Vote on Tuesday, Feb. 21 - Country Cousin

By: 
Shirley Prudhomme

Could it really be Spring already? Forecasters are predicting another 10 days of temperatures well above normal here and in other parts of the Great Lakes region. It’s only half past February, and we’ve had a couple of days of rain that stayed just that...rain. Car windshields were frosty some mornings during the past week, but there was no ice falling from the sky, and no ice freezing on roads. Incredible! Wonder if it will last, or if we’ll pay later.

High temperatures in the next week are predicted to hover from the high 20s to the low 40s on Saturday and Sunday, and no snow or rain are predicted for the next week.  Not good for ice fishermen, skiers or snowmobile enthusiasts, but great for people like me, who can no longer stand the cold.

SPECIAL DAYS
Wednesday, Feb. 22 is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which means Easter is just six weeks off. In New Orleans, folks are busy celebrating Mardi Gras.

Also on Feb. 22 we should be celebrating the birthday of our nation’s first and greatest President, George Washington. He led us to victory over the British, and he could have been king, but he declined that honor in favor of keeping the newly freed nation the constitutional Republic that he helped plan.

George Washington did not want to be a king, and after eight years as President returned to private life. He did recognize He who is king, and asked His blessings on the new nation that was embarking on a model of government not seen on this earth before. Wish we had him, or someone like him, as a role model today.

Many statements, stories, quotes and prayers have been mis-attributed to Washington, but this one seems to check out as genuine:

“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity.”

They’ve taken his day off the calendars in favor of President’s Day, which salutes all presidents, good and bad, so it means nothing. Let’s hope teachers in classrooms across the land give their students some information about George Washington, and honor him on Thursday, even though he did not really cut down that cherry tree with his little hatchet.

George Washington may not have been perfect, he may not have been a saint, but he was the man this nation needed, willing to sacrifice his life and fortune if necessary to set us free of the English despots of the day. He was a leader of the incredible men who gave this nation the best form of government the world has ever seen.

OUTDOOR JOBS
If you or someone you know is hoping for an outdoor carer, now might be the time to get started. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now hiring seasonal staff for Wisconsin’s state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas.

These limited-term seasonal positions are responsible for outdoor maintenance, groundskeeping work and customer service for property visitors. Recruitment for these positions is underway now for work that starts in the spring and early summer through late summer and fall, with some flexibility depending on availability and property need.

Every year, the DNR recruits about 400 seasonal employees to work at state properties during the summer season. Ideal applicants enjoy working in scenic landscapes, maintaining pristine natural resources and serving all the people who visit them.

According to the DNR, “...working for Wisconsin state properties provides wonderful opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation, from wild and remote campsites to developed family and group campgrounds, beaches, boat launches, visitor and interpretive centers, and trails. The experiences gained from these seasonal positions are not only invaluable to starting a long-term career in natural resources, but they also create life-long memories.”

Positions are available across the state, from the forests of northern Wisconsin to the islands and shores of the Great Lakes. For more information, or to apply, visit  and search “Parks.”

ON THE SOAP BOX
VOTE ON FEB. 21

There is only one contest on the ballot in TIMESLand for the primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 21, but it is an extremely important one, and anyone who really cares about things like the right to life, freedom to keep and bear arms and other Constitutional rights should study the candidates and then go vote. Anyone who supports abortion, gun control, and other “woke” issues also should vote their conscience.

It is possible that the two winners on Feb. 21 could be of the same political persuasion - in other words, either both conservative or both liberals, so there would in effect be no real choice in the final voting on April 4, when the contest is to select the two final candidates to be on the April 4 ballot to win a 10-year term as a Justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be settled.

The outcome of that race will determine whether or not the highest court in Wisconsin will remain balanced between liberal and conservative views, with a tilt toward conservative, or if the tilt will be in favor of liberals.

The two Justice candidates backed by liberals (Democrats) are Dane County Court Judge Everett Mitchell and Milwaukee County Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz. The two supported by conservatives (Republicans) are Waukesha County Court Judge Jennifer Dorow and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly.

