[NFB-NM] Que Pasa, October 2018

Sat Sep 29 17:53:56 UTC 2018

QUE PASA

October 2018

Quarterly newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico,
published on www.nfbnm.org, on New Mexico Newsline, and on NFB Newsline.

Adelmo Vigil

President, NFB of New Mexico

E-mail: nfbnewmexicopresident at gmail.com

(575) 921-5422

Tonia Trapp, Editor

E-mail: nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com

(505) 856-5346

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

To submit an article or recipe for possible inclusion in this newsletter,
please email it to nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com. By submitting your
article or other material, you are agreeing to the following:

*You assert that your article does not violate any confidentiality,
copyright, or other laws, and that it is not intended to slander, defame, or
mislead. 

*The NFB of New Mexico (NFBNM) has the discretion to publish and distribute
the article either in whole or in part.

*NFBNM is authorized to edit the article for formatting, length and content.

*NFBNM reserves the right to not publish submissions for any reason.

Contents

PREAMBLE.. 2

ELEVENTH ANNUAL DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARDS PRESENTED AT 2018 CONVENTION.. 3

MY 2018 NATIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE.. 5

AIRA.. 7

ARTISTIC VISION WITHOUT VISION: BLIND ARTIST MAKES JEWELRY.. 9

WEEPING WILLOW... 11

SOME THINGS ARE WORTH PURSUING.. 12

THE ELTRINEX V12PRO TALKING DIGITAL RECORDER.. 13

GOOD EATING.. 15

NATHAN'S FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. 15

BOW TIES WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATOES AND CREAM... 16

PUMPKIN MUFFINS. 18

CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO STEW... 19

GREEN CHILE PECAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. 21

USEFUL WEBSITES, APPS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS. 22

MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. 23

PREAMBLE

The National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico (NFBNM) is a 501(c)(3)
consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to
changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still all too often
a tragedy to those who face it, we know from our own personal experience
that with training and opportunity, it can be reduced to the level of a
physical nuisance. We work to see that blind people receive services and
training to which they are entitled and that parents of blind children
receive the advice and support they need to help their youngsters grow up to
be happy, productive adults. We believe that first-class citizenship means
that people have both rights and responsibilities, and we are determined to
see that blind people become first-class citizens of these United States,
enjoying their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities. The most
serious problems we face have less to do with our lack of vision than with
discrimination based on the public’s ignorance and misinformation about
blindness. Join us in educating New Mexicans about the abilities and
aspirations of New Mexico’s blind citizens.

(Adapted from NFB of Ohio newsletter.) 

ELEVENTH ANNUAL DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARDS PRESENTED AT 2018 CONVENTION

(Note: This is a press release that came out a few months ago from the
National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Federation of the Blind Awards $50,000

Eleventh Annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards Presented at 2018 Convention

Orlando, Florida (July 23, 2018): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
has presented $50,000 in cash awards to individuals and organizations that
are a positive force in the lives of blind people and whose work advances
the ultimate goal of helping transform their dreams into reality. At the
National Federation of the Blind annual convention in Orlando, the eleventh
annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards honored six innovators and advocates who are
helping blind people live the lives they want. Awards of $5,000 were
presented to each of the following individuals and organizations:

* Carol Begay Green of Farmington, New Mexico, who developed a Braille code
for the Navajo language and will use the funds to teach the code to blind
students and others in the Navajo Nation.

* Peggy Chong, also known as the blind history lady, who shares stories of
notable blind individuals throughout history through her website, books, and
articles, and who will use the funds to take research trips to complete more
of these profiles.

* IBUG (iOS Blind User group) of Houston, Texas, a network of volunteers
using both in-person and virtual training methods to help blind people learn
to use the iPhone and other technologies.

* Ski for Light, an organization that connects the blind, sighted, and
others with disabilities through annual cross-country skiing events.

* The Tactile Map Automation Project (TMAP) of the Lighthouse for the Blind
and Visually Impaired of San Francisco, developers of an automated process
that can produce a tactile map of any neighborhood in the United states from
an address provided by a user.

