Homefront Magazine | April 2017

HOMEFRONT A Fort Hood Herald publication | April 26, 2017

Cleaning up streets P6 | Meadows career day P8 | Royal service P10

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ Inside this issue ]

Financial Fitness: 4 factors to consider when buying a car seat Page 3 Financial Fitness: Military strategy can help your career

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On the Homefront: Soldiers clean up roadway

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On the Homefront: Career day at Meadows Elementary

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On the Homefront: A royal family ready to hand over crowns

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What’s Happening: Upcoming area events

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Dining In: Tasty twist on traditional sloppy Joes

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Dining In: Salad a great way to show off pink shrimp

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Dining In: Show off spring asparagus in pesto pasta dish

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Vol. 10, Issue 4 | April 26, 2017 Homefront is a Fort Hood Herald publication.

Contact Us Editor: David A. Bryant | dbryant@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7554 Contributors: Grace Geiger | Todd Martin | Wendy Sledd On the cover: Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Napoli explains some of the features of his helmet, which integrates with systems on the Apache helicopter, to fifth-graders at Meadow Elementary School during career day April 21. | Photo by Todd Martin.

Find more news at forthoodherald.com.

[ Financial Fitness ]

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Homefront |

4 factors to consider when buying a car seat

By Briana Hartzell Courtesy of USAA

I spent hours and hours researching the best car seat options for my first born Reagan (the beauty of a second born is that you already have all the essential gear). The problem with just searching for the top-ranked car seat on shopping sites is that the best car seat for you depends on a few variable factors. For me, I felt very strongly about having my child rear face for an extended amount of time (I plan on turning her forward facing just before she leaves for college) so this narrowed my search considerably. Trust me, you want factors to help you narrow down the hundreds of car seat options.

Here are four factors I think you

should consider when shopping for a car seat:

Your car situation

If you have a small car this will rule out some of the more bulky options.

Will you be sharing the car seat between two cars? Consider a car seat that is easy to install.

Will you be traveling with it often or moving it in and out of public transportation options? Then it should be lightweight.

Many retailers will let you practice installing the seat in your vehicle PRIOR to purchasing. (Do this! It will save you time and angst in the long run.)

How many children Will you have?

If someone asked me this at the

end of my first pregnancy I would have laughed. Yes, this is planning WAY into the future, but car seats are expensive and it could be an unnecessary expense if you bought one that won’t work if/when your family expands.

If you have plans to have another in the future, you can pass down the infant car seat.

One and done? Consider a seat that converts from infant seat to toddler seat (also called convertible seat).

Rear vs. Forward Facing

Watch a crash test with a child sitting rear facing and forward facing (you too will never want to turn your child around).

Where does your child sit on the growth chart? I failed to properly plan

for my child’s height (she has consistently been above average in height) and had to purchase another convertible seat to extend her ability to be rear facing.

Budget

Keep a look out for lightening Deals on Amazon.com (you can sign up to be notified of baby deals), or search for coupons from your local baby stores. I was able to save 20 percent at BuyBuyBaby.com on my last car seat purchase by waiting for a coupon.

You can also sign up for emails from your retailer of choice and wait until there is a deal.

As you are making your decision, keep in mind USAA customer service can provide information on car seat recalls.

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[ Financial Fitness ]

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

How military strategy can help your career strategy

By Chad Storlie Courtesy of USAA

Military strategy is often a convenient proxy to help explain business strategy. For example, sales and marketing campaigns use “Attack” or “Destroy the Competition!” Military Strategy is often times a good guide for both business strategy and personal career strategy because it can remove the complex emotion that comes from creating a new product and determining your next career move. Furthermore, military strategy can be an excellent “vehicle” to help translate a complex business approach with a familiar military vignette or concept.

Here are four ways a military strategy mindset can help your career strategy: How Military Strategy Helps Career

Military strategy is a great guide for personal career strategy because it recognizes that a combination of results, teamwork and concern for subordinates, teaching, and personal leadership by example are what it takes a leader to consistently succeed in both business and in battle.

Strategy — Planning the Bold Move.

Military strategy can reinforce personal career ambitions and personal career planning by offering positive examples of when boldness pays off.

