SEPTEMBER 2023

Greetings Tony,

“By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer’s best of weather

And autumn’s best of cheer.”

~ Helen Hunt Jackson

“This place is so much fun I feel like I should pay admission just to shop here.”

Have you seen our summer redo of Kitchenality? If you haven't, you're missing something fabulous!

Everyday, we receive new and beautiful items that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Some are exquisite vintage pieces and others are never-been-used top-of-the line cookware. Of course, you can also find just about everything in between. All sales from the store support the Kitchen Angels meal delivery program. You can shop and satisfy your desire for a delightful new piece of tableware AND feel good about supporting one of your favorite non-profit organizations! Remember, Kitchenality was voted second in the Best of Santa Fe for Best Cooking Store. "The shop . . . levels the playing field in almost all ways—price among them—while also boasting kitchen items, books and more you might not find at shops that just sell new products. Plus, there’s the benefit of helping out an org that feeds our homebound neighbors."

With so many donations coming in to the store, we need your help. We're looking for volunteers who own a truck or large SUV and who can help us pick up donations from folks in the community. If this might be you, please contact Kitchenality manager Michael Reper at kitchenality@kitchenangels.org.

We also have quite a few new volunteers working in the store. If you haven't been by recently (or even if you have), come say hello. We'd love to show you around.

Another New Member of the Kitchen Angels Family!

Michelle Barnes is joining Kitchen Angels as our Client Services Manager, starting September 18. Michelle is currently relocating from Everett, Washington, with her two feline companions. She has extensive experience in case management and support services working with seniors and disabled individuals. Michelle is excited to be part of the Kitchen Angels team and says one of the things she likes to do with clients is “engage the individual in their care to identify needs and meet them on their own level.” She considers herself compassionate and professional. “We are here to assist independence.”

We're delighted to have Michelle as part of our team.

"I would like you to know receiving food and other services has allowed me to live a more independent life since experiencing a stroke. A special thank you to everyone. The food has given me nutritional support. The drivers are so kind and their conversations have helped with relieving isolation. My Caring Caller Tashima has offered wonderful friendship. This week Kathy, your nutritionist, shared valuable information with me. Also, Marti, a neighbor and friend was able to purchase a microwave for me from Kitchenality where she volunteers. Much appreciation and many blessings to all involved." ~Linda S.

"Kitchen Angels gives a love that is very tangible. I get the sense of being a part of something that cares about me. That is so important. Thank you." ~Tanya W.

"Kitchen Angels serves meals nicer than some restaurants! You make us feel better with the food, and valued as human beings. You are so nice - I appreciate you all!" ~Dorothy C.

We recently received a call from a client out in Eldorado who wanted to compliment the new changes to the food she is receiving. She said she is wheelchair bound and it is hard for her to use her arms and to get around. She was so delighted that her salad came with an individual salad dressing, which cut out her having to struggle to get her own dressing out of the refrigerator, use it, and have to put it back. She also mentioned the side dish changes have been wonderful.

Some of us may have a friend or a family member who is living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Among Kitchen Angels clients, currently five percent have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes along with other co-existing conditions.

People with type 1 diabetes don't produce insulin - think of it as not having a key. People with type 2 diabetes don't respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don't make enough insulin - think of it as having a broken key. For people with diabetes, working with their healthcare provider on treatment and lifestyle changes is important, and you can support them with delicious meals that are diabetic friendly. Most of the following recipes are going to be for people with type 2 diabetes who are working to control their blood sugar through diet and exercise. 

Breakfast is important for anyone working to manage their blood sugar throughout the day. Everyday Health has ten easy breakfast ideas to keep anyone managing their blood sugar full and satisfied until lunchtime. Treats like muffins, oatmeal, and fruit can still be part of the diabetic diet as long as they are eaten in moderation along with protein and fiber.

Taste of Home has 45 diabetic friendly lunch ideas and includes things like curried chicken skillet, pork tacos, and grilled steak salad. Each recipe is packed with 25 grams of protein that helps keep blood sugar stable. The Mayo Clinic has an additional list of recipes to round out what you may need: appetizers, beverages, bread, and main dishes suitable for lunch or dinner. 

Finally, dessert can also be diabetic friendly. Martha Stewart has twenty recipe ideas for desserts that won’t spike blood sugar. And Milk and Honey Nutrition has a number of dessert ideas, both store bought and homemade, that are diabetic friendly.

Kitchen Angels Recipe Box

Dwayne’s Green Chile

Calabacitas Burritos

This recipe comes from Bueno Foods, via Dwayne Trujillo, Kitchen Angels VP for Philanthropy, who added his own magical touches.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 medium zucchinis, diced
• ½ cup onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves fresh, diced
• One 13 oz. container Bueno Hatch Autumn Roast Green Chile
• 2 ears of fresh corn on the cob, roasted
• 10 – 12 sweet cherry tomatoes, roasted and quartered
• 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• Pinch of oregano
• 6 tortillas. Scratch made would be best, but store bought is fine

Instructions

• Heat oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet. Sauté zucchini until golden
• Add onion and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes
• Add green chile, corn, salt, and pepper to zucchini mixture
• Cover and simmer on medium heat for 5 – 8 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Stir in tomatoes and pinch of oregano
• Warm each tortilla on hot griddle. Place ½ cup of squash mixture in the middle of each tortilla, along with 2 tablespoons of cheese
• Fold each burrito, tucking in ends

Optional

• Add sliced avocado inside or atop burrito
• Add cooked black beans, pinto beans or cooked Spanish rice to mixture
• Add hot sauce to calabacitas mixture
• Make it a smothered burrito and add cheese and green chile sauce atop burrito, bake in oven on low heat for five minutes
• Garnish with shredded lettuce and tomatoes

* * * * * * *

If you'd like to contribute a recipe, send your selection to info@kitchenangels.org by the 15th of the month to be considered for inclusion in the next month's Halo Headlines. Use the word "Recipe" in the subject line and tell us your name, how long you've been volunteering with Kitchen Angels, and what your volunteer job is. If it's a "borrowed" recipe, give credit. If you have a photo, send it along.

