Country Cousin

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Hi Folks!

November is only four days old, but do believe it already can boast more sunshine than we enjoyed during the whole month of October.

Looked up some National Weather Service figures, and learned that here in northeastern Wisconsin during October we had six days of heavy rain, 16 days with light rain or drizzle and three days with light snow. Doesn’t leave much time for sunshine, does it?

There were 21 days with fog and five days with haze, though what the difference is no one has explained. Anyway, the combination of rain and fog adds up to more than 31 days, so must assume some were counted twice.

The charts show a total of five to six inches of rain fell on TIMESland during October, two to three inches more than normal, with variances depending on just where the rainfall was measured. The official rainfall at Green Bay was 5.16 inches. That’s pretty close to a new record. The most rain ever officially recorded during October was 5.4 inches, back in 1886. Maybe our time of drought here in The Real North is over.

We didn’t have it so bad though. Up in Mercer, which is in Iron County, six inches of snow fell on Friday, Oct. 23!

HARVEST MOON

We’re lucky it was clear on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when those fortunate enough to have an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon were treated to a bright, beautiful, golden Harvest Moon.

Anyone on the Green Bay shoreline in Marinette or the Town of Peshtigo just after sunset Tuesday should have had a spectacular view of that special once-a-year full moon, but they would have needed to be watching from a vantage point high enough to see over the phragmites. Maybe a second story window?

SOMETHING NEW

We’ve often heard the adage, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” and that may be true, although new discoveries do keep coming along. But in this case the new discoveries are under other suns.

A group of European astronomers recently announced finding 32 new planets orbiting stars outside our solar system, and have said they believe that 40 per cent or more of sun-like stars have such planets.

The planets they found range in size from about five times the size of Earth to about five times the size of Jupiter. The latest discoveries bring the total of known “exoplanets” to about 400.

Many astronomers believe other solar systems in our vast Universe have Earthlike planets that may harbor life.

Problem is, considering that the closest star is 40 light years away, you can’t get there from here.

On the other hand, a few hundred years ago all but the most foolish believed Man would never be able to fly!

The notion that sounds would be projected over nothing but air was foolish prattle.

Certainly transmitting pictures through the air or over wires would have been looked upon as witchcraft.

And Columbus was jailed for promoting the heretical notion that the world was round.

MOON TALK

Speaking of the quest for knowledge of the sun, moon, stars and related objects, the American Miscellaneous Society, interested in a “Mole Hole Project” of drilling through the crust of the earth into elemental rock, allegedly has as a motto: “The ocean’s bottom is at least as important as the moon’s behind.”

ON THE SOAP BOX

RECYCLE THAT TV!

We should all be relieved to know, in this time of economic crisis, that our Wisconsin lawmakers have not let concerns about the finances hinder them from saving the environment at the expense of electronics manufacturers and Wisconsin wage earners.

On Friday, Oct. 23, Gov. Jim Doyle signed a new law, effective Jan. 1, 2010, that prohibits landfilling of electronic devices such as computers, television sets, printers, etc. that are used in Wisconsin households and K-12 public schools.

The cash-strapped DNR has scheduled a total of four “public stakeholders” meetings in the state to tell people how to recycle those products. Right now, no one seems to know, but a news release on the DNR site tells us it will all be taken care of. Just how, they do not explain.

Of course, none of us needs to worry. The law makes manufacturers responsible for financing and ensuring the the mandatory recycling of these and other electronic devices within the state, with the amount based on the weight of CEDs that manufacturer sells to Wisconsin households and K-12 public schools.

Another good reason for them to stay in Wisconsin and keep providing jobs and paychecks for Wisconsin residents, right?

Congrats, lawmakers! You’ve done it again!

Incidentally, Sen. Mark Miller of Monona is the man mostly responsible for this irresponsible piece of legislation. Thanks a lot, Senator!

Wonder who’ll be left to pay taxes once lawmakers have driven all the industry out of our state?

Incidentally, the same lawmakers who passed along so many new taxes (many in the disguise of fees and surcharges on things like electric and telephone bills) in our most recent Wisconsin budget while cutting aids to schools and local municipalities, found a way to build in incentives (grants) for recycling electronics in rural communities, and to pay for the new program.

Of course, the law will create a few new jobs to replace the ones it will take away, mainly by increasing the ranks of the DNR.

Manufacturers, collectors, retailers and recyclers of electronic devices are all regulated under the bill, and all except retailers must register with the DNR. Retailers are allowed to only sell devices produced by registered manufacturers, so that means Wisconsinites will probably pay more for their devices unless they buy them out of state.

To learn more about registration requirements, along with requirements for local governments and retailers to help disseminate their propaganda, see the Wisconsin Senate site on the web.

Too bad we didn’t hear more about this project before it was signed into law!

DO NOT DISTURB

There’s a story going round that the principal of an elementary school (in the state of Washington) periodically escapes to the school cafeteria, where the cooks keep a pot of coffee brewing for him.

When occasionally his secretary joins him, a sixth-grade girl is given charge of the office with instructions to take any messages and not divulge that the principal is having a coffee break. She was told it sounds more professional to say, “The principal is in another part of the building.” She was also told that he should not be disturbed while on break.

The system worked well until a neighboring school head, unable to reach the either principal or his secretary, insisted that one of them be brought to the phone. The girl, remembering her instructions, replied, “Oh, no! When the principal and his secretary go to another part of the building, they can’t be disturbed by anyone.”

