The West University Buzz - November 2017

Tables With All the Trimmings by Jennifer Oakley

Updated Thanksgiving Recipes Heroin Hits Home: Gone Too Soon An Open Door After Harvey Chef’s Corner: Kimberly Paul Traveling Spain by Foot Rescuing Food for the Needy Houston, TX Permit No. 2047 PAID

Local Author: Deanne White

US Postage PRSRT STD

Sleep-Deprived Parents

Elizabeth Koval Parry

EDITOR’S NOTE

PERSONALCFO – a knowledgeable and trustworthy single point of contact you can count on

I know expressing thankfulness is expected in this season, but we are feeling especially so after some challenging months in our communities. We are grateful for generous neighbors who have come together to help flooded strangers, including our own Deborah Blumberg, who shares her upsetting but life-affirming experience in this month’s issue. This issue also tackles the difficult topic of another ongoing challenge: heroin addiction. Writer Cathy Gordon talked with Marcy and Randy Uzick and Maureen Wittels, who share their devastating experiences of losing their sons to an addiction that often is not talked about, especially in our communities. Our hope is that their honesty will be eye-opening and possibly save lives. November means Thanksgiving and family gatherings, which can be joyous but also an opportunity to check in with loved ones face to face. Buzz residents Eve Lapin, Lauren Blachman, Margaret Bravo, Elizabeth Parry and Dana Strake have tips for making that holiday table even more special. We wish you a joyful holiday and, as always, thank you for trusting us with your stories. joni@thebuzzmagazines.com

THE BUZZ MAGAZINES BELLAIRE • WEST UNIVERSITY • MEMORIAL • TANGLEWOOD/RIVER OAKS Published by Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401 info@thebuzzmagazines.com • p: 713.668.4157 • f: 713.665.2940 Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter thebuzzmagazines.com Editor Publisher Associate Editors Design Manager Staff Writers

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Joni Hoffman Michael Hoffman Cheryl Laird Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld John Duboise Tracy L. Barnett Sharon Albert Brier Andria Frankfort Angie Frederickson Todd Freed Cathy Gordon Michelle Casas Groogan Dai Huynh Annie Blaylock McQueen Jennifer Oakley Cheryl Ursin Rebecca Adler Deborah Lynn Blumberg Andrea Blitzer Leslie Little Kim Montgomery Amber Lewis Dylan Aguilar

On our cover: Elizabeth Koval Parry sets one of her Thanksgiving tables in the backyard to take advantage of Houston’s mild weather. Cover photo by Nikky LaWell, lawellphoto.com The Buzz Magazines has made all reasonable attempts to verify the accuracy of all information contained within. Advertising claims are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Copyright © 2017 Hoffman Marketing & Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this magazine by any means without written permission is strictly prohibited. Printed on recycled paper. Please remember to recycle.

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Build a Reason to Live Outdoors

Patio covers • Outdoor living rooms Outdoor kitchens • And more!

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MAILBAG

Your letters, thoughts, opinions Mr. Hagans gets things done As a Type 1 diabetic since 1968, I read your article about Type 1 diabetes [Tackling Type 1: When diabetes is part of the family, by Jennifer Oakley, September 2017] with great interest. One of the families mentioned was the Hagans. The article mentioned that the senior Mr. [Fred] Hagans has done a lot of pro bono work for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JRDF) over the years. However, the article did not mention, probably because Mr. Hagans did not bring it up, that he has also helped individuals with Type 1 who have faced discrimination in the workforce and schools. He has gone out of his way, stepped in and did what was needed to help and get the situation corrected. Thomas Roth

Telling the other side of IVF I read Annie’s article, IVF Journeys [Buzz Baby, by Annie Blaylock McQueen, September 2017], in The Buzz and looked at my kids, and for the first time in my life, I thanked God IVF didn't work. Of course, I wouldn't have minded it working, but seeing how it's playing out isn't so bad either. Annie reached out to me about including us the article. She asked if I minded being in the article as the couple who IVF didn't work for. Now that my house is full of screaming babies, I can talk about it easier. Thank you, Annie, for including our story in this article to give couples like us hope when you feel like you are out of options. Renee Clary Editor’s note: Thank you, Renee, for being so open and sharing your story of IVF, which eventually turned into a story of adoption. For this and all past articles in The Buzz, see thebuzzmagazines.com.

to receive it feels the same. That's why Theta Design Weekend put your magazine at the top of our very short list. The October issue is great! Our ad looks great in it! Waverly Gage, chair

Hey, is that you on the cover? The feedback from the October issue was so fun and really demonstrated how close the Memorial community is. I had dozens of friends and family texting me saying how excited they were to see the cover [School Buzz: Meet our 2017-18 correspondents, by Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, October 2017]! I’m so happy I was able to represent all the School Buzz writers. After two years with School Buzz and a summer internship, I’ve seen firsthand how The Buzz does such a great job of incorporating high schoolers in their publications and giving us a chance to play a role in our community. Thanks for all the opportunities! Andi Minter Editor’s note: Thanks, Andi, for appearing on our Memorial cover and writing for our School Buzz blog, at thebuzzmagazines.com. We are looking forward to more of your reports from Memorial High School. Send letters to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.

What’s your story?

This Back Porch in particular Andria, I have to tell you how much I loved your Back Porch article [Harvey, Houston and Heart, by Andria Frankfort, October 2017] in the October Buzz. I felt like you were right on – capturing all of my thoughts as well as our awesome city. I enjoy your articles so much, and this one really spoke to me as it was such a devastating, sad storm for our city but yet Houstonians rose to the occasion and took care of each other. Thank you! Allison Diano

We are looking for residents for upcoming articles who: • Have New Year’s resolutions to share. • Have a special love story. • Have interesting travel stories. • Know a compelling neighbor to profile. • Enjoy unique hobbies.

Buzz makes city smaller Thank you for working with us on our ads. The Buzz Magazines is the only free, delivered publication that I read cover to cover every month. It makes our huge city much smaller. I know everyone who is lucky enough WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 6

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us at info@thebuzzmagazines.com or 713.668.4157, ext 12.

Your smile can last forever Anna Maria Salas, D.D.S., M.S. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics

713-481-4885 3642 University Blvd., Suite 102

Houston, TX 77005 w w w. w e s t u o r t h o . c o m

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NEIGHBORS lawellphoto.com

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

Second Servings Charity saves leftover food

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oustonians are consistently ranked among the most philanthropic populace in the country. Charitable giving is a big part of who we are, and our city’s many non-profit organizations thrive because of that. But there was one facet of philanthropy sorely missing in the eyes of retired marketing executive Barbara Bronstein. “I got so tired of seeing no-shows at charitable banquets,” she says. “I knew their food was paid for and sitting in the kitchen. When I asked, I was horrified to find out that the food was being thrown away.” That’s when Barbara, a go-getter who is passionate about righting injustices, dove deep into researching how to make use of all the wasted food at Houston’s many charity galas. In 2013, she developed a pilot program to pick up uneaten, prepared meals and deliver them to organizations feeding Houston’s hungry. That pilot grew into what is now Second Servings Houston, the city’s “food rescue” nonprofit. “It boggles my mind, but one in five people in Houston is food insecure,” Barbara says, citing her extensive research into hunger. “One in seven is the national rate. And it’s even worse for children: One in four is food insecure here. Nationally, it vacillates between one in seven and one in eight. “I had no idea we were so bad off. But with that, I learned about what’s called ‘food rescue’ or ‘food recovery.’ It was happening all over the world, from big cities to small in different ways.” Just not in Houston. So Barbara began working with experts in social services and food service. She sought advice from the Houston Health Department and consulted with lawyers. “I learned that it’s not only legal to rescue food, but it’s encouraged by the government. Donors are protected from liability by the Good Samaritan laws.” To begin, she says, “I used a lot of Rice University interns, retired professionals and friends and associates who had different skills. We’ve also had interns from UT’s Graduate School of Public Health. When you start a nonprofit, you’re on a shoestring, so I was looking for assistance wherever I could find it.” Now, Second Servings rescues food from over

WASTE NOT Barbara Bronstein (far right), founder of Second Servings, delivers uneaten food from a gala to the Salvation Army Sally's House shelter. Resident Ylonda Deyo and Sally's House staff members Viestra Jackson and Amber Phifer (from left) happily accept the delivery.

150 donors via a refrigerated truck that delivers to more than 30 sites. “If someone has leftover food from a big event, they call us, and we pick it up and deliver it to a soup kitchen or shelter.” That food might be paella or bacon-wrapped tenderloin, or it might be sandwiches. Every week, some 10,000 people benefit from the leftover meals. “We’re killing two birds with one stone,” Barbara likes to point out, “by feeding people and preventing food waste from going into landfills.” Three years ago, retired teacher Jeanette Valore returned from a stint in Kazakhstan for her husband Tom’s job at ConocoPhillips. “It was the life of an ex-pat wife,” Jeanette says. “I didn’t have a work visa, so I got involved in the community. The ex-pat wives would have teas to collect money and buy groceries to give to families. We also had a soup kitchen. We’d make huge pots of soup with whatever we had and fill people’s containers to bring home to their families. I realized how much waste we have in our country and how far that could go to feeding some hungry families.” When she returned to Houston, Jeanette

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signed on as a “second seat” with Second Servings. “I’m not the driver [of the refrigerated truck], and there’s just one other seat. That’s where I sit. I go along to the places we visit to collect food, and I help load it and keep track of how much we collect and where it goes. Sometimes it’s heavy work – maybe a 30-pound box of apples. But we’re happy to get them.” Jeanette is part of the Food Rescue Squad, a core group of volunteers who show up to Second Servings each week. Barbara says it’s gratifying work. “You immediately see the fruits of your labor,” she says. “You see the food that would otherwise be thrown away, and you see people waiting in line for that free meal.” Sysco Corporation, a food distributor, recently provided funding for a second refrigerated truck. “We’re in an expansion mode,” Barbara says. “We’ll be hiring drivers and will be looking to fund them as well. And we’re always looking for more donors who have surplus food.” Editor’s note: Want to donate or volunteer? Go to secondservingshouston.org.

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NEIGHBORS

Nikky Lawell

by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, contributing writer

Come On In An open door after Harvey

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wo days before Hurricane Harvey hit, Margaret Lynn was lonely. The single mom had just dropped off her youngest child in Austin for his freshman year of college. Her oldest was headed home from College Station, but stayed put when news broke Harvey was on the way. “I was thinking how bored and alone I was going to be,” Lynn said. She took a trip to Costco to stock up on dog food, bought herself a roast chicken and told her friends from a few streets over, Russell and Thuy Hall, she wished she had someone to spend the storm with. Days later, her home was bursting with 11 strangers, two dogs and a senile cat. I was one of those strangers. Lynn took my family into her two-story home in Meyerland after flood waters gushed through our ranch-style house, leaving me, my husband Jon Adler, our 4and 2-year old daughters, and our cat and dog with nowhere to go. She gave us beds, made tasty rice dishes and smoothies, lent us her car and watched our kids. Lynn is one of countless neighbors who helped neighbors, and, in many cases, strangers. The water had started seeping into our home at 8 a.m., steadily rising to almost a foot. We turned off the power. We strapped our screaming 2 year old into a high chair for five hours to stop her from trudging through flood waters. We called 911. No one picked up. When I saw a canoe float by, I sloshed across the living room to bang on the window. We’d never met Russell Hall, who lived several doors down. But he was evacuating our next-door neighbor, Jana Haggard, who was eight months pregnant, her husband Ross and their dog, Acie. “We’d called the Coast Guard 30 times and never heard back,” Ross told me later. He’d pulled on wader boots and was heading to see about shelter at Lovett Elementary. “That’s when I saw Russell,” he said. Hall said he had to talk to his wife. “Next thing you know,” Ross said, “he was back, and he said, ‘I’ll take you.’ I said, great, but where are you going to take us?” Hall’s wife, Thuy, called Lynn. Again. “Thuy first called me Sunday morning,” Lynn said. “She said her friend Pok and her family were flooded. Then Thuy called again. A woman eight months

