Halloween has always been a big deal for me. I mean, what were you expecting? A drama teacher, with access to costumes, stage makeup, and props, wouldn’t love Halloween? Never.

Halloween parties for the whole family

I would throw the best parties. Epic family evenings. Many of my theater friends contributed to the events of the party. From sound effects and lighting to Halloween-inspired food, we had all the other spooky bases covered.

The costumes were amazing

The whole family, my husband and my kids dressed, even my mom and dad. One year, my father was a fly. The kids were young and didn’t know what to think of Grandpa’s odd costume. He was, of course, characterful and buzzed everywhere. My friend’s husband in 1999 dressed up as a Y2K bug. One year I dressed up as Medusa, rubber snakes in my hair and everything. It was my favorite costume.

Devilish food to have

As you know, I am not a cook. So, I counted on my friends from the Home Ecom = nomics department to give us a fest worthy of the Addams Family. I remember having a brain cheese ball, hard bloodshot eyes, mummy sausage, bloody brains (ramen noodles with red food coloring), witches brewed with a floating ice hand holding it kept cold and many others.

Halloween party cookies are so easy, your little ghouls can bake them too.

Spooky Halloween Oreos Stuffed Sugar Cookies.

Halloween Oreo Stuffed Sugar Cookies Are So Easy Your Little Ghosts & Goblins Can Make Them Evan

More food ideas for the Halloween party!

WATCH: 34 Spooky Dessert Recipes For This Halloween

SWEET: Here are the most popular Halloween candies

Don’t forget your ADULT party drinks. Here are some ideas!

What are the signature drinks of each state?

I know, with the temperatures this week, I may seem a bit silly choosing gardening as a theme. But Mother Nature is preparing for spring and soon things will grow back.

If you’re planting seeds in a garden, you may have already done some shopping. But just in case you have a bit of aimless dirt right now, I want to bring you some lesser-known foods you can try.

I’ve already talked about carrots and purple beans and heirloom tomatoes. These items are even more exotic in flavor and appearance.

Peanut butter fruit (bunchosia armeniaca)—This South American berry has nothing to do with peanuts but has a sweet nutty taste. They are delicious in smoothies. You do need some space for this plant though, it grows upright but will reach three to six feet in height.

Chocolate pudding fruit (diosyros digyna)—I bet I have your attention now, don’t I? It is a true fruit, grown natively in Mexico and Central America. It must be eaten ripe to be appreciated. Unripe fruits are pale and very astringent. But when ripe, it has a smooth texture and is sweet with cocoa undertones.

Rollinia, Biriba (rollinia deliciosa)—This tropical delicacy comes from Brazil and would not like our climate enough. It also grows up to 40 feet. But in my gardening dreams, I would have a tree, just to taste the juicy, slippery flesh with flavors of pineapple, coconut, and banana. I wouldn’t even be deterred by its nickname, “snotfruit”.

Arbutus (arbutus unedo)—This evergreen shrub has fruits that look like fuzzy strawberries but taste unique and delicious. I tasted them in Morocco and I was delighted. They originated in the Mediterranean in ancient times but have spread all over the world. Thomas Jefferson listed it in his gardens in America. I had never heard of them until I saw them in Morocco.

Bitter melon/bitter gourd/balsam apple (momordica)—There are many varieties of this vegetable hanging from hearty vines, some with a more bitter taste than others. The fruit is said to have many health benefits and is used throughout South and Central Asia in curries, stir-fries and pickles.

Pink Lemonade Blueberries, Arkansas Black Apple—These fruits were developed in the United States, so they are a bit easier to grow. At first, pink lemonade blueberries were only used as ornamental shrubs, until someone discovered how delicious the sweet berries were. Black Arkansas apples have complex flavors of vanilla, cinnamon, cherry and cilantro, and are excellent for storing over winter.

I also wanted to include some plants that are easy to grow here in the Okanagan and readily available at local nurseries and seed companies.

