Josephine February 2014

Josephine St. Joseph’s women’s magazine

February 2014

Expect to look great while expecting

Hair that’s good even when the weather isn’t St. Joseph’s Gail Goolsby spent six years leading a school in Kabul National Eating Disorders Week is in February

Working together.

Working for you.

For nearly 30 years, we’ve been dedicated to improving the health of our community. That is why Heartland Health became a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. As part of the network, our highly trained and skilled doctors have direct access to Mayo Clinic’s medical expertise. For you, that means peace of mind, right here at home.

Learn more at myMosaicLifeCare.org/Mayo.

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editorial: (816) 271-8594 toll-free: (800) 779-6397 advertising: (816) 271-8527 fax: (816) 271-8686 josephine@ newspressnow.com

Our staff Editor Jess DeHaven jess.dehaven@newspressnow.com Presentation editor Paul Branson paul.branson@newspressnow.com Photo editor Todd Weddle todd.weddle@newspressnow.com Designer George Stanton george.stanton@newspressnow.com

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| 02/14

Josephine

St. Joseph News-Press P.O. BOX 29 St. Joseph, MO 64502

inside

Style bump 16 Look great when you’re expecting

Winter 22 wonderful Your hair can look good even when the weather isn’t A look back at 24 Afghanistan St. Joseph woman spent six years leading school in Kabul Food for thought 26 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is in February

girlstuff

Cover photography by Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

cover girl

Bad for the heart

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One-color looks

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Pro makeup tips

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Deals on the Web

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Chocolate combos

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Tantrum control

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Ask your gyno

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We’ve known Gretchen Curley for years, since Fixes for shoes she was part of the news team at our sister TV station, KNPN. These days, she’s a marketing consultant at Heartland Health, and possibly by the time you read this, also a new mom (she’s due any day!).

Originally from Harrisonville, Mo., she graduated Editor’s note in 2008 from Northwest Missouri State University Two guys with a degree in broadcast journalism. Her husand a question band, Martin, is also a Northwest grad.

Gretchen says she’s all set to welcome her new Josephine calendar son, and the nursery’s ready.

We’re loving it “I’ve felt really blessed throughout the pregnanAverage Joe cy because it’s gone easily – no horror stories,” she says. “My husband gets to take three weeks Getting Real off when he comes, so I’m excited he’ll get time Meal time with us.”

Check out Gretchen modeling maternity fashions on page 16.

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the regulars

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February 2014

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editor’s note

BETTER SERVICE. BETTER SAVINGS. BETTER VALUE

By JESS DEHAVEN It’s February, and I for one am hoping we get good news from the groundhog in a few days. Not being a winter person, I’m ready for spring and some warmer temperatures after the sub-zero stuff we endured in January.

Winter can be harsh in lots of ways, and while people tend to focus more on protecting and moisturizing their skin, your hair is something else that needs a little extra TLC during these colder months. Lindsay Laderoute looked at how to take care of your tresses in the winter, and you’ll find that story on page 22.

This being February, we couldn’t overlook Valentine’s Day, and we have two food features — one practical, one indulgent — on the topic this month. On the next page, Brooke Wilson has the rundown on foods that are bad for your heart.

And February wouldn’t be February without chocolate, so Kelsey Saythany came up with some unusual pairings of the sweet stuff with other tastes. Turn to page 11 for more.

If you’re looking to save a little money, check out Andrew Gaug’s story on page 10 about great places to search for deals on the Web. And Brooke has some tips for getting more life out of shoes that may have some problems on page 15.

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girlstuff Avoid foods that are bad for your heart No matter how delicious they might taste, we’re all aware that certain foods do more harm than good when it comes to our health. While it’s OK to indulge in special treats every so often, keep in mind that making healthy choices is best for our bodies in the long run.

“I think most people are pretty aware that most of our fatty foods aren’t good for the heart, particularly saturated fats and trans fats,” registered dietitian Sarah Wood says.

Although they boost flavor and increase shelf life, these ingredients clog arteries and spike cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride levels, which can cause an increased risk of stroke, heart attack or other heart problems if eaten in high doses.

Trans fats often are found in packaged and highly processed foods, while full-fat dairy, cheese and fatty red meat contain saturated fats. Trans fats are starting to decline, as more and more restaurants and food companies are banning them from their products, but they’re still out there.

For instance, packaged foods are allowed to boast that they’re “trans fat-free” if they contain less than

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half a gram, so anything that lists a partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredients list most likely has trans fats. Pay attention to food labels and monitor how much you’re potentially ingesting, because Wood says the body should only have about 2 grams of trans fats per day.

Other ingredients to reduce or avoid for good heart health are sugar and refined carbohydrates, like white flour products, since the body converts these carbs into sugar during digestion. Wood says to try to eat more whole grains and replace carbohydrates with more nutritious alternatives. Instead of white rice, try eating your stir fry over a plate of quinoa. Instead of flour tortillas, eat taco meat inside lettuce wraps. If your sweet tooth is kicking in, pick up a piece of fresh fruit instead of candy or a fruit-infused water instead of soda.

“The more fruits and vegetables, the better. Try not to over-consume meat and animal products. ... I don’t think that we need it for three meals a day,” Wood says, suggesting families eat at least one meatless meal a week to start on a healthier path.

— Brooke Wilson | Josephine magazine

| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

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girlstuff

One-color looks

Do you ever have blue days? How about black or red?

This discussion isn’t about your mood. It’s about your outfit.

Wearing all one color can be easy – black dress and matching pumps. But monochromatic fashion also can be more creative, complex and fun.

Take these tips from four Kansas City-area fashion bloggers and stylists.

Erin Barnes, Olathe stylist and blogger at prettypolishedperfect.com:

“The chicest way to wear a monochrome outfit is to add contrasts with your accessories. Want to wear black from head to toe? Pair the outfit with a bright yellow clutch (stay away from orange — that screams Halloween!). Any color will do, but jewel tones will contrast best. Clad in black, wear gold heels. Clad in red, wear a gold (or any neutral color) belt to add dimension and break it up a bit. Don’t forget that monochrome means wearing the same color but also includes wearing shades of the same color. Don’t be afraid to pair a blue pair of pants with a top one shade lighter. Accessorizing with a contrasting or complimentary color (consult the color wheel) is the easiest and chicest way to wear monochrome looks.”

