Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Check Out the Classifieds on Pages 6 - 7 Thank you for picking up MyConnection. Look for your copy delivered free to your home from The Newnan Times-Herald each Wednesday. You’ll find entertainment and travel news, as well as upcoming events, easy-to-make recipes, and things that matter to you and your family.
Just in time for Father’s Day Firing Up For A
Grilliant Summer W Family Features
hether cooking on a gas or charcoal grill, at home, at a park or at a tailgate, grilling provides an unmistakable aroma, a sizzling sound and maximum flavor. And research shows that when it comes to grilling, nearly three out of four Americans choose beef as the meat they grill the most often; but nearly 30 percent are still looking for more information on how to harness the power of the grill. For guaranteed, delicious results when grilling beef, try following these three easy steps:
1. Choose Your Cut Some of the best cuts for grilling include naturally tender ribeye,
inside Grilliant Beef Recipes ➤
top loin (aka strip) and ground beef. Flank steak is also an excellent choice after a dip in a tenderizing marinade.
Grecian Top Loin Steaks and Mushroom Kabobs
Tip: Rubs and marinades are easy ways to add flavor and tenderize.
Remove beef from refrigerator and season with herbs and spices, as desired. Tip: Wait to salt until after cooking so you don’t draw out the natural, flavorful juices from the meat.
2. Prepare Your Beef
Prepare grill (gas or charcoal) according to manufacturer’s directions for medium heat.
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3. Grill
Place beef on grates and grill, covered, turning occasionally.
Test doneness with meat thermometer: Cook burgers to 160°F and steaks to 145°F for medium rare or 160°F for medium. Tip: Turn steaks with long handled tongs instead of a fork. Do not press down on steaks or burgers as flavorful juices will be lost. Tip: For detailed grilling time by cut, visit www. BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com and type in “grilling.”
Navigating the Learning Curve of College Visits NewsUSA
realistic number of colleges to visit.
Finding the perfect college is kind of like investigative journalism — you must do loads of research, ask all the right questions and visit the scene to gather first-hand knowledge and experience. College visits should start percolating in the parental and student lobes toward the end of junior year and the start of senior year. Road trips, comprehensive virtual tours, G-chats and online scouring simply cannot replace the experience of seeing real dorm rooms or eating in actual dining halls. As any tooth-and-nails journalist will tell you about a hot story, parents should have a strategy for visiting college campuses and getting the most out of each tour. Prepare to be schooled by Dr. Richard Bavaria, senior vice president of education outreach. Cast a wide net. If your highschooler hasn’t done so already, help them compile a list of potential universities. Ask what aspects of college life — sports, extracurriculars, campus/ enrollment size, dorm life, religious affiliations, academic strengths and offerings — are important to them and use those criteria. Mark choices as dream, target and safety schools based on your child’s academic performance and test scores. The initial list can be pared down to a
Get SAT/ACT prep support. If some of the dream schools seem out of range due to unsatisfactory test scores, get your student SAT help from tutoring experts. The level of competition to get into top schools is more intense than ever. “The number of early admission applications has increased dramatically, with some universities seeing doubledigit jumps. To begin the college process, most students applying to competitive colleges now take the SAT/ ACT more than once,” says Bavaria.
Go while college is in session. Weekends and holidays can be dead zones for college life, which won’t give your student a real glimpse of the campus. Call ahead to schedule tours, and make sure college is in session and students are attending classes so potential applicants see the whole experience.
Ask smart questions. Encourage your kid to question everyone — students, professors, advisors, librarians, coaches and more. Ask the same questions of different students and professors to compare answers. Parents, remember to hit key topics that students might forget, like financial aid and safety. You can usually trust them to inquire about food selection and social activities.
When school lets out for the summer, many parents are left searching for ways to keep children entertained in the ensuing months.
How to Keep Kids Entertained All Summer Long Summer vacation often starts with high expectations. Children are excited about the prospect of fun days outdoors playing with friends, while parents anxiously await relaxing months without the responsibilities of school and extracurricular clubs. But once summer vacation arrives and the first few days have passed, parents often find that the litany of cheers and giggles transform into a chorus of “I’m bored.” Many parents pore over ideas that will keep their children busy throughout the summer. Many activities that come to mind tend to be expensive, so if cutting costs is a priority, parents might need to think outside the box to come up with entertaining ideas that won’t break the bank.
Camp Summer camp is a popular way for kids to spend their summers, but many camps are expensive. Parents looking for alternatives should consider local programs that offer summer activities. Libraries, schools and childcare centers
may have programs that run the length of summer and are considerably less expensive than more formal camps. A YMCA or even a swim club may also put together activities. Parents whose children attend afterschool sporting classes, such as karate or soccer, may find that the organizations offer a camp or summer program.
Day Trips If a parent is off for the summer, then day trips may be a possibility. Schedule a few day trips to different locations that the kids are excited to see. Visit www.times-herald.com and click on 50 Things to Do This Summer for lots of fun ideas. The Newnan Times-Herald also publishes a calender highlighting local events in every Sunday edition. The family can gather around the table and decide which outings would be interesting and then mark them on the calendar.
Kid Swap Chances are many of your neighbors
are also facing the same difficulties as they try to find ways for kids to spend their summer afternoons. Parents can get together and set up a schedule for entertaining the kids. For example, one parent is responsible for the whole lot one day, while the next day another parent takes a turn. This gives parents the opportunity to take a break from parental responsibilities and enjoy some quiet time. And for the children, time spent in a pool, watching movies, playing video games, or riding bikes is often more enjoyable with friends in tow.
Fun Projects Children often want to feel useful, and may enjoy the responsibility of some easy tasks in and around the house — so long as the tasks are fun. Washing the car with a hose and a bucket of sudsy water is a fun way to cool off during the hot summer days and get a chore done. While parents should not
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