morningevents's Blog

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is bringing together some of his friends from the sports and entertainment world for the Young, Fly & Flashy Weekend to benefit Wade’s World Foundation and other local-based programs, including “CeaseFire,” a new intervention program created by the Chicago Project to reduce violence and shootings in Chicago area public schools.

NOTE: Only the red carpet events are open to the public:

Young, Fly & Flashy Event Schedule

·          Thursday, September 4th

o         Carnival Cruise Lines Benefit Dinner & Joseph Abboud Fashion Display

§          Hotel SAX Chicago @ 6:30pm CT (Red Carpet Walk begins at 6:00pm CT)

330 North State Street, Chicago

·          Friday, September 5th

o         Gatorade Bowling Party hosted by Wade and fellow NBA all-star and gold medalist Chris Paul

§          10 Pin Bowling Lounge @ 7:30pm CT (Red Carpet Walk begins at 7:00pm CT)

330 north state street, Chicago

·          Saturday, September 6th

o         “Wade’s World Youth Summit” hosted by Wade and friends to talk about some major issues facing Chicago teens, specifically violence and education

§          UIC Forum (registration begins at 8:30AM CT)

725 W. Roosevelt Road (MC 126), Chicago

·          Saturday, September 6th

o         “Get Your Roll On” Skating party hosted by Wade and featuring DJ Irie

§          Lynwood Skating Center

Smoked Turkey Wrap

Makes 8 Wraps

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package Voursin cheese, softened

1 tablespoon minced shallots or red onion

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

8 (12 inch) spinach tortillas

2 pounds smoked turkey breast, sliced thinly, deli style

2 ounces alfalfa sprouts

Using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment mix the cheese, shallots and pepper together until well combined

Set aside until needed

Place a tortilla flat on a work surface

Spread evenly with the cheese mixture, be sure to spread the cheese all the way to the ends of the tortilla; the cheese will help seal the tortilla closed when it is rolled up

Divide the turkey into eight equal portions and place one portion in a single layer on half of the tortilla

Place a layer of sprouts on top the turkey

Roll up the tortilla tightly in a cylinder

Trip off and discard the loose ends

Repeat the process for the remaining wraps.

The wraps can be made a few hours in advance and kept tightly wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator

The can be cut into smaller sizes, for cocktail hors d’oeuvres, or in half for lunch- or dinner-sized portions

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Berghoff’s Creamy Ranch Dressing

Total Serving Size: 1 ½ cups

Individual Serving Size: 1 ½ tablespoons, 100 calories

Ingredients

½ cup low fat mayonnaise

1/3 cup low fat buttermilk

1/3 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

2 tablespoons minced fresh chives

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon ground white pepper

½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

In a small bowl, whisk all the ingredients together

Place in a covered container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

May be refrigerated, covered for up to 1 week.

