May 22, 2024 Pinch Rosauers

(Family Features) Bright sunshine, warm patios and fresh foods go hand in hand. As warm weather and sunny days call you outdoors, bring the whole family along with favorite meals that blend perfectly with a soft breeze and the subtle sounds of nature.

Al fresco dining doesn’t have to be difficult. Just gather a few supplies, whip up a favorite recipe or two and ask for a hand in heading outside. Take these tips into account to help ensure your backyard dining goes off without a hitch.

Create a Cozy Spot

Dinner in the backyard means convenience and the comfort of your own patio furniture, but you can always enhance the experience with an umbrella to add a touch of shade or a small fan on those still, steamy evenings. If a busy day means a later dinner, hanging strings of soft lighting can help illuminate the table.

Make It Fresh

Salad season means fresh ingredients from lettuce and veggies to favorite toppings and beyond. Add a crisp bite to your next al fresco occasion with this Southwest Ranch Taco Salad featuring Newman’s Own’s Southwest Ranch

Dressing. The dressing is creamy and smoky with a kick of spice and features no artificial flavors, no colors from artificial sources and no MSG, making it a perfect companion for salads and dips. In fact, you can enjoy this seasonal salad even more knowing that 100% of profits from the sale of the dressing goes toward helping nourish and transform the lives of children facing adversity.

Don’t Forget the Essentials

No outdoor meal is complete without a few must-have utensils. Avoid trips back and forth from the house by writing a list of everything you need so you don’t head to the deck

without forks to share a salad or napkins to help clean up the mess. Bring the basics like plates, cups, utensils, napkins and a cloth to rest food on.

Don’t leave behind serving spoons, trash bags and other convenience items that make al fresco dining a breeze.

Seve a Perfect Salad Partner

While a hearty salad alone is enough for a filling al fresco meal, you can take your backyard dining to the next level with the perfect partner for satisfying salads: crudites.

Arranged neatly on a platter or board, a seasonal variety of sliced or whole raw vegetables such as snap peas, celery, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, mini bell peppers, broccoli and more can make for a perfect accompaniment to nearly any outdoor meal. Serve with a dip or two, such as Newman’s Own’s Southwest Ranch Dressing, to complete your al fresco appetizer.

To find more al fresco food options that give back, visit NewmansOwn.com.

SOUTHWEST

RANCH TACO

SALAD

Total time: 25 minutes 1/2 head romaine lettuce 1 pint cherry tomatoes 2 small avocados 1 tablespoon extra-virgin

olive oil

1 pound ground beef (80/20 ground chuck)

2 teaspoons Newman’s Own Mild Taco Seasoning

1/4 cup water

1 can (15 1/2 ounces) black beans

1 1/2 cups canned corn

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus additional for serving (optional), divided

1 cup Newman’s Own Southwest Ranch Dressing

6 ounces tortilla chips

Coarsely chop lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes and pit, peel and slice avocados. Set aside.

In large frying pan over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Brown ground beef, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes. Add taco seasoning and water; cook according to package directions, 5-8 minutes, or until meat is t horoughly cooked.

Drain and rinse black beans. Set aside.

Divide lettuce among serving bowls or plates. Top with ground beef, tomatoes, avocados, black beans, corn, cheese and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Tuck in tortilla chips.

Drizzle with southwest ranch dressing and sprinkle with additional cilantro, if desired.

Picnics are the best excuse for a great family get-together. And preparing for the picnic can provide even more family fun, especially when you assemble and bake stromboli -- an easy-tomake Italian sandwich that bursts with flavor. You can choose the ingredients according to your taste. You may even make an extra peanutbutter-and-jelly version for your pint-sized picnickers.

Our favorite version -- and one that will be on our weekend menu often during these spring days -- is an easy recipe that makes two stromboli rolls to feed four to six people.

STROMBOLI

1 loaf frozen white-bread dough, thawed and still cool (such as the Rhodes brand)

Olive oil

4 ounces fresh whole spinach leaves, washed and dry

6 slices pastrami or ham

6 slices provolone cheese

6 slices mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup sliced red pepper (fresh or processed in oil)

Here’s the fun: Cut the loaf of thawed dough in half and roll out each half into a 12-by-8-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Your kids might want to bring out a ruler or measuring tape to check the size as you stretch the dough into shape.

