My Thanksgiving Guilty Pleasure

Ok, everyone has there favorite Thanksgiving related dish be it the mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, homemade stuffing, cheesy green beans, seven-layer salad or cranberry salad. For me, it is the green bean casserole.

Making enough food to feed a crowd with intentions of leftovers is always an effort made by those of us who indulge in preparing a full spread of these comfort foods. And I am no different.

Cooking for six this year, we had a good amount of leftovers. When the wide array of dishes were served up a second time, the green bean casserole was nowhere to be found.

It was strategically hidden within a secondary refrigerator, on purpose. Yes, it is true. My beloved green bean casserole is showcased only one time … at the initial feast.

This is done so I can HOG the delightful concoction all to myself at home in the quiet of my kitchen. I wait until alone and scoop up a small plateful and microwave it for exactly two minutes. It is then smothered in ketchup and stirred into a mash before I snuggle in seated in front of the television with nothing but my plate of leftover green bean casserole and a fork … Mmm-mmM!

My very own Thanksgiving guilty pleasure. But this ritual is only effective once per year. If it is duplicated during the calendar year when it isn’t Thanksgiving, it just isn’t quite the same. It loses something somehow, like something is missing. Hmmmm.

Green Bean Casserole RECIPE:

3/4 Cup milk

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 – can cream of mushroom soup

2 – cans green beans, drained

1 1/3 Cup French’s french fried onions

1 tsp. soy sauce

In a 1.5 quart casserole, mix all ingredients except 2/3 Cup french fried onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot. Top with remaining french fried onions and bake 5 minutes longer or until onions brown. Serves six.

(I double this, of course.)

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

This is one of my tried-and-true favorites. They are a bit of work, but oh so worth it.

To make Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas:

2 Cups chopped, cooked chicken

1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles

2 Tbs butter or margarine

1/8 Cup flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 Cup chicken broth

3/4 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

1/2 Cup sour cream

3/4 Cup grated cheddar, mozzeralla or monterey jack cheese

6 (12-inch) flour or corn tortillas

HOW TO MAKE:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine chicken and green chiles, set aside.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and salt; cook for two minutes. Add chicken broth all at once cook until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Add bouillon granules and cook additional two minutes.

Remove mixture from heat. Stir in sour cream and cheese (reserve 1/4 Cup). Stir 1/2 Cup sauce into chicken-chile mixture. Dip each tortilla into remaining sauce then fill with 1/4 Cup chicken-chile mixture. Burrito wrap or toll tortilla tightly and place seam-side down in rectangle baking dish.

Pour remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Serves six.

The Peters’ Corn Salsa Recipe

To make The Peters’ Corn Salsa:

1 bag of frozen white corn

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (or 1/2 depending on size) red onion, chopped

1/4 cup (0r more) of cilantro, chopped

2 Tbs. red wine vinegar

2 Tbs. olive oil

3 Tbs. lime juice

Combine and let sit a bit to thaw corn. Serve with tortilla chips.

 

Capitol Christmas Tree 2009

The nation’s “People’s Christmas Tree” was selected from the White Mountains within the boundaries of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the northeastern part of Arizona. It is the first time in U.S. history Arizona has gifted the tree destined to grace the grounds of the White House in Washington, D.C. during the holiday season.

The tree travelled through Lake Havasu City today along its tour through the state … and I was there.

A true Christmas and holiday fanatic, I was panicked and nearly heartbroken today at the thought I would not be in town to welcome the 70-some-foot tree into town. You see, I was assigned to attend a county supervisors meeting in Kingman (YAWN).

To my delight, the tree was still on our main street and by luck I was able to spend a quick minute during my lunch hour.

The unique experience of climbing the four or five steps to peer into the truck and seeing the tip of the tree and its giantness resting as if sleeping on its way across America left me feeling somehow honored, prideful and humbled  all at once. THIS was a really special tree.

The tree is scheduled to arrive in the nation’s capitol Nov. 30. By then, it will have stopped in about 26 communities in Ariz. as well as single stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland before it is presented to Congress.

