Big City Amenities, Small Town Charm Converge in Plano
– When travelers to North Texas hang their hat in Plano, they enjoy
prime access to all of the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s cultural, sporting
and entertainment offerings. But this dynamic city is also a destination
in its own right, one that blends cosmopolitan flair with vintage charm
for the perfect weekend getaway.Here are the makings of a memorable
weekend in Plano.Stay. For extra pampering, consider the
Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West, known for its "cowboy meets
Samurai" décor and rooftop pool and cabanas.Looking for something truly
over-the-top? Take over Southfork Ranch, home of the TV series "Dallas,"
for the night. The package includes a private tour of the mansion and a
steak dinner fit for J.R. Ewing. (If opting for one of Plano’s many
other hotels, visitors can still enjoy a Southfork trail ride by day.)Sip and Savor.
With more than 1,000 eateries, Plano has more restaurants per capita
than New York or San Francisco and an incredibly diverse dining
scene.Legacy Hall, a European-style food hall located at Legacy West
just steps from the Renaissance, lets visitors sample a mouthwatering
variety, all under one roof, often with a side of live music.Along the
brick-lined streets of Plano’s charming, historic Downtown Arts
District, you’ll find everything from Japanese robata at Ebesu and pub
fare at The Fillmore to artisan pizza at Urban Crust and tacos at its
sister restaurant, Urban Rio.The Boardwalk at Granite Park is another
fun "restaurant row" with everything from burgers to English high tea.Shop, See and Do.
With four major walkable retail districts, Plano is a shopper’s
dream.At Legacy West, Teslas are on offer alongside home furnishings,
décor and more.The nearby Shops at Legacy are the place to stroll
outdoors, shop popular brands, catch an indie film or indulge in a spa
treatment.The upscale Shops at Willow Bend offer a well-rounded mix of
stores anchored by Neiman-Marcus. They also house a special attraction
for families — one of only five Crayola Experiences in the nation.The
streets of quaint downtown Plano brim with charming art galleries and
independent boutiques like Lyla’s and La Foofaraw, and shoppers can also
take in colorful murals, a farmer’s market and outdoor concerts.For
more ideas for Plano lodging, dining and activities, check out visitplano.com.
Homestyle Recipes Take the Cake for Gifts, Fundraising
– As the holiday season approaches, so does the dilemma of holiday and
year-end gift-giving. Whether you are seeking something for a friend,
family member, or long-absent colleague, edible gifts are a can’t-miss
choice, and the range of tasty treats goes far beyond a prepacked gift
basket.
Like many big ideas, Hahn’s Old Fashioned Cake Company started small.
“All our cakes are baked fresh daily, and feature extra-large handmade
crumbs,” says owner Andrew Hahn, whose mother and father started Hahn’s
Old-Fashioned Cake Company in her kitchen.
The current selection of crumb cakes was inspired by an old family
recipe that Mr. and Mrs. Hahn often made for friends and neighbors.
Word got out, and an expanding circle of crumb-cake fans began
requesting cakes. A business was born, and it has been family-owned and
operated for more than 35 years.
Key features that set Hahn’s crumb cakes apart include:
– Quality. Hahn’s crumb cakes are made fresh daily, with fresh eggs to
create a moist base with optimum texture. They are popular not only as
individual sales, but sell well in delis, coffee shops, and gourmet food
markets.
– Convenience. Hahn’s cakes are packed to ship or enjoy right away. For
those lucky enough to live locally, curbside pickup and delivery are
available in a limited radius through DoorDash and GrubHub.
– Crumbs. Crumbs and more crumbs. For those who can’t resist picking the crumbs off a crumb cake, Hahn’s has you covered.
The company recognizes the crumb-obsessed, and fills that niche with a
Can of Crumbs or a Bucket of Crumbs. These ready-to-eat crumb treats are
considered by many to be the best part of a crumb cake, and the bucket
lends itself to easy shipping and gift-giving as well.
Crumb cake flavors include the original plain crumb cake (with plenty
of crumbs), raspberry walnut, apple, and chocolate. There’s something
for brownie lovers, too; the company bakes a classic, fudgy chocolate
brownie of the same caliber as its cakes.
Hahn’s Old-Fashioned Cakes also offers fundraising opportunities for schools, churches, and non-profit organizations.
Visit crumbcake.com for more information.