I have mature arctic kiwi vines and enjoy harvesting the fruit each summer. I can’t wait to show them to our granddaughter.

Arctic kiwi (actinidia arguta)—This little beauty is a miniature version of the kiwi we all know, minus that silly fuzz. It grows on a vigorous vine (watch your drainpipe for overgrown shoots), making it easy to find a handful of fruit that you can put straight into your mouth.

Cucamelon (also called Mexican sour pickle)—A fun oddity in the vegetable patch that looks like both cucumber and watermelon but not exactly like both. If you have kids, this would be a great mystery to add to their gardening experience.

Even if you stick to growing your usual carrots and peas, I hope this has offered you some respite from our winter blast this week.

If you want to immediately taste something that makes you forget about winter, how about my Tropical Delight Cookies recipe?

My mom always said there wasn’t much a cookie couldn’t cure.

Do you cook at home? In that case, you may need a little inspiration to find new healthy recipes for the family. And to help you through the process, there are several unique and resourceful Weight Watchers (WW) blogs and websites with an abundance of ideas.

If you find yourself cooking the same thing over and over because you know the points per serving, you need to mix it all up. But first, how does the Weight Watchers diet work and what do the points mean?

Lose weight and keep it off with Weight Watchers

The Weight Watchers diet program is one of the most popular diet plans in the United States. It’s a popular diet that helps with weight loss by encouraging you to eat healthy meals, be active, and make better lifestyle choices.

The PersonalPoints system gives each food points based on calories, protein, fiber, sugar, and saturated and unsaturated fat. Some foods have no point value, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cottage cheese, eggs, avocados, and more. This system facilitates the reduction of unhealthy foods.

Related: Free healthy cooking apps for beginners

If you’re interested in the Weight Watchers diet, you need to check out these blogs that feature easy recipes and coordinated PersonalPoints.

If you like comfort food but still want to try the Weight Watchers diet plan, the Emily Bites blog takes it to the next level. Emily loves creating delicious, lighter recipes, helping you avoid eating too many carbs but never reducing the amazing flavors!

The Emily Bites blog features a wide variety of delicious recipes that are seamlessly integrated with the Weight Watchers PersonalPoints system. This makes it incredibly easy to stay on track with your goals. Plus, it even has an informational page explaining the brand new PersonalPoints system and what’s changed in the Weight Watchers plan.

Some of the delicious recipes you’ll find on her blog include Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Burgers, Lasagna Soup, Mexican Corn Chicken, Vegetable Frittata Feta and more.

Skinny Kitchen is the one blog to bookmark when you don’t have much free time and just want some quick recipe ideas. Run by Nancy Fox, the Skinny Kitchen blog is a fun guide to good, healthy foods that taste amazing.

Whether you want to try the Weight Watchers diet or just want to cook healthier, you can drop by Skinny Kitchen to get the recipes with nutritional information and health benefits. All of the recipes are also fully coordinated with the Weight Watchers PersonalPoints system, and you’ll never be short of inspiration as she posts about five recipes a week!

Nancy also offers a weight loss meal plan for just $9.99 per month or $6.67 per month for six months. The weight loss plan includes weekly meal plans, hundreds of tasty recipes, a grocery list, and dietary support.

Related: Food apps that make healthy eating easier and nutrition simple

Take a look at some of her recipes; there are plenty of choices, like gluten-free starters, casseroles, desserts, soups, sandwiches, and more.

With over 300 Weight Watcher recipes to choose from, the Recipe Diaries blog is a must-follow! Focusing primarily on low carb recipes, blog author Jenna offers a wide range of delicious recipes for everyone to enjoy.

The Recipe Diaries blog started as a hobby for Jenna in 2010 when she wanted to create Weight Watcher recipes to help others who were also on the diet. Although not all of her recipes are compatible with WW, 99% of them are, and she even has a page entirely dedicated to Weight Watcher recipes with PersonalPoints included.