During the early stages of the Korean War, Gen. Douglas MacArthur planned a bold amphibious landing at Inchon, South Korea. Inchon was a landing that was hundreds of miles

behind the lines of the invading North Koreans and very hazardous due to its wide swings in tidal height.

Despite the hazards, MacArthur was successful in the Inchon landings.

Military strategy helps reinforce that sometimes, despite the hazards, it pays to be bold and aggressive to win.

How Military Strategy Helps Career Strategy — Make Sure the New Works

Well. Military strategy is fraught with seemingly great ideas and inventions that failed at their moments of greatest need. During the World War II D-Day invasion of Northern France, Normandy, the Americans had plans to use “swimming” Sherman tanks to get armor on the invasion beaches to clear obstacles and rapidly advance inland. Despite the technology, most of the American “swimming” Sherman tanks sank into the stormy Atlantic ocean far from the landing beaches.

The American amphibious invasion of Omaha beach was almost unsuccessful due to the loss of tank support but eventually succeeded due to the resolute American Infantry and assistance from the Army Air Force and US Navy. Technology is great, but it is never a solution by itself. It is only

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

tested, workable technology that creates career wins and happy customers.

How Military Strategy Helps Career Strategy — Great Leaders Communicate and Work Side-By-Side With Their Team to Overcome the Challenge. During the battle of the Ira Drang Valley during the early stages of American involvement in the Vietnam War, then Lt. Col. Hal Moore and Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley were everywhere during an intense battle when they were surrounded by a determined enemy three times their size and attacked on three sides during a day’s long battle. Despite the attacks and being low on critical supplies,

[ Financial Fitness ]

Moore and Plumley constantly moved among their soldiers encouraging them, exposing themselves to danger, and updating everyone on their situation. This is an amazing example of true leadership under harrowing conditions where the leaders sought to communicate, lead, and create an atmosphere of performance under the worst possible conditions. Business leaders go to where the challenge is greatest — to customers to make a sale or help make great products on the factory floor.

How Military Strategy Helps Career Strategy — It Recognizes That Success

Comes From Teams and Not Individuals. During the 1st Gulf War, then Capt. (now Gen.) H.R. McMaster led a combined arms team of Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles in the now famous battle of 73 Easting in SW Iraq. During the battle, McMaster’s combined arms force of Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles destroyed over 70 enemy vehicles and tanks in the first 30 minutes of the battle.

While McMaster was a good Troop Commander, it was McMaster’s entire Troop fighting as a team that created such an amazing victory with no friendly losses. The Battle

Homefront |

of 73 Easting was a success due to teamwork, training and technology all coming together in addition to a Troop Commander, McMaster, focused on leading a strong combat unit. Great businesses are built upon teams all working toward a common goal with shared effort and skills.

Military strategy is a great guide for personal career strategy because it recognizes that a combination of results, teamwork and concern for subordinates, teaching, and personal leadership by example are what it takes a leader to consistently succeed in both business and in battle.

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[ On the homefront ]

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Capt. Grace Geiger | Army

Sgt. Keenan Thompson, a mechanic with Regimental Engineer Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, picks up litter with his two children, Kryin Thompson and Irene Smith, during the squadron’s trash pick up on Farm to Market Road 116 near Elijah Road in Copperas Cove on April 8.

Brave Rifles help clean up local community

By Capt. Grace Geiger 3rd Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs

COPPERAS COVE — Soldiers of the Regimental Engineer Squadron, “Pioneer,” spent their Saturday working to make Farm to Market Road 116 litter-free April 8.

On the breezy spring morning, nearly 40 soldiers and their fami-

lies from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment gathered with gloves on and trash bags in hand to begin their work as part of the Adopt-A-Highway’s Texas Trash-Off. The squadron’s adopted highway consists of an approximately two-mile area off FM 116 near Elijah Road.

Spc. Melissa Miller, a combat medic, coordinated the event. Miller, also the

squadron’s Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers representative, spent several months ensuring the event would be a success. She credits the BOSS program for getting her interested in volunteer work in the local community.

“I wanted to be a BOSS representative because I wanted to let people know about the different opportuni-

ties within Fort Hood and the surrounding communities,” Miller said.

“Once I got involved with BOSS, I found out about all the different events and amenities for soldiers, including the volunteer events. I had no idea about all of the opportunities that were available before joining the program. That’s really how I became interested in volunteering.”