The top award of $25,000 was presented to Be My Eyes Inc., the Denmark-based
developer of the Be My Eyes app, which connects blind people with sighted
volunteers around the world via video conference to provide real-time visual
assistance, such as reading labels or identifying colors.

Dr. Jacob W. Bolotin (1888-1924) was the world’s first physician who was
blind from birth. He achieved that goal despite the tremendous challenges
faced by blind people in his time. Not only did he realize his own dream,
but he also went on to support and inspire many others.

“Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a pioneer who overcame low expectations and
discrimination to become a renowned member of the medical profession without
the benefit of the support services and civil rights protections available
to blind people today,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. “The National Federation of the Blind is proud to
honor the memory and spirit of Dr. Bolotin by recognizing and financially
supporting those individuals and organizations who are doing exceptional
work to help achieve the shared dream of Dr. Bolotin and the National
Federation of the Blind, a society in which the blind, like all other
Americans, can pursue their goals and live the lives they want.”

The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards Program is funded through the generosity of Dr.
Bolotin’s nephew and niece-in-law, Alfred and Rosalind Perlman. The late
Mrs. Perlman established the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust to endow the
awards. Income from the trust is distributed to the National Federation of
the Blind and the Santa Barbara Foundation for the purpose of administering
the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards Program. For more information about the Dr.
Jacob Bolotin Awards Program, including more about this year’s winners, as
well as eligibility criteria and application procedures, please visit
www.nfb.org/bolotin.

MY 2018 NATIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE

By Faith Switzer 

In February I participated in the 2018 New Mexico Regional Braille Challenge
in Alamogordo, NM. I placed first in my division. In May, I found out I made
the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles, California. I was very
excited and nervous at the same time. 

June rolled around and it was time to pack for our exciting trip. We left on
a Wednesday night because my crazy mom wanted to drive all night so that my
little sister Grace could sleep and wouldn’t annoy us the whole drive. We
woke up in sunny California. We drove into Riverside, walked around an
antique store, felt statues, and smelled flowers. Then we drove to In & Out
Burger and ate lunch. This was my first experience eating there. It was
yummy! 

After that we drove to Anaheim and checked into our hotel room. Then we went
for a walk through the Anaheim Garden Walk. There were lots of shops and
artwork, but the artwork wasn’t tactile. My mom made my sister and I pose
for countless pictures, and I thought it was annoying. We were finally able
to go back to our hotel room and go swimming. This was the most fun part of
the entire day. 

On Friday morning we woke up early and made the 2-hour drive to the Santa
Monica beach. We were able to walk in the ocean and build sandcastles. After
we left the beach we went to the Santa Monica pier, where we walked and
explored the vendors. I met a man who did a 3-D portrait of my face in clay.

After this we ate lunch and then headed to check into The University of
Southern California’s campus. After we got the car parked, we met several
people from the Braille Institute. They gave us the keys to a furnished
two-bedroom undergraduate apartment. The apartment was just like our house.
It had a living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Each room had two
twin-size beds. My sister and I made our beds, and then it was time to
attend a Meet and Greet where we played signature bingo and listened to a
speech from a former Braille Challenge winner. After our Meet and Greet we
drove to Universal Studios where we walked around the shops, and there were
lots of lights that I could see. I also played in the water that shot water
out of the ground. 

The next morning I rode the bus to the opening ceremony where the marching
band played. The band was fun to listen to. During opening ceremony we were
all introduced to the audience via our mistress of ceremonies. After the
opening ceremony we went to test until lunch. My first test was for
spelling. It was kind of hard. For lunch we had sandwiches, chips and
cookies and I had a sprite to drink. I learned that my sister went to child
care and my parents attended a class. After lunch there was more testing
till mid afternoon. We finally finished and I was relieved it was over. 

We took a pleasant walk back to our apartment. We passed the Trojans
practicing football on our way. We took the rest of the afternoon to relax,
and then it was time to get ready. We all dressed up in our Sunday best. 

