November Creative Living Newsletter

I decided to post my latest Creative Living newsletter here – even though it’s on Facebook, and you may have already seen it.  But, just in case, here is the link:  http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kenw/files/November%202012%20Newsletter.pdf

October was such a busy month for taping, and I had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people.  Even after 35 years, I’m still amazed that so many individuals and companies are willing to come to “little ole Portales, NM” to tape with me.  As one of my guests once said “you live in the middle of nowhere,” and she’s very close to being right – especially when it comes to travel.  So, even though it’s very hard and very tiring to get here, I continue to hope that our friendliness, as well as the professionalism of our staff and crew will make the trip worthwhile.

As always I look forward to hearing your comments about the show as well as the Newsletter.  I’m scheduling guests to tape between February and April, 2012 so if you have someone to suggest, please let me know.  My e-mail address is the best and quickest way to reach me:  sheryl.borden@enmu.edu

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sheryl

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Happy New Year

It’s hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone and we are in 2012.  Remember when we were all worried about Y2K?  This year the talk is about the Mayan calendars.  Are you concerned?  Fortunately, I just don’t worry about things like that because I know I have no control over whether anything happens or not.  Besides, it is rather depressing to think about.

I’m furiously working on the new 6300 Series of “Creative Living.”  The segments have been chosen for some time now, but all the rest of the paperwork is “in the works.”  Actually today I posted the elements of the 6300 Press Kit online so other PBS stations can access them and start planning their Spring line-up — which I hope will include “Creative Living.”  If you happen to support your local PBS station, I sure would appreciate you contacting them and requesting that they schedule the upcoming 6300 series of “Creative Living,” which starts May 7th — and it’s a FREE offer.  It really does make a difference if a station hears from their own viewers about wanting to see a specific show.

Each time I start a new series, I contact my dear friend and co-worker, Wanda Newberry to design a new postcard and  booklet cover — and this one may be my all-time favorite.  I love the turquoise color.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks Wanda for being so creative.  Speaking of new booklet, now that the other elements for the new series are coming together, I will start working on the new booklet.  This is really my favorite thing to do.  I love working in InDesign and featuring the recipes, instructions and other materials that my guests have provided when they were here to tape.

I will be taping bridges for all 26 shows of the new series next week.  It’s a lot to do at one time, but we all agree we like to get them done and not have to repeat the process for another 6 months.  Jacob Workman is the one who edits all the shows, and he does such a great job.  Thanks Jacob for all you do to make me (and the show) look as good as possible.

I always wonder if anyone ever reads a blog, but I can happily report that I had two people contact me about being on the show after reading the article I wrote in November.  I was so excited when they told me they had read that I was looking for guests to tape in 2012 – and they are scheduled to do so.

Our January “Creative Living” newsletter is also available on our website.  If you are interested in reading it, just go to:  http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kenw/files/201201/Newsletter_28-January_2012.pdf.  I’m trying something different this month – based on comments from readers.  Instead of writing the complete article on topics, I am providing a link for more information.  As I say in the newsletter, let me know if you like this format better.

I hope to hear from you.

Sheryl

Looking for guests

My last taping date for 2011 will be December 1st, and my guest will be representing Butterball.  Our second semester begins the first of February and runs through April of 2012 — which used to seem a long time away.  But, I realized I needed to get busy and start trying to find some interesting guests to tape with.  When the show first started 35 years ago, this process required locating a huge book from the Home Economists in Business (no longer in existence) group, picking out prospective companies, writing a letter of invitation and explanation, mailing it and then hoping for a response within a few weeks.  Now, with the internet, this process is so much easier and the response time is minutes or hours usually.

I have extended an invitation to companies representing foods and nutrition, sewing, crafts, gardening, home decorating — and a few others that I just happened to run across.  I’ve already heard from some and have a few others who are checking with sponsors.

Do you know anyone you might recommend?  I always think the best recommendation comes from someone who knows someone else.  If you have any suggestions, would you please e-mail me at:  sheryl.borden@enmu.edu

One of my dear friends, Connie Moyers recently held her annual holiday program and the booklet she prepares is full of great ideas, recipes, decorating tips, etc.  I thought I would share one of my favorites from Connie’s program.  I hope you enjoy it.

CHOCOLATE-DRENCHED CHIPOTLE-ROASTED NUTS

3 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. water

2 tsp. minced chipotle pepper in adobe sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 cup pecan halves

1 cup walnut halves

Parchment paper

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 Tbsp. shortening

1/4 cup white chocolate morsels, melted

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Combine sugar, water, chipotle pepper and salt in a medium-size nonstick skillet.  Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; remove from heat and stir in butter.  Add nuts and gently stir to coat.  Spoon coated nuts in a single layer onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.   Spread nuts on wax paper or parchment paper to cool, breaking apart large clumps as nuts cool.  Melt semisweet chocolate morsels and shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat; cool slightly.  Toss cooled nuts in semisweet chocolate until coated.  Return nuts to wax paper and let harden.  Drizzle white chocolate over nuts (do not toss).  Let harden.

Connie gave me a jar of these delicacies after her taping — and they are delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Sheryl