woman ILLINOIS VALLEY
February 2022
A SPLASH OF COLOR Paint pouring – a new sensation
ALSO: n Sweet stops in the Illinois Valley n Bullet journaling: A mindfulness practice n Whole grain flours are a healthy add-on
publication
A fresh start for wellness As you flipped the calendar from 2021 to 2022 a couple of months ago, I hope you took a minute to take stock of your life, priorities, and overall happiness. If you’re like me, you get so busy with crossing day-to-day tasks off of your to-do list that you don’t give much thought to taking time to try to structure your life so you’re at your happiest and healthiest. That’s the thing about women – we seem to put other people’s needs above our own. We’re there for our children, parents, spouses, siblings, friends, and coworkers, but we’re rarely there for ourselves when we need a much-deserved break. Let’s change that narrative by focusing on what’s best for ourselves in 2022. It’s time to get a little greedy and focus some of our attention on ourselves. Here’s what I have been doing so far this year: I threw away all the resolutions I usually make about home renovations or organization, career, finances, cleaning, and all the other things that usually take up my atten-
tion. This year, I’m letting go of all the things I think I need to achieve, and instead, I’m focusing on my health and happiness. My top priority is one that I always put on my list of resolutions Shannon Serpette but never seem to accomplish – fitness and healthy eating. By getting rid of all the other resolutions, I can concentrate fully on losing a few pounds, exercising more, and focusing on nutrition. It’s hard to accomplish ten goals during a year – you never know where to focus your attention and energy. By having a single focus, it’s easier to succeed. I’m one of those rare people who have learned to love exercising. I didn’t always – it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve fully embraced it. I’ve found that it really does be-
come a habit. If you do it every day, you look forward to it. And when you avoid it, you begin to dread it. In the past two years, it’s something I’ve struggled to find time for – it’s been fighting my other goals for enough attention to do it successfully. So far in 2022, focusing on only one goal is working well. I’m down a little weight, and I’m working out every day, even if it’s just going for a walk. My joints feel much better from not sitting as much, and I’m eating more fruits and vegetables than ever before. I feel as if I’m doing everything I can to maintain my health, and that makes me happy. Whatever your goals were for 2022, I hope you’re still working hard at them. And remember, it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes – I hope you make time for at least a little of that in your everyday life.
Contents
Illinois Valley Woman Book Club 4 What we thought of The Guncle by Steven Rowley.
The Joys of Bullet Journaling 7 Creativity, organization, and fun – all in one place.
Painting Through Life 10
Acrylic drip paint turns a blank canvas into a one-of-a-kind abstract piece.
Whole Grain Flours: Delicious and Healthy 12 Explore whole grain flours with these tasty recipes.
Got a Sweet Tooth? 14
You’ll find decadent treats in the Illinois Valley.
Best wishes, Shannon Serpette Niche Editor
Illinois Valley Woman 426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com Publisher Dan Goetz Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
Regional Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Writers Courtney Jonsson Brandon LaChance Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette Photographers Courtney Jonsson Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein
On the cover: Colette Yelm helps a beginner add Floetrol and water to her paint to make it easier to pour across the canvas. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATLYN SANDEN
2 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
Published by: est. 1851
LIVE THE HARBOR L I F E
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | February 2022 3
Ro wle y
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In My Book
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ur latest book club pick, The Guncle by Steven Rowley, follows the life and adventures of Patrick O’Hara, a television star who left his career behind to move away from Hollywood and live a quiet life. When tragedy strikes, he’s left with a new role to play – temporary caretaker to his young niece and nephew. With a big personality and his own emotional baggage, Patrick isn’t sure he’s up to the challenge. As always, we’ll let you know what we thought of this book without discussing any spoilers in case you haven’t read it yet. JEANETTE SMITH, REGIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR I enjoyed this novel. It was witty and entertaining. It’s a heartfelt story about family dynamics and grief. The main character, “The Guncle,” is a
4 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
single, gay, washed-up sitcom actor who agrees to be the guardian of his young niece and nephew for the summer. The unlikely trio spend the summer getting to know each other and helping each other heal. It is touching but not a tear-jerker. It deals with loss and grief but is done in a way that is enjoyable and not depressing. I would recommend this book as a quick, entertaining read. SHANNON SERPETTE, NICHE EDITOR I’m a big fan of light-hearted books that make me laugh. While this one did have sad undertones at times, overall, it had an uplifting message and several laugh-out-loud moments. Some of my favorite paragraphs were when Patrick would introduce his highly specific and sometimes inappropriate Guncle rules to his niece and nephew. I was sorry to see this one end and found myself wishing I had a Guncle Patrick, too.
