Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven
NOVEMBER 2020
Erika Plunkett AMA Without Borders
Connecting
LOCAL WOMEN, INSPIRATION, LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY
FR EE
Dreaming and
VIRTUAL EVENT
YWCA TRIBUTE AWARDS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. To register, visit ywcawcmi.org/tribute or call 616-426-3716
JOIN US IN HONORING OUR 2020 TRIBUTE AWARD RECIPIENTS TRIBUTE: Shannon Cohen Author, Speaker, Podcast Host RISING TRIBUTE: LaDonna Norman Organizer, Together We Are Safe STUDENT: Olivia Grover City High School
Special thank you to our Title Sponsor
What is coding anyway? Intro to Coding Workshop Thursday, November 12, 2020 6 PM EST – 8:30 PM EST Presented by
Grand Circus and NAACP GR Cost: FREE This FREE Intro to Coding Workshop is open to everyone and is designed for those who are curious about coding, but who have very little or no coding experience. Never seen a line of code before? No problem! Basic computer knowledge is required-that’s it. This workshop will include a conversation about what it is like to be BIPOC in the tech world, including experiences of our Black alumni while in bootcamp. During this remote intro to coding workshop, students will be coding right along with their instructors; it is very hands-on. You will be working within a code editing website (codepen.io) while you’re video chatting and learning with the instructor in Zoom. More info at:
facebook.com/naacpGR
Contents
womenslifestyle.com
November 2020 ISSUE # 272
PUBLISHER Women’s LifeStyle, Inc CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
FEATURES 10
Erika Plunkett, Dreaming and Connecting
Ethnic and Cultural Festivals in Greater Grand Rapids
Allison Arnold Kelly Boprie
FOOD & DINING
Lyndsey Tym
6
Bottoms Up
20
Snackables
21
Delicious Desserts
Sophia Ward Brewer PHOTOGRAPHY
EthnicFestivalsGR.com
Elyse Wild Two Eagles Marcus
LEARN & DO 5
Join In!: Community Volunteer Opportunities
WOMEN’S LIFESTYLE, INC PRESIDENT
8
Small Changes in Organization Can Make a Big Impact in Your Home
14
Her Legacy: Lottie Wilson Jackson, Shoulders to Stand On
22
Reader’s Lounge
23
An Easy, Stylish Decorating Upgrade: A wall-mount door makes more room for fun
Two Eagles Marcus SALES sales@womenslifestyle.com (616) 951-5422 CALL (616) 458-2121 EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com MAIL
HEALTH 16
Coping Skills for When We Experience: Fight, Flight, or Free
3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A
VIRTUAL EVENT
JOIN US IN HONORING OUR 2020 YWCA TRIBUTE AWARD RECIPIENTS! For more information and to register, visit ywcawcmi.org/ tribute or call 616-426-3716
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton Founder 1955 - 2018 To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.
Special thank you to our Title Sponsor
ABOUT THE COVER Erika Plunkett, AMA Without Borders Photo by Two Eagles Marcus
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
Spotlight on Community Initiatives
Join In
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Women’s Resource Center
Moms Bloom Inc.
Samaritas
HQ Runaway & Homeless Youth Drop-In Center
The Women’s Resource Center provides programs and services to educate and empower women. Volunteer as a computer instructor, mentor, resume coach, assisting a woman reentering the community from jail, interviewing participants about what services would benefit them from the WRC, be a resume coach and much more. To get started, visit grwrc.org/get-involved
There are seniors, families and individuals who are struggling to meet their needs due to financial hardship and shortage of supplies during this crisis. You can help by providing COVID-19 Care Kits containing critical items to those we serve. https://www.samaritas.org/About-Samaritas/Volunteer
MomsBloom believes that every family with a newborn baby deserves to have support, community and confidence. Our volunteer-driven programs ensure this belief becomes a reality for over 200 families each year. To sign up, visit: momsbloom.org/volunteer
At HQ, youth ages 14-24 facing homelessness are welcome to drop-in to access basic resources such as laundry, warm meals, showers as well as assistance with career and academic planning and connecting to resources for health and housing. Group Volunteers needed - Your group can volunteer by deep cleaning our space or sorting donations. You can also prepare freezer meals in your own space and bring them to HQ. volunteer@hqgr.org
Our future is bright. Melanie Orozco-Zavala Union High School Class of 2020, Challenge Scholar
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
Hats off to all graduates who followed their dreams and are ready to become tomorrow's leaders. Congratulations, Class of 2020! grfoundation.org 5
Bottoms Up COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES
UPGRADE YOUR HOT CHOCOLATE
“On hot chocolate: It flatters you for awhile, it warms you for an instant; then all of a sudden, it kindles a mortal fever in you.” — Marie Marquise de Sévigné
A
s frost begins to bite at the tips of autumn leaves, it ushers in all of the little joys that endear us through the coming season, not the least of which is a delicious, steaming mug of hot chocolate. Whether you brew your own from scratch or enjoy the pre-packaged variety, give this timeless treat a well-earned glow up by adding a pinch of this and a dash of that.
