9/14/11 9:47 AM Page 1 Ask About Our E-mail Distribution! You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2632 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Fresh Pear Desserts Protect Your Deck For The Winter (NAPSA)—Foot traffic, food spills and weather can take their toll on any deck, but you can clean and protect your deck to prepare it for the winter with a few simple steps. • Clean Thoroughly: Groundin dirt and barbecue stains can ruin your deck’s appearance and ultimately degrade the wood. Exposure to sun can cause wood to gray and weather and exposure to moisture can encourage the growth of mold, mildew, moss and algae. Use a bleach-free cleaner specifically formulated for wood to restore your deck to its natural beauty without bleaching or yellowing as chlorine bleach can. Cleaners such as Jomax Deck Wash loosen and lift dirt from gray weathered wood and remove stains caused by mold and mildew to prepare the deck for a new protective coating. A convenient hose mount applicator makes it easy to use; just attach to an ordinary garden hose and spray. If your stained or painted deck has seen better days, consider stripping any faded or deteriorating finish prior to applying a water-repellent sealer or stain. • Apply a Protective Finish: After cleaning, it’s important to apply a water-repellent finish to protect your deck against the damaging effects of winter. Moisture from ice, snow, sleet and rain can penetrate the surface if it’s not protected and can cause splitting, cracking and warping. Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of premium exterior wood finishes that offer protection against the elements, while giving you the A few deck survival steps can help you keep it looking beautiful longer. opportunity to achieve just about any look you like. For example, if you’re looking for a clear water repellent to protect against water damage without changing the color of the wood, you can choose Rust-Oleum Premium Water Sealer. It can protect your deck against the elements for three years. For maximum protection against water absorption and maximum durability, there’s RustOleum Premium Deck and Fence Stain. It’s available in both solid and semi-transparent formulas in 22 different colors. What’s more, it’s backed by a 10-year satisfaction guarantee so it can keep your deck protected and looking beautiful for years. The stain also features breakthrough Cool Touch Technology, which reflects solar rays to keep surfaces cooler to the touch. For more information and helpful wood care tips, visit www.rust oleum.com. Help With Pensions (NAPSA)—Many of America’s veterans are eligible for a tax-free monthly income—and don’t even know it. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Aid and Attendance benefits, qualifying veterans can receive up to $1,644, a surviving spouse of a wartime veteran up to $1,056 and a married couple up to $1,949. “Our veterans and their spouses have sacrificed greatly for our country and they rightly deserve a safe, comfortable and rewarding retirement,” said Gen. Hugh Shelton, retired U.S. Army general, who was the 14th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1997 through September 2001. (NAPSA)—Fresh seasonal fruit can be quickly and easily transformed into luscious desserts. And since pears are in season nearly year-round, their naturally sweet flavor and juicy texture can’t help but inspire dazzling desserts. Try pears in buttery turnovers, spiced crisps, tarts and even creamy cheesecakes. Or simply bake, roast, saut or grill them and serve with ice cream, vanilla yogurt or whipped topping. Pair Them With Plenty Pears complement a variety of other foods, including fruits such as cranberries and strawberries, toasted nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. A versatile fruit, pears are just as delicious eaten fresh out of hand as they are cooked. Simple poached pears make a particularly appealing dessert for any meal. Pears are often described as “jewel-like” in both their shape and rich color when poached in red wine or juice. They’re impressive when served but simple to make, as this recipe shows: Classic Poached Pears Serves 6 Older veterans may have more resources than they realize. To help veterans get the benefits they deserve, the independent living communities of Holiday Retirement hold regular educational seminars on Aid and Attendance and provide access to veteran service providers. At the residences, veterans and others can benefit from true independent retirement living, all for one monthly fee. Holiday Retirement living includes around-theclock live-in community managers, three chef-prepared meals daily, an exclusive travel program, complimentary shuttle service and safe and secure communities throughout North America. 1 cups packed brown sugar 2 cups dry red wine or nonalcoholic cider 1 cups water 3 whole cloves 1 stick cinnamon 6 ripe USA Pears, such as Anjou, Bosc or Concorde, peeled and cored Dissolve sugar into wine and water. Add cloves and cinnamon stick. Pears may be Lovely to look at and luscious to eat, poached pears are surprisingly simple to make. poached whole or cut in half and poached. Add pears to wine mixture and heat until just simmering. Lower heat and poach gently for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand in poaching liquid overnight. Gently remove them from the poaching liquid and drain briefly on paper towels. Serve with crme anglaise, whipped cream or a reduction of the poaching liquid. To reduce poaching liquid, boil until liquid is reduced by 2⁄3 or becomes a light syrup. Poached pears can also be combined with other desserts, such as in a yogurt parfait or alongside cake or gingerbread. The poaching liquid can also be flavored with vanilla beans, spices, fresh ginger, wine or just about anything else you like. Learn More For pear recipes and more, v i s i t w w w. u s a p e a r s . o r g a n d follow USA Pears on Facebook and Twitter.