Celebrate the Great Outdoors with your family. ...more

July 3, 2009

Calling all cranberries. They're in the markets now, but they won't last long. So stock up and grab a few bags to freeze. ...more

December 27, 2008

We all have our Christmas Eve rituals. Mine are taking a drive to see glittering lights, pulling out the stops for a big buffet with friends and family and leaving a note for the jolly fat man next to a plate of homemade cookies. For me, it just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without all three. ...more

December 24, 2008

We all have our Christmas Eve rituals. Mine are taking a drive to see glittering lights, pulling out the stops for a big buffet with friends and family, and leaving a note for the jolly fat man next to a plate of homemade cookies. For me, it just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without all three. ...more

December 24, 2008

Several generations of women gathered in Ruskin Dec. 6 for a light lunch, tea and assorted goodies to celebrate the upcoming holiday season and raise money for charity. ...more

December 8, 2008

For every ingredient, there is a season. And seasonal produce stands are brimming right now with yuletide possibilities. ...more

December 3, 2008

SEBRING — The Salvation Army looked a lot like a big family gathering on Thanksgiving, with people hugging one another as they walked through the door and many cooks in the kitchen. Capt. Mary Holmes said the Salvation Army feeds about 75 mouths every Thanksgiving, and most of those people volunteer during the meal as well. "We usually have as many volunteers as we have diners," Holmes said. "A lot of people don't want to come just for the meal, so they help out as well, and we love having them. To me, people need the fellowship just as much as they need a hot meal." The diners enjoyed turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries, rolls and big slices of pie. The turkey was donated by Kiwanis Club, and Village Inn had a pie drive and donated 40 pies. ...more

November 23, 2007

AVON PARK — The Union Congregational Church got their orders prepped Wednesday. On the tables and in the kitchen: 75 large turkeys, 350 pounds of potatoes, 100 cans of cranberries, 102 pies, dozens of industrial-sized cans of sweet corn and about 85 volunteers. It was enough to turn the church's multi-purpose room into something rivaling the mess of Santa's workshop. ...more

November 22, 2007

SEBRING — People couldn't help but smile when they looked at Tonya Peterson on Thursday. With bright-colored feathers sticking out of her back, a wattle hanging from her mouth and a comb that swayed as she nodded her head, Peterson was playing the part of the turkey at the annual NU-HOPE Thanksgiving meal. "I bet you've never been hugged by a turkey before," she said as she greeted one of the senior citizens gathered to enjoy the traditional lunch. Peterson said she wouldn't have picked out the costume herself, but being the rookie case manager for NU-HOPE, she didn't have a choice. ...more

November 17, 2007