Home & Garden: 33 Gardening Tips To Celebrate 33 Years with ET Media
As the crisp autumn air ushers in a new gardening season, it’s time to celebrate 33 years of cultivating growth with ET Week Media. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or just starting your home gardening journey, this October we’re thrilled to share a collection of 33 top tips to help you maximize your garden’s potential. From extending the harvest season with clever crop rotation strategies to preserving your bounty with homemade pickles and pesto, these expert suggestions will ensure your garden thrives well into the colder months. So, grab your trowel and gardening gloves, and get ready to make the most of your green space this Fall!
- “Harvest one, plant one”, such as with radishes and carrots, to keep your crops going
- Have your soil tested each spring to see if supplemental fertilizer, compost, or other enhancements are needed before planting
- Keep trees and bushes well-trimmed to ensure adequate sunlight in your garden bed
- Maximize garden space by planting early season, cool weather crops beneath trellises. They will cycle out by the time the trellised crops fill in
- Make your own compost
- Consider planting two crops of cool weather favorites: one in early spring, and a second in late summer
- Plan your garden layout in advance of planting, taking into account mature height and spread of each crop
- Start crops from seed indoors to get a jump start on planting once the weather warms
- Cure sweet potatoes immediately after harvest so they last longer
- Fertilize regularly throughout the growing season
- Pull all crops prior to first frost to ensure no crop loss
- Dry peppers in the oven or a dehydrator to preserve them for use in sauces, chili, or as home decor
- Make your own infused spirits, such as cucumber or jalapeno vodka
- Stay on top of weeds so your crops don’t have to compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients
- Be gentle when harvesting root crops, such as sweet potatoes. Sweet potato skin is fragile straight from the ground, so hand-digging is best
- Have a plan for when early-season crops rotate out to maximize use of your garden space: replace spinach and broccoli with cucumbers and peppers, for example
- Make your own pickles
- For small garden spaces, consider “pot friendly” varieties of cucumber, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and other favorites
- Treat early and often for garden pests
- Water in the morning, when it’s cooler and less water will be lost to evaporation
- Use a soaker hose to direct water to plant roots and reduce the chance of fungus or mold growth
- Harden off seedlings and young plants that were started in your home or a greenhouse to reduce the chance of transplant shock
- Consider using organic gardening products like pulverized oyster shells and manure to protect pollinators and beneficial bacteria, worms, and other soil inhabitants
- Use netting and fencing to humanely keep out birds, rabbits, deer and more
- Make and freeze pesto, hot sauces, and cut up peppers and green onions for use over the winter
- Rotate crops each year, no matter how small your gardening space
- Trellis vine crops such cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and luffa to save space, deter pests, and making harvesting easier
- If there’s an unexpected late frost after you’ve planted early spring crops, cover the plants overnight with newspaper or dark-colored contractor bags. Be careful to not cover wet plants
- Clip and hang herbs to dry, then store in airtight containers for use all year long
- Use grow pots for root crops to retain heat and so you can harvest as-needed, rather than pulling the whole plant at once
- Try companion planting to reduce pests, increase pollination, and slow weed growth
- Ensure a proper amount of water for your garden. Not too much, not too little
- Create a perennial herb garden by bringing in plants over the winter, then returning back outside in the spring
In The Kitchen: Mannino Kitchen and Bar
Pictured left to right: John, Frank and Joe Mannino
Locations:
1575 Montauk Highway, Oakdale, NY 11769
Tel: 631-218-0909
2158 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, NY 11725
Tel: 631-462-0909
40 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787
Tel: 631-724-0210
www.manninosrestaurant.com
Over my 3 decades of working with thousands of entrepreneurs, I’ve gained a lot about what it takes to run a business. What drives success and how it is attained continues to fascinate me. I’ve known the Mannino brothers for close to 30 years and for the first time, I asked Joe Mannino to sit down with me so I could learn more about how he with brothers John and Frank rose to a level of success of which they are proud.
When Joe was only 12 years old, his parents decided to emigrate the family from Sicily to the U.S. for a better way of life. “At a very young age our father instilled in us a strong work ethic, so working hard came second nature to us,”’ says Joe.
At the age 14, Joe immersed himself into the restaurant business by becoming a dishwasher at a family member pizzeria. Over the years that followed, Mr. Mannino gradually shifted over to prepping food, working alongside head cooks to learn as much as he could about the trade. By the age of 18, it was no longer work and became Joe’s passion.
