Asian Beef and Peppers By Leann Grunwald   Stir-fry is a fantastic, healthy cooking method because it emphasizes vegetables and places less focus on the meat and uses minimal oil. Plus, the high heat prevents more delicate nutrients from being destroyed. Oils that are used for stir-frying are generally lower in saturated fat. An entree will generally yield 350 to 400 calories per serving in contrast to ...

New Horizons By Steve Kates The blazing summer heat continues. Nature releases this heat energy in the form of our summer monsoons. As the accompanying rain clears out the air, we’re able to see some amazing sights. The skies of June and July are jam-packed with exciting celestial treats to view as we experience shorter nights. The summer solstice on June 21 at 9:38 a.m. marks the change of seasons and the ...

The Dirty Dozen  By Ed Cohen, DVM Every home has an array of toxins that could potentially harm your pet. Knowing what can be harmful and what to do if your pet is exposed to any of these toxins can help to avoid a tragic situation. Although this list includes some of the most common toxic exposures seen in pets, it’s not all-inclusive. If in doubt as to whether your pet may have been exposed to a toxin, pl ...

Splish Splash  By Kimberly Huffed Photos by Heidi Lea Photography With spring break over, there are only seven weeks of school left! It’s time to start planning those end-of-the-school-year get-togethers and  fun summer pool party. The weather is just about right to take your first dip of the season. Things warm up fast, so plan ahead and be ready to invite some friends over for an afternoon, or get a group ...

FRED TIEKEN By Nicole Royse Local artist Fred Tieken creates electric artworks that examine a variety of issues and passions important to the artist. His paintings are a burst of color, figures, and words overlapping one another, guiding the viewer through the paintings and highlighting personal subjects and experiences. At first glance, Tieken’s artwork is reminiscent of Basquiat with his love of color, bo ...

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN By Paula Hawkins Are you a fan of thrillers like Gone Girl? If so, then you need to check out The Girl on the Train. Hawkins debut novel is filled with twists and turns that will have you riveted to your seat. The novel is told from the perspective of two women from the same London neighborhood. While riding the train every day to and from work, Rachel imagines the lives of the residen ...

If you’re unlucky enough to be stuck in the Valley during our nearly never-ending summer, writer M.D. Thalmann offers up some tips to ride out living and working in one of the hottest spots around.   It was recently pointed out to me that I’m a broken record around the holidays, and I couldn’t help but agree. As a satirical columnist, I try to make light of serious things; it’s a valuable weapon in my ...

Behind the scenes with Vanilla Spice, Livewire's house band By Lynette Carrington Photos by Tavit Daniel New venue Livewire recently opened to much fanfare and now boasts its own specially created house band, Vanilla Spice. The large band encompasses stellar talents that will work the house Sunday nights and during special events. Steve LeVine, a partner in Livewire and owner of Steve LeVine Entertainment a ...

Fresh Melon Sauté Sautéing, from the French sauté meaning “jumped” or “bounced,” references a method of tossing while cooking. It uses small amounts of fat—in this case, heart-healthy fat—in a heavy, wide pan with sloped sides over moderately high heat. For optimal sautéing, ingredients are cut into uniform shapes and sizes to facilitate fast and even cooking. Size does matter when sautéing, so take your ti ...

By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty Summer is approaching fast, and many people are planning a vacation for themselves or their family. Staying on track with your fitness goals while traveling is very beneficial. Vacationing doesn’t necessarily have to detour you from your exercise routine. Wherever you are, try incorporating a quick cardio-and-strength workout into your day. If the weather is nice, head ou ...

Team North Valley's Kim and Shannon Show An Amazing Arm Workout Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty offer up an amazing arm workout. Shannon and Kim are the Fit Mom Diet Team. They’re nationally published health experts, and they also advocate locally on wellness at FitMomDiet.com. Photos by James Patrick Photos shot at AZ Training Lab If you’re looking to build firm, toned arms, it’s time to pick up the weigh ...

North Valley Magazine teamed up with Avvo––a leading company that helps consumers make better legal decisions––to bring you the Top Valley Lawyers 2013. Avvo is a Seattle-based company that helps consumers make better legal decisions by offering free Q&A forums, backed by ratings and profiles for 90 percent of the lawyers in the country. They have teamed with us to present this list of the top lawyers i ...

Yummy Fall Flavors Team North columnist Erika Monroe-Williams serves up a tasty seasonal treat––butternut squash risotto in a festive jack-o’-lantern.  Oh, how I love the fall! There’s a feeling in the air here in Arizona that things are about to get really great. I have always noticed that right around Halloween, the weather becomes absolutely perfect and there’s no other place in the country I’d rather be ...

Say goodbye to an old standbye By Nanette Makrauer for North Valley Magazine  I’ve got something simple for you to take away today, that will reduce the toxic load in your home with one simple change… Get rid of plastic storage containers! Yep… you will substantially reduce your toxic exposure with this tip. Rummage through your drawers, kitchen and refrigerator, and remove and replace them with glass. You ...

How to plan professional parties By Jamila Watson for North Valley Magazine  I have been planning parties for a while now. It's truly a passion of mine. Ask anyone and they would tell you that Jamila loves parties! Before I started planning parties professionally, I would take my daughters on their "weekend journey" from party to party.  Way too often, I would see kids running around everywhere because ther ...