Let your kids brush the dough lightly with olive oil. Place 1/4 of the spinach leaves over each half of the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border all around where there will be no filling. Top the spinach with a layer of pastrami or ham, provolone, the remaining spinach, mozzarella and red pepper.

Starting from the long side, roll it up in a jelly-roll fashion, and secure the seams carefully by pinching the dough. (This will keep it tightly closed while baking.)

Place the rolls seam-side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Score the top of each roll with a small knife or kitchen scissors, making a few short slits. Cover with a cloth and let rise for 20-30 minutes at room temperature. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. To get a nice, crisp crust, baste several times with water or a light coating of oil when baking. Serve warm or cool and cut slices about 1 inch thick for serving.

If you are headed to a picnic spot, wrap the entire roll in aluminum foil and transport it in a cooler to keep it fresh. Slice when you arrive at your destination.

Cook’s Tip: Pour marinara sauce in small bowls for a tangy dipping sauce.

BY DONNA ERICKSON

Celebrity Extra

By Cindy Elavsky

is “Law and Order.” Does he have another show

- Janet Y.,

A: Jeremy has a new show premiering this Federal Bureau of Investigation. The series

Mr. Wolf has the procedural magic touch). Missy

A: You are referring

JOANN DERSON

SPORTS QUIZ

BY RYAN A. BERENZ

1. What member of the 1919 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds was head coach of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles from 1941-50 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969?

2. Name the Indiana University president who fired men’s basketball coach Bob Knight in 2000 and went on to become president of the NCAA in 2003.

3. John Salley was the first player to win NBA championships with three different franchises. What were they?

4. What two college football rivals played in a dramatic 2016 game that became known as “The Block at the Rock”?

5. In what sport would one find participants using an epee on a piste?

6. What golf course, located in Louisville, Kentucky, first hosted the PGA Championship in 1996 and was the site of the 2008 Ryder Cup?

7. What French tennis player won the 1983 French Open and later embarked on a

bills that need to be mailed. Here’s a great way to keep track of when to pay a bill so that it always gets there on time: I used to write the due dates of my bills on my calendar. Now I write the pay by date for each bill on the calendar. For bills that go in the mail, I write a date that’s a week ahead of when it is due. For bills that are paid online, I write a date three days ahead of the due date, and for automatic payments, I deduct the money from the paycheck BEFORE the draft is made. Now I never miss a

•

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Sisto Depositphotos

Q: Is it true that Bella Hadid has quit modeling? Is she still recovering from Lyme disease? -- S.E.

A:When Bella Hadid first appeared on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alongside her mother, Yolanda, and sister, Gigi, she was riding horses, not modeling. She didn’t seem interested in following her mother’s footsteps on the runway, but within a few short years, she and her sister were considered modern-day supermodels and fodder for the tabloids. The girl who loved horses is reemerging now. Hadid has taken a break from modeling and calls Fort Worth, Texas, her new home. She’s been dating cowboy and horse trainer Adan Banuelos since the two were seen together last October, and he’s gotten her back into riding. Hadid placed third in a riding competition back

Trivia Test

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European country has the largest population?

2. TELEVISION: Which sitcom features a character named Ron Swanson?

3. SCIENCE: What are the three layers of the Earth?

4. MOVIES: Which 2001 movie has a famous “bend and snap” scene?

5. MONEY: What is a modern U.S. penny made of mostly?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a common name for an animal in the Leporidae family?

in January, according to a post on his Instagram page. This past August, Hadid opened up about her health struggles on an Instagram post and shared that she was “finally healthy” after getting diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012. ***

Q: Is it true that Tracy Morgan is returning to “Saturday Night Live” as part of the cast again? -- K.S.

A: Tracy Morgan spent seven years as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” but he has no plans to return in that capacity. He has returned to host twice so far and will no doubt host again someday.

Morgan starred in his self-titled sitcom “The Tracy Morgan Show,” but it was canceled after one season. He made a much bigger splash playing a hilarious parody of himself in the Tina Fey sitcom “30 Rock.” He later went on to star in another successful series “The Last O.G.” for four seasons.

You’ll likely see him hosting “SNL” to promote his new sitcom “Crutch” when it begins airing on Paramount+. “Crutch” is a spin-off of the hit CBS sitcom “The Neighborhood.” Morgan has guest-starred on that show before and played Calvin’s (Cedric the Entertainer) wealthy brother, Curtis, but he’ll be playing a completely different character on “Crutch.”