HELPING NEIGHBORS Margaret Lynn, Deborah Blumberg and Russell Hall (from left) first met hours after Harvey's flood waters inundated the neighborhood.

pregnant needed a place to go. Then, again. Two little girls, a dog and cat needed someplace to go. Russell made a joke, he said, ‘If Thuy calls you again, don’t pick up the phone.’” (The Halls had also flooded. Heidi and Bo Peng, who lived a few houses down, took them in along with seven other flooded families.) Lilah, 2, sat in my lap, her hand over mine on the paddle as we pulled away in the canoe Russell had borrowed from neighbors Bob and Beverly Hanson. Sadie, 4, sat on an Ikea stool. Russell would go back later for Jon and the pets. We paddled hard, hugging Meyerland Park. The rain had paused, and it was quiet. The boat rocked, splashing water on our feet. When we turned onto Jason Street, the current picked up, and we dug in. Ten minutes after we had left, I climbed out of the boat, pulling it up to Lynn’s house. When she opened her door, and I knew we were safe, I broke down. Tears spilled. Lynn, in a T-shirt and house slippers, didn’t hesitate to pull me in for a hug. “It’s going to be okay.” She didn’t blink when we deposited garbage bags stuffed with our belongings in her entry way, when Lilah sprinkled food crumbs throughout her house. “Sunday I woke up and looked out the win-

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dow and saw a river,” Lynn later told me. The water lapped her front steps. “I started to feel guilty. I was nice and dry, and knew people were probably starting to flood out.” My family – the cat and dog included – bunked in Lynn’s daughter Ashlee’s room. Our cat howled. Disoriented and afraid, Sadie and Lilah cried, keeping everyone else awake. But we were all safe, thanks to Lynn. Lilah entertained our fellow house guests by performing somersaults on the air mattress in the living room where Ross and Jana slept. Sadie and Lilah did laps up and down her staircase. We watched the news. We watched the rain. When the streets cleared, my family moved on to my aunt and uncle’s home in Piney Point until we found a rental in West University. Four days later, after all 11 of us had left Lynn, she took in another family. And when that family left, she hosted a co-worker whose home had flooded. I later learned Lynn also took in families during Hurricane Katrina. “For her to be so generous, and so willing to help all of us, it was really remarkable,” said Ross. Lynn brushed it off. “When people need help,” she told me, “what do you do? You help.”

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NEIGHBORS by Deborah Lynn Blumberg, contributing writer

Author: Deanne White From beach summers to bookstores Sea otters once numbered close to a million worldwide before fur traders hunted them nearly to extinction in the 1700s and 1800s. They’ve since gained protection, and numbers have slowly recovered, but they’re nowhere near what they once were. Otters are crucial to the marine ecosystem. When they eat kelp-eating sea urchins, they help protect kelp – a major source of food and shelter for marine life – from dying out. White sits on her Monterey balcony, listening to ALL ABOUT OTTERS Deanne White writes and illustrates her childrens' books at the ocean. “I’ve home in River Oaks and beach side in Monterey, California. always loved and Houston. First, she paints the pictures, painting watercolors,” she says, in a phone while listening to music from German composinterview. She has blonde hair, a trim figure er Johann Sebastian Bach. She self-published and a healthy glow, and is the picture of her first two books, but hopes to find a publishSouthern California, where she grew up. She er for the complete trilogy, The Otter spent her days playing on the beach and Chronicles. Her books can be found locally at building sandcastles and took weekly paintBlue Willow Bookshop, Brazos Bookstore and ing classes at the San Diego Zoo. Her father River Oaks Bookstore. often regaled her with stories he made up River Oaks resident Kellie Cutsinger has read about animals. In one, Inky the Black Bear White’s books to her four children, Zachary, 9, got sick after eating all the berries in a huge Samantha, 5, and twins Boyd and Ryan, 11. strawberry patch. “Otty has piqued their interest in nature,” she After graduating from UCLA with a degree says. “We’re never too old for sweet tales of in literature, White taught high school and midnature that bring us back to simpler times.” dle school in California and Arizona. She Once her otter series is done, White has her eye moved to Houston in 1980, and lives in River on furry land-roaming creatures for her next Oaks. She taught English at Alvin High School, endeavor. “My grandkids keep saying, ‘That’s and then left teaching for real estate. enough otters,’” she says. “I’m moving on to dogs.” She’s worked on her books in both Monterey

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Dylan Aguilar

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eanne White can sit for hours watching otters. From the cottage she rents in the sleepy California town of Monterey, she peers down at dozens of whiskered, fuzzy-faced creatures. They float on their backs in the ocean, snack on shellfish, chase each other’s tails and frolic with their pups. “Otters are so intelligent, and they’re just so fun to watch,” White says. “These adorable little creatures are so important to the future of our coastlines. It’s something we should be paying attention to.” For years, White walked along the craggy coastline past postage stamp-sized beaches to the Monterey Aquarium to snap photos of otters. She and her husband spent their summers in mild Monterey. A former high school English teacherturned-real estate agent, White never thought her otter gazing would be more than a pastime, until her husband passed away after an illness. “He was the one who encouraged me,” she says. “He said, ‘You spend most of your time looking at those crazy otters. Why don’t you get your paints out and do something?’” So, she did. When her husband of 30 years, Perrin Wynne White, died in 2014, White took out her watercolors and the dozens of otter photos she’d taken, and started to paint. A year later, she self-published her first children’s book, The Otter by the Sea. It tells the tale of Baby Otter and his family. The book, for 2 to 6 year olds, is the first in a soon-to-be three-part series. White both illustrates and writes her books. Her granddaughter Anita’s preschool class chose Otty’s name. White published her second, more text-heavy book in 2016, Otty the Otter Grows Up, for ages 4 to 8. She’s writing her third book, for 8 to 9 year olds. It features kelp forests and sharks. Otty meets a smart female otter. “She’s a feisty girl,” says White. “She shows Otty why otters need to be the gardeners of the kelp forest.” Her writing is rhythmic, and her images captivate young readers with their vivid colors and attention to detail. In The Otter by the Sea, White writes: “Baby Otter lives on top of a rock next to the sea across the street from me.” She pairs the text with a close-up painting of a long-whiskered baby otter done in brown, black and orange.

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NEIGHBORS by Jennifer Oakley, staff writer

Best Dressed Tables with all the trimmings

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ressing the Thanksgiving table can be as important as making turkey and dressing. To get our place settings ready to take center stage this month, we turned to our Buzz neighbors. Thanksgiving for 50? No problem, for Eve and Bobby Lapin, who host their extended family. “One of Bobby’s aunts and uncles had been hosting Thanksgiving at their house for years, and as they got older, they decided to pass the torch to the next generation – plus, it had been growing,” says Eve Lapin, a Southside Place resident. “When Bobby and I took it over, we did not have room for everyone at our house, so we decided to have it at the Southside Place Clubhouse.” That was more than a dozen years ago and the couple – she is a community volunteer, he is a partner at Lapin & Landa law firm – started hosting the event. Seeing how much work went into the day, Lauren Blachman, Bobby’s first cousin, offered to take over decorations. “Lauren really took it up a notch!” says Lapin, who keeps kosher and, with help from Bobby and some guests, cooks the feast for 50. “Lauren is really good at it, and each year the tables look better and better.” Lauren Blachman says she enjoys getting to decorate for the holiday. “I like having an artistic outlet, and decorating for family events lets me share that passion with people I love,” says Blachman, an executive coach and leadership trainer with Kaufman Blachman Consulting. “I look on Pinterest and get different ideas to include each year.” Blachman says Thanksgiving decor does not have to be pricey. She keeps cornucopias, candlesticks, vases and bowls on hand to start the decorations. “I use cranberries floating in water or layers of different colors of beans in glass containers,” says Blachman, who lives in Bellaire. “These are easy to execute and end up looking nice.” She saves all the decorations. “I am very into recycling,” says Blachman, whose husband Jeremy is COO at The Allied Group. “I have a big bin of Thanksgiving-themed pieces that I store and rotate. I try to spruce it up with a few new things every year.” Both Lapin and Blachman say that the highlight of the holiday is being thankful for family.

WE ARE FAMILY Eve Lapin (left) and Lauren Blachman tag team a large, family celebration. Eve hosts, and Lauren decorates.

“One of the great things about Thanksgiving is that the kids who are away in college come home, and we all get to be together,” says Lapin. “We also always remember those whom we miss, who have passed away, especially our son Oliver, and others who can’t make it home for the holiday. We are grateful for everyone who is here.” The Blachmans have two children, Abby, 21, and Ben, 17. The Lapins’ sons are Oliver, who passed away at age 12 from ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy); Elliott, 23, and Alec, 22. Thanksgiving at Dana Strake’s Memorial home is all about family, food, blessings – and tables. Dana and husband Trey, vice chairman of Cushman and Wakefield of Texas, host the day with their own four adult children (daughter Christine Chesney, son-in-law Logan Chesney and sons G. “George IV” and Brett). That’s where the table part comes in – Strake sets a “grown up” table in the dining room and a “kids” table in the kitchen for all of the adult kids. “I love Thanksgiving, and I love to decorate and

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set tables,” says Strake, a woman’s ministry facilitator. “I tend to keep the same turkeys and decorations that I have had forever – I think the kids like seeing things they had when they were young.” Keeping it all in the family is important to Strake, who sets the tables with treasured heirlooms that have been passed down. “Our silver is a cherished collection. Each piece is monogrammed with an ‘S,’ which is an inheritance from Mr. and Mrs. George Strake, my husband’s grandparents, whom I never knew but I am so grateful to because I love it. I love to make certain dishes just so I can use the silver!” The dining-room tablecloth is from her great aunt, and water glasses are gifts from her mother-in-law, Annette Strake. The china is her mother Cecille Burr’s Minton Gold, and Strake uses her own Baccarat Capri. “The kids’ table is my Royal Crown Derby Carlton Blue, and they don’t get to use my good crystal,” says Strake, laughing. Her tablescapes, she notes, are always evolving. “I like to use different things all the time,

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FAMILY AND FRIENDS On left: Dana Strake stands next to her “kids’ table,” set for Thanksgiving, in her Memorial home. On right: Margaret Bravo (left) hosts an annual “Friendsgiving.” Here, she gives a party favor to neighbor Mary Anne Burgher.

incorporating rustic things like deer horns with fine china, since my boys all love to hunt, and my daughter and I like the nice china and crystal,” she says. “I love using magnolia leaves, votives, fresh flowers and those mini pumpkins on the vine. I love pumpkins, especially white ones. I’m also working on needlepointing two big Indians – I’m part Chickasaw Indian – and I can’t wait to use them.” Strake says her father cooks and carves the Thanksgiving turkey while she and daughter Christine cook and bake the rest of the meal. She says the food and the tables are a backdrop for the meaning of the day. “Thanksgiving is my husband’s favorite holiday, and I do love it, too. It is a thankfulness to God, who provides everything single thing we have: our next breath, our home, our family and our great country.” Hot pink, green and gold at Thanksgiving? Absolutely, says Margaret Bravo, who uses her signature colors when dressing the table for her annual “Friendsgiving” at home in Tanglewood. It’s Thanksgiving with a colorful twist – just the right mix of melding a traditional holiday with a vibrant bent. Bravo grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, and has lived in Houston for over eight years. She and husband Brian, a senior vice president with

