Country Cousin

"I will lift up the cup of salvation"

We are in the midst of Holy Week, the end of Lent, when preparations for Easter are under way. For many of us, probably most of us, Easter this year will be unlike any we have known before.

We can put on our new Easter clothes if we want to, but we won't be wearing them to church. Perhaps we should put on our Easter garb any way, then pray along with an Easter service on television.

In most cases, families will not be getting together, so many grandparents will be denied the joy of watching the little ones hunt for colored eggs and find their Easter Baskets. Parents can take pictures and send them to grandparents and other family members who will not be there to help share the joy. Grandparents can send gift baskets ahead of time to the homes with children.

We can enjoy a fine Easter meal, but many of us will be enjoying it alone. But we can decorate our homes with flowers and listen to hymns and Gospel music to uplift our hearts if there is no one to talk with while we enjoy the food that God has provided. And we can donate in the next day or two to a homeless shelter or food pantry so others who have less can also feast.

And we can pray, and thank God for all He has given us, and for the salvation He has promised.

Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Easter, with a joy filled soul, however you celebrate it.

BRIGHTEST FULL MOON

The full moon on the night of Tuesday, April 7 into Wednesday, April 8 was promised to be the biggest and brightest of three "super moons" promised for this year.

It probably was, but with all the drizzle, clouds and fog it was pretty hard to see. That said, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning the entire full moon was visible, even through the haze. Would surely have been wonderful if the clouds weren't there.

GROWIN' THINGS

Spring is here. Calendar says so. Ticks are out. Robins have been sighted. Grass is starting to turn green. Ground is thawed and driveway no longer is a navigable waterway with muck underneath. Grandson in Stephenson, Mich. says three purple tulips flowered in his yard last week.

There have been a few days nice enough to get some yard work done, and more will come.

Not quite nice enough to work the garden, but it shouldn't be long. That said, Grandma always said peas had to be planted on Good Friday if you wanted a good crop. Hope to get some in the ground this year on the appointed day. For once the snow won't need to be shoveled away and the ground is soft enough to do it without an ice pick.

Every year I also want to plant sweet peas - the climbing flower variety - on Good Friday too, but never seem to get around to it.

Experts say if the last frost date is May 15, the seeds should be started in mid-April, so the time is right this year. For faster germination, soak the seeds overnight in room temperature water before planting. If you prefer to start the plants indoors, use peat pots that can go right into the ground with the plants. Once the seedlings start growing, give them something to climb on, whether a trellis, fence or some sort of decorative arch is up to you. They say string or twine works well. They won't be able to cling to anything more than a quarter inch in diameter.

Incidentally, in my collection of odds and ends I do have a couple of round tuits. Friend engraved them nicely and gave them to me years ago. Said I obviously needed them and he hoped they would help me get things done. Recently found them again. Do hope they work this time.

CLOUDY, RAINY AND COLD!

We've had some fairly nice weather in recent days, but the rain and cold seem to be back. Weatherman is promising only partly cloudy days on Friday and Saturday, but nights with below freezing temperatures. Then, on Easter Sunday, rain, with a high of 44 degrees, and on Easter Monday, rain again, or maybe snow. And things don't look a whole lot better for the rest of the next two weeks.

It's probably a silly thought, but can't help feeling that if the healing rays of the sun would shine on us once again for more than a few hours at a time it might burn the coronavirus out.

DOING THEIR PART

Reader Charlotte Gilliam, who lives in the west of Crivitz area, called to ask if we knew of anyone who needs face masks for coronavirus protection. She had some to give away.

She has a niece in Antioch, Ill. who wanted to do her part in helping protect folks against spread of the coronavirus, so she and some friends gathered materials, got the instructions, and started making face masks. They have already made more than 8,000 and are still going strong.

Charlotte wanted to do a little something to help, so she sent them a check to help pay for materials. In return the niece sent her some of the masks.

Charlotte offered them to one of the Crivitz medical clinics, but was told they had enough. She offered them to Marinette County, but was told their supply also is fine now.

So she decided to go to the Piggly Wiggly store herself (wearing a mask) and hand them out to any incoming customer who wanted one.