Jana Meister, blogger at janalmeister.blogspot.com:

“I think the biggest thing to remember when going for the monochromatic trend is to make sure that at least three pieces of your outfit are exactly the same color. It’s important to make them all exactly the same color because that creates the best effect. Another cute way to pull off the trend is to make your outfit all one exact color and then all of your accessories another shade of that color. Like, making your outfit all plum purple and then wearing accessories in a pinkish shade.”

Lacey Amador, blogger at thelifewithlacey.com:

“My favorite one-color outfit is black. My tips are to use different textures and materials of that color. For example, I will wear black denim with a black chunky knit sweater. Then accessorize with some black leather boots. This works with any one-color outfit.”

Linda Davis, Color and Style Consultant with House of Colour Kansas City in Leawood, Kan.:

“If you’re only wearing one color – make sure it’s one that makes you look fantastic! Too often, women go for all black, thinking it is ‘safe,’ when on many women, it can be harsh and aging. If you are going for a neutral color, brown, navy or gray may be more flattering on your skin tone. All one color can look elegant ... or bland. The difference is in the details.

Be sure to add a stand-out element to your look. This may be in the style of your garment but could also be a statement accessory such as a great pair of eyeglasses or an interesting belt in a monochrome color. Consider adding interest with texture, layers and details such as stitching at the cuff in an unusual collar or some pretty buttons. Because you don’t have the distraction of varying color, these extra details will be more noticeable. Consider going with one of your best bright lip colors to give a pop of a flattering color.”

— Crystal K. Wiebe | Josephine magazine 6

February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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The Josephine calendar

February2014 Every Monday

9:45 a.m. (weigh-in at 8:30), TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a non-profit, weight-loss support and education group, East Hills Church of Christ, 3912 Penn St., 244-7187.

Two guys and a question Two male staff members answer a question, one from the fresher end of the dating pool, one a bit more seasoned.

Hopefully one of them will know what he’s talking about.

The question: Is Valentine’s Day a “real” holiday or just a test for husbands and boyfriends?

5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Jan. 6

7 to 9 p.m., St. Joseph Camera Club, Rolling Hills Consolidated Library.

Every Tuesday

7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Feb. 18

6:30 p.m., Pony Express Chapter of ABWA meeting. To find out more and to make reservations, please call Vickie at (816) 244-5648 the Friday before the meeting.

Feb. 25

10 a.m., Welcome Wagon Social Club of St. Joseph, general meeting, Rolling Hills Library, 1904 N. Belt Highway. For additional information, go to www.stjomowelcomewagon.com.

7 p.m., Introductory session to Creighton Model Fertility Awareness and Appreciation, Heartland Medical Plaza. Course is designed to help couples cooperate with their fertility in family planning. Call 232-2258.

Matt Nielsen

Greg Kozol

I personally don’t consider Valentine’s Day a “real” holiday, but I think there is a lot of pressure on boyfriends and husbands on the day. Valentine’s Day is a nice reminder to appreciate that special person in your life. It should be a day/evening of having fun with your significant other and remembering why you are together.

There doesn’t need to be an official proclamation. It’s a holiday because enough people believe it’s a holiday.

Hallmark says 142 million cards will be distributed for Valentine’s Day, second only to 1.5 billion for Christmas and slightly ahead of 133 million for Mother’s Day. I don’t hear anyone saying we shouldn’t be celebrating the birth of Jesus or mom’s all-around goodness. What’s wrong with telling someone you love them?

That said, your wife or girlfriend doesn’t need another teddy bear with a red heart sewed on the front, so it’s easy to grow cynical. The trick is to put some thought into it and not fall into the same routine.

I try to be optimistic. If you get a great gift, maybe good things happen. If you swing and miss (I once bought a magazine rack as a gift), you’ll have something to laugh about and look good by comparison in future years.

Matt is a copy editor/page designer at the News-Press. He is 24 and single.

Every Wednesday

7:30 a.m., St. Joseph BNI weekly meeting, Pony Express Museum. Call 262-9684.

5:15 to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Greg, 45, is the assistant city editor at the News-Press. He has been married to Josephine editor Jess DeHaven for 15 years.

Please see Page 9 newspressnow.com/josephine

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February 2014

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We’re loving it A look at what Josephine staffers are crazy about this month

I’ve actually had my Air Wick Freshmatic for a few years now, but it’s still going strong. I love it because it gives our living room the light, pleasant scent of a candle without the worry of an open flame. You can set it to spray every 7, 14 or 38 minutes, so it keeps going 24/7.

It recommends only using Air Wick cans, but I’ve found Glade cans work as well, so there are lots of scent options to choose from. Right now when I walk into my living room, I’m greeted with the smell of salted caramel in the air.

— Kelsey Saythany

I’m not a huge blueberry fan, but I’ve recently been sprinkling Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Blueberries into my morning cup of vanilla yogurt, and they’ve been a great addition. These crispy, airy blueberries provide all the nutrients of fresh fruit and add some crunch to yogurt, salads, cereal and more. Find them online or at a Kansas City-area Trader Joe’s store.

— Brooke Wilson

If you’re looking for workout videos to do in the comfort of your home, check out www.blogilates.com. Cassey Ho teaches you how to do quick Pilates routines for targeted problem areas, from abs to legs to butt. If you dive deeper into her blog, you’ll also find a monthly workout calendar, a variety of recipes, a few weeks-long meal plans plus easy tips to live a healthier life.

Her energy is contagious, and she makes working out seem fun — although it’s still hard — and it’s all free!

— Kim Norvell

I’m in the middle of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists (and husband and wife) Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Their reporting and writing in sharing the stories of women in Africa, the Middle East and Asia are outstanding, and they also offer pragmatic insight into what kind of aid makes a difference for women in these parts of the world. After the book was released a few years ago, it sparked a documentary series by the same name as well as the Half the Sky Movement (www.halftheskymovement. org), which also seeks to raise awareness of women’s issues and to provide concrete steps to fight these problems.

— Erin Wisdom

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| Josephine magazine |

If you’re looking for a cheap, effective and refreshing face mask, I highly recommend the Charcoal & Black Sugar Facial Polishing Mask. It sounds like a weird combination, but it does wonders for your face. The sugar exfoliates while the charcoal helps absorb oil and impurities. It works for all skin types. I bought mine for about $3 at CVS. — Emily Gummelt

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girlstuff CONTINUED FROM Page 7

Every Thursday

10:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., knitting classes, Keeping Good Company, $20 for four weeks, call 364-4799.