Jefferies Investment Bank, and 8-year-old son Asher, a student at River Oaks Baptist School, spend Thanksgiving with family in Rosemary Beach, Florida. But, Bravo says, something was missing. She wanted to celebrate the holiday with dear friends made in Houston. The solution is her annual Friendsgiving. “Our friends have become family to us, and we get together to celebrate. I go all-out for the dinner, and I always have entertainment for the kids so the parents can enjoy themselves.” She loves planning the party with attention to detail, starting with a paper invitation and ending with a party gift. She uses a mix of new with old. “I use my Waterford Crystal from when we got married and my great-grandmother’s silver, which is Gotham Buttercup with initials on it; each one is different,” says Bravo. She continues the color scheme with Herend’s Queen Victoria china and green Leontine napkins monogrammed in pink. “I love pink! I have a pink lacquered dining room. It’s cheerful and happy!” Place cards take the form of mini pumpkins, spray painted gold. Bravo cooks the entire meal, and her printed menu is part of each place setting. Brian Bravo enjoys wine and pairs a specific wine with each course. The children have their own pumpkin-

themed table set outdoors with a more kidfriendly menu. “I love Friendsgiving,” says Margaret Bravo, “and it makes me so happy.” Thanksgiving is an important part of the love story between Elizabeth Koval Parry and husband Robert. When the couple were dating, back in 2012, they decided to celebrate the holiday together. “Neither of us had ever cooked Thanksgiving before,” recalls Parry. “We wrote out a timeline, and, for three days, we cooked together after work for several hours. It was very stressful with all the timing, but it was great because we worked very well together as a team.” Fast forward to today. They are married, about to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary on Nov. 16, have a 28-month-old son Emerson and a new house in West U – and they still love to celebrate Thanksgiving. “We are thankful for our little family and carrying on traditions with our son,” says Parry, who owns Elizabeth Koval Designs and Parry Botanicals. Robert owns Trinity Physics Consulting. “When I set the table, it reminds me of family and traditions growing up.” Mindful of having a child, Parry makes sure that, although it may be special, nothing is too precious at her table. Parry (continued on page 16)

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WINE AND DINE Left: Dana Strake uses her Baccarat Capri crystal against a backdrop of white linens and flowers. Top right: Margaret Bravo serves baconwrapped stuffed pork tenderloin with butternut squash bread pudding and asparagus at her Friendsgiving meal. Bottom right: Lauren Blachman gets creative with clear bottles and letters to spell out the reason for the season: “thanks.” (continued from page 15) uses

Elena Waterford crystal, a wedding gift from her parents, along with Lenox Montclair china and Reed & Barton’s Francis 1 silver. Emerson even has his own Francis 1 place setting, gifted from family members. Parry likes to take advantage of Houston’s mild weather and has table settings for both inside and outside. Their Thanksgiving meal, which they still cook together, is a nod to those not with them. Parry serves cranberry sauce in her GreatGrandmother Hartman’s nesting hen and congealed lime salad in vintage molds that remind her of her Grandma Lucy. She also incorporates new finds each holiday. “This year we have added six turkeys for each place setting. They are sparkly, beautiful turkeys with beautiful tail feathers. And, I got a Thanksgiving holiday book to fill with thoughts of gratitude. We are grateful for so many things, and Thanksgiving is about family and love.”

Turkey with Lemon-Sage Butter From Elizabeth Parry 1 12- to 14-pound turkey, patted dry Brining kit (store-bought) ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus ¼ cup (½ stick), melted, for basting ¼ cup fresh sage, finely chopped 2 teaspoons lemon zest, freshly grated 1 teaspoon paprika Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Ingredients tied in cheesecloth for inside cavity:

2 lemons, quartered 1 juicy orange 4 sage leaves 4 rosemary sprigs 8 sprigs of thyme Small bunch of cilantro ½ stalk of celery Three days ahead: Brine turkey with storebought brining kit. Two days ahead: Set a rack inside a large, heavy, roasting pan. Mash ½ cup butter, sage, lemon zest and paprika in a bowl to combine. Starting at neck end of turkey, loosen the skin of the breast by gently sliding your fingers underneath. Work half of lemon-sage butter under skin. Loosen skin around legs and thighs; work remaining lemon-sage butter under skin. Season turkey inside and out with salt and pepper and stuff with fruit and spice ingredients wrapped in cheesecloth. Transfer turkey, breast side down, to prepared pan and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight. Day of: Let turkey stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375 F. Pour hot water into pan to a depth of ¼ inch. Roast turkey, basting occasionally with remaining ¼ cup butter, for 1 hour. Using paper towels, flip turkey; roast, basting occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165 degrees; roast for 1 to 1½ hours longer. Transfer to a platter. Let rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.

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Challah Stuffing From Eve Lapin ¼ cup chopped onion 1 celery rib, chopped 2 Tablespoons margarine or oil ½ cup tart apples, peeled ¼ cup golden raisins ½ teaspoon chicken or vegetable bouillon granules ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon rubbed sage ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning ⅛ teaspoon pepper ⅓ cup chicken broth or vegetarian no-chicken broth 2 cups crustless day-old challah bread, cubed Preheat oven to 350 F. In skillet, sauté onion and celery in margarine/oil until tender. Add the apples, raisins, bouillon, salt, sage, poultry seasoning and pepper. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in broth. Pour over bread crumbs, and toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 1-quart baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until top is golden brown.

Corn Casserole From Dana Strake ½ bell pepper, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 stick butter 1 can yellow creamed corn

lawellphoto.com lawellphoto.com

lawellphoto.com

DESSERTS AND DÉCOR Left: Pumpkin mousse with Snickerdoodle shortbread caps off Margaret Bravo’s feast. Top right: Elizabeth Koval Parry likes to dress up her Thanksgiving table with a mix of new turkeys and china and crystal from family. Bottom right: Lauren Blachman uses natural elements along with miniature signs to decorate for 50 people.

1 can yellow whole kernel corn (or fresh, cut from cob) 1 can Rotel tomatoes, drained 2 eggs, beaten 1 box Jiffy cornbread mix ½ pint sour cream 8 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated Preheat oven to 350 F. Sauté pepper and onion in butter. In large bowl, combine corn (with liquid from cans), drained Rotel tomatoes, eggs, cornbread mix, sour cream and sautéed mixture. Stir well. Pour into casserole dish. Sprinkle on grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done in the middle. (I always double and sometimes triple this recipe if I have a big crowd.)

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding From Margaret Bravo 4 cups butternut squash, diced 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 2 Tablespoons honey 3 cups half and half 6 large eggs, beaten ½ cup Gruyere cheese, freshly grated 8 cups French bread, cubed

Preheat oven to 400 F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish. In small bowl, toss butternut squash with butter, olive oil and seasonings. Transfer to a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes, turning once. Drizzle with honey and roast for 5 minutes longer. Let cool. In a large bowl, whisk the half and half with the eggs, cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the bread and squash and toss to combine. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake the bread pudding for 1 hour. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Dijon Maple Asparagus From Margaret Bravo 1 pound fresh asparagus 1 teaspoon maple syrup 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 Tablespoons butter 1 small shallot, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced Blanch asparagus in a large pot of salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and transfer to an ice bath. In a small bowl, combine the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat, add shallots and garlic, and sauté for 1 minute. Add the asparagus and Dijon maple

sauce and sauté until asparagus is coated, about 1 minute.

Pumpkin Mousse From Margaret Bravo 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree ½ 14-ounce can condensed milk 2½ cups heavy cream, divided 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie seasoning 8 Snickerdoodle cookies (optional) Combine the pumpkin, condensed milk, ½ cup of cream, brown sugar and pumpkin pie seasoning in a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl and allow to cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Place remaining cream into stand mixer and whip until stiff peaks form, about 3-5 minutes. Gently fold cream (reserving ⅔ cup) into the pumpkin mixture. Fill 8 martini glasses with mixture and place in refrigerator for 4 hours. Top each with a dollop of the reserved cream. Just before serving, top with a small Snickerdoodle cookie.

MORE ONLINE For more Thanksgiving recipes, see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

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NEIGHBORS by Cathy Gordon, staff writer

Heroin Hits Home Lives lost too soon

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ome kids sell lemonade. And then there’s Jonathan Uzick. At the ripe age of 8, he peddled business cards bearing the image of a golden retriever to classmates at Meyerland’s Lovett Elementary, charging $5 a pop. He bartered lessons in the fine art of dragon drawing for a bit of their lunch. “He was always the entrepreneur, always creative, charismatic, the happiest kid. The first to hug you,” says mom Marcy Uzick. “And empathetic,” laments dad Randy, recalling a text exchange with adult son Jonathan while hunting. “See anything?” “I see a little doe.” “Well, shoot if you want. It’s up to you.” “He then sends me a picture of him petting the doe,” Randy says. “Jonathan was always trying to save animals, save people. He just didn’t save himself.” March 1, this year. That’s the day Marcy and Randy’s world fractured into a million tiny pieces. Early that morning they discovered their hazeleyed Jonathan, 27, dead of an accidental heroin overdose at their Meyerland home, syringe on the bathroom counter, belt cinched around his arm. He’d helped himself to a bowl of his mom’s chicken matzo ball soup and tossed in a load of wash. This was the day he was to fly to Seattle to find a new job, start fresh. “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was call Robyn. I couldn’t even talk,” says Randy of Jonathan’s twin sister, married just two months prior. Jonathan, all smiles, spoke at her rehearsal dinner. Marcy made the equally heart-wrenching call to eldest son Robert. “You know how you sometimes get a paper cut and it hurts real bad, but if the cut is deeper it doesn’t hurt as bad?” offers Marcy. “I think this cut is just so deep that my body can’t comprehend it. My body is desperately trying to protect my heart. It’s not that we’re in denial. We just haven’t processed its enormity yet.” It’s a lot to process, this scourge of addiction. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), heroin set a milestone, claiming more victims in the U.S. in 2015 than gun-related homicides. It’s estimated that three out of four

COMEDY LEGACY Harris Wittels’ quirky jokes inspired lots of laughs on the NBC hit show Parks and Recreation and other well-known sitcoms. Wittels died of a heroin overdose on Feb. 19, 2015.

heroin addicts first used opioid painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. A crackdown on the flow of these prescription pain pills left users seeking the street drug as a cheaper, more accessible alternative. The result, an unprecedented and deadly heroin epidemic. “We’re dealing with Jonathan’s death plus having to come to the understanding that he was an addict,” says Marcy. “I probably didn’t use that word to describe our son for two to three months after he died because I was just so shocked.” Jonathan sailed through Bellaire High School, stellar grades. But a rough patch followed. He moved back to his parent’s Meyerland home after his sophomore year at Texas State University due to poor grades. Then a girlfriend breakup “broke him,” say his parents. While home, he held down part-time jobs

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and attempted studies at the University of Houston, dropping out twice. A stint at a psychologist did little to help. “It’s like he didn’t believe in himself anymore,” Marcy says. Flash forward to early this year, and he’s once again living with his parents for a brief stint, devastated that his new girlfriend moved to Denver without him. They’d originally planned to go together. He’d given up his apartment and job at The Ginger Man pub in Rice Village to do so. His parents noticed odd behavior. Extreme mood swings. He’d sometimes sleep all day. “I don’t have guilt, but I’m heartbroken that I saw things and didn’t know what I was seeing ’cause we knew nothing about drugs,” Randy says. “His skin looked kind of pasty, eyes dark. We’ve since learned that flulike symptoms come with opioid withdrawal.” Jonathan’s childhood friends in Seattle proposed that he move there, live with them. They’d

Nancy Aidee Photography

GONE TOO SOON Jonathan Uzick spoke at twin sister Robyn’s wedding rehearsal dinner just two months before he died of a heroin overdose.

help him find a job. He’s game, but plans to visit his girlfriend in Denver before making the move. On Feb. 20, the day before that trip, he settles in for a talk with his mom that stunned her. “I tried OxyContin last year, but I’m good now. It didn’t make me feel good,” he says of the narcotic. Marcy feels the blood drain from her face. “I’ve seen enough of that A&E TV show Intervention to know that if you were on it, you need to go to rehab,’” she replies. “He told me no, he’d go to Denver and be back in a week. I told him I didn’t want to bury him.” She takes advantage of the week he’s in Denver to find a Houston rehabilitation center with availability. She searches his room, finding no drugs or paraphernalia. “When he came back he almost seemed like the old Jonathan,” Marcy recalls. But we knew Jonathan well enough to know if he was using he wasn’t strong enough to get over it himself.” Please go to rehab, they plead. Seattle can wait 30 days. They found their son the next morning, ashen, on the bathroom floor. They recall the shock, despair. The gut-wrenching phone calls to family.