We rode the bus to the banquet. Every Braille Challenge participant had a
3-D portrait made for them and they were all on display. I walked around
feeling everyone’s portrait and reading a little bit about them. Then it was
time to sit down and start the banquet. I was served some yummy chicken
strips and french fries, and while we ate, we listened to various speeches
and awards. I received a medal and a certificate for participating. 

After the banquet we had a dance. It was lots of fun. My dad and sister
danced with me. My sister and I were very tired at the end of our eventful
day, so we rode the shuttle back to our apartment to get a good night sleep.
The next morning we packed up and headed home.

AIRA

By Jedi Moerke

Aira. The visual assistance app everyone’s talking about. Your blind besties
and the local blindness agency experts have wide-ranging opinions on the
subject; you’ve likely heard everything from “Aira’s the best thing since
sliced bread” to “Yeah, not so much.” I, Jedi, am a Cane Travel Instructor
at the Adult Orientation Center in Alamogordo. More important, I have been
an Aira user, known as an Explorer, for a year and have experimented with
Aira across a number of tasks, environments, and domains. I’m here to let
you in on the good, the bad, and the tech specs of Aira. 

Aira is a visual interpreter service, meaning that it provides instant
access to visual information. Explorers are connected to agents (Aira
interpreters) using either a smart phone camera or a set of smart glasses
controlled by a phone app. There are several types of smart glasses to
choose from; the customer service folks at Aira can give you more
information about the glasses when you sign up. Don’t worry about your data
usage: Aira provides a Wi-Fi connection through either a MiFi hotspot or a
Samsung device, depending on which smart glasses you choose. However, your
phone does use data when you call in using your phone’s camera. 

Now, let’s cover what Aira can do. Aira is great for daily tasks where
visual assistance is helpful such as reading complicated bits of mail,
identifying and reading packages, labeling appliances and other goods,
signing paperwork, and reading fancy restaurant menus. But Aira can also be
great for more difficult or interesting tasks such as using the
self-checkout at a grocery store, dealing with broken accessibility at an
ATM, reading illustration-based instructions, locating and treating stains
on clothes, shopping in-store or online, and searching for the right
pictures for a PowerPoint presentation. It’s also great for recreational
activities such as arts and crafts, playing arcade games, watching a ball
game, and watching online videos. Aira is also a great concierge service.
Agents can provide information to explorers such as the location and menu
information for nearby restaurants, order an Uber or Lyft on the explorer’s
behalf, help determine if certain clothes go together, and research
information on the go. Agents can also provide directions based on your GPS
location, Google Maps, and maps of various locations they find online. All
this information is provided to you discretely and on your terms.

Let’s talk about what Aira is not. Aira is not a substitute for good
blindness skills. I have encountered many situations where my skills have
been a help to an agent. For example, I can non-visually locate and work
with items that are difficult to see. My travel skills make working with an
agent much more efficient since they only have to pay attention to select
items rather than try to interpret the whole environment at a pace that
allows full freedom of movement. Also, an agent’s descriptions sometimes
take attention away from the environmental clues needed to stay safe. For
that reason, agents will not tell an explorer when it is safe to cross a
street and will not speak during the crossing. It is important to remember
that technology does not always work as expected, so it is useful to have
skill-based backups, as well as other technological tools such as SeeingAI,
KNFB Reader, and Blindsquare.

Everyone has their Aira story: that moment that was made extra special by
the presence of an Aira agent. Mine happened during the last holiday season.
I have a friend who is also blind and who has a small son. His school put on
a Christmas concert. I purchased a splitter so that we could both hear
Aira’s description of the performance. My friend got to “see” her son
onstage for the first time since becoming blind. He sang his little heart
out on stage and wore a red nose during “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” I
was gratified to be able to give this gift to my friend, who is now an
explorer.

We’ve touched on the good, the bad, and the tech specs of Aira. While Aira
certainly provides a level of independence we’ve never experienced before,
it is important to recognize that explorers work with agents as a team. Like
with any team, active participation from all members improves a team’s
overall effectiveness. To me, it comes down to what Dr. Jernigan said in his
1992 speech titled "The Nature of Independence.” The more options one has,
the more choices one can make. The more choices one can make, the more
independent they are. While Aira isn’t always the best tool for the job, I
can say without reservation that I’m glad to be an Aira explorer. For more
information about Aira and its services, visit www.aira.io or call
1-800-835-1934. Oh, and tell them Jedi sent you!

