Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA

Many who have endured trauma suffer from anxiety. The good news, however, is that anxiety treatment is effective in most cases, and some very simple practices can keep anxiety at bay in the future. Anxiety can manifest with a mild case of the jitters to a terror so great we are afraid to leave our own homes. Following are a few strategies to assist with anxiety. There is no universal tool for dealing with anxiety as we are unique beings. Try several tools to discover what works best for you. Many techniques mentioned will reduce stress and strife immediately. The first and most simple and direct way to calm anxiety is something we do every day. Breathing is our instrument to calm. Our breath is our instrument.  Problems arise t when we are anxious because we automatically breathe in a way that can make our anxiety worse. Practice belly breathing.   Breathe slowly and deeply so that our belly expands with each breath we take and contracts when we exhale.  When we are anxious, we tend to talk to ourselves in negative ways.  Negative messages fuel our anxiety, which increases catastrophic thoughts. Anxiety is very often a future-oriented condition. We worry about what might happen.  The “what if” can never be answered at the moment and thus causes anxiety. Mindfulness activities have been proven to decrease anxiety.  Practice mindfulness while walking by using your senses to focus on your surroundings. Guided meditation is helpful while you simply observe your thoughts.  Give music your undivided attention. Use your non–dominant hand to draw a picture. Close your eyes while keeping your pencil on the paper and draw your portrait.  These 54321 exercises will help you be in the moment. Discover 5 items you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 objects you can hear, 2 items you can smell, and 1 item you can taste. Name the items and intentionally observe them. These practices can reliably reduce your anxiety, but it does take practice and focus. Counseling for anxiety can also be helpful if symptoms are more severe or longstanding. Joining a meditation group, physical exercise, or taking classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, or Qi Gong can help decrease anxiety too.  Next edition we will tackle yet another symptom of trauma: depression. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics CALL FOR ARTISTS! July 5, 2023/No CommentsRead More UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA June 5, 2023/No Comments In contemporary society, we hear the term PTSD for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder very often. This is the new buzzword or Read More INVESTING IN OURSELVES: UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA May 2, 2023/No Comments Depression & anxiety are common problems that can develop after trauma.  Depression ignites feelings of sadness and low mood. These Read More Load More End of Content.

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LATIN FOOD, LATIN RECIPES: CHAMPURRADAS

If you remember my column from last month, I tried making Champurradas using an online recipe. The result turned out thicker than I wanted, so I experimented with different ingredients to improve it. I’m happy to say that after several attempts (and failures), I finally have a recipe ready to share! Grab two large bowls and a digital weight scale. In one bowl, whisk 1 pound (3 to 3⅓ cups) of flour and 1 tbsp of baking soda until thoroughly mixed and then set aside. Then mix 5 oz. of sugar and two eggs in the other bowl. A stand mixer will also work if you have one. If you want to make a vegan option, use 4 oz. of egg replacer or another egg-free ingredient. I used some aquafaba from a can of chickpeas as a replacement for the eggs. Once the eggs and sugar are combined, add a stick of softened butter and 3 tbsp. of milk, and stir together. My vegan substitutes were 4 oz. of Vegetable Oil spread and 3 tbsp. of Oat milk. I also mixed 1 tsp of vanilla extract and 1 tsp of cinnamon into the wet ingredients for a richer flavor. I suggest adding some extra vanilla if using vegan ingredients, but feel free to experiment. Bring the flour and baking powder mix and make a hole in the center to create a nest. Then pour all the wet ingredients into the nest, using a rubber spatula to scrape the rest into the bowl.   Now is the time to combine the wet and dry ingredients. If using your hands, coat them in flour to prevent too much sticking, then push the flour to the center of the bowl where the wet mix is nested. Once combined, keep kneading the dough until you don’t see any drier flour. The result should look like a typical cookie dough; no raw flour should be visible. Start preheating the oven to 350 degrees at this point. Tear pieces of the dough apart and roll them into medium-sized balls. Each ball should weigh about 3 oz. To flatten them into cookie form, I used a tortilla press to shape the Champurradas evenly. If you don’t have one, place the dough ball on a piece of parchment paper and then use a plate lined with parchment paper to flatten them. A tortilla press will also need parchment paper or a plastic bag to prevent the dough from sticking. Make sure not to flatten them all the way, as they should be at least ½ a centimeter thick. Place the Champurradas on a buttered or oiled cookie tray and brush them with milk. Then sprinkle enough sesame seeds on the cookies before putting them into the oven. The Champurradas will be done in 20 minutes or until golden. You can enjoy them fresh, but I like them best after a few days when stale. Dunk them into coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Community Education Entertainment Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics CARNITA TACOS May 1, 2023/No Comments The taco is undeniably one of the most iconic foods of Mexico and greater Latin America. The Buffalo area has Read More LA PUPUSA April 1, 2023/No Comments My first few columns mainly focused on foods from Guatemala, which should not be surprising considering my background. This month, Read More LATIN FOOD, LATIN RECIPES: CHAMPURRADAS March 1, 2023/No Comments LATIN FOOD, LATIN RECIPES: CHAMPURRADAS If you remember my column from last month, I tried making Champurradas using an online Read More Load More End of Content.