Want to join us? The book we’ll discuss in the next issue of Illinois Valley Woman is In Hot Water: A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery. To have your thoughts and observations on this book published in our next Illinois Valley Woman magazine, email sserpette@shawmedia.com by April 20. Please include your name and city of residence along with your comments, and make sure to let us know why you liked or disliked this book. And if you have any future book suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
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If you have an area of stubborn fat and no matter what you do, it does not budge, you must read this. Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL specializes in non-surgical body contouring with lasers and other devices. This means you can change the look of your body without surgery. They have several devices that permanently destroy body fat, one that tightens skin, and one that reduces the appearance of cellulite. If you are healthy, but have areas of stubborn fat, annoying loose skin, or unsightly cellulite you are a perfect candidate. We asked Dr. Norris to explain further! What is WarmSculpting™? “We have been in the business of destroying fat for five years and have many happy patients. Warmsculpting™, also known as SculpSure, is a laser that destroys an average of 25% of fat in the treated area permanently. The laser targets fat by heating it up. When fat cells reach a certain temperature, they die, and the body clears them over an average of 12 weeks. I encourage my patients to start Warmsculpting™ treatments at least 3-4 months prior to when they would like to see their result. Patients who are healthy and can maintain their weight are good candidates. The most common areas that we treat are the abdomen, flanks, and double chin. The treatment will take about 25 min on each area and there is no downtime expected. You will feel the heat of the laser, which is tolerable, but not relaxing. We offer laughing gas to our patients who are a little anxious about the heat.” What do you offer for Skin Tightening? “We offer radiofrequency energy, which is also a form of heat energy, but works better to tighten skin than laser energy. The device we have is the newest and most powerful for skin tightening. In some instances, it will even destroy fat, just not to the same degree as Warmsculpting™. It is very important to maintain the elasticity in your skin as you age. Once the elasticity is gone, you can never rebuild it. Radiofrequency treatments improve the elasticity that you still have so is best for those with mild to moderate loose skin. Radiofrequency can also build collagen in the skin. The most common areas that we treat for skin laxity are the face, neck, upper arms, abdomen, thighs and above the
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6 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
knees. Radiofrequency treatments feel like a warm massage and besides a little redness in the treated area for an hour or two, there is no expected downtime.” What can help reduce the appearance of cellulite? “Cellulite is a genetic condition where bands form in the fat that pull down more in some places than others causing dimpling in the fat. Weight loss can help reduce the appearance of dimpling, but nothing can permanently take cellulite away. We use radiofrequency heat energy to relax the bands of fat in the skin to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. We have found that a series of treatments can reduce dimpling in the fat for 3-12 months depending on the severity. These treatments are painless, take 30 minutes or less, and there is no downtime.” What is the best way to decide which method of non-surgical body contouring is best for someone? “When you come into my office for your consultation with me, I review your medical history, examine the areas of the body that bother you and can tell you which treatments would give you the best results. We will also give you an idea of how many treatments you might need, the interval between treatments, an approximate cost, as well as financing options. This is the most popular time of year for body contouring as patients think about warmer weather, donning a swimsuit and social events in the summer. We love helping our patients look and feel their best!” Follow Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa on Facebook or Instagram or check out their website to learn more at NicoleNorrisMD.com. Call 815-780-8264 for your complimentary body contouring consultation with Dr. Norris.