Caramel:
Pair a rich, dark or semi-sweet hot chocolate with a swirl of caramel. The caramel will add sweetness and extra creaminess to the blend.
Peppermint: Peppermint and hot chocolate make for an enticing
contrast. The cooling nature of peppermint works nicely with the heat of hot chocolate, imparting a wonderful aroma as well. Melt a candy cane or mint in the mug and enjoy.
DID YOU KNOW...
The terms “hot chocolate” and “hot cocoa” are used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different beverages. Hot chocolate is made from shaved solid chocolate, which contains both cocoa and cocoa butter. Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, which alone does not constitute full chocolate.
Nutmeg:
What nutmeg does for eggnog it also can do for hot chocolate. Nutmeg offers that earthy bite that calls to mind long days baking in the kitchen.
Chile Powder: Chile can add a little kick to hot chocolate that works surprisingly well. Add just enough to offer a little tingle of residual heat at the back of your throat. This concoction also may help clear up a case of congestion or the sniffles.
Coffee:
Add a splash of coffee to the hot chocolate for an instant boost of caffeine and some mocha flavoring.
Whipped Cream:
Create the flavor combination of a chocolate cream pie with a generous dollop of whipped cream. For a truly rich flavor, make a batch of fresh whipped cream, which will also thicken the hot chocolate.
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Coconut Milk:
Invoke the tropics by substituting coconut milk for regular milk. You may feel like you’re on your own private island.
Peanut Butter:
Few people can resist the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Melt a spoonful of peanut butter into the beverage and indulge.
Liqueur:
Enhance hot chocolate with your favorite liqueurs. Orange and raspberry flavorings work well, or try a creamy spirited beverage, like Kahlua or Irish cream.
Marshmallows: Of course one of the simplest ways to dress up hot chocolate is to harken back to your childhood by filling the mug to the brim with sweet marshmallows.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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Get Involved with ELNC at:
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616-301-2503
Connect from home.
Treating anxiety, depression, and more Teletherapy is available for all ages. 200+ licensed, West Michigan clinicians. Visit pinerest.org/telehealth or call 866.852.4001. Virtual walk-in psychiatry now available for adults from the Psychiatric Urgent Care Center. Call 616.455.9200.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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Small Changes in Organization Can Make a Big Impact in Your Home BY LYNDSEY TYM
S
mall changes = big results. How many of us have heard this expression before? I know I’ve heard it many times in my life and it has not been until the last few years that I have started acknowledging it enough to put it into practice. One of the frustrations I hear from my client’s time and time again is that they wish they could keep their house more organized but don’t feel they have enough time for it. I try to reassure clients that you do not have to be naturally organized to stay organized, and you do not always have to block out large amounts of time to get organized. How to accomplish this if you are someone who cannot or does not want to set aside larger amounts of time to getting organized is to make small changes which result in a huge impact. The quickest way to get started by making small changes is to utilize what you have on hand to establish systems that are easy to maintain. It is not always necessary to go out and purchase matching storage containers and totes. While this can be very helpful, it can also add a lot of time (and money) to getting organized. Regardless of what you are trying to organize, it is likely you have handy storage solutions in your home already. When kick-starting your organizing, start by tackling smaller areas like a kitchen cupboard or bathroom drawer first. Smaller areas are faster to organize than diving into a whole room right away. When organizing the smaller area, think about how you use it and what you have available that can help keep it organized. Here are a few tricks that I use in my home: Glass yogurt containers to store like items in my bathroom. One container for bobby pins, one for hair ties, one for Q-tips, and so on. I clean the glass yogurt
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containers after I have finished with them and then find uses for them all over the bathroom. Shoe boxes to store similar items in our pantry. Because they are not on display, I don’t mind that the boxes don’t all match. I store jelly and jam in one, condiments in one, extra spices in another, and so on. It is easy to know where to go for an item because everything isn’t jammed together randomly on shelves. It is also easier to notice when I’m getting low on something because like items are stored together. Glass jars to store baking items and other dry goods. After I’m finished with a pickle jar or jelly jar, I wash them and keep them on hand for future use. They are currently in my pantry storing chocolate chips, pistachios, baking powder, and so on. Storing items this way again makes it easier to know when something is running low and also easier to locate when you need it because you aren’t digging through half used bags and boxes of items.