ARTISTIC VISION WITHOUT VISION: BLIND ARTIST MAKES JEWELRY 

By Stephen Montoya, Assistant Editor, Rio Rancho Observer

(Note: This is the text of an article from the Rio Rancho Observer dated
August 11, 2018.)

CORRALES — Every artist has a signature that defines his or her vision and
interpretation of the surrounding world. What makes jewelry maker Carlos
Sanchez’s work unique is he has never really seen a single piece he has
created. That’s right: Sanchez is blind, and although he doesn’t have the
one thing many people would think is essential to be an artist, sight, he
has pushed beyond normal conventions to become a success.

Sanchez is the founder of Legally Blind Artistry and member of the Galeria
de Corrales at 3923 Corrales Road. Although he is always on the move to one
event or another, Sanchez sat down with the Observer to talk about his
life’s journey in a world many said would not be possible.

“My eyes weren’t the best when I was younger but I could see a bit more
then,” Sanchez said. “I didn’t know I had a problem, because I wasn’t
allowed to leave the yard and when it was dark, I was in bed.” Sanchez
didn’t realize it at the time, but he was born with an undiagnosed
degenerative eye disease that was passed on to him from his mother, who had
the same symptoms. “We have RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa),” he said. “I wasn’t
diagnosed until I was 33 because I kept complaining about how hard it was to
drive.” Sanchez said his dad told him to get his eyes checked right away to
see if his road problems stemmed from his vision or lack thereof. “The
minute the eye doctor came back with the results, he looked at me and said I
had no business behind the wheel of a car,” Sanchez said with a laugh.
“Since then I have had to rely on others to get me around.”

Shortly after his eye diagnosis, Sanchez began a new chapter in his life by
attending the school for the blind. “I had to relearn how to function on a
daily basis at this point because we had to do everything blindfolded,”
Sanchez said. A normal morning of blind school, he said, would begin with
cane training, then Braille, a physical education class and then lunch.
“After we were done with lunch, we had a brief period where we could take
off our blindfolds but then we had to put them back on for practical
everyday training,” he said.

Sanchez can see light and some shapes, but he cannot see detail, even with
strong prescription glasses, he said. “I had to learn how to find the
escalator at a mall, and navigate a crosswalk on a busy street all by myself
to get used to my condition,” he said. “Every day it was a lesson on
building skills to survive without sight.”

Sanchez’s next journey would take him in the unlikely direction of art after
a teacher turned mentor took the time to teach him how to create art by
touch. “My teacher, besides my mother and grandfather who were both artists,
was Phil Loredo and he took the time to teach me how to feel art, not just
with my hands but with my mind,” Sanchez said. Loredo would set up all of
the tools Sanchez had to master in the same spots for him to find each time.
“I began to get a rhythm and a routine,” he said. “When you are blind,
routines are essential for you to find your way around. Phil was great about
helping me gain my confidence and soon I was creating jewelry.”

Sanchez said he sold out at his first show in Albuquerque with orders for
more jewelry from customers he had just met. “This was the biggest boost for
me, because Phil, who was way better than me and my mentor, said he had
never sold out with orders in all of his years as a jewelry maker,” Sanchez
said humbly. “I knew right then I was on to something.”

Still reeling from his mother’s passing in March, Sanchez said he has a
vision to start his own gallery in the small town of Rebera, N.M., just
outside of Las Vegas. “It has been hard with my mother gone, but I know she
is still with me and now I feel like I am ready to move in that direction,”
he said. “I want a place where the blind can touch the items for sale and
chronicle my family’s rich history. The blind can lead the blind, believe
me.”

For more information on Legally Blind Artistry, go to
Legallyblindartistry at gmail.com or call 771-1338.

WEEPING WILLOW

By Carlos Sanchez

Author's Note: This poem was inspired by and written in honor of my Nino,
"Manual" Leonard M. Baca. He was born January 18th, 1948 and passed away
August 27th, 2018. He was a big inspiration towards my jewelry making and my
Artistry.