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ On the homefront ]

Capt. Grace Geiger | Army

Spc. Melissa Miller, a combat medic with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment’s Regimental Engineer Squadron, picks up trash from Farm to Market Road 116 on April 8. Miller coordinated the trash pick-up event with the squadron’s adopted highway.

Miller also credits her squadron leadership for keeping her interested in community volunteer events.

Command Sgt. Maj. Harold Cole, the squadron command sergeant major, suggested the Adopt-A-Highway program to Miller as a potential way for the squadron to give back to the community. Cole gave Miller the guidance to get the program started and she took it from there.

“I thought it sounded like a cool program and a way for the squadron to give back to the local community,” Miller said. “It was also a way to bring members of the squadron together and build camaraderie within the organization.”

After getting married in March, Miller is no longer eligible to serve as the squadron’s BOSS representative and passed her duties on to Spc. Corrigan Conklin, also a combat medic with the squadron.

“I look forward to carrying on the work Miller did as the BOSS representative,” Conklin said. “I am always looking for opportunities to

give back to the community. I’ve done volunteer work since I was ten years old — it’s always been a passion of mine.”

Both soldiers were out helping with the clean-up efforts and both were impressed by the turnout that day. Many soldiers brought their families with them to assist with the effort.

“For us, it means a lot that our squadron leadership also comes out to volunteer for events,” Conklin said.

“They set the example for the soldiers to give back to the community and our leaders were out picking up trash with us.”

Giving back to the community is important to the squadron. The 3rd Cavalry Regiment regularly participates in community events. The regiment, consisting of seven squadrons, is a community partner with both Harker Heights and Salado.

The regiment also has 11 Adopt-ASchool partnerships and numerous squadron initiative partnerships, such as the Adopt-A-Highway program.

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[ On the homefront ]

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Tanks and helicopters

Meadows Elementary School students enjoy career day

By Todd Martin Special to homefront

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TODD MARTIN | KISD

Meadows Elementary School fifth-graders explore the ins and outs of an Abrams tank during career day Friday at the school. Military units set up outside the school while other guests gave classroom presentations.

rom dairy farming to engineering, meteorology, plumbing and law enforcement, the career day at Meadows Elementary School was so fun some students barely noticed the learning.

Even the presenters, who brought to life about 25 different career fields on April 21, wanted to venture behind the school building to see the Apache helicopter and the Abrams tank.

“It looks really cool,” said fifth-grader Hannah Baker, echoing a whole campus as she and her peers stepped away from a nine-ton military helicopter. Like many students at the Fort Hood campus, her dad was one of the presenters.

“The best part is that my dad brought the helicopter,” she said, noting that a friend’s dad brought the tank displayed at the rear of the school building.

“I’m excited. My dad has never been here for career day,” Hannah said.

Most elementary schools in the area conduct a career day of some kind.

School counselor Misti Wetzel said she and other counselors decided about four years ago to make the day more exciting.

“I hope what they walk away with is an excitement about future opportunities for jobs and careers,” she said.

“They can see how what they do in math, what they do in PE relates to their future.”

It’s easy for an elementary school child to wonder when they will use a specific skill in real life, but moving through rotations, Wetzel pointed out, it becomes clear that career

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ On the homefront ]

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Photos by TODD MARTIN | KISD

During a career day April 21 at Meadows Elementary School, fourth-graders learn how medics treat an injured leg. Students rotated through five presentations during the day, which featured about 25 different career fields. BELOW: Fifth-grader Ava Anderson-Gray gets an up close look at an AH-64 Apache helicopter behind the school building.

fields intersect.

Flying a helicopter is a technical process that includes a lot of math and also requires attention to weather, which is heavily science, the counselor explained.

A nurse showed students how to hold a newborn baby. Killeen High School students and math teacher Mike Owens discussed STEM fields, which include science, technology, engineering and math.

Soldier medics demonstrated how to use a litter and started an IV on a willing, teacher volunteer.

“It gets them to think about how learning applies to the real world,” said fifth-grade teacher Aurora Lucero. “With the military, they see the vehicles, but not up close where they can ask questions.”

Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Napoli, an Apache helicopter pilot, said the day was as exciting for the presenters as it was for the students.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade pilot said he wanted students to see the importance of teamwork and being a good friend and also staying in school in order to get to pursue the career of their choice.

“They’re having fun,” he said.

“They’re trying things on and they’re asking good questions. It’s very technical,” he said of the helicopter. “It requires a lot of school. You have to think ahead and solve problems. You use the math muscles of your brain.”

“It’s cool to hear about the different careers,” said fourth-grader Matthew Franco, who said he wants to be a soccer player or a police officer.

“This way we can see if we want to do these careers and we learn what these careers do.”

“It seems awesome,” Hannah said.

“It’s exciting because we’re getting ready for careers. We get to see cool careers and we get out of school, but we’re still learning.”

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[ On the homefront ]

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

A royal family’s service

Mother and daughter prepare to relinquish crowns

By Wendy Sledd Special to Homefront

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Courtesy photo

Sgt. Timothy Stutz of the 1st Cavalry Division stands with the two beauty queens in his family, including his daughter, Kayla West — the reigning Young Miss Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest — and his wife, Trisha Stutz, the reigning Ms. Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest. Both ladies will crown their successors on May 13.

OPPERAS COVE — You had better have some tissues handy if you mention to Trisha Stutz or Kayla West that they will soon be crowning their successors on May 13.

The dynamic mother-daughter duo hold the titles of Ms. Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest and Young Miss Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest, and it has been a whirlwind of a year for them both, having made more than 200 appearances each and traveling hundreds of miles across the state. Tears fill their eyes at the prospect of their yearlong reigns coming to an end. This year has definitely brought the pair closer.

“I was so proud as I watched Kayla get crowned and, moments later when I was crowned, I was so excited that we both won,” Stutz said. “It has brought us so much closer. We get to share the fun times and the hard work. We have more time to talk on the way to events. We both get to be part of something so amazing and spend a lot of time together.”

“It was super exciting to know that we would get to share our memories together now that we won together,” West said. “It has made our relationship stronger, because we both know the struggle of our feet hurting from wearing heels, but it’s been great getting to be together.”

As a military spouse, Stutz, who is married to Sgt. Timothy Stutz of the 1st Cavalry Division, entered her two daughters into the pageant to expose them to something different and involve them into their new surroundings. She had to sign herself up for the pageant when her daughter

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ On the homefront ]

Courtesy photos

Young Miss Rabbit Fest Kayla West with the trophies, crowns and banners of the charity pageant she organized to help find a cure for mitochondrial disease. She raised more than $1,600 for Mito Action and is featured on the charity’s national website. AT RIGHT: Ms. Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest Trish Stutz hosted a Sweetheart Etiquette Tea to benefit soldiers with PTSD.

challenged her to do the same.

After both captured their crowns, life changed in the household.

“It means twice the dresses and shoes,” Timothy Stutz said. “And when they are getting ready, I will have to get ready downstairs because they are using both bathrooms upstairs to fix their hair and put on makeup. I usually just stand back while they get ready and then give them hugs as they run out the door every Saturday morning.”

The two ladies have worked tirelessly for their respective charities this year. Stutz promoted post-traumatic stress disorder awareness, speaking to multiple civic clubs and hosting a Sweetheart Etiquette Tea with all money going to charity for peer-to-peer counseling for soldiers with PTSD. “Not only did I get to have fun, but I also got to raise money to help our soldiers,” Stutz said.

West, who attends Killeen High School and also works part-time, used her year to raise money for mitochondrial disease, which affects the lives of two of her cousins who are not expected to live past the age of 15. West planned a charity pageant to raise money for Mito Action.

“My fondest memory of this year

would have to be the success of the Krist Kindl Pageant to help battle mitochondrial disease,” West said. “I wish I could do it forever, because not only was it helping to find a cure, but it was so much fun.”

As the two titleholders prepare to relinquish their crowns, they look back on a year that only happens once in a lifetime.

“I’m going to miss all of it,” 16year-old West said. “The community service with my royalty family who are now my best friends that I have made. I am going to miss being busy with appearances every weekend and being looked at as a princess, and I am going to miss having a wonderful pageant director who always helps make sure everything goes perfectly for me.”