Only two of the candidates will be on the ballot for the April 4 election, so if you care about keeping the Wisconsin Supreme Court balanced, take the time and trouble to vote on Tuesday, even though there is only one contest to be settled.

LENTEN IDEAS
Many of us give up something for Lent, and encourage our children to do the same.

Want to start a family tradition that will make giving something up (like candy) more fun, and make Lent more meaningful?

Prepare to make an Easter Tree. Cut or buy one of those bare bark birch-looking trees and stand it up securely in a tub of potting soil or something else that will keep it sturdy.

Cut strips of different-colored pastel construction paper into the proper size and shape for making a chain, like the old-fashioned chains some of us used to make for our Christmas trees. Put them into a basket, preferably an Easter basket. Have some Elmer’s tacky glue handy.

Then cut some of the paper into egg shapes, and punch holes for string from which they will hang. Glitter pens would be great to decorate them.

Each evening during Lent, let the children (and their parents) write on an egg or chain link a very brief petition, thanks or offering. Examples of petitions might be “peace,” “patience”, “pass the test”, “new Job,” whatever.

Or if your Lent includes giving up candy, for example, write “no candy - Feb. 28.” If you failed in your resolve, you don’t get to make a link.

Add links to the prayer chain each evening and there should be quite a respectable chain come Easter.

Perhaps once a week the youngsters could decorate a cutout egg or two, or a blown-out egg shell. Then on Good Friday decorate the Easter tree with all the prayers, thanks, and sacrifices of Lent.

And it’s not too early to start blowing eggs so there’ll be a plentiful supply of empty shells for the Easter tree and other Easter decorating projects. With the price of eggs these days, that could be a good way to give the kids plenty of eggs shells to color without breaking the budget.

SPARKLING GLASSWARE
With Easter approaching, you may be feeling a need to get your glassware sparkling. To do so, wash the precious pieces  by hand and add a few drops of laundry bluing to the suds. You could add ammonia instead, but in that case be sure the dishwashing detergent does not contain bleach.

In either case, once washed, rinse thoroughly with cool water and allow the items to air dry on their own.

When washing delicate glassware and fine china or cut glass, use a dishpan and a drying rack made of plastic or rubber. Put a rubber collar around the faucet and place a rubber mat or a folded thick towel in the bottom of the sink.

To remove coffee and tea stains from china dishware, rinse cups in a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to three parts water. If the stain is stubborn, let the mixture stand in the cup overnight.

The above tip applies also to china that’s become yellowed from age, but for that, the soaking is mandatory.

COOKIN’ TIME
Lent has traditionally been a time when we do some fasting and abstinence, and that for many Catholics includes eating no meat on Wednesdays or Fridays. Have often wondered why that is considered a sacrifice, when many of the fish and seafood recipes are so delicious.

