HOME

JUNE 2011

Special Section to: The Valley Gazette

The Stratford Star

The Milford Mirror

The Amity Observer

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

The Trumbull Times

Faireld Sun

The Huntington Herald

The Monroe Courier

The Easton Courier

Summertime
And the eating is easy
by Karen Dydzuhn

soon. Dont touch them until you see the

top of the meat sweat, he said. If the
I dont know anyone who enjoys spending juice isnt coming out of the burgers, its not
time indoors cooking a big, heavy meal in time. You want to wait until theyre halfway
the summertime. After this winters severe cooked before flipping them.
weather conditions, which kept many
Fairfield County families homebound for For those who prefer more surf than turf,
days at a time, most folks are eager to take Cathy Szabo, owner of Szabos Seafood
advantage of this seasons sunshine.
in Shelton, recommends throwing some
swordfish, salmon and tuna on the grille.
However, since we still have to eat, I sug- Marinated shrimp, which could be served
gest firing up the grills and cooking and as a kabob with grilled veggies musheating al fresco, as often as possible. Jeff rooms, red and yellow bell peppers, vidalia
Arciola, owner of JRs Hot Dog Stand and onions is a healthy and delicious meal.
a mobile JRs Weeniemobile, said, Use a
nice ground chuck [for burgers], something However, Cathy also cautions against overthats very lean but still has fat because that cooking. The best way to grill any of the
makes it flavorful. I also like to butterfly most popular grilling fish is to marinate it in
my hot dogs. When you cut them in half, your favorite sauce, she said. Get the grill
down the middle, they cook more evenly. nice and hot and basically sear the fish; it
This reminds me of being a kid because my keeps in the great flavor.
father used to do this.
Also, fish is a healthy meal to serve the
Jeff also strongly urged the familys grill
Summertime continued on page 8
master to resist turning the burgers too

Bark Mulch

Premium Pine
Gold & Red Cedar
Hemlock

Wood Mulch

Red, Brown, Black

Playground Chips

Also

Gravel, Stonedust
Process, Mason Sand
Pool Sand, Clean Fill
Decorative Gravel

The Best Organic Screened Topsoil and Garden Compost

We Deliver
2 hour Delivery Windows

GRILLO
ORGANICS

203-877-5070

Your Local Landscape Supply Co Since 1993

877soilnow.com

1183 Oronoque Road - Milford, CT 06460

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

IF A TOMATO COULD TALK ...

Grow them like a pro with Sal Gilbertie

by Lois Alcosser
Because almost every meal required them,
Sal Gilberties mother specialized in tomatoes and basil. She dried the tomato seeds
and picked out the best looking ones to
plant. Year after year, she had huge crops of
big, sweet slicing tomatoes. They were so
good, shes had a variety named after her:
Nanas Plum Tomatoes.
Sal Gilbertie is just about the best person
to talk about tomatoes. Hes been eating
them in one form or another his whole life;
theyre in his blood. The Gilbertie Nursery
in Westport, started by his grandfather in
1922, overflows with plants, trees, shrubs,

flowers, seedlings, saplings and herbs, plus

the pots to put them
in and the fertilizer
to feed them. Sals
staff can answer
most any gardening
question.

Sal started by saying,

Todays tomatoes
are very different
from the kind my
mother grew. The
tomatoes
you
buy in supermarkets are bred
with harder skins
His farm in Easton supfor safer shipplies the nursery with
ping, bruise resismuch of its stock, which
tance, longer shelf
is grown in pesticide-free
life. Theyre even trying
soil. Saturday afternoons spring,
to breed square tomatoes so
summer and fall there are seminars on theyll fit into boxes. All this means theres
gardening. Grow Tomatoes Like A Pro was less taste. Its actually the same with roses.
one of them.
The new hybrid roses, bred for longer shelf

RESIDENTIAL
AIR CONDITIONING

CALL TODAY!

HOME

There are two kinds of tomatoes indeterminant and determinant. The first kind
just keep on growing. In fact, the plant may
grow so high youll have to cut it down.
Determinant plants are smaller, shorter,
more compact, the kind that do well in less
space small gardens and containers.
Lots of sun is the most important ingredient for good tomato production. You cant
rush their growth. Beefmaster, the meatiest of all the big tomatoes, takes 80 days.
Sweet One Million cherry tomatoes take 60
days. Nanas Plum, the tomato named after
Theresa Gilbertie, takes 75 days to produce.

