Happy Labor Day, America! I hope this article finds you enjoying time with the people you love and pondering the positives realized during the pandemic. I have enjoyed the extra time with family — especially cooking in the kitchen with my sous chefs (you know who you are). Thanks to my niece Heather and her sister-in-law Courtney for passing along this recipe. I am pairing this dish with a Korean mojito. Remember to buy local, stay safe and share kindness. Bon Appetit, Lanette Bulgogi Adapted from my Heartbeats.com INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon oil or fat of choice 3 cloves garlic, minced …

If you would have asked me on January 1st what I would be doing 6 months into 2020, my answer would have been vastly different than what it now is. I would have told you that in June of 2020 I would have a few races under my belt, I would be starting my training for a longer race in the fall, my outdoor bootcamps would be in full swing and that I would be enjoying the start of the summer with family and friends. Instead I am facing a whole different reality – we are facing a whole different …

My beautiful readers, I am hoping as you read this, you are all well. This is my third attempt, as the first version had to be rewritten in light of the current circumstances. I could no longer share all the graduation hype and parties that were on the calendar. The last family trip we were taking as Henry graduates and heads off to a Service academy is now stripped away. I was so excited to share all those exciting things with all of you. Unfortunately, we all have had a change in plans. This issue is still about family and …

Bellevue Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem  at America’s Most Storied Hospital By: David Oshinsky This book was a gift from my son, and he picked a very riveting story. Being a retired registered nurse may have influenced my opinion of the book, but I feel all who read it will thoroughly enjoy the book, as Oshinsky weaves his way through three centuries of history of this famous New York hospital. Oshinsky takes us from the hospital’s rise from a almshouse infirmary to a public hospital that is now well-known as a great trauma center for visiting world leaders. Bellevue …

Hot Brown Sliders INGREDIENTS 1 12-count package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, sliced in half 1 lb. turkey breast, thinly sliced and divided 12 slices white sharp cheddar cheese 8 slices bacon, roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces and cooked until crisp 12 tomatoes slices, about ¼-inch thick (I use Campari or Roma tomatoes) Mornay Sauce (make about 1 cup) 3 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1½ cups milk Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Dash nutmeg ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded Butter Glaze ½ cup (one stick) butter, melted 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds 2 …

The Worst of Times, the Best of Times By Katie McKy For a Chippewa Falls mother, it was the best of times. Her husband Eric had just been hired by Southwest Airlines, and they had their beautiful children — a four month-old, a two-year old, and a four-year old. Then streptococcus, a common bacterium, one that typically leads to a mere earache or a sinus infection, changed everything.     When Beth Vrablic started to slip away, no one knew at first. She and her family went to church one Sunday in late October. The next morning, she took the kids …

Rays Of Grace – April/May 2020 God has blessed me with many role models in my twenty years.  Recently, I have discovered a role model that I never would have thought that I had.  I have come to look up to (both literally and figuratively) my younger brother Henry. (Note that I describe him as my younger and not my little brother.) Henry and I are only two years apart, so growing up, we were often at each other’s throats. I remember, at times, being so jealous of how effortlessly intelligent and athletic he was (Still is!)    And if …

My beautiful readers, I am hoping as you read this, you are all well. This is my third attempt, as the first version had to be rewritten in light of the current circumstances. I could no longer share all the graduation hype and parties that were on the calendar. The last family trip we were taking as Henry graduates and heads off to a Service academy is now stripped away. I was so excited to share all those exciting things with all of you. Unfortunately, we all have had a change in plans. This issue is still about family and …

ASK AGAIN, YES By Mary Beth Keane The novel Ask Again, Yes is a story about two families, the Gleasons and the Stanhopes, and it spans over four decades. We learn about the lifelong friendship and love of Francis and Lena’s daughter, Kate, and Brian and Anne’s son, Peter. Author Mary Beth Keane weaves together all the things that happen in life–friendship, love, forgiveness, mental illness, alcoholism–and the tragedies that happen throughout a lifetime. Keane seems to understand the silence that surrounds so many problems that families deal with throughout their lives. Switching perspectives throughout the book, she gives us …

I am hunkered down, preparing for another Midwest snow storm, as I prepare for this issue of 5ive for Women. My husband, 18-year-old son and I decided to watch the entire season of Jack Ryan. What a special #hygge kind of night. At our 3-hour mark, we prepared dinner together. I chose seafood, as I was trying to conjure up thoughts of a beach far, far away. I have been making this recipe since 1993, when I first saw it in my Gourmet magazine subscription. It’s quick, easy, and its bright flavor is always a hit. I love my family …