Near Miss Day - Country Cousin

By: 
Shirley Prudhomme

The countryside may still be covered with snow, and some roads are still covered with ice, but it is officially Spring. The calendar says so!

That said, snow, ice and whatever else the sky can produce keeps coming down every now and then. Real Spring, with green grass, blooming flowers, and shirt-sleeve weather,  is probably still a month or so in the future. Like it or not, we’ll just have to wait.

HIPPITY, HOPPITY
The Easter Bunny is busy coloring eggs, making candy and getting baskets ready. Easter will be here on Sunday, April 9. That’s less than three weeks away.

MARCH HOLIDAYS
Thought St. Patrick’s Day was the highlight holiday of March, but it turns out that somewhere along the way the entire month of March got designated as National Irish Heritage Month.

Also turns out that, according to the “HolidayInsights” website, March is filled with holidays.

One of them, coming up on Thursday, March 23, is “Near Miss Day,” which celebrates the day in 1989 that  a huge Asteroid narrowly missed hitting the earth. According to information on the Web, an asteroid the size of a mountain came within 500,000 miles of a collision with Earth. In interstellar terms, that makes it s a near miss. Had it collided with the Earth, it would probably have knocked our planet off its axis.

Some scientists believe a large asteroid that collided with the Earth caused the extinction of dinosaurs, and many believe it is only a matter of time - probably a long, long time - before there’s another catastrophic collision with Earth.

NASA keeps a constant watch on these space objects. According to their web site, a “near Earth object,” probably a meteorite or meteor, is expected to come within 108,477 miles of Earth on Saturday, March 25. That isn’t exactly approaching the Earth’s landing zone, but it is a lot closer than any of the other space objects currently on the NASA watch list.

ON THE SOAP BOX
VOTE ON APRIL 4!

In most communities, there are only a few contests on the ballot for the “non partisan” spring elections on Tuesday, April 4, but the choices we voters make on that day will affect lives and laws in Wisconsin for years to come!

In the sole statewide race former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, recognized as anti-abortion, opposed to legislating from the bench, and supported by conservatives, and Milwaukee County Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, recognized as a pro-abortion liberal who has set extremely low bail and handed down some extremely light sentences for perpetrators of violent crimes, are competing for a 10-year term to replace Justice Patience Roggensack, who is retiring.

The Associated Press has described this contest as having “bigger policy stakes than any other race in the country this year.” Since the Wisconsin Supreme Court is currently quite evenly balanced politically, the results are likely to tilt decisions of the state’s top court one direction or the other for at least the next two years.

But perhaps more important is getting “yes” votes to the referendum questions that will be decided at the polls on April 4 despite what appear to be the best efforts of Wisconsin Elections Commission to prevent that from happening.

One of the measures, if approved by voters, will add an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution to make it harder for people accused of violent crimes to get out of jail on bail. The other is a non-binding advisory referendum that asks voters if they believe that able-bodied, childless welfare recipients should be required to look for work.

Republicans have worked for years to enact the bail amendment. The Legislature approved it in 2022 and again in 2023 with bipartisan support. Constitutional amendments must pass the Legislature in two consecutive sessions before being put on the ballot.

State law requires ballot questions to be “filed with the official or agency responsible for preparing the ballots” at least 70 days before the election, making the deadline Jan. 25. The Legislature sent the measures to the Wisconsin Election Commission on Jan. 19, but the commission did not file the measures with county election officials until Jan. 26.

Two organizations that work with persons who have spent time in prison tried to block the referendum vote, but Dane County Circuit Judge Rhonda Lanford ruled against them.

If the Constitutional amendment is approved, judges will be allowed to consider the risk a defendant poses to public safety, including their criminal history, when setting bail. Currently, cash bail can be set only as a means to ensure that the defendant appears in court. Liberal opponents have argued the amendment could create further inequity in the criminal justice system by allowing wealthy defendants to more easily get out of jail than less wealthy defendants accused of the same crimes.

The Commission’s delay in filing the questions until past the Jan. deadline was almost certainly deliberate, and is another excellent reason why that appointed commission should be abolished, and its responsibilities turned over to Wisconsin’s elected Secretary of State.

There are two questions on the bail referendum. Under the current Wisconsin Constitution, courts may impose reasonable conditions on the release of a criminal defendant before trial for three purposes: (1) to secure the defendant’s appearance in court; (2) to protect the community from “serious bodily harm;” and (3) to prevent intimidation of witnesses.