“I want Jonathan to be remembered for more than his drug addiction. I want him to be remembered for his caring, sweet soul,” says Marcy, recalling a dream where Jonathan came to her. “He said, ‘I guess I should have gone to rehab.’ And I say to Jonathan, my sweet son, ‘Yes, I guess it’s a little too late.’” *** Harris Wittels could land a joke. Table reads among staff at NBC’s hit sitcom Parks and Recreation were gut busting, thanks to the comedian’s quirky, sweetly weird contributions as a writer and co-executive producer of the show. “He was born funny,” says Maureen Wittels of her son’s fast-track career, writing for The Sarah Silverman Program, HBO’s Eastbound & Down and Parks and Recreation, among other creative exploits. He even coined the word “humblebrag,” writing the book Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty based on his popular twitter feed of boasts and brags disguised as humble comments or complaints. “Not many people can claim coining a word

that’s now in the Oxford dictionary,” says Maureen, a retired elementary school teacher who lives with doctor husband Ellison in River Oaks. “That was Harris.” Wittels, 30, was found dead of a heroin overdose at his Los Angeles home on Feb. 19, 2015. He’d performed standup the night before and sent his mom an upbeat email, excited over an imminent move to Manhattan. He was to co-star in the Netflix series Master of None with friend and fellow comedian Aziz Ansari. Harris helped write and produce the critically acclaimed series. “It’s a living nightmare,” says Maureen, who has found purpose amid the pain through GRASP, an acronym for Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing. She started a Houston chapter of the group to help local families going through such trauma. Among members of the group, Marcy and Randy Uzick. “Families need a place to heal and talk about their loved one,” says Maureen, who credits close friend “and rock” Kay Zeidman with helping her find her resolve. “I still have some terrible days, and she’s there every step. I (continued on page 20)

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(continued from page 19) was shocked at how I

couldn’t get out of bed on the second anniversary of Harris’s death. Harris loved to laugh. He wouldn’t want me to be so sad.” Three days before his sister Stephanie’s wedding in March 2013, Harris confided to his only sibling that he was hooked on the narcotic painkiller OxyContin. Don’t tell mom and dad, he said. “I’ve got a great therapist and can handle it.” He couldn’t. In early 2014 he came clean to his parents about his addiction and plans to kick it at a California rehabilitation center. At 26, he’d been prescribed OxyContin by a LA hospital after throwing out his back, “probably the beginning of the end,” Maureen laments. A month-long rehab stint appeared successful at first, with “the old Harris back,” but he relapsed soon after. Maureen recalls a text to Stephanie later that summer that turned her daughter’s face pale

white. “I am on the way to Hazelden,” Harris said of a rehabilitation center in Oregon. “I have relapsed on heroin.” “I fell to the floor. I lost it. I wailed,” recalls Maureen. “I knew he was going to die. You don’t associate heroin with your child. Heroin is for people who don’t have any money and live under a bridge or steal from their family.” Maureen didn’t have a good feeling following the Hazelden rehab stint. “I think he was ready to get back to LA and shoot up again.” It was a sullen Thanksgiving that year with a last-minute text from Harris. He wouldn’t be coming home. Another relapse. “I remember sitting on the couch with Ellison and saying ‘Look, he’s not going to make it. Just start preparing yourself because he’s going to be dead.’” They flew out the next day, tending to Harris. “A brutal weekend,” she recalls. “He’d been just living for the drug, self-medicating. What it boils down to is I think he was too delicate of a

soul to handle this life. He couldn’t say no, he was in such demand. He had to do the drug to feel semi-normal toward the end.” Yet another rehab, followed by a stint in a sober living home. Feb. 19, 2015. The day the nightmare came true. “You know what you said was always going to happen? It happened,” Ellison tells Maureen. She falls to the floor, screaming, rocking herself. I can’t do this. I don’t have it in me to do this! She remembers thinking of Stephanie’s young daughter Iris, their granddaughter. “Iris will never know Harris. Harris adored Iris.” It’s a sunny day. Maureen has opened the sliding glass doors in her high-rise apartment. A faint breeze wafts through, 17 stories up. “I wish I’d see signs from Harris. I just haven’t,” she says. As if on cue, a mourning dove lights on the balcony railing, sits for a few minutes, then flies off. “Well, look at that,” Maureen says, smiling through tears. “Just look at that.”

Warning signs and finding help Robert Park, CEO of Houston’s Luna Recovery Services, a private outpatient program, recalls vividly his “dark night of the soul” when inner torment led him to seek help for heroin addiction. “Some call it the moment of clarity. It’s like windows of opportunity when you see the truth of what you’re doing and have a willingness to do something different,” says Park, 37, whose drug habit included “anything and everything” from age 16 to 24. “Heroin. It’s like roulette. ‘Okay, am I going to die from this dose or not?’ Especially with the heroin these days,” he says of the street drug often laced with the powerful opioid painkiller Fentanyl and other substances. “Makes it twice as lethal if not more.” Denial, he says, is always the first battle of the family’s drug war. “We deal with families all over Memorial, Bellaire, River Oaks and Tanglewood and hear things like ‘Well, we found this in his room, but he says it’s really just the one time.’ They tend to minimize it. I tell them ‘The problem is probably worse than you think it is.’” Park sees addicts all the time who turned to heroin after first using the painkillers OxyContin or Vicodin. Addiction is chronic and progressive, he says. For the first time user, if taken orally, the drug can almost seem harmless, Park says. Worry, judgment and the feeling of separation disappear, with some describing a spiritual feeling in early use. “The user will get a euphoric feeling without the sloppiness of alcohol or other drugs and feels more in control without hangovers. Physical dependence is the result, causing lack of control and separation from those you most care about and self,” Park explains. Heroin dependence is affecting all populations in America, he says. “It’s become more acceptable and less scary to young adults. We see its prevalence rising in private high schools and colleges.” Loss of weight and ambition, extreme change in mood or habits, poor hygiene, a raspy, slowed voice, sleeping all day, slipping grades, poor work performance and sneakiness can be signs that something’s amiss. Withdrawal symptoms mimic a cold and the flu. Googling the Internet for professional help isn’t the best route when in crisis, he explains. Instead, consult friends or other families for referrals. Or go to your family doctor or therapist to find someone with a solid reputation in navigating addiction issues. Luna Recovery and Houston’s Lovett Center, The Council on Recovery, Memorial Hermann’s PaRC, and the nonprofit The Menninger Clinic have solid track records in the treatment of substance abuse, he offers. (One Buzz resident with a family member who overcame addiction after decades of use recommends the local sober-living community TRT Sober Living.) If you suspect someone in your home of using heroin, it’s crucial to have the overdose reversal drug Naloxone (brand name Narcan) on hand to block the effects of opiates in the system. It is available over the counter at most Texas pharmacies including Walgreens and CVS. Overdoses are usually accidental, says E. Vaughan Gilmore, coordinator of Addiction Services at The Menninger Clinic. “Overdose risk can happen when you get a contaminated batch or when they get a stronger dose than you think or maybe they’ve resumed use after a time and lost their tolerance,” she explains. “All these things are a risk for overdose. “Be vigilant. Don’t simply write things off as typical teenage behavior or ‘They’re just a college student.’ Tune in to warning signs because things can escalate rapidly.” Family history accounts for some addiction risk, as can anxiety, depression, a stressful household or trauma. Gilmore suggests intervening by expressing concern and empathy rather than hard-core confrontation. “The person already has a lot of shame about their habit.” Heroin doesn’t discriminate,” she says. “It’s a brain disease. The addiction is so strong physically and psychologically that if people want to use they’ll find a way, and it can include compromising morals and values, like stealing from family members. They’re not bad people. Their addiction is telling them that they need to use.” Editor’s note: For a link to the Houston chapter of GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing), see this story at thebuzzmagazines.com. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 20

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KIDS

by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Buzz Baby

Sleep-deprived parents

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen has three children under the age of 4.

Emily Large

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few years ago, a friend of mine made an appointment with an endocrinologist. “I was having trouble focusing,” she explained to me later over lunch. “I thought there was something really wrong me.” Julie (not her real name) couldn’t find a babysitter, so she brought along her then-6-month-old baby and 2-year-old toddler to the doctor. The appointment was not peaceful. “Don’t pick that up.” “John, sit down.” “John, do you want to watch Mickey?” The baby grabbed at anything he could reach, and the toddler tried to destroy the doctor’s office. The nurse asked routine questions. As Julie was describing her symptoms, she says, “I am seeing double, and when I turn my head, the room is spinning for a second.” The nurse took notes. Julie, worried about her impending medical report, wrangled her children. As the doctor walked in, he took one look at her and the two children and said, “Well, I can tell you what the problem is.” “I knew you were going to say that,” Julie replied. “It wasn’t fair,” she told me later. “Just because I had two kids with me, he assumed that that was the reason I was having issues.” But sure enough, the doc was right. Her blood-test results came in. She was perfectly healthy. The doctor’s diagnosis? She was chronically tired. Parenthood can be mentally, physically and emotionally challenging. Sleep deprivation during the baby years can lead to moodiness, memory problems, even hallucinations and paranoia. While I know those are serious health concerns, it’s also true that sleep deprivation can lead to some pretty humorous situations. Recently, I polled some Buzz parents and heard stories from rocking the cat to sleep and crying – literally – over spilled milk in the kitchen to multiple accounts of pouring baby rice cereal into the morning coffee. Speaking of coffee, it’s an important staple in a tired parent’s morning. Mom-of-two Shelby

SLEEP, BEAUTIFUL SLEEP Wesley and Chris Gibson say they take turns on who gets to nap and who watches children Charlie, Wyatt and Lucy. At right, daughter Lucy catches a quick nap, allowing Mom a rest break

Stegent says she shuffled into the kitchen and reached for her favorite white Starbucks coffee mug. Her baby, Emerson, was just 4 months old. She grabbed the coffee pot and started to pour. She had made her favorite brew, Kona coffee from Java. The hot liquid trickled into her mug. She brought it to her mouth and waited for that instant caffeinated jolt. “I realized, after a few sips, I forgot to put the coffee grinds in,” Shelby said, laughing. “I made a large pot of freshly brewed hot water.” That wasn’t her only kitchen mishap. “I wanted egg salad for lunch one day, so I boiled some eggs. Well, I totally forgot about the eggs, and after, oh, 45 minutes or so, I heard strange noises coming from the kitchen. The water had evaporated, and I was left with burnt eggs.” Wesley Gibson, who has three kids (Charlie, 6, Lucy, 4, and Wyatt, 2) was one of the moms who poured rice cereal into her coffee mug. “I didn’t even realize it until I had already stirred it,” she said, laughing. Unfortunately, a sleepy parent of little ones does not necessarily get to squeeze in a nap. Wesley recalled one day when she took this chance. “I dared to shut my eyes for 10 minutes on the couch while the kids were quietly playing iPad,” she said.

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She melted into a deep slumber. She awoke to Wyatt, who was 1 at the time, climbing all over her, soaking wet. “I got up and looked around. During the 10 minutes that I rested and all was quiet, he had climbed on the kitchen island and lined up all the fruit by size, dumped the dog’s water bowl and played in it, and [Lucy] had helped herself to peanuts from the pantry that were all over the floor.” She had been napping in the same room and didn’t hear a thing. By the time the third child arrives, most parents pick up on tricks for getting their kids to sleep so they can too. Wesley discovered a nifty little device that she swears by called the Baby Shusher – The Soothing Sleep Miracle for Babies. It actually makes “shushing” sounds that a parent would make to calm a crying baby. (You can snag one on Amazon for around $30). “I got [Wyatt] to sleep as an 8 month old in a crowded airport with it,” said Wesley. “It is a Godsend that I mocked before I had one.” If you can’t squeeze in a good nap, at least you can squeeze in a good laugh. Editor’s note: Do you have stories of parental sleep deprivation to share with other readers? Comment under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com or email info@thebuzzmagazines.com.

