Senior Living Cookbook – a healthy, local, and beautiful collection

May 23, 2014 by Leave a comment

IMG_9596Start of an idea…

Ender Rouse, a breast cancer survivor, member of the Keenagers, and Red Hat Society wanted to create a cookbook project for her groups to bring the family recipes together and preserve them. Simultaneously, at the quarterly meeting of the Senior Advisory Board for the Dekalb County Public Library, members voted to create a senior project for this year’s May event that celebrated older Americans. A quick chat between Tracie at Active Living and Myguail at the Decatur library and a plan was hatched!  Ask seniors to submit their favorite family recipes and print the collection as the Decatur cookbook. Then hold a luncheon to eat some of the tasty recipes and distribute the books!

IMG_9597Collecting the recipes

Ender led the charge to encourage seniors to contribute their family recipes and tell a short story about each one. Myguail created a standard recipe form and Sally, a registered dietitian on our Active Living board oversaw the inclusion of healthy substitution tips and recipes.10372013_684392874962421_1463292570431628367_n

Designing the book

Myguail invited library staffer Jerri Wilson to design the cookbook and organize the content. The result is a beautiful, easy to read, spiral bound and portable cookbook that everyone just loved. Contributors of recipes and tasters at the luncheon all received a free copy. The library will have a few copies as well.

 Cooking up the favorites

IMG_959410301046_684393021629073_2297443820852467289_nGuest chef Ahmed cooked up two of the favorite recipes in the book: Chicken Breast w/Ginger, Masala & Herbs by Mary Plantt (p.23) and Artichoke and Olive Pasta Salad by Michelle Griffith (p.8). 25 seniors attended the luncheon on May 22 and enjoyed the tastings, meeting Chef Ahmed, autographing each other’s cookbooks and winning a few door prizes. Prizes were awarded for answer to questions about healthy substitutions and fresh food choices.

 

Thank you seniors for sharing your family recipes, to Ender for the idea, to Sally Brozek, MS, RD, LD  for her guidance and door prize contributions, and to the DeKalb County Public Library – Decatur branch for sponsoring and producing this lovely collection!IMG_9598

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Exhibit: Owls, the Symbol of Wisdom and Knowledge

January 30, 2014 by 1 Comment

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Panola Mountain Owl Exhibit

Owls are a symbol of wisdom and knowledge…and active living? Many senior groups use the acronym to represent the active lifestyle they maintain e.g., Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors. Either way we value owls and we wanted to share this event with you in honor of Greg’s mother for Black History Month. His mother worked in the library profession for many years and loved owls. He is sharing her personal OWL figurines collection with the community and invites you to share with others. Special remarks on Sunday Feb 2.

All during the month of February, the Decatur Library will exhibit the private collection of owls of Mrs. Lillian W. White (March 24, 1932-May 8, 2011), former librarian of the Durham County Library System and one of the first professionally-trained, African-American librarians in the state of North Carolina. Mrs. White is the mother of Greg D. White, Director of the City of Decatur’s Active Living Division. On February 2, 2014, 3:00 p.m., Mr. White and his sister, Sharon White, will host a brief discussion about their mother and her passion for owls.  The discussion will be followed by a reception and tour of the exhibit.

DeKalb County Public Library – Exhibit: Owls, the symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

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FREE Computer Class: Internet for Seniors

January 22, 2014 by Leave a comment

DeKalb County Library and Decatur Active Living have joined together to offer Internet for Seniors on February 7, March 7 or May 2 from 2 – 3:30pm at the Decatur Recreation Center.

Seniors are invited to register for a free computer class conducted by the Dekalb County Public Library.

  • Learn what the internet is and how to navigate it.
  • Look for websites using web address and directories.
  • Perform simple seraches and discuss internet safety.

To register call 678-553-6559 or sign up online at http://www.decaturga.com/webtrac. Look under Active Adult Classes. Classes are held at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore Street, 30030.

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Collecting Recipes from our Elders – A Senior Perspective

January 6, 2014 by Leave a comment

Cookbook-Vol10That’s right, ask your family elders to record their recipes for a legacy cookbook being compiled by the DCPL (Decatur branch) and Decatur Active Living. Enter your family pride recipe, a heart healthy version, or the one that everyone always asks for after a family dinner. The recipe collection will be printed and distributed (for  those who contributed a recipe) at an event for seniors in May 2014. The active living board of directors will review recipes and award a heart symbol next to all the recipes that offer a healthy version.

Deadline to submit an entry is Feb 6, one month from today. See DCPL for forms or print the version attached below.

Details: Community Cookbook for Seniors – The DeKalb County Public Library Senior Advisory Board and Decatur Active Living are preparing a taste-tempting cookbook designed for seniors, featuring 100 favorite recipes from our community. Please submit one (1) of your favorite recipes if you would like to be included in the cookbook. Your name will be printed next to your recipe and your contribution will ensure the cookbook is a big success. This cookbook will be distributed in DeKalb County in limited supplies. Thank you for your participation.

Please return submission form and recipe by February 6, 2014 to:
DeKalb County Public Library, Darro C. Willey – Administrative Center 3560 Kensington Road, Decatur, GA 30032
If you have any questions, call 404.370.8450, ext. 2257

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Cooking, Walking, Biking, & Garden Herbal Tea Party on the calendar

October 14, 2013 by Leave a comment

The October air is invigorating isn’t it? Everyone in Decatur feels it too and they are out and about being active, which we love and applaud. If you need ideas to focus your outings, here are a few active options (and ALL are free) going on at the Rec Center in the next 7 days. Cooking class, Walk With a Doc, Bike Commuters breakfast, Garden tea party.
Simply Delicious

Simply Delicious

Simply Delicious: Healthy Food to Celebrate the Season. Wednesday morning join the fun and funky Wylde Center Chefs and learn scrumptious recipes, tips, and tricks to enjoy fall foods in this special free Living Greenclass at the Decatur Library. Wednesday October 16, 10:30-11:30am, Free.

Walk With A Doc

Walk With A Doc

Walk With a Doc features Dr. Khurram Khan this week, an Assistant Professor Of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics from the Emory University School Of Medicine and the Wesley Woods Outpatient Center. See you every Wednesday for a walk at 11am including this week October 16 @11am, Free.

BTWBike to Work Commuter Breakfast is held in May and October, two delightful months to commute to work by bike. The challenge is issued by the Clean Air Campaign, Georgia Commute Options and local organizations interested in clean air, active transportation, and alternate travel modes., We’ll be out front on Sycamore Street at a table full of coffee, juice, and baked goodies from Java Monkey to encourage, reward, and support all those who choose to bike to work that day and stop by. Local partners in the Decatur bike community will be on hand to answer questions about gear, clothing, bikes, routes, bike buddies, tall tales and such. Here’s the facebook event for more info and if you will, RSVP so we’ll have just the right amount of refreshments. See you October 17 @7am-9am on your way to work, Free.
botanist
Scott Garden Herbal Tea Party is one week from today and YOU are invited! First our gardeners will meet on Saturday October 19 for a work day and get the garden all spiffed up. Then on Monday, we’ll entertain the public with herbal teas made from the garden bounty and host Amy Stewart, author of the Drunken Botanist, for a quick meet & greet prior to her book talk next door at the library which is presented by Georgia Center for the Book. Be sure to grab a free copy of our list of botanical cocktails available in downtown Decatur to guide you on your exploration. Here’s the facebook event for more info and please ‘like’ their page to follow them. Tea Party is at October 21 @6pm and book talk is at 715pm; both are Free. 

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