“I will miss my royal family, working together and putting on my crown and banner and making a difference,” Stutz said. “It has truly been an amazing experience that we have been blessed with.”

The application period for the Five Hills Scholarship Pageant, formerly the Rabbit Fest Pageant, is officially open until May 1. Applications can be downloaded at http://www.copperascovetx. gov/parks/five_hills_pageant/.

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[ What’s Happening ]

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Local Music The Texas Takeover Tour featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Chamillionaire, Lloyd Banks, Z-Ro, Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Boome and the Skywalkers on April 28. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Bell County Expo Box Office, bellcountyexpo.com or at 512-474-5664.

Cost: $30; $20, military discount.

Dirty Harry’s presents live music on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. For ages 21 and older, no cover. Dirty Harry’s is at 206 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd., Harker Heights (next to Kin Pin Tattoos). Call 254-6806557.

Bo’s Barn Dancehall at 4984 W. Farm-toMarket 93 in Temple presents live music on Friday and Saturdays. Catch karaoke from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. every Thursday.

Happy Hour is from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Go to www.bosbarndancehall.com or call 254939-7131.

Stillhouse Wine Room has live music 8 p.m. to midnight every Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday is Game Night. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer while playing your favorite game. Wednesday is Teachers Night.

Thursday Night Trivia is at 7:30 p.m. with a relaxed version of the game. Topics include music, movies, sports, animals and more. Every 10 questions someone wins a bottle of wine. Stillhouse Wine Room is at 403 E. Stan Schlueter Loop, Suite 308, Killeen. Go to StillhouseWineRoom.com.

Farmers Markets All-Year Pioneer Farmers Market will be open in front of Tractor Supply Company on Central Texas Expressway in Killeen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting. Call Heike at 254-458-8223 or go to www.facebook.com/pioneerfarmersmarket.

Bars, Clubs Comedian Eric Blake will perform at Laugh It Up Comedy Lounge, 874 S. Fort Hood

St., Killeen, April 28-30. Showtimes: 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Purchase tickets at www.killeenlaughlounge.com/copy-of-buy-tickets-1.

Festivals, Events Bloomin’ Temple Festival is April 28-29 near E. Central Avenue and S. Fourth St. in downtown Temple. The festival features all day entertainment, two musical stages, 21 bands featuring acts in hip-hop, Tejano, Red Dirt and country music, a kid’s zone, carnival, vendors, food trucks and more. For tickets or vendor and volunteer opportunities go to BloominTemple.com.

Celebrate Killeen Festival is April 27-29.

The official kickoff party is from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27 at Killeen Community Center, 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd.

Activities include a live gospel concert, fish fry, crawfish boil and a carnival. A free KTX Poetry Slam is at 7 p.m. April 28 at Vive Les Arts Theatre, 3401 S. W.S.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Young Drive. The Food Truck Competition and live entertainment are at 6 p.m. April 28 at the Killeen Community Center. On April 29, activities begin at 8 a.m. at the Killeen Community Center with the Fallen Heroes 5K run benefiting the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund.

Registration is at 7 a.m. Festival activities from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday include entertainment, food, a petting zoo, pony rides, and a car and bike show. Movie in the Park starts after dusk Saturday night at the Amphitheater followed by fireworks. There also will be a wellness fair.

The full schedule is available at www. killeentexas.gov/celebratekilleen.

The 10th annual Belton Kiwanis Turtle Festival, Home of the Ultimate Turtle Race, is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29.

Turtles are available for adoption; $5 gets you into the race and a Scholtzsky’s sandwich in Belton, Temple, Harker Heights, Killeen or Copperas Cove and a chance to win a prize. The event features mechanical bull rides for children 12 and under, a petting zoo, and bouncy houses.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ Dining in ]

Homefront | 13

This Joe is still sloppy, with extra fun from a fungi 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon powdered mustard ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 4 whole-wheat hamburger buns

By Ellie Krieger Special To The Washington Post

You can’t take yourself too seriously when you’re eating a sloppy Joe sandwich. You’re bound to giggle at some point when the saucy meat starts spilling out of the bun, and, inevitably, at least some winds up on your face and fingers. It’s officially fun food, loved by kids and adults alike.

While it’s typically not considered healthful, with fatty meat, salt and sugar in spades, just a few swaps can turn the sandwich into a good-for-you meal that is just as joyful.