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TRAVEL

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by Tracy L. Barnett, staff writer

Travel Buzz

The Camino: Spain by foot

This is the first of a two-part series on Spain’s Camino de Santiago. Part II will follow in January, when St. John’s School teacher Susan Tallman shares her journey.

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or Bina and Anil Dara, two physicians who had just sent their last child off to college, the journey began as a physical challenge that would put them in top-notch form. The busy professionals didn’t fit the profile of pilgrims, in the tradition of those who have walked the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, for more than a thousand years. But the lifelong Catholics ended up being moved by the experience on every level – mental, physical and spiritual. The Camino, for the uninitiated, is a network of trails through Europe that lead to Santiago de Compostela and the shrine to the martyred apostle St. James (Santiago in Spanish). Popularized by such writers as Ernest Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises) and Paulo Coelho (The Pilgrimage), the Camino’s notable pilgrims have included Queen Isabella of Portugal. Actress Shirley MacLaine walked 500 miles of the trail at the age of 60, relating her spiritual journey in the bestselling book The Camino. German President Angela Merkel walked a section in 2014 with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in a symbolic show of solidarity with Spain and its difficult path to economic recovery. The Daras didn’t have a grand mission in mind. Anil first heard about the Camino on a radio talk show and knew right away it was something he wanted to do. At the time, their youngest daughter, Meghna, was still in high school at St. John’s School, so they decided that when she got to college, they would go. “Initially, it seemed like a really good physical challenge,” he said. “Then it slowly took on more meaning as time went on. Besides the physical challenge, there is a kind of spiritual aspect to it – and eventually that became the more important aspect.” Anil, an internist with a private practice in Humble, and Bina, an anesthesiologist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, met in medical school in their native India, and

UPWARD BOUND Anil and Bina Dara take a breather atop one of four hills they climbed on their first day on the Camino, from O Cebreiro to Triacastella.

they’ve been together ever since. They had always traveled together as a family – back home to India, to Canada, and all over the world – but their walk on the Camino was their first as a couple since the children were born. “Locking up our house and going away – we’d never done anything like that before, never, ever,” said Bina. “We always went with the kids, or we didn’t go at all.” So when Meghna began her studies at Rice University, eldest daughter Natasha was married, and middle daughter Karishma was finishing medical school, the Daras decided it was time for their big adventure, and began training in earnest. Natasha was now living with her husband in Barcelona, and they’d be able to finish the trip with a visit. Every evening after work they’d put on their walking shoes and walk around their Bellaire neighborhood. On the weekends they’d take long walks down Allen Parkway and trips to Terry Hershey Park and Jesse H. Jones Park. Once they went to Huntsville State Park in search of hills.

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They spent time selecting the right shoes (Anil tried out three pairs), and clothing (from wicking cloth that dries quickly) but the most important item, for Anil, was the collapsible trekking poles. “Especially going down hills, they take a lot of strain off your knees, and walking uphill they almost pull you up as well,” said Anil. “And since they’re telescoping poles, you can very easily adjust the height – when you’re going up you make them longer, when you’re going down you can make them shorter, so they give you a mechanical advantage.” Finally they were ready, and they set the date: September 2016. The most popular part of the trail is the last 100 kilometers, which is the minimum required to receive a pilgrim’s certificate or “compostela” (the Daras walked 161 kilometers, or 100 miles, in their eight-day trek). They began at the tiny medieval village of O Cebreiro, where they found their way to their first Pilgrim’s Mass at the tiny village church – founded in the year 836. The priest began asking (continued on page 26)

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(continued from page 24) if

anyone spoke Portuguese, and then Spanish, and then English. “He wanted people from different parts of the world speaking different languages to read the intercessions for the Mass,” Bina explained. She raised her hand. “So imagine me, there in the back of beyond, in this small little place doing the readings in English,” she said with a laugh. Afterwards, there in the back of the church in a glass case with Bibles from around the world, she was surprised to see one in the language of her childhood: Hindi. It quickly became clear that the mountainous terrain was a far cry from Houston. “It was way, way more than we expected it to be,” confessed Anil. “Of course, Galicia is mountainous – we should have researched that better!” Their first day they hiked 15 miles, only stopping in one village for a light lunch. By the time they arrived at the town of Triacastela, their first destination, they were on the verge of collapse. Anil was ready to call it quits, call a taxi and go to Santiago. “I said no, we can’t do that,” said Bina. “So we had an amazing shower, put on our flip flops, had dinner in a nice, cute, quaint restaurant with wholesome food and spent the evening meeting other pilgrims. The next morning we were raring to go.” The camaraderie with other walkers was one of the best parts of the trip, Anil said. Seeing the 70-somethings sprinting past, and the Canadian woman with her baby in a stroller, was enough to motivate them onward. Others they met included an Australian army colonel walking in honor of his recently deceased brother and a stockbroker from Dublin planning to write a book, “From the Couch to the Camino.” Soon they found themselves hitting their stride and simply taking in all the beauty of the Spanish countryside, walking under a canopy of trees from one medieval village to the next, many nearly deserted; one village had a population of one. “The lovely thing was seeing all these apple

TAKING IT IN Bina Dara enjoys the view on the trail from Sarria to Portamarín, where they passed through little towns amid stone houses, blackberry bushes and nature at its best.

trees full of apples,” said Bina. “It was so nice. And then there’d be a field full of sunflowers, and then the blackberries – I’ve never eaten such delicious blackberries. These were wild, just growing on people’s fences or along hedges…. I picked as many as I could along the way. Each day, they would dedicate their walk to a different person or group of people. “It was the beginning of a different phase in our lives,” said Bina. “The idea was to look back and be thankful for all that we were blessed with and pray for the people who helped us and influenced our

journey together – our parents, our siblings, our friends and colleagues, our patients, our children – and the final day was just for us.” The fact that it was their first trip as a couple since they had started their family made it even more special, Bina said, and she felt it brought them even closer. “I always think we’re closer than close,” she said. “But I think that this time just him and me – it was like there’s nothing in the world to worry about, we’re just going to be walking, and this is our time – that was very meaningful for me.”

If you go Essential gear: Collapsible trekking poles, hats for the sun, and excellent walking shoes, already broken in. Vaseline: After watching people suffering with blisters, the Daras were thankful for the advice they’d received to cover their feet with Vaseline before putting on their socks to prevent friction. Where to stay: Accommodations range from well-appointed hostels ($30 and up) and hotels ($60 and up) to the traditional municipal albergues that have housed pilgrims, men and women alike, for centuries. The latter is the most economic alternative, $6-12 per night. In the middle were the private albergues, including breakfast for $15-20; these are divided by gender, each room accommodating four to six. Eating on the Camino can range from fine dining to the simple but delicious repast of a pilgrim’s plate – 10 euros (about $12) for a generous portion of bread, wine, meat, salad and vegetables. Travelers are advised to get a Pilgrim’s Passport (Credencial de Peregrino) at the beginning of their trip, which can be stamped by establishments along the way to prove they walked the requisite 100 kilometers (62 miles) necessary to gain a certificate of pilgrimage (the Daras decided to go the extra mile at 100 miles (161 km)). The passport also grants the carrier access to the 10-euro Pilgrim’s Plate, albergues and other camino privileges. American Pilgrims on the Camino, a support community for Camino walkers, has a Houston chapter that organizes social events and walks, mentors future pilgrims and serves as a local host for a training program for hospitaleros, who serve as volunteer hosts at the albergues. A useful resource is the Camino de Santiago forum, where walkers discuss everything from the hazards of bedbugs to the best shoes and trail guides. www.caminodesantiago.me/community/. This Outside Magazine beginner’s guide is a good place to start www.outsideonline.com/1917861/walking-camino-de-santiago-beginners-guide; John Brierly’s guidebook series is highly recommended and available at www.caminoguides.com. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 26

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 27

The Junior League of Houston

FOOD by Rebecca Adler, contributing writer

Cooking Buzz Traditional Thanksgiving Cooking Buzz is produced in partnership with the Junior League of Houston, a women’s charitable and education organization founded in 1925.

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or as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday. My birthday typically falls on or during the week of the holiday, so I consider myself a “turkey baby,” and cooking has long been a part of my birthday tradition. Holidays are a time for beloved dishes, but also a time to try new takes on flavor profiles, impressing guests at your dinner table or potluck meal. The centerpiece of our Thanksgiving meal is the turkey, and for us preparing the turkey begins while watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. The Thanksgiving Turkey from Stop and Smell the Rosemary has a traditional preparation, but I love the punch of the Jalapeño and Cranberry Jelly paired with the meat. Leftover turkey slices and jelly are perfect to have on hand for company or visitors during the holiday season. As a newlywed, it’s been fun to discover the food traditions of another family. I’ve spent time in the kitchen with my husband’s sisters learning some of their grandmother’s favorite recipes. I now know the Adler Thanksgiving includes plenty of cranberry sauce served with delicious turkey and sides. Holiday meals are balanced in flavor and require a plan for balancing coveted time in the oven as well. Cooking and chilling the Cranberry Cheesecake from Peace Meals the day before your celebration is a way to get ahead and introduce another seasonal flavor in your dessert lineup. Entertaining is meant to be enjoyed, and if cooking is not a part of your tradition, The Junior League’s Pantry is an option. The Pantry sells a complete Thanksgiving dinner or à la carte side dishes, rolls and desserts. My favorite side to pick up is the Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Pecans.

Thanksgiving Turkey From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 1½ bunches each fresh thyme, sage, basil and

DESSERT, PLEASE Make the Cranberry Cheesecake from Peace Meals the day before so you have more time to play with special guests.

oregano, coarsely chopped 1½ teaspoons each dried thyme, sage, basil and oregano 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 Tablespoon salt 1 Tablespoon freshly ground pepper 1 fresh turkey (12 to 14 pounds) 2 small onions, cut into ¼-inch slices 2 carrots, cut into ¼-inch rounds 2 ribs celery, cut into ¼-inch pieces 2 leeks, cut into ¼-inch rounds 2 cloves garlic, sliced Olive oil

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 28

Herb Butter Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley 2 Tablespoons minced fresh sage 2 Tablespoons minced fresh thyme 2 Tablespoons minced fresh basil 1 Tablespoon minced fresh oregano 1 clove garlic, minced Salt Freshly ground pepper Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix fresh herbs, dried herbs, butter, salt and pepper. Rub into

Gabriel Garcia Marengo

TRADITIONS, OLD AND NEW Going for traditional? Maybe the Thanksgiving Turkey from Stop and Smell the Rosemary is up your alley. You can punch it up with Jalapeño and Cranberry Jelly.

turkey cavity. Stuff onions, carrots, celery, leeks and garlic into cavity. Truss with string. Rub outside of bird with olive oil. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast 30 minutes. Herb Butter: Combine butter, parsley, sage, thyme, basil, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. (This can be refrigerated up to 4 days, but bring to room temperature before using.) Reduce oven to 325 degrees and brush turkey with half of Herb Butter. Roast another 30 minutes and brush with remaining Herb Butter. Continue to roast, basting occasionally with pan juices, until thigh temperature measures 170 degrees on a meat thermometer, about 2¼ hours. Serve with Jalapeño and Cranberry Jelly. Serves 12 to 14.

chopped. Combine jalapeño mixture with sugar in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a full rolling boil. Add pectin. Return to a boil. Cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add vinegar and food coloring if desired. Cool. Spoon into sterilized jars and refrigerate.