Take a look at the blog for yourself and try some of its mouth-watering recipes. You won’t be able to say no to a casserole of meatball sub, Hawaiian pulled pork or homemade ranch dressing.

Joined the Weight Watchers diet program and not sure where to start? The Simple Nourished Living blog is a great place to start, especially if you’re looking for some tasty inspiration or maybe just a little encouragement.

The blog is run by Martha McKinnon, who loves sharing the secrets to balancing your love of food with the desire to be happy, healthy, and lean. Martha is also someone who has spent her life on the Weight Watchers diet, so you can count on her to provide the best diet guides and plans.

The blog includes a wide range of useful information, such as the kitchen utensils and appliances she uses, as well as her weight loss essentials. Additionally, the blog also includes helpful eBooks that you can purchase, including one titled A Month of Weight Watcher Friendly Meals.

Related: The best food diary apps to track what you eat

Browse her latest recipes and you’ll find Tunisian Chickpea Lentil Soup, Banana Gingerbread, Chocolate Mint Donuts, and WW Hoppin’ John Salad with Quinoa.

When you take a look at the Skinnytaste blog, you’ll know you’ve hit the sweet spot when it comes to tasty Weight Watcher recipes. This blog is so awesome because it has all the recipes your heart desires for almost every occasion imaginable.

The author and developer of the Skinnytaste blog, Gina Homolka, has a nice philosophy to always eat the right portions of healthy, whole foods that are in season. Because of her food philosophy, you know her recipes will feature real delicious meals without unnecessary ingredients. All recipes on the blog also contain the ingredients and nutritional information.

There’s a section dedicated to Weight Watchers recipes, so you can easily stick to your diet. Some of the cool features of the blog are the 7 day meal plans and cookbooks that you can buy online.

Check out the Skinnytaste blog for quick and delicious meals like Garlic Shrimp, Tuna Roe Salad, Banana Oatmeal Cookies and Strawberry Scones.

Weight Watcher recipes the whole family will love

Even though the Weight Watchers diet puts a lot of emphasis on whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, there are still plenty of delicious foods you can enjoy without sacrificing flavor. If you want to cook delicious low-calorie meals and stick to your Weight Watchers diet plan, you need to follow these Weight Watchers blogs right now.

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About the Author

Staying hydrated and filling your diet with a range of healthy, diverse foods is a better plan for aging than stocking up on all the best serums and moisturizers in the world. Whether your primary concern is health and longevity, great skin, or a combination of the two, there are specific foods that experts say are extremely important, especially as we age, and can better protect our bodies from stress of everyday life. Chris Mirabile is the founder and CEO of NovosLabsa consumer biotechnology company specializing in human longevity and leveraging the latest scientific advances to slow aging with support from scientists at Harvard, MIT and the Salk Institute, as well as a writer at SlowMyAge.com. Here, Mirabile explains why you should consider incorporating these four super-hydrating, good-for-you foods, especially if you’re over 40 and concerned about the physical and mental effects of aging.

bone broth

Bone broth is not only loaded with vitamins and minerals, but Mirabile notes that it also contains two ingredients essential for skin health and longevity: collagen and hyaluronic acid.

“Although collagen is broken down into its constituent amino acids during digestion, it is reassembled by the body and used for strong skin, hair, nails, blood vessels and more,” says Mirabile. “Hyaluronic acid (HA) is only modestly effective when applied topically. Ingesting hyaluronic acid can hydrate the skin from the inside out and improve joint health. little known fact about HA is that it also contains acetyl-glucosamine, a substance that extends the lifespan of several organisms.

Salmon

“By now, everyone knows about the health and skin benefits of omega-3 oils from fatty fish like salmon,” says Mirabile. “Most people don’t know that salmon is also packed with another key nutrient for skin health: astaxanthin. A carotenoid (vitamin E family) that makes salmon pink, astaxanthin has very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can potentially reduce damage from the sun’s UV rays, the number one cause of wrinkles in the skin after aging. Plus, astaxanthin is being studied for its benefits on long-term cognitive health and athletic performance!

