Country Cousin

Hungry...

Hi Folks!

Keep hoping we’ll get Indian Summer, but it looks like that won’t happen. Winter apparently is here to stay, and isn’t willing to kid around about it. There were snow flakes in the air last night, and who knows what tomorrow will bring?

If the hatches aren’t battened down, best take advantage of every possible minute to “get ‘er done.” Time’s a wastin’! If the storm windows go up without washing, at least heat isn’t going out the windows that they’re on. Sometimes it comes to that!

HONOR THE VETERANS

Veteran’s Day falls on Sunday, Nov. 11. Let us all offer some prayers for the fine men and women who gave of their time, their health and their lives to keep us free. Let us not dishonor them by giving up the fight. Whatever happens, we must keep faith in the American ideals they fought and died for.

ON THE SOAP BOX

SAD TODAY

Half of America is sad today, and the other half is glad. It should be no surprise to readers of this column that Yours Truly is among the sad half. Sad and embarrassed that Americans seem to have turned their backs on the ideals of our Founding Fathers, and indeed on the blessings that have made this a great nation.

But more than sad, terrified.

Terrified that some day we will have to explain to our children what the American Dream once was, and where it has gone.

Terrified that we will have to explain to our Maker why we as a nation turned our backs on Him.

Terrified that in the name of religious and ethnic tolerance we Americans will surrender our rights to honor our Maker as we see fit.

Terrified of what the man will do who sat in the White House and watched - in real time - the torture and death of an American ambassador and did nothing, even refused to send the help they called for when it was only half an hour away.

Terrified of what the man will do who on March 27 of this year promised Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. “After my election, I have more flexibility.’’ And they were talking about the issue of missile defense!

Terrified of living in a nation that re-elected the man who would do these things!

Terrified that God will turn His back on our most blessed nation, since we as a nation seem to have turned our backs on Him.

Realize that the elections are over. What will be will be. It is time for healing, time to soothe the fears, halt the accusations and hopefully move on to better things. Time to hope that those elected are not as bad as some of us think, to pray that they will realize they had only the slimmest majority, and that the other half of America disagrees with some of their goals. Time to pray they will not destroy the things we hold dear.

But the terror, for now, remains. Never, ever, has anyone more sincerely prayed to be wrong!

God bless America!

TURN TO THE SKIES

No matter what we do here on Earth, the sun, moon and stars hopefully will remain in their proper places. Anyone interested in seeing where the stars are and what they are doing is invited to Harmony Arboretum on Thursday, November 8, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. for some star gazing. There will be a free program about stars, constellations, and mythology. Kids can make their own star chart to take home.

Dress warm, and bring some blankets. Harmony Arboretum is located seven miles west of Marinette on Hwy. 64, and then half a mile south on County Road E.

HUNGRY KIDS

Some of us go hungry because we’re dieting. Some today, mainly school kids, are going hungry because someone else thinks they should be dieting.

Wrote last week about the new Federal hot lunch guidelines that have more than a few kids spending their afternoons at school hungry. Others, about half the student body in some districts, have said farewell to a hot meal at noon in favor of carrying lunches from home.

The cutback in the amounts and types of foods served is all part of a plan to slim down America’s population, a pet project of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Promote it, fine! Require it? Just one more Federal intrusion into individual rights.

Districts that don’t comply with the new menu requirements and the time consuming record keeping that goes with it will lose the Federal funding that makes their programs possible, and the kids who need the food most won’t be getting it.

From this writer’s point of view, requiring schools to offer generous amounts of healthy fruits and vegetables is a very good thing. It’s probably good that the ever popular corn dogs will be served seldom in schools if at all. But the severe restrictions on the proteins that are so badly needed by growing bodies borders on evil.

Not all kids are heavy, some can hardly eat enough to keep up with their energy needs.

Under the new rules, which are slated to get even tougher next year, Hot Lunch can serve no more than 8 to 10 ounces of protein a week for kids in grades K-5, 9 to 10 ounces a week for grades 6-8, and 10 to 12 ounces a week for grades 9-12. Repeat, that total is per week, not per meal. That averages roughly two ounces a day for an older student.

