Posted Dec 28th 2011 11:05 AM by Maranda
Filed under: Where You Live
Ring in 2012 with the family! Here’s some great events taking place around West Michigan that are pefect for great family fun!
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is hosting a special kids party from 6-8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve the event will include a DJ, snacks,balloons, confetti and all kinds of ways your family can play together! www.gram.org
Kalamazoo Valley Museum is hosting a New Year’s Eve party for families on Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. with all kinds of hands on activities and a 3 p.m. ball drop. Best of all-it’s free! www.kvcc.edu
Then, head into downtown Kalamazoo for New Year’s Eve Fest starting at 5:30! The city will come to life with all kinds of activities for kids and families including magic, juggling, fireworks, music, a lego city and more! Admission buttons are $5 in advance or $8 at the event. www.newyearsfest.com
Saturday night the Grand Rapids Griffins are hosting their 15th Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration. The event will include a great hockey game, post game open skate and Michigan’s largest display of indoor fireworks! December 31 at 5 p.m. www.griffinshockey.com
Also, on Saturday-The city of Saugatuck will ring in the new year with fireworks at midnight over the harbor!
As 2011 draws to a close I’m taking a minute to reflect on all the amazing things that have happened this past year. It’s been an incredible year and so many good things have happened. Here’s a few of the highlights for me:
*In just one year, we have given away over 12,800 prizes to kids and families in West Michigan.
*We are blessed to have loyal viewers who join us each week for “Where You Live” where we have shared some incredible stories, explored some wonderful family fun destinations and weekly presented relevant information to help families live a little healthier and happier.
*Partnering with over 100 local libraries over 70,000 kids participated in the 2011 Summer Reading Club!
*This past summer over 42,000 kids and families enjoyed free food, free entertainment and free fun at our Park Parties.
*We were involoved in great community events like the Fifth Third River Bank Run, Beautiful U, Teacher Wish List, the grand opening of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the first ever Santa’s Pool Party, Cruiserfest, the Bethany Caring for Families shopping event at Meijer and so many other amazing events.
*We visited over 220 schools and non-profit events.
It’s been an amazing year and I’m so thankful to each person, organization, community and company that partnered with us to make it all happen! Happy New Year and here’s to an incredible 2012!
Posted Dec 22nd 2011 12:02 PM by Shari Steinbach for Meijer
Filed under: Healthy Living
Looking for some healthy new recipes to serve during your holiday break? Here is an excellent option for those that want a change from traditional recipes this season. Your family will enjoy making our wreath appetiser and your guests will love the succulent broiled, honey-lime salmon fillets and delicious apple strudel!
Holiday Wreath Cheese and Cracker Appetizer
Reduced Fat Keebler Town House Crackers and round whole grain crackers
Assorted sliced cheeses and meats
Sliced olives, sliced green onions, fresh red raspberries or chopped fresh parsley
Arrange crackers in a large circle on a serving plate. Cut cheeses into a variety of shapes, such as trees, bells, circles, triangles or rectangles.
Top crackers with cheese shapes and meats. Continue layering crackers, cheese shapes and meats to create wreath. Garnish with olives, onions, raspberries or parsley.
Preheat broiler to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil; coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Place fillets skin side down on baking sheet; sprinkle evenly with garlic pepper. Place baking sheet under broiler; broil 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, for the glaze, in a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in honey, lime zest, lime juice and soy sauce; remove from heat and set aside.
Remove pan from oven. Brush or spoon glaze evenly on fillets. Return pan to oven; broil 4 to 7 minutes more or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove from oven. Sprinkle fillets with cilantro (if desired), and serve.
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
2 large granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 tbsp. raisins
½ (17.3-oz.) pkg. Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
Powdered sugar (optional)
Preheat the oven to 375°f. Beat egg and water in a small bowl with a fork. Stir the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the apples and raisins and toss to coat.
Sprinkle additional flour on the work surface. Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll out pastry sheet to a 16×12-inch rectangle. With the short side facing you, spoon the apple mixture onto the bottom half of the pastry sheet to within 1 inch of edge. Roll up like a jelly roll. Place seam-side down on a baking sheet. Tuck the ends under to seal. Brush pastry with egg mixture. Cut several slits in top of pastry.
Bake 35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Let pastry cool on baking sheet on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
Recipe Tips:
For best results, toss apples and raisins until evenly coated with flour mixture. The flour helps to thicken the juices released by the apples as they cook.
For Pear and Cranberry Strudel, substitute Bosc pears and dried cranberries for the apples and raisins.
Looking for big family fun during Winter Break? This week on “Where You Live” we’ll give you dozens of ideas on fun adventures you can share together as a family! From go-karting at Craig’s Cruisers to swimimng at the Holland Aquatics there are great deals and winter break specials you’re not going to want to miss. We’ll also visit Air Zoo in Portage, The Double JJ Resort, The Shedd Aquarium, Echo Valley and Snowflake Break at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids! Catch all the fun Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8-Where You Live!
The second grade class at Ellis Elementary spent time creating family movie night baskets for West Michigan families. The students wanted to support the families of those who are away serving our country during the holidays by packing up movies, candy and popcorn. They want these families to have a great night together while they miss their parents who are overseas.
A class from West Michigan Aviation Academy spent the day at the Veteran’s home in Grand Rapids, playing bingo and raking leaves. These students found the power in giving back to those who served for us.
Our friends at Better Way Imports bring Where You Live to the global market. Better Way Imports buys handmade gifts from around the world and gives West Michigan shoppers a new way to look at holiday shopping.
Try making a homemade gift this season to give to friends and teachers. Our friends from Star 105.7 sparks some ideas for gifts that you can make at home too.
In the Image is looking for donations this season to help keep families warm when the snow and wind hits. Our friends from Fifth Third Bank answered the call with a donation drive that sparked others in the community to join in.
Art Prize Artist Corey VanDuinen returns pieces of his entry to the community. Children around West Michigan helped create the art over the summer at Maranda’s Park Parties.