6:45 to 7:30 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Feb. 20

5:30 p.m., Third Thursday Wine Tasting, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Cost is $10 per person. Call 232-9750.

Easy tips to look more beautiful every day Get the most out of your daily make-up regimen with these pro tips:

natural skin tone, a closer match is the better choice. Otherwise, you risk looking like you wore goggles while tanning.

A creamy opaque pink with a hint of gold can be used on cheeks and lips to create a naturally flushed look, according to Revlon’s global artistic director Gucci Westman, as quoted at dailymakeover. com.

Don’t overdo the eye shadow.

Master a multi-use product.

Every Friday

5 to 8 p.m., Friday Night Wine Tastings, Smooth Endings Fine Wines, Spirits and Cigars, corner of Belt and Beck, (816) 749-4WINE, $5 per person.

Every Saturday

9 to 9:45 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 6711133, $3 a class.

Make sure your foundation matches your skin.

“Seeing a line at the jawline defining your makeup face from your neck is really unbecoming,” says Mary Calvillo, an NYR Organic Independent Consultant from North Kansas City. She recommends mineral foundations that use mica, a light-reflecting mineral. This helps conceal and is better at matching your natural color for a flawless, translucent finish.

Choose concealer carefully.

Although we often are told to buy concealer that’s a shade lighter than our

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The same colors that look great at the nightclub also look great at the office, but the application should be different.

Calvillo says: “For daytime, use the same colors you would for an evening out, blending lighter. This gives you a beautiful look but also maintains professionalism in the workplace.”

Treat your lashes right.

Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara, and use mascara that thickens.

It won’t weigh down your lashes the way a “lengthening” formula can.

Don’t forget the brows.

Do you have wimpy eyebrows? Fill them out with a pencil, and brush the hairs up with a disposable mascara wand.

— Crystal K. Wiebe | Josephine magazine

girlstuff

How to find a really good deal on the Web When you’re looking for deals, there are the traditional locations — clearance racks at the mall and stores, holiday bargains or sometimes you’ll find something good on eBay. To do that, you’ll probably end up having to do a lot of digging, which is fine if you love the thrill of the sale chase. But if you’re looking to save both time and money, a few Internet sites can point you toward bargains.

“I probably saved over $800 using a couple helpful websites last year. It was surprisingly fun,” Nancy Rabin, a bargain hunter from St. Joseph, says.

Sites ranging from the all-encompassing Amazon to tech-driven online retailers like New Egg to high-end clothing savings sites like JackThreads often have big deals if you’re able to catch them. Rabin says she discovered several that keep her updated.

Slick Deals (Slickdeals.net) — When it comes to filtering out the deals from the regular-priced items, few compare to Slick Deals, a sales site comprised of user-submitted sales on the Internet. With a large user base who interact on the site’s forums, they submit deals from retailers and specialty sites and vote on the best ones.

Those that get the most votes end up 10

February 2014

on the front page.

“This was my introduction to the whole thing,” Rabin says. “I found a really good deal on bulk cereal and a TV stand and just couldn’t stop.”

One of Rabin’s friends, Gillian Green, even got in on the savings.

“Nancy couldn’t stop talking about it to the point where it was almost annoying,” she says, laughing. “But the deals were very good. I got as hooked as she did.”

The site gives users the ability to set up deal alerts based on their interests. Users also can receive updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Fat Wallet (fatwallet.com) — Equipped with an expansive, dedicated fanbase of bargain hunters, Fat Wallet works in several ways. Much like Slick Deals, it has a forum of users constantly posting sales they found and helping others figure out if the deal they encountered is worth it.

The site also allows offers a percentage off of items purchased through it, though sometimes it’s as negligible as 1 percent.

“It’s pretty good. We’ve both found some pretty good stuff,” Rabin says.

Dealnews (dealnews.com) — Sometimes deals only last a day or even a couple of hours.

| Josephine magazine |

Dealnews tries to catch them all.

Working like a news site, it updates often with daily deals and breaking sales that have the potential of expiring quick because of high demand.

“It’s not as good as Slickdeals because I don’t think there’s as many users to interact with. But I like it and have found some good bargains,” Rabin says.

Tech Bargains (techbargains.com) — Though Rabin and Green say they’ve never used this site, it’s a good start to finding some great deals on tech-related items.

With sales alerts for products ranging from laptops to blenders to computer games, it’s a solid resource for more geek-centric deals.

No matter what the deal is, Rabin gives a warning that she had to heed after awhile — if you’re on the fence about something, only buy it if you truly consider it a bargain.

“I have a talking cookie jar I bought for $10 because it was marked down from $30. The fact is, I didn’t need it and I wouldn’t have bought it for more than $10 in the first place, so I don’t think I really saved anything,” she says. “So I would (tell) people, watch what you buy. Don’t end up with a talking cookie jar.”

— Andrew Gaug | Josephine magazine

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girlstuff

Fun chocolate combinations for cold winter days Many of us crave chocolate on an almost daily basis.

So doesn’t it just make sense to try it with other foods and flavors we love? When it’s bitter and snowy outside and you’re stuck inside with a sweet tooth, try these unique chocolate-infused combinations.

Chocolate-covered potato chips

Whether homemade or store-bought, potato chips paired with chocolate can make a tasty alternative when you’re craving a salty-sweet combo. For a homemade treat to share with friends and family, thinly slice a potato, coat in olive oil or butter, lightly salt and bake the slices until crisp. For the chocolate, melt milk chocolate chips in a double boiler. Dip the potato chip in the melted chocolate until covered, then set on parchment paper to cool. Drizzle another color of chocolate over the first layer for a visually pleasing presentation. You also can mix things up by using

dark chocolate, white chocolate or your own dip-able concoction.

Chocolate chili

Adding chocolate to chili can help balance spicy with a little bit of sweet and give it a deeper, more interesting flavor. There are many recipes available online for chocolate chili, but for those adventurous in the kitchen, try adding a small amount of unsweetened cocoa powder to your own favorite recipe.

Mexican hot chocolate

Burnt out on plain hot chocolate? Try spicing things up by making your own Mexican hot chocolate at home. Adding a pinch of ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper will give your mug of hot chocolate a nice boost of spicy flavor on a cold winter day.

— Kelsey Saythany | Josephine magazine

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girlstuff

Trumping a tantrum Take a moment to think back to your last temper tantrum. No, not the one during the holiday season that happened when the store sold the last limited-edition whatchamacallit that you had promised a loved one. I’m talking about a childhood tantrum.