A “yes” vote on Question 1 would change the language of the second factor from “serious bodily harm” to “serious harm as defined by the legislature by law,” and a “yes” vote on Question 2 would vote to amend the state Constitution so a judge would be allowed to set the amount of monetary bail for additional reasons in addition to securing the defendant’s appearance in court, including accounting for a previous conviction for a violent crime, need to protect the community from serious harm, preventing witness intimidation, and accounting for the defendant’s affirmative defenses.

Opponents of this amendment argue that because the term “violent crime” would be defined by the legislature, what it means could evolve over time depending on what laws are passed.  In other words, the definition could change depending on who we, the electors, choose to enact our laws.

“Yes” votes on both questions on the Constitutional amendment are important, as is a vote in favor of the advisory referendum that would allow laws requiring able-bodied welfare recipients to at least look for work.

So, be sure to vote on April 4, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Vote in person if you can, absentee if you must, but do vote! If you do not have a photo ID, get one free from the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles, which in this area has office hours in Peshtigo, Oconto and Green Bay.

FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION
Catholics are often criticized for worshiping the Blessed Virgin Mary. Truth is, we Catholics do not worship her, but we do venerate and honor her. We do not pray to her, we ask her to pray for us. She is, after all, the Mother of Jesus, so she may very well have special pull in Heaven.

Every year, March 25 - nine months before the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25 -  is the Feast of the Annunciation, anniversary of the day when the Blessed Virgin Mary agreed to become the mother of Jesus, when she told the Angel Gabriel,  “Let it be done to me according to Thy will.”

Based on society as it was at that time, historians tell us that Mary was probably still in her early teens when she agreed to become the mother of the Savior who had been promised to the world so many centuries before.

Can anyone today imagine the courage it took for her to agree to bear a child without being married? This was at a time when women were generally stoned to death for offenses of that sort. She did not confer with Joseph, her betrothed husband. She did not know if he would believe her, or if he would think she had been unfaithful to her pledge to him.  Had Joseph not been willing to marry her, had God not protected her, death by stoning would most likely have been Mary’s fate. She knew that, but she agreed anyway. What a tremendous leap of faith!

On Saturday, March 25, Feast of the Annunciation, all Christians should contemplate this brave and holy woman who became the mother of Jesus, and by doing so, became foster mother to us all.

Like any good Son, Jesus must be pleased when we express love and respect His mother. Thank you, Mary, for having the faith and the courage to say “yes” on that day 2,023 years ago.

COOKIN’ TIME
BROCCOLI CHEESE CASSEROLE
Here’s a really great casserole to go with your Easter ham, but don’t wait for Easter. Also goes wonderfully with fish, especially baked fish, for a wonderful meatless Lenten meal.
1 cup rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can Cheddar cheese soup
1 can French fried onion rings
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 pound frozen chopped broccoli
Cook rice and season as directed on package. Add soups (not diluted), and stir until well mixed. Stir in the raw frozen broccoli and 1/2 cup crushed onion rings. Place in buttered baking dish, and bake at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes. Top with rest of the onion rings and bake another 15 minutes.

UNROLLED CABBAGE CASSEROLE
All the flavor of really great cabbage rolls, but without the work. This rather large recipe serves 12 very inexpensively, but it can easily be halved, and the leftovers freeze well.
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans tomato sauce, 15 ounces each, divided
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups cooked rice
4 strips bacon (be sure to save the drippings)
1 medium head cabbage, shredded or coarsely chopped
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 cup (four ounces) shredded Mozzarella cheese
In large skillet cook the beef, onion and garlic until meat is no longer pink. Drain this, but save the drippings. Stir in one can of the tomato sauce and the seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. While this simmers, fry the bacon. Drain off the drippings to measure them. Return about four tablespoons of drippings to the pan. If there are not four tablespoons, add some of the drippings from the hamburger. Add the vinegar to the frying pan and simmer to deglaze the pan. Crumble the bacon into the meat mixture in the other frying pan and stir in the rice. Turn off the heat. Spray a 13x9x2” roaster or baking dish with cooking spray and put in one third of the cabbage. Top with half the meat mixture and repeat layers, ending with a third cabbage layer on top. Pour the vinegar/bacon drippings mixture over this, and then pour on the final can of tomato sauce. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. (If you must cover this with foil try to keep it up off the surface, perhaps by propping it up with toothpicks.) After the 45 minutes, remove the cover, sprinkle on the cheese and bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
Want to beef up the bunny’s candy supply? Try these. Make them now and hide them until Easter. Lots cheaper than the ready made ones, and they even taste better.
2 cups peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Chocolate for dipping, light or dark
Decorations, optional
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Put everything except the dipping chocolate and decorations in the food processor or a mixing bowl and blend well. Form into egg shapes or balls and drop onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until the dough firms up a bit, and then dip into melted chocolate and return to the paper-lined cookie sheet. Add an Easter decoration to the top if you want to. Good with both both dark and milk chocolate. (A good chocolate for dipping is made by melting a bag of  chocolate chips with a tablespoon of butter in the microwave until it gets the right consistency. Be careful, it doesn’t take long.) HOMEMADE EASTER PEEPS
If you have a bit of extra time and want to try something unusual, try these homemade Easter Peeps. Soft, fresh and vanilla-scented, these have the traditional shape, but are a lot more fun to eat than the Peeps we usually buy. One of my dear and now departed friends always liked her Peeps frozen, and said they tasted like Charleston Chews.