Weeping Willow, weep with me

As I blow in the wind, I am the spirit in the tree

I am in the shape of a feather that you can't see, 

Because don't you know I've been set free?

My roots are grounded, my pain is deep

But like a tree I stand on my own two feet

The roots are bigger then what you see, 

I'm a bird that has been set free.

So take the time and fly With Me

I'm just like you because I can't be seen

In this life you were with me, just like your journey there fighting to see,

Just remember you can see further then what eyes can meet.

Always remember you have the vision to see,

So please take the time to remember me.

My mind let go for you to know I will always be perched on the tree,

But in the end I was never weak.

So take the time and fly With Me, 

I let go long ago, and slowly you will see ... 

Whatever happens was meant to be, 

So take this time and mourn with me ... 

And just remember I'm the spirit in the tree.

SOME THINGS ARE WORTH PURSUING

By Nancy Burns

As the growth of the National Federation of the Blind continues, since being
organized in 1940, the road has not always been smooth. The most pervasive
problems have been the reluctance of the sighted public to accept the rights
of blind citizens. Some of these problems have been monumental and some
could be considered as minor skirmishes. 

In recent years such issues as voting rights, student rights, and parental
rights have been addressed by this organization. Most of these rights have
been secured through legislation, both on the state and national level. Some
issues such as the right of pedestrian safety are protected by the White
Cane Law. But it becomes necessary from time to time to point this out to
the general public. 

This is an issue that has recently come to the attention of the West Mesa
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico. The New
Mexico driver handbook gave token words dealing with the safety of blind and
visually impaired pedestrians. In addition, an insulting and demeaning
statement was included in the handbook advising drivers not to honk at blind
pedestrians as it might frighten them. Once these issues were brought to the
attention of the West Mesa Chapter, a connection was made with the deputy
director of the Motor Vehicle Department. This connection between the local
chapter and the MVD led to a positive conversation resulting in the removal
of the offensive language. Further, the handbook acknowledges the existence
of the New Mexico White Cane Law. 

All of this is to say that we, as members of the largest organization of the
blind, must remain eternally vigilant. The unfortunate truth is that as a
minority, we the blind of New Mexico and throughout the country must not
rest on our successes but must continue to stay in touch with local, state,
and national policies. We must do this so that we may continue to live the
life we want.

THE ELTRINEX V12PRO TALKING DIGITAL RECORDER

By Curtis Chong

I have been using hand-held digital recorders of one form or another for
more than twenty years. For the most part, I use these handy little devices
to dictate short notes to myself when I need to quickly capture information
such as a phone number, an email address, or the proper spelling of a
person's name. Whenever I leave the house, I carry a digital recorder in my
pocket. It is so convenient that it is hard to justify not carrying one with
me wherever I go.

Recently, I had occasion to buy the Eltrinex V12Pro Talking Digital
Recorder. While the price of $169.95 was a bit offputting, its voice
guidance capability was incredibly appealing to me. Before the Eltrinex
V12Pro, two things always troubled me about the commercial digital recorders
on the market. First, most of the digital recorders I bought simply did not
speak to me—quite literally. This meant that if I wanted to change a setting
that was buried deep within a menu (for example, the quality of recording or
the microphone sensitivity), I had to memorize a sequence of commands. More
often than not, if I did not use the sequence very often, I found myself
scrabbling to remember what to do, mostly at the least opportune time.
Although I was happy when Olympus released its series of talking digital
recorders, I was disappointed that a blind person still could not set the
date and time without sighted help. Also, without sighted help, it was not
possible to move or copy a recording from one folder to another.

Secondly, for most digital recorders, once a person finished a recording,
the audio file could be played or deleted but never changed. Only certain
Sony digital recorders (which did not have voice guidance) had the ability
to add to an existing recording after it was finished.