According to Capitol Christmas Tree 2009’s Web site, the tree is taller than a seven-story building, and will be delivered with 10,000 handcrafted ornaments made by children in Arizona as well as 80 companion trees that will be placed in offices throughout the captiol.

The tree itself is believed to be 125 years old — that means its was growing for 28 years BEFORE Arizona was even a state. It was truly a part of the LAST of the real Wild West … Wow … (Arizona became the 48th state in the Union February 14, 1912.)

In January 2010, the tree will be chipped into mulch and used throughout the Capitol Complex landscape projects.

So, I am left marked. The experience is something I will not soon forget. In the words of ol’ St. Nick: “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

(Today’s News-Herald’s freelance photographer was assigned to attend the event. She reported the tree as over 80-foot in length. Check out the short story on the newspaper’s Web site for a few more details.)

“One Thousand White Women – The Journals of May Dodd” by Jim Fergus

This historical novel is set in the untamed plains of 1874 and begins with a woman being placed into a psych home by her family because she ran away to have children with a man they believed was beneath her station.

While detained in the looney bin, she learned of an unusual program that could eventually earn her the freedom that was so casually taken from her.

The program was a Cheyenne chief’s request for 1,000 white women to breed among the natives in trade for 1,000 horses. According to the book, this proposal is logged in actual U.S. government history, however, was dismissed and brushed under the rug of time. The novel is a spin on the fictional reality of the trade.

In the story, women from psychiatric wards were considered prime candidates for the adventure and if the women followed through and bore the fruit of their new native husbands, there freedom would be restored after a time.

The story is told in a series of fictional jounals, May Dodd’s journals. The entries are thoughtfully woven all the way through and tie nicely into a truly unexpected ending.

May Dodd befriends other women who share her situation during the journey into the untamed plains the wild Cheyenne called home. Along the way, she has an unlikely romanctic indiscretion with an Army captain on the eve before her new life. Little does she know it will carry through the rest of her days.

May Dodd faces many challenges while finding her place in the foreign community that include camping-type conditions in an overcrowded teepee, a sexual attack on the plains by a drunken half-breed and an erotic wedding night mating ceremony. She and the other white brides later learn the terrifying effects of alcohol on their native community.

As the months pass children begin being born to the handful of white women who have stuck out the agreement. For reasons I will not disclose here, May Dodd finds herself in a compromising position when her own child is born.

Near the end, May Dodd faces an ultimate decision to stand with one foot in the white man’s world and a life she once knew or to honor her place in the native life she has grown into.

The structure of this book’s storyline is unique, fresh and inspiring especially to someone like me (who loves creative writing).

In a word, clever, to say the least.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream

Ummm, yum … I tried Scoops’ in-house creation of homemade Pumpkin Cheesecake ice cream yesterday while on a married date with my husband in Lake Havasu City.

The old-style soda fountain novelty ice cream parlor began making its own ice cream in August and has since added Mudshark Skyline beer ice cream, Banana Chocolate Crunch, Coconut Pineapple and Cappucino Crunch ice cream to their 20 or so selections.

The Cappucino Crunch is delish to say the least. But, I must say, it will be a toss up between the Pumpkin Cheesecake and Cappucino Crunch frozen treats the next time I stop in. Of course assuming they haven’t ventured to add another brilliant flavor to the mix I will probably find irresistable and worth a taste.

I was in the ice cream shoppe last month while preparing to write a short story about the new beer ice cream concoction that married ice cream with a popular microbrewery’s stout beer.

Today's News-Herald Photo -- Scoops owner Dennis Rudin fills a container with beer ice cream Oct. 14, 2009 in Lake Havasu City

I was lucky enough to sample a handful of the latest handcrafted flavors much to my delight. The spot in a new favorite for me in regard to the married dates I make sure my husband takes me on every so often. It is a completely affordable date and we really enjoy the 1950s atmosphere of the place.

The local owners have the shoppe set up on facebook, myspace and twitter. For more information visit Scoops Web site.

Christmas come early in LHC

I noticed Lake Havasu City has recently adorned Wheeler Park (and the police department) with several Christmas wreaths in anticipation of the upcoming season. 