MARSHMALLOW PEEPS
You will need a candy thermometer, a piping bag with a round 1/2-inch tip, and an electric mixer with a whisk attachment.
2 cups yellow colored sugar (see instructions)
9 tablespoons water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon liquid yellow food coloring (optional)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Put five tablespoons of the water in a small bowl and on it sprinkle the gelatin and stir. Allow this to sit while you prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil. On it spread a generous layer of the colored sugar. Combine 1 cup of plain granulated sugar and 4 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook to the soft-ball stage (235 degrees). Remove from the heat and stir in the gelatin mixture very thoroughly. Pour the hot gelatin syrup into the bowl of the electric mixer and let it cool until barely warm. Begin beating with a whisk attachment at medium speed, and once the mixture is no longer clear, add the vanilla and turn the mixer to high speed. Beat for 10 minutes, or until the candy is glossy and white. If desired, add the liquid yellow food coloring and beat until well-distributed. If you don’t add it, the chicks will be white, but you can still cover them with yellow sugar. It’s your call. Immediately place the candy in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip (Or put it into a plastic zipper-type bag and cut a 1/2 inch hole in one corner.) Pipe the Chicks onto the baking sheet covered with colored sugar. To pipe the Chicks, begin with the body: hold the bag an inch above the surface at a 90 degree angle. Squeeze the marshmallow fluff out, allowing it to form a 1-inch round before beginning to pull back toward you. Taper as you move backward, forming a 3-inch body. Release pressure and pull the bag upward to form the “tail.” Next, form the Chick head by again placing the bag at a 90 degree angle. Pipe on top of the body segment, and move the bag forward (away from you). Once you get to the front of the body, pull the bag backwards and finish with an upward flick to form the “beak.” (Use a real Peep as a model if you have to.) Sprinkle the still moist Peeps with remaining colored sugar. Try to get it all over, top and sides. The bottom is already taken care of. Mix the cocoa powder with a few drops of water to form a thick paste. With a small paintbrush or a toothpick to dot the Chicks with cocoa eyes. Allow them to sit out overnight to dry and set. Store in an airtight plastic container.
(P.S. If the chicks just won’t behave, or if you get tired of trying, pour the whipped “batter” onto the colored sugar in the pan and spread to the thickness you like. Sprinkle more colored sugar on top and let it firm up. Then cut into Easter-type shapes. Won’t be as cute as Peeps, but it’ll taste just as good.)
COLORED SUGAR: Place 2 cups of granulated sugar in a gallon-size zipper type plastic bag. Using a toothpick, place a generous dab of yellow gel food coloring or several drops of liquid food coloring into the bag and seal it. Work the sugar around the coloring by shaking the bag and repeatedly turning it, adding more color if necessary to achieve the desired shade. It will take awhile to fully distribute the color, so be patient and thorough. Sift the sugar once it is the color you want so that any remaining clumps of color can be removed. (Or you could cheat and buy sugar that is already colored. Run it in the food processor or blender if you want a finer texture.)

        The Country Cousin
 Thought for the week: If your life is anything like mine, peace and tranquility are found in extremely rare moments.  So I’ve found the perfect prayer. It goes like this: “I want to thank you, Lord, for being with me so far this day. With your help, I haven’t been impatient, lost my temper, been grumpy, judgmental, or envious of anyone. But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think I will really need Your help then. Amen.”
(This column is written by Shirley Prudhomme of Crivitz. Views expressed are her own and are in no way intended to be an official statement of the opinions of Peshtigo Times editors and publishers. She may be contacted by phone at 715-291-9002 or by e-mail to shirleyprudhommechickadee@yahoo.com.)

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