Create a healthier home this spring

It’s time to open your windows, air out the house and get started on some spring cleaning. While most people dread cleaning their house and getting rid of things, it’s a great time to take inventory of what you truly need and can live without. …

Dealing with stress; helpful resources

It’s easy to let the little stresses of life pile up and overwhelm you all at once. With so many ongoing activities and events at work and at home, it’s easy to feel anxiety build up — usually at the worst moment. USA.gov can help …

New book brings top chefs’ food to any table

Plenty of folks would shy away from coaxing even just one recipe out of their favorite restaurant chef, but Chicago food writer Amelia Levin collected 59 such recipes for her first cookbook, Chicago Chef’s Table (Lyon’s Press, 2012). “I started by reaching out to as …

Libraries calendar

Elmwood Park Public Library , 1 Conti Parkway. www.elmwoodparklibrary.org or call (708) 453-7645. Anime Club: 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays in the basement community room. Check out a variety of animes. Popcorn. Drop-in Storytimes: (Ages 2-5): 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Enjoy some of your favorite stories. No registration. …

Leyden-area Community Calendar, May 24

Elm Leaves and Franklin Park Herald-Jounral welcome items for the Community Calendar as well as items for Business Briefs, Campus News, Community Briefs, School Digest and Your Page. Items must be received a minimum of 14 days prior to publication, but earlier is better. E-mail …

Chef stays true to red, white and blue

When the American flag flies proudly on days like Memorial Day, Chef John Lane weaves the nation’s favorite color combination into many of the foods he makes. For his Memorial Day weekend menu at The Perfect Dinner in Oak Park, Lane will make plenty of …

Foods of the 28 NATO countries: Go Hungary

In the same way I’d hope summit participants will be able to enjoy a Chicago-style hot dog or quintessential Italian beef sandwich while they are in the Windy City, I want to embrace the spirit of NATO in my home kitchen. Here’s how.

Elmwood Park / River Grove Community Calendar, May 17

Elm Leaves, with news of River Grove, welcomes items for the Community Calendar as well as items for Business Briefs, Campus News, Community Briefs, School Digest and Your Page. Items must be received a minimum of 14 days prior to publication, but earlier is better. …

The Great Big Idaho Potato Truck delivers

Older adults in suburban Cook County who receive home-delivered meals or have lunch at group dining locations can have potatoes donated to AgeOptions by the Idaho Potato Commission. The potatoes were delivered by The Great Big Idaho Potato Truck in a promotion at Ina’s restaurant …

Thank Mom with breakfast in bed

Even in the hands of the most capable chefs, a perfectly balanced dish can be elusive. Sour, bitter, salty and sweet are in constant opposition, but these basic elements of flavor can work in unison to elevate the essence of a dish to new heights. …

Pet of the Week

Name: Willow Species: Rabbit Color: Black Gender: Female Age: 1-2 years Willow is a sweet little bunny that came to us from a shelter that was over crowded. She is spayed, about 1 to 2 years old and is enjoying all the attention she is …

Elmwood Park / River Grove Community Calendar, May 10

Elm Leaves, with news of River Grove, welcomes items for the Community Calendar as well as items for Business Briefs, Campus News, Community Briefs, School Digest and Your Page. Items must be received a minimum of 14 days prior to publication, but earlier is better. …

Easy dishes kids can make for moms

She’s one hot mama. But cookbook author Beth Aldrich thinks all moms are hot moms. The Wilmette-based lifestyles coach believes every mom can stay healthy while enjoying food, and she provides helpful recipes to do so in her new cookbook, Real Moms Love to Eat: …

Derby delight fuses with   Cinco de Mayo

For years, I’ve helped dear friends pull together Kentucky Derby-inspired fare for a party celebrating the annual run for the roses.

Benedictine tea sandwiches, Henry Bain sauce, Burgoo burgers, and pimento cheese toasts are standard fare at any derby party, but this year’s race — …

Westlake Hospital earns enviornmental awards

Vanguard Westlake Hospital has been honored with two national awards for environmental excellence. The hospital earned the 2012 “Partner for Change” Award and the 2012 “Making Medicine Mercury-Free” Award from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for health care facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. …