Regardless of what you are trying to organize, it is likely you have handy storage solutions in your home already.
There are so many different ways to use things you already have to setup systems to stay organized in your home. In many cases when you are organizing smaller areas, you are organizing things that are not immediately in view and then don’t necessarily need all matching storage solutions. If you are someone who wishes they had a more organized home, try making some small changes and see how they make a huge impact. If you are someone who wishes they had a more organized home but would still like some help – hire a home organizer. Happy organizing!
Lyndsey Tym, owner of Simple Spaces, desires to help others declutter and simplify in their homes to free up time for the things they love. Learn more at facebook. com/simplespaceslyndseytym.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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WHAT WE BELIEVE i understand suicide is an effect of an illness i understand mental illnesses are treatable i understand stigma is the #1 reason why someone would not seek treatment for mental illness; education and awareness are vital to saving and changing lives i understand reaching out to those who are suffering could save a life; let someone know you are available and treat them with respect and compassion i understand most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they want their pain to end
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i understand speaking out about suicide may empower others to share their stories i understand feelings of guilt are part of the grieving process on the way to finding peace and acceptance i understand those who die by suicide do make it to heaven
Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
We are conveniently located south of Rockford. Take 131 north to exit 95, go east one mile.
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6250 Jupiter Avenue, Suite C, Belmont
616-301-2503
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Now open at 4069 Lake Drive in Grand Rapids spectrumhealth.org/womenscenter 616.267.8520
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
9
ERIKA PLUNKETT
Dreaming and
Connecting BY ALLISON ARNOLD PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS
I
gniting change has always been part of Erika Plunkett’s life. For over 12 years, she served as a mentor through her church, working with youth in at-risk situations. It was that experience that led her to create Ama International in 2018. Her idea was to bring at-risk youth to other countries to work with communities experiencing great need.
Volunteers handing out resources and shirts for dads, Father’s Day, 2020, Zapopan, MX
“I believe that if I was to take them into an environment...they would see a different type of struggle, and their struggles would then look a little bit different to themselves,” says Plunkett. “And their pain could be turned into power.” Based in Grand Rapids’ sister city, Zapopan, Mexico, with a nonprofit in both Mexico and the U.S., Ama International is able to create a sustainable partnership, working directly with the local community in Zapopan.
300 backpacks filled with school supplies given to students, Back to School Event, 2019, Zapopan, MX
“It’s about the exchange between the two cultures and the beautiful things that happen when you start to build relationship,” says Plunkett. “And that’s why we’ve been implanted in one area and we’ve stayed because I want to grow roots. I don’t want to be an organization that goes into a community, does some good and leaves, but I want them to know that we’re going to be there, we’re going to be counted on, we’re in it for the long haul, we’ve got you, we’re in this together.”
“I don’t want to be an organization that goes into a community, does some good and leaves, but I want them to know that we’re going to be there, we’re going to be counted on, we’re in it for the long haul, we’ve got you, we’re in this together.” — ERIKA PLUNKETT
What do you like best about what you do? “So for me, I feel like what I like best is the fact that I’m able to really, really see love in action, like I see love in action all the time.” Construction volunteers at the building site, Public Restroom Build, 2019, Santa Maria Xadani, MX
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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Indigenous girl at children’s event, 2019, Santa María Xadani, Oaxacan, MX
“One of the most beautiful things that I’ve seen, and I call it a forward moving circle, it’s just something I made up, but when you have someone that you’ve invested in them, and you believe in them and then they start to grow. And what do they do? Without even having to tell them, they start, they find someone else, and they start investing in them, and they start loving them, and they help them grow...There’s a ripple effect that you will never see the end of, I believe, when you operate with love and action. And I think that’s what I love the most about what I do is that I get to see it, and I see it in so many different people, and I see it in so many different places.” What motivates you? “A lot of it is the kids. I absolutely love the kids in Mexico that we serve and the children here, too. I love when I’m able to see that something that we’ve done as an organization has made a difference in the life of a child. That gives me a lot of energy. And so when I know that something as small as a book or something like a backpack, something that they can use, the fact that we’ve been able to feed their family, like things like that, that gives me energy. So knowing that I’m helping people through Ama, and that all of us together are helping people and helping children. That’s what motivates me.”