Incidentally, it might be getting easier for the niece to buy the cloth, thread and elastic she needs to keep making the masks. The Jewel Store in Antioch just ordered 300 of them, and will be paying enough to at least cover cost of the materials.

Many thanks to Charlotte and her niece for their thoughtfulness. Keep up the good work!

BORED, BORED, BORED

Speaking of coronavirus just naturally brings up frustration over the need maintain "social distancing" from other humans, and the mandatory shutdowns of schools and many businesses.

One of my nieces commented that communicating with others only by means of smart phones, texting, video chats and the like really isn't anything new.

Says she sees it all the time - parents shopping or at the park with their kids are playing with their phones instead of with the kids, and very often even the kids are playing with their phones instead of with other kids.

The niece hopes that being forced to use only electronic communication and game playing will bring an appreciation for real face to face conversations when the need for social distancing finally ends.

She also hopes families will learn once again to play games with each other, in person, instead of with some game on their tablet or smart phone.

CHORE TIME

Folks released from the need to go to work every day and required to give up many of the things they would normally be doing for fun can put the time to good use instead of being bored.

Weather is improving, so those under the shelter at home directives have a chance to get some yard work done, and maybe have their best lawns and gardens in years.

For now, plant starter seeds, clean yard tools, sharpen mower blades, clean the basement, attic or garage. Kids can help. They might even find it fun.

Moms can get some spring cleaning done. Put bored kids to work, even small ones, doing things like washing baseboards and emptying lower cupboard areas and then climbing inside to scrub them. Clean closets and dresser drawers too.

Don't know about you, but I probably would unearth some long lost treasures if I did that.

Great opportunity to get into neglected corners, down on hands and knees with a scrub brush if need be. Wash windows and mirrors and get everything shining. Redecorate a lampshade. There are some great ideas on the web for doing that.

HOMEMADE EGG DYES

Ever wonder how our pioneer foremothers made colored eggs for Easter without going to the store for egg dye?

If you'd like to give it a try, here are the directions for making just about any color you can imagine.

All you need is the right coloring agent, water, white vinegar, and a bit of vegetable oil if you want your eggs shiny. You bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil add the ingredient (or ingredients) for whatever color you want, and let it boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes or more. Add more water if you need to. Once the mixture turns the deepest color it is likely to get, strain the liquid into a wide mouth quart-size canning jar, cover and let sit until it cools to room temperature, maybe 2 to 3 hours. Then stir in two tablespoons white vinegar and gently drop in three hard-boiled eggs. Seal the jar, and refrigerate overnight or until the egg is the desired color. Once the color is right remove the eggs and let them dry. Then, if you want a shiny finish, rub each egg with a drop or two of vegetable oil to give it a shiny finish.

For red, use 1-1/2 cups shredded beets.

For rust use the outer skins from at least seven yellow onions.

For sky blue, use 1-1/2 cups shredded red cabbage.

For green, two cups raw spinach.

For yellow, add three tablespoons ground turmeric or curcumin to the water.

For orange, add three tablespoons chili powder.

Without added water, you can drop the boiled eggs into a container with enough grape juice, blueberry juice or strong boiled coffee to cover them, or with a strong Kool Ade mixture of the proper color.

COOKIN TIME

Easter is almost here. If you love to color eggs, but won't be having a crowd over to help eat them, boil up a batch, enjoy the pretty colors on Easter Sunday, take pictures to share, and then peel them to be served as egg salad or preserved as delightfully colored pickled eggs for happier days when "social distancing" requirements are lifted. If you are enjoying dinner with a bunch, enjoy the eggs anyway. They also make great deviled eggs, with a filling that compliments the spices. See recipes below.