Cranberry Cheesecake From Peace Meals 10 ounces fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice 11⁄3 cups plus 2 Tablespoons sugar, divided 32 ounces cream cheese, room temperature, cut into pieces 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 4 eggs, room temperature 1 pint sour cream, room temperature 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

Jalapeño and Cranberry Jelly From Stop and Smell the Rosemary 6 jalapeños, seeded and quartered 2½ cups cranberry juice cocktail 7 cups sugar 6 ounces liquid fruit pectin 1 cup distilled white vinegar Red food coloring (optional) Place jalapeños and cranberry juice in blender. Process until jalapeños are finely

This recipe requires advance preparation. Preheat the oven to 275°F and position the rack on the bottom of the oven. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan and set aside. Combine the cranberries with the orange juice and ¼ cup of water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the cranberries burst and the liquid is reduced. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in 1⁄3 cup of the sugar until it is fully dis-

solved. Strain the mixture, discard the solids and let the purée cool completely. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of sugar and the vanilla. Beat the mixture until smooth using an electric mixer at low speed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. Stir in the sour cream and orange zest. Pour half of the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Distribute 6 to 8 teaspoons of the cranberry purée evenly over the top. Spoon half of the remaining cheesecake mixture evenly over the first layer and dot with half of the remaining purée. Repeat with the remaining cheesecake mixture and purée. (Avoid dropping purée in the center of more than 1 layer). With a dinner knife, cut through the batter in a swirling motion to distribute the cranberry purée. Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in for 1 more hour. Transfer the cake to a rack and let it cool to room temperature. Release the sides of the pan. Cover the cheesecake and refrigerate overnight before serving. Serves 12. To buy a Junior League of Houston cookbook, or reserve your Thanksgiving meal with The Pantry, see jlh.org or call 713-871-6608.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 29

Tony Bullard

DINING

by Dai Huynh, staff writer

Chef’s Corner

Kimberly Paul

Find out about your favorite chefs in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews bar chef Kimberly Paul.

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epending on the season, you may find sprigs of fresh rosemary, parsley, kaffir lime, sage, ripe peaches and nectarines adorning Kimberly Paul’s bar. Nearby are a chemistry lab’s worth of vials containing secret homemade elixirs. Kimberly is the beverage director for Étoile and Brasserie Du Parc, who went from serving in the U.S. Air Force to serving hand-crafted cocktails. Her eyes sparkled as she listed her favorite destinations for hand-crafted libations and ingredients. “Oriole in London – that’s my crush,” said the 47-year-old Texas native. “I wish I could just hang out there with those guys for a week and see what they do. They take unusual ingredients and turn them into something you know.” That’s much like what Kimberly does for her bosses, French master chef Philippe Verpiand and his business partner-wife Monica Bui of Étoile Cuisine et Bar (1101-11 Uptown Park Boulevard) and Brasserie Du Parc (1440 Lamar). Here, Kimberly discusses how the lines between the kitchen and bar have blurred, along with no-fail recipes for a perfect Rob Roy and other pours. You referred to this as your dream job. How long have you worked for chef Verpiand? Three years. That’s unheard of in our industry. Being creative, you get bored easily. But I’m lucky that they don’t put creative restraint on me. They let me run with stuff that they may think is crazy, but sometimes it works. Name a crazy idea. One of my first crazy ideas was The Green Hour. I thought, ‘We’re French, let’s do absinthe service during happy hours, and let’s do it tableside.’ So we bought in the coolest absinthes we could find, stuff that no one had in town. I’m thinking of France’s Belle Époque era before World War I, with all these artists, and absinthe was their muse. The idea turned out to be a hit and people loved it. I think partly because it’s a little bit taboo, and it’s just fun.

Are there misconceptions about the wormwoodand anise-flavored absinthe? We did have to educate people and let them know that it won’t make them hallucinate. For many of your cocktails, you make your own syrups, extractions and, even, bitters. We try to keep it as homemade as we can. It all startBAR CHEF PAUL From the kitchen to the bar, Kimberly Paul uses seasonal ingredients ed when I made for her signature cocktails at Étoile and Brasserie Du Parc. my own limoncello town for hand-crafted cocktails. at an Italian place I worked at. Once I realized Anvil Bar & Refuge (1424 Westheimer Road) how the process and the extraction worked, the because they’re the one who put craft cocktails bells, whistles and lights started going off. So I on the scene. If it wasn’t for Bobby Heugel, none thought, ‘OK, if I do it like this, then what if I of us would be doing what we’re doing right now add this or that to it?’ in Houston. What to drink? I would order any of I started doing things I hadn’t thought about, their classics. We talk about how I’m not a recipe like making my own blackberry liqueur. I couldperson, but they’re stickler for recipes, and every n’t find a creme de mure that I liked. They all time you order a drink, it’s spot on. tasted like cough medicine. Now both restauMoving Sidewalk (306 Main Street) is a funky rants make their own blackberry liqueur, and we place. Alex Gregg is amazing. He knows more make the best Bramble ever because it’s not about liqueurs than anybody I’ve ever met. Then, actually creme de mure. around the corner, there is Reserve 101 (1201 At the core of many hand-crafted cocktails Caroline) where Leslie Ross Krockenberger is a is simple syrup. What is your version? creative genius. She knows things not a lot of The standard ratio is one part sugar to one people know, like the way things are drunk and part water. I tend to go heavier on the sugar, why they’re drunk that way. I’m in awe. more like one and a half sugar to one part water. I’m also particular about the sugar I Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh use. It’s a different kind of sweetness in the is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and winter. I prefer muscovado sugar in the winlongtime Houston-based restaurant writer. ter, but I would never use that in the summer. It’s too heavy. In the summer, I would use regular sugar or an alternative, like agave or The Scotch-based cocktail Rob Roy is making a cane sugar. Lately, coconut sugar has been comeback. See this story at thebuzzmagazines.com fun to mess with. I could stay in the kitchen for Paul’s version of this classic pour, along with her all day and play with different cocktails. bergamot-infused twist on the Bonny Prince Dram. Name a few of your favorite places around

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 30

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WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 31

Kevin Long/Gulf Coast Shots

SPORTS

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by Todd Freed, staff writer

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season removed from producing two of the nation’s top collegiate football prospects, the Episcopal Knights are at it again this season. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is ranked among the nation’s top players at his position, following in the footsteps of linemen Walker Little and Marvin Wilson, who went off to Stanford and Florida State, respectively, last season. “Jaylen is truly special,” said Knights head coach Steve Leisz. “We call him magic – now you see him, now you don’t. Not only does Jaylen have laser speed, but his hip movements and explosion are incredible.” Waddle showcased that sort of explosion in the Knights’ 3824 victory over rival St. Thomas, where he scored on a 75-yard kickoff return, a 70-yard punt return and a 55-yard pass reception. For Episcopal, which then went on to defeat Kinkaid 37-27 in an SPC showdown, it’s been much more than a one-man show. Several of the Knights are collegiate prospects, including cornerback Tayjon Martin, tight end Will Edens, junior defensive end Patrick Bayouth and junior running back Jaylen Davis. Davis was also recently named the MVP of the regional Nike football combine. Leisz also had high praise for defensive linemen Johnny Carrabba and Christian Walmsley, center Alan Ayanegui and quarterback Jack Grams, whom Leisz says is an Ivy League type of prospect. If all that weren’t enough, freshman linemen Luis Chavarria and Cullen Montgomery, who each are about 6’6”, 285 pounders, are already considered to be major collegiate recruits in the coming seasons. “Wouldn’t you know it, their favorite players are Walker Little and Marvin Wilson,” said Leisz. In volleyball, the Memorial Mustangs were on track for another good season, with 16 victo-

ries in the first 25 games. “We have a really scrappy group that play hard every game,” said Mustangs head coach Beth Gammill. “It’s the type of team that has a chance to win every WHAT A GREAT KNIGHT Quarterback Jack Grams helped lead the time it takes to the Episcopal Knights to another big season, including back-to-back victories over floor.” This season’s vic- rivals St. Thomas and Kinkaid. tory total includes a bigThe big contributors include senior captains time victory over defending Class 6A state finalAudrey Ledbetter, Avery Morris and Isabel ist Clear Creek. “That was a terrific and really Windham, but Chambers had praise for the fun win for our girls,” said Gammill. entire lineup. “We’ve got at least five girls who’ll Pacing the Mustangs this season has been the play field hockey at the collegiate level. continued outstanding play of junior outside hitter Frederique Fyhr, Natalie Stone, May McCabe, Sanaá Dotson and 6’3” middle blocker Meredith Izzy Chambers, Amelie Perrier, Amy Phillips. Phillips will play college volleyball at Cal Worscheh, Hatley Post and Kate Ainbindor Poly, while Dotson is committed to Oklahoma. are all terrific players. I can pretty much single In addition, Gamill says, there have been out everyone on the team. The thing about field major contributors up and down the lineup, hockey is that it’s a very fast paced and incrediincluding freshman right side hitter LIyla bly difficult sport. It takes a lot of hand control, Traylor, senior right side hitter Gillian Koskie, but as a whole, the sport is a lot like soccer.” senior libero Karen Xie, middle blocker Brooke On a sidebar note, the Mavericks also have Duncan, outside hitter Jessica Hausmann, setthe distinction of playing their home games on ter Kelly Tate and junior Jessica Mayer. one of the premiere high school field hockey After earning a top 10 national ranking last turfs in the country. “There’s actually only four season, the St. John’s Mavericks remain a powhigh schools in the nation that have this special erhouse program in the sport of field hockey. ‘wet turf’ field, which we installed last season” Early on this season, the Mavericks traveled to said Chambers. “It makes the ball go faster and St. Louis where they went 3-1-1 against some of keeps it on a plain surface. As a result, we’ve the country’s top field hockey teams. “We went hosted some big national tournaments.” out there and defeated the No. 8-ranked team in the nation, which was really great,” said Editor’s Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy AwardMavericks field hockey coach Craig Chambers. winning co-host and producer of the KUBE “We have a talented and experienced lineup, SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 most of whom play field hockey year round. The p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school girls play at the club level in both indoor and sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, outdoor national tournaments. Virtually every please email todd@thebuzzmagazines.com. one is a big contributor to our success.”

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 32

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Air filters “What kind of air filter should I buy for my allergy?” The answer is “it depends on what you’re allergic to.” If you are allergic to cat dander or grass pollen, we recommend investing in an advanced filter. These allergens are small; thus, they are lighter than air and stay airborne long enough to be filtered out of the air. Compare that to dust mite allergy, which is relatively large, staying airborne for only 15 to 20 minutes after being disturbed (such as making the bed). There’s no way a filter can catch much dust mite allergen once it has settled back onto the bed or carpet. Electrostatic filters are interesting. You get a permanent metal filter taking the place of your disposable fiberglass filter. This metal filter is better at trapping allergens than less expensive fiberglass models. If you use an electrostatic, run your air conditioning system using “ON” rather than “AUTO”. You just paid for a good filter, and you want it filtering 24/7, not just when the compressor or furnace turns on. Be sure to clean the filter regularly with a strong flow of water at least once or twice a month. If you don’t keep an electrostatic filter clean, it will become less effective, increasing the drag on your entire HVAC system. Many HVAC companies don’t like electrostatic filters at all, saying they reduce the life of the entire system. Instead, they recommend disposable 3M Filtretes. If you get a free-standing filter, should you go HEPA filter or a Sharper Image Ionic Breeze? This depends somewhat on budget and noise tolerance. The HEPA filters have fans that make some noise. You have to change the pre-filter every two or three months. It’s very easy to change, but take the unit outside before you disassemble it so the dust doesn’t make a mess inside.

Changing the main filter is almost as easy, and it only has to be done every couple of years. Post-bankruptcy, Sharper Image stills sells the Ionic Breeze, and Consumer Reports still recommends you don’t buy them. Here’s a line from their article: “By that logic, my coffee table is also an air filter because it collects dust.” Look at a store’s return policy to see if you can try the filter out first. You can usually return them before 30 or 60 days. Keep all the packing materials and your receipt. No matter what filter you buy, remember that a filter is just one step in a long process of allergen avoidance. If recommended by your doctor, you should also cover your mattress and pillow with impermeable covers, wash sheets in hot water, remove carpet from your bedroom, and keep the humidity in your home low enough to reduce growth of dust mites and mold. No one nose allergies like we do.™ Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs. David B. Engler, M.D., The Allergy Clinic, 7707 Fannin, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77054, 713.797.0993, *1200 Binz, Suite 180, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.522.9911, www.allergyclinic.com, *Operating as Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic

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*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 9/16/17—12/11/17 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of any of the product models set forth above in the quantities set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. Offer excludes HDOrigins™ and Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2017 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 17Q4MAGS&LC1

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 33

SPORTS

.

by Angie Frederickson, staff writer

SportzBuzz, Jr. W

elcome to SportzBuzz, Jr., a column spotlighting neighborhood athletes in elementary and middle school.