In the accompanying recipe, there’s ground beef, but it is lean, and once browned it is mixed with lots of finely chopped, sauteed mushrooms whose meaty taste and texture allow them to blend in with the beef, adding vegetable nutrition, seamlessly. There’s plenty of red bell pepper upping the produce ante, too.

The mouthwatering sauce gets its sweetness from molasses, rather than refined sugar, which adds a distinctive deep flavor and valuable minerals. And healthful seasonings — onion, garlic, chili powder, powdered mustard, cider vinegar — bring big flavor to the tomato-based sauce so you don’t need to lean on salt to get a punchy taste.

Goran Kosanovic | The Washington Post

Served on whole-grain buns, the sloppy Joe makes for a meal that allows the cook to use a single skillet.

Just remember to bring extra napkins to the table — and forks for the delicious overflow that lands on the plate. I dare you not to smile while eating it.

BEEF & MUSHROOM SLOPPY JOES 4 servings From nutritionist and cookbook author Ellie Krieger.

12 ounces lean ground beef (90 percent lean or higher) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 8 ounces sliced white button mushrooms, stemmed, cleaned and finely chopped One 15-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1½ tablespoons molasses

Brown the beef in a very large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, for 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meat to a plate.

Add the oil to the pan (medium-high heat); once the oil shimmers, stir in the onion and peppers; cook for 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions have picked up a little color and peppers have softened.

Stir in the garlic; cook for 1 minute, then add the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, or until they release their moisture and begin to brown.

Reduce the heat to medium. Return the beef to the skillet, then stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, molasses, chili powder, vinegar, powdered mustard, salt and pepper, until well blended. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture thickens and most of its liquid has evaporated.

To serve, pile about ¾ cup of the mixture onto each split hamburger bun.

Serve warm.

Nutrition per serving: 410 calories, 27 g protein, 47 g carbohydrates, 15 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 55 mg cholesterol, 520 mg sodium, 8 g dietary fiber, 17 g sugar.

[ Dining In ]

14 | Homefront

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Jennifer Chase | The Washington Post

Details, de-tails: Get the most of those pink shrimp

By Bonnie S. Benwick The Washington Post

This is not an edible nod to millennial pink. Honest. Red grapefruit and shrimp, bathed in a piquant dressing and paired with the crunch of toasted hazelnuts, red onion slivers and perky spring lettuces, just happen to give this plate a look that’s very on trend.

The shrimp get a little seasoning before they hit the hot pan, and you may notice they do not have their tails — those pinky-size lengths of shell that keep the shrimp from curling as tightly as you see them here. At this point, I’d be remiss not to mention the recently and happily retired Jane Touzalin, an extraordinary colleague and editor whom I had the pleasure of working with for decades.

She railed against the tail shells in dishes where the diner must detach them and find a proper spot to pile the discards. Sometimes I’d leave them on in Washington Post Food recipes,

so the shrimp would cook super-fast — and, as it’s done in restaurants, because they look nicer on the plate.

Here, Jane wins.

Folks on certain medications cannot tolerate grapefruit, so we tested this with champagne (Ataulfo) mangoes as well. The subbed fruit makes the dish less pink, but it tastes just as good.

IRON SKILLET SHRIMP WITH GRAPEFRUIT

4 servings Serve with warm cornbread.

Adapted from “100% Real: 100 Insanely Good Recipes From Clean Food Made Fresh,” by Sam Talbot (Oxmoor House, 2017).

2 pink grapefruits (may substitute 2 peeled Ataulfo or champagne mangoes, cut into chunks) 1-inch piece fresh ginger root 1 lime 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons honey ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil 1½ pounds peeled and deveined large raw shrimp 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1 teaspoon ground coriander ¼ cup skinned hazelnuts ¼ medium red onion 8 ounces spring mix lettuces Use a sharp knife to peel each grapefruit, making sure to remove all the white pith. Cut the fruit into supremes, working with one grapefruit at a time: Holding it in your hand, cut each segment away from the membrane on either side, letting the supreme segments fall into a mixing bowl. (The idea is to leave behind all of the membrane and any remaining pith.) Discard the membranes.