Arturo Romero, Hands, 2020, 8’ X 8’ Paint and wood
Find out more about AMA Without Borders
amawithoutborders.org
What do you do in your spare time–if you have any? “I sing so that’s something that I love to do. I lead worship at church, so singing, writing music, ...creative stuff like that. I like to do that in my spare time. I love to exercise, walk, run, all those kinds of things.” What is your advice for someone looking to start an entrepreneurial endeavor? “Don’t be afraid to start small. Dream big, but start small…I think a lot of times we think we have to have every all of our ducks in a row to get started and really, if we just start with something small, then it will grow and you’ll start to gain traction.”
Allison Arnold is a writer and avid adventurer who loves hiking, traveling and trying new foods. She loves writing about food and culture on her blog, For the Love of Tacos.
School students posing with Erika, 2019, Santa María Xadani, Oaxaca, MX
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
Invested in breast cancer research grants
Research grants funded relating to breast cancer
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Shoulders to Stand On ARTICLE BY: SOPHIA WARD BREWER FOR THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL
Lottie Wilson Jackson spent her life honoring women models, like 18th-century writer Phyllis Wheatley. Lottie served on the Phyllis Wheatley Home Association Board, travelling to initiate Phyllis Wheatley women’s clubs all over, including in Grand Rapids. As we continue to celebrate the centennial year of the 19th Amendment and as we approach a historic election, let’s add names and faces to the shoulders we stand upon. Let’s remember the countless women who have been fighting for women and civil rights since the beginning of time. They were pioneers, suffragists, marchers, politicians, protesters, doctors, lawyers and nurses. They were mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. We honor women like Lottie Wilson Jackson for their perseverance, persistence, resiliency and strength. For theirs are the shoulders we stand on.
As an African American woman thinking about voting, public service and traveling, I stand on the shoulders of national figures like Susan B. Anthony and Rosa Parks, but I also stand on the shoulders of Michigan’s Lottie Wilson Jackson. You might never have heard of this suffragist, artist and activist, but Lottie Wilson Jackson travelled the country promoting her art work and fighting for women’s and civil rights until her death in 1914. She also took a famous stand in 1899 in Grand Rapids. Born in Niles, Michigan as Charlotte Wilson, Lottie was just under 10 years old when on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the freedom of all persons held as slaves in America. She was reared in the North, but imagine the excitement of this young child at the thought of being able to move about this great country in freedom. As an adult, however, Lottie saw her dreams deferred because she was an African American woman. Lottie Wilson Jackson fully understood the burden she carried as a woman of color. In the late spring of 1899, in fact, she spoke up at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention in Grand Rapids about the separate coach laws being reintroduced into the South, where NAWSA had begun to travel. She proposed the following resolution, “that colored women ought not to be compelled to ride in smoking cars, and that suitable accommodations should be provided for them.” The resolution was tabled by Susan B. Anthony herself, essentially stating that women were still “helpless and disenfranchised” and could do nothing to help women of color with this issue. Naturally, she was disappointed by the tabled resolution; and before Lottie left Grand Rapids in May of 1899, she spoke at the home of Emma Ford to the Married Ladies Nineteenth-Century Club, the oldest of the local African American women’s clubs. Then she sought further support from women and people of color by travelling the country and addressing colored audiences about the rights and specific treatment of African American women. In August of 1899, Lottie attended the threeyear-old National Association of Colored Women’s convention in Chicago, where she reported on the failed resolution proposed at the national suffrage meeting a few months earlier. Minutes of the Chicago meeting record that a resolution regarding the separate coach law
LLUSTRATIONS BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG
was endorsed and heartily supported by its members including Mary Church Terrell, the national association’s president at the time. Lottie Wilson Jackson was also a notable artist. Having studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, in 1897 she opened an art studio in Bay City, Michigan, and became widely known for her portraits of historical subjects and notable Americans like Crispus Attucks, Frederick Douglass, and his first wife, Anna Murray Douglass. Wilson’s most famous painting was created after her move to Washington, D.C. in 1901, when she used a photograph to repaint the famous portrait of Sojourner Truth with President Abraham Lincoln, after the original had been destroyed by fire. In 1902, Wilson met President Theodore Roosevelt when she presented him with a historic memento that the “colored people of Baltimore” had given to Abraham Lincoln at his second inaugural.