Do you remember your parents’ response? Perhaps you never dared to have a tantrum. I know I learned early on it would do me no good.

But as a parent myself, my children have tried a fit or two. And it’s surprising where they happen. Not alone in their room. No, more like a busy checkout line or the quiet moments in church.

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So, what do you do? Oh, sure, we all can look up the self helps. And most of them suggest reasonable responses. But I thought we’d all prefer the “real mom” advice, so I looked up a fellow mom I know and met her in her kitchen.

The mother of five ranging in age from 21 to twin 9-year-old boys, Janey Johnston must have some kind of technique.

Her kids are well-adjusted, and she hasn’t lost her sanity yet.

According to Janey, the tantrums are pretty common in those 2- and 3-yearolds.

“They’re learning so much and sometimes it can be overwhelming and they break down,” she admits with a smile.

But what to do?

Now, I personally have left my 3-yearold daughter sprawled eagle in the checkout line of the store. I literally stepped over her, said something like, “That is not mine,” and proceeded toward the door. What was funny was how she had to collect herself and follow me out. End of tantrum.

Looking back almost 20 years later, I think I could have been a little more pro-active with the situation. Maybe even a little more understanding.

For Janey, prevention starts with sleep. An exhausted child is an unhappy child, and it can be a recipe for a disaster in a stressful situation. She also has learned to remove the child from the situation and talk him or her through frustrations. This helps both you and the child.

And parents also should remember that sometimes our expectations are ones that a toddler just can’t meet. Praising more than correcting once you are in the situation also is something that Janey believes has worked for her.

Besides proper sleep, the most successful times for Janey have been when she brings things to keep the child distracted. If they are going to have to sit still for long periods, books or quiet activities will help keep them occupied.

But perhaps the most important advice she can give is to make sure that the child knows ahead of time what kind of behavior is expected before you get to your destination. Communicate what’s going to happen and prepare them for how they are supposed to act.

I love this advice, for both kids and grown-ups. How many times have we gone into a situation knowing it’s going to be less than pleasant but talk ourselves into a good mental position? Do yourself and your child a favor and help teach them this self-empowering technique. It could save you from high-pitch squeals and strange looks from others, not to mention a gray hair or two.

— Julie Love | Josephine magazine

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girlstuff

What every woman should ask her gynecologist For many women, that yearly trip to the lady doctor is about as comfortable as a root canal. But female health is important, and there are certain topics that need to be addressed at the gynecologist’s office.

Despite their embarrassment, experts urge women to talk about sex, vaginal discharge and leaking.

Those are the three categories Dr. Maureen Boyle says can be awkward but common.

“We’re still strangers,” says Dr. Boyle with Heartland’s Women’s Health. “It’s about feeling comfortable.

(Women) will tell their girlfriends things. We have to coax it out of them more.”

Libido issues are among the most common questions. It can happen at all ages, and there are many causes.

Hormones and birth control pills can shut down sex drive, as well as psychological troubles like depression and relationship struggles.

Dr. Boyle says there is not a female libido pill like there is for men.

“That pill is simply to help achieve an erection.” she says. “The physiology 14

February 2014

of sexual drive goes much deeper than that, especially for women.”

For most, it’s in their head. This is where drugs like anti-depressants can come in to play. And while those prescriptions may help with the moods and enhanced energy, Dr. Boyle says there are sexual side effects like dryness.

Birth control pills also can cause dryness. This can make for painful sexual intercourse. Many post-menopausal women experience this.

Hormones, like estrogen, are a driving force.

Every woman has vaginal discharge.

In fact, Dr. Boyle says it is completely normal for women to see up to a teaspoon of discharge a day.

But there are two “abnormal” kinds of discharge.

The first kind has a yellowish color and is thick accompanied with itching and burning. The other has no symptoms other than a light gray color, similar to skim milk, and a “fishy” odor.

“It all has to do with the pH balance of the vagina,” Dr. Boyle says.

She says one of the easiest ways to achieve good feminine health is to eat

| Josephine magazine |

yogurt daily. She also warns women to avoid panty liners and never douche.

“It’s like tearing a layer of skin off,” she says.

However, spotting blood any time out of the ordinary should be investigated right away, Dr. Boyle says.

The third concern is incontinence.

Stress is the most common form.

Whether obese or pregnant, both can cause women to leak.

“I cough, I sneeze, I urinate,” Dr. Boyle says women tell her.

In these cases, the urethra has lost its support. But treatment is only necessary if it bothers the person.

Kegal exercises can help women to strengthen this area. The technique is simple. Women should stop urination in mid-stream. This action puts a focus on flexing weakened muscles.

Another option would be a pessary. This firm rubber device is placed inside the vagina to keep the urethra in place.

Dr. Boyle says it’s a good alternative to surgery. And not every surgery can guarantee results.

— Jennifer Hall | Josephine magazine

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girlstuff

Give shoes some TLC before throwing them out Bargain shoes are always a great find, but they usually aren’t built to last, so they’re easily replaceable. But for higher-end shoes, heels and boots, a broken heel, snapped laces or minor wear and tear sometimes isn’t enough to justify throwing them away.

While some shoe brands made in the United States occasionally offer shoe repair services, most pairs made in China or other places overseas can’t be fixed unless there was a factory default that warrants a replacement. Thankfully, one place in town still does shoe repairs the old-fashioned way.

Craig Boyer has been a shoe repairmen at St. Joe Boot Co. for many years, so he’s seen it all. The staff there can repair boots, high heels, moccasins, purses, coats and almost anything in between.

“Anything that you need repaired, we can do. ...

We’re the only ones; there’s nobody left in St. Joe,” Boyer says.

For someone wanting to breathe new life into an old pair of trusty shoes, repairs at St. Joe Boot include new soles, new heels, stitching, stretching newspressnow.com/josephine

and more. While not all shoes are cut out for repair services, durable ones that are in good condition and that initially cost you a pretty penny are worth having repaired rather than replaced because it can save money.

“You can do a lot of things with them if the leather is good,” he says.

Not only that, but sometimes repairs can help add years to your shoes that a new pair might not even see. Boyer says the new soles they put on boots that come through their doors are usually better than ones that come straight from the factory, so you can enjoy the pair just as long or longer than you already have.