The joys of ••bullet•• journaling Creativity, organization, and fun – all in one place By Brandon LaChance
I
f you’re from LaSalle, Peru, or the Illinois Valley and pay attention to athletics, you know the names Ashley Heagy and Rachel Hickey. Both were multiple-sport athletes and multiple award winners at La Salle-Peru High School. Some of their highlights include Heagy advancing to state in swimming and Hickey earning eight Illinois High School Association track and field medals (two gold) and two cross country medals. But believe it or not, the two runners for the Illinois State University cross country and track teams have interests and hobbies outside of sports – one of them being bullet journaling. Bullet journaling is a mindfulness practice that is growing in popularity. “Basically, you can buy bullet journals on Amazon or anywhere on the internet. It’s just a small, little notebook that has dot grids on each page, so it’s easy to format,” said Heagy, who began bullet journaling in May 2018 as an L-P sophomore. “It’s a blank notebook that you basically can draw in everything yourself. I use it as a planner. “I draw my weekly planning space. You can give each month a theme. It’s customizable for you to do whatever you want with it to fit you, basically. Most people use it for planning and organization throughout their weeks, but I also know people who use it for fun or like an arts and crafts kind of thing with pictures.” Heagy can’t remember exactly when she first saw the concept of bullet journaling, but she knows it was on YouTube when a recommendation for a bullet journaling video kept popping up on her thread. She decided to watch one and then a second one. She thought it was a cool idea, a useful thing to help her plan her weeks, stay organized, serve as a creative
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Ashley Heagy (left) and Rachel Hickey smile at an Illinois State University track meet. The two formed a friendship at La Salle-Peru High School and have deepened it through their ISU ties and bullet journaling.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Rachel Hickey made a creative and fun page for her cross country vision board. outlet, and have fun doing in her downtime. “It helps me stay organized, especially with assignments. I write down every assignment I have for the week so I can keep myself accountable to do them ahead of time rather than cramming the night before,” said Heagy, whose biggest inspiration has been YouTuber, Amanda Rach Lee. “In college with online schooling, it’s been really hard to
keep track of everything that you need to do. Writing it all down in one spot is really nice and makes it easy to see what you have to do. “I use it for running. I write down the miles I ran and how I felt during the run. I can look back on it and figure out if I need to change something in my training or take an easy day based on how I tracked it See JOURNAL page 8
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | February 2022 7
Journal FROM PAGE 7
in my journal.” With the idea for the journal to be a planner and help her stay organized, it was time for the fun and creative parts to come in. Heagy has designed her weeks with picture collages, drawings, stickers, and anything else she likes from her extensive stash of stationery that she picks and chooses from when it’s time to design. For the design element, she likes to create layouts of her interests, including Star Wars and the Avengers. One of her favorite themes was a bookshelf theme with browns, tans, and beige that made her feel calm and cozy. Her journaling adjusts with her schedule. Heagy may have smaller, easier, quicker designs in the summer because she doesn’t have much to plan for. When school is in session, it could take her one hour to design a week because they’re more elaborate and involve more planning. “It gives me something to do in my free time, and I have a lot of fun doing it,” Heagy said. “It’s fun to come up with different themes, see how things work, and try new things.” But what’s the fun of having a hobby or an interest without someone to share it with? When Heagy found bullet journaling as a sophomore at L-P, Hickey was a senior. The two shared long bus rides to sporting events and began a friendship which included talking about Heagy’s bullet journaling. Hickey didn’t fully pick up the activity or jump right aboard, but she showed interest as she saw Heagy’s journals and asked to see updated versions every time they hung out. However, when she purchased her first journal in March 2020, she became attached and hasn’t stopped drawing or doodling ever since. “I started off really, really basic because I didn’t know if I’d stick with it. I tried to pick it up before I actually started, but I’m too much of a perfectionist, and I didn’t want to get too complicated with it,” Hickey said. “I started really