Now consider the Eltrinex V12Pro. All menu items and settings are verbalized
with its voice guidance system. You can even set the date and time and
specify whether the time is specified with a 12-hour or a 24-hour clock. In
addition, for each recording that is created, you can add information to the
beginning of the recording (referred to as a label) or to the end of the
recording (appending to the original recording). For each recording that you
create, you can hear the file number in the folder where the recording is
saved, how much time the recording takes, and how many more hours of
recording time you have available. You can protect or unprotect each
recording using speech output alone—no visual assistance required. The same
is true if you want to know the charge in the battery. Even better, you can
independently move or copy individual recordings from one folder to another.

There are a couple of less positive items that bear mentioning. First, the
Eltrinex V12Pro takes about eight seconds to power up before you can
actually start recording. Other recorders usually power up in less than five
seconds.

Secondly, the Eltrinex seems not to work as well with external microphones
as other recorders. You are better off using the two internal microphones to
record a meeting (did I say that the Eltrinex always records in stereo?)

As of this writing, the Eltrinex V12Pro Talking Digital Recorder is priced
at $169.95, and it is sold by LS&S Products. Refer to 

www.lssproducts.com/product/Eltrinex-Talking-Digital-Voice-Recorder/voice-re
corders-and-personal-organizers to learn more about the Eltrinex and to buy
one for yourself. To read the text version of the user's manual, point your
browser to 

http://help.talking-recorder.com/en-text-manual.php.

GOOD EATING

NATHAN'S FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

By Tina and Nathan Hodgman

My son is 7 and he has autism, so he is a very picky eater. His favorite
food in the whole world is chocolate chip cookies that we make together. So,
I would like to share this very simple recipe, which is our variation on an
old favorite.

2 eggs

1 cup butter

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups brown sugar

A splash of vanilla

3 pinches of salt

A sprinkle of baking soda

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

12 oz. Chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Do not use electric mixers!

First, fold a paper towel and lay it on the counter to crack eggs on. Tap
the eggs to break them, counting 1, 2, and break on 3. Add eggs to bowl and
whisk.

Scoop a level cup of butter into the bowl, then pour the sugar all over the
butter, add vanilla for a count of 2 and stir it all up. 

Now add the brown sugar and stir it in right away, so it can't get lumpy.

Hold out the littlest hand and sprinkle salt into the palm--not too
much--and pour it in. Do the same thing with the baking soda. If there's any
extra baking soda, sprinkle it on the carpet to vacuum up later. Stir the
batter some more.

Add 2 level cups of flour, then everybody stirs together. It helps to have
music playing because flour is tough to stir by hand. Add the last 1/2 cup
of flour and let Mom finish stirring. 

Pour in the chocolate chips (except one or two for eating).

Line baking sheets with parchment paper and drop the cookie dough into rows.
Try to allow an inch between each one, or spread the dough in an even layer
that covers the sheet. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. 

Enjoy with a glass of cold milk.

BOW TIES WITH SAUSAGE, TOMATOES AND CREAM 

By Alexia Harrison

Ready In: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled

1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

1/2 cup diced onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (15 ounce) can Italian plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 (3 ounce) can black olives, sliced

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 ounces bow tie pasta

3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

freshly grated parmesan cheese

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and pepper
flakes. Cook until sausage is no longer pink, stirring frequently, about 7
minutes.

Add onion and garlic to skillet and cook until onion is tender and sausage
is light brown, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes.

Add tomatoes, olives, cream, salt and parsley. Simmer until mixture thickens
slightly, about 4 minutes.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still
firm to bite, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain well. 

Toss with mixture and sprinkle with parmesan.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

By Danielle Valdez

This is one of my favorite recipes for fall. I found this online a few years
back, and I may have adapted it (I don’t remember). It seems to be a huge
hit when I make them for functions. 

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs

1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place 12 paper liners into each well of
your standard-size muffin baking pan.

Measure out the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium bowl
and whisk together. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, coconut oil and
vanilla extract.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together. Do not
over-mix, just stir until everything is incorporated into the batter.

Scoop the batter into the 12 wells of the muffin pan. It is helpful to use a
large scoop (like an ice cream scoop) to evenly distribute the batter into
each well. They will be nearly full. This will help give your muffins a nice
puffy dome.