Small problems like sizing issues sometimes can be remedied at home. You can stretch tight-fitting shoes to allow for more width in the instep or calf; however, nothing you can do will make a shoe longer. If a pair of shoes is a little too loose, Boyer says adding a thin insole or wearing a different pair of socks usually helps adjust the fit.

— Brooke Wilson | Josephine magazine

| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

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February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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Style bump

Expect to look great when you’re expecting

Y

By KRISTEN HARE Josephine magazine

our body changes when you’re pregnant, that’s pretty obvious, but so does your wardrobe. With your first child, and any ones that follow, you may be able to wear your regular clothes for awhile, but at some

point, your growing child is going to need you to make some changes, and we’re not talking stretchy pants and your favorite hoodie.

Please see Page 19

Winter Luxe top by Oh Baby by Motherhood $36 regular price, $21.60 sale price at Kohls.

Todd Weddle | Josephine Magazine

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| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

17

Secret Fit Belly Pant Denim by Oh Baby by Motherhood $56 regular price, $22.40 sale price.

Casual Chic top by Oh Baby by Motherhood $36 regular price, $21.60 sale price.

Both at Kohls Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

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February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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CONTINUED FROM Page 17 Don’t feel miserable while pregnant, says Christa Evans, owner of Oh Baby Boutique, a consignment store in Platte City that sells maternity clothes.

“She should spend money to make herself feel pretty and comfortable as much as possible,” Evans says.

And that means accepting that yes, your body is changing, at least for awhile, so go with it. Here are some ideas to start with.

SHOP AROUND

THINK BEFORE YOU BUY Before Shannon Fruehling was pregnant with one of her two children, she never wore dresses. But her baby was due at the end of July, “so dresses were my best friend,” says Fruehling, who works at Belly Image, an Overland Park-based mommy spa and ultrasound center with a maternity consignment store, About 9 Months, as well.

Similarly, if you’ve sworn off leggings because you don’t think you have the figure, or skinny jeans, rethink that look in maternity styles with a flowy tunic. If you’ve never tried empire waist tops be-

Home

cause, well, they made you look pregnant, now’s the time to try them out.

Also, think about what season you’re shopping for and how well the clothes will grow with you. Adjustable waists on jeans and pants mean you can most likely wear them throughout your pregnancy instead of having to continuously size up. And if you’re going to buy a summery dress at the beginning of your pregnancy, choose one with a more neutral pattern you can wear with leggings or tights and a sweater as the weather cools down.

There was a time, one or two generations or so ago, when house dresses and homemade jumpers were pretty much it for maternity style. Now, lots of retailers carry maternity lines. If you like Ann Taylor Loft, check out their maternity styles online. The same goes with Gap and Old Navy, but look for stores where you can try things on whenever possible.

And you don’t have to pay full price.

Shop the sales rack, or turn to places such as Oh Baby Boutique and About 9 Months, where they sell consignment maternity pieces from name-brand stores.

At A Pea in the Pod, Fruehling says,

maternity jeans can cost as much as $250, but on resale, they go for about $60. Most stores carry all sizes, from petite to plus, and the current season and styles.

Many customers outgrow what they’re wearing while pregnant, Evans says, and they come back, open an account and resell them through her store. Then, they may use the money to buy more maternity clothes or to get clothes for their new baby.

WAIT ON SHOES, BUT OTHERWISE ACCESSORIZE Unless your feet have changed so much that you need new shoes, pregnancy may be the time to hold off on buying more.

Your feet might swell during pregnancy, and they also can grow a half size or a full size during that time. If you have your eye on a fantastic pair of shoes, but the ones you have still fit, consider waiting until the baby comes.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with accessories. In fact, you should. Earrings, scarves, statement necklaces and rings and bags will all work after you’re pregnant, so if you really need to shop and add a little style to your pregnancy, these are the pieces you probably won’t regret.

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Secret Fit Belly Pant Denim by Oh Baby by Motherhood $56 regular price, $22.40 sale price.

Black top by Oh Baby by Motherhood $40.

Both at Kohls Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

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February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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Secret Fit Belly Pants Black

by Oh Baby by Motherhood $56 regular price, $30 sale price.

Fall Romance top by Oh Baby by Motherhood $36 regular price, $21.60 sale price.

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| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

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Winter wonderful

Your hair can look great even when the weather isn’t 22

February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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By LINDSAY LADEROUTE Josephine magazine

W

break,” Kankelfitz says.

The key to winter shampoo and conditioner is to look for moisturizing formulas.

“Moisture will give it good elasticity and lesson dryness and breakage,” Kankelfitz says.

Another trick to keep hair healthy is to rinse your conditioner with cool water.

“This will help close the cuticle and help repair hair,” Kankelfitz says.

Supplemental hair products also are key to winter hair care. Kankelfitz recommends using an in-shower hair treatment once a week to help hair stay healthy and strong.

When it comes to heat utensils, Kankelfitz shies away from them as much as possible, since heat can causes even more damage to hair. But don’t worry if you are a major fan of your hair dryer or straightener.

“If (you are) using heat with the proper products then you should be just fine,” she says.

Using a heat-protecting spray before using heat utensils and doing a once-a-week deep conditioner will help protect and repair hair from heat damage.

Another terrible winter hair trouble is static. An easy way to combat this is by using a leave-in treatment.

“By spraying a minimal amount throughout the hair, it will control the static,” Kankelfitz says.

There is a household remedy that actually defeats static too.

“Another age-old trick is a fabric softner sheet,” Kankelfitz says.

Rub the sheet lightly from root to ends to help calm static and keep hair from going haywire.

One last trick Kankelfitz likes to tell her clients is one most may not think about. She always recommends that they change the type of pillow case they use.

“Cotton absorbs moisture, so it will work as more friction when you are asleep; I recommend satin or silk. The less friction you can put on hair the better,” Kankelfitz says.

Winter can be hard on hair, but now you can help lessen the harm with these tips and tricks. Armed with this information and adding some items to your hair arsenal, you are bound to have beautiful hair even in the worst winter.

inter can bring on many beauty woes. Dry and rough skin, cracking lips and holiday pounds can put anyone in the winter blues.

One of the worst areas for winter beauty problems is hair. Whether you struggle with dryness, static or dandruff, we have tips and tricks for winter hair care so you can keep your tresses healthy and beautiful.

Hair seems to get rougher in winter, but why exactly?

“Roughness is the result of the wind and friction we create from weather and coats, scarves, and hats,” says Aimie R. Kankelfitz, Pravana artistic educator, hair stylist and owner of Aimie Renee’s in Leavenworth, Kan. Winter also brings extreme dryness to not only your skin, but your hair too.

