NOTEWORTHY

PETS

BARK AT ME

Valentine’s Day is a much loved and celebrated holiday. Sharing love just feels good. When a dog loves, it is often described as unconditional. This Valentine’s Day show your pup some love. Share some special time with your dog. There are wonderful doggie bakeries that have treats just for dogs.

PET PARENT QUESTION: “I love my dog and I know he loves me. But when I want to snuggle, he only sits with me for a minute or two and he goes to the floor to lie down. Is it because he was a rescue dog that he does this?”

No two dogs are alike no matter their background. Every dog has a different personality. I had two dogs at the same time, and one held a definition of intimacy that meant lying on the floor near me at all times. My other dog would snuggle into my body whenever she got the chance. My guess is your dog’s definition of affection is to be near you more than he enjoys a physical snuggle. If he enjoys being pet while he is lying down, that would be something you might both enjoy. Enjoy learning all the ways your dog loves you, keeping in mind every dog is different.

DONNA CHICONE is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker and advocate for dogs. She lives in Woodbury. You might find her engaged in pet-assisted therapy work. superpetparent.com

TRAVEL

Safe Travels Follow these important guidelines for traveling during COVID-19.

With spring break around the corner, it’s important to practice all COVID-19 protocols and safety practices before traveling. If you do travel, consider types of travel; airports, bus stations, train stations and rest stops are all places travelers can be potentially exposed to the virus via air and on surfaces, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So here are a few guidelines set by the CDC that you should be following: —Samantha De Leon

When using bathrooms and rest stops, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom and after you have been in a public place.

When getting gas, use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them. If you can, avoid using food stops by bringing your own food. Otherwise, use drive-through, delivery, take-out or curbside pick-up options.

Always wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet apart from anyone who is not from your household, wash your hands and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

FITNESS

Neuroplasticity and Exercise Dislike exercise? Your brain is begging for it.

“I can do it,” I always say. But getting the motivation to exercise every day can be challenging. Luckily, it gets easier over time and is directly linked to significant neurological payoffs that last for decades.

Neuroplasticity is the ability of your brain to change over time, but it decreases with age. Exercise can keep it strong and healthy, and delay the onset of neurological disorders, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

THE SCIENCE OF NEUROPLASTICITY: • The temporal lobes, located on each side of the brain, both contain the hippocampus, which is responsible for creating and preserving long-term explicit memories; things you can declare and have to consciously process.

• The prefrontal cortex, located behind your forehead, is responsible for decision making and personality traits; it also works with the hippocampus to store explicit memories.

• The brain structure that exercise enhances are most susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases.

BOOKS

With so many aspects of life on hold right now, those of us who love to travel must find another way to scratch that itch. I have found that one of the best ways to do this is through a book. While reading, I’m easily transported to experience more lives, places and times than I could ever visit in person.

One book particularly good at virtual transportation is Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart. This mystery, set in 18th century China, at the far reaches of the empire, follows Li Du, an exiled librarian. On his journey to leave the empire, Li Du stops in the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border. Hours after his arrival, an elderly AEROBIC EXERCISE According to Wendy Suzuki, a New York University neuroscientist, aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate is the most beneficial to reap the long-term dividends of physical activity.

To reap those benefits, complete aerobic exercises—walking, running, cycling, swimming—at least three (or four) times a week, 30–40 minutes each time.

MAINTAIN MOTIVATION Staying motivated is challenging for anyone. Here are a few ways to stay motivated:

• Shape your behavior. Set attainable goals that give satisfaction of completion afterward.

• Reward yourself. Use positive reinforcements to increase the likelihood of your desired behavior, in this case: exercise.

MIKE LEWIS is the owner of 3P Boxing 24/7 and a certified trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Travel via Reading

Jade Dragon Mountain transports the reader to China.

3pboxing247.com // 651.467.5183 Jesuit astronomer is murdered in the home of the local magistrate. To complicate the situation further, the town is filling with visitors who are arriving to celebrate a solar eclipse commanded by the Emperor himself.

The mystery keeps the pages turning but the details made this story come alive. The historical and cultural details make this book a wonderful way to travel across time without leaving your couch.

NATALIE EIERMAN is a library manager with Washington County Library. The top destinations on her travel wish list are Morocco, Japan and England.

FOOD

RELAXING WITH RISOTTO Risotto is near the top of my list of winter meal go-tos.

Warm, creamy, endlessly versatile and impressive enough for guests—it’s a comfort dish that ticks all the boxes.

One of my favorite dishes to eat, risotto is also one of my favorite dishes to prepare. Some think it fussy, but I find making it to be quite therapeutic. There’s something about the stirring. Tending carefully to a pan of simmering risotto gives me time to think about where and how I learned to make it (in Figline Valdarno in Tuscany).

I also love to teach risotto technique. Becoming a great cook requires one to pay attention, to focus, to tap into the senses and to get comfortable with instinct. It also requires patience and practice, something risotto especially entails. And while a teacher or a good recipe can help get you started, once you learn the basics, risotto requires virtually no measuring and it’s as easy to make for two as it is for 12.

This month, I’m sharing a basic risotto recipe as well as my personal favorite— mushroom and mascarpone. As far as tips, my best advice is to use the right kind of rice (arborio or carnaroli); use wine to add much-needed acidity (and to sip while you stir); cook until tooth-tender (good risotto should have texture/bite); and serve it like a Tuscan—on a plate—allowing the risotto to spread (the resulting “sauce” should be alla onda, or wavy, not thick or sticky). I hope you’ll enjoy!

RACHAEL PERRON is the culinary and brand director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications.

Find Rachael’s recipes for basic risotto and mushroom and mascarpone risotto on our website at woodburymag.com.