SPECIAL!

life, size and color have no fragrance.

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

And, according to Sal, Its hands down

the best bruschetta tomato. As soon as
the nights are at least 60 degrees, tomatoes grow quickly.
Next most important is the spacing
of the plants. They need air and light
so they shouldnt be planted too close
together. Its better to have a few plants,
properly placed, than more plants too
crowded. The determinants should be
30 inches apart; the indeterminants,
36 inches apart. Soil should be wellworked and loose. If you hold it in your
palm, it should almost fall apart. The
best fertilizer is not loaded with chemicals. Dehydrated manure (chicken, rabbit, cow) can be bought in pellet form.
Compost adds to the tilth of the soil.
Some manure can be added as they
bloom. The important thing is: dont
shovel a big pile of manure into the hole
you dig for the plant. It will burn the
roots.
When gardeners come to me wondering why they arent getting tomatoes
when theyve been taking such good
care of them, nine times out of 10
the problem is over-watering. The roots
wont develop if theyre too wet and they
cant stretch. You should never use a
sprinkler on tomatoes. If its hot and dry
in the middle of the summer, you can
water once every other day, but not after
5 p.m. The best time to water is in the
morning. Container gardening requires
more water, especially if the container
is plastic.

break off the sucker shoots, the small

branches that grow on the stalk but
never really develop into anything. Keep
the one sucker shoot that grows right
under the flowers.

PACKING THE
PERFECT PICNIC

Theres a big trend to heirloom tomatoes

because they have a true Old World taste.
They make delicious sauce. They may
not look as beautiful as other tomatoes,
but they taste good. As the plants grow,
theyll need staking. Sal recalls that his
dad used to cut down saplings and use
them as stakes and his mother used to
tie the branches to the stakes with old
nylon stockings. Tomatoes need to be
watched on a regular basis. Pick them
when they need picking. Mulch if necessary. Salt hay is best because it doesnt
take nitrogen from the soil.
If you need pesticides, investigate the
range of beneficial insects. Not just
ladybugs, but the kind of insects that
eat harmful insects. They may eat 50
aphids for breakfast! Sal says. We buy
them from The Netherlands. They come
in egg form and they keep our tomato
plants clean.
Having a great crop of tomatoes may
sound complicated, but its really common sense. Tomatoes need space, sun,
air, not too much watering, some fertilizer, but not too much. Youll never want
store-bought tomatoes again.

by Robin E. Glowa
Picnicking is one of lifes perfect pleasures. A portable feast in the fresh air,
picnics are delightful events that have
been enjoyed throughout history. From
sheepherders breaking bread in ancient
times to kings and queens, who would
command lavish royal spreads complete

As the plant grows, therell be some yellow bottom leaves. Break them off. Also

Door Solutions, LLC

Picnics are a perfect hiatus from the hectic pace of life. Suddenly there is time to
Picnic continued on page 6

with ornate candelabras, to Victorian

ladies who would organize dainty tea
parties held en plein air, picnics are a
beloved pastime.

Garage Door
Repairs

Abbey Carpet
buyabbey.com

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

DECONN 11

Creating a
trash-less world
by Lois Alcosser
How about a bottle cap ceiling, a
wine cork floor and a license-plate
roof? Dan Phillips (The Phoenix
Commotion) designs and builds lowincome housing using salvaged, recycled or free and found materials
75% to 85% of his building
materials are being re-used. The
houses look good, theyre sturdy and
theyre comfortable. Dan showed
dozens of pictures of these homes
at the DECON11 conference at Yale,
sponsored by the Building Materials
Re-use Association (BMRA.)
Weve learned to put cans, bottles,
plastic containers and newspapers
in a re-cycle bin, but what happens
when a building is demolished or a
house is renovated? Each year, there
are millions of tons of used but still
serviceable materials generated in
the demolition and remodeling of
buildings. Instead of hauling all this
to a landfill, most of these deconstructed materials can be reclaimed
and re-used. It seems surreal, but

Dan Phillips Victorian cottage.

