Cathy’s Grape Tips! (waste not, want not)

Dear Folks,

This month is not going to critique any of our great restaurants in our Hub City; however, I’m going to share with you one of my favorite kitchen tips. We have all heard the phrase, “Waste not, want not.”

My tip is to never throw out any grapes, especially the seedless variety.

We are beginning to see more and more grapes at sale prices. I always purchase a nice “plump” bag full and always check to see if they are fresh and “crunchy.” The daughter that lives with me will not eat any after about a week.

Of course, I cannot consume the rest, so they sit in the fridge for many weeks.

When it comes to grapes, the more “wrinkled” they are, the higher the content of natural sugar.

So here’s what I do: I take them out of the “fridge” and remove all stems.

The next step is to arrange them all on paper towels and allow them to air dry. A large ally transmitted infections checks, general health exams, and HPV vaccinations. necological, breast or other women’s health issues. platter, or sheet pan is handy to use for this.

The clinic was developed by the TTUHSC School of Medicine.

You can watch the magic happen almost daily – they turn into the most delicious RAISINS you’ll ever taste.

They also turn into the best, most delicious afternoon snack ever. Trust me folks, it works every time. I might inform you, when they’re removed from the “fridge” after many, many weeks, I have never had any bad ones, imagine that.

Now another grape tip: after washing thoroughly, (fresh grapes, of course) remove all stems and freeze on a sheet pan, then properly bag them in freezer bags.

These make a great snack, and they almost taste like “sherbet” – oh so yummy!

These frozen wonders can also be used to mix into a can of fruit cocktail or other fruits to your liking.

I hope you all will try these tips. I’ve used them for years.

Until next month, happy Easter to one and all!

Cathy

“This Women’s Health Day clinic is an opportunity for those who cannot afford services to come see a physician,” said Ellie Cannon, The Free Clinic women’s health coordinator. “This is a day specifically devoted to women, and women are guaranteed to have physician specialists available for gy-

“At The Free Clinic, we see a lot of women in need of Pap smears and other women’s health exams,” Cannon said. “Regular health exams and screenings can detect problems before symptoms appear, which can increase a woman’s chances of successful treatment.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of every four deaths is due to cancer, making it the second lead- ing cause of death in the U.S. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, and for every 100,000 women, eight new cervical cancer cases were reported.

Regular screening tests can detect breast and cervical cancers early when treatment is most effective. Cannon said the prevention is key to keeping women healthy.

Appointments must be made by phone. For more information, call 806-3707472.

Are you having a reaction? Could it be the medicine?

We all have boundaries in our lives. You don’t say anything negative about your daughter-in-law’s cooking, right? And when you were first married, you watched what you said around your in-laws.

We don’t talk about certain things to just anyone. Maybe it is because you have agreed to disagree. And your relationship moves on. As a doctor, I do my best to make it a habit not to talk about someone’s health unless they ask me. Not my business. Right?

One day a friend confided in me that she had had a stroke. She was fortunate.

No outward signs of having had a stroke. The only way she knew something was wrong was she didn’t remember how to work her television.

She went to the ER and was imaged and managed. You probably know that if you have a stroke, there is a set protocol of medications they give you. They gave her several. She is a compliant patient and took them faithfully.

Several months went by. One day she went to the orthopedic doctor because her hips were hurting so bad. She thought she probably needed hip replacement. Did

I mention she is in her 90’s? Her hips were hurting so badly she could barely get out of bed. But the orthopedist told her he didn’t think her hips looked bad at all. She just didn’t know what was wrong. I did not know what medications she was on. As I was leaving her house that day I said, “You know, when people are senior citizens, and they have some problem pop up, the first thing that should be considered is any reactions they have to any drugs they are taking.”

BINGO! She had been placed on a statin. She looked up her medication and one of the side effects was joint pain. When she went to the doctor, he told her she might be having a reaction and to stop the medication.

Within a couple of days, she was pain free in her hips. Easy solution. Did you know that if you are a senior citizen, and you start having a problem, you should consider the medications you are taking might be causing that problem?

I had to wonder how many people had gone to the orthopedist because their hips were hurting who were simply given pain medication? Was there a review of the medications she was on?

If there had been, the orthopedist could have referred her back to the doctor who gave her the statin.

Another option if you don’t know how to look up the side effects, ask the pharmacist. They are so smart. Many times, I’ve referred ing medications, just sit down at your computer and look them up and see what the side effects are. By listening to television, you can my patients to the pharmacist regarding their drugs.

Another chiropractor had a man come see me because he knows the kind of work I do with supplements. The patient’s arms hurt so badly. He had been to the medical doctor. The doctor asked him what he did. He does bus runs to the airport and helps lift the baggage. The doctor said, “Well…”

I felt a bit badly for the man because he told me his wife doesn’t believe him and thinks he is making it up. He brought his medications to me. I worked with him on supplements. And, by the way, there is one shot he gets each month for a rash. He couldn’t remember the name of it so I asked him to text me the name of the medication.

When he texted me the name of the medication, I looked up the side effects because I was not familiar with it. One of the side effects is arm pain.

So please, if you are tak- imagine that most drugs have a long list of possible side effects. If you, or someone you know, has an ailment come up, no matter how trivial you think it is, look up the medications you or your friend takes and just see if it could possibly be a reaction to a medication.

Of course, anyone can have a reaction to a medication. However, seniors are more likely to be taking more medications. If you read that your symptom could be from taking the medication, please do not just stop the medication. Make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss the situation. Why? Some medications you simply cannot stop on a dime, you might have other issues, and it is possible the medication could be changed.

Experience is how life catches up with us and teaches us to love and forgive each other. –

Judy Collins

Inspirations for a hit song can sometimes spring from a most unusual source.

Members of the California septet War hailed from different neighborhoods in and around Long Beach and Compton, both burgs part of the Los Angeles suburban sprawl.

Of disparate backgrounds and different ages, the musicians found a common thread of interest in creating tunes together.

“We mixed and mingled everything, even mariachi music,” War’s keyboardist introduced them to British superstar Eric Burdon, who had recently split from his hitmaking Animals group. The result was Nightshift becoming War and backing Eric on the 1970 reverieinducing, million-selling MGM Records single “Spill the Wine.”

Burdon left the band and never had another hit; War, though, was just beginning a seven-year run on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts.

Switching to United Artists Records, the group saw 11 hit 45s keep the War name

156 episodes chasing down lawbreakers. Children were the target viewing audience, so gun violence was always downplayed.

Cisco often shot a pistol from a villain’s hand, while Pancho’s bullwhip frequently disarmed the bad guy. Every show ended with a corny joke about the adventure they had just endured.

Then both would laugh, Cisco would say, “Oh, Pancho!” Pancho would say, “Oh, Cisco,” and the two would ride off as the credits rolled.