Columns

As the Disaster Guy, I’m often asked if I have any predictions for the future. The answer? If I knew what the future will be, I’d prepare specifically for that.

The December 1900 issue of the “Ladies Home Journal” had an article by John Elfreth Watkins, Jr., titled “What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years.” I’ve copied some of his predictions and what actually did happen.

-“There will probably be 350 million to 500 million people in America.” Well, there were 76 million Americans in 1900, and the total U.S. population grew to 325 million in 2016.

While researching the newspapers from the olden days of “1962” to write the Canton History column, I came across a very memorable time for Van Zandt County. With all the Campaigning going on and all the candidates reaching out to the citizens of Van Zandt County, I thought this was an appropriate reminder of times gone by. How wonderful it would be to look back, in the years to come, to 2018 in Van Zandt County at our Primary Campaigning and have something this memorable said about our county for every year in the future.

CANTON HERALD

To create this recipe, I drew inspiration from my love of spinach-artichoke dip. Since Charles, my better half, and I frequently order this appetizer at restaurants, I wanted to challenge myself with formulating a recipe that I believed was as good as or better than the ones we eat most often.

When I served it to Charles, he gave me rave reviews. Essentially, he said I scored a TD on this tasty treat! Yea! 

Today I’m sharing my dip recipe with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Slow-Cooker Cheesy Spinach-Artichoke Dip

My column this week is short and sweet as I, like many of you, am still running around doing last minute shopping for Christmas gifts and other errands pertaining to the upcoming holiday. Also I’ve been busy formulating new recipes that I can’t wait to try.

Last week I promised to share a breakfast casserole recipe that I created using my homemade breakfast sausage. Well, here it is.

It’s called brunch for a bunch breakfast casserole. My family loves it! I hope you like it and include it on your holiday breakfast menu. The bits of red and green bell peppers in the casserole create a festive holiday presentation.

 The Inspired Cook 

Easy, delicious holiday breakfast recipe

                For those of you expecting to have overnight guests during Christmastime, you’re in luck because this column is dedicated to you. Inspired by the many times I’ve had guests spending a few days, I’ve formulated a new recipe with this in mind to share with you today.

Since there usually is plenty of food left from your main Christmas Day meal, you could serve these lovely leftovers for lunch and/or dinner without a second thought. And, if you did so, I’m sure no one would complain. But, breakfast is a different story.

Does your family have traditions that you follow? Passing on family traditions helps to bond the generations together, creating an intense closeness and a depth of understanding unlike any other.

Recently, my sister Beckie and I sat around reminiscing about our childhood during the early 1960s. Some of our fondest recollections focused on events involving our great-aunt Clara.

Of all of these events, one still holds a special place in our hearts and our minds: her tea parties. On myriad occasions, she prepared little impromptu tea parties for us.

During these times, she always gave us a choice of her homemade hot Russian tea or hot chocolate topped with miniature marshmallows to drink. She served our hot beverages—they were merely lukewarm so as not to burn our mouths—in a vintage china demitasse tea set accompanied by cake, cookies, or some other sweet treat.

Giving thanks

During the weeks and days leading up to Thanksgiving, I count my blessings and give thanks for the wonderful people who have touched my life in some way, shape, or fashion over the years. My maternal great-aunt Clara Compton Pickle always makes my thankful-for list each year.

Growing up, my sister Beckie and I called her and her dear husband A.D. by their given names. Why, you ask? Well, she insisted on it. We never asked her the reason for this, we simply respected her wishes.

Anyway, Clara was a wonderful cook. In fact, she was great at everything she ever attempted. Her hands were never idle. I particularly remember she knitted, crocheted, or did some other type of needlework while she watched TV. She said it relaxed her.

My, my, how her fingers could fly!

The chips will be on the table Friday night when the Canton Eagles run out on Memorial Field in Terrell to play the powerhouse Tigers with a share of the district crown as the prize. The Eagles will be meeting an experienced but light 11 when they meet the favored Terrell team. When the season opened, 16 letterman, 12 starters greeted the whistle.

Terrell’s season record is 7-1-1 while the Eagles have a 7-2 win and loss record. The Tigers are undefeated in district play while Canton has lost one game.

If the Eagles defeat Terrell Friday night, District 13 AA will be thrown into a three-way tie with Canton, Van, and Terrell sharing in the loot. This is true, provided the Vandals whip Grand Saline.

With Thanksgiving only weeks away, I’ve been busy formulating recipes to make for our big family feast. Whenever I can find an occasion to contribute one of my original dishes, I jump at the chance. By doing so, I get unbiased opinions as to whether or not the taste-testers liked my food creations.

One of my favorite events to try out new recipes happens to be at the quarterly meetings of the Edom Historical Society. While I’m currently holding the offices of both secretary and treasurer, I recently volunteered to provide all of the refreshments for our March, June, and September meetings.

The Community Center wants to say thank you to everyone who attended the enchilada dinner. It was a great success!

Happy 57th anniversary to Bobby and Dorothy Whitton. This couple has done so much for our community. It's too much to list and I'm sure I will miss something if I try. We really appreciate you both and all you do.

Bobby Whitton told me a story about Jordan Hill (pronounced Jerden). Jordan Hill is on 2410 around where Mrs. Francis Glasgow lives. When he was a kid and before the road was blacktop, it was so steep that you couldn't drive up it if it was raining or there was icy weather. If you drove a Model T, you had to back up the hill. Since the gas tank was in the front of the car, it would stall out before you could get to the top.