Volume 4 – Issue 1 – October 3rd

 (I know not a Wednesday – the next one will come out on Wednesday!)

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN THE HOUSE:

• Where did the summer go?  Not that I am complaining that curling season is beginning!  Welcome back everyone!  [add link here]
• And a very friendly and heartfelt WELCOME to our new teams!
• We are looking for one more team member to fill a team – so if you know anyone – let them know how awesome our club and our league is!  Please encourage them to join us!
• Next Week: Join us at the club for our Social night to reconnect and maybe throw a few rocks.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK:

STUFF THAT MAKES US CURL BETTER:

(a repeat from last year – still helpful)

From: 

5 Great Curling Stretches to Help You Get Back in the Game.

Now that winter is here, we are already getting back into our favourite winter sports. For some of us, curling is our winter sport of choice. As with many seasonal sports, we need to stretch before getting back to curling this season. Stretching is crucial as we use muscle groups not typically used in everyday life unless deep lunges are part of your daily routine!

To make sure that you remain injury-free this curling season, we have highlighted three essential curling stretches and explanatory images to perform before and after curling:

Hip Flexor Stretch

• Step one foot behind you in a stride stance
• Put your hands on your hips
• Push your hips forward

Glute Stretch

Option 1:

• Lie on your back with both knees bent
• Bring one foot up and place the outside of the ankle on the thigh of the other leg
• If you require a more intense stretch, push down on the top knee
• If you need a more significant stretch, grab the bottom thigh and pull the leg toward the chest

Option 2:

• Start on your hand and knees
• Bring your knee forward and place the outside part of the leg on the floor
• Extend your other leg directly behind you
• If you need a more intense stretch, come down onto your elbows

Hip Adductor Stretch (Side lunge)

• Step one foot directly out to the side
• Lean towards one side
• Make sure your supporting knee remains in line with your 2nd toe
• Brace your upper body by placing your hand or elbow on the supporting leg

Low Back Stretch

• Lie on your back
• Bring both knees to your chest
• Wrap your arms around your shins and pull until you feel a gentle stretch in the low back

Quad Stretch

• Stand on one foot and grab your opposite ankle
• Stand by a sturdy surface if you require extra support
• Pull your ankle towards your buttocks, making sure your knees are touching
• For a more intense stretch, push your hips forward

RECIPES AROUND THE RINGS:

BEST HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN BREAD

MAGGIE MICHALCZYK, RDN

PUMPKIN DESSERTS & BAKED GOODS

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

Fall in love with this healthy and easy gluten free pumpkin bread that’s fluffy and filled with pumpkin and pumpkin spice in every bite!

In my opinion pumpkin bread is the most quintessential fall thing you can make to kick off the fall season! If you’re like me then come September 1st no matter how hot it may still be outside, you’re ready for all things pumpkin!

This healthy gluten free pumpkin bread made with a blend of almond and oat flour has an incredibly soft and spongey texture that you’d never know was gluten free. As a dietitian, I love making pumpkin recipes that are a bit healthier, fit a wide variety of diets, but also don’t skip on flavor and texture.

This is my go-to easy gluten free pumpkin bread to bring to a get together, make for a friend or just whip up on a Sunday to enjoy all week long. It’s everything you want and more in a slice of pumpkin — spongey texture, hints of cinnamon and nutmeg and a slightly crisp top that tastes like it’s from a bakery.

You can’t go wrong with a slice for breakfast and I’ve included a few suggestions below on different ways you could top it and add things into it.

Time to light a pumpkin candle, preheat the oven and bake this incredibly moist and fluffy healthy pumpkin bread that tastes like everything we love about fall!

IS PUMPKIN BREAD WHEAT FREE?

Many pumpkin bread recipes are made with whole wheat. However, there are many other flour substitutes to use instead of wheat, such as almond flour and oat flour (used in this recipe), all purpose gluten-free flour, and more.

TIPS FOR MAKING AMAZING GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN BREAD

Measure the Flour Correctly – In the case of this pumpkin bread, it’s important to make sure you scoop the flour into the measuring cup using a scoop or spoon and that they are not packed into the measuring cup as this will give you too much flour.

Don’t Spray the Entire Pan with Baking Spray. Just lightly spray the bottom of the pan. Too much moisture on the sides of the pan might cause the loaf to cave in. I like to spray the bottom of the pan and then line it with a sheet of parchment paper so that I can easily lift out the loaf.

Make Sure Your Baking Soda and Baking Powder are Fresh – this is a sneaky little thing that might be causing your baked goods to not rise properly. Although baking soda and baking powder last a while, if they’re over a few months old this might be the reason why your baked goods aren’t cooking properly.

Don’t Over Mix the Batter – When combining the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients mix together using a wooden spoon until just combined. Over mixing can cause the loaf to be rubbery and not as light and fluffy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cup oat flour GF is desired
• 1 1/2 cup blanched almond flour not packed
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. baking power
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter melted
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 heaping cup pumpkin puree

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)

• 4 tbsp softened cream cheese
• 4 tbsp softened butter
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate medium-sized bowl using a hand-held mixer cream together the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 egg at a time beating on low until combined.
4. Lastly, add the pumpkin puree and mix until combined.
5. Use a wooden spoon to combine the wet and the dry ingredients until just mixed together careful not to over mix.
6. Pour the batter into a bread pan that is lined with parchment paper or light coated with baking spray.
7. Bake for approximately 50 minutes until a toothpick comes out with little to no crumbs. Let cool completely and enjoy!

NOTES

Store pumpkin bread covered in the fridge for 3-4 days for maximum freshness. 

GAMES, BOOKS, MOVIES AND SHOWS:

Let’s share some ideas for good games or books or movies or shows!  Send me a little blurb as to what it is and why you like it!

The Girlfriend is a psychological thriller television miniseries for Amazon Prime Video directed by Robin Wright and Andrea Harkin. Based on Michelle Frances' novel, the miniseries stars Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, and Laurie Davidson, and it premiered on 10 September 2025.

Premise

The miniseries explores themes of love, greed, and power depicting a mother, Laura's (Robin Wright) reaction to her son, Daniel's (Laurie Davidson) new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke) and her perceived motivations.^[1]

I found this show riveting and wild  - if you enjoy perspectives – this is for you.