OLD FASHIONED SALMON PATTIES

Good Friday, and in fact all Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, were always meatless days at our house, and one of our favorite meatless meals was salmon patties with creamed peas, macaroni and cheese, and a side of stewed tomatoes cooked with diced green peppers and onions and a bit of butter. Mom did a lot of canning, so there were always jars of diced tomatoes in the fruit cellar. The salmon loaf is actually better made with pink salmon instead of the more expensive red salmon

16-ounce canned salmon

1 egg

1/3 cup finely minced onion

Salt and pepper to taste, or 1 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/2 cup flour

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup shortening, or cooking oil if you must

Drain the salmon, but save at least 3 tablespoons of the juice. Dump salmon into a mixing bowl and break apart to remove skin and bones. (Save these for the cat if you have one or eat them yourself. They're good for you, just not good in the salmon patties.) Mix in the egg, onion, and salt and pepper and keep stirring until the mixture gets creamy. (if I don't use lemon pepper I like to add a bit of grated lemon peel too.) Mix together the flour and baking powder and stir this into the salmon mixture, and then stir in the reserved salmon juice, mixing very thoroughly. The mixture should be the right consistency to form into patties. Heat shortening (or oil) in a large, heavy frying pan. Form the mixture into five or six patties and place them into the heated oil. Fry until golden brown on one side, and then turn and fry until golden brown on the other, about 10 minutes in all. Serve with tartar sauce, or with creamed peas.

CREAMED PEAS

These peas are good on the salmon patties, on salmon loaf, or on mashed potatoes for a meal where ham is the main dish.

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

4 cups frozen tiny peas

Melt the butter in a medium size heavy-bottomed saucepan. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the milk all at once, and then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to be sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, until it comes to a rolling oil and is smooth and thickened. Stir in the salt, pepper and peas, and continue cooking over medium heat until the peas are done as you like them. A pinch of sweet basil crumbled into the cream sauce is also very good.

YELLOW PEPPER PICKLED EGGS

For hotter eggs pierce the yellow chili peppers with a sharp knife and/or add other hot peppers. Add a few drops yellow food coloring if you want a brighter yellow.

12 ounce jar hot yellow peppers with brine

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons pickling spice

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

Stir peppers and brine, water, vinegar, pickling spice, sugar, salt, and turmeric together in a 1/2 gallon mason jar or container. Add eggs to the pepper mixture, making sure they're entirely covered with the brine, and close the container. Refrigerate for at least 2 days before serving. Will last for several weeks in the fridge.

CHIPOTLE ADOBO PICKLED EGGS

Some like it hot. These have an orange tint. If you want the color deeper, add some drops of yellow and red food coloring to the brine before dropping the eggs in. Adjust the heat by adding more or less chipotle and adobo. They'll last about four weeks in the fridge, or more.

2 cups distilled white vinegar

2 cups water

2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced

1 onion, quartered

1 tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons white sugar

2 canned chipotle chilies

1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the canned chipotle peppers

12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled

In a large pot, combine the vinegar, water, garlic, onion, salt, sugar, chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Bring to a boil, and cook until the onion is translucent, about 15 minutes. Place the hard-cooked eggs into clean jars. Strain the boiling brine into the jars to entirely cover the eggs. Cover with lids and refrigerate for at least 3 days or up to six weeks before serving.

EASTER NEST CAKE

Cake:

1 box yellow cake mix (without pudding)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs, or per directions on box

1/3 cup oil or per mix directions

1 1/3 cups water or per mix directions

Filling:

15 ounces full fat ricotta cheese

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup sugar

TOPPING: Mixture of equal parts cinnamon and sugar

Garnish: Miniature jelly beans (optional)

Beat filling ingredients very thoroughly, until it gets nice and creamy. Spray a 9X13" baking pan with buttery flavored cooking spray and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cake batter according to package directions for the mix but add the extra half teaspoon vanilla. Pour cake batter into the prepared pan, and on top of it dollop "nests" of the ricotta cheese mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar mixture and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. If you want "eggs" in your nests gently push three little jelly beans into the center of each after the cake has cooled a little but is still warm. Once the cake cools, refrigerate until serving time.

Thought for the week: Lord, You do not ask us to sacrifice a fatted lamb, drop coins in a basket or wear sack cloth and ashes to honor You. You simply ask that we love. How easy is that? And how hard? As Easter approaches, and all through our lives, let us learn to live Your main commandment, the one You gave Your disciples when You washed their feet before the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Your final meal with them before Your suffering and glorious resurrection: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another."

(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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