Christmas wreaths line the fence at Wheeler Park in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Nov. 5

I noticed wreaths decorating Lake Havasu City Police Department Nov. 8, 2009

 

Wreaths hanging at the Aquatic Center Nov. 9, 2009 in Lake Havasu City

Oh, how excited I was in early Oct. when I noticed our local Kmart had begun to set up their Christmas decor displays for the season. I just LOVE this time of year. The early-bird signs just allows me a few extra moments of holiday cheer. 

Of course, not everyone agrees with me.

I know of one girl in town, a real bah-humbug, who literally will write and send nasty letters to the department heads of large businesses this time of year chewing them out for forcing Christmas down the throats of the general public in an attempt to strip them of a few extra bucks to pad the pockets of the company big wigs.

I am not so severe. I find myself secretly and silently humming along to random holiday songs inside my head as I openly browse through snowmen, reindeer, penguins and other cheerful holiday trinkets. My own guilty pleasure I guess.

As I indulge, it is strange to think the weather outside is in the upper 90s. It is a real stretch sometimes to envision those white, crisp South Dakota Christmases of my youth. 

 Fa lalalala lala la la. . .

Sunset over Lake Havasu Nov. 3, 2009

Sunset 11.03.09 Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Same Sunset 11.03.09 Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Company Food Fire

I responded to a fire call at a business that came across the public safety scanner in the newsroom shortly after 10 a.m. Oct. 8 of this year that described smoke coming from the roof of a company in town that employs upwards of 200 citizens in our community.

I grabbed my camera, a notebook and pen and rushed my way over there. This is what I saw:

Smoke coming from a Lake Havasu City based roadside service company building Oct. 2, 2009

By luck, I followed a responding Lake Havasu City firefighter company into a parking lot just across the street from the property and found a prime parking spot to stash my car. 

I hurried out and made my toward the fire engine to gauge just how close I’ll be able to get to the action, you know, picking my spot. I can clearly see the crew scrambling to the front of the business in all their gear. 

My confusion began when the firefighters sauntered back to their truck, packed some of their gear and headed on down the road as smoke continued to poor from the roof of the place. 

I stayed in my front row spot to photograph since my instincts were telling me the firefighter must have been called to relocate and would be stationed on a different side of the building to more efficiently attack the fire. 

After a few minutes I noticed a woman casually walking on a sidewalk alongside the building. I quickly crossed the street, approached her and asked if she worked at the business. 

Indeed she did. Well, “What’s with the smoke?” I asked pointing in the direction of the visibly wafting smoke.

“Oh, it’s our company barbecue today,” the woman said. I asked if she was aware the fire department just responded to this location because smoke was seen coming from the roof.

Two guesses on her response. . . 1. Clueless or 2. Clueless.

Most Original Halloween Costume???

I think the most interesting Halloween costume I came across last night while attending Lake Havasu City Fright Night 2009 on our city’s main street, was the Ladder Man. . . 

The Ladder Man is pictured on the dance floor at a popular LHC bar Oct. 31, 2009

This costume, from what I could tell, was a great crowd pleaser. As I watched for about an hour, the Ladder would continually ask random people to climb his ladder. I saw at least a dozen people happily indulge, while a handful of I-am-wearing-heels excuses pardoned a few ladies.

The ladder man’s costume was complete with a cup holder/ashtray seen in the photo attached to one of the rungs. He was approached throughout the night in reference to Jacob’s ladder, stairway to heaven and simply The Ladder. 

The bar’s live entertainment even picked him out of the crowd. Oh, how I love clever people. : )

Other costumes were many run-of-the-mill pirates, convicts, fairies and super heroes. I saw one really good jester costume, a very large spotted Dalmatian costume (that full-body costume looked REALLY warm to wear), a Labrador dressed like the tooth fairy and a Chihuahua dressed like a hot dog. 

Too much fun. But, I must say. The Ladder was, by far, the most original costume in the mix. I mean, how does one think to dress up as a ladder??

I went as Julia Child, but it just didn’t translate. You just know it didn’t work when you have to explain to everyone just who you are. I ended up peeing on my apron strings to boot. : (

The scariest?? I saw a couple of skate kids wearing ski masks. Umm, no. Now, that’s just too creepy.