An average egg weighs about two ounces. Consider a 1-ounce slice of cheese! A nice size hamburger weighs four ounces - half the week’s allowance - but that will never be a problem because fat limits and calorie restrictions destroy the possibility the kids ever again enjoying a cheese burger or grilled cheese sandwich for hot lunch.

The guidelines allow hot lunch programs to serve only 550 to 650 calories a week to kids in grades K-6 (size of the kid is immaterial). That’s about 110 to 150 calories per lunch! The limits go up to 600 to 700 calories a week for grades six through eight, and 750 to 850 for kids in high school. One Hershey bar with almonds has 230 kcals. A one ounce bag of cheddar potato chips has 160 of them. (Incidentally, the official rules talk about “kcals” but looked it up and found out that’s just a fancy term for a plain old calorie.)

Milk must be served with the meal, whether the youngster wants it or not, but it can only be either unflavored low fat or flavored or unflavored skim. Get that? They allow sweetened, imitation skim milk, with sugars kids don’t need, but not real, nutritious milk with the nutrients kids need to grow strong bones and teeth!

Amounts as small as a quarter ounce of salad dressing count toward the almost zero fat allowed in the meals! Means kids can’t even get the salad dressings they like to make the saltless, butterless vegetables they’re served more palatable.

There is a strict new requirement that all grain products served - breads and pastas - must be made at least partly of whole grains. Not a bad rule, really, but it’s another abrupt change for the kids.

Juices are allowed but restricted. There are no upper limits on fruits or plain vegetables, served without salt or butter, but minimum amounts must be put on every kid’s plate, even if that kid declares he absolutely will not eat it. Hot lunch crews report many of their vegetables end up in the garbage.

Sugar is pretty much restricted by calorie limits that make most desserts off limits, except for maybe a sugar free Jell-O with whipped air topping. That’s possibly good, again except for the wiry, active kids who need that energy to keep going.

Wonder if the folks who drew up those regulations and pushed for their passage follow the guidelines themselves? Now, that might be a good rule!

MONSTER MASH

Halloween is over, but it brought to mind some of the monster hits of years past.

Monsters are supposed to scare people, but some have proven to be pure gold for recording stars, and they seem to have done it without anyone really trying.

Remember the 1958 hit, “Purple People Eater?”

Seems a friend of recording artist Sheb Wooley told him a riddle he had heard from his kid: “What’s purple, has one horn, flies, has one eye and eats people?”

The answer, of course, was, “A one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater.” What else would it be?

Well, Wooley thought the line was catchy, and wrote a song with that theme.

Loved that song as a kid. Used to know all the words, but found out I’d forgotten them, so had to look it up. It went like this:

“Well I saw the thing comin’ out of the sky...It had the one long horn and one big eye...I commenced to shakin’ and I said “ooh-eee”...It looks like a purple eater to me... It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater...(Chorus: One-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater... A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater..Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)

“Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree...I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don’t eat me...I heard him say in a voice so gruff...I wouldn’t eat you cuz you’re so tough (more chorus) I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what’s your line...He said it’s eatin’ purple people and it sure is fine...But that’s not the reason that I came to land...I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band...(A new chorus: “Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin’ purple people eater...Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin’ purple people eater...(We wear short shorts)...Flyin’ purple people eater...Sure looks strange to me!)

“And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground... He started to rock, really rockin’ around...It was a crazy little ditty with a swingin’ tune...Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom...(chorus)

“And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know...I saw him last night on a TV show...He was blowing it out, a’really knockin’ em dead...Playin’ rock and roll music through the horn in his head.”

Wooley recorded the song, and three weeks later it was the Number One single in the U.S.!

That may have been the first of the monster hits, but it wasn’t the last. “Monster Mash,” by Bobby Pickett, was probably the biggest of the monster hits, so big that it hit the charts three times, in 1962, 1970 and 1973.

See how cool we were back then? We knew good music when we heard it. Lots smarter than kids these days!

COOKIN’ TIME

Let the cold winds blow! We can be inside, warming up with hot soup, sipping hot chocolate, coffee and enjoying these luscious treats. Lots of recipes today, because Deer Season and Thanksgiving are coming on, and with them comes the annual gathering of the clans and the feasting that goes with it.