New Book, “NO SUGAR IN ME,” Takes on Sugar and Targets Better Health
People across the globe are consuming more sugar than ever. The
fallout of this worldwide added, processed, and refined sugar addiction
comes at a very high price — our health. Brad Woodgate, self-made serial
entrepreneur and nutrition industry expert, is taking on sugar with his
first book: "No Sugar in Me," which was just published earlier this
month.
New Subway Sandwiches Reinvent the Grilled Cheese
– There is no denying that a grilled cheese is the ultimate combination
of crunchy bread and gooey cheese. So, if you are someone who considers
grilled cheese to be its own food group, you are in luck!Subway is
taking grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level with new Fresh Melts.
Guests can enjoy Subway’s newest innovation by upgrading their favorite
freshly made footlong into an extra cheesy, gooey and grilled sandwich
for $1 more."Fresh Melts are our latest menu innovation to give guests
fresh, smart choices that don’t sacrifice taste or flavor," according to
Chef Paul Fabre, Subway’s senior vice president of culinary and
innovation. "Our Melts are unique because they are grilled, not toasted,
so we’re creating the ultimate sandwich that has crunchy bread, melty
cheese, and your favorite ingredients for a perfect bite every time," he
emphasizes.The new menu items are the latest addition to Subway’s
culinary lineup.The Ham & Cheese Melt features Black Forest ham,
fresh tomato, and Swiss cheese grilled to create an indulgent, freshly
made choice. If you’ve been craving tuna, don’t miss the 100 percent
wild-caught tuna with mayo, fresh onion and melty provolone cheese in
the Tuna Melt. Finally, the Steak & Cheese Melt offers a new twist
on a classic favorite, grilled with melted cheese, and loaded with fresh
onions and peppers. Of course, bread remains a key element of any
sandwich, and Fresh Melts feature Subway’s distinctive freshly baked
bread, perfectly grilled.To help melted cheese fans savor and share the
goodness, guests who purchase a Fresh Melt online or through the Subway
app can order a second Fresh Melt for 50 percent off with promo code
BOGO50 at participating restaurants.Making an indulgent choice is easy
and safe with Subway’s in-app and online ordering, contactless curbside
pick-up and delivery.Visit subway.com for more information about store locations and menu options, to place orders, or download the Subway app.
Healthy Eating Adds Up to a Healthy Heart
– Making healthy food choices can be overwhelming, especially if money
is tight. Good nutrition is at the core of good health and reducing risk
of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke. "Eating
delicious nourishing meals on a budget is possible, especially with a
few key tips to make it simple," says Bridget Wojciak, director of
nutrition and dietetics at Kroger Health, a national sponsor of the
American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative. Planning ahead
can help your dollar go further.The American Heart Association has
developed tips to help families shop, eat and cook healthier meals on a
budget.
Health and Safety Priorities as the Weather Warms Up
– Who hasn’t heard of the "Freshman 15"? According to Nick Rizzo at RunRepeat,
"the ‘quarantine 15’ is the new ‘freshman 15.’" It refers to the excess
weight gain that people experience during long bouts of isolation,
stress, and reduced physical activity. Every person around the globe has
been touched by the stress of 2020 in one way or another.According to healthychildren.org,
"The ongoing stress, fear, grief, and uncertainty created by COVID-19
pandemic can wear anyone down, but children and teens may be having an
especially tough time coping emotionally."Most people know the best way
to combat depression and boredom is to feed your body healthy foods and
be more active.In today’s severely restricted world, there is a solution
that includes eating comfort foods you love (and crave during stressful
times). The Gianluca Mech Keto
is based on offering the tastiest Italian keto food during ketosis to
make this process easy and pleasant.The company also offers Decottopia®,
which is a five-century old method, secret of the Mech family, for
extracting and storing active substances of at least 10 different plants
in liquid form without the use of alcohol, sugar or preservatives."This
will help you have a healthy ketosis and to reduce its side effects,"
Mech says. "Comfort food doesn’t have to be junk food."With most schools
still incorporating virtual learning, children are suffering from the
lack of emotional and social interaction. Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers Parks,
which are open 25 percent to 50 percent depending on the location, says
this has been a long year for children everywhere, but he is on a
mission to ensure his eight parks exceed local and state health
guidelines, creating an industry standard to ensure that guests and team
members are protected.Murphy not only takes this seriously, but
implements this to his team members by holding daily briefings on health
and safety protocols.The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the
importance of watching what we eat and socializing safely. The
approaches of Gianluca Mech and Tim Murphy demonstrate the ability of
companies to adapt to a fast-changing world. Both Mech and Murphy know
the lockdown doesn’t mean you have to abandon taking care of your minds
and bodies."Look, there’s no reason why healthy food shouldn’t taste
good," Mech says.Adds Murphy, "We’re all about unleashing fun and I want
everyone to feel safe doing so."For more information, visit www.GianlucaMech.com/en and www.BoomersParks.com.