much as of an organizational tool it is for me, I also want to look back on these years later and say, ‘This is what was going on in my life at that time. That was fun.’” The two bullet journalists differ in the way they go about their shared hobby. Heagy creates her notebook by the week, while Hickey plans a month or two at a time, depending on the vibe. Either way, they’re both happy they have the other one to share their journals with. “It’s an individual thing, so we don’t do any of them together. We send pictures to each other all of the time to show what our weeks look like,” said Heagy, who also shares her designs with her CONTRIBUTED PHOTO grandma, Linda Wobrock. Ashley Heagy, a La Salle-Peru graduate and current member of the “It’s fun to see what Rachel Illinois State University cross country and track and field teams, is doing compared to what uses her free time to create bullet journals that offer her a way to be mine looks like. It’s a lot of creative, have fun, and organize her days, weeks, and months. fun having someone to talk to about bullet journaling because it’s kind of a weird thing because not that many people do it. Having someone to share mine with and to see her journal is pretty cool.” Hickey has shared her notebook with others and has even started conversations with ISU classmates CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED PHOTO because she saw them adding This is one of Rachel Hickey’s This is Rachel Hickey’s most to their own journals. But favorite journal entries she’s recent monthly set-up/theme for when a page is freshly finished, Heagy is the first one ever done, and it was inspired by her journal. to know. YouTuber Amanda Rach Lee. “I’ve always thought this my workouts. That was it be- was a really cool part of our simple and then Covid-19 sides the occasional doodle,” friendship. Bullet journalquarantine started right after ing and sports have really said Hickey, who will take I started. Bullet journaling brought Ashley and I toup to two hours to design a turned into more of an arweek when she wants to and gether,” Hickey said. “We’re tistic habit of mine. I really teammates again, and sports maybe 30 minutes when she like being artistic with bullet continue to bring us together, is not as much in the mood. journaling, and I use it as a but this is something we have “I didn’t use it as a planner creative outlet. I’ve learned to outside of the rest of our team or anything else. As I got let go of some of the perfecbesides being from the same tionism, but it’s still an issue I more into it, I started doing hometown. weekly spreads where a page sometimes run into.” “This is something we lays out my week. I use that to The older Cavalier turned both enjoy doing. WhenRedbird began slow and timid plan out my assignments and to look ahead. I’m to the point ever I finish a page, the first as she tip-toed into the large, person I send it to is Ashley now where I use it daily, so I vast world she only knew a just because I’m proud of little bit about. Now, fully sub- write out the things I need to it or I want some feedback. merged into bullet journaling, do every day,” she said. I’ll send her a photo of it “I still use it to track my Hickey enjoys large layouts and ask what she thinks. workouts for running just with pencils, markers, Washi We’ll tell each other when Tape, pictures, and scrapbook- because the pen and paper Amanda (the YouTuber) ing. She wants the space to jot method works best for me. I know there are apps that do down every detail of her day, posts a video and ask what it, but I like seeing what I’ve her assignments, workouts, we think of it or if we’ll use done on paper for some rearuns, passions, and plans. it. It’s fun, and it’s something son,” she said. “I’m trying to “The very first month I we’ll have (memories of) touse it more for pictures and started, I literally just did a gether even if one day we’re for memory-based things. As calendar and used it to track not doing it anymore.”
8 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Painting Through Life Story and photos by Katlyn Sanden
O
n any given day, Colette Yelm of Princeton can be found in her studio creating masterpieces that can be found in various homes and gift shops throughout Bureau County. These masterpieces are created with acrylic drip paint, a painting technique that turns a blank canvas into a one-of-akind abstract piece. “There’s drip painting or acrylic pouring,” Yelm explained. “It’s a couple different techniques, but you can do whatever you want to make it personal. One technique is how you pour the paint into a cup. You can either layer (the colors) or just pour. Another technique is how you pour the paint out of the cup. You can either just flip it over and let the paint pour out in one spot or distribute it through the painting. Each technique has its own feel to it with the way the paint comes out.” To achieve the best results, Yelm said a minimum of three colors should be used. She said the color combinations can either make or break a piece, but to always try to include a white or a cream. “If you just pour the paint out of the cup and let it go, it’d be different than taking the painting itself and tipping it side-to-side, making sure all the corners are covered,” Yelm said. “Negative space is a look I like too. Beforehand, you can paint the whole canvas white, blue, black, or whatever color you want and then pour paint on and leave some without.” Yelm has always enjoyed fine arts, and when she saw a segment on HGTV about drip painting, she was hooked. She scoured YouTube for any kind of video to learn the ins and outs and then searched craft stores for which paints work best for this type of abstract art. Not all paints pour the
There are a few different ways to pour the paint. One is to just pour the same color out of a cup, or you can layer different colors in a cup and pour all of them at the same time. This technique is pictured, giving the canvas almost a marbled look. same, and finding the right ones is critical. “There are different varieties (of paint),” Yelm said. “Some paint you don’t need to add anything to. Other paints, you’ll need to add Floetrol so it flows better on the canvas. It doesn’t dry fast either, so you have some time to work with it.” Floetrol is what professional painters use in paint sprayers. It thins the paint without losing its color and shine. It didn’t take long for others to notice Yelm’s hobby and want to be included. “My grandchildren love it,” she said. “I have a series of
10 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