Dark chocolate

Go ahead and have a sweet treat. But if you want to enjoy a dessert that’s also a boost for your long-term health and skin, dark chocolate is the perfect choice. “Dark chocolate contains polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins — plant-based compounds that have favorable effects on human health,” says Mirabile. “In fact, one study showed that dark chocolate contains more of these health-promoting substances than any other fruit tested, including blueberries. Dark chocolate may possibly lower LDL cholesterol while improving skin texture, reducing skin redness from sun exposure, and increasing skin hydration.

Be sure to stick to 80% or more dark chocolate, Mirabile notes – going below means more sugar and less healthy stuff (cocoa).

Berries

According to Mirabile, having a diverse range of berries can have both short-term and long-term benefits for your health and skin. “For example, strawberries contain a compound known as fisetin, which is being studied extensively for its potential to destroy senescent cells, one of the 10 biological causes of aging,” says Mirabile. “Or, take blueberries, which contain pterostilbene, a hot longevity ingredient that can positively impact your epigenome – which genes are turned on and off – which needs all the help it can get as you age and is a major area of ​​interest for longevity scientists. like Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard University.

What’s more, according to Mirabile, berries may also help protect against free radical damage caused by the sun, pollution, or simply aging.

“Free radicals can damage DNA, stem cells and other healthy cells,” says Mirabile. “By simultaneously attacking senescent cells, your epigenome and free radical damage is a fantastic way to improve the health of your body and your skin, all at the same time.”

In short: it’s not just about what you put on your skin or how much time you spend in the gym. Adding great foods to your diet can also help you stay on top of your game, no matter what your age.

Bottom up!

By Jamie Grasse

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Ginger ale and jalapeño mule

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Rum-Free Strawberry Daiquiri

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Sunrise Over Orange Juice

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Earl Gray Tonic

Leo (July 23 – August 22): Frozen Peach Bellini

Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Sparkling Lemonade

Libra (September 23 – October 22): Grapefruit Paloma Mocktail

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Piña colada

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Lovely Lavender Lemonade

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Chocolate Martini

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Cucumber Lemonade

Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Mojito mocktail

Cover photo: 123rf/ 5phonrf

Learn more about Food:

by Mr. Anthony Davis

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When Dannett Cage, owner of Beyond Bodi, started a black-owned business selling sea moss-infused skincare and edibles, it was in response to growing requests from friends and family to try , and often to buy, his homemade products.

“I was really only doing it for my family, like my mom and my house,” Cage recalled. “Then I made it on a Friday night as I went out for a girls’ getaway this weekend, and everyone tried it and couldn’t believe the energy it gave them.”

So, in the summer of 2020, Cage started posting their products on social media and it all took off from there. At first, Cage did not charge for its products. She made them as her friends and family asked her to. But as people kept coming back and new people arriving, some even from different states, she soon realized she had to start a business to keep up.

Cage is located in Renton, but sells its products online. She is often in the South Seattle community and enjoys showing up at community events where she hands out free product samples to people and provides them with information about the health benefits of sea moss.

“It started as an accident,” Cage recalls. “At the end of July when my website went live, I remember within the first hour I had probably made 100 sales.” At the time, Cage had worked for a telecommunications company for 10 years. Within three months of launching her website, she quit her job and started selling her sea moss products full time.

Sea moss, or Chondrus crispus, is a species of red algae that grows on the Atlantic coast of Europe and North America and became popular in the United States at the end of the pandemic due of its potential benefits for the immune system. When consumed, it is said to provide energy and promote muscle recovery. When used on the skin, it acts as a moisturizer and helps fight acne and rosacea.

Beyond Bodi offers both skincare and sea moss edibles. One of the most popular items is lemonades. With fruity flavors like blueberry, strawberry, and pineapple, these lemonades taste great and have become a big hit with kids, even though they’re completely sugar-free.

