Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog

Easy Apple Recipes

Over the weekend, I picked twenty pounds of apples at Johnny Appleseed's on Route 83 in Ellington CT.  I love apples and usually eat them plain but every so often I like to change up the flavor a bit.

Would I want to take a perfectly healthy apple and turn it into a high-calorie dessert?  Certainly not! But I do like fabulous low calorie apple treats that are really simple to make.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Apple Slices and Peanut Butter:  Cut the apple into 8 to 12 wedges and dip into peanut butter (preferably all natural).

Apple Slices and Cinnamon Sugar:  Instead of the peanut butter, mix up 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of sugar and dip the apples in that.

Just in case you don't think these are "recipes" and are really craving apple pie without the calories, you can always try this low-calorie baked apple streusel.

Baked Apple Streusel

Three apples (peeled or not) cut in thin slices and tossed with cinnamon sugar.  Put in buttered pie pan and cover with streusel topping.  Bake at 350 degrees until the top is browned and the apples are somewhat soft.

Streusel Topping:  1/2 cup of regular rolled oats, two tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, two teaspoons of butter, mixed together until crumbly.

Enjoy!

Photography Exhibit at The Mitchell Library, New Haven CT

A new photography exhibit by New Haven art photographer, E.M. Carlson, will be displayed by The Mitchell Library, 37 Harrison Street, New Haven CT.

The title of the exhibit, which runs from August 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011, is Seeing Wonder.  If you have ever seen the work of E.M. Carlson, you will agree that Seeing Wonder is an apt title for her work.  Using a 35mm camera, she captures the intricacies of the world around her in vibrant expression.  Limited edition framed prints are available for purchase; custom sizes are also available directly from the artist.

The hours of The Mitchell Library are:

• Monday: 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Seeing Wonder exhibit is free and open to the public.  Don't miss this opportunity to see the work of the award-winning art photographer E.M. Carlson during August. 

Paws in the Park ~ South Windsor, CT

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Nevers Park in South Windsor CT, the sixth annual Paws in the Park will be held.  The event, which starts at 10:00, is free and welcomes everyone, including all dogs on leashes.

There will be more than 40 vendors, including food, animal shelters, and animal adoption services. If you are looking to adopt a new pet, you just may meet your new pet there.

Among the highlights of the day are:

• VCA Animal Hospital, one of the sponsors, will be offering free pet pedicures and gift certificates for a free first exam.
• Best Costume Contest at 11:10 and other contests every half hour.
• A demonstration by the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and a chance to meet some of the puppies in the puppy-raising program.
• Games and crafts for children, including children's caricatures, music, and a moon bounce.

Paws in the Park is hosted by the South Windsor Jaycees; proceeds from the day will be donated to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and the South Windsor Bark Park.

The rain date is May 15, 2011. 

This will be a great event for everyone, including your pets.  Be sure to stop by Paws in the Park and the Bark Park at Nevers Park.  For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation website.

Shred Fest in Manchester CT

Tired of shredding all your confidential documents three pages at a time?  Then head over to the 8th Utilities District office at 18 Main Street in Manchester for a Shred Fest.

On Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the 8th Utilities District will be holding its annual Shred Fest in the parking lot.  Any resident or property owner of Manchester may participate.  Each car is allowed two large boxes or garbage bags of paper, and assistance in getting it out of your car will be available.

The shredding is done by a shedding truck, so it's a quick process.  Owners of the documents can stay to watch it being shredded or they can just load it into the truck and leave.

With all the concerns about identify theft, it's wise to shred all paperwork that has important personal information on it, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, payroll information, outdated tax returns, credit card bills, etc.  Stop by the 8th Utilities District parking lot on next Saturday for the annual Shred Fest, and get your important personal documents shredded fast. 

Now there's a good example of your tax dollars at work!

The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show ~ February 24-27, 2011

The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show will be held this weekend at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.  Located on Columbus Boulevard, the Connecticut Convention Center will host "Capture the Magic" which is this year's theme.  With almost three acres of space, the Connecticut Convention Center will showcase landscaped gardens, floral arrangements, 250 vendor and product booths, and many educational seminars.

And, if you bring 1/2 cup of your soil, you can get it tested for free by UConn Co-op.

The hours will be:

• Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ticket prices (cash only) are $14 for adults, $2 for ages 7-14, and $12 for seniors on Thursday and Friday only.

For more information, visit The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show or call 860-844-8461.

Get a taste of spring, get inspired, and see the magic this weekend at The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show!

Museums on Us ~ Free Passes on the First Weekend of Every Month

Bank of America's Museums on Us program offers their credit card, check, or ATM cardholders a free pass to participating museums thoughout the country on the first weekend of every month.  Each cardholder gets one free general admission pass.  This program covers admittance to 150 museums throughout the U.S.  You can see which museums are eligible by state.

Here in Connecticut, the only museums in the Museums on Us program are:

• The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford
• Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven
• The Discovery Museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport

However, if you are willing to travel a bit to New York or Boston, you can gain free admission to such museums as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Aquarium in New York or the Museum of Fine Arts or the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Boston/Cambridge, and others.  Check out the list of 150 participating museums on their website.

If you have a Bank of America account, take advantage of it and get a free museum pass through the Museums on Us program on the first weekend of every month.

Looking for something fun to do this winter? Try ice skating!  Today's Groupon is a 2-for-the-price-of-1 ticket to Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in West Hartford.  The way Groupon works is that you buy the deal today but you have a year to use it.  If you haven't checked out Groupon yet, you should.

Located at 56 Buena Vista Road in West Hartford, Veterans Memorial Skating Rink is a NHL-sized newly renovated rink that offers skate rentals, lessons, hockey programs, party rooms, food, and much more.  There is also free wireless access for those parents or chaperones who don't want to skate.

If you are looking for free skating and free skate rentals, there is still one more day of ice skating at Bushnell Park in Hartford.  The last day is January 6, and it is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.