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12 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2025 By Clare Mendez, Resident What better way is there to warm up the house than with a pot of stew slow simmering on the stove top or baking a roast in the oven? To me, the best part about the chilly outdoor weather is being cozy at home. All summer long I refuse to use the oven because it heats up the house. The barbecue grill gets used or the stove top, but very seldom will I use the oven. If I must heat something up that would be best in the oven, O keep whatever it is in small batches that will fit in the toaster oven. Now that I want the house to be warmer than the outdoors, I gladly cook meals in the oven. Welcoming lasagna or other baked pasta dishes were a thing of the past during the summer. Now I can enjoy those Italian favorites as well as roasts. A long slow simmer on the stove top for stews, soups, and sauces is often on the winter menu. The key to making a flavorful, meaty stew is time and patience. Sometimes I even start it a day in advance, letting the flavors enhance, and then reheat it the next day or two. Same with spaghetti sauce. When I was younger, I wondered why it took some women an entire day to slow cook their spaghetti sauce when I could whip it up in less than 30 minutes. It's all about the flavor enhancement. I could include a recipe here, but there are so many you can find that will suit your own flavor palate, besides, you probably have your favorites memorized. I do suggest though, that you include root vegetables that are plentiful this time of year. Besides the obvious potatoes, onions, celery, and carrots, you may want to experiment with adding a European touch by including turnips, rutabagas, or parsnips. My mouth is watering just thinking of the possibilities. Don't get me started on desserts. House Warming By Janet Boyce, Resident The brain is the most miraculous part of the human body. It controls everything and is the final determinant of our life. A thorough description is important. The brain is divided into three main parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the largest part, responsible for higher functions like memory, consciousness, and language. The cerebellum controls fine motor movements, coordination, and balance. The brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord, and regulates essential life support functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The brain weighs about three pounds, and is the seat of intelligence, the interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and controller of behavior. It is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons. The brain consists primarily of fat tissue, with water making up about three-quarters of its total weight. It can generate electricity to power a 25-watt lightbulb. The brain itself doesn't feel pain; it doesn't have pain receptors. Headaches are caused by pain receptors in the membranes and blood vessels covering the brain. There is no single age when the brain is the sharpest, since different cognitive abilities peak at different times. For example, short-term memory peaks at around 25 and stays steady until the age of 35 when it gradually starts to decline. However, studies show that overall psychological functioning, including the ability to handle complex tasks, can peak between 55 and 60. Our ability to access vocabulary peaks in the late 60s to early 70s. That's why we experience "senior moments" more frequently after our mid-70s. It doesn't mean you have dementia. The best way to keep your brain sharp is to actively use it. Besides crossword puzzles, there are other newer games such as Wordle. It is a word-find game that I am addicted to! I do it every morning while still in bed. I wish they did more than one word to figure out per day. You can access Wordle from the New York Times App on your cell phone. One of the best ways to use your brain is to read daily, not just on your phone or computer, but also real books. I'm always reading one or two books at a time. My favorite genre is Historical Fiction, so find out what your favorite kind of reading is. You can also discover favorite authors that really "speak" to you. Watching TV is a passive activity, so try to include more educational programs that cause you to think, from channels like PBS and other documentaries. The brain is the ultimate control center of your life. It is the last organ to die. If the heart flatlines, it can be restarted, but if the brain flatlines, nothing can be done. Brain death is a key indicator for determining biological death. So, take care of your brain; it's the only one you have! The Human Brain