“Lemonades are great because they’re portable,” Cage says. “And the kids love lemonades because they think they’re just drinking mommy’s lemonade. Parents hide their lemonade from kids so they don’t try to drink them all at once.

The lemonades each contain two tablespoons of sea moss gel, but the gel itself is tasteless. So when you take a sip, you only experience the tangy sweetness of the natural fruit flavor.

But one of the premium products on the Beyond Bodi website is the Sea Moss Salt Body Scrub. This peppermint exfoliating scrub, used in the shower, leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated for hours. Cage had been making her own body scrubs for decades, long before she discovered sea moss, and she now says using this body scrub made her skin feel so moist that she rarely uses lotion.

“I love baths and I like my skin to be soft,” she explains. “So I started making sea moss body scrubs. And it’s really good for people who have skin problems like eczema. Sea moss has a lot of essential vitamins and it’s really good for people who have skin problems like eczema. is a soothing agent.… So if you have dark spots, blemishes or something like that, that’s where the sea foam body scrub comes in. So it’s one of my favorites I can use this whole jar in one bath.

Although this company was started in response to a growing social media trend during the pandemic, Cage is a firm believer in the health benefits and quality of its products. “There’s a lot of money in the sea foam,” Cage says. “I feel like during the pandemic a bunch of people started selling it, but I’m one of the last ones standing. I take my business seriously; I think including the educational parts is the why I did so well.

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Featured Image: Photo by nito/Shutterstock.com

Before you move on to the next story …
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The annual Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge returns to Arizona for its eighth year, February 1-28. Participating restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Flagstaff and Prescott will create and sell Girl Scout cookie desserts.

Throughout the contest, people can vote for their favorites online. The winner wins bragging rights and a portion of the proceeds from dessert sales will go to Girl Scouts in Arizona.

Here are all the participating businesses where you can sample desserts featuring favorites like Tagalongs and Lemon-Ups.

Cookies 2022:Your Guide to Girl Scout Cookies in Arizona

Gourmet Aioli Burgers

Biscuit: To do

Dessert: the PB&J Napoleon will be offering a buttery phyllo pastry topped with strawberry compote, Girl Scout Do-si-dos crumble and cream made with peanut butter fluff and cream cheese, topped with strawberry coulis and fresh whipped cream.

Details: 10652 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. aioliburger.com.

Beaver Street Brewery

Biscuit: Samoas and Clovers

Dessert: The coconut and caramel tiramisu will feature whipped mascarpone topped with chunks of samoa and Girl Scout clover.

Details: 11 S. Beaver St. #1, Flagstaff. beaverstreetbrewery.com.

Blue Hound cuisine and cocktails at the Palomar Hotel

Biscuit: Di-si-dos

Dessert: The trifle will be made with mouth-watering layers of Grand Marnier, chocolate pudding, peanut butter mousse and a do-si-dos crumble crust.

Details: 2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. bluehoundkitchen.com.

Churn

Biscuit: Samoa

Dessert: The I Want Suh-Moh-Ah can be served two ways: as a scoop of specialty ice cream that combines Girl Scout Samoas, chocolate sauce, and salted caramel, or as a sundae, which combines two scoops of cream ice cream in Samoas. crumbles, brownie crumbles, whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.

Details: 5223 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. churnaz.com.

Geordie is at Wrigley Mansion

Biscuit: Clovers

Dessert: The peanut butter and jelly dessert features a peanut butter mousse with a strawberry jelly center surrounded by a Girl Scout Trefoil crumble, peanut caramel and fresh blueberries and strawberries. It also has a cocoa glaze and is topped with a chocolate tuile.

Details: 2501 E. Telawa Trail, Phoenix. www.wrigleymansion.com.

