Lifestyles category, Page 184
Travel tip: These 9 countries offer more bang for the buck
If you’re looking for more bang for your international travel buck, SmarterTravel has a list of countries with the best exchange rates for the U.S. dollar. As an added bonus, seven of the nine countries listed are right here in the Western Hemisphere. Whether you’re on a tight budget or...
Living with Children: Use ‘alpha speech’ to get child to obey
Question: My 7-year-old son, an only child, is giving me fits. He’s overly active and will not cooperate in any instruction I give him. In addition, if I tell him not to do something, it’s a guarantee he’s going to do it as soon as my back is turned. I’m...
I’m all alone and dealing with friends’ envy
Dear Carolyn: I’m single, educated, retired, own a beautiful home in a unique location, am involved in creative pursuits and travel quite a lot. What I don’t have is a spouse or children. I am estranged from my siblings because they are mentally ill — the mean variety who purposely...
Pickled raisins make this roasted eggplant salad crazy good
Smart cooks have their little tricks, back-pocket condiments and add-ons that can transform a dish. Chef and former farmer Abra Berens is one of those cooks, and her new cookbook is full of them. Take her roasted eggplant dish, which includes two components that could each be worth a treatise....
Turn your taco inside out for an update on the hard-shell classic
I have a soft spot in my heart for hard-shell tacos. It’s partly thanks to joyful childhood memories of meals whipped up from those boxed kits, but it’s also because they taste lip-smackingly good with their warm, spiced meat; crisp, cool vegetables, and crunchy, fried shells. These days, taco night...
Easy-breezy: Planning ahead can make your picnic just that
As the weather warms up, many of us start thinking about enjoying our meals outdoors as we enjoy the fun of summer. Whether you are taking in a concert in the park, a stop roadside on your way to the beach or just stepping out to your deck, a seamless,...
Safe selfies: Here’s a checklist for taking your travel photos
Are you practicing safe selfies? It might be time to examine your photo-clicking habits and put caution first. In late March, a man visiting the Grand Canyon from Hong Kong tripped while taking a photo, falling over a 1,000-foot rim to his death. According to a 2018 report in the...
How to solve those carrot problems
Carrots are among the easiest crops to cultivate in a home garden. They’re easily grown from inexpensive seed with reliable germination rates. Carrots are tolerant of both cold and hot weather, and if you sow a few more seeds every week or two, you’ll have a continual carrot harvest from...
‘Hoss’ the Ohio hair ball is 125 pounds and counting
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio — What’s 4 feet tall, 125 pounds and is covered in hair? No, it’s not Cousin Itt of the Addams Family. It’s Hoss, the giant ball of human hair. Hoss, named after Dan Blocker’s character from “Bonanza,” is an oblong shape and is, well, hairy. Hundreds of people...
Buy a house in Italy for less than a cappuccino
Two bucks will buy you a house in the Italian countryside. Many of Italy’s ancient towns are losing residents so community leaders are taking action. The city of Mussomeli, in Sicily, is an example of a place desperate to rebuild its population. In fact, they will give you a house...
Ligonier Country Market opens for season
The Ligonier Country Market will open for its 44th season on May 18 at the Loyalhanna Watershed Association Farm, off West Main Street and Route 30 in Ligonier. The market will be held from 8 a.m.-noon, rain or shine, each Saturday through September, says Cari Frei, executive director. Featured are...
Charities find challenges go along with doing good works
There are dozens of charities and nonprofits at work in the area, some large and high-profile and others smaller and more limited in scope. They serve the hungry, the homeless and those struggling with issues of mental, spiritual and physical health. Not all their clients are human, either. Some have...
New shrub rose hybrids are easy to care for, easy to love
Roses are among the oldest flowers in cultivation, although many have earned a reputation as fussy or difficult to grow. Some of the newer shrub rose hybrids, however, are disease-resistant, carefree and repeat-blooming — just the qualities novice gardeners love. “They are generally much healthier, more free-flowering, easier to prune...
Potting, growing succulent plants is simple
Question: I am in love with all of these great succulent plants that I keep seeing at garden centers. I’d like to plant a bunch of containers full of them for my garden. We go away a lot in the summer, and I know they don’t have to be watered...
Vatican Gardens filled with holy history
Twelve years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Rome with my wife, celebrating our 25th anniversary. We had never traveled internationally before, so the mysteries of a different country and language were both thrilling and daunting. I knew there were gardens at the Vatican and wanted desperately to see...
Taco Bell Hotel & Resort will have sauce packet floaties in the pool
You can spend your summer vacation at Taco Bell. If you’re a big fan of the Mexican cuisine, fast-food chain you’re going to love this immersive taco-themed getaway. It’s called The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort and it will be located in, you guessed it, California. Palm Springs...
Pittsburgh chef Justin Severino plans cafe near North Park
Renowned Pittsburgh chef Justin Severino is taking on another challenge. By summer’s end, he hopes to open a yet-to-be-named casual, California-inspired cafe in McCandless near North Park. Severino closed his popular Cure restaurant in Lawrenceville a few months ago and already had announced plans to open another venture, Larder of...
Girl Scouts raising funds at Ligonier Country Market
In an effort to raise funds for trips next year, two area Girl Scout troops will have stations at Ligonier Country Market this summer, says Cari Frei, market manager. Ligonier Girl Scout Troop 46136 will sell girl-made specialty gummy bears, including vegan and sugar-free. The troop is raising money to...
Barattolo opens at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s newest dining experience, Barattolo, offers guests the chance to savor the flavors of Italy at the Farmington, Fayette County, resort. The restaurant opened May 15, with a grand opening planned for Memorial Day weekend, a resort spokeswoman says. The new restaurant is located in the former Caddyshack,...
15-foot great white shark heading toward Outer BanksVideo
A 15-foot great white shark is moving up the coast toward the Outer Banks. Researchers are tracking the 2,137-pound fish as it migrates past South Carolina on course for North Carolina’s beaches. OCEARCH, a nonprofit that tags and tracks sharks, reports that the female shark, named Luna, was detected May...
Pickled Chef products coming to Greensburg Shop ‘n Save
Lovers of The Pickled Chef now have another source for their favorite piquant products. Items are now in stock at Shop ‘n Save, 730 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg. “We are thrilled to have partnered with the Charley’s, a fellow Greensburg business and family, to provide our local, artisanal small-batch, hand-crafted...
Lovely lime squares bring just enough zing
If you’re a fan of all things citrus, you’re going to love these tart little lime squares. Just 5 ingredients give you a bright and cheery dessert that goes great washed down with hot tea or ice cold milk. I could pretty much commit to only eating desserts that incorporate...
The Wine Cellar: 3 tips for graduation party wine picks
The end of May brings graduations aplenty. Graduations, of course, bring festive parties at every turn. And every fun party must offer tasty libations. With graduation party wines, following a few simple tips makes it easy. First, the wines must be convenient to open and serve. That means avoiding the...
Is the U.S. ready for ruby chocolate?
The world’s largest chocolate market is finally getting a taste of the ruby range, the first new type in more than 80 years. Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut, the top maker of bulk chocolates, is rolling out its ruby breakthrough in the United States almost two years after announcing the discovery. The...
‘Ugly’ produce? Don’t waste it, taste it
When picking through produce at a grocery store or farmers market, one’s first inclination might be to look for only the best. That mindset, however, can contribute to a great deal of waste, as some consumers decline to purchase foods that don’t meet the “pretty” test. Imperfect looking food, though,...
