Try these easy-to-bake cinnamon spiced pumpkin muffins as a snack. They’re perfect for Halloween!
Serves 12
Easy
Prep:
Cook:
Ingredients
225g all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
100g sugar
50g light brown sugar
200g pumpkin purée (about 1/2 standard 15 oz. can)
2 large eggs
125g salted butter, melted
Equipment needed:
12-hole muffin or cupcake pan
paper muffin/cupcake cups
2 bowls, one large, one medium
whisk
wire rack for cooling muffins
Method
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350. Place paper muffin cups in muffin pan. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and both sugars together in a large bowl. Break up any lumps of brown sugar by rubbing them between your fingers.
Step 2: Whisk the pumpkin puree and eggs together in the smaller bowl, then add to the dry ingredients with the melted butter. Whisk for 2 minutes or so until just combined.
Step 3: Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.
circadian rhythm – n., our internal clock that keeps time by tracking light and darkness
biological – adj., relating to life or living things
rhythm – n., a regular pattern of movement or sound
protein – n., the building blocks of body tissue
hormones – n., chemical substances that act like messengers in the body
regulate – v., to control something
cluster – n., a group of things that are close together
hypothalamus – n., part of the brain that controls many bodily functions
genes – n., the basic units of heredity that carry your traits
organism – n., a living thing
sensitive – adj., showing a strong response to chemicals or other things in the environment.
blue light – n., the light that comes from sunlight and digital devices
miraculous – adj., something that is very surprising or lucky, like a miracle
Biological Clock Day is celebrated on April 28th. It’s a day to recognize the body’s natural ability to keep track of time, also known as the biological clock or circadian rhythm.
The biological clock is related to more than just aging.
For a start, both men and women have a biological clock, and all of this is celebrated by Biological Clock Day!
The biological clock acts as a sort of inner schedule by which a person lives that can often affect their behavior as well as their mood. Also known more formally as the ‘circadian rhythm’, this internal clock controls a sleep-wake pattern that fits in with the light and dark of a day according to the rhythms of the planet.
Proteins and hormones regulate the biological clock. Scientists are just now discovering exactly what makes us sleepy or wide-awake.
This internal clock is located in a tiny cluster of cells known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is in a part of your brain called the hypothalamus. Throughout the day, internal clock genes in the SCN send signals to control the activity throughout your body. The SCN is sensitive to light.
A biological clock is the body’s internal system that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other rhythms.
It’s made up of proteins that are turned on and off by thousands of genes.
A master clock coordinates all the biological clocks in the body.
The biological clock keeps working even when an organism is not exposed to natural light.
How can you support your biological clock?
Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Avoid naps that make it hard to fall asleep at night.
Stop eating and exercising a few hours before bed.
Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bed.
Wear glasses that block blue light.
Biological Clock Day was established to celebrate the natural rhythms of the body and show appreciation for the miraculous way the human body is formed. The day is meant to raise awareness for the need that people have to pay more attention to what their bodies and brains are telling them.
Many people like summer sunshine, but too much heat can be dangerous and unhealthy. Hot and humid weather can cause heat illness and even death. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, you need to cool down quickly!
Heavy sweating
Muscle cramps
Light headedness, feeling faint
Headache
Decreased energy
Loss of appetite, nausea
Luckily, New York City has increased the number of ways to Keep Cool during heat emergencies. The parks department has concentrated on water features, drinking fountains, and tree cover as ways to beat the heat outside.
Here’s a link to a map of all the places where you can cool off:
Spray showers are fun and feel great for kids. The sprinklers are turned on when the temperature reaches 80 degrees F. These are indicated on the map as well as the beaches and outdoor pools that are open to all. NYC even provides free sunscreen at the pools.
There are thousands of drinking fountains across the city – even some for pets!
The map also shows the parks with thick tree coverage, as well as the shadiest blocks to walk.
Another option: If you’re looking for a fun and safe way to beat the heat, consider requesting an official hydrant opening. You can go to your local firehouse and they might open and close a hydrant safely for you.
