Lifestyles

Hints from Heloise: Get good portion control with a tin

Dear Heloise: Portion sizes used to get out of hand in my kitchen until I put a muffin tin to use in a new way. Instead of guessing or overfilling bowls, I now divide snacks into each cup, which creates instant portion control without any measuring tools. Nuts, cut fruit, crackers and vegetables stay neatly separated, making it much easier to stay mindful of how much you eat. This method has also been especially helpful for children since portions are clearly visible and snack time feels more engaging. During meal prep, ingredients stay organized and ready to grab, which saves time when ...

To Your Good Health: Getting vaccinated is most effective to ‘scare’ viruses

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 82 years old and in very good health. I have no major medical issues so far, but I work on my health as I believe in prevention. During the past eight months, I’ve had three colds, plus COVID-19 for the first time this past November. I remember the old days when we used to wear camphor necklaces every winter in order to “scare away” viruses. Before I order one, I want your advice on it. — N.G. ANSWER: Camphor is a waxy substance that is derived from the camphor laurel tree. It is often used topically to relieve pain, but some people use it as ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

It is said that in the long run, good bidding is more important than good card play. This is probably true enough, but even good contracts sometimes run into bad luck, and when the play is over, it might be wise to re-examine the bidding to see whether a still-better contract could have been reached. Consider this deal from a team-of-four match. At the first table, the bidding went as shown, and West led a heart against six diamonds. East took the ace, and West later scored a trump trick, so the slam went down one. This was an unfortunate outcome, since South would have made the slam ...

TV listings for April 9

Instant Pot Jewish brisket adds sweet, savory flavor

Cookbook author Jeffrey Eisner has an Instant Pot Jewish brisket recipe with tender meat in a simple sweet and savory sauce. Brisket is a classic dish for Passover and Eisner says it’s a good addition to other holiday dinners too. He leans on ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and lots ...

Verena writes the column this week, helping busy mom

Hello readers! This is Lovina's daughter Verena writing once again. Mom has been extra busy preparing for church services, so I decided to help her out by writing the column and give her an extra week of not having to worry about writing. When she has to, she does a very good job to sit down ...