COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • NOVEMBER 7, 2018 •
Betty Kaiser’s Chatter Box:
November? It must be pie time
Betty Kaiser
I’m a big fan of Indian
Summers and I’m not yet in
a winter frame of mind. So,
it’s always a shock to turn my
calendar over and discover
that it’s November.
How can that be?
Th at means there’s still
patio furniture to put away,
bushes to be trimmed and
gardens to be winterized.
Sigh.
It also means that I have to
start thinking about Th anks-
giving dinner. But most of us
don’t have to think very hard
about that because our fam-
ilies are steeped in tradition.
Mine used to be but,
things have changed. We’ve
added new members. A cou-
ple of our grandsons are now
married and we share them
with their wives and their
families.
Also, one of our sons and
his wife are vegans.
Fortunately, our holiday
meals are very similar. Th e
basic menu for whoever
comes to dinner is a feast
of roast turkey with stuff -
ing and cranberry sauce;
mashed potatoes and gravy;
green beans and rolls.
If I’m cooking, there is
also a cranberry Jell-O salad
and sweet potato casserole.
Th e vegans eat Tofurky with
their veggies and a big green
salad.
Aft er turkey and dress-
ing, dessert is the favorite
part of the meal. Again, ev-
ery family usually has their
own traditional favorite pie.
I say pie, because I’ve nev-
er heard anyone talk about
their favorite Th anksgiving
cake. Th ere’s probably lots of
them out there but people I
know mostly eat pie.
Let me know if you have a
favorite cake.
We have two or three pies
but one is always pumpkin.
And we’re not alone. A na-
tional survey by Delish edi-
tors revealed that pumpkin
is the reigning champ of des-
serts by 36 percent of those
polled — 46 percent on the
West Coast.
Pecan was a distant sec-
ond, followed by apple, sweet
potato and cherry.
As the longtime pie bak-
er at Kaiser’s Country Din-
er in Ventura, I have made
thousands of pies. Pumpkin
was always a best seller and
if it’s your fi rst pie you can’t
go wrong following the basic
directions on a can of Lib-
by’s pumpkin.
I do change up the spic-
es a bit but that is a personal
preference. Every so oft en I
would also make a pumpkin
eggnog pie. So today, just
for fun, I’m including that
recipe instead of the regular
pumpkin.
Another customer favor-
ite was my chocolate pecan
pie. It, too, is simple to make,
using a variation on the clas-
sic Karo pecan recipe. Both
of these recipes call for a
Pet Cremation
Dignifi ed Options for Our Faithful Friends
At Smith Lund Mills we believe that pets
are an important member of any family.
When a pet dies it can be very diffi cult
time for everybody involved. We
understand the feelings of losing a pet and
our professional, caring staff will be ready
to assist you during this time of loss.
single, unbaked 9-inch pie
shell and a whipped cream
garnish.
Before you make the pie,
you should make a pie crust.
I don’t have room in today’s
column for my recipe but the
standard Betty Crocker reci-
pe is also good. Th e trick is
getting the right dough con-
sistency and then rolling it
out on a fl oured surface. You
can do it! Try it! Or use store
bought.
Enjoy!
BETTY CROCKER
PASTRY
• 1-1/2 cups fl our
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup+2 tablespoons
Crisco shortening
• ¼ cup ice cold water
Sift fl our and salt in mix-
ing bowl. Cut in shortening
with pastry blender until
shortening pieces are the
size of giant peas.
Sprinkle with ice water
a little at a time. Mix lightly
with a fork until all the fl our
is moist.
Add more if needed.
Gather dough together
with fi ngers so it cleans the
bowl.
Press fi rmly into a ball.
Th en roll out on fl oured
pastry cloth to desired size.
PUMPKIN EGGNOG PIE
• 2 cups pumpkin (1
16-ounce can)
• 1 1/2 cups eggnog
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves (or
less)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 unbaked 9” pie shell
Preheat oven to 425° F.
Combine all ingredients
in a large mixer bowl and
mix well.
Pour into the unbaked
pie shell.
Put in oven and bake 15
minutes.
Reduce heat to 350° F.
Bake another 40-45 min-
utes or until a knife in-sert-
ed near the edge comes out
clean.
Cool and refrigerate. Gar-
nish with whipped cream.
Serves 6-8.
KARO PECAN PIE
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup light or dark corn
syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter,
melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups pecans (more
if needed)
• 1 unbaked pie shell
Preheat oven to 350° F.
In large bowl, stir togeth-
er fi rst fi ve ingredients until
well blended.
Gently stir in pecans.
Pour into pastry shell. If
necessary, add more pecans
so that the top is covered and
there will be pecan in every
bite!
Bake in oven 50-55 min-
utes or until knife inserted
halfway between center and
edge comes out clean.
Cool and garnish with
whipped cream.
Serves 6-8.
Visit smithlundmills.com for more information.
6
FRIDAY
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58° | 36°