Peel and grate the ginger over a large liquid measuring cup. Cut the lime in half, then squeeze in all its juice. Add the rice vinegar, mustard, honey, ¼ teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Whisk in ½ cup of the oil in a slow, steady stream to form an emulsified dressing.

Discard the shrimp shell tails, if they are still attached. Lay the shrimp on a cutting board or piece of plastic wrap, then sprinkle them on both sides with the paprika, coriander and the remaining salt and pepper.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until opaque and pink. Transfer the shrimp to the mixing bowl with the grapefruit supremes; return the skillet to the stove top, over medium-low heat.

Add the hazelnuts to the pan; toast them for a few minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool, then coarsely chop.

Cut the ¼ red onion into very thin slices and add to the mixing bowl, along with the lettuces and hazelnuts. Drizzle half the dressing over and toss gently to coat. Divide among individual plates.

Pass the remaining dressing at the table.

Nutrition per serving (using half the dressing): 420 calories, 37 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 24 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 275 mg cholesterol, 310 mg sodium, 4 g dietary fiber, 11 g sugar.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

[ Dining in ]

Homefront | 15

Turn asparagus into a bowl of pasta that sings of spring

By Joe Yonan

Deb Lindsey | The Washington Post

The Washington Post

Spring is a glorious time for seasonal cooks, especially us plant-based ones, because, well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Out with the turnips, in with the asparagus! And more.

Early in asparagus season, I find it hard to resist simply steaming, blanching or even broiling them, and eating them with a simple sauce.

But soon enough, I’ll be looking for other ideas, which is where this pasta recipe comes in. It’s from Alice Hart’s new book, “Good Veg” (The Experiment, 2017), and it’s a keeper.

Hart has you blanch asparagus stalks for a pesto — but not before saving the more delicate tips and quickly sauteing them. The pesto combines with whole-wheat pasta; you fold in some white beans for extra texture and protein, and serve the dish with those asparagus tips on top.

It’s another fine way to welcome asparagus back to the table, all spring long.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO AND WHITE BEANS

6 servings Vegetarian Parmesan (dairy cheese that does not use animal rennet) is made by such companies as Sargento and Bel Gioso and can be found in Whole Foods Markets and other stores.

Adapted from “Good Veg: Ebullient Vegetables, Global Flavors, a Modern Vegetarian Cookbook,” by Alice Hart (The Experiment, 2017).

12 ounces (1 large bunch) asparagus 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed 12 ounces dried whole-wheat penne, or another short pasta shape 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extravirgin olive oil 2 small bunches basil (1 loosely packed cup) 1 clove garlic, chopped ¼ cup raw almonds

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, or more as needed, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more as needed ½ cup vegetarian Parmesan cheese, finely grated, plus more for serving (see headnote) One 15-ounce can no-salt-added cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (about 1½ cups) Trim and discard the tough/woody ends of each asparagus spear. Cut the tips with about a thumb’s length of stalk and reserve them; cut the remaining stalks into 2-inch lengths.

Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over high heat, add the teaspoon of salt and the 2-inch pieces of stalks; cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a food

processor. Once the water in the saucepan returns to a boil, stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions, or until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.

Return the (now-empty) saucepan to high heat. Add the asparagus tips and 1 teaspoon of the oil. Cook, stirring constantly, until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat (you’ll use the pan one more time) and transfer the tips to a plate.

Stack, roll tightly and cut a few large basil leaves into ribbons; reserve for garnish.

Combine the garlic, almonds and the remaining basil in the food processor (with the asparagus pieces). Add the tablespoon of lemon juice and the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil; pulse to form a coarse puree, stopping to scrape

down the sides a few times. Add the lemon zest and vegetarian Parm; pulse a few times to incorporate and form the pesto. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or salt, as needed.

Return the saucepan to medium-low heat. Add the drained pasta, along with the beans and the asparagus pesto.

Toss gently to incorporate, adding just enough of the reserved pasta cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, to create a creamy sauce.

Once the pasta has warmed through, divide it among warmed bowls or plates.

Top each portion with some sauteed asparagus tips, basil ribbons and more cheese. Serve right away.

Nutrition per serving: 410 calories, 15 g protein, 55 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 450 mg sodium, 9 g dietary fiber, 3 g sugar.

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017