Continuing Education

Volunteer Reminders . . .

Hello kitchen volunteers! We want to give you a quick reminder about your shift hours.

The morning shift starts at 10 am and the afternoon shift starts at 1 pm. We know some of you are anxious to get started with your kitchen duties early but please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the start of your shift! If you do arrive early, take a spin through Kitchenality or chat with other volunteers in the volunteer lounge. The problem is that it is illegal to work in the kitchen without our ServSafe certified kitchen employee present. This person is our Food Services Director, Karen Price-Coberly, or her substitute when Karen is out. Early arrivals mean that Karen can't enjoy her lunch break. The only exception is for our afternoon dotters. Karen says they may arrive at 12:45.

Let's respect our hard-working chef by keeping to your assigned arrival time. Thank you!

Staying Healthy &

Keeping Others Safe . . .

With fall just around the corner, Covid, flu and RSV infection rates will be on the rise. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.

Since Kitchen Angels clients are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, it's important that volunteers remain vigilant caring for their own health. If you or anyone in your household has symptoms of illness, please stay home until everyone is well. We serve such a medically fragile community of clients, it's our duty to be cautious and respectful.

Please take a moment to review Kitchen Angels' Covid Policy, which is based on CDC guidelines for isolation and precautions. Even before the pandemic, Kitchen Angels has always been strict about keeping our clients and others as safe as possible from infectious illnesses.

What About Vaccinations?

The CDC recommends that everyone should have at least flu and Covid shots this fall. The annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, but it is most important for adults ages 65 and older, children under 5, and people with weak immune systems.

Updated Covid shots are expected in time for the fall vaccination season from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, and all are designed to target the newest Omicron variant.

Since it's difficult to predict when the viruses will re-emerge, health officials also recommend getting vaccinated early enough in the fall to build immunity. Folks may want to consider receiving the flu and Covid shots at the same time, so they are prepared to face either virus. Older adults who are in poor health, those who have heart or lung disease, for example, or are on home oxygen, may want to get flu, Covid, and RSV vaccinations simultaneously, as some experts recommend.

RSV vaccinations are relatively new so there's little data just yet on how they might interact with other vaccinations. Currently, there are two FDA approved RSV vaccines available. To learn about them, click here.

Kitchen Sanitation & Food Safety . . .

Although volunteering in our kitchen often feels like a family affair, Kitchen Angels is classified as a commercial establishment by the state's Environment Department. That means we are required to follow the state's commercial food preparation sanitation guidelines.

Here are a few reminders (you can click here to watch the full Kitchen Angels food safety video):

Hand Washing

One of the most important things anyone can do to prevent food-borne illness is to keep your hands washed. Hand washing is particularly important before beginning to work with food, when changing from one food to another, after touching your hair or face, when you touch anything other than the food with which you're working, after using the restroom, and when entering the kitchen to work.

To properly wash your hands:

• Wet your hands and arms with warm water
• Use antibacterial soap and lather hands and arms up to the elbow
• Wash thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, using a nailbrush (if available)
• Rinse thoroughly under running water
• Dry your hands with disposable paper toweling or hot air drier

Use Gloves

Volunteers must always wear gloves while working in the kitchen. Never wear sharp or pointed jewelry under your gloves. If you need to touch your face, nose, mouth or other potentially contaminated surfaces (such as a door knob or cell phone), un-glove, wash your hands, and put on a new pair of gloves. When moving from one kitchen station to another, change gloves. Remember to not throw your old gloves away. Kitchen Angels works with a recycling program and has a recycling container in the kitchen.

Cleaning & Sanitizing

It's critical that all work surfaces in the kitchen remain as clean as possible and that we avoid cross contamination across different foods. There are cleaning buckets at every work station in the kitchen. To clean, wash the surface with hot, soapy water until the surface is free of visible dirt or particles. To sanitize, wash the surface with sanitizer and warm water. Areas where food is to be handled, sorted, served and/or distributed must be sanitary. Kitchen volunteers need to practice regular cleaning of these surfaces. If you're not sure if a surface has been sanitized, take a few minutes to clean and sanitize it.

And remember this rule of thumb when dealing with all foods . . . WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!

Community Connections

Angels Under the Stars was a delightful evening and a successful fund-raising gala for Kitchen Angels. The day's rainstorms bypassed the event, allowing for a gorgeous sunset followed by a beautiful evening . . . under the stars. The 80 guests started the evening with cocktails at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts followed by dinner at the Museum Hill Café. Guests also had the opportunity for an uncrowded stroll around Museum Hill, with dessert and after-hours access to the Museum of International Folk Art. All of the silent auction items were snatched up during the evening, including a week's stay in a Paris apartment just minutes from the Eiffel Tower. Many thanks to Zabie Johnston for her kind donation of her apartment. Zabie, a former restaurant owner, is a Kitchenality volunteer who fills in for Karen in the kitchen.

The event would not have been possible without the generosity of the two museums as well as our sponsors, Stuart Handelsman & Hank Catenacci, Century Bank, JenkinsGavin, Sotheby's International Realty, Sunflower Bank/First National 1870, and Guardian Mortgage. Thank you!

Thank You

Everyone had a blast at the volunteer appreciation picnic at ReUnity Resources in August. There was lots of great food, the weather was perfect, and people had an opportunity to hang out with their fellow volunteers and meet many others.

Many thanks to Partizani Brass Band for their lively music. It all made for a perfect summer afternoon.