M T S

Wood is the single largest contributor to construction and demolition

waste. Next comes roofing, drywall,
concrete, metals and plastics. All
these materials can be re-used.
Salvaging and re-using wood saves
forests. Re-using drywall decreases
the volume of landfills. This decreases pollution.
Re-use helps conserve natural
resources. Many different occupations are involved: architects, contractors, builders, town planners,
waste managers, environmental specialists and homeowners. With the
knowledge of DECON 11, you look
at trash with new eyes.
If re-use makes you think of splintery, broken wood, lumps of con-

S 1979

O: 203-375-6436

some day, we might have a trashless society. Trash means good-fornothing, rubbish. Re-cycling building
materials demonstrates that they are
good-for-something and certainly
not rubbish.

C:203-258-3037

Check Out Woodland Pond

How can YOU

protect your family
and your homes vital
systems when the
power goes out

Woodland Pond has everything

for the perfect retirement.
The First Continuing Care Retirement Community
in the Mid-Hudson Valley
Well-appointed cottages with attached garage and apartments

Dining choice: casual dining in the pub or bistro, or more formal

dining with magnificient mountain view

Indoor pool, fitness center and scenic walking trails for an active

lifestyle with guarantees of Lifecare

Convenient to New York City and Westchester

Prices start at $212,000

Phone: 845-883-9800 / Toll-free: 877-505-9800

100 Woodland Pond Circle, New Paltz, NY 12561
www.woodlandpondatnewpaltz.com

A Member of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley

Independent Living / Assisted Living / Secured Memory Care
Skilled Nursing Care / Short-Term Rehabilitation

800-972-4264 or visit us on
the web at northeastgenerator.com
Call us at

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

crete, shattered glass, you have the wrong image

of what all this means. Tons of building materials
resulting from demolition projects are almost as
good as new and sometimes better than inferior
budget materials.
Lets say youre remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. Green Demolitions, based in Greenwich,
will remove the used materials for re-cycling and
youll get a tax deduction.
Artists and sculptors find creativity and innovation in discarded materials. One of the DECON
presenters showed a chess set made of drain
plugs and doorknobs. Room dividers can be
made of discarded hollow core doors. The models at an Haute Trash Fashion Show wore dresses
made of blueprints. The idea is to keep things out
of the landfill.

tives have come about through scientific analysis

of used materials to make them safe for new
construction.
One of the main goals of BMRA is to educate architects, designers, builders and consumers about
the value of salvage and how almost every building material can be re-used, saving money, energy
and the environment. Instead of discarding old
windows, doors, appliances, cabinets, sinks, lighting, paint, hardware, they can be donated to the
ReCONNstruction Center in New Britain, which
sells them at below market price and donates
part of the proceeds to not-for-profits such as
Habitat for Humanity and cancer research. Its a
win-win situation for people and the planet.

Re-use has become a growing industry with

many branches. Theres re-use related research,
referrals, networking, training and new jobs.
There are special tools for prying, scraping and
bending from a company called Artillery Tools,
which deliver maximum force when removing
flooring, siding and roofing.
Scrap material it may be, but the floor in the tree house
could easily be called a work of art.

The environmental aspect of re-use is important.

For example, the chemicals used in making carpet stain-resistant and wood water-resistant can
pollute the earth around landfills. Businesses
have been developed to produce non-toxic substances to repel stains and mildew. These alterna-

Even a bathtub can become unique when clad in recyled

pieces of wood.

Dan Phillips tree house is one of many low-income houses hes built from 75% to 85% salvaged materials. The Phoenix Commotion photos

AIR CONDITIONING HEATING

S1-303047 P1-203557 F1-10753 www.ralphmannandsons.com

$25.00 off

Peter Curran of Westport, an antiques dealer and

appraiser, is also a deconstruction appraiser,
who assigns a dollar value to used building
materials, which can then qualify for a tax deduction. Mr. Curran emphasizes the importance of
using a qualified, independent, personal-property
appraiser.