HUNTER’S BREAKFAST

Set this up in the crock pot the night before, and hunters will not need to go hungry into the forest. Serves a dozen burly men very well.

1 bag frozen hash brown potatoes, 32 ounces

1 pound ham, cubed

1 pound bacon, diced, fried and drained*

1 onion, diced

1 green bell pepper diced

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 dozen eggs

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper (more or less to taste)

Dash or two cayenne pepper, optional

Place a layer of frozen potatoes on the bottom of the slow cooker, followed by a layer of bacon, then onions, green pepper, ham and cheese. Repeat the layering process two or three more times, ending with a layer of cheese. Beat the eggs, milk and salt and pepper together. Pour over the crockpot mixture, cover and turn on low. Cook for 10-12 hours.

*Do save the bacon grease. It’s great for American fries, and if you’re cholesterol-phobic, mix it with bird seeds once the bears have all gone to sleep and hang it high in a tree as a treat for our feathered friends.

TUSCAN PASTA AND CHICKPEA SOUP

Here’s a hefty soup for your gourmet hunting party. The guys who aren’t gourmets will love it too! So will the support staff, busy keeping the home fires burning, especially after they get home from a tough day at the Mall.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons marjoram Leaves

1/2 teaspoon rosemary, crushed

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cans (16 ounces each) chickpeas (garbanzo beans),

drained and rinsed

3 1/2 cups chicken stock or soup base

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 cup water

1 cup short macaroni type pasta (alphabets are nice)

1 package (6 ounces) baby spinach or 6 cups sliced spinach

leaves

Herb-Infused Olive Oil (recipe follows)

Heat oil with marjoram, rosemary and garlic in a large sauce pot on medium-low heat until fragrant. Do not allow the garlic to brown. Stir in one can of the chickpeas or garbanzos, stock, tomatoes and water. Bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pasta. Put the other can of chick peas into the blender or food processor and process until smooth, then set aside. Simmer the soup mixture 10 minutes or until the pasta is very nearly done. Add the pureed chick peas and return to a boil, stirring to be sure it doesn’t stick. Add the spinach and cook until it wilts stirring occasionally. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Pass the Herb-Infused Olive Oil to drizzle on to taste.

Herb-Infused Olive Oil: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil, one minced clove garlic, 1 teaspoon each basil leaves and marjoram leaves and a pinch of ground Cayenne (red pepper) in a small saucepan on low heat 5 minutes. Strain through a small sieve into a small bowl or pitcher. Pour into the cruet from a vinegar and oil set if you have one, or serve from the bowl with a teaspoon or a very small ladle.

CARAMEL APPLE STICKY BUNS

No way these easy treats would ever be on the school hot lunch menu under today’s rules, but it’s still legal for you to enjoy them at home. Wonderful treat for deer hunters in for a mid-morning break with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa after several hours in a cold, windy deer stand.

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

2 apples, peeled, cored and grated

14-ounce bag caramels

3/4 cup whipping cream

2 cups pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangular shape about 16x12-inches. Spread butter over top of dough allowing 1/4-inch from edge all around the dough. In a small bowl, mix sugar and apple pie spice. Sprinkle over buttered surface only. Grate apples right over the spice mixture, spread evenly just to the buttered edge. Wet edge with water, then roll into a long tube and pinch ends in press to seal long seam. Cut into slices. Grease a 13x 9-inch baking pan with vegetable spray, and set aside. In a large microwavable bowl, combine caramels and whipping cream. Zap one minute at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring after each minute. After completely melted, stir well. Pour into greased pan. Add pecan halves. Place slices of dough with cut side down on top of pecans. Space evenly to allow room for rolls to rise. Spray a piece of waxed paper with vegetable spray, and place sprayed side down on top of rolls. Let stand in warm place for about 30 minutes, or until doubled. Remove waxed paper and place in preheated oven. Bake 35 minutes,or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 to 10 minutes and then turn rolls out on a serving dish, bottom side up.

Thought for the Week: Lord, our nation has been through some trying times. Do not turn Your back on us. Please help us accept that You know best. Help us all to accept Thy will. Grant our leaders the purity of heart to do what is best for our nation rather than for themselves. Help them move America forward on the paths You have chosen for it, and help us move ourselves forward on the path You have chosen for us. 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 715-927-5034 or by e-mail at shirleyprudhommechickadee@yahoo. com.)

