent burns), or allow to vent naturally. When venting is done, remove lid, turn to saute, and then stir contents of pot. Serve hot. Enjoy! Stove Top: 1. In large stock pot or dutch oven, add ½ cup of broth, then turn to medium-high. 2. Add minced garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. 3. Add cubed chicken, and cook until pink color is gone. 4. Add remaining ingredients, stir, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes (or until vegetables are soft), uncovering and stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking. 5. When vegetables are soft, season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve hot. Enjoy!
Nutritional Information: Serving size: 2 Cups | Servings per recipe: 8| Per Serving: 208 kCal, 3.1 g fat, 0.6 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat. | 28 g carbohydrates, 4.2 g fiber, 4.8 g. sugar | 18.1 g protein ■ — MB (Marybeth) Mitcham, MPH, Doctoral Candidate, Ph.D, is the Association Resource Educator for Nutrition, Food Safety, and Healthy Living at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Warren County. The CCE monthly column seeks to promote healthy living in the North Country. For more information visit CCE Warren County at warren.cce.cornell.edu or Facebook: mem467@cornell.edu
Like other libraries, the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay has had to close its during the pandemic, but a wealth of activities are available online. Photo by Tim Rowland
“Many of our member libraries are extending virtual services during this period of social distancing,” Kenworthy said. “For example we have joined with the Northern New York Library Network to beef up our eBook and eAudiobook collections. There are online storytimes from publishers and authors that are free for the looking. And we also have online resources for those who suddenly find themselves looking for a new job.” Along with a compelling suite of services, Jobin-Picard said libraries have a singular ability to connect people in a time of isolation. Libraries provide a mechanism for people to virtually gather for a program and “provide an intellectual activity for people, and some normalcy during this health crisis,” she said. Jobin-Picard said the health crisis has given libraries a new relevance, and demonstrated the commitment librarians have to the people in their communities. It has also shown “how resilient and adaptable libraries are, and can be, to the needs of their communities during unusual times.” Kenworthy said firm numbers have yet to be compiled, “but our sense is that there is a substantial increase on visits to our website and use of our online resources.” Libraries hope, once the public rediscovers what they have to offer, that they will have a new and permanent constituency after the pandemic has passed. “A person could do worse than have their local library’s web page as their personal home page,” Kenworthy said. ■
COLORFUL
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of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium
SUDOKU
Complete the grids each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9
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WORD SEARCH
by Myles Mellor Locate the words listed by the puzzle. They may be horizontal, vertical or diagonal in any direction. Circle each word as you find it. V A L V E P P S Y O G H U R T U S B
H E A D S R A R U S H G P U F F M R
S C R A A S H C C O N T R I B U T E
V A R Y I U N O E U I N R E S N O A
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P R O T E C T E D T O L P T H T N S
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S P I T E O L U C K N O S W H E E L
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