I met the Mannino brothers back in 1996. They were just 21,22 and 23 years of age when they broke ground at their first location on Commack Road. Since then, their vision has grown to three locations, that includes Smithtown and Oakdale. With the demand of the Mannino brand growing, in 2012 the boys took a leap of faith and moved from their initial location on Commack Road to Jericho Turnpike. From there, the business just continued to grow and for good reason.
Mannino Kitchen and Bar executes a variety of cooking techniques, but the foundation of their menu has always been of a Southern Italian influence. As Joe explains it, “you could say that many of our dishes are old school with a bit of a twist. We keep abreast of what’s trending and introduce new dishes regularly, but never stray too far from what our customers have grown to love and appreciate about our food.” Joe was proud to tell me that many of the soups and sauces found at all the Mannino restaurants have been influenced by their mother. As the writer of this article, for me this is a clear statement of honor and authenticity and what you can expect when you come and dine at any one of their restaurants.
I asked Joe what have been the guiding principles that have influenced the popularity of the Mannino brand of food. Joe continues, “It all starts with using the freshest ingredients and the best quality products. That aside, our recipes have been designed to contain the basics that allow the natural flavors of the food we serve to come through. Lastly and equally important is the consistency in the dishes we put out. The nicest compliment that we get from our customers, is that our food always tastes the same.”
Here are just some of the entrees that remain all time classics by their loyal patrons.
Pollo Mannino; A fried chicken breast pounded flat with sautéed onions, fresh plum tomato, and morsels of mozzarella in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Veal Chop Mannino is a signature dish that you’ll always find on special. Lightly breaded then stuffed with prosciutto and melted mozzarella.
Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka is quite popular and recently added to their menu. In a spicy cream sauce tossed with fresh rigatoni vodka is addictive.
Pasta Amatriciana is as traditional Italian as it gets. It features a sauce of sautéed onions, guanciale (cured pork) and crushed plum tomato, poured over fresh pasta then finished with pecorino cheese is considered to be an old-world classic.
Cowboy Style Ribeye: A 22 oz cut encrusted with herbs has an intense flavor profile that stands up to any high-end steakhouse quality.
I asked Joe, how has the Mannino restaurant brand been able to sustain close to three decades of operation? As Joe explains it, “as hands on owners, we treat every day as if it were our first. We still come to work every day. It doesn’t matter how much success we’ve enjoyed. You cannot let up for a moment. Our customers, staff and business can never be taken for granted, because for every day that we’re open our reputation is at stake.”
Whenever I come to dine at Mannino’s, you’ll always find Joe, walking through the dining room, talking to his customers and making certain that every person is enjoying themselves. For me, this is the most important aspect of the restaurant business. Every customer wants to feel appreciated and that’s exactly what you can expect when you dine at any one of their restaurants. Knowing the Mannino brothers since their inception, I have grown to appreciate what it takes to build a family brand synonymous with distinctive quality and exceptional service.
Bringing our interview to a close, I asked Joe, what has been the secret sauce for their success? In Joe’s own words; “It’s no secret at all. My brothers and I work on making our business better every single day. We are hands-on operators and still after 28 years, when the need arises we go into the kitchen, roll up our sleeves and cook. That aside, we keep our employees engaged and stress the importance of how to best present our hospitality to our loyal clientele. The goal has been and will always be, to make certain that every single plate that is placed in front of our customers exceeds expectations.”
From their humble beginnings Joe, John and Frank have become the epitome of what success is. With desire and plenty of sacrifice, the Mannino brothers went out to earn their place as one of the most respected and recognized restaurant brands on Long Island.
Personal Development: Empower Your Child: Teaching Self-Love and Confidence for the New School Year
As a teen life coach, one of the most common questions parents ask me is, ‘How can I help my child stop worrying about what others think and become more confident?’
This question is especially relevant as the new school year begins, a time when children often face increased pressure to fit in and seek approval from their peers. The good news is that with the right guidance, your child can learn to develop a strong sense of self-worth, making them more resilient to external opinions and better equipped to thrive both academically and socially.
From a very young age, children are conditioned to seek validation from others. They’re taught to fit in, to be liked, and to measure their worth by external standards. As a result, they may not fully develop their true selves. Instead, they might create a self-image based on what they think others want, leading to feelings of doubt, fear, and worry. This can be especially challenging during the school years, where peer pressure and social dynamics can greatly influence a child’s self-esteem.