According to the official logline, Crutch is Cedric’s cousin, “a Harlem widower whose empty nest plans

BY DANA JACKSON

are put on hold after his millennial son and freespirited daughter move back home.” Production on “Crutch” will begin later this year with an official premiere date to be announced.

***

Q: Whatever happened to the show “Deadliest Catch?” I know that a couple of people who were originally on it have passed away. Is it ever coming back? -- T.A.

A: “Deadliest Catch,” a documentary-reality show about the perilous world of crabbing on the high seas, premiered in 2005 on the Discovery Channel. Tragedy has struck the show numerous times in the form of natural causes, overdoses, and accidents involving the ships and their equipment. Despite all the hardship and heartbreak, the show is going on its 20th season this summer.

According to Entertainment Weekly, fan-favorite captains Sig Hansen, Keith Colburn and Wild Bill Wichrowski are all returning and will be competing in a derby-style race to reach a $1 million quota. Season 20 of “Deadliest Catch” premieres on Tuesday, June 11, at 8 p.m. ET on Discovery and will be available to stream on Max soon afterward.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

8. ANATOMY: Where is the pinna located in the human body?

9. HISTORY: Who was the fourth president of the United States?

10. BUSINESS: What did Amazon sell exclusively when it started business in 1994? (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

7. LITERATURE: Which children’s book contains the line, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast”?

BY LUCIE WINBOURNE

• Football player Ronaldinho Gaucho lost a $750,000 deal with Coca-Cola simply by taking a sip from a Pepsi.

• Some farmers started feeding their pigs waste products from the marijuana industry, such as plant stems, leaves and roots, saying it boosted the animals’ appetites so they would bulk up to 30 pounds heavier than normal, also that it had the effect of making the meat taste “more savory.”

• The fastest any human has ever traveled was during the re-entry of the Apollo 10 module, at a maximum speed of 24,830 miles per hour, or 7 miles per second.

• If you can convince yourself that you slept well last night, even though you didn’t, your brain will be tricked into thinking you aren’t tired. It’s called “placebo sleep.”

• When an astronaut working on the International Space Station needed a tool he didn’t have, NASA came to the rescue by designing one with computer software and emailing the file to him. He then used a 3D printer to create the first object ever designed on Earth but made in space.

• Studies show that the human brain remains halfawake when sleeping in a new environment for the first time.

• Just before WWII, the U.S. created the Logan Bar, a chocolate bar that deliberately tasted “a little better than a boiled potato,” as an emergency ration to prevent soldiers from snacking on it outside of emergency situations.

• Too much grape soda will make your poop turn blue.

• A shopping mall in China offers “husband storage” pods, where wives and girlfriends can leave their partners while they shop. Each pod is equipped with a TV, a gaming console and a leather massage chair.

Thought for the Day: “A comfort zone is a beautiful place -- but nothing ever grows there.”

Anonymous

BY FREDDY GROVES

NEW RULES AFTER A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE

Not all of us left the service unscathed and with an honorable discharge (and all the benefits that would give us) clutched in our fist. Some of us, for one reason or another, did not make it out with an honorable or general discharge, or we even had a bad conduct discharge and/or a court martial. We left lots of benefits on the table when that happened. That’s changing, at least a little bit. There are now finalized rules about discharge determinations that expand health care and benefits for some of those who did not get an honorable discharge. They’re calling it a “compelling circumstances exception.”

There are certain circumstances where prior actions can now be reviewed. They’ll take into consideration a list of things, such as length of prior service, mental health at the time, any sexual harassment or assault, physical problems, anything caused by combat duty and other reasons and circumstances for the actions that caused the discharge you were given. You have to apply to see what their determination is. You might find that they conclude, once they know all the facts, that the discharge is under conditions other than dishonorable. If you want to apply, see: www.va.gov/discharge-upgradeinstructions/. Additionally, see the detailed factsheet at benefits.va.gov/ BENEFITS/docs/COD_Factsheet.pdf.

You can apply online, over the phone or by mail, or you can even show up at a VA medical facility and ask for care. Any of those will get the ball rolling. You’ll be sent a letter asking for details. Give them. It’s your chance to provide evidence or make a statement about what was going on that led to the less than honorable discharge. You can mail your reply or deliver it to a VA office, and you can also ask for a hearing to present your evidence at a VA regional office.