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TIME RUNNING OUT ON ECONOMIC PIECE OF THE PIE, VISION TOO SMALL, LATINO LEADERS MUST COME UP AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY’S ECONOMIC PLATE!

TIME RUNNING OUT ON ECONOMIC PIECE OF THE PIE, VISION TOO SMALL, LATINO LEADERS MUST COME UP AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY’S ECONOMIC PLATE! Press Release — From the Buffalo Dominican Committee and the Puerto Rican/Latino Committee   “While HHC is smiling for the few millions they plan to get for the heritage center on Niagara Street, little planning, if any, has been conducted to determine how the community can truly benefit as a whole if a bigger vision was in play”, said Cesar Cabrera, Chairman of the Buffalo Dominican Committee. (BDC) “We just don’t want a drop of water from the faucet, we want a whole glass,” said Cesar.  It’s also the reason why it’s important that a Latino run for the board of Education. Our community has grown, and we need to be more aggressive, move forward, be visible, and with proper planning, demand more from our elected officials. This is the main reason why PRLC and BDC came together. Another leader, Jose C. Pizarro, Chair of the Puerto Rican/Latino Committee (PRLC), said his group and the Buffalo Dominican Committee, have just completed a proposal with all leaders in mind.  We need to reach out and meet with all our Latino community leaders, including our Latino businesses, and bring them on board in supporting the proposal.   “We will say more when we have an opportunity to meet with our community leaders, especially with the three most important human service agencies in our community, like Pucho Olivencia Center, Bell Center, and Hispanic United of Buffalo”, said Pizarro. ——— More to come.   For Information: Jose C. Pizarro 716-207-1883, email: roach14221@yahoo.com /Cesar Cabrera 716-318-0988, email: ccab530@aol.com Submitted by Jose C. Pizarro, Chair, Puerto Rican/Latino Committee, Cesar Cabrera, Chair, Buffalo Dominican Committee. —- Prepared with the assistance of Alberto O. Cappas, publisher, Buffalo Latino Village. Read More All Post Food Lower West Side Business & Economic Development CARNITA TACOS May 1, 2023/No Comments CARNITA TACOS The taco is undeniably one of the most iconic foods of Mexico and greater Latin America. The Buffalo Read More LA PUPUSA April 1, 2023/No Comments LA PUPUSA My first few columns mainly focused on foods from Guatemala, which should not be surprising considering my background. Read More LATIN FOOD, LATIN RECIPES: CHAMPURRADAS March 1, 2023/No Comments LATIN FOOD, LATIN RECIPES: CHAMPURRADAS If you remember my column from last month, I tried making Champurradas using an online Read More Load More End of Content.

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