Grand Canyon Brewery and Distillery

Biscuit: fine mints

Dessert: Mint Chocolate Mousse Trifle is smooth and creamy with layers of mint-infused chocolate mousse and white chocolate mousse, made even richer with Girl Scout Thin Mint powder. It’s topped with Thin Mint crumbles and whipped cream and topped with berries plus a bonus Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie.

Details: 1800 S. Milton Road, #11, Flagstaff. grandcanyonbrewery.com.

Lovecraft

Biscuit: Clovers

Dessert: Coconut Lime Shortcake starts with a Girl Scout coconut clover crust topped with a delicious lime filling and homemade whipped cream.

Details: 3128 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. lovecraftphx.com.

Lumberyard Brewing Company

Biscuit: Clovers

Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake Jar is a vanilla pudding amped up with Girl Scout clovers and fresh strawberries layered in a mason jar and topped with whipped cream.

Details: 5 S. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff. lumberyardbrewingcompany.com.

Kitchenette

Biscuit: To do

Dessert: Don’t Mind If I Do is a peanut butter panna cotta with Girl Scout Do-so-dos and oatmeal cookie crumbs. It is accompanied by banana cream and banana fries.

Details: 4231 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. nookkitchen.com.

camel riding OAK

Biscuit: Tagalongs

Dessert: The Peanut Butter Cheesecake Duo is a rich and velvety peanut butter cheesecake that uses Girl Scout Tagalongs in the recipe and is topped with chocolate ganache and a cookie crumble topping.

Details: 111 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. oakoncamelback.com.

Proof Canteen at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North

Biscuit: fine mints

Dessert: Peppermint Brownie Dream starts with a double chocolate fudge brownie topped with Girl Scout Thin Mints, Peppermint Creamer (which is a sweeter version of mousse), and burnt marshmallows.

Details: 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., Scottsdale. proofcantine.com.

Rusconi’s American Kitchen

Biscuit: Samoa

Dessert: Caramel Budino is a coconut and dark chocolate budino with a Samoa crust and caramel sauce, topped with crumbled Samoa and toasted coconut flakes.

Details: 10637 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. rusconiskitchen.com.

Serrano Mexican Restaurants

Biscuit: Tagalongs

Dessert: Phat Elvis is a decadent dessert that pays homage to Elvis’ affinity for peanut butter and bananas. It includes a graham cracker crust, peanut butter cheesecake, whipped cream, and crumbled Girl Scout Tagalongs tossed with bananas. It’s topped with chocolate ganache, brown sugar bacon, and a bonus Tagalong cookie.

Details: 141 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. serranosaz.com.

Shift Kitchen & Bar

Biscuit: fine mints

Dessert: The chocolate mint churros are made to order and the chocolate churros benefit from a powder made with Girl Scout Thin Mints. Once fried, they are plated with a cream cheese whip, mint powder, chocolate sauce, chocolate crunch and a scoop of Earl Gray gelato.

Details: 107 N. San Francisco St., #2, Flagstaff. shiftflg.com.

Tarbell’s

Biscuit: To do

Dessert: Chef Adrian De Leon’s rich and creamy Peanut Butter and Bacon Crème Brûlée made with Girl Scout Do-si-dos. A brittle layer of melted sugar sits on top of the peanut butter cream to create a beautiful blend of texture and unlikely flavors. Topped with whipped cream, bacon bits and do-si-dos, this dessert combines sweet and savory flavors.

Details: 3213 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. tarbells.com.

The county seat

Biscuit: Lemon-Ups

Dessert: Level Up Lemon Bar mixes Lemon-Up Girl Scout cookies for the crust and a cheesecake-style filling finished with candied lemon zest.

Details: 120 W. Gurley Street, Prescott. countyseataz.com.

Beginners:Try hot pot, giant milkshakes and a ‘perfect sandwich’ at new restaurants in Glendale

The craftsman

Biscuit: Lemon-Ups

Dessert: Meyer Lemon Flan is a delicate chiffon cake topped with Meyer Lemon Flan, Girl Scout Lemon-Ups and Meyer Lemon Caramel Sauce and topped with bonus cookie crumbs.

