Sudoku is back on oursentinel.com

This week, The Sentinel is happy to bring back the Sudoku Challenge. Back in 2004, the Times in London helped spread Sudoku to Western culture by publishing it first daily. Since then, people attempt to solve one of the possible 5,472,730,538 puzzles.

Your objective, if you haven't played this game before is to fill each row and column with the same number only once using digits 1 through 9. Sudoku is also awesome, fun for developing concentration and keeping your brain sharp.

Our new reboot allows Sentinel readers to solve the puzzle online. After you solve this weeks, try one or more of the additional Sudoku puzzles to play.

Here's how you play:

Click on any box in the puzzle and the frame will turn yellow. When you do this the clock starts ticking. Use your keyboard to place the numbers in each box. Remember the goal is to only use one number in each row and column. If the number you wish to use is already present in the row or column, you will not be able to insert it into that box.

Below the puzzle, you will see a check box that says pencil. Use this to "pencil in" answers. Penciled numbers will be in blue. When you are ready to fill in a box simply uncheck the box and fill it with the correct number.

Two other tips: You can erase numbers by highlighting them and clicking delete on your keyboard. Also, you can use the "Reveal Number" button to show you the correct number for the highlighted square - but don't use it too often. It takes the fun out of solving the puzzle.

When you have filled in all the squares a congratulatory message will pop up. If you have filled in all the blanks but see the pop-up, it means you did something wrong. Click the "Solution" button to see where you might have failed.

Good luck and test your brain each week.

Area COVID-19 Dashboard for January 12, 2022

There are currently 3,070 active cases in The Sentinel area as of the latest figures from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. The total exceeds the previous number by two cases on Sunday for the eight villages plus Urbana in the area we cover.

Active Champaign County Cases:

7,013

Net change in the county: 126

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Current local cases 1/12/22

Number in parenthesis indicates new cases since 1/11/22

Ogden • 43 (7)
Royal • 9 (2)
St. Joseph • 236 (41)
Urbana • 2468 (285)
Sidney • 53 (6)
Philo • 65 (7)
Tolono • 146 (14)
Sadorus • 19 (4)
Pesotum • 31 (6)

Total Active Local Cases:

3,070

Net change in local cases: 97

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Total Local Confirmed Cases: 18,303

New cases: 372

The information on this page is compiled from the latest figures provide by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Illinois Department of Public Health at the time of publishing. Active cases are the number of confirmed cases reported currently in isolation. Local is defined as cases within the nine communities The Sentinel covers.

Food | Giving plasma? Boost iron levels with this marinated skirt steak recipe

Recipe to help boost iron levels, aid plasma donation recovery

Family Feature -- Chef Nate Appleman knows how important it is to serve healthy meals to your family - ones they actually want to eat. Before having his first child, he transformed his eating and exercise habits and lost 85 pounds to get on a healthier path.

Now, he's cooking meals for his family, including 14-year-old Oliver who was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease as a toddler - an inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause damage to coronary arteries - as a healthy lifestyle is important to help manage the disease. Since Oliver's diagnosis, Appleman made it his personal mission to create awareness of Kawasaki Disease and for the critical need for plasma donations that many people with the disease rely on for treatment, which is why he partnered with Abbott to bring attention to the need for plasma donations.

Plasma is a powerful part of your blood that supports essential bodily functions. It's a lifeline for thousands of people who are immune-compromised and live with a variety of chronic and complex diseases. In fact, more than 125,000 Americans rely on medication made from plasma every day, according to the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA).

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a serious shortage of plasma donors - average donations per center in the United States were down approximately 11% during the first few months of 2021 compared to the previous year, further deepening the nearly 20% decline in donations in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the PPTA.

Donating plasma is a safe and relatively easy process. Since plasma is replaced in the body within about 24 hours, it can be donated up to twice per week. With a donation that typically takes between 1-3 hours, you can make a lasting impact by providing lifesaving medicine for patients like Oliver.

It's a good idea to fuel up with iron-rich foods before and after donating, so Appleman created these fresh, nutritious recipes he loves to serve his family: Marinated Skirt Steak (see recipe below), Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes, and Cheesy Frittata with Veggies.

Learn where you can donate at bethe1donor.abbott.

Marinated Skirt Steak

Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott

Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons raw sugar

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 lime, juice only

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small Thai bird chile or serrano chile, chopped

1/4 head finely shaved green cabbage

1/4 head finely shaved purple cabbage

2 carrots, thinly julienned

Skirt steak:

1 1/2 pounds trimmed skirt steak

1/2 cup coconut milk

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons sriracha

salt, to taste

3 cups cooked brown rice

1/2 cup crushed peanuts

1 lime, quartered, for garnish

To make vinaigrette: In large bowl, mix oil, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, water, sugar, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and chile. Toss cabbage and carrots in vinaigrette; refrigerate until ready to serve. To make skirt steak: Marinate steak in coconut milk, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sriracha and salt, to taste, at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours. Heat grill to high. Grill 3-4 minutes each side until medium rare. Let rest 3 minutes. Thinly slice steaks against grain and serve with vinaigrette, rice and crushed peanuts; garnish with lime wedges.

Area COVID-19 Dashboard for January 11, 2022

Active Champaign County Cases:

6,887

Net change in the county: -207

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Current local cases 1/11/22

Number in parenthesis indicates new cases since 1/10/22

Ogden • 39 (3)
Royal • 8 (1)
St. Joseph • 215 (16)
Urbana • 2405 (190)
Sidney • 51 (3)
Philo • 61 (2)
Tolono • 149 (9)
Sadorus • 15 (0)
Pesotum • 30 (3)

Total Active Local Cases:

2,973

Net change in local cases: -92

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Total Local Confirmed Cases: 17,931

New cases: 227

The information on this page is compiled from the latest figures provide by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Illinois Department of Public Health at the time of publishing. Active cases are the number of confirmed cases reported currently in isolation. Local is defined as cases within the nine communities The Sentinel covers.