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Picnic continued from page 3

sit in a bit of nature and drink your chilled
Chardonnay. The sweet trill of chirping
birds, the glorious beauty of flitting butterflies, the brilliant warmth of summer
sunshine and the chance to lie back and do
nothing but watch giant puffy clouds float
by, or drift off into a contented sleep, these
are some of the joys of a perfect picnic.
Is it the invigorating air that makes picnic
food taste so extraordinary? Flavors come
alive in a new way, achieving a heightened
intensity when enjoyed outdoors. Even a
simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich
tastes spectacular when enjoyed at a beach
picnic, where the salty spray of the sea
encourages appetites like nothing else.
There are so many opportunities for picnicking, whether it be a romantic tte
tte under the shade of an old apple
tree, atop a moutain with a far-reaching
vista, alongside a rushing river where flat
river rocks provide a perfect table, a local
outdoor concert, tailgating at the annual

championship football game, stopping in

a sunflower-filled field while on a road trip
or gathering with family and friends for
games and gourmet goodies.
Picnics can be utterly simple or an overthe-top elaborate affair. A bit of pre-planning and plenty of picnic supplies will
enable you to seize the moment! The
essential item is something to carry the
food. If youve nothing but a cardboard
box, so be it, but a classic picnic basket
is a worthy investment. Picnic baskets
should be sturdy and spacious and lined
with either cloth or plastic. For affordable
options, seek out your picnic basket at a
flea market, tag sale or such consignment
stores as The Barn Sale in Hamden or Her
Sisters Place in Ansonia. Antiques stores
such as Seymour Antiques in Seymour
have special picnic treasures, including
baskets, blankets, pretty table linens, plates
and flatware.
China and flatware are fun if you dont
have to lug the picnic very far, but for longer treks, investing in a set of resuseable

June 9, 2011

plastic ware will lighten the load. Search

for these items in the summer, when such
stores as Target, Pier One, Ocean State Job
Lot and dollar stores offer plates, cups,
platters, bowls and utensils in such bright
colors as lemon yellow, neon orange and
turquoise blue. Coordinate with inexpensive paper napkins from the Christmas
Tree Shop in Orange, and your picnic will
be as stunning as the surroundings.
The Christmas Tree Shop is also an excellent place for inexpensive items, such as
a rollup table, stadium blankets, beach
umbrellas, small cutting boards and candles. Walmart is a good source for corkscrews, coolers, Thermoses, bug spray,
sunscreen, garbage bags and hand sanitizer.
Picnic food may be planned for all hours
of the day. Consider a breakfast picnic with
freshly baked muffins, a Thermos of hot
coffee and strawberries from a local farmers market. Salads and sandwiches may
be the satisfying centerpiece of any midday picnic. Rather than heavy mayonnaise-

based salads, try your hand at preparing

rice, grain or pasta salads with olive oil and
vinegar dressings.
Salade Nicoise is an excellent picnic entree,
full of bold, gutsy flavor. Lightly cooked
asparagus tips, green beans, snow peas
and broccoli florets, tender slices of red
potatoes and grilled tuna steak are dressed
with olive oil, white-wine vinegar, fresh
parsley and basil, capers, mustard, and
garlic. Line a Tupperware container with
lettuce leaves, arrange the salad on top
and place in a cooler with ice. Serve with
a French baguette and a crisp Sauvignon
Blanc for picnic perfection.
A delectable, creamy, goat cheese, spread
onto crusty bread then topped with roasted vegetables, thin tomato slices and fresh
basil makes a superlative sandwich. Always
use denser breads for picnics, as they are
sturdy enough to soak up liquids without
falling apart.
Muffeletta sandwiches are classic New
Orleans fare that make brilliant picnic fare.

FREE

In-Home
Consultation

203-847-4179

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

A big, round loaf layered with Italian meats

and cheeses and topped with an audacious
olive salad, muffaletta serves a crowd, who
will be begging for more.
Your local grocery store or specialty food
market will have all the ingredients for your
perfect picnic meal. But also consider fish
markets for thick slabs of wild salmon for
poaching or giant shrimp, which can be
brushed with herbed olive oil, pre-grilled
and packed with a scintillating horseradish sauce. Cheese shops such as the Villa
Gourmet in Milford offer superb picnic
cheeses and mouthwatering olives, and
when served with a lovely loaf of bread are
the very essence of a flawless picnic.
Grab a bottle of chilled champagne from
your favorite wine shop and add take-out
sushi for an effortless, yet sumptuous, sunset picnic. Bring the one you love to a place
you love and the perfect picnic will be pure
pleasure.

Dunk
Tanks!

Moon Bounces
Only

Carnival Package!

Beat The Heat!

Tents Tables Chairs

at
Bridgeport Lumber

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

Summertime continued from page 1

family. Fish is a great protein for any lowfat diet and can be served over fresh tossed
salad, or grilled veggies, Cathy said.
Susan Muro, owner of Perfectly
Natural and market master
for the Monroe Farmers
Market, said that its
crucial to incorporate
as much raw food as
possible into our diets.
Moreover, theres no better time to start doing this
than in the summer when
fresh, organic produce is
plentiful.