Details: 20469 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. thecraftsmanaz.com.

The italian girl

Biscuit: Lemon-Ups

Dessert: Limoncello cake is a fluffy limoncello sponge cake filled and frosted with a generous layer of limoncello mascarpone cream, completely covered in lemon crumbs, finished with a drizzle of lemon oil and served with whipped cream.

Details: 23687 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. theitalianandaughter.com.

Mick’s Brewery

Biscuit: Tagalongs

Dessert: The Peanut Butter Dacquoise Dessert bursts with flavor thanks to a crunchy chocolate peanut praline made with Girl Scout Tagalongs, peanut butter mousse, chocolate ganache and milk froth.

Details: 9719 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. themickaz.com.

ZuZu at the Valley Ho Hotel

Biscuit: Lemon-Ups

Dessert: Lady Lemon “Show Stopper” Shake is a fruity treat that features a blueberry milkshake base with a lemon curd coulis. It’s topped with Girl Scout Lemon-Ups, a blueberry muffin, a lemon ice cream bar, fresh blueberries, lemon chips, white chocolate milk crumbs, a Lemon-Ups whipped cream and lemon candies.

Details: 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale. hotelvalleyho.com/zuzu.

Note COVID-19: Health experts strongly recommend booster shots to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. If you test positive or have symptoms of COVID-19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you stay home and self-isolate for at least five days. After five days, if symptoms improve, wear a tight-fitting mask around others for another five days.

Call for Hispanic Family Recipes

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. 15. Send your recipe and general information to lluna@pleasantonexpress.com.

South Texas Natural Wellness Raffle

Shop at a locally owned store, store, or restaurant and bring a copy of the receipt dated September 1-30 to South Texas Natural Wellness, 1320 W. Oaklawn, Suite D in Pleasanton. You can also email it to getwell@sotxwellness.com. A person will get back the amount of their purchase. Prize draw on October 5.

Pleasanton HS Football Homecoming

Friday October 1 at Eagle Stadium. The game starts at 7 p.m. Eagle Band and Pacesetters perform before the game. Crowning reunion and recognition of half-time classes. Classes ending in ‘0 and’ 1 are invited to walk the course.

Festival of Yesteryear on October 2

Longhorn Museum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1959 Hwy. 97 E. in Pleasanton. Free event. Historical reenactments, hands-on activities, buttermaking, raffle, live music and more.

1990 PHS classes, 1991 joint meeting October 2

Lions Club Building, just south of Pleasanton. Meeting point in the afternoon (around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.) BYOB with barbecue meal around 5 p.m. Free concert at River Park to follow. Send an email to phs1991@gmail.com.

Ultimate 80s homecoming party

Saturday October 2. Cornhole Tournament at 6 p.m. Live music from the Texas Tone Rangers at 7 p.m. and 86’D at 9:30 p.m. Free admission. $ 10 raffle tickets available at Shifter’s American Grill, Pleasanton Express, Country Girl Designs, and JM Connected Auto Sales. Chance to win a truck or golf cart, with a draw after 6 p.m. and before 1 a.m.

Leroy Urrabazo at the Office Bar and Grill

Saturday October 2 at 205 E. Hunt St. in Pleasanton. Live music with full group performances. Call to reserve your table at 830-480-5140.

Fall clean-up of Longview Cemetery on October 2

Starts at 8:30 am Coordinated by the Longview Cemetery Association in Bigfoot. Please join them in helping to keep the cemetery in good repair.

2nd Annual Gypsy Moon Market Vendor Market Day

October 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 107 S. Reed Street in Pleasanton. Pop-up vendors, shopping, food and entertainment. Come support local businesses. Call or text 830-570-6177 if you have any questions.

National evening in Pleasanton and Jourdanton

Tuesday, October 5 at Pleasanton River Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the Jourdanton Sports Complex from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free admission and fun activities. Meet your local first responders.