Bake your muffins for 26-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the
center of a muffin comes out clean.

CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO STEW

By Danielle Valdez

This is another one of my favorite recipes for fall. It is a crock-pot
recipe I got from a cookbook a few years back. 

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 medium sweet potatoes

2 medium regular potatoes

4 carrots

1 can whole tomatoes

1 teaspoon  salt

1 teaspoon  paprika

1/2 teaspoon  pepper

1/8 teaspoon  cinnamon 

1/8 teaspoon  nutmeg

1 cup water 

1 cube chicken bullion 

Cut chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. Put in crock-pot.

Peel and cube sweet potatoes and add to crock-pot. 

Peel and cube potatoes and add to crock-pot. 

Peel carrots. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces and add to crock-pot. 

Add tomatoes to crock-pot 1 at a time, squishing in hand. Add remaining
tomato juice.

Add spices, bullion and water. 

Stir and cover.

Cook on low 6-8 hours, or on high 3-4 hours. 

GREEN CHILE PECAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

By Nancy Burns

Since autumn in New Mexico features green chile, I thought it would be
appropriate to submit a recipe using the traditional flavor. After moving to
New Mexico, my husband encouraged me to use green chile in as many recipes
as possible. I enjoy baking and also enjoy adding green chile to my favorite
cookie recipe.

2 sticks butter softened

1 cup light brown sugar 

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon  salt

1/2 teaspoon  baking soda

1/2 teaspoon  baking powder

4-6 tablespoons green chile powder (your choice)

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheet.

In medium bowl mix the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and green
chile powder. Set aside.

In large bowl combine sugars, butter, eggs, and vanilla and mix thoroughly.
Add the bowl of dry ingredients gradually until well mixed. Add chocolate
chips and pecans. 

Drop batter on cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from baking sheet
while hot. Cool on rack. 

Makes 3 dozen. Enjoy!

USEFUL WEBSITES, APPS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS

505-243-8683 

Bernalillo County Clerk. Call for early voting, voting locations and
absentee voting. Also you can vote absentee online, which is now accessible.
Let's all vote this election.

www.hollar.com

This is an online dollar store; most items range from $2 to $5 with free
shipping if you buy $25.00 or more.

www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount

Go here and set up your Social Security account online. This way you can
review it regularly to see if it is accurate or if anyone has attempted to
use your number. Social Security no longer sends annual updated statements
to those under 60 years of age.

www.duckduckgo.com

This is a very useful search engine and has little to no advertisements,
unlike Google, etc. 

www.seeingai.com

This is an extraordinary free app from Microsoft and is downloadable from
the 
Apple app store. It is not yet available for Android but is coming soon. You
can complete multiple tasks with one app. It reads short and regular text,
reads bar codes and lets you know the product, price, ingredients, etc.,
does facial recognition, reads currency, identifies colors, reads
handwriting, describes the scene around you, and much more. Amazing! 

MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Saturday, October 13: The West Mesa Chapter will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 12
noon at the Paradise Hills United Methodist Church, located at 4700 Paradise
Blvd. NW.  Our topics this month will be Braille literacy and White Cane
Safety Day.  We will also discuss future fundraising.  Come join us and
bring a friend or family member, and enjoy a cup of coffee, a treat, and a
lot of good company.

Wednesday, October 17: If you are interested in a personalized demonstration
of several handheld magnification devices, come to the October Creating
Options group from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the New Mexico Commission for
the Blind, 2200 Yale Blvd. SE in Albuquerque. For more details phone Sarah
Villavicencio at 505 841-8844.

Saturday, October 20: NFBNM Albuquerque Chapter annual White Cane Banquet
(see www.nfbnm.org for details and registration)

Friday, October 26: NFB of New Mexico Board Meeting, 7:00 PM, Homewood
Suites, 1520 Sunport Pl. NE in Albuquerque

Saturday, October 27: NFB of New Mexico Leadership Training, Homewood
Suites, 1520 Sunport Pl. NE in Albuquerque

Tonia Trapp, secretary

National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico

nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com

www.nfbnm.org

Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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