COUNTRY COUSIN

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date Department Headline

05-16-2013 Front Page
Mike, Anita Folgert Are Recipients Of Touhey Award

05-16-2013 Front Page
Predicts New Learning Center Will Be “A Shining Light” For Marinette Schools

05-16-2013 Front Page
Tourism Draws Millions For State, 4 County Area

05-16-2013 Front Page
Water & Sewer Committee Moves Ahead With Loan

05-16-2013 Front Page
Commend City Officer’s Work On Murder Case

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Lorna M. Techmeier

05-16-2013 Obituaries
James R. Schaut

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Nora E. Salewsky

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Ralph R. Runge

05-16-2013 Obituaries
James P. Reindl

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Uta Rasmussen

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Virginia Ellsworth Plier

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Ursula J. Peters

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Walter J. Moucha, Sr.

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Kasimir Melnyk

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Bernadette E. Meek

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Shirley Jean Johnson

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Julie N. Jeske

05-16-2013 Obituaries
George L. Hayden

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Patricia L. Gomber

05-16-2013 Obituaries
James A. Erickson,

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Frank M. Dudek

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Judith A. Carrillo

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Shirley Ann Bishop

05-16-2013 Obituaries
Donald M. Allard

05-16-2013 Sports
Marinette Golfers Win Menominee Meet; Bieberitz Is Medalist

05-16-2013 Sports
Track Regionals To Begin May 20

05-16-2013 Sports
Peshtigo Captures M-O Conference Crowns

05-16-2013 Sports
Coleman Finishes Perfect�Again!

05-16-2013 News
Set Babysitting Class for May 25

05-16-2013 News
Town Peshtigo Sets Cleanup Day

05-16-2013 News
Marinette Legion Brat Fry Dates

05-16-2013 News
Church Dinner, Auction May 19

05-16-2013 Perspectives
From our readers

05-16-2013 Perspectives
Tales from the old-timer

05-16-2013 Perspectives
Country Cousin

05-16-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Grand Germany Tour Sept. 15-24

05-16-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Wausaukee Blood Drive is June 10

05-16-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Wausaukee Memorial Services Slated May 27

05-16-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Wausaukee Students Help Plant Nursery Stock Trees

05-16-2013 Community - Crivitz
Jeff Diges Memorial Bike Run June 29, Hold Pool Tourney

05-16-2013 Community - Crivitz
TB Rescue Bake, Rummage Sale

05-16-2013 Community - Crivitz
Co. Elderly Golf Scramble July 12

05-16-2013 Community - Crivitz
Crivitz Sister Cities Future On Line At May 22 Meeting

05-16-2013 Community - Coleman
Coleman High School Graduation is June 1

05-16-2013 Community - Coleman
2 Top Coleman Seniors

05-16-2013 Community - Coleman
Fine Art Nite at Coleman School

05-16-2013 Community - Coleman
Coleman Services for Memorial Day

05-08-2013 Front Page
Marinette Police Memorial To Officers Lost In Duty

05-08-2013 Front Page
City Adopts New Sewer Rates, Fire Dept. Fees

05-08-2013 Front Page
Co. Move Toward Medical Examiner Model Rejected

05-08-2013 Front Page
Centenarian Marks Birthday May 5th

05-08-2013 Front Page
Folgerts Chosen For Touhey Award Recipients

05-08-2013 Front Page
Million Dollar Bail Set In Homicide Case

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Irene Zoellner

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Lila V. Tippett

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Clarence E. Treptow

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Dennis L. Tachick

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Roger K. Schiefelbein

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Sharon A. Ronan

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Robert Ranallo, Sr.

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Jerry Rakowski

05-08-2013 Obituaries
James Prefontaine

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Spencer B. Patz

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Lila E. Miller

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Patricia Mathey

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Helen J. Lemery

05-08-2013 Obituaries
William H. Keller

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Alice Johnson

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Ronald Cedric Henning

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Algin T. Hendricksen

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Paul G. Grunwald

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Cheryl Lynn Gallo

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Gyneth Gadtzke

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Crystal Ann Gabriel

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Curtis P. Frank, Sr.