As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child break free from this cycle. It begins with teaching them the importance of self-love. Self-love isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about recognizing one’s inherent worth and understanding that they are enough just as they are, regardless of their grades, athletic achievements, or the number of friends they have. When children learn to think positively about themselves, they naturally start to feel better and become more confident.
Encourage your child to develop a positive mindset about who they are. Help them understand that their value doesn’t come from what others think but from within themselves. When they cultivate a strong, loving, and empowering opinion of themselves, they will start to see changes not only in how they feel but also in how they interact with the world around them.
Here’s how you can guide your child using my Start Loving Life® process:
- Reinforce Positive Self-Talk: Teach your child to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. For example, if they’re worried about fitting in at school, encourage them to repeat phrases like, “I am AWESOMEEEE,” or “I am AMAZZZZING.”
- Celebrate Individuality: Help your child embrace what makes them unique. Whether it’s their interests, talents, or personality traits, show them that these differences are something to be proud of, not something to hide.
- Model Self-Love: Children often learn by example. Demonstrate self-love in your own life. Let your child see you practicing self-care, speaking kindly to yourself, and setting boundaries. When they observe you valuing yourself, they’re more likely to do the same.
- Encourage Kindness and Understanding: Teach your child that being kind to themselves and others is a form of strength. When they extend love and understanding to themselves, it naturally flows into their interactions with others, fostering a more positive and supportive social environment.
- Create a Safe Space: Ensure that your home is a place where your child feels safe to express their feelings and fears without judgment. Open communication builds trust and helps your child feel secure in who they are.
- As your child enters this new school year, remind them that the only opinion that truly matters is their own. When they love and believe in themselves, they become empowered to navigate the challenges of school life with confidence and ease.
- In the end, the greatest gift you can give your child is the ability to see themselves as worthy, capable, and lovable—no matter what others may say. Help them shine their inner light, and watch as they step into their true potential, ready to embrace the world on their terms.
ET Magazine – 33 Years of Serving Long Island
This October marks 33 years of delivering the most informative local direct mail magazine in our market. After publishing for over 3 decades, there is so much to be thankful for. Our ability to evolve stems from the demand and lessons we have learned from the resiliency and lasting friendships we have made with hundreds of small businesses.
From our humble beginnings as a free tv guide picked up at supermarkets, our mission has always been to enhance the “user experience” of our printed magazine. By creating more value for our readers, we have been able to deliver better results for our customers, that entrust us in helping with their marketing needs.
When visiting etweekmedia.com, you’ll find our digital editions, with an abundance of content. As you open each issue, you’ll find features on places to go with things to do, advice columns on fashion, health and wellness, personal development, travel, restaurant reviews and plenty of recipes, all brought to you by our talented in-house staff and contributing writers.
ET Week Media is optimistic about the opportunities that stand before us. Video streaming though our digital platform will soon become a part of our DNA that will enhance the awareness of keeping it local. By no means are we taking our foot off the print pedal. Traditional media at ET remains an integral part of a local businesses market reach. ET Magazine’s high impact, content driven magazine continues to remain a vital source for helping local merchants connect with their targeted markets.
Digital marketers continue to be challenged to perform for small business. Advertising on Google, Facebook or Instagram may seem to be the thing to do as a stand alone strategy, but the reality is, they reach only 3% of the 3-5 square mile radius of a local businesses core market. As a result, the demand for our print media continues to grow, providing more opportunities for local businesses to saturate market reach.
Did you know that small businesses with 10 employees or less provide jobs for 80% of the workforce in the United States? Nothing could be more vital to our economy than supporting our local businesses. This is why we ask for you, wherever and whenever you can to shop local. I realize that on-line shopping is a prominent part of our lives, but we should be doing everything we can to shop local first. Give the local store owner the first chance for your business. Generally speaking on-line stores do not make donations to the high schools, local businesses do. On-line businesses do not employ people who need to work close to home, like the college student, single parent or senior citizen, like local businesses do. The brick and mortar business is the backbone of our towns, so please give them the first chance to make the sale.
We’ve had the privilege of working with so many entrepreneurs that are largely responsible for our existence and we thank them for it. To our wonderful contributing writers that have made ET Magazine a go to source, we could not be more grateful for your dedication in making ET what it has become today. To our loyal readers, who have embraced our magazine and continue to express their appreciation by patronizing our advertisers, we are indebted.
Last but not least we are blessed with an incredible team at ET that enables us to deliver on what we promise every single month. Without their dedication and enthusiasm, it would be impossible to succeed period!
Thank you for allowing us to serve you, as we look forward to more exciting new things to come.
