Lifestyle
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Warm up with creamy rutabaga, parsnip and cheddar soup
Jan 27, 2026 5:28 am - Even the most stoic vegetables can be coaxed into something soft, sweet and yielding. In this Creamy Rutabaga, Parsnip and Cheddar Soup, they're simmered until ready to be puréed into a smooth potage that warms the soul and happily anchors a meal.
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This beef stew with vegetables is a hearty, healthy riff on a classic
Jan 27, 2026 5:26 am - Every spoonful of this hearty stew boasts tender beef, sweet butternut squash and hearty chickpeas. It’s a great dish to cook over the weekend — or whenever you have a chunk of time — and only gets more flavorful the longer it sits.
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Add cabbage to your pasta sauce. You’ll thank me later.
Jan 27, 2026 5:25 am - Cabbage adds bulk and nutrition to this pasta with Italian sausage and crushed tomatoes. Use store-bought, pre-shredded cabbage to save on prep time. It’s a full meal on its own, but you could also serve it with a side salad and garlic bread to feed more people.
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Tortilla soup gets a green, refreshing boost from salsa verde
Jan 27, 2026 5:08 am - This green variation on tortilla soup uses store-bought salsa verde for fresh flavor and verdant color. Beans and chicken provide texture and heft, but it’s the addition of fried tortillas that thickens the broth — and gives this soup its name. More fried tortilla strips on top, plus crema, cotija cheese, cilantro leaves and onion complement and enliven each spoonful.
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Festival Choirs and Chamber Orchestras present Lenten music in WheatonJan 26, 2026 9:55 pm - The Festival Choirs and Chamber Orchestras of two Wheaton churches will present "Grief and Glory: A Musical Lenten Anticipation" on Feb. 15, featuring M. Roger Holland's "Tribulation Suite" and the world premiere of Donté Ford's "Three Gospelized Spirituals."
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How to care for paperwhite narcissus, and tips for spotting houseplant pestsJan 26, 2026 5:38 pm - Chicago Botanic Garden’s Tim Johnson shares tips on caring for paperwhite narcissus and spotting pests on common houseplants.
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Homeowner nearly burned by TV plumberJan 26, 2026 5:31 pm - I've owned my home for 25 years and have never had a serious plumbing problem. But recently, the toilet has been running off and on for no reason.
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This fun hobby may reduce your dementia risk by 76%
Jan 26, 2026 2:57 pm - One especially fun way to reduce your risk of dementia might surprise you: dancing. Dancing combines some of the best elements known to be associated with longevity: exercise, creativity, balance and social connection.
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Horned Lark is having a moment: Ground-hugger featured on cover of two birding magazinesJan 26, 2026 12:24 pm - There are roughly 750 kinds of birds in the United States. So, what are the chances that one of them, Horned Lark, would grace the covers of two major birding magazines this month?
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Brookfield Zoo Chicago celebrates the season of love with special Valentine’s Day experiencesJan 26, 2026 11:31 am - Brookfield Zoo Chicago is offering unusual Valentine's Day experiences, including “Name a Cockroach” after someone for $15; a romantic jazz dinner with animal encounter; a new lantern festival; and up-close animal encounters through the "Wild Connections" program.