AUGUST 2026 34 A ugust means the kids are back in school and dinner just got a whole lot trickier. Between homework, practice, and everything else, there’s not a lot of time to stand around the kitchen. And it’s still 110 outside, so nobody wants anything fussy anyway. These three recipes are my go-to meals for nights like that. They’re quick, they’re easy, and they’re light enough that you won’t feel stuffed before bed. Bonus: most of the work happens in one pot or one pan, so cleanup is easy, too. The fire-charred corn chowder with lime is sweet corn at its best, creamy and a little smoky with lime squeezed in at the end. It makes six servings, so pack up the leftovers and lunch tomorrow is done. The sheet pan bean quesadillas with creamy green sauce are always a hit with kids. The whole batch gets crispy in the oven at the same time, no flipping one at a time at the stove, and you’ll want to put that green sauce on everything. And the three-ingredient black bean veggie burgers are proof you don’t need a mile- long ingredient list for a great burger. One (ish) pot or pan meals for easy weeknight dinners Owner of YouCare-SelfCare, a private wellness practice specializing in plant-based lifestyle and disease prevention. youcare-selfcare.com BY MIRIAM HAHN • 1 tbsp. ground flax seeds • 1 (15-ounce) can spicy black beans • ½ cup rolled oats • ¼ tsp. salt • ¼ tsp. black pepper • 1 tbsp. olive oil • 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained • ½ tsp. each: chili powder, cumin, salt • # ⁄ $ cup red salsa • 1 tbsp. lime juice • 8 small flour tortillas • cooking spray and tajin • 3 tbsp. avocado oil, divided • 4 ears corn, husked • 1 red onion, diced • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 1 jalapeño, diced • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 8 ounces dairy-free cream cheese • 3 cups chopped Yukon gold potatoes • 4 cups vegetable broth • 1 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish • 1 tsp. each: ground cumin, salt • ½ tsp. each: celery seed, smoked paprika • ¼ tsp. pepper • 1 lime 1. Stir together the ground flax seeds and 2 ! tbsp. of water in a small bowl and set it aside to thicken. 2. Drain the black beans over a bowl to reserve the liquid. 3. Add the drained black beans to a food processor and pulse a few times to break them down. Then add the oats and pulse a few times to incorporate them. 4. Add the thickened flax, salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp. of the reserved bean liquid to the food processor and pulse a few times to get a chunky mixture. 5. Transfer to a bowl and let the mixture sit for five minutes so the oats can absorb the liquid. Shape the mixture into two patties, then refrigerate for 30 minutes. 6. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the patties to the skillet and cook for five minutes on the first side then flip and cook for five more minutes. 7. Serve in a bun with your condiments of choice or serve over greens. 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. Add the beans to food processor with the seasonings, lime juice, and salsa. 3. Spread some of the bean mixture on each tortilla. Top it with another tortilla and flatten with your hand. 4. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on Tajin. 5. Roast for 10-15 minutes until golden and crispy. 6. Put sauce ingredients in small blender and blend until smooth. Dip and enjoy! 1. Add two tbsp. of avocado oil to a cast iron skillet and bring the heat to medium-high. 2. Add the corn to the skillet and cook for about 15 minutes, rotating to char all sides. 3. While the corn is cooking, add the remaining oil to a soup pot and bring the heat to medium. Add the onion, red pepper, jalapeño, and garlic and cook for five minutes. 4. Add the cream cheese and stir to melt. 5. Stir in the potatoes, broth, cilantro, cumin, salt, celery seed, smoked paprika, and pepper. 6. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and cover the pot. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. 7. Cut the corn off of the cobs and stir them into the soup pot and add the juice of one lime. 8. Ladle chowder into bowls to serve, optionally garnished with extra cilantro. 3-ingredient black bean veg ! ie burgers 3-ingredient black bean veg ! ie burgers Serves 2 Serves 2 Sheet pan bean quesadillas Sheet pan bean quesadillas Serves 4 Serves 4 Fire-charred corn chowder with lime Fire-charred corn chowder with lime Serves 6 Serves 6 Printable recipes • Health videos • Live Zoom cooking classes! JOIN MY MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FOR ONLY $10 PER MONTH

