Portland observer., September 12, 2018, Page Page 15, Image 15

September 12, 2018
Page 15
F OOD
Obituary
In Loving Memory
Erin
‘Jo Jo’
Cowan
Apple-Potato
Latkes With
Cinnamon
Sour Cream
Preperation:
Ingredients:
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6 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cored
1 large russet potato, peeled
1 medium yellow onion, peeled
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Olive oil, for frying
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or yogurt, cinnamon and syrup. Cover
and chill until ready to use.
2. Coarsely grate the apples, potato and onion. Put the mixture in a clean dish towel and
squeeze to wring out as much liquid as possible. For the crispiest pancakes, you want the
least moisture.
3. Working quickly, put the mixture in a large bowl, add the flour, eggs, salt, baking pow-
der and pepper, and mix until the flour is absorbed.
4. In a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, pour in about 1/4 inch of oil. Once
the oil is hot (a drop of batter placed in the pan should sizzle), drop heaping tablespoons
of batter into the pan, cooking 3 to 4 latkes at a time. Use a spatula to flatten the scoops
into disks. When the edges of the latkes are brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes, flip them.
Cook until the second side is deeply browned, another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the latkes
to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve with
dollops of the cinnamon sour cream on top.
Erin Lemar
Cowan, known
to many as
“JoJo” was born Sept. 17, 1971 to Julius
“JC” and Shirley Cowan in Portland. He
received his early education at Faubion
Elementary and Whitaker Middle School
and graduated from Jefferson High School,
“The School of Champions and School of
Pride” he proudly held up as his alma ma-
ter. Erin earned a basketball scholarship
and continued his education at Umpqua
Community College in Roseburg. From
there he continued his basketball playing
career at Idaho State University.
From a young age, Erin spent hours
honing and mastering his signature jump
shot, along with the rest of his basketball
skills. It was at the Matt Dishman Com-
munity Center, where he originally teamed
up with some of his friends who he would
remain close with for the rest of his life.
Throughout his life, Erin always re-
mained a part of the Portland community
- going from player to coach to mentor and
trainer.
Erin was able to take his passion for
basketball to build a career that included
working for Damon Stoudamire, Inc. and
starting his own business, JUMP Sports
Management. Through his work, Erin was
blessed to travel the world and work with
some of the greatest athletes, including
Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Du-
rant, and one of his favorites Kyrie Irving
to name a few.
In 2001, a fellow Jefferson Demo intro-
duced Erin to his wife, Miko. They were
married on Aug. 18, 2007, in the couple’s
beautiful backyard and recently celebrated
their 11th anniversary.
Erin loved to cook, and took much pride
in his grilling. Erin loved to make people
laugh, whether it was telling a joke, a sto-
ry, or videotaping a prank. In his free time,
you could find Erin in his favorite chair
watching sports, amateur to professional,
tennis to football. But his first love was
basketball.
For anyone who knew and loved Erin,
they know he was always happy, loved a
good laugh and would do anything to get
someone to smile. And if you’ve ever met
Erin, you know that he’s “from the streets.”
If given the choice between a long and
ordinary life and a short but extraordinary
life, there is no doubt that Erin would’ve
chosen the latter. And an extraordinary life
is what he lived.
Preceding Erin in death are his father,
Julius “JC” Cowan; brother, Julian Cowan;
grandparents, Ella Mae Sherrod; Nathaniel
and Sallie Mae Carter, and Terry Overton;
and Nemo, his beloved bull mastiff.
Erin leaves behind many loved ones to
cherish his memory: his wife, Kimiko Cow-
an; daughters, Brandi, Eryn, Jade, Mia and
Seiji; his grandson, Landen; mother, Shirley
Cowan; brother Marc Cowan; sister Terri-
Lynn Cowan; Ghost (English bulldog) and
a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, extended
family members and friends.