GGRWHC’s program year honoring the 19th Amendment centennial was interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. We regret especially the loss of the August 26th celebration; but continue to follow us on Facebook, read our monthly features in Women’s Lifestyle Magazine, and sign up for our hard copy and electronic newsletters at ggrwhc.org!
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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COPING SKILLS FOR WHEN WE EXPERIENCE
FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE BY KELLY BOPRIE, LMSW
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
W
e are living in a time where things have changed, and have changed rather quickly. Our WAFs (worries, anxieties and fears) seem to be much more present, and many of us are experiencing worries and fears that we haven’t ever expected to be presented with. Perhaps, in this very moment, your brain may be trying to “figure out” what is going on. Bare with me for a moment as we go down a road of a brief introduction to neuroscience … Our neocortex, or prefrontal cortex, is a part of our brain that likes and needs accurate information. Without it, we experience uncertainty…uncertainty of what is to come, what the future may hold, and uncertainty of how long our “normal” life may be disrupted. When the prefrontal cortex or ‘thinking” part of our brain can’t seem to make sense of what is, when it can’t problem solve for the future, the body will often respond with panic, where we then start to move into the “alarm” portion of our brain, called the amygdala. Our amygdala is the part of our brain that is scanning for a threat, and will often interpret a perceived threat as a real threat, which can throw our bodies into a fight, flight, freeze response, activating our sympathetic nervous system. The amygdala can override our cortex or “thinking brain” which is why it can seem like we can’t think our way out of our WAFs.
Fight, flight or freeze may look like: • • • • • • •
Difficulty breathing An increase in heart palpitations Shortness of breath Muscle tension Feeling hot or flush Headaches Nauseous
• • •
Experiencing diarrhea Tingling in our fingers or toes Tunnel vision
We can recognize these as symptoms of our body being stuck in the sympathetic nervous system, i.e., in a state of panic, fight, flight or freeze. We need to practice coping skills that can calm our body and mind down, so that we can get back to our thinking brain. Some of the most effective coping skills to use when in a state of panic or when we notice physical symptoms of anxiety in our body include:
Deep breathing or belly breathing.
We can lie down on our floor, sit in our chair, stand straight, and practice this skill anywhere. We want to take deep breaths where our belly actually expands instead of our chest. We can make it fun and practice this with our kids, too!
Grounding exercises.
In these exercises, we focus on what is going on in our body or in our immediate environment instead of getting stuck in the downward spiral of our thoughts. My favorite grounding exercise is called 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 where we use all 5 of our senses to ground. For example, I will name: 5 THINGS I SEE in my environment around me (my desk chair, bookcase, glass of water, stapler, computer screen) 4 THINGS I FEEL (my hair, my back pushing firmly into my chair, my feet planted on the ground, the couch I am sitting on) 3 THINGS I HEAR (my kids in the background, my fingers typing away at my computer keys, and the sound machine in my office)
We need to practice coping skills that can calm our body and mind down, so that we can get back to our thinking brain.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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2 THINGS I SMELL (my lemon candle, the soap I washed my hands with)
•
1 THING I TASTE (peppermint in my mouth). If you don’t have access to taste you can, say 1 calming mantra such as “Just breathe” or “No feeling is final.”
Investigate: What does my body feel like right now? What thoughts may I be experiencing? What is happening in my mind? What am I feeling?
•
Note/Not attach: Note the experience; acknowledge that “I am having these thoughts or these feelings, but I am not my thoughts and feelings. They are transient and can come and go.”
Guided imagery or guided meditation.
We can use our five senses again to describe a place that represents still, calm, peace. We can describe what we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. We can imagine ourselves by the beach or in a forest, I even have one client who describes himself in space.
Self soothe through temperature.
Take a hot shower or hot bath, hold ice briefly in your hand, or use a heating pad.
Practice R.A.I.N.