World’s Most Expensive Sneakers Will Order Your Pizza
– March Madness returns this year, after a pandemic-imposed hiatus in
2020.As a result, basketball fans, sneaker fans, pizza fans, and anyone
else might be feeling a little extra crazy.How crazy? Enough to consider
a 2.2-million-dollar basketball shoe supported by Pizza Hut that not
only looks stylish and feels great, but actually helps the wearer order
pizza via cellphone.The Pizza Hut Pie Tops hit the market in 2018 as
part of a March Madness promotion from Pizza Hut. The company enlisted
renowned "Shoe Surgeon" Dominic Chambrone to design approximately 50
pairs of a very limited-edition custom sneaker.During the 2018 March
Madness basketball tournament, the few individuals wearing the Pizza Hut Pie Tops
could press one button inside the tongue of one shoe that would pause
the game they were watching, press a button on the other shoe to order
their favorite Pizza Hut pizza, and then resume the game.Impossible?
Apparently not. The shoes were made available in two color schemes, all
red or wheat brown with red (or as Pizza Hut puts it, "marinara")
highlights.According to a description on the uber-shoe website, Godly Soles,
"Atop a completely rubberized sole, the upper of the wheat iteration
consists of a tumbled nubuck, while in contrast, the red version
consists of mostly full-grain leather with hints of suede on the toe cap
and heel."In addition, "A patent leather splash of ‘marinara’ accents
the medial and lateral while white translucent webbing, or ‘cheese
grater mesh’, cages the emblazoned PIZZA HUT lettering."The iconic Pizza
Hut logo appears on an embossed hangtag, as well as on the lace lock,
tongue, heel, and ankle collar. Even the insoles and laces reflect the
pizza theme.Guess what? Drake, the Toronto-based global rap star and
sneakerhead, does not have a pair of Pizza Hut Pie Tops II in his collection. But you can.Godly Soles is offering a new, in-the-box, unworn pair of the wheat Pizza Hut Pie Top IIs
in a men’s size 11. They can be yours for $2.2 million dollars, and you
can claim ownership of the most expensive sneakers in the world.With
that, your purchase would top Drake’s custom OVO x Air Jordan 10’s,
which are considered the most expensive sneakers in existence with a
worth of $2.1 million dollars. Godly Soles is offering these sneakers for sale through StockX. Visit godlysoles.com for more about the world’s most expensive sneakers, and how to get them.
Five Ways Frozen Meals Can Fuel Success
– For the past year, the pandemic has changed Americans’ lives in more
ways than they could have ever imagined and that includes their health
and wellness habits. In a recent One Poll on behalf of Nutrisystem that
surveyed 2,000 Americans, 61 percent of people say they have gained
between 6 and 25 lbs since March 2020. While growing health and immunity
concerns have us wanting to find ways to eat healthy at home, cooking
fatigue has also set in and left us looking for a quicker and easier way
to get dinner on the table.The good news is that frozen meals serve up
the right solution. According to Courtney McCormick, RD, MPH, manager of
clinical research and nutrition at Nutrisystem, frozen meals offer five
key benefits:* Frozen Meals are Convenient
Frozen meals
eliminate prep time in the kitchen. "Gone are the days of having to
spend significant time in the kitchen preparing a healthy dinner for the
family," says McCormick. Frozen meals help get dinner on the table
quickly. As an added bonus, many companies, such as Nutrisystem, will
deliver meals right to your door also eliminating the need to go to the
grocery store.* Frozen Meals are Nutrient Rich
The frozen food
industry has been working hard to focus on adding ingredients to frozen
meals that taste good and are good for you. "Not only do frozen meals
deliver on taste, many options today deliver on health too," adds
McCormick. Many include vegetables, which are harvested at the peak of
freshness when they have the most nutrients. They also cater to the
tastes of the entire family and make it easy to try something new.* Frozen Meals are Portion Controlled
"For
many food categories, portions have doubled over the past 20 years, and
this isn’t just at restaurants, but in packaged foods as well. Without
even knowing it, we often find ourselves eating more than we should,"
said widely recognized nutrition expert Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN,
LDN, FAND in a recent webinar titled "The Hottest Trend in Nutrition: Frozen Meals."
