Happy New Year - January 2022

January 2022

Happy New Year

Call Staying Put at 203-966-7762 to sign up for member events.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 484, New Canaan, CT 06840

PLEASE NOTE

Staying Put will be closed on Mon., Jan. 17 in recognition of

Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

We will reopen on Tues., Jan. 18.

Happy Birthday

Staying Put!

We usually celebrate Staying Put's birthday in January, however, out of concern for the expected increase of Covid cases following the holiday gatherings, we have decided to postpone the

Annual Birthday Party until a later date. Until we have a new date,

"let them eat cake" in Staying Put's honor!

Member Events

Wed., Jan. 12, 12 - 2 pm: Lunch and Learn at Lapham - Healthy Hearing Equals a Sharper Brain. Have lunch at noon followed by a program on effective hearing. Audiologist Dr. Anne Reap will discuss signs and symptoms of hearing loss along with treatments and advancements in hearing technology. Free. RSVP by Mon., Jan. 10.

Wed., Jan. 19, 12 - 2 pm: Book Talk and Lunch. Are you reading a book you think others would enjoy? Or perhaps you'd like to hear about some books that you should think about adding to your reading list. Join this lively discussion of what's hot and what's not in the book world while munching on a delicious lunch. Free. RSVP by Tues., Jan. 18.

It's Coffee Time

Thurs., Jan. 20, 10 am: Ladies' Coffee at Lapham. It feels like winter outside but we'll be serving hot coffee and with your presence, everyone will be toasty and warm inside. Hope you can join us. Free. RSVP by Tues., Jan. 18.

Mon., Jan. 24, 10 am: Men's Coffee at Lapham. Join us for a cup of hot joe, tasty treats, and lively conversation...you might even find out who's still keeping their New Year's resolutions. Free. RSVP by Fri., Jan. 21, Noon.

Tues., Jan. 25, 12 pm: Lunch “In” from Ching's. Enjoy lunch at home from one of our favorite restaurants. Our volunteers will deliver your lunch to your door. $20. RSVP with menu choices by Wed., Jan. 19.

CHING'S MENU CHOICES

Appetizer

Thai Spring Roll

Vegetable Dumplings

Hot and Sour Soup

Entree

Basil Beef

Pad Thai with Shrimp

Wok Glazed Ginger Chicken

TIP FROM NIC

Be kind to your brain! We all know that a bad diet and physical inactivity aren’t good for our brains. But there are some lesser-known habits that could be undermining our cognition.

· Negative thinking: negative thoughts have been linked to a decline in cognition and memory in people 55 and older. Practice gratitude, try and laugh more, and attempt to banish negative thoughts whenever they pop up.

· Sugary beverages: a 2017 study associated sugary beverage consumption with poorer episodic memory, as well as lower total brain and hippocampal volume. So avoid soda and sweet tea, and take it easy on the juice.

· Poor sleep: quality sleep is crucial to a sharp and productive mind. Keep a consistent sleep schedule and avoid too much caffeine and alcohol. Having a bedroom that is cool and dark will help too. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea – snoring and/or daytime sleepiness – see your doctor. Abnormalities in brain oxygen level can be damaging to nerve cells and contribute to more memory and cognitive issues.

· Certain medications: a wide array of drugs – including tricyclic antidepressants, some overactive bladder meds, and some over-the-counter antihistamines – can block the actions of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for learning and memory. If you regularly take a number of these, check with your doctor and discuss whether you should explore alternate medications or therapies.

· Lacking a sense of purpose: having a reason to get up in the morning, knowing that people are depending on you, and feeling that you are making important contributions all support healthy aging. Get a pet, explore a passion project, volunteer – you will do your brain a huge favor.

January Birthdays

Jan. 1: Tom Nissley

Jan. 3: Maryann von Dwingelo

Jan. 7: Geraldine Snyder

Jan. 12: Bill Stoops

Jan. 17: Barbara Leeming

Jan. 18: Karen Johnson

Jan. 21: Cathie Seton

Jan. 22: Martine Brophy

Jan. 24: Midge Murphy

Jan. 27: Janet Lindstrom, Sydney Fulford

Jan. 28: Kip Farrell, Mary Fearon

Savory or Sweet

Extra-Creamy Scrambled Eggs

from NY Times

Ingredients

2 tsp cornstarch

4 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

4 eggs (see Note)

Pinch of kosher salt

Directions

Whisk together starch with 1 1/2 tablespoons water until no lumps remain. Add half the butter cubes, eggs and salt, and whisk until the eggs are frothy. (There will still be solid chunks of butter in the eggs.)

Heat 1 Tbsp water in a nonstick skillet over medium-high, swirling gently until the water evaporates, leaving behind only a few small droplets. Immediately add the remaining 2 Tbsp butter and swirl vigorously until the butter is mostly melted and foamy but not brown, about 10 seconds.

Immediately add the egg mixture and cook, pushing and folding the eggs with a spatula, until they are slightly less cooked than you’d like them, about 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer to the serving plate, and serve.

Cranberry Apple Cake

from Sue Scannell

Ingredients

12 oz fresh cranberries

1 granny smith apple - peeled cored and diced

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 Tbsp grated orange zest

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1 and 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

2 extra-large eggs

1 cup plus 1tbsp sugar

1/4 pound butter, melted

1 tsp pure vanilla

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp kosher salt

Directions

Pre-heat oven 325 degrees.

Combine apples, cranberries, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice and 1 tsp of cinnamon. In a bowl, beat the eggs for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of sugar, butter, vanilla and sour cream and combine. On low speed, slowly add the flour and salt.

Pour the fruit mixture evenly into a 10-inch glass pie plate. Pour the batter over the fruit,

covering it completely. Combine the remaining 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/8 tsp of cinnamon and

sprinkle it over the batter.

Bake 55 to 60 minutes until fruit is bubbling around edges and toothpick comes out clean.