RAGOUT OF ASPARAGUS
 This soup or stew would be a great Lenten meal with some crusty bread, or as a starter to a meatless dinner. The recipe, created by culinary historian Nancy Carter Crump for the book, “Dining with the Washingtons”, is said to be adapted from a dish that was a favorite in George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon.
Fresh asparagus is on sale at the supermarket this week, so we can enjoy a taste of Spring, serve some healthy vegetables, save our budgets, and honor the man who refused to be king, all at the same time.
3 pounds asparagus
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
2 Belgian endives, trimmed and thinly sliced lengthwise
1 small head soft-leaf lettuce, such as Bibb or Boston, cored
and shredded
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken stock (preferably homemade)
Wash and trim the asparagus and cut it into about 1” pieces on the diagonal. Bring about 2 cups water to boil over medium heat. Add the asparagus, reduce the heat, and simmer until the asparagus is barely tender. Drain thoroughly, but save the cooking water. Cover the cooked asparagus and set it aside to keep warm. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and endives, cooking for 5 to 7 minutes until they begin to soften. Stir in the lettuce, salt, and pepper, and continue cooking until the vegetables are just tender. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables, and stir to blend well. Gradually add the stock, stirring until it begins to simmer and thickens slightly. Simmer for about 10 minutes, adding some of the asparagus cooking water if it gets too thick. Add the asparagus, reserving a few of the tips for garnish, and heat until warmed.
BIG GRANDMA’S SALMON LOAF
This salmon loaf is wonderfully moist, almost more like a pate, but it does hold its shape. It’s full of good for you things that make it almost a meal of its own. Makes a large batch, two loaves unless you have a very large loaf pan. We love it cold on sandwiches almost as much as hot with creamed peas, tartar sauce or dilly cucumber sauce.
2 cans salmon
1 can tuna in oil
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup sliced green onion (optional)
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional but good
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs (or coarse cracker crumbs)
5 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open salmon and dump into a bowl. Do not drain. Pick over the salmon, removing all the yucky skin and off-colored parts of the meat. Feed those to the cat. Pick out the bones and eat them yourself. They’re full of calcium. Chop vegetables in the food processor to make the task easy. Beat the eggs. Add the vegetables, eggs, lemon pepper and lemon juice undrained tuna, and mayo to the salmon. Mix. Then mix in the bread or cracker crumbs. (It’s a good idea to chop the crumbs in the food processor before you do the vegetables, and then beat the eggs in it after the veggies. Saves dishes and makes things easier to clean.) Butter one large or two regular loaf pans and put in the salmon mixture. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size of the loaf. The loaf will start to brown slightly around the edges and pull away a bit from the pan when it’s done. Test with a butter knife to be sure. If the blade comes out lean the loaf is done.
CUCUMBER SAUCE
This sauce couldn’t be much easier. If you’re making this with the salmon loaf, process enough celery and green onion tops for the sauce first, before you use the machine for crumbs, eggs, etc. to prepare the salmon loaf. Refrigerate them until you mix up the sauce.
3/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon finely minced green onion, tops only
1/2 cup grated cucumber
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Dash ground cayenne pepper
Large pinch of dried dill weed
Peel the cuke before grating if it’s waxed. Otherwise, it’s your choice to peel or not. Combine all ingredients; chill. Serve with cooked fish or salmon patties. Makes about 1 cup.
MICROWAVE FISH FILLETS
This is almost too easy. If you’re just cooking for yourself, use only enough fish for one person and cut cooking time accordingly. Perfect way to prepare a nourishing and satisfying meal for one or two. As printed, the recipe serves four.
4 slices fish (perhaps whitefish, trout, salmon or halibut)
Lemon pepper
Salt to taste
Paprika
Garlic powder
Butter (optional)
Lemon wedges
Put fish in a buttered microwave safe dish and sprinkle lightly with seasonings on all sides. Cover and refrigerate for half an hour or more, even over night . Microwave, covered, for about nine minutes for servings, perhaps four five for one serving. Depends on the microwave. Check with a fork to see if the fish flakes and is almost opaque. If so, it’s done. Let stand, covered, for another five minutes. Serve with lemon wedges, or if you’re not restricting fats, dip in melted butter with some lemon squeezed in. A bit of parsley added to the mix is good too.
CREAMY CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARS
Cherry desserts are called for this week in honor of George Washington, even though he really did not cut down that cherry tree.
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package (2-layer size) devil’s food cake mix
2 eggs, divided
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips, melted
1 ounce white chocolate or chocolate chips, melted
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter, cake mix and 1 egg in large bowl with mixer until crumbly. Reserve 3/4 cup crumb mixture; press remaining onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 10 minutes. While the base bakes, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until blended. Add remaining egg and mix well. After the crust is baked spread the  cream cheese mixture over it, and then cover that with pie filling and top with the reserved crumb mixture. Bake 45 minutes  or until the center is set and crumb topping is lightly browned. Cool completely. Refrigerate 30 minutes and then drizzle with the two kinds of melted chocolate, and if you want to, garnish with sifted powdered sugar. As an alternative, sprinkle the top o the baked brownies with white and dark chocolate chips as soon as they come out of the oven and swirl the chocolate around a bit as they melt.

Thought for the week: He who kneels before God can stand before anyone. Lord, particularly during this Lenten season, let me kneel before You, putting Your commands before my desires, and listening to the thoughts You will place in my heart. Please guide me safely through the perils of life, shielded by Your strong arms. Amen.
Country Cousin

(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.)

Category:

Subscriber Login