The new rule will take effect June 25, 2024. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

SENIOR NEWS LINE

By Matilda Charles

Losing Friends

I’d heard that once we seniors reach a certain age, we start losing people -- friends, acquaintances, other senior relatives -- they start dying one by one. I’d reached my age unscathed by much of that loss, and was happy to consider that it might always be so, that the others I hold dear would continue being part of my days. But no, that unfortunate phase of life has caught up with me.

It got to the point where I didn’t want to answer the phone, so sometimes I didn’t. I would unplug it the night before and wouldn’t plug it in the next day until noon.

I would tell myself it was because I didn’t want my sleep disturbed by the robocalls or sales pitches. But the truth was that I feared hearing about yet another death in my circle.

I had to take myself in hand to deal with the endless sadness about the ever-growing list of appearances at funerals. My way of handling

the grief has been to get out of the house at least once each day, no matter what.

On Monday afternoons, I walk and socialize dogs at the humane society, working with the animals to get them more suitable for adoption. On Wednesdays, I shelve books in the library, usually the kid section.

On Friday afternoons, I deliver prescriptions for a pharmacy here in town. I was told that most of the customers are other seniors who aren’t well enough to get out to pick up their own prescriptions, which has certainly been an attitude adjustment as I ponder their conditions (unhealthy) versus mine (healthy enough to play with dogs, shelve books and so on.)

The other days I walk laps at the rec center.

Getting out every day helps. But I still dread answering the phone. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

HOW LONG IS TOO LONG TO LEAVE PETS AT HOME?

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My neighbor across the hall confronted me yesterday, accusing me of mistreating my dog. She said that “Cookie” whines and barks for hours whenever I am gone, and that I need to take him with me rather than leave him alone in the apartment. I work full-time at an office that doesn’t allow dogs. When I travel, I take Cookie to a sitter. But is 8 to 10 hours away too long for a dog? -- Gerald in Brooklyn

DEAR GERALD: Dogs aren’t always happy about their owners going away for 8 hours a day. They can develop separation anxiety. This can manifest as nonstop barking, whining or even acting out (like destroying your slippers, pooping

• On May 27, 1831, trapper-explorer Jedediah Smith, who established the South Pass across the Rocky Mountains in modern western Wyoming as a well-known and heavily traveled route for fur trappers, was riding alone when he was attacked and killed by a hunting party of Comanche Native Americans on the Santa Fe Trail.

• On May 28, 1983, Irene Cara’s song “Flashdance (What a Feeling),” from the “Flashdance” movie soundtrack, reached the top of the U.S. pop charts and helped push the film to the No. 3 spot on that year’s total box-office revenue list. It also proved to be the biggest hit of Cara’s career.

• On May 29, 2014, LGBT advocate and Emmy-winning actor Laverne Cox of the Netflix original series “Orange Is the New Black” became the first transgender person to appear on the cover of TIME magazine.

• On May 30, 1899, amateur bandit Pearl Hart and her drifter boyfriend, Joe Boot, held up an Arizona stagecoach, making away with over $400 in cash. Although discovered and sentenced to prison, neither served their full term, and Hart was pardoned by the governor in 1902, living out the rest of her life in relative obscurity.

• On May 31, 1970, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale off the coast of Casma, Peru, in the Pacific Ocean caused an avalanche traveling at over 100 miles per hour that buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca, killing an estimated 50,000 people and making it the worst natural disaster ever recorded in the country’s history.

• On June 1, 1958, following a long political crisis over the Algerian War, former French president Charles de Gaulle was called out of retirement to head a new emergency government as prime minister for a six-month term in an effort to keep the country together.

• On June 2, 1920, Eugene O’Neill won his first of four Pulitzer Prizes, for his play “Beyond the Horizon,” which was also his first full-length work to be staged. Though he was initially not happy over the news, his attitude improved upon learning the award came with a $1,000 prize and did not involve a ceremony. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY SAM MAZOTTA

Hollywood

BY TONY RIZZO

HOLLYWOOD -- Shocking news! Martin Scorsese’s planning a biopic of Frank Sinatra ... with blue-eyed Leonardo DiCaprio as “Old Blue Eyes!” Even more startling is that he wants Jennifer Lawrence to play the screen goddess Ava Gardner. It’ll take a lot more than makeup and intense acting to transform both of them into two Hollywood legends we all remember only too well!

The times that I encountered and photographed Sinatra, he wrote the script for everything happening around him. The

night I spent with Gardner on the set of “Earthquake” in 1974, she was every inch an iconic movie star because she truly believed it until the day she died. Her awe-striking presence made you believe it, too.