“This is due to the fact that we aren’t producing natural oils from the scalp,” Kankelfitz says. But why does your scalp not produce as much oil in the winter as the summer?

“In the summer, we sweat more and create excess natural oils. During the winter we do not sweat as much because of the cold, limiting the natural oils and creating dry hair and scalp,” Kankelfitz says.

One culprit of dry hair in winter is how and how often you wash your hair.

“Try to not wash hair every day,” says Kankelfitz.

Washing hair too often will deplete what little oil your scalp creates, making hair dry and rough. The kind of shampoo and conditioner you use can lead to problems too.

“I believe the biggest mistake people make in winter with their hair is that they automatically run for a repair shampoo and conditioner,” Kankelfitz says.

The problem is that repair products deal with proteins, which can actually make dryness worse.

“Protein is designed to make the hair stronger or harder.

If the hair is already dry and you make it harder, then it will

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A look back at

Afghanistan St. Joseph woman spent six years leading school in Kabul

By ERIN WISDOM

rather than ones that adhere to patriarchal norms.

These norms were y the time she returned to the United reflected, on the States two years ago, Gail Goolsby had other hand, by the families of some been in Afghanistan much longer than of the male stuthe two years she’d initially planned. dents – who paid for their sons to The St. Joseph woman moved to the country the Interwith her husband, Mike Goolsby, in 2005 to serve attend national School as the founding principal of the International but didn’t do the same for their School of Kabul – the only American school as daughters. well as the only co-ed school in Afghanistan, “One of the biggest challengwhere government-run schools generally offer es was teaching little in the way of education. those young men to respect wom“It wasn’t anything I ever set out to do. en,” Goolsby says. “It’s a man’s world in Afghanistan.”

The need was just so glaring,” Goolsby Especially in its beginning, the Intersays. “It felt like it was important, and national School reflected diversity in it was hard. But if anyone had had the more than just gender. It opened with 190 chance and had seen what we saw, they students, about 60 percent of whom were would do it, too.”

She adds that her husband first traveled Afghan, with the remaining 40 percent from other countries. Now, enrollment to Afghanistan in 2002 with Brookdale Presbyterian Church. After visiting it her- has increased to about 350 students, and 80 to 90 percent of those are from self in 2003, she was on board to move to the country for the opening of the Interna- Afghanistan. Goolsby notes that this tional School in 2005. In addition to serving decline in diversity has come in large part due to international families leaving as its principal, she also was the school’s Afghanistan in light of increasing recounselor for a while – and found that her years of experience as a teacher and coun- strictions in the country.

But for all the things that made living selor at St. Joseph Christian School had in the culture difficult, Goolsby also exprepared her well for both roles.

“Because St. Joe Christian is a smaller perienced at least one benefit unique to it: the eagerness of students who previously school, I knew a lot more about being a hadn’t had an opportunity for a real eduprincipal than I realized,” she says. cation. They wanted to be at school all the This doesn’t mean, of course, that she time, she says, which led her and her staff didn’t learn a lot in Afghanistan. Perhaps most notably, she learned first-hand to create extracurriculars like basketball and drama to give them the chance to how very different the country is than develop outside of the classroom.

America, especially for her as a womNot quite a decade since it began, the an and for the girls who attended her school. Because it is a private school that International School now has seen some of the fruits of its labor in the form of charges tuition, its female students usucollege graduates. It also has students ally are from more progressive families, Josephine magazine

B

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February 2014

| Josephine magazine |

Submitted

Gail Goolsby, right, interacts with students at a girls’ village school in Wardak province in November 2005. ‘The schools later were destroyed by Taliban,’ Mrs. Goolsby says. who show the promise of benefiting not only themselves but also their country through their education.

Among these is Nargis Mahdi, who attended the International School from fourth through 10th grade before coming to the United States on a scholarship to finish high school and attend a university. Now in her second year here, she plans to return to Afghanistan after she’s a college graduate – at which point she will be the first person in her extended family to reach that milestone, not to mention the first in her immediate family to graduate from high school.

“It’s my home. Despite all the difficulties, all the problems, all the things I don’t like to see, it’s still my home,” she says in regard to her plans to return.

“I’m not accepting everything there as right, but I can’t hate it because ... it’s kind of my identity. It’s part of who I am.”

Although she doesn’t yet know where she’ll attend college or what she’ll major in, she’s been taking some government and public policy classes at the boarding school she attends in Connecticut and notes that one of her hopes for Afghanistan is for as many women as men to be in positions of government leadership.

Nargis is one of the students with

newspressnow.com/josephine

Sait Serkan Gurbuz | St. Joseph News- Press

Gail Goolsby lived in Kabul, Afghanistan, for six years as the founding principal of the International School of Kabul. whom Goolsby has remained connected; she even spent this past Christmas in St. Joseph with Goolsby’s family. Goolsby also continues to work with international students through an organization that places them with Christian host families. In addition, she is on staff at Brookdale Presbyterian as a life coach and counselor.

Thus, she’s returned home to a full life – but whatever else she does, she knows her work in Afghanistan always will have a prominent place in her memory.

“It was kind of like the biggest thrill and biggest hardship at the same time,” she says. “There will never be another experience like it.” newspressnow.com/josephine

Gail Goolsby, right, and a group of students from the International School of Kabul meet the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, at left, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

Submitted

| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

25

Food for thought

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is in late February

By LISA HORN Josephine magazine

F

eb. 23 through March 1 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week; a week that Brooke Wesley, a Kansas City-area therapist who suffered from anorexia as a teen, thinks shouldn’t be reserved for just seven days a year.

After all, reminders of our society’s focus on weight and appearance are everywhere, 24-7.

“With some 3,000 messages thrown at us a day related to diet and weight, it’s hard to be healthy in a world that’s so diet focused,” says Wesley, co-founder of Thalia House, a residential facility in Fairway, Kan., for women with eating disorders.

Thalia is Greek for “to bloom” or “to flourish.”

The author of “Hungry to be Whole: A Therapist’s Story of Healing from Anorexia,” and resident of Olathe, Kan., was hospitalized four times for anorexia. She says her parents helped her get the help she needed to recover. Family members often are the first to identify the signs of an eating disorder. With bulimia, patterned or ritualistic eating is common along with binge eating, hording or hiding food and using the bathroom to purge after meals. Bulimics also may overload on fluids, like water or milk, to help them purge and may have teeth marks on their hands and red knuckles from inducing the gag reflex to vomit. Watery, bloodshot eyes and acid stains on teeth are other signs of bulimia.