their paintings on my front wall. They love it because they pour the paint, and there it is – their picture. It’s just amazing to them. The last one I did with my grandkids had all metallics. Those turned out gorgeous.” Bonding with her grandkids is just an added perk to an activity that brings her so much joy. “It (painting) is relaxing. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it doesn’t take forever to do,” Yelm said. “What’s time-consuming is choosing your colors and mixing the paint. A really important part is to find the colors that blend well together. I have
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The completed masterpieces all look different. Yelm says anyone can try this at home, but don’t forget to lay the plastic down as this technique is very messy. viewed abstract art all my life, so I know what I like and don’t like. It’s just so fun to do. You never know what it’s going to turn out like. Knowing I made something that I really like and other people like builds my confidence.” Not only are her pieces displayed throughout her home, but they’re also available for purchase by the general public at the Treasure Chest in Princeton. This painting trend has taken off so much that she now offers classes once a month at Optimal Health, also located in Princeton. If you want to take your stab at drip painting or acrylic pour, Yelm recommends not spending a fortune to start out. She says any inexpensive paint and a blank canvas will do the trick. She also recommends running a whisk or a blow dryer through the paint. She says the effects are just amazing. Amy Sanden, who had
never heard of acrylic pour before meeting Yelm, says she may have a new hobby. “It’s very interesting and unique how certain movements during the pouring turned into such abstract art,” Sanden explained of her first experience. She ran a popsicle stick through her canvas and achieved a one-of-a-kind look in various shades of blues and white. Experimenting with different techniques to achieve a variety of looks is part of the allure. “It’s a lot of trial and error,” Yelm said. “I did a few big ones, and they’re scary, but I just love it. It can make a mess, so lay the plastic down and be ready for getting it on you. Watching the videos is really good before you start, unless you come to one of my classes at Optimal Health. I can show you all the things you need, and it’ll be much easier.”
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Whole grain flours: Delicious and healthy Story by Shannon Serpette
3/4 cup sugar 2 tbsp vanilla extract 2 eggs
T
he next time you bake something or you’re in the bread aisle at the store, it would benefit you to reach for the whole grain flour or bread instead of the white. Eating whole grains instead of white flour has been identified as one way to lower your risk of health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, some kinds of cancer, and obesity. It’s an easy step to take, and it can pay off in terms of your health. “White flour has everything stripped,” Lori Rumbold, owner of the health food store Optimal Health in Princeton, said. The nutrients are removed along with the bran and germ, giving it less nutritional value than whole grain flour. “If it’s fortified, they’ve taken stuff out,” she said. Those who are seeking a more nutritional diet or who want to remove highly-processed foods from their menus can start with reducing or eliminating white flour. Rumbold said her store is packed with alternatives to white flour, including one of her favorite ancient grains, einkorn wheat. “It makes the most delicious breads, cookies, and pizza crusts,” Rumbold said. “You have to try it.” For those interested in branching out to include more whole grain flour in their diet, remember while baking that whole grain flour is denser than white, so you’ll either need to increase the liquid you use in a recipe or scale back a bit on the amount of flour you put in. Here are some easy-to-make, delicious whole grain flour recipes to get you started.
Whole Wheat Pizza Crust INGREDIENTS 1 tsp honey 1 ½ cups warm water
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and mix. Sift the dry ingredients onto the creamed mixture. Mix just until combined. Refrigerate the dough for about 10 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Fill a piping bag with the mixture, and pipe round disks onto the parchment paper about the diameter of a quarter. Or alternatively, use a small spoon to place the dough on the cookie sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
Minty, Chocolate Einkorn Brownies INGREDIENTS
PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Lori Rumbold, owner of Optimal Health in Princeton, holds up a bag of einkorn flour, a delicious and nutritious whole grain flour. 1 tbsp rapid rise dry yeast 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 3 and 1/4 cups whole wheat flour DIRECTIONS In a bowl, sprinkle yeast over the top of the warm water. Add in the honey and stir gently. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour until the dough comes together. Knead the dough until the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Put the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel and let it stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour. When doubled, put the dough on a
12 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
lightly floured surface, and divide into two pieces for two thin-crust pizzas, or leave whole to make one thick crust. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until you have the desired thickness. Place on a well-oiled pizza pan and add your favorite toppings. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the crust.