In 2004, DiCaprio played Howard Hughes in “The Aviator,” but Hughes’ fame was a whole different ball game than playing Frank Sinatra with all of his complex facets.

***

If you’ve seen a trailer online showing Henry Cavill as James Bond (with an American accent, no less), you’re looking at a fake AI video. Cavill had no knowledge or input in the video, but his people believe that his overzealous fans, who’ve been campaigning on his behalf to be cast as 007, took matters into their own capable hands.

Frankly, Cavill, at 41, is already too old.

James Bond is supposed to be 37 years old, and the next film won’t be out for at least two years. After the dismal box-office takes of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” (2015) and “Argylle” (2024), the former Superman is an unlikely choice. Still, the “fake” video pulled

in 2.3 million viewers.

***

Academy-Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne received mixed reviews in the Broadway production of “Cabaret” for his portrayal of The Emcee (played by Joel Grey on Broadway and in the film). Unsuspecting audiences are led into an alley, past garbage cans to a dimly lit lounge, where greeters offer free shots of cherry schnapps. This is followed by 75 minutes of nightclub ambiance in various bars en route to the theater that has been transformed into the actual Kit Kat Club, where the show begins.

Even though Redmayne won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award (one of seven wins for the show), a New York Times critic wrote, “This all seemed like throatclearing to me. ... The only relevant purpose I can see for this conceptional doodling, however well carried out, is to give the fifth Broadway incarnation of the 1966 show a distinctive profile.”

But the critic for Entertainment Weekly was totally glowing about the show, calling it the hottest ticket on Broadway right now and “an unforgettable, immersive experience that lures audiences in with visions of sweet, sweet hedonism before bowling them over with a harrowing, unflinching tale.” See it and decide for yourself if life is a “Cabaret” or a cabernet!

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

ANGELA SHELF MEDEARIS KITCHEN DIVA

Photo credit: www.JasonCoblentz.com

There’s a special charm in reinventing the familiar. Take Loco Moco, for instance -- a delightful fusion of flavors that reimagines the humble hamburger patty into a delicious cultural mashup.

Loco Moco embodies the multicultural tapestry of Hawaii. Its components -- bed of fluffy rice from Asian cuisine, a sizzling hamburger patty crowned with a sunny-side-up egg from American diners and gravy reminiscent of European sauces -- symbolize the diverse influences that shape Hawaiian cuisine.

Don’t let its delectable flavors fool you; Loco Moco is the epitome of simplicity, offering a quick, wallet-friendly solution for those hectic weeknight dinners. With just a handful of affordable ingredients and minimal prep time, this flavorful masterpiece proves that delicious dining doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.

LOCO MOCO

Yield: 4 servings

Total Time: 35 minutes

What You’ll Need:

1 pound ground beef, at least 15 to 20% fat

1 medium Maui or sweet onion, peeled (1/4 of the onion chopped; 3/4 sliced)

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated

3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, divided

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

8 ounces cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional)

2 cups beef broth

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons cornstarch

4 cups cooked white rice

4 eggs, fried, sunny side up or over easy

Green onions, sliced, for garnish

Here’s How:

Let’s start with the onion. Be sure you chop a quarter of

the onion and slice the rest.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Shape this into 4 (1/2 inch) patties. Pop those on a plate and stick them in the fridge. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Once it’s hot, add the sliced onion and begin sauteing. You want the onion to be translucent. Stir them occasionally and saute for about 5 minutes. Now, reduce the heat to low and continue to saute the onion as it gets soft and begins to caramelize, about 7 more minutes. Remove the onions to a bowl and keep warm. Next, retrieve the patties and add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Bump the heat back up to medium. Once it’s hot, carefully add the patties to the pan and cook them until browned, around 4 minutes per side. Transfer the patties to a platter and keep warm. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the pan and saute the mushrooms for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Get your second skillet warming to begin frying the eggs. You’ll have to do two things at once. If you are also walking and chewing gum, I suggest you stop immediately and focus.

Now, everybody in the pool! Return the onions to the pan along with the beef broth, soy sauce and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the skillet and whisk until it thickens, about 5 minutes. You should be cooking over-easy or sunny-side-up eggs by now.

Place the patties into the skillet to get all

and warmed back up.

Frank Sinatra Photo by Tony Rizzo