www.berghoff.com

Top 10 Ways for Parents to Make Back-to-School a Breeze

1. Establish a daily routine – and stick to it!
   Make sure there is enough time in the morning for your kids to eat a healthy breakfast and get themselves ready without being rushed. And after school, designate a physical place in your home for homework and agree on a time and schedule for completing homework every night. No exceptions.
2. Make your home a year-round haven for learning.
   Demonstrate the importance of education and learning by making it part of your home life. Visit a library or museum or attend concerts and plays. But be sure to limit extracurricular activities, so your children aren’t over-scheduled and over-stressed. And most importantly, read to or with your children.
3. Your positive attitude will rub off on your kids!
   Make sure your attitude about school is positive and supportive. Share your favorite memories about starting a new school year and emphasize that a new year means a fresh start.
4. Build a “learning team” with your child’s teacher(s).
   Meet the teacher early in the school year and check in more frequently than parent-teacher conferences. Find out about special projects and activities and offer to help when you can. Find out what online services your school provides and utilize them to stay abreast of grades, lesson plans and school activities, and to communicate with the teacher and staff. At the same time, said retired Central Middle School of Tinley Park social studies teacher and 1998 Golden Apple Award winner Louis Broccolo, “Be involved but don't be a helicopter parent,” hovering over your child and taking too much of the teachers’ attention away from the first priority of running the classroom.
5. Keep tabs on what your child is doing in and out of the classroom.
   Know who their friends are and talk to them about what they’re learning and who they’re meeting and spending time with. Make sure you see all returned tests and papers and that you get notes and materials sent home from school. Older students, in particular, don’t always remember or want to share information sent home from the teacher. Communicate with other parents to keep each other abreast of new developments and information from the school, and be aware of issues facing your school.
6. Start the transition from summer vacation to school-day schedules early.
   Establish earlier bed times and wake-up times a few weeks prior to the first day of school to get your kids used to the new schedule. Connect with classmates they didn’t see over the summer and talk or write about your summer experiences so they have them fresh in their minds.
7. Remember, grades aren’t the only measure of success!
   Success is defined differently for everyone. Discuss expectations for the school year and ask your child to set his or her own goals, along with yours. Encourage them to be themselves and do the best they can – not follow someone else’s definition of success.
8. Support your student in big ways and small, through the low spots and highs.
   Ask your child every day how school went. Make your questions specific and engage them in conversation about what they learned and what they did. Make sure your child has everything necessary to start the school year and follow through on what is needed to be prepared and participate throughout the year. In addition, recognize that things won’t always go perfectly and help your child through the rough spots, all the while congratulating them when they meet or exceed your expectations.
9. Recognize and help ease that back-to-school anxiety and uncertainty.
   Build confidence and self-esteem, not dread, about the start of school. Talk about school everyday with an upbeat attitude. Discuss ways they can help themselves get ready for the new school year. Writing a letter to or drawing a picture for their teacher or picking up a book to donate to the class library can give them something tangible and positive to focus on leading up to the first day.
10. The little things really do matter!
    For younger students, accompany them to school and to their classroom on the first day. For middle school and high school students, know their schedules and their locker combination. Make sure that all forms are filled out and physicals are completed on time and have their school supplies purchased, out of the package, and labeled before the start of class that first day. Above all, hug them. Encourage them to do their best and support them along the way.

Drivable Options

Osthoff Resort

Elkhart Lake, WI (2.5 Hr. N of Chicago)

AAA 4-Diamonfd resort on private beach along Elkhart Lake

Accommodations in 675 sq.ft. Suite featuring fireplace and private balcony

Breakfast for 2 and 20% spa discount included

$149/nt. for Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend

+$30 upgrade to 2-bedroom Suite (sleeps 4)

Chula Vista Resort

Wisconsin Dells, WI (3 Hr. NW of Chicago)

Famous resort featuring 200,000 sq.ft. of indoor and outdoor water parks,

along with several dining options and hundreds of acres of hiking trails

Accommodations in 2-bedroom condo

$179/nt. during Labor Day weekend

Hilton Chicago Indian Lake Resort

Bloomingdale (30 min. W of Chicago)

260-acre resort featuring 18-hole championship golf course, 4000-sq.ft.

luxury spa, inside and outside pools and several restaurants and bars

Deal includes breakfast for 2, $20 food credit and 2 glasses of wine

$99/nt. for Labor Day weekend

Mission Point Resort

Mackinac Island, MI (7 Hr. N. of Chicago)

4-Star lakeside resort located on 18 acres next to Mackinac Is. State Park

Mackinac Is. is car-free

Deal includes upgrade to Lakeview Room

$99/nt. Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend

Book by August 25

CoCo Key Water Resort (@ Sheraton Cincinnati North)
Cincinnati, OH (4-4.5 Hr. SE of Chicago)

Popular water park featuring 50,000 sq.ft. of indoor water park action
Deal features overnight accommodations, 4 water park passes and 2 water park passes for a return visit
Located N of downtown Cincinnati near Kings Island (rollercoaster park), Cincinnati Zoo, Newport Aquarium and Cincinnati Art Museum

$129/nt. for Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend

Book by August 22

Flyable Options

Weekend in the City by the Bay

San Francisco

3 days, 2 nights at the Westin St. Francis Hotel

o Landmark 4-Star hotel

o Located in the heart of Union Square

o Rooms can go for $300/nt.+

$399/pp for Sat.-Mon. travel of Labor Day weekend

Adventure Week in Central America

Costa Rica

Roundtrip airfare Chicago to Costa Rica

7 days, 6 nights accommodations in Costa Rica

o 2 nights each in San Jose (capital), Arenal (volcano) and Monteverde (cloud forest)