A lack of interest in food (being “too busy” to eat), an obsessive focus on exercise, calorie counting and weight loss are just a few of the behaviors exhibited by people with anorexia. Eating disorder behaviors often are seen with traits such as a lack of confidence and self worth, low self-esteem, “people pleasing” behavior and perfectionism.

Many factors contribute to the development of an eating disorder, says Amanda Maretoli, team leader for community-based mental health services at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Troubled relationships, difficulty expressing feelings and emotions, loss of control, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses all can trigger or add to the severity of an eating disorder.

26

February 2014

As a result, other mental health issues are screened for when a person begins treatment for an eating disorder.

“Really, the eating disorder is a way to distract from whatever else is going on,” Wesley says. “The eating disorder really becomes someone’s identity or their ‘friend.’ They become very protective of it.”

Both therapists admit that because of this, broaching the subject can be difficult. What do you say? How do you say it?

Maretoli recommends opening the conversation by first validating your support of the person and expressing your willingness to keep her or him safe and healthy.

Both Wesley and Maretoli suggest that making comments about how thin a person is or how much weight he or she has lost is not helpful.

In other words, saying, “You’re so skinny,” may help reinforce the person’s unhealthy behavior and may be seen as a huge compliment, Wesley explains.

“When you start to see the warning signs, it’s OK to approach them and tell them you’re concerned,” she says.

Eating disorders are reported to have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. However, death rates of those who died because of an eating disorder vary widely between studies and sources. Part of the reason behind this is because death occurs due to medical complications resulting from the disorder such as heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide.

According to a 2009 study by the American Journal of Psychiatry, mortality rates were 4 percent for anorexia nervosa, 3.9 percent for bulimia nervosa and 5.2 percent for unspecified eating disorders.

Maretoli says that one of the most common misconceptions surrounding eating disorders is that those who suffer make the choice to do so.

“They’re not choosing to do it,” she says. “If they would, they would choose to stop. They have lost control over that part of their life.”

For more information on eating disorders and how you can help, visit the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders at anad.org, or learn more about the awareness week at National Eating Disorders Awareness at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. For information on Thalia House, visit thaliahouse.com.

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

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| Josephine magazine |

February 2014

27

Average Joe

To

We are equal But that doesn’t mean we’re the same

ALONZO WESTON has been a columnist and reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Deanna, have two children and a dog. The St. Joseph native is also a sports junkie who doesn’t pick up after himself. If you’d like to suggest an idea for this column, contact Alonzo at alonzo.weston@ newspressnow.com.

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February 2014

better ensure gender equality, Sweden added a gender-neutral term to its lexicon. Instead of calling someone a he or a she, everyone is called a “hen.”

This idea of a genderless world is even being taught in some of Sweden’s preschools. Teachers are to avoid using language that’s identified as gender stereotypes.

They are to replace “him” and “her” with “friends.” They don’t have “Snow White,” “Cinderella” or other books with presumably male and female stereotypes in their reading curriculum. Boys are encouraged to play with dolls and girls with Lego blocks.

Kaj Wiberg, the CEO of a Swedish toy catalog, was quoted in a Sydney Morning Herald article saying it’s time to move past gender roles. One of the toy ads in his catalog even showed a boy dressed as Spiderman pushing a baby carriage.

“Gender roles are an outdated thing,” Wiberg said.

A Swedish feminist blogger who goes by the name of “Lady Dahmer,” encouraged her readers to show support for the toy company. She said toy stores sell a concept of what qualities and interests boys and girls should have.

“It’s about money because as long as they can fool us into believing boys and girls are fundamentally different, they can keep selling up twice as much,” Dahmer said in a Swedish newspaper article.

I’m sure you’re right. I’m sure it would be easy for someone to mistake me for a female fashion model.

I certainly believe in gender equality when it comes to women having the same rights as men when it comes to careers, salary and education opportunities. If they can do the job, they can have it. It’s only fair.

However, the idea that boys and girls are not fundamentally different

| Josephine magazine |

is just plumb crazy. Yes, I said it.

I hope our push for gender equality here in the U.S. doesn’t reach the level it has in Sweden, but in some ways we do promote treating our boys and girls the same.

We expect our boys to act like girls in the classroom, sitting calmly with hands in their laps. If they don’t, we diagnose many of them with ADHD, full well knowing that boys by nature are more hyperactive.

We strive to empower women at the expense of manhood as if it is a zero-sum game. Downplaying men does not make women stronger. This ultra-egalitarian mindset hurts our boys.

Manhood should not be defined by women any more than womanhood should be defined by men.

Today, being manly is looked at as sort of a joke.

Fathers are the brunt of most sitcom jokes. The wives have more power and are much smarter.

Can you imagine Beaver, Wally and June laughing at Ward Cleaver and treating him like a buffoon?

We really only want boys to be like girls when it’s convenient. I don’t know of any woman in danger who doesn’t want a man around.

Let there be a strange noise in the house at night and let the man have his wife go see what it is instead of him. If he did that, his manhood would definitely come into question.

Everyone would readily agree that’s a man’s job.

I’ve never known many women who didn’t want a man to be a man.

Both sexes are hardwired to be female and male.

Yet, being a man doesn’t mean you can’t be gentle. It doesn’t mean we can’t show our feelings. But we are not women and women can’t be us.

How are we supposed to procreate if we aren’t supposed to notice a person’s sex? Are we supposed to suppress sexual desire?

If that’s the case, then what are we to do when a man is attracted to a woman or vice-versa? Go play tackle football together I guess.

If I’m looking at my wife like she’s a “hen” instead of the woman I married, then my marriage is in trouble.

newspressnow.com/josephine

Getting real

February,

the month of romance. It’s still cold outside, so there’s lots of snuggling still going on, and we have the holiday of lovers, Valentine’s Day, right smack in the middle.

I have always been a sap, spending my teen years reading volumes of Rod McKuen poetry, writing 10-page love letters exposing my heart and soul to adolescent boys who didn’t even know what a feeling was yet and sitting for hours watching sunsets and waterfalls.

Lucky for me, I found a target of my affections when I was 15 years old. He was a skinny, redheaded boy playing left field. Like any romantically driven girl, I wrote my name on a slip of paper and had my niece run that fateful note to the unsuspecting ball player, asking him to call me.

