Your Kitchen

By Peggy Werner

Founded in the historic district of New Haven more than 60 years ago, Trinity Kitchen, Bath and Lighting, 11034 Lincoln Highway E, has evolved through the years to be a “one-stop shop” for home renovation.

Owner Kevin Walsh bought the business 18 years ago with plans to breathe new life into it with new product lines, increased sales, improved relationships with existing customers, and by bringing in new customers.

Five years ago, Walsh opened a lighting center in Indianapolis and meanwhile changed the name of the New Haven store to reflect the growth that had taken place from adding cabinets, countertops and other products for home renovation.

“Since the pandemic, more people are spending time at home and wanting to update and renovate their kitchens and baths,” Walsh says. “It’s been great for our business in recent years. I’ve always wanted to own a small business and when this opportunity came along, I liked the product and wanted to build on what was already here.”

Today, there are still some issues with the supply chain, but it’s not as bad as it was a year ago. Price increases, too, seem to have settled down, Walsh says. He believes that anyone can do a home renovation, not just those with a large budget.

“We offer great, quality products and can work within any budget, whether wanting to save money or make a dream come true,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be a matter of deciding to do it or not do it. You can go with fewer features and still have a good result.”

Designer Anna Francis Biz says homeowners who want to create a different look usually begin their kitchen renovations with new countertops. They’ll also often add an island for more meal preparation space and storage.

The most popular flooring choices right now are durable and easy-to-clean hardwood or luxury vinyl, and cabinets are trending toward darker colors like deep blue and black-brown, Biz adds. Today, tile is mainly used for backsplashes, she says.

“Light, bright and interesting” is the goal of most people who want to renovate a bathroom, Biz continues. Ceramic and porcelain tiles in various shapes and patterns can be used throughout the entire bathroom. Light colors make a room look bigger and are most often accented with dark hardware for cabinets, faucets and shower heads, usually stainless steel with a black matte finish.

For more information about home renovation, visit trinityhomecenter.com or call (260) 493-2574. ❚

A Saturation of Winter

Savor This Heart-Healthy Family Meal

Making small changes to focus on your health, like following a healthy eating plan, can make a big difference in protecting your heart.

Developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life. It requires no special foods, and instead provides daily and weekly nutritional goals to help lower two major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure and high LDL (bad) cholesterol.

As an added bonus, sharing DASH-friendly meals with your loved ones can help take the guesswork out of putting nutritious dinners on your family’s table. For example, this easy and delicious Turkey and Beef Meatballs with WholeWheat Spaghetti recipe is one the entire family can help prepare.

In addition to a following a healthy eating plan, other selfcare habits like taking time daily to destress, being more physically active and getting enough quality sleep can all benefit your heart. It’s also important to know what your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are and what a healthy weight is for you.

Learn more about the DASH eating plan and find recipes at nhlbi.nih.gov/DASH.

Turkey and Beef Meatballs with Whole-Wheat Spaghetti

Recipe courtesy of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

3 quarts water 8 ounces dry whole-wheat spaghetti 2 cups chunky tomato sauce 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon fresh basil, rinsed, dried and chopped

Turkey Meatballs:

6 ounces 99% lean ground turkey 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons fat-free evaporated milk 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives, rinsed, dried and chopped 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley, rinsed, dried and chopped

Beef Meatballs:

6 ounces 93% lean ground beef 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons fat-free evaporated milk 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives, rinsed, dried and chopped 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley, rinsed, dried and chopped

Preheat oven to 400 F. In 4-quart saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

To make turkey meatballs: In bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, evaporated milk, Parmesan cheese, chives and parsley; mix well. Measure 1 1/2 tablespoons turkey mixture and roll into ball using hands. Place meatball on nonstick baking sheet. Repeat until eight turkey meatballs are made.

To make beef meatballs: In separate bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, evaporated milk, Parmesan cheese, chives and parsley; mix well. Measure 1 1/2 tablespoons beef mixture and roll into ball using hands. Place meatball on nonstick baking sheet. Repeat until eight beef meatballs are made.

Bake meatballs 10 minutes until minimum internal temperature of 165 F is reached. Warm sauce, if necessary.

To serve: Serve four meatballs with 3/4 cup pasta, 1/2 cup sauce, 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese and 1 pinch basil per portion. ❚