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Due to the peculiarities of our family schedule, I assumed primary chef responsibilities in the Kokoris household right around the time when my daughter was born. This was a problem, because for most of my life, I have been a "cereal for dinner" kind of guy. Over the past two years, though, I have branched out. I now consider myself an expert in eggs, pasta and chili. Unfortunately for my family, the list kind of stops there. When I delicately broached the subject of having...
The last couple of weeks have been doozies. Fights are breaking out online among neighbors, coyotes are prowling the streets and the unusually warm weather has meant that gangs of middle school e-bikers look like the 2024 update to "The Fast and the Furious." Last week, when emotions were running particularly high on both sides of the political aisle, I met my fellow members of the Garden Study Club of Hinsdale at Graue Mill to make the giant annual holiday wreath that hangs...
In our house holiday pies are never an afterthought. They are an event in and of themselves. My daughter Gabriella likes to remind me that her stomach has a special division devoted exclusively to dessert. She's a girl after my own heart, because I know exactly how she feels. So, with Thanks-giving right around the corner, I am already thinking about pie. Last year our family went apple picking and got a little carried away. Thus, with an abundance of apples on hand, I was...
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans, with over 37 million diagnosed and nearly 9 million unaware they have it. Each November, Diabetes Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about this growing health issue, emphasizing early detection, prevention and effective management of diabetes. Diabetes affects how your body processes sugar (glucose), its main source of energy. Normally, the body uses insulin to help glucose move from the bloodstream into cel...
If you're feeling a stressed or fatigued by our upcoming election - maybe, like me, you have candidates texting you round the clock - it's almost over! Whatever your politics may be, the Hinsdale Public Library offers a variety of ways we can all celebrate our country's storied past. Two events this November offer the perfect opportunity to do just that. Local author (and library trustee) Richard Munson will be at the library on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. to celebrate the lau...
It's been said that a "house divided cannot stand." Be that as it may, when it comes to soup, I am willing to fight a noble battle. I happen to relish the virtues of a warm and comforting bowl of soup. Is there anything more satisfying on a chilly night? Louis De Gouy, celebrated chef of the Waldorf Astoria and Gourmet magazine, wrote a book devoted to soup in which he praised it as "cuisine's kindest course." "It breathes reassurance, it offers consolation; after a weary day...
Though it hasn't quite felt like fall for most of the month, Tuesday's foggy morning - straight out of a Dracula story - set the tone perfectly for the spooky season that's upon us. As I walked up the hill to the library, even the beautiful homes of Hinsdale seemed ominous, eerie - dare I say, haunted. And that's a good thing! For me, at least. As my house hunt enters year three, I am starting to consider broadening my search to include even the most uninhabitably frightening...
My grandfather was a Frenchman who instilled in me a deep appreciation for food. He wasn't much of a cook, but he loved to eat. When you dined with him, food was something to be savored and talked about. Thus, it's fitting that the story I recall him telling time and again was about Lucius Lucullus, a celebrated Roman general and bon vivant. Lucullus was known for his extravagant parties. However, on a rare night when he found himself dining alone, his staff assumed he would...
Have you given any thought to your library card lately? This September is the perfect opportunity to renew your relationship with the small piece of plastic that hopefully resides in your purse or pocket (or on your phone!) alongside your other daily essentials: It's National Library Card Signup Month! If you do have a card with us at Hinsdale Public Library, you are in good company - two-thirds of Americans report having a card. That's more library patrons than at any point...
As part of Men's Health Month, we want to help fathers, sons, grandfathers and grandsons make great decisions about their health and well-being. The best way to stay healthy well into your later years is to participate in regular screenings. Health screenings catch problems early, before they require large amounts of care. All men should stay up to date on these important screenings. • Blood pressure screening High blood pressure is the top risk factor for heart disease. T...
With this week's glorious weather, I think it is fair to say summer has arrived. To some, that means trips to the beach or the lake, baseball games and barbecues, maybe even summer hours at the office. For librarians, summer has some less relaxing connotations: Summer reading season will soon be here. Parents will prod their kids to keep their mind sharp over summer vacation. Wayward former readers will wander back, seeking recommendations as they cautiously dip their toe in...
And just like that, we're in May. Mayhem, Maycember, Mayday ... whatever you call it, it feels like a full sprint at breakneck pace to the start of summer when everything shifts around town. Summer in Hinsdale is full of warm nights at Pierce Park, catching up with friends at Uniquely Thursdays, and family fun activities at the Hinsdale Public Library. It's less about charity fundraisers and more about reconnecting with community - well, mostly. The society scene never really...
The best Mother's Day gift we ever gave my mom was a Belgian waffle maker. I feel certain she's the one who gave us the suggestion. However, it was really my sister Laura and I who loved it. I was in middle school that year. When summer arrived, my sister and I spent all our time swimming. My mom would be at work when we came home from morning practice. As a result, the two of us were left in charge of making our own breakfast. We always came home starving with the kind of...
I am heading to Oak Brook's Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art this weekend to see, among other things, a cinnabar screen encrusted with carved gemstones. The screen was a birthday present to the Chinese emperor Qianlong in 1791, and since my own birthday is fast approaching, it seemed like a good time to research gift ideas. Right now, I just can't decide between asking my wife for a gem-encrusted cinnabar screen or just a night off from doing the dishes. To free up some money...
For women, a health care journey can be a winding road with a lot of natural and unexpected health changes. From well-person care and prevention to family planning, conception, pregnancy, delivery, post-partum and even breast health - there's one thing that can remain consistent: our client's active decision-making in their health care. And that is the very focus of certified nurse midwives. Many people assume that midwives only deliver babies via home birth. This is far from...
Spring is in full swing! Now that the spring breakers have returned, first pitches have officially started the baseball season and the AYSO goals are up at the parks, it feels like we're racing into the final stretch before summer. This time of year also offers two long-standing Hinsdale social traditions: Derby Day and Kitchen Walk. Derby Day This year's Derby Day party, hosted by the Hinsdale Auxiliary of Brightpoint (formerly Children's Home & Aid), takes place at...
Aretha Franklin was once asked what her greatest creative challenge was and her answer was surprising. "Trying to figure out what to cook for dinner... nightly." The interviewer, Larry London, paused and laughed. Her honesty was refreshing and at the same time endearing because it made you realize that even the queen of soul had to think about dinner. That's the problem with dinner; it's so nightly. Even if you love to cook it's easy to hit a creative challenge when planning...
I am fortunate to have met many delightful members of our community at Hinsdale Public Library's front desk. Mr. S. was an avid reader. He had a positive, robust energy that was, on every meeting, infectious. He visited the library just about weekly and we always loved seeing him. He'd check out a stack of books and never needed a due date slip because he knew he would see us the following week. When other patrons were at the front desk, he would invariably let them know that...
Many of us have a person in our lives that we have mixed feelings about. It could be a relative, friend or a partner. You might really care for and love that person while at the same time feel disappointed and/or hurt by them. We might hope for change in our relationship with that person yet continue to be let down. How close you are emotionally to them and how frequent your interactions are can also impact the intensity of our mixed feelings. My father, who passed away in...
Now that I have polished off the last of my Girl Scout cookies, paczki and Valentine's chocolates, it is time to lace up my gym shoes and burn off the extra layer that has been keeping me warm this winter. The weather is getting better, the sun is setting later and the half marathon I foolishly signed up for is suddenly just around the corner. As lazy as I can be over the winter, I genuinely miss being outside and moving around. In addition to training for my race, I'll be...
Managing high blood pressure is a multifaceted approach involving a delicate balance of lifestyle modifications and medical interventions. UChicago Medicine AdventHealth is here to offer hope that positive changes in diet, physical activity, stress management and other lifestyle changes can significantly contribute to healthy blood pressure control. Adopting a heart-healthy diet is essential for managing high blood pressure. Lifestyle choices make a difference not only to...
There is a time and a place for everything, and few years back I decided both the time and the place had passed for the rectangular space in my backyard that housed my now-grown children's playset. That space had once been shaded by a large 200-year-old oak but was now bathed in full sunlight after having to remove the diseased tree. As I looked out our kitchen window wondering what would take its place, it hit me - we should transform the space into a vegetable garden! That s...
It's January in Hinsdale! You know what that means - after the New Year's champagne glasses are washed and the holiday decorations come down, we inevitably start thinking about escaping to a warmer climate. Some of us are working on spring break plans and some of the snowbirds among us have already flown south for the winter. (Florida and Arizona, I'm lookin' at you!) Well, if you're finding yourself dreaming of in-line skating on the beach like Barbie (and Ken), the Hinsdale...
When the snowflakes swirl and the cold wind blows, I welcome the chance to slow down. Gray winter days have me craving something warm and comforting. So, when I have time at home, I like to a make a winter pub inspired dinner, my British braised beef and mashed potatoes. This wine braised beef is like beef bourguignon, but simpler to make. Just brown the meat, add the wine and stock and the oven will do all the work while your kitchen is filled with a delicious aroma. Finish...
I have a confession to make: I didn't grow up in Hinsdale. No, it's even worse than that. I'm not from anywhere near here. I'm a Southerner, born in Mississippi and raised in Texas, which means that I don't always know the lingo. When someone asked if I was going to write about the Hinsdale Assembly Ball, I may or may not have responded with a blank stare while my brain went into overdrive, trying to remember what I knew about this organization. When that same person noticed m...