4X4 rental with unlimited mileage for duration of stay

Daily breakfast included

$799/pp for Aug. 28-Sep. 4 travel (over Labor Day weekend)

Simple But Delicious Salads for Fall and Winter

Rick Petrocelly/The Olive Tap

Tomato-Onion Salad

The Tomatoes usually provide all of the acid this recipe will need, so we do not use vinegar.  For an exciting twist, add a few drops of aged Pomegranate Balsamic vinegar which is low in acid and has a very unique flavor.  Garlic is noticeably absent in this recipe as well as is Basil.  I have seen both added, but find that the original version my father taught me allows the tomato flavor to more prominent.  Some might even consider the Oregano an optional ingredient.

Ingredients

5 fresh ripe Tomatoes chopped into bite size chunks, juice reserved.

1 medium/large yellow onion, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced thin.

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh Oregano

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat leaf Parsley

1/2 cup Olive Tap Ascalano Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

Preparation

Chop the tomatoes, reserving as much of the juice as possible.  Place the tomatoes and juice in your salad bowl.

Add the sliced onions, oregano and parsley to the tomatoes, and mix in the olive oil to coat.  Chill immediately for at least 30 minutes. 

Serve topped with sea salt and coarse ground black pepper, and be sure to have plenty of thick sliced crusty bread on hand to soak up the leftover juice-oil mixture.

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Insalata Di Arancia (Orange Salad)

We updated this recipe by adding the Tangerine Balsamic vinegar.  I find the deep rich flavor and very low acidity makes the Oranges taste even better than when we use oil alone.

Ingredients

2-3 Fresh Oranges

2 tsp. Ascalano Extra Virgin Olive Oil )

2 or 3 tsp. Olive Tap Tangerine Balsamic vinegar

¼ tsp. red pepper seed (optional)

Sea Salt to taste

Preparation

Peel the oranges by hand taking care not to break into the pulp.  Divide into segments and then cut in half or thirds depending on size, removing seeds carefully.

Place the segments into a bowl; drizzle on the oil and Tangerine Balsamic vinegar and sprinkle lightly with salt and toss to mix well.  The salt will tend to sweeten the oranges, but too much will make it salty.  Use sparingly.

Add red pepper seed if desired.  Chill and serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

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Fusilli with grill roasted vegetables.

Ingredients

12 oz Fussili pasta

1/2  Cup Olive Tap Garlic Olive Oil

2 tbsp. White Balsamic Vinegar

1 small package of Cherry tomatoes

1 large Zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips

1 large Green Pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch strips

1 medium yellow onion, cut into quarters lengthwise.

1/4 cup sliced black olives

2 cloves of minced garlic.

Grated cheese (parmesan or Romano)

Preparation

Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and coat with a small amount of Olive Oil and when cool, toss lightly and refrigerate.

 Heat up your grill.  You will want some hot spots to help create a slight char on the vegetables.  Place the prepared vegetables in a bowl and coat lightly with some Olive Oil.  Sprinkle with some sea salt.  Place on the grill, using an optional vegetable grate if the spaces are too wide.  Cook, turning as necessary to get grill marks on the Zucchini, peppers and onion.  Be careful to not overcook.  You do not want them to be limp.

The tomatoes should be cooked until the skins split and some charring occurs.  Do not overcook the tomatoes as the juices will drain out.  Set the vegetables in a bowl as they are done.  Allow to cool.

 When ready to serve, combine the pasta, garlic, grilled vegetables and olives in a bowl.  Pour the Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar on top and toss lightly.  Top with a sprinkling of cheese and serve immediately, or keep chilled in the refrigerator until ready.

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Shrimp and Spring Mix Salad with Persian Lime Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette

1/3 cup Olive Tap White Balsamic Vinegar (substitute white wine vinegar and 1 tbsp sugar)

1 tbsp.  Dijon mustard

Pinch of salt and pepper to taste

2/3 cup Olive Tap Persian Lime Olive Oil

Salad

4 cups spring mix salad greens

1 medium tomato, large dice

½ cup thin sliced red onion

1 or 2 cups cooked baby shrimp

Optional: 1 hard boiled egg coarsely chopped.

Preparation:

In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, salt, pepper and Dijon mustard completely.   Slowly add the Persian Lime Olive Oil whisking constantly until completely incorporated.  Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Arrange the greens on a serving plate, and add the tomato and onion.  Place a scoop of shrimp on top of the salad, and garnish with the hardboiled egg.  Chill until ready to serve.

