Joyful Moments: from dream recipes to talent shows

Wilbur, a resident of The Waterford at Ironbridge, had the honor of cooking his famous smothered steak for his community as part of his Tree of Dreams. As an owner of one of the first crockpots, Wilbur’s recipe came flooding back, bringing memories of cooking his favorite dish and the joy it always brought to those around him.

“Wilbur received rave reviews of his recipe with smiles all around the table,” says Cheyenne, Activities Director.

This special moment was made possible thanks to an old friend who used to play Scrabble with Wilbur. As they sat together, she would listen to his stories, jotting down little details as he reminisced. Among her notes was his cherished smothered steak recipe, which she later shared with the Activities Director. Seeing an opportunity to celebrate Wilbur’s love for cooking, the director approached him with the idea of preparing the dish for his friends and neighbors. Wilbur gladly accepted, and the result was a heartwarming gathering filled with nostalgia, laughter and delicious food.

Great job to Wilbur and the team for bringing this special meal to life!

Wilbur’s Smothered Steak

Ingredients:

  • 3 lb chuck or round steak
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2–3 onions, sliced
  • 2–3 green peppers, cored and sliced
  • 2 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 2 (4 oz) cans mushroom bits and pieces, drained
  • 2 packages frozen French-cut green beans
  • 2 tbsp sorghum molasses
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce

Instructions:

  1. Slice steak into 1-inch strips or cubes.
  2. In a paper bag, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Add steak and shake to coat. Discard excess flour.
  3. Brown steak in oil of your choice, then drain and place in the bottom of a crockpot.
  4. Layer the remaining ingredients in the order listed. Drain mushrooms but not tomatoes.
  5. Cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 6–7 hours.
  6. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

Chef Matt celebrated the Chinese New Year with the residents of The Addison of St. John’s, treating them to festive delights and an engaging food demonstration. As he skillfully prepared traditional Chinese dishes, residents watched with excitement eager to taste the flavors of the celebration. They put their chopstick skills to the test, laughing and encouraging one another as they enjoyed the delicious meal.

The room was filled with the rich aromas of soy sauce, ginger and garlic, creating an immersive cultural experience. With decorations, good food and lively conversation, residents embraced the spirit of the holiday making memories together as they welcomed the Year of the Snake. Thank you to Chef Matt for a fantastic celebration!

Talent show

The Waterford at Mansfield held a lively talent show giving residents and team members a wonderful opportunity to showcase their unique skills and creativity. The event brought the community together in a celebration of talent, passion and self-expression. The talented bunch sang their hearts out filling the room with beautiful melodies, displayed intricate handmade crochet blankets that took hours of dedication to create, played enchanting tunes on the violin and even wowed the audience with impressive baton twirling. Each performance was met with enthusiastic applause, cheers and admiration as residents and staff marveled at the incredible talents within their community.

The atmosphere was electric with excitement as performers took the stage with pride and confidence. Some participants shared heartfelt stories about their talents reminiscing about years of practice and dedication. Others simply embraced the joy of performing delighting in the encouragement from their friends and neighbors. The talent show was not just about entertainment it was a heartwarming reminder of the creativity, resilience and vibrant spirit of the community. Crystle, Executive Director, summed up the evening perfectly saying, “You are outstanding! Bravo!”

A senior living community can enrich the golden years 

At Sonida Senior Living, we recognize the importance of feeling vibrant at any age. Many of our communities across the country offer tech classes, game rooms or other ways of socializing. This means residents are able to gather comfortably with family and friends for gaming fun. There’s always an opportunity for bonding, entertainment, and yes, even some friendly competition.

At Sonida, it’s all about comfort, connections and fun, so seniors can live their best life. If you’re considering a move to one of our senior living communities, check out our independent livingassisted living or memory care services. Or, contact us to schedule a tour or request more information about a community near you.

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