One of my favorites that we can also practice comes from Judson Brewer, a psychologist who is considered an expert in the field of anxiety. Often times, we try to run or escape our anxious thoughts, and he argues against this. We can use this skill once we have calmed our body down using skills above. The skill is called RAIN and it includes: •
Recognize/Relax: Recognize what is arising inside of us (muscle tension, “what-if ” thoughts).
•
Accept/Allow: Give what is arising inside of us space to be there instead of running or distracting from it. This is your experience. Allow it to be present.
I hope these skills can help in this time. Make space in your day to day habits and routines to check in with your body and mind. Stand up from your desk and do a 30 second grounding exercise, practice belly breathing with your kids, take a moment to notice if there are any areas in your body that are tense and try to relax them. Remember, our thoughts are transient, they come and go, we do not have to believe everything we think. Be kind in your thoughts, recognize when your thinking brain is starting to “shut down” and show some compassion and kindness to yourself by practicing some of the above exercises. Kelly Boprie, LMSW, is a clinician at the Pine Rest Southwest Clinic and is available through teletherapy during the current stay at home order. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Calvin College in 2005 and her Masters in Social Work from Grand Valley State University in 2009. Kelly aims to create a safe, supportive, empathic and validating environment for the clients that she sees. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy,
Make space in your day to day habits and routines to check in with your body and mind.
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
OVER $200,000 WORTH OF COVID RELIEF AID
was shipped to Grand Rapids’ sister city, Zapopan, Mexico, on September 23rd.
Get involved or Give online: amawithoutborders.org Text “AMA” to: 24365 Cash app: $AMAUSA ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.
We offer BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT therapy for men and women, CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REDUCTION, cholesterol and triglyceride management, and so much more to help our patients live their most optimal life.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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Snackables FALL FOR A FLAVORFUL CHEESE BOARD COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES
This recipe combines rich, creamy cheese with prosciutto and pumpkin for a medley of flavors and textures your guests will have a hard time believing are gluten-free. The star is non-GMO Crunchmaster Pumpkin Harvest Crackers, which combine real pumpkin and autumn spices with whole grains and flax seeds.
Serve these little delights on a cheese board and let guests mix and match the flavors as they wish. Then expand your offering with a dairy-free, vegan alternative and introduce another fall favorite like apple butter. Explore more tips and recipes to help celebrate fall at crunchmaster.com.
Pumpkin Prosciutto Stackers 2 ounces prosciutto 1 ounce aged balsamic vinegar (syrupy consistency) 4 ounces gorgonzola 4 ounces aged Parmesan, shaved 1 bag Crunchmaster Pumpkin Harvest Crackers
Cut prosciutto into cracker-size pieces, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
with serving spoon. Layer gorgonzola, 1-2 pieces prosciutto and 1-2 pieces shaved Parmesan on one cracker. Drizzle lightly with vinegar. Place on wooden or slate serving platter to serve as inspiration to guests. Plate remaining prosciutto, gorgonzola, Parmesan and crackers on platter before serving and place vinegar nearby.
Pour vinegar into small carafe or dish
Apple Pepita Stackers 4 ounces apple butter 1 bag Crunchmaster Pumpkin Harvest Crackers 3 ounces toasted pepitas
12 slivers fresh sage
Spread apple butter over one cracker and sprinkle with pinch of pepitas. Top with sage sliver.
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For serving, scoop apple butter into small crock or serving vessel. Place pepitas and sage in serving dishes. Place assembled stacker on platter with crackers. Add serving dishes, if space allows, or position around platter.
Everyone I know is looking for solace, hope and a tasty snack.” —Maira Kalman
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
Delicious Desserts MOM’S APPLE PIE
Makes 1 11-inch pie | COURTESY OF MELISSA WILD | PHOTO BY ELYSE WILD
“There is no better way to bring people together than with desserts. —Gail Simmons 2 4-inch ball of Grandma’s Pie Crust (see below) 5 cups apples (Granny Smith, Fuji and Gala) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons floor
Preheat oven to 400 F. Set out 2 Grandma’s Pie Crust ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 1/8-inch thickness. Transfer to 1 crust
pie plate and flute edges. Peel and slice apples into medium bowl and lemon juice, stir. Add sugar, cinnamon and floor. Stir and set aside while preparing crust. Set mixture aside and transfer to pie crust. Place remaining crust over filling, trim, seal and flute. Add slits to top of crust. Bake at 400 F for ten minutes. Reduce oven temp to 340 F and bake for 35 minute. Cool on rack.