And if you’re not an “outdoors person,” NYC has many cooling centers. They are located in air-conditioned facilities that offer people relief from the heat, such as:
Most important: drink lots of water even if you’re not thirsty, wear loose light-colored clothing, and avoid sun and strenuous outdoor activity between 11 AM and 4 PM.
Sustenance — n., nourishment that maintains life, food.
potential — n., adj., able to come into being; possible
bountiful — adj., as much or more than is needed, abundant
mimic — v., to copy or imitate
approximately — adv., about, almost exact
Traditionally, people celebrated the return of light, life, fertility, and the potential for a good harvest on the summer solstice. The summer months bring a bountiful harvest and the foods served at solstice gatherings mimic the sun. Round, sun-colored fruits like lemons, oranges, peaches, and nectarines are the flavor of the day as well as vegetables like yellow squash, corn, and tomatoes.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash and chop the vegetables into approximately 1-inch pieces.
Spread the vegetables out over a large baking sheet (or two, if needed) so they’re in a single layer and not piled on top of one another. Drizzle the olive oil over top, then add the basil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss the vegetables until they’re evenly coated in oil and spices.
Roast the vegetables for 30-40 minutes, stirring once or twice (every 15-20 minutes or so), until the vegetables are soft and browned on the edges. Taste the vegetables and add another pinch of salt if desired. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over top just before serving.
I like to add an extra pinch of salt after roasting, so you get some salt sitting on the surface to give each bite a little pop. I also like to sprinkle with a little fresh parsley for freshness and to add a pop of color, but that’s optional.
Why do you need a New York City ID? Because it’s another great thing about living in New York!
Your IDNYC card is a widely accepted, official form of identification. IDNYC is accepted:
By City agencies to access many services and programs;
By NYPD for the purposes of issuing summons or desk appearance tickets instead of arrest;
For entry into public buildings, like schools;
For taking the high school equivalency exam in New York City;
By employers, when submitted with proof of work authorization.
Your IDNYC card also offers a wide variety of exciting benefits that make it more than just an ID card. Your card can help you experience everything New York has to offer.
IDNYC Benefits Guide
The IDNYC Benefits Guide is a multilingual brochure that provides an overview of the key benefits associated with the IDNYC card in English, Spanish (Español), Chinese (简化字), and Russian (Русский язык), as well as dozens more.
This link will lead you to NYC ID benefit providers. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about these benefits or if you have any questions about accessing them, please contact the organizations listed in the guide. IDNYC is not responsible for determining your access to these benefits.
Click a topic, or press the enter key on a topic, to reveal more information.
Museums and Cultural Institutions
IDNYC cardholders are now eligible for free one-year memberships at over 35 participating institutions in 2022. Visit the Museums and Cultural Institutions page to find out more about the Museums and Cultural Institutions.
Including free one-year memberships at:
The American Museum of Natural History
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Central Park Zoo
Museum of the City of New York
and many more…
Banks and Credit Unions
With your IDNYC Card, you can open a bank or credit union account at one of several financial institutions across New York City. Visit the Banks and Credit Unions page to find out more.
Libraries
You can use your IDNYC card at any public library in New York City. Visit the Libraries page to learn more about each library below.
Brooklyn Public Library
New York Public Library
Queens Library
Housing
Your IDNYC is the only ID card you need for affordable housing through NYC Housing Connect. With IDNYC, you don’t need a driver’s license, social security card or birth certificate to be eligible for housing on Housing Connect. Visit the Housing page to learn more.
Other benefits include discounts on prescription medications, fitness, groceries, and New York City attractions.
COVID cases are on the rise again in New York City as the BA.2 variant grows more prevalent, though the numbers are still a tiny fraction of the peaks seen earlier this year.
As of Monday morning, the city’s latest data had the rolling seven-day average of new cases at 610, up nearly 10% in a week.
Transmission rates are on the rise as well. In Manhattan, the rate of new cases per 100,000 people is up almost 10% in the last month and up about 17% in just the last week. One out of every 1,000 Manhattan residents has been infected in the last seven days.