For the Brownies 1 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cups all-purpose einkorn flour 2/3 cup baking cocoa 1 tsp salt For the Mint Frosting 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 3 tbsp butter 1 tsp peppermint extract 1 drop green food coloring (optional) For the Chocolate Ganache 3 tbsp butter 1 cup chocolate chips 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream DIRECTIONS
Einkorn Vanilla Wafers INGREDIENTS 2 cups all-purpose einkorn flour 1 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup softened butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 cake pan. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and the vanilla to the creamed mixture and mix until combined. Sift the flour, salt, cocoa, and add them to the butter mixture. Stir just until combined – the batter
will be thick. Spread it out into the greased pan, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While the brownies are cooling, put all the ingredients for the mint frosting in a bowl, and beat until it is creamy and fully combined. Spread the frosting onto the cooled brownies. Place the brownies in the refrigerator for the mint frosting to harden a bit. To make the ganache, melt the butter and chocolate chips together in a double boiler or in a bowl on top of a saucepan that contains a couple of inches of boiling water. When the chocolate begins to melt, warm the cream until it is warm to the touch. Add it to the melting chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is totally melted and then spread it on top of the brownies, being careful not to mix it with the mint
frosting underneath. Chill until the chocolate is set.
Einkorn Sandwich Bread INGREDIENTS 3 1/3 cups einkorn flour 1 1/2 cups warm water 1 packet dry active yeast 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp powdered ginger (optional) DIRECTIONS Add the flour, salt, ginger, and yeast to the bowl of an electric mixer and attach a bread hook if you have one. Mix honey in with the warm, not hot, water. Add the water/honey mixture to the flour mixture and mix for 10 minutes (the long mix time allows you to skip kneading the dough).
Once the dough is thoroughly mixed, remove hook from the bowl, scrape down the sides, and cover with a towel. Allow bread to rise in a warm area for 25 minutes. Grease a bread pan and place the dough into the pan. Cover with a buttered piece of cling wrap and allow to rise for another 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, bake for 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes before turning bread out of the pan and onto a cooling rack. Cut from the bottom side to avoid crushing the loaf.
Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour ¾ cup white sugar
½ tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 egg 1/3 cup milk ½ cup unsweetened applesauce 1 pint fresh blueberries DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper liners. Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Whisk vegetable oil, egg, milk, and applesauce together in a separate bowl until smooth, and stir the liquid ingredients into the flour mixture until moistened. Gently stir in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them 2/3 full. Bake muffins for about 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
Brad & Abby
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Princeton SM-LA1952036
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1503 13th Avenue 2701 E 12th St
Mendota
1102 Meriden Street • Mendota 815-539-9341
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | February 2022 13
Got a sweet tooth? You’ll find decadent treats in the Illinois Valley
Story and photo by Courtney Jonsson panning across a 2,000-square-mile radius, the Illinois Valley is rich with small businesses ready to better residents’ lives. From services to products, these businesses set out to ensure the lives of their patrons are more fulfilled, a little bit easier, and a tad sweeter. Shops around the Illinois Valley are stocked with treats that will hit the spot the next time you gather with loved ones or even as an after-lunch snack. Flour House Bakery and Coffee in Princeton is an excellent place to start your day on a sweet note. Opening at 7 a.m., they serve fresh bagels, scones, muffins, and breads. Following the Flour House on Facebook will give you insight into what is in the display case on any given day. Raspberry cream cheese coffee cake, chocolate almond biscotti, and caramel pecan rolls are just a few treats that rotate through the case. Sallee Zearing, owner of Flour House Bakery and Coffee, urges new customers to try an Amish pumpkin cinnamon roll or a flourless monster cookie. Everything is baked in-house from scratch. There is more to the Flour House Bakery than just providing delicious breakfast items, desserts, and a warm cup of coffee. Zearing and the employees embody a mission of acceptance and strive to bring joy to their patrons. “The spreading of joy throughout this community and our mission of acceptance of all people are my favorite aspects of running this business. We want all humans of all backgrounds to know they are welcome at Flour House,” Zearing said. While Flour House opened with every intention of selling treats, Heartland By Hand in Ottawa was steered toward stocking sweets in a much different way. Located in a historic feed and flour store, Heartland By Hand is a custom picture framing and gift shop. When walking in the store, you’ll be greeted by Caroline and Hank Wolf, the owners, but you’ll also hear a tip-tapping on the wooden floor draw nearer to you. Wet nosed, with a wagging tail, Lincoln, Caroline and Hank’s dog and full-time greeter, will meet you at the threshold waiting for your attention. When they first opened, Caroline and Hank would give away Anellabee’s honey caramel with each purchase as a
