H'Art and Soul of Dining - New Menus with Delicious Recipes!

We are proud to announce that on April 5th our revitalized spring/summer menus will begin for our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program at all of our communities.  This new signature program will help us improve quality of life and whole person wellness for the individuals that call Juniper Village home.  We are very excited this season since the offerings will feature a delicious 5-week entrée select option featuring fabulous new choices using some of the fresh products available through our food vendors. Also, on our updated menus, we have added many lighter alternatives as well as recipes specific to each community that take into account special diets, regional tastes, food committee requests and our resident’s special needs and personal requests.  These changes to our meal plans significantly increase the variety of selections provided for our residents while focusing upon scratch made offerings and heart-healthy meals.  Furthermore, in celebration of our AIAS spring quarter “Healthy Aging,” our Grill Menus will be re-vamped to highlight healthier offerings throughout the season. In addition we will be implementing an innovative hydration assurance program served from our “Oasis Carts,” featuring a variety of flavored waters using citrus or mint or cucumbers, fresh brewed iced tea, lemonade, punch, smoothies and juices as well as nutritious snacks.

Below are some of the recipes featured on our new menu:

Carrot-Currant Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour (to measure, spoon into a cup and level)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup carrot juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup dried currants
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl whisk together butter, egg, milk, carrot juice and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and gently fold just until moistened. Fold carrots and dried currants into the mix. Scoop batter into the muffin pan and bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan (cool on a wire rack if you have one).

Yellow Squash Soup

Cooking Spray

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

1 cup diced zucchini

1 cup diced yellow squash

3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 (15 ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can diced no-salt-added tomatoes

Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; sauté 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.

St. Patrick's Day Fun

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. And this year was no exception!!
As you can see.....Everyone put on their green and came out to enjoy the
Irish jokes, songs and musical entertainment of Eddie & Cher.

Antiques Appraisal - Trash or Treasure

Residents and guests attending Juniper Village at Forest Hills Antiques Appraisal - Trash or Treasure event on Sunday, March 9, received both an education about antiques and an appraisal of they're worth. Local antique store owner and appraiser, Ernest Grindle shared his knowledge of antiques with the crowd as he appraised over 40 different antique items. Those attending learned how to tell the difference between china and porcelain, how to tell if something is truly hand painted or mass produced, and how to uncover the value of their cherished items.  This is the 4th year for the Antique Appraisal event, one that everyone looks forward to attending year after year.

Juniper Village at Forest Hills is pleased to announce the 2014 Awaken Your Passion Art Show Competition Winners!

First place winner James with his charcoal drawing of Magic Johnson.

Second place winner Tahjoina with her drawing of a Calla Lilly.

Thrid place winner Miranda with her drawing of an Alaskan Husky.

The First place winner and recepient of a 100.00 gift card was James
with his charcoal drawing of Magic Johnson. Second place winner was
Tahjoina. She received a $50.00 gift card for her drawing of a
Calla Lilly, and the Third place winner of a $25.00 gift card was
Miranda with her drawing of an Alaskan Husky. All of the student winners
were from the Art Department at the Propel School - Braddock Hills High
School, and were students of Art Instructor, Natasha.

Juniper Village at Forest Hills Awaken Your Passion Art Show and
Competition ran from February 19-28. For the show students between the
ages of 12-19 from schools in the Woodland Hills and Wilkinsburg School
Districts were invited to display their art work and compete for prizes
totaling over $175.00. Winners were selected from over 40 entries and
were judged on conception and level of difficulty.

Your Treasure is Within: March Events

Our Alive in All Seasons program is alive and well at Juniper Village. This quarter’s seasonal theme is on Creative Expression: “Explore Your Creativity” and serves to promote our philosophy of encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit. For March, we will turn our focus to Performance: “Your Treasure is Within”.

This month on March 2, 2014 we look forward to the 86^th celebration of the Academy Awards. As we watch popular comedian and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres host the festivities while the beautiful stars dressed in their finery walk the red carpet we can’t help to stop, to pause and reminisce of all of the great performances of past years. Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Vivien Leigh, Meryl Streep, Peter Ustinov and Dustin Hoffman; the list goes on! In addition to guessing who might win the Oscars for 2014, this month we will be learning about and experiencing all different types of great performance art, enjoying cultural events and trying our hand at acting in drama club.

It’s going to be a theatrical month at Juniper Village at Forest Hills filled with creativity, great experiences and memorable performances! You are cordially invited to attend our Trash of Treasure Antiques Appraisal Event on March 9^th at 1:00 pm, our Wear-In Of The Green St. Patrick’s Day Party on March 14^th at 3:00 pm, a Reed School of Dance Performance on March 21^st at 3:00 pm, a History of Belly Dancing Presentation on March 26^th at 2:30 pm, or any of our other activities (see our Newsletter for a complete listing).

So come in, and join in on the act to find that “Your Treasure is Within”.

Abraham Lincoln Paid Us a Visit!

They say his presence would quiet a room when he entered..... and that was
true when Abraham Lincoln walked through the front doors at Juniper Village
at Forest Hills. Rich Miller, local Abraham Lincoln impersonator visited
Juniper Village in honor of President's Day, on Monday, February 17th. His
height, stature and uncany resembelence to the former president,
immediately quieted the audience. The crowd of residents, family members
and guests all listentened attentively as Mr. Miller shared information
about the man, his family, his ties to the local Pittsburgh area, and of
course how his Gettysburg Address changed the tides of the Civil War. It's
no wonder former President Lincoln is one of our most loved and remembered
presidents.

2013 Employee of the year

Juniper Village at Forest Hills is pleased to announce that Lessie Murray has been selected as Juniper Village at Forest Hills Employee of the Year for 2013! "Lessie has been a care aide at the community since July 2, 2009 and was selected for this honor because of her attention to detail, compassionate care and dedication to the overall well being of our residents." states Janet Wangler, Juniper's Executive Director, "Her smiling face and upbeat attitude make Juniper Village at Forest Hills a pleasant place to live and a great place to work!" From all of the residents, family members and fellow employees we congratulate Lessie for a job well done. The award could not have gone to a more deserving employee!