En garde Fourth-grade fencers Chase Gomez and Alex Buswell (top photo, from left) medaled in a Youth 10 Men’s Epee event in Austin. Both boys fence at Alliance Fencing Academy and placed in the top 8 at the regional competition. To prepare for events, Chase and Alex practice three times each week and also take private lessons. Sarah Thow with Alliance Fencing Academy says, “Epee is an all-over body touch, so playing a very good game of chess with your mind and body is the key.” These boys compete almost every month, all over the state of Texas and around the nation. Their next step in training is to learn more advanced foot and blade work to compete on the national level.

Elite gymnasts Gymnasts Caitlin Smith, Olivia Hollingsworth and Gabby Ladanyi (middle photo, from left) earned high honors at the U.S. Classic. The event is an elite-level competition and qualifier for the U.S. Championships. Caitlin and Gabby competed in the Hopes division and had impressive finishes, including 8th all-around for Caitlin and 13th allaround for Gabby. Olivia qualified for the P&G Championships in Anaheim, California. In order to keep up with their demanding 36-hourper-week training, the girls attend Texas Connections Academy home school so they can have a more flexible schedule. Their next competition season begins in January, when Caitlin and Gabby will advance to the Junior Division, and Olivia will compete in the Senior Division, which is the age group that qualifies to compete at the World Championships and the Olympic games.

On offense and defense Emery/Weiner School seventh grader Elan Goetz (bottom photo) is having a great season. This first-time tackle football player has already scored 12 touchdowns. The touchdowns came from rushing, throwing, receiving, a kickoff return and a fumble return. Elan splits his time between the Jaguars’ seventh- and eighth-grade teams, playing running back, quarterback and free safety. He has had multiple touchdowns in most games, and an outstanding defensive performance in the eighth-grade game against Alpha Omega Academy. Just before halftime, Elan picked up a fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, and a few plays later he made an interception to help seal the victory. Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis. WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 34

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Harvey repairs I am sorry if you flooded. I flooded, and so did my parents. I now know more than I wanted about residential construction law, and am sharing the misery. I do not practice in this area, and you must look elsewhere to learn more. Consult a construction or real estate lawyer or an AIA architect. Visit www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/home-remodeling-and-repair. Your banker’s home improvement loan requirements may be a good discipline, if not education. If you’re a lawyer, gather your friends and read them the Texas Real Estate Forms Manual 2017. Chapters 17 and 18 address insurance and residential construction. Chapter 20 discusses construction loans, Chapter 21 involuntary mechanic’s liens. Think twice before you repair. Do you have good title to the house? Can you afford to repair? Can you afford to flood again? What’s your elevation? Your flood risk? If you repair, can you afford insurance? Could a buyer, now or later? Has it been 60 days since you cleaned out the house? Homeowners building coverage may have lapsed. Talk to your agent about a vacancy endorsement. Before signing a contract, ask about builder’s risk. If your agent doesn’t know, talk to one with a designation such as a CPCU, CIC, ARM, or CRM. You might flood again. Keep all plans, drawings, and specifications, if only to help claim your losses next time. Renew your flood insurance, and never let it lapse. A construction contract should specify what the contractor will do, when the work will start, and when it will be completed. Address change orders, sales tax, insurance, and utilities. A lump sum or stipulated sum is

the simplest type of contract price. The contractor agrees to build or repair according to the plans and specifications, and the owner agrees to a fixed price. Involuntary mechanic’s liens. Unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can file a lien affidavit against the home. To avoid personal liability, owners must withhold 10 percent from the original contractor (statutory “retainage”), more if a lien notice is received (“trapped funds”). Construction Trust Fund Statute. Residential projects over $5,000 require a construction account at a bank. It’s a crime for the contractor to skip this step, to use the funds for another project, or to provide a false bills paid affidavit. Beware the residential construction contract that doesn’t address statutory retainage or mention trust fund accounts. Contracts should allow if not require owners to withhold retainage. Trust fund deposits and disbursements records should be available on request. We write wills and go to probate court. We offer no-obligation initial interviews for estate planning and administration, so it costs nothing to hear specific recommendations that suit your needs. Foreign nationals and international families welcome. Russell W. Hall, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Board Certified – Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 6750 West Loop South, Suite 920, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 713.662.3853, www.rwhpc.com

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KIDS

Eric Hang

SECOND FAMILY Andrew Duong, a junior at St. John’s School, says Breakthrough Houston helped him grow as a person, student and, now, teacher.

by Andrew Duong, age 16

Buzz Kidz I

Extra summer studies changed life

was 13 years old in my mom’s car on the way to St. John’s School at 7:45 a.m. in mid-June. I asked her again: “Why are you making me go to school in the summer?” As we entered the gate to the school, there was a sign up on the building with the words “Breakthrough Houston.” I didn’t know what was in store. I was greeted by energetic teachers who couldn’t have been older than 24, going crazy with these coordinated cheers. Surprisingly, the students were all excited too. I was confused and questioned why these kids were so pumped up to be in a cafeteria when they could be swimming or sleeping. I found out the answer soon enough. Breakthrough Houston (BTH) helps underserved students in the Houston area, meaning students who may not have the best academic

resources at their respective schools. While the academic courses were rigorous, there were justfun aspects of BTH that made it all worth it. We enjoyed trips to go bowling, camping or volunteering. A middle school student at the time, I remember these being everybody’s favorite days. The teachers would try to implement character strengths into our everyday lives, such as zest, curiosity, grit, gratitude, etc. After three years in the middle school summer program, some of those traits have been sewn in my brain. These have allowed me to grow as a person and role model for younger generations. As the years went by and new students and teachers kept rolling in, I realized time doesn’t wait for you. I’ve always thought of Breakthrough as my second family, a place where I felt safe and could

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be myself. The program also helped me get into St. John’s School, the best high school for me. I could never thank BTH enough for that. Now I’m a junior and teach middle school students at Breakthrough’s school-year program on occasional Saturdays. This is my way of giving back. I’ve been teaching for two years and don’t plan to stop anytime soon. Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

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How gratitude creates success As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re reminded of how blessed we are to live in a nation of such freedom and wealth as the United States. We ought to be mindful of this all year, every time we watch the news and see what it’s like in so many other parts of the world. Most people I talk to feel thankful for the good things in their life, from being healthy to having a loving family and a home to live in. But to get the full benefit of gratitude (and there are great benefits), we need to do more than feel thankful. We need to act on the feeling. That means expressing it. The John Templeton Foundation commissioned a national survey on gratitude involving over 2,000 respondents. While 92 percent of them agreed with the statement “I have so much in life to be thankful for,” only 48 percent expressed that gratitude regularly. Women were better expressers than men, on average, at 52 percent vs. 44 percent. A vast majority of respondents felt that gratitude brings benefits, with 94 percent agreeing that gratitude helps people be more fulfilled and lead a richer life. Almost as many agreed that gratitude also helps a person to have friends (93 percent) and achieve success (85 percent). An article in the Harvard Business Review titled “Gratitude is the New Willpower” even claims that gratitude is the key to willpower. The author, David DeSteno, explains how the human mind is often impatient. He highlights an experiment which found that feeling gratitude was related to having more patience. In life, having the patience – or willpower – to wait for rewards can help a person get more rewards, and avoid all sorts of problems, from sub-

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stance abuse to bad investment strategies. So how do we go from just feeling thankful to living it, and bring the full power of gratitude into our lives? Remembering to openly thank those who help you – or to whom you simply feel grateful – is one way. Another way to express gratitude is through generosity. This can actually create a virtuous circle in your life. It can help replace worry about your finances with a sense of control. Confidence will follow, and this can lead to greater financial success, which leads to even more generosity, and so on. Not understanding this circular relationship, too many folks put off generosity as they wait for more success in life. Some will never stop putting it off. On the other hand, I’ve seen families get into the circle of gratitude and success, and go from donating, say, a couple of thousand a year to charities and causes they support, to giving $25,000-35,000 per year, really making an impact. In fact, it’s become one of the ways I judge my effect on a client’s life. Here’s wishing you and yours a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude. James Waters, CFP®, PARTNERSINWEALTH, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 145, Houston, Texas 77005, 713.964.4028, jrw@partnersinwealth.com, www.partnersinwealth.com

It’s time to update your family portraits Schedule your studio or location session during the month of November and receive a $100 print credit. Limited sessions available. Reserve yours now. Ask about our specials. A Portrait Remembers 713.523.4916 nikky@lawellphoto.com www.lawellphoto.com

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Mindfulness and diet

Neighborhood Tails

713.662.2119 www.roveroaks.com

Luna, age 9 months, Catahoula, Morningside Dr. Dylan Aguilar

I’m Luna, a Catahoula rescue pup. My family rescued me from K-9 Angels, and, boy oh boy, is my life sweet now. My favorite things are chasing squirrels, playing with other “puppers” and bugging strangers until they give me attention and tell me I’m pretty. I also love to chew socks, and I like wake my mum and dad up in the night with lots of sloppy kisses all over their faces. They tell me to get off them, but I know secretly they just love being woken up at 3 a.m. by my displays of affection — have you seen how stinking cute I am, who wouldn’t?! Got a cute critter? Email a picture of your pet with approximately 150 words to info@thebuzzmagazines.com or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Featured pets receive two passes to Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Each pass can be redeemed for one day of lodging in a Bunk House Suite, 25 percent off your next grooming appointment or 25 percent off one obedience training class.

Celebrate special occasions with...

Mindfulness is the act of focusing attention on present-moment experiences. Apply that to a meal, and mindful eating means actually paying attention to the food you’re eating, making you less likely to thoughtlessly plow through a bag of potato chips, for instance. Being mindful can disrupt that automatic reaction by reducing the appeal of unhealthy foods. Observation of your thoughts is a key component, how eating certain foods makes you feel, not just physically but emotionally. The quality of your thoughts is closely linked to stress and eating behaviors. Some simple steps to mindfulness eating: ● Do not eat while watching TV, reading or working. This helps you keep attention on what you are eating and allows you to appreciate your meals. ● Take your time and take small bites. Try to focus on the textures and different sensations you are feeling with each bite of food that you take. ● Eat silently for five minutes, thinking about what it took to produce that meal, where it came from, the soil it grew in, the farmer who cultivated it, etc. ● Before opening the fridge or cabinet, take a breath and ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?" If not, do something else, like reading or going on a short walk. Bhardwaj Health, Primary Care Physicians, Rishi Bhardwaj, M.D. and Manoj Bhardwaj, M.D., 6800 West Loop South, Suite 228, Bellaire, Texas 77401, 832.412.1600, www.BhardwajHealth.com

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Flu shot timing

A minute with Maisie

Question: When is the best time to get a flu shot? Answer: I advise everyone to get a flu shot as soon as the vaccine arrives at their health care provider’s clinic, which is typically around September. The flu, also called influenza, is a viral infection in the nose, throat and lungs. Flu season typically occurs between the months of October and March. All children are susceptible to getting the flu and have the highest rates of infection. Most people know that children with chronic diseases, such as asthma and diabetes, are more susceptible and can suffer severe complications such as pneumonia or even death. However, all children are susceptible to these adverse effects. The vaccine is recommended for all children starting at age 6 months. Children 8 and under should receive two doses of the vaccine, given one month apart, the first year they are immunized. Your child will not get the flu from the vaccine, and it may save their life. But, since there are various flu viruses, it is possible to get the flu after vaccination. However, flu symptoms will be milder than if your child did not get vaccinated. Amy Crissman, M.D., is a pediatrician with UT Physicians. This season, UT Physicians is offering $19 flu shots through December at our family medicine clinic in Bellaire. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 713-486-2900 or go to UTPhysicians.com. UT Physicians Bellaire Family Medicine, 5420 Dashwood, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77081, 713.486.2900, UTPhysicians.com

Many clients ask me, “What rights do grandparents have to see their grandchildren in Texas?” The Texas Family Code provides that a grandparent may file a lawsuit seeking custody of their grandchildren if the order is necessary because the child’s present circumstances significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development. However, seeking custody of grandchildren and simply wanting to spend time with them is very different. If a grandparent wants to see their grandchildren without filing for custody, then the grandparent may intervene in an on-going divorce action but is prohibited in most cases from filing an original suit. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that being a parent is a fundamental right and infringing on those rights requires a high burden. However, given the right circumstances, it is possible for a grandparent to see their grandchildren through a court order. For more information, please consult an attorney board certified in family law. Maisie A. Barringer is a partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., a full-service, boutique, family-law firm specializing in divorce, child-custody modifications, grandparent access, paternity, adoption, and premarital and postmarital agreements. Maisie A. Barringer has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service printed in Texas Monthly magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P., Maisie A. Barringer, Partner, Board Certified in Family Law, Two Greenway Plaza, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77046, 713.600.5500, www.jenkinskamin.com

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 39

Dina Rohira Photography

NEIGHBORS

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by Annie Blaylock McQueen, staff writer

Totally rad

Annie Giannone and Sami Morrison (pictured, from left) are co-chairing West University Elementary School’s annual auction on Nov. 10 at Silver Street Studios. Parents and school community members are invited to bust out their favorite cassette mix tapes, leg warmers and jean jackets for the Back to the Eighties event. The popular cover band, the Spazmatics, will bring back memories of the decade. Proceeds from the event this year will benefit Kolter Elementary, which suffered significant loss during Hurricane Harvey. Underwriter and sponsorship opportunities, raffle tickets, and wine pull tickets are on sale. See westupto.org.