S
Caroline Wolf, co-owner of Heartland By Hand, rings up a customer after helping her find some unique items. way to thank customers for shopping at the store. Soon, customers were requesting to purchase the caramels in-store. That led the couple to order Anellabee’s honey caramel gift boxes to have in store. Soon the word spread about their tasty treat selections. “Downtown workers started to adopt us as an afternoon snack stop, and we started stocking a few new favorites, like malted milk balls. Candy, as a gift, became so popular that we added boxes to fill up and tie with a bow to make a gift basket. People wanted to grab a bottle of water and snack for their walk down to the river, so we plugged in the vintage reach-in Coca-Cola machine. We now stock bottles of water and glass bottles of coke,” Caroline said. The selection of sweets is vast at Heartland By Hand. From just a few caramels on the counter to a selection that includes chocolate-coated sunflower seeds, Sweet Caroline’s gourmet lollipops, Sweeter greeting cards with a chocolate bar inside, Rice Krispie treats, Willa’s butter cookies, and many kinds of chocolate, it’s a great spot to stop to indulge your sweet tooth. “We carry that unique and delicious treat that you want to put in a gift, buy for your grandkids, bring a friend who is
14 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
having a bad day, or try yourself,” Caroline said. Both Flour House and Heartland By Hand carry sweets in the traditional sense, but one Illinois Valley shop does it a bit differently. In flourishing downtown LaSalle, you will find Rawfully Yours, a health-based cafe that provides whole foods, fresh-pressed juices, plantbased shakes, and desserts. Sandy Hoos, owner of Rawfully Yours, was on a mission to live a healthier lifestyle after seeing her mom’s health decline. After deciding to make a change for herself, she wanted to offer healthier options to the community as well. She surveyed the public, researched the market, and patiently waited for a prime spot in downtown LaSalle to become available. At Rawfully Yours, they want to make healthy eating fun again, and they do that by offering sweet treats that have a little spin on them. “A favorite right now is our peanut butter shake, and it has no Reeses in it. We use peanut butter, dark chocolate, almond milk, and plant-based gelato. There is a preconceived notion that because it is healthy, it will not taste good. I really challenge people to come in and try it,” Hoos said.
Along with the peanut butter cup shake, Rawfully Yours offers other flavors such as pineapple, blueberry blast, strawberry-banana, chocolate, and vanilla. Hoos loves chatting with customers and guiding them toward healthier items. She founded Rawfully Yours because she has a passion for educating people. “A lot of our customers would like to make a change, but they are unsure where to start. That’s why we are here,” Hoos said. While these shops are a good starting point, you can always find somewhere to grab a treat no matter what part of the Illinois Valley you find yourself in. When you go into these small shops, you can ask about their story and hear about the evolution of each one. Understanding how these places have evolved into a staple for sweet treats in their community gives insight into what makes each place so special.
Bring your kitchen to life
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Heartland By Hand Gifts and Framing 2231 W. Main St. • Ottawa. 815.324.9298 www.heartlandbyhand.com
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Mon-Fri 10a-5p • Thurs 10a-6p • Sat 9a-3p • Sun 12-4p
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717 Bellevue Ave. | Ottawa, IL 61350 815.434.2539 | tthomas@qltycarecleaning.com A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | February 2022 15
SHOP PRINCETON! Recently Named #3 Within Purewow’s Top 10 Most Charming Towns in Illinois
Shop Hoffman's
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for Polish Pottery
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1789 1500 N. Ave, Princeton, IL | 815-872-2641
Serving the Area for 42 Years!
Challenging, family friendly 9-hole golf course
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Designed to Fit You to a Tee ◆ Complete pro shop ◆ Driving range ◆ Lessons available ◆ Club repair
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Voted Readers Choice Favorite Golf Course!
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Mon-Fri-6:30am-5:30pm Sat-8am-3pm Closed Sunday 130 N Main • Princeton, IL
16 February 2022 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
Family owned business • Two floors of merchandise for your gift buying needs • 815-875-3819 811 E Peru St • Princeton • flowersbyjuliaprinceton.com
START YOUR DAY OFF WITH YOUR FAVORITE BREW! Coffee, teas, Frappes, Smoothies, Steamers, Energy Buzz Drinks, Scones, Bakery Items, & Much More!
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Wyaton Hills Golf Course