Frozen meals not only take the guesswork out of portion control and
re-teach reasonable portion sizes. The Academy of Nutrition &
Dietetics Evidence-Analysis Library concludes there is strong evidence
to support the use of single-serving, portion-con-trolled meals for
weight loss.* Frozen Meals are Versatile
Frozen meals leave
the door open for creativity. By adding fresh vegetables directly to the
dish, meals become a bit more substantial. In addition, rounding out a
meal with a salad on the side or steaming a fresh vegetable for the
family is a simple way to ensure you’re all eating healthy.* Frozen Meals are Sustainable
With
frozen meals, there is no need to store leftovers or over-purchase
ingredients that will eventually be thrown out. They can also help
eliminate weekly trips to the grocery story as meals tend to have a
longer shelf life. And you can feel even better about buying them since
many meal cartons are recyclable.Now is the time to say goodbye to the
guilt and pressure of cooking up healthy meals every night and let
frozen meals be your friend.For more information, recipes and
inspiration for healthy side dishes, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.
Certain Medicare Plans Could Offer Members Food Assistance Benefits
– The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a long list of unprecedented
challenges, including the way it has caused food insecurity to rise.
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough nutritionally
adequate foods to live an active and healthy life. Fortunately, there
are some benefits that can help qualifying members of Medicare Advantage
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) address this issue. In fact, a
benefit including a monthly food card allowance can assist people in
purchasing food and beverages at a variety of well-known, national
stores.During this Medicare Annual Election Period, which runs from
October 15 through December 7, individuals who qualify for both Medicare
and Medicaid, also known as dual-eligible individuals, should consider
enrolling in a D-SNP. If you are eligible for Medicare — meaning you’re
age 65 or older or are living with a disability — and meet the
requirements to have Medicaid, be sure to look into a D-SNP as some
plans may include:* Convenience of a debit card: Qualifying members of
D-SNPs with a food benefit may receive a food-card like a credit card.
Once the card is activated, you can purchase qualifying items, such as
milk, eggs, bread, juices, waters, yogurts, fruits, vegetables and more,
utilizing the available balance on your card. However, it’s important
to keep in mind that certain items, such as pet food, may not qualify
and would need to be purchased with another form of payment.* Monthly
allowances: Some D-SNPs have a monthly stipend, for example $25 – $75,
that would be loaded to your card on the first day of each month.
Members should aim to use their allotment before the end of each month,
as the balance may not be able to be carried over.* In-store purchases
only: These food cards often can only be used for in-store purchases and
may not be able to be used for online or curbside orders. It’s
important to take the proper precautions provided by the CDC when going
out to stores, including wearing a mask or face covering, maintaining
proper social distancing by staying 6 feet or more away from others, and
washing your hands for at least 20 seconds after you remove the
mask.It’s important to note that a food card benefit is a Value Based
Insurance Design (VBID) benefit that is only available on certain
Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) in certain
areas. Additionally, not all members of a plan may be eligible for VBID
benefits. Eligibility will be determined by your health plan provider,
after enrollment, based on relevant criteria such as clinical diagnoses
or participation in a disease-state management program. For Humana’s
Healthy Foods Card, all members of a D-SNP that includes the benefit
would be eligible.If you qualify, Humana’s D-SNP plan and Healthy Foods
Card benefit may be available in your area. Please visit www.Medicare.gov; call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; or go to www.Humana.com/Medicare
to learn more about Humana plans. Licensed Humana sales agents are
available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week at
1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711). With these resources, you’ll be able to
confidently select a 2021 Medicare Advantage plan that suits your
specific healthcare needs. Y0040_GHHKY6REN_M
COVID-19 Elevating Concerns About Food Safety and Security
– The latest fallout from the coronavirus pandemic? Food safety and
security now rank among consumers’ top global concerns. According to a
new study from the Mars Global Food Safety Center,
73 percent of the adults surveyed last month in the United States,
China and the United Kingdom said they believe COVID-19 will wind up
adversely impacting the viability — and, yes, safety — of the global
food supply chain many of us have come to expect. And almost as many (71
percent) think people’s access to food will consequently be negatively
affected around the world. Doubt it? "New food safety threats, like
those posed by COVID-19, are constantly emerging through a combination
of factors including global warming, increased globalization of trade,
and changes in agriculture practices and food production," said David
Crean, chief science officer at Mars,
which strives to generate new scientific and technological insights to
raise the bar on food safety. View the full-sized image here.
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