Brain Health Awareness Webinar

October 5 for Texas Veterans and Their Families, hosted by Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. 11 am-12pm. Information on brain health, memory screenings, and veterinary benefits. Register at www.alzfdn.org/veterans.

Mass for the children of the Saint-Luc Catholic Church

The public is invited to St. Luke Catholic Church on Saturday, October 9 at 6 p.m. Special Mass, blessing and reception in observance of National Children’s Day to celebrate children and pray for their health and safety. The church is located at 3930 FM 536, exit 117 on IH-37.

Nightbird: tribute concert by the group Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks

October 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gypsy Moon Market parking lot, 107 S. Reed St. in Pleasanton. Organized by Gypsy Moon Market and Cafe Chris. Free event, a way to thank the community for their support.

Cornhole tournament on October 9

Hosted by 830 OG Cornhole (Atascosa County) at St. Andrew’s Church Hall, 626 Market Street in Pleasanton. The singles to double elimination tournament starts at 11:00 a.m. Double elimination with your own partner at 2:30 p.m. Andrew is ACCEPT. The funds benefit the ACCEPT program in St. Andrew’s.

Dia De Las Fresas 5K / 10K & 1 Mile Monster Mash October 9

Poteet Strawberry Festival. Competition for the Best Costume and the Best Original Costume. The fees for 10K are $ 45 and $ 40 for 5K. 1 Mile Monster Mash costs $ 25. Call Diana at 830-399-9151.

FEATURED an event in Out & About, email Lifestyles editor Lisa Luna at lluna@pleasantonexpress.com or call our office at 830-569-6130.

A foray into a freezer, peek into a lab, and glimpse the products will be just some of the experiences on offer at this year’s Santa Barbara County Farm Day on Saturday.

The event will allow residents to take free in-person tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to farms and farm-related businesses in the Santa Maria Valley.

The theme for this year’s Farm Day is “Meet the Hands That Feed Youâ€, with the day designed to be self-guided. However, the public can use an online Farm Day Trail map, available here, to create a personalized itinerary for traveling among producers. and organized tourist circuits.

“Farm day is the only day in the year that the public can experience working farms,†said Mary Maranville, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), which organizes the Farm Day every year. “There is so much that can be done to produce the food we eat every day: lettuce, celery, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, onions and herbs. The variety of foods that grow in the Santa Maria Valley is enormous. Growing a single strawberry literally requires more than 100 workers – from preparing the soil, planting, tending, harvesting and packing, to shipping the fruit to market. “

The participating locations this year represent the wide variety of producers and other agricultural businesses offering tours, tastings and gifts of fruit and produce.

This year’s event will also feature two wineries – Riverbench Vineyard & Winery in Santa Maria and Zaca Mesa Winery (offering a free flight tasting) in Los Olivos.

It’s not just about products. The day will also focus on compost, seed science and other aspects of the industry.

Farmers and agricultural partners participating in Farm Day include Allan Hancock College, Babé Farms, Bonipak Produce, Buttonwood Winery & Vineyards, Driscoll’s, Engel & Gray / Harvest Blend Compost, Gold Coast Packing, Innovative Produce, Main Street Produce, Plantel Nurseries, Primus Labs, Rancho Laguna Farms and Reiter affiliates.

The four tours requiring reservations due to limited space had been filled several days before the event.

Estimated at $ 1.6 billion, agriculture is a key part of the Santa Barbara County economy.

“Many farms are run by third and fourth generation farmers. We are fortunate to have so many local producers excited to share their knowledge, â€said Maranville.

SEEAG’s mission is to help young people understand the agricultural origins of their food through classroom agriculture and nutrition education and free farm excursions.

For more information on participating farms and to access the Farm Day Trail Map, visit SantaBarbaraCountyFarmDay.com or call 805.901.0213.

– Noozhawk North County Editor-in-Chief Janene Scully can be reached at . (JavaScript must be enabled to display this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.