March of Dimes fundraiser CEO of The Woman’s Hospital of Texas Ashley McClellan (pictured, with husband Brett) co-chaired the hospital’s 14th Annual

Priscilla Dickson and Wilson Parish Photography

Buzz About Town

Labor Day Luncheon & Style Show, benefitting the March of Dimes. The event was held at the Royal Sonesta and raised more than $52,000 for the March of Dimes to improve the health of babies. The day featured a luncheon, style show presented by Natalie King, runway show produced by Todd Ramos, and a pop-up market with nearly 20 area boutiques.

Texas-sized fun Camp For All Young Professionals celebrated campers with special needs and challenging illnesses who come to Camp For All each year. The fundraising party at White Oak Music Hall was called the Camp Culinary Challenge: A Taste of Texas. Matt Mogas and Melinda Mogas (pictured) kicked up their boots for the efforts. The event co-chairs, Taylor McDaniel and Allison Schaffer, organized Texas-inspired bites from local restaurants, live entertainment by Max Flinn, a raffle and an open bar. A total of $34,000 was raised at the event, and half of the proceeds were given to Harvey relief efforts.

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Seen in the crowd were Leslie and Jim Avioli, Leslye and David Weaver, and Lesley and Barrett Schick.

Southside winter wonderland

Mark your calendars for Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., for the 6th Annual Southside Place Winter Wonderland Carnival. Brannon and Charissa Fitch (pictured) and many other volunteers are planning the special event. Families are invited to visit with Santa Claus, play carnival games, climb on inflatables, ride a mechanical bull and scale a rock climbing wall. Don’t forget gloves for the huge pile of snow. Enjoy a silent auction, shopping bazaar, coffee and donuts, pizza, Chick-fil-A, Phoenicia box lunches and drinks. For info, contact Alyson Haas at 512-423-8328. Proceeds will go toward improving the Southside Place Fire Truck Park and the surrounding grounds.

PTO teamwork Parents and children from Herod Elementary and West University Elementary, plus assistant principal Amber Pinchback and staffers from West U Methodist, pulled together for a donation drive for Harvey victims. The WUES PTO held the donation drive at Herod, with West U Methodist as the collection site. Members from the West University community (continued on page 42)

nurturing young minds emphasis on individuality

respect for students

focusing on academics

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Scouts lend a hand Boy Scout Troop 266 from West U Methodist Church hit the ground running after Harvey to help clear out flooded homes. They helped for more than a week in impacted areas such as Meyerland and Bellaire with the assistance of Scout committee chair John Cheek. Scouts also helped at the Houston Food Bank, NRG shelter

and other distribution points. February 2018 will be the 75th anniversary of the chartering of the troop. Pictured are (below, front row, from left) Vincent Chang, Vivien Liu, Caleb Chang, Viknesh Venkatachalam, Ethan Smith, (second row, from left) Christian Robins, Christine Robins, Will Robbins, Jenny Andayani, Tristan Newman, Zarina Newman, Alex Chang, Lisa Beckman, Mark Wong, Thomas Donnell (senior patrol leader), Joshua Liu, Matt Festa and Rayne Beckman.

fifth annual Fantasy Football Draft Night. It was postponed by Harvey, but the rescheduled event brought a sold-out crowd. Guests, including (pictured, from left) Janet Wahrlich Daniel Ortiz

donated clothes, school supplies, food and other items and filled over 12 SUVs and vans for delivery to Herod Elementary. Members from the Williams, Faulk, Frew, Burress, Moorhead and Nanna families were on hand to help, among many others.

(continued from page 40)

Up in the club Texans fans and philanthropists arrived at NRG Stadium for the Boys & Girls Harbor’s

and Melinda Landsness, were greeted by Texans cheerleaders in the stadium’s club level. The sports director and anchor for KPRC Channel 2, Randy McIlvoy, emceed the evening’s draft activities.

A romantic proposal When Mark and Nancy Reichek set up Lacey Feldman with Austinite Todd Wallerstein over two years ago, Todd drove to Houston for a date. Todd knew early on during that first meal at State of Grace where the relationship would go, but Lacey really knew it this past Labor Day. She stepped into a room full of candles and saw “Marry Me” spelled out in rose petals. Following the proposal at State of Grace, moms Sheri Feldman and Randee Kaplan and step-dad Jay Kaplan and family joined the special occasion. Late fathers Nason (continued on page 44) WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 42

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Sara Case

Feldman and Joel Wallerstein were for sure beaming with joy from above. The wedding will be in the fall of 2018.

(continued from page 42)

Galveston field trip

sports possessions. Heather Jo has played on the West U Little League Challenger Cardinals team and with Challenger football and basketball since 2006. Cindy Berg, a St. Louis designer, came to the rescue. She decorated and furnished bedrooms for Heather Jo and her grandparents/guardians, Fredia and Jo Bassham, in their new home and also arrived with an autographed jersey and baseball from St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Trevor Rosenthal. At a sur-

Senior citizens from the West University Senior Center enjoyed a day trip to Galveston. A docent led them on a tour of the Bryan Museum, which used to be an orphanage, and the group ate lunch at Miller’s Seawall Grille. The weather was gorgeous for the day trip. Pictured (from left) are Jeanne Warren, Nanette Beisner, Galina Zloblina, Linda George Smith and Judy Hwan.

Surprise from St. Louis Challenger Sports, a league for people with disabilities where everyone gets to play, helped one of its own in a time of need after Hurricane Harvey. Heather Jo Thomas (pictured, center, holding the baseball), an avid sports fan and collector of memorabilia, lost not only her home and handicap-accessible van, but also her prized WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 44

prise celebration at the West U Rec Center, the jersey and ball were presented while Rosenthal joined the fun via FaceTime. Hall of Fame hometown hero Craig Biggio also gave Heather Jo an autographed ball for her collection. Be seen in Buzz About Town. Send your high-res photos and community news to info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Items are published on a space-available basis. Also share your upcoming-event listings on thebuzzmagazines.com.

WEST UNIVERSITY BUZZ NOVEMBER 2017 45

NEIGHBORS

Back Porch

behance.net/runamokstudios

by Andria Frankfort, staff writer

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Updating Thanksgiving

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hanksgiving, more than any holiday, is all about tradition. Not just in terms of what we do, where we go and whom we spend the day with, but right down to what we eat. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving without a green bean casserole. But after years of the same casserole (canned mushroom soup, anyone?), some of us have made a few tweaks to our Thanksgiving menu. Whether that’s fried shallots, béchamel and haricot verts replacing the canned green beans and French’s Fried Onions, or whether it’s an entirely untraditional take on pumpkin pie, a little change can mean a big shakeup at the family table. Here, a few neighbors share Thanksgiving updates that actually worked – and stuck.

Spatchcock the turkey The star of the Thanksgiving table gets an altogether new treatment from the traditional at the McLaren house. Tevia McLaren says her mother-in-law found a recipe for spatchcocking via Martha Stewart. “We thought we were so cool doing it,” Tevia says. “And then I found a reference to [spatchcocking] from pioneer days!” The Oxford Companion to Food posits that spatchcocked birds, which are split down the back and flattened, originated in Ireland in the 18th century. “Besides making an intriguing presentation and being simple to carve,” The Oxford Companion says, “a spatchcocked bird requires less time in the oven. That means that the breast meat won’t be dry.” When asked if Tevia’s family shares their turkey recipe, Tevia says, “Of course we do! But other than the how-to-spatchcock, it won’t help. My father-in-law does the spatchcocking, and my mother-in-law does the seasoning. But every, every recipe she’s ever given me is accompanied by her disclaimer: ‘But I didn’t have this, so I used that.’ Or, ‘Sometimes I…’ Or, ‘Just put on it what you like.’ Argh! The spatchcocking is the easy part.” Google marthastewart.com, how to spatchcock a turkey, for the same stepby-step instructions that the McLarens use.

Amp up the sweet potatoes Ophthalmologist and gourmet cook Allan

Fradkin has devised a sweet potato recipe that brings the old mushy, marshmallow-y one into the 21st century. “I have changed the recipe through the years,” he says. “I started putting streusel on top and liked that, and then I added Grand NEWFANGLED There are lots of ways to update traditional Thanksgiving fare, includMarnier. Some ing spatchcocking the turkey – if the family agrees to it. people think it’s too Filling: much of a to-do. It involves more work than just 1 1-pound can pumpkin your basic sweet potatoes. You have to sauté the 1 cup sugar apples, make the streusel. But it’s worth it.” ½ cup milk 2 eggs, beaten Introduce a new side 2½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice Leslie Wade, a part-time art teacher and one Topping: of the masterminds behind the acclaimed Junior 1 cup cake mix (reserved from crust) League cookbook Peace Meals, says, “The ½ cup sugar Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto is now one of ¾ cup butter, softened my Thanksgiving family classics, and my kids ask for it every year. My mom used to make Mix crust ingredients together and pat dough Brussels sprouts for years that hardly anyone ate. into a 9” by 13” cake pan. Mix filling ingredients Now with the Peace Meals recipe, the Brussels and pour over dough. Blend topping ingredients sprouts are gobbled up. It’s the one dish that I until crumbly and sprinkle over filling. Bake at never have to bag up any leftovers from.” 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Try a Pumpkin Pie Cake Katherine Kardesch, a mom of three charged with making all the Thanksgiving desserts for her family, preps Pumpkin Cheesecake, Apple Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Pie, but calls Pumpkin Pie Cake the real crowd pleaser. “We love this recipe,” she says. “It was from a realtor in a neighborhood mailing. I read it close to Thanksgiving about 20 years ago, made it, and brought it to Dallas where it became a family favorite and a staple for Thanksgiving.”

Pumpkin Pie Cake Crust: 1 package Yellow Cake Mix (reserve 1 cup) 1 egg, beaten ½ cup butter, melted

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Or just stick with the same Some of us really love those French’s Fried Onions. I’ve tried frying shallots to top an updated green bean casserole, only to be scolded by my father, Bernie Milstein, who then showed up at my house carrying his own can of French’s. “Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but what is wrong with your grandmother’s string bean casserole once a year?” he says. “Same thing with the cornbread dressing. We’re just talking about once a year.” Guess I’ll be stocking up on French’s.

MORE ONLINE See thebuzzmagazines.com for more recipes, including Allan Fradkin’s Sweet Potato Casserole and Leslie Wade’s Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto.

TRUST LOOKS LIKE THIS.

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