35 AUGUST 2026 By Alex Gross After historic seasons from our area high schools last year, excitement is quickly building coming into the 2026-27 football season. While fans have to wait until the end of August for kickoff, players and coaches started their season months ago with summer practices and workouts. Here’s how Arcadia, Brophy, Veritas and Xavier are looking heading into fall’s quest to win a state title. !"#!$%! After leading the school to its first championship appearance in 63 years, BJ Pasquel still has title hopes heading into his second season as head coach. But the team’s formula will have to undergo changes with this year’s personnel. “We had a really good defense last year, but our offense kind of led the way. This year it might be reversed since we have quite a few returners on defense,” Pasquel said. “Out of the gate our defense is going to be our strong suit.” The Titans have their first three games at home to get acclimated before facing familiar region opponents in Snowflake and Combs. Defensive lineman Milo Marinic and linebacker Braden Knaub, who led the team in tackles last season, are expected to get off to hot starts. The main challenge will be replacing former 4A Player of the Year Zach Smith and the offensive weapons who surrounded him. “Is it going to be easy? No, but our expectations are the same,” Pasquel said. “We want to be playing our best football at the end of the season and make a deep playoff run.” &"'()* While last year’s squad was led by now- graduated powerhouses like Devin Fitzgerald and Daylen Sharper, a returning core of lineman have the offense looking promising. “The teams that beat us last year were better on the O-line,” Head Coach Jason Jewell said. “We were young, but now having a year under our belt is huge.” University of North Dakota commit Shane Reiersgaard will lead the line anchored by junior tight ends John Chrostowski and Brady Powell. Bolstering the trenches will help open up Jewell’s run game instead of having to favor the pass like last season. The Broncos will have a chance to avenge one of their four regular season losses at this season’s home opener against Hamilton. They drew the one of the hardest schedules in Arizona for the second consecutive year, having to play three semifinalists from last year’s open division playoffs. The calendar hasn’t affected their preparation, however, as Brophy’s summer has been packed full of 7-on-7 tournaments and time in the weightroom. “Expectations are high. Now we’ve just got to perform,” said Jewell. +,"%-!. Head Coach Mike Sanfratello led last year’s Falcons to new heights, but he won’t have most of that team back this season. “We had 23 guys with varsity experience, and this year we probably have half of that,” Sanfratello said. “Those dozen kids are going to help us try to defend our region championship.” Behind that battle-hardened senior class is inexperienced youth who will look toward returners Will Young and Miles Perry to lead them on the field. Lineman Gabe Jackson will be a key part in keeping last year’s defensive scheme intact – a system that held opponents to under ten points per game seven times in 2025. “We’re going to be pretty solid on the edges against the pass,” Sanfratello said. “We’ve got first team Brayden Barrows and second team Aiden Bailey coming back as defensive backs.” The biggest question mark for Veritas is at quarterback, as the offense will be run by a junior without any varsity experience behind center. It’ll be up to veterans to establish a strong run and play-action game as their play caller gains valuable experience early in the season. /!+%," The Gators have established themselves as a strong program heading into flag football’s fourth season as an AIA-sanctioned varsity sport and Xavier’s second with Head Coach Matthew Reum. After graduating 11 seniors last season, eyes are on returners like Madie Endredy, Dahlia Young, Mae Rawls, Molly Lim, Emma Barney and Ava Gage to see the field more. Leading the pack is sophomore Evie Maas, a member of Team USA’s 15U squad last year. Xavier got off to a 6-0 start in 2025 and are hoping to come into this season with the same momentum. “We really have to start out day one as a really focused group,” Reum said. “In order to win the games, we’ve got to win the individual plays.” They open their season September 22 against Higley, with games against rivals St. Mary’s and Sunnyslope following in October. After stalling in the first round of last year’s playoffs against Mountain Ridge, Reum’s squad is hoping for week-to-week growth in order to mount a playoff run. 2026 2026 high school football preview high school football preview PHOTO: AUDREA WALSHIRE Arcadia High Xavier Prep PHOTO: PATTY KENNEDY PHOTO: PATTY KENNEDY PHOTO COURTESY OF STACY BARRETT Brophy Prep Veritas Prep