1 head of kale, shredded (I prefer the curly

kale for this one)
1 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 avocado
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Sea salt to taste
1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional)

Not only does raw food in the summer

give us great energy, it also saves us time so
we can enjoy being outside rather than the
kitchen, Susan said. Most vegetables can
be eaten raw even corn on the cob as
long as its organic.

RAW KALE SALAD

Whenever she visits Guys Eco Garden in

Shelton, Susan said that she loves watching
children eat the organic corn. The corn is
so sweet and tender, there is no need for
butter or salt just husk and enjoy.
Susan encourages her clients, family and
friends to eat an abundance of salads in
the summertime. She said that one of her
all-time favorites is a raw kale and avocado
salad. Once they try it, theyre hooked,
she said, smiling. You can actually substitute the kale with any dark-green leafy vegetable, such as spinach or Swiss chard, but
go for the kale you wont be sorry.

In mixing bowl, toss all ingredients. Mush

everything together (with hands) to create
wilted effect on kale.

and a pie made from whatever fruit is in

season that week everything you need
for dinner.
However, if youre not in the mood to do
any work at all and simply want to pick up
some yummy food to cart to the beach or
the pool, stop by Szabos Seafood for some
prepared meals. Szabos Seafood (615 Howe
Avenue in Shelton) and JRs Hot Dog Truck
are also available to cater outdoor parties.

Jeff said hed launched the Weeniemobile

this year because he kept getting telephone
calls asking if a mobile hot-dog truck was
available. Its great because people love
being able to come up to the truck and
Living in New England, Susan said, its order the kind of specialty hot dog they
easy to take advantage of the bounty of want, prepared their favorite way, and then
fresh produce. We are fortunate to have go back to the party, he said.
so many wonderful farmers markets to
choose from, on any day of the week, she A trained chef at the prestigious Johnson
said. The farmers markets typically offer and Wales institute, Jeff also offers barbea much wider variety than you can find cue fare, homemade pasta, potato salads
in the store, and the freshness and taste and other delicious side dishes to accomof just-picked food cannot be beat. At the pany your hot dog and hamburger.
Monroe market, you can buy vegetables
and fruits picked that morning, as well as For more information: jrshotdogs.com;
grass-fed hamburgers, homemade buns, Szabos Seafood, 203-922-1191; Perfectly

Milford, CT

1546 Boston Post Road

(203) 874-3796

I-95 Exit 39B, 1/2 mile on left

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

June 9, 2011

COOKBOOK REVIEW

How to Squeeze a Lemon

by Jackie Perry
By the editors, contributors and readers
of Fine Cooking, this
fascinating book offers
1,023 kitchen tips, food
fixes and handy techniques. Its like a dictionary
in that while youre looking up one thing, along the
way you happen by other
entries that you just cant
resist skimming through, as
well. Chapter titles tell the tale:
Equipment, Produce, Meat, Fish and Poultry,
Pantry Techniques, Wine & Beer and When
Things Go Wrong.

measurement, oven temperature and

ingredient equivalents.
Each chapter has lots of ideas to
improve your cooking skills, simplify the process and delight you
with the results. Do you like your
brownies chewy or fudgy? Whats
the secret to tender kale? How to
achieve perfectly cooked pasta?
How to spot the freshest egg?

THE QUICK NO SANDING SOLUTION TO BEAUTIFUL WOOD FLOORS!

Most Jobs Complete in 6-8 Hours
Non-Toxic, Odorless & Certied GREEN
Over 50,000 Happy Residential & Commercial Clients
Call for a free estimate at 203-798-WOOD (9663) Or visit MrSandless.com

What makes this book especially fun to read are the ingenious
solutions from the readers. One uses a shoehorn to extract all-of-a-piece muffins. Another
uses a cocktail shaker to mix a slurry of flour
and water. For equally sized strawberry slices,
try an egg slicer.

Emergency substitutions are all inclusive

from pantry items, meat and dairy, fruits, How to Squeeze a Lemon was printed in 2010 by
vegetables and fresh herbs to baking pans, Taunton Press.

 HOME Hersam Acorn Newspapers

10

June 9, 2011

June

Sale