God Bless
Marc Piperno, President
ET Magazine
Fashion & Beauty: DIY Halloween Costumes: Spooky Style Without the Stress
Autumn is arguably the busiest time of the year, with school picking back up, various holidays rolling around, and the weather undergoing rapid change. While Halloween is a beloved festivity, actually picking out and acquiring a costume often falls to the backburner. Every year, you will hear friends, if not yourself, bemoaning the poor costume selection just two days before Halloween weekend. Should you find yourself remembering last minute that you need a costume this year, here is a list of easy, DIY costumes and outfits to help you maintain that festive, spooky look.
There are two classic, last minute Halloween costumes: the cat and the witch. Let neither gender nor age stop you from donning a pair of cat ears or a pointed hat; anyone can cobble together these costumes. On the day of, you can still find a pair of fluffy or bedazzled cat ears at Party City, or, if you cannot make it to the store, you can make a pair. Two cardboard triangles precariously painted and glued to a headband and VOILA! You can now, with reasonable plausibility, declare your costume this year is a cat.
A pointed hat might require an actual trip to Michaels. If this Halloween is a cold one, your witch robes can be your bathrobe. There is no reason your costume has to be uncomfortable! Or, give the little black dress in the back of your closet a second purpose. Congratulations, you are a witch.
Dressing up as a favorite character from one of the many shows released since last Halloween is another fun, DIY route. If you have a long, blonde wig, you can declare yourself a Targaryen. If you own anything black and pinstriped, and possess a willingness to do two braids, you are officially Wednesday Addams. Remembering Halloween is happening sooner than a week out, you should be able to find various items and props to better flesh out the costume. For example, if you do have a blonde wig, maybe start hunting for a medieval style dress or knight’s armor to really sell the high fantasy look.
While digging in your closet, perhaps you found a pair of cowboy boots you had convinced yourself you would wear. One night is not wearing an item a lot, but it is better than never. A cowboy hat, a brightly colored button up, and you are ready to go. A cow boy or girl for one night only!
Halloween is meant to be a fun night, regardless of the level of effort put into your costume. Life is busy, and actually finding a costume can be unnecessarily stressful. Relax, and double check your closet for possible ideas. If finding a costume is too much this year, buy one of those sweatshirts that say costume on the front. Dress up, dress down, just make sure you eat a lot of candy. It is the only way to celebrate.
Health & Wellness: Immune Support for the Change of Seasons
There is no such thing as basic immune support. Immune support should be specific and unique to each person. For example, a lot of people throw around recommendations such as Vitamin C. However, if you have extremely loose bowels, a high dose of Vitamin C could exacerbate your toilet time. This is just one of many examples. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I get hit with a lot of seemingly simple questions. News flash – if I don’t know your entire medical history, I cannot give any medical advice. Makes you wonder – how could a quick 15 minute visit to see a doctor for the first time be effective?
Labwork is key. Vitamins, minerals, inflammatory and immune markers must be tested for a doctor to effectively evaluate your body’s needs. Knowing what you are deficient in or if there are any toxic high levels are essential. Vitamin A at high doses for a short period of time plays a very crucial role as an anti-viral, but if you start absorbing high levels then it is toxic. This is because Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and gets stored in your adipose tissue and liver. Too much and you can cause damage to your health. Vitamin D is also wonderful for basic immune support but again it is a fat soluble vitamin and needs to be properly tested and prescribed. Vitamin K helps the absorption of Vitamin D but guess what – also fat soluble so must be tested and monitored over time. Zinc is also wonderful immune support and it also comes in lozenges to soothe a sore throat. Topical iodine is another favorite of mine for a scratchy throat and it can be wiped right on your neck for antibacterial absorption. Our body does not make it, so we must consume it. Iodine helps to support your thyroid as well, but you want to make sure your levels are not too high.
I see a lot of patients suffering with autoimmune disease and a huge mistake I see over and over again is that they load up on immune stimulants which can further put their immune system into overdrive. This will flare inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the root cause of autoimmune disease. The answer instead is – immune modulation. This can come in the form of proper nutrients, herbs and diet recommendations.
The last thing you want to do if you suffer from any autoimmune condition is to ramp up an already inflamed immune system. Conventional medicine will suppress inflammation. Naturopathic Medicine reverses chronic inflammation and calms down the firestorm burning in your body naturally.
Remember proper immune support is unique for each person. It can even change from season to season. Knowing what your body requires and following through by giving yourself what you need truly is the best self-care.
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