FUN SPORT

There’s going to be a donkey basketball game starting at 2 p.m. at Crivitz High School on Sunday, Nov. 8 - two of them in fact. One pits a Crivitz Fire and Rescue team against Coleman Fire and Rescue and the next will find “Farm and Family” competing against whoever comes along to challenge them. The event is a benefit for Mike Dudkiewicz of Crivitz, who has some serious (and costly) health issues.

They aren’t kidding about the donkeys. They are real, and they are live.

Once, as a youngster, I got to see a real donkey basketball game, and it was hilarious. The riders want to go toward their basket, but sometimes the donkeys don’t. If I recall correctly, at the game I attended one of the players even dismounted and carried his steed!

To make it a full day, start out with the all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the school, also part of the benefit.

GREEN CLEAN

Save money, and the environment, by replacing pricey household cleaning products with homemade versions right off your pantry shelf.

Scour the kitchen sink with inexpensive baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth.

To get rid of soap scum in the bath tub and on the shower stall, wipe the surfaces with vinegar. Let it rest a few minutes, but not long enough to dry. Then wipe it off with - you guessed it - baking soda sprinkled on a cloth. Rinse well and and that tub will shine. Don’t forget the chrome fixtures!

Never run the dishwasher until it’s full, but have a hard time dealing with the smell while those dishes accumulate? Keep the odors at bay by sprinkling a handful of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher before you start accumulating dishes for the next run. Let that same baking soda replace the dishwasher detergent you would have used in the first dispenser cup, but fill the second cup as usual, and run it through the regular cycle. If you’re out of rinsing agent, or just don’t want to use it, add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle.

COOKIN’ TIME

Hunting season is fast approaching. Some of the men will go to deer camp, where generally one or two in the group will be assigned cooking chores. Other households in The Real North will swell as the clans gather for the annual Deer Season/Thanksgiving holidays. Either way, the season calls for lots of good food, easily prepared.

BEEF ‘N’ DUMPLINGS

Go ahead. Let them think you slaved all day. If you prefer to turn on the oven, prepare this in a heavy cast iron pan, put the biscuits on top and bake in a 450 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the top is nicely browned. This gives more of pot pie dish. Cooked with a tight fitting cover on atop the stove as directed, the biscuits are dumpling-like. Either way, they are delicious with the gravy.

1 pound ground beef

2 teaspoons instant minced onion

1 can beef gravy (10 1/2 ounces)

1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon pepper, or more

1/2 teaspoon celery salt, or to taste

1 package frozen vegetables (10 ounces)

1 package refrigerated biscuits (6 biscuits)

1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

In a 10-inch heavy skillet with a tight fitting cover brown meat with the onion. Drain off excess fat. Add gravy, water, salt and pepper and frozen vegetables. Stir to break up the vegetables and distribute them throughout the mixture. Bring to boiling, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. lay the biscuits on top, replace the cover and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top and heat until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with paprika if desired. Serves four, but only if they’re not growing boys or hungry hunters in from the woods. Go ahead and scatter some flour around the kitchen if you want them to think you worked really hard at this.

STICKY BUNS

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 cup broken pecans

1 package refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Put the butter into an 8-inch round pan and put into the oven until the butter melts. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon. Stir into the butter. If necessary, return to the oven until the sugar melts. Sprinkle on the pecans, and put the separated biscuits on top of them. Bake for about 15 minutes or until done. Let stand 5 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Let the pan stay on top upside down for a minute or two so all the nice gooey syrup runs down onto the rolls. Remove the pan, and serve warm.

ECONOMICAL BUTTER SPREAD FOR SANDWICHES

Want the flavor of butter, and the health benefits of a lower fat spread with no imitation ingredients? This old trick for literally making the butter spread farther will benefit both your heart and your food budget. Don’t use it for cooking, though, just for spreading on bread.

Experiment also by adding herbs and flavorings to suit your taste or to compliment whatever fillings will be on your sandwiches, for example mustard for ham or egg salad sandwiches; basil, oregano and garlic salt to go with Italian Beef; cinnamon, orange marmalade or your favorite preserves to serve with fruit/nut breads.

1/2 lb. butter

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoon gelatin, soften in 1/4 cup cold water 5

minutes

Variation: 1/4 cup cold water and 3/4 cup evaporated milk may be substituted for fresh milk.

Let butter stand at room temperature to soften; cream with wooden spoon. Gradually blend 1/3 cup milk, salt and gelatin in top of a double boiler and heat over boiling water to dissolve gelatin; add remaining milk and heat to lukewarm. When slightly cooled, stir into softened butter, a little at a time, and whip with a rotary beater after each addition. Blend thoroughly, pack into a butter-dish, cover tightly and keep in the refrigerator.

APPLE CINNAMON BREAD

Easy to make, and holds up well in the freezer. Make several loaves now, while apples are readily available, wrap well and then freeze so they’re ready to serve or give during the Holidays, provided they last that long. This recipe makes three regular size loaves.

5-1/3 cups flour

4 cups sugar

8 apples, peeled and chopped

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 cups Crisco oil

4 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. salt

4 tsp. vanilla

8 eggs

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Topping:

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients (except the topping) by hand in a very large bowl. Divide half the batter between three well-greased 3 x 8-inch bread pans. Do not level the surface. Mix the cinnamon and sugar for the topping and sprinkle on batter in the half-filled loaf pans. Pour in the rest of the batter, and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon and sugar on top. Bake for about 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Thought For the Week: Keep smiling, and spread cheer and acceptance and love wherever you can. As Mother Teresa said, “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” And another philosopher observed, “The only measure of your worth and your deeds will be the love you leave behind when you’re gone.”

COUNTRY COUSIN

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