When ready to serve:  If necessary, shake or whisk the vinaigrette and pour 2 or 3 tablespoons over the shrimp and salad.  Serve immediately

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ENZO & LUCIA RISTORANTE ITALIANO
343 OLD MCHENRY ROAD
LONG GROVE   

847.478.8825


      A homey family owned, family run restaurant in Long Grove open 7
      days a week for lunch and dinner and for private parties.
      Made-to-order Italian cuisine prepared with the freshest
      ingredients. Special request encouraged. Specialties include
      Rotolo, Enzo's Special Gnocchi made with real potatoes, Risotto
      Pescatore, etc. and Lucia's Tiramisu.

Colors and Careers

Online color test uses patented technology to offer free career planning advice

CHICAGO, August 13, 2008 - It has long been understood that color can affect your mood, but what about your career choices? What do the colors you are drawn to say about your suitability for certain careers? The Color Career Counselor, a new online personality test offered by CareerBuilder, is the world’s only validated color-based personality test that looks at the relationship between colors and career compatibility. The free test can be found at 

a CareerBuilder.com site that offers career assessment tests and advice to help workers find more fulfilling careers.

The Color Career Counselor, powered by the Dewey Color System, uses a scientifically validated, color based online test to aid job seekers in determining what career best suits them.

"Seventy-four percent of U.S. workers report they have changed careers at least once," said Richard Castellini, VP Consumer Marketing. "The first step in finding a fulfilling career is learning more about you. The Color Career Counselor is the first test of its kind to provide relevant career path information with results in less than two minutes."

When taking the color test, job seekers are asked to select the colors they like and dislike from a system of 3,375 combinations. Favorite colors represent their hopes and aspirations, the ideals they pursue with passion, while least favorite colors highlight the issues and experiences that they try to avoid. Below find preferred color combination examples from the multi-patented Dewey Color System:

Yellow, Green and White: You’re the Designer

You make products, systems, services, or environments fit others’ needs. Even when co-workers aren’t in the mood to listen, your tactful, fact-based concerns enable them to appreciate different perspectives. Interior decorating, real estate, career counseling, computer programming, travel planning, or any job where you can recommend how to construct a more supportive world works best.

You are at your best when you are supporting people through periods of crisis or fixing things. Your realistic approach can identify practical solutions or quickly resolve issues. Since you see life from a hands-on, supportive perspective, consider being a doctor, nurse, physical therapist, corporate trainer, chiropractor, forest ranger, or carpenter.

Red, Orange and Black: You’re the Evaluator

You increase profitability by constantly examining, in detail, the most efficient way to accomplish tasks. Using facts, complied from past mistakes and successes, you deliver strong opinions with valuable perspectives that maximize the bottom-line. Consider support situations such as banking, operational support, computer repair, child care, or selling supportive products.

"Instead of relying on traditional questionnaires, this language-free test eliminates misinformed judgments, self-deceptions, and misinterpreted questions to reveal your core motivation" said Dewey Sedka, author and CEO of the Dewey Color System.

About Dewey Color System

The Dewey Color System is the world's first and only validated, color-based personality testing instrument. Sixteen personality factors including the five global factors of independence, anxiety, self-control, extraversion, and tough-mindedness can now be statistically predicted by color preference. The patented system's ability to measure the connection between personality and distinctive color choices is revolutionary. For more information visit www.deweycolorsystem.com

CareerBuilder.com is the nation’s largest online job site with more than 23 million unique visitors and over 1.8 million jobs. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), the company offers a vast online and print network to help job seekers connect with employers. CareerBuilder.com powers the career centers for more than 1,600 partners, including 140 newspapers and leading portals such as America Online and MSN. More than 300,000 employers take advantage of CareerBuilder.com’s easy job postings, 28 million-plus resumes, Diversity Channel and more. CareerBuilder.com and its subsidiaries operate in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit

www.careerbuilder.com

Katie will compete for Miss America in January 2009 in Las Vegas.

Miss Illinois, Katie Lorenz, will be coming by to talk about "Miracle Treat Day" to benefit Children's Miracle Network (CMN).

For info on CMN please visit: www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org