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Della A. DeStarkey

05-08-2013 Obituaries
Daniel P. Barney

05-08-2013 News
Girl Scout Carnival at Peshtigo June 2

05-08-2013 News
5th Annual EMS 5K Walk/Run

05-08-2013 News
Brazeau Annual Fundraiser July 27

05-08-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Wagner Board Meets May 14

05-08-2013 Community - Wausaukee
SC Fire, Rescue Auxiliary May 13

05-08-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Lions To Clean Hwy. 180 May 11

05-08-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Legion Post 66 Meeting May 11

05-08-2013 Community - Crivitz
CHS 5K Run/ Walk is June 1

05-08-2013 Community - Crivitz
Legion Trap 22

05-08-2013 Community - Crivitz
Middle Inlet Plans for Memorial Day

05-08-2013 Community - Crivitz
Middle Inlet Plans 33rd Annual Reunion

05-08-2013 Community - Coleman
Area Cadets at State Challenge Academy

05-08-2013 Community - Coleman
Parkway Ladies Start

05-08-2013 Community - Coleman
Comins Graduates Basic

05-08-2013 Community - Coleman
Graduates Basic

05-08-2013 Sports
Wausaukee Golfers Win 9-Hole M-O Tournament

05-08-2013 Sports
Bulldogs Grab M-O Lead

05-08-2013 Sports
Marines Shine At Home Invite

05-08-2013 Sports
Coleman Clinches M-O Title Share

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Patricia J. Waschbisch

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Bessie Riley

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Russell D. Thurow

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Anne Schumacher

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Janette B. Perry

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Marilyn Mc Keefry

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Timothy J. Lynch

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Donald J. Kubiak

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Marilyn Mc Keefry

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Reino L. Lampinen

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Lonnie L. Kasbaum

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Dave Gajeski

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Gyneth I. Gatzke

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Virgil L. Erdman

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Albert J. Demers

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Bernard L. Courchaine

05-02-2013 Obituaries
David Campbell

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Roy Bylund

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Dale P. Bundy

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Gerda M. Barrick

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Antoinette A. Bacon

05-02-2013 Obituaries
Bonnie R. Artz

05-02-2013 Front Page
Peshtigo Woman Murdered

05-02-2013 Front Page
Crivitz High School Ranks 22 in Survey

05-02-2013 Front Page
Heyer Changes Plea in Murder

05-02-2013 Front Page
City Parks, Recreation Director Marquardt Takes County Job

05-02-2013 Front Page
Public Hearing On 4 Ordinances Precedes May 7 Council Meet

05-02-2013 Perspectives
From our readers

05-02-2013 Perspectives
Tales from the old-timer

05-02-2013 Perspectives
Country Cousin

05-02-2013 Sports
Oconto Falls Girls Dominate Invite

05-02-2013 Sports
Suring Cruises To Track Sweep; Cops 22 1st Place Marks

05-02-2013 Sports
Bulldog Booster Bash On May 4

05-02-2013 Sports
Coleman Improves To 6-0

05-02-2013 News
Walking Club To Paddle on River

05-02-2013 News
Pound Senior Club Meeting is May 6

05-02-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Car, Lightning Cause Outages

05-02-2013 Community - Wausaukee
SC Fire, Rescue Auxiliary May 13

05-02-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Ladies Luncheon at Assembly Church

05-02-2013 Community - Wausaukee
Eight Wausaukee Music Students Advance to State

05-02-2013 Community - Crivitz
Crivitz High School 2013 Graduation Ceremony May 18

05-02-2013 Community - Crivitz
OWI Task Force Town of Stephenson

05-02-2013 Community - Crivitz
List Theme for July 4th Parade

05-02-2013 Community - Crivitz
CYI Summer Youth Programs

05-02-2013 Community - Coleman
Smarter Than 5th Grader at Coleman

05-02-2013 Community - Coleman
Pound Senior Club Meeting is May 6

05-01-2013 Front Page
Suspect Will Face Homicide Charges In Marinette County

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Roger C. Winter

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Alfred W. Weissgerber

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Josephine H. VandenBush

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Julius Torzala

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Anna Szkolny

04-25-2013 Obituaries
Sylvin J. Steffes