Grandma’s Pie Crust
2 eggs beaten plus water to make 1 cup 5 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon 14 ounces of lard
4 ounces butter
mixed. Divide into 4 equal rounds at about 12 ounces each. Chill for 30 minutes. (Balls can be wrapped in plastic and frozen to make ahead.) Tip: Handle crust as little as possible for a flaky of tender crust
Mix flour and salt in a food processor Add lard and butter—pulse into pea sized chunks. Add water and eggs with food processor pulsing just until
COCONUT MACAROONS WITH DRIED CHERRIES Makes 25 to 30 small cookies | COURTESY OF MCC
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 8 egg whites salt 1⁄4 cup dried cherries 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon honey, preferably orange blossom honey Preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine the unsweetened and sweetened coconut on a baking sheet. Lightly toast in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep close watch so the mixture does not burn, though you do want a nice toasted golden brown color. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 F. (If using a convection oven, leave at 350 F.)
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop tablespoon-size rounds, perhaps using a small ice cream scoop, of the coconut mixture onto the baking sheet. Press one or two dried cherries into the top of each macaroon. Melt the butter and honey together in a microwave on high for 20 seconds. Drizzle the mixture over the top of each macaroon. Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of salt. Bake the macaroons for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned (watch carefully to avoid burning), or for 8 to 10 minutes if using a convection oven. The macaroons should be dry to the touch. You may need to bake them longer if it is a humid day. If you live in a dry area, these will keep well for a week. If you want to be really fancy, melt some chocolate and dip each one halfway into it.
Whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a medium bowl until the whites stiffen into firm peaks. Fold the toasted coconut into the egg white mixture.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
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READER’S by Nanette Zorn It’s now November during what seems to be the longest year on record. This year, more than ever, it is important to be grateful. This may mean turning your cheek, forgiving past grievances or searching for goodness. The following books confirm that connectedness looks different for everyone. Although sometimes we have to search for our happy ending, it is always good to gather graciously, give generously and be grateful.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Find the Good: Life Lessons from a SmallTown Obituary Writer Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman
Kate, a recently single, middle-aged woman, meets the sharp tongue and sharper mind of Miss Cecily, a curmudgeon of a woman who has a lot to say and wants to be heard. Through the sharing of a very personal recipe collection, Kate is eventually drawn into a friendship that reforms her opinion of herself, her future and Miss Cecily. This book is a reminder that in the sharing of food, we celebrate our most intimate and vulnerable moments, and those memories stay with us for a lifetime.
by Heather Lende
Nothing can give us clarity quite like death. Heather Lende faces death every day in her job as an obituary writer in small town Alaska. In her book, “Find the Good,” Lende touches on a variety of topics in quick essays, perfect for this busy time of year. Lende’s unique perspective helps remind us that finding the good is an important practice for our everyday lives.
Nina Hill is a bookseller who is amazing at trivia, highly anxious and alone. Raised by a nanny while her mother traveled the world, Nina never knew her father, until a lawyer informs her that she is one of many children of a wealthy man. Nina’s life is about to change. Can the bookish Nina and her cat, Phil, rise to embrace a new family? Or will the collapse of her beloved bookstore resign her to the comfort and safety of aloneness? Helped along by some adorable characters, Nina is poised to discover a lot about herself through the last generous gift of her father.
An aging mid-western mother wants to have her children together for one last Lambert family holiday. But, as you can guess, this simple premise is fraught with complications. Three vastly different adult children and a stubborn, ill husband set the scene for this domestic drama. The quest for the perfect holiday versus the untidiness of life is the opposing force that propels you forward. At times “The Corrections” is humorous and nostalgic and at times it is tragic and absurd, but it is consistently entertaining. Like the elusive “perfect family picture,” this book proves that sometimes you just have to take what you get and move on.
Nanette Zorn has worked for Kent District Library since 2016. Nanette is grateful for her husband, kids and dog. She enjoys chaotic and always imperfect family gatherings, generously indulges in long walks and reading and always strives to find the good.
Get Published. Win Money. Entries accepted through November 30 at noon. writemichigan.org | For writers of all ages 22
In partnership with
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
An Easy, Stylish Decorating Upgrade: A wall-mount door makes more room for fun COURTESY OF MCC
Installing wall-mount sliding door hardware in a playroom, or nearly any other room in your house, can be an easy yet high-impact improvement that reduces space constraints while adding warmth, functionality and visual appeal.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • November 2020
FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME to make space-saving upgrades to your house. For example, consider swapping out a traditional swinging door for a smooth-gliding, wall-mounted sliding door. A sliding door can add up to 14 square feet of floor space, which allows for more room to spread out toys and games, and give a more spacious feel to nearly any room. They also allow for more flexibility in furniture arrangements, which can turn even the smallest nook in your house into a cozy space. It’s easy to do with an option like Johnson Hardware’s Soft-Close Wall-Mount Sliding Door Hardware, which can be used with virtually any metal or wood door from 1-inch to 1 3/4-inches thick, up to 48 inches wide and weighing up to 200 pounds. The U.S.-made hardware gently slows the door’s travel speed to softly pull it into the fully open or fully closed position and works like a cabinet door closer, enabling doors to open and close quietly and securely. It also prevents door slamming and pinched fingers, as well as reducing door operational noise.
The built-in satin or bronze finish fascia can give a warm decorative detail to a room while the smooth-rolling door hardware and track exceed ANSI standards, meaning it can successfully complete 100,000 opening and closing cycles, with adjustable door guides, tricycle hangers and adjustable track stops. The jump-proof aluminum box track is available in lengths up to 96 inches for single doors and up to 192 inches for double doors. Installing wall-mount sliding door hardware in a playroom, or nearly any other room in your house, can be an easy yet high-impact improvement that reduces space constraints while adding warmth, functionality and visual appeal.
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FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS
■ Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano ■ Aperitivo ■ Bistro Bella Vita ■ Brewery Vivant ■ Byron Center Meats ■ Essence Group ■ Ferris Coffee & Nut ■ Field & Fire ■ Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company ■ Grove ■ Malamiah Juice Bar ■ Railside Golf Club ■ Reserve Wine & Food ■ Terra GR ■ The B.O.B. ■ The Cheese Lady Grand Rapids - CHZ Enterprise ■ The Green Well
AUTOMOTIVE
■ Arie Nol Auto Center ■ Community Automotive Repair ■ Harvey Automotive, Cadillac, Lexus, Auto Outlet ■ Pfeiffer Lincoln
SHOPPING & RETAIL
■ Art of the Table ■ Bill & Paulʼs Sporthaus ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Schuler Books ■ Spirit Dreams ■ Stonesthrow ■ Supermercado Mexico ■ Switchback Gear Exchange ■ The Shade Shop
HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES
■ A-1 Locksmith ■ EPS Security ■ Gerritʼs Appliance ■ Gordon Water ■ Morris Builders ■ Nawara Brothers Home Store ■ Rockford Construction ■ Tazzia Lawn Care ■ Verhey Carpets
BUSINESS SERVICES
■ Innereactive ■ The Image Shoppe ■ Womenʼs LifeStyle Magazine
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
■ Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) ■ Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) ■ Grand Rapids Public Library ■ Neighbors Development ■ Slow Food West Michigan ■ The Rapid ■ West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)
PET PRODUCTS & SERVICES ■ Chow Hound Pet Supplies
HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS
■ AgeWise Eldercare Solutions ■ Design 1 Salon Spa ■ Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness ■ Grand Rapids Wellness ■ Grand Ridge Orthodontics ■ Mommas Home ■ The hairport ■ The Village Doula GR
FINANCIAL & LEGAL ■ Lucy Shair Financial ■ United Bank
TRAVEL & LODGING ■ Breton Travel ■ Countryside Tours ■ Witte Travel
When you support a locally owned business, more resources stay in the community and get reinvested in the economy.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Celebration Cinema ■ Community Circle Theatre ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Glitter Booth Photo Booth ■ Grand Rapids Art Museum ■ Grand Rapids Civic Theatre ■ Grand Rapids Public Museum ■ LaFontsee Galleries ■ LowellArts ■ River City Improv ■ ShowSpan, Inc. ■ The Ruse Escape Room ■ Triumph Music Academy
FLORAL & GARDEN
LOCAL FIRST means PEOPLE FIRST Communities thrive when the economy puts people first.
■ Ball Park Floral & Gifts ■ Eastern Floral ■ Romence Gardens
Local First •345 Fuller Avenue NE • GR, MI 49503 • (616) 808-3788 • www.localfirst.com