How was he to know Cupid was about to do his magic and seal his fate with mine?

You would think a hopeless romantic like me would pick a boyfriend who also was passionate and full of red, cutout hearts and pink glitter.

Nope. This girl picked the most level-headed, left-brained, no-frills guy who ever grew hair on his chest.

Knowing love would triumph, I spent years teaching this “man’s man” the finer points of romance, sending him notes in his lunch, singing telegrams at work (that went well at the office when all of his male counterparts sang along) and making him sit through hours of romantic comedies so he could see how it was done.

For such a love-driven person, I was sure angry at him a lot. I would tell him how to be more loving, then give him the silent treatment for

three days because he didn’t send me a bouquet of flowers on the anniversary of our first kiss.

I would read romance novels and make a mental checklist of what the hero of the novel did, comparing it to what my hubby didn’t do, then spend the rest of the evening slamming doors and giving short replies when asked if there was anything wrong, all because “I was loving and my husband wasn’t.”

My narrow mind believed romance only came in one form until one evening when we were walking through a very large and angry crowd, and my non-romantic husband said, “Grab ahold of my belt loop and don’t let go. I am going to push my way through this crowd, and I don’t want to lose you. If I feel you let go, I will know to stop.” He went on to chop us through the crowd like a machete-wielding maniac in the rainforest. All the while, I flowed with his every move, just like Ginger Rogers being led by Fred Astaire. I beamed with pride at the heroic way he led us to our vehicle, safe and sound.

Another “romantic” moment was when we were walking down the sidewalk and he slowly slid between me and the street, like he did every time we went anywhere. I asked him if that was coincidental or if he had OCD, and he explained, “I always walk on the outside so if anyone pulls up beside us, they have to go through me before they get to you.” Hello, romance!

My husband may not be a guitar-strumming poet, and the only poem I ever forced him to write was so naughty I had to burn it before anyone else read it, but after three decades together, he still opens the door for me, carries the heavy boxes so I don’t have to, and he doesn’t tell me when he kills a mouse because he knows I will be upset.

I have learned romance comes in lots of shapes and sizes, and although he may never be the inspiration for a character in a Harlequin romance novel, in my book, my hubby is the perfect romantic hero.

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

True romance Love comes in all kinds of ways

STACEY MOLLUS is a family-loving, fun-seeking, glitter-covered, chocolate-consuming humor columnist and author. She would love to hear from you, so e-mail her at queenofchocolates @live.com or find her on Facebook at “Stacey Jensen Mollus.”

February 2014

29

Meal time

Jessica Stewar t | Josephine Magaxine

I

All about apples

love apples but not the insipid type found in most supermarkets. Those apples often have been in storage for almost a year, given chemicals to drink during their growth period and sprayed to death.

No, I love real apples, maybe slightly blemished, not picture perfect but perfect tasting. So when my husband and I purchased our property down in the Ozarks, the first thing we did was plant an orchard. A variety of heirloom apples,

30

February 2014

Ashmeads Kernel, Calville Blanc, Spitzenburg, Arkansas Black, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Belle de Boskoop and more, relics from the past.

There are hundreds of different types of apples. These apples have taste, complexities and unique qualities — all sadly lacking in supermarket apples. It’s worth seeking out a farmer’s market or better yet, plant a couple yourself. A semi dwarf tree can bear within three to four years, and you can reach the fruit!

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

Apples Baked with Leeks and Goat Cheese 4 large apples, cored (remove a strip of skin from the circumference so the apple doesn’t burst during baking) 1 cup dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc) 1 dried bay leaf Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 large leeks, white part only, minced and diced 2 tablespoons water 7 ounces goat cheese 2 tablespoons heavy cream Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place apples in baking dish, pour wine around and add bay leaf to wine. Lightly salt the apples. Cook leeks in 1 tablespoon butter until transparent. Add 1 tablespoon water, stir, cover and cook until tender (add more water if needed).

After leeks are cooked, let cool a few minutes, then mix in goat cheese and cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Gently stuff each apple with equal amount of mixture, press into cavity and mound it on top.

Top apples with remaining butter.

Bake until apples are tender and cheese is dark golden on top, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

This is a great winter dish and is easily made ahead, it’s even good as leftovers for breakfast.

Apples Baked with Squash 3 to 4 pounds of squash, your favorite, peeled, seeded and cut into 2-inch pieces 2 pounds tart apples, cored, peeled, cut into eighths.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Butter a 9x13 baking dish.

Steam squash until cooked, then puree and strain with fine mesh strainer. If squash is liquid, place over a bowl and let drain for about 30 minutes.

Melt butter in heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, add apples and cook, turning frequently until golden and tender. Place apples in buttered baking dish.

Make a white sauce (béchamel) and infuse the milk with bay leaves (as follows): 1½ cups milk 2 bay leaves 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons flour Salt and pepper Freshly ground nutmeg (I use a grating rasp, the whole nutmegs keep for years) Scald milk with bay leaves over medium heat, remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes. Melt butter in heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk in flour and cook until butter has bubbled and formed a pale yellow foam, at least two minutes (you want to cook out the flour taste). Pour in hot milk, straining out bay leaves, whisking constantly. Cook until béchamel has thickened to the consistency of very heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Whisk béchamel into squash puree; season to taste (it should be quite highly seasoned).

Pour over apples, dot with butter and nutmeg. Bake until béchamel is slightly golden and apples are tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

Apple, Walnut and Cheese Salad 10 cups mixed salad greens, torn into bite-sized pieces 1 large tart apple, cored, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted 3 ounces Roquefort cheese Your favorite vinaigrette Toss salad greens, apple and walnuts with vinaigrette and sprinkle cheese on top.

LONNIE GANDARA TAYLOR is a St. Joseph native who has returned home after a prestigious career in the culinary field.

She taught cooking classes in the San Francisco Bay area for years and was a professional assistant to Julia Child, James Beard, Martha Stewart, Simone Beck and Martin Yan, among others. She is a graduate of the Paris Cordon Bleu, the Academie du Vin in Paris and the first culinary class held in the Oriental hotel in Bangkok, as well as being the author of five cookbooks.

February 2014

31

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Randy Reed Chevrolet

Corporate Fleet & Lease Return Center 3921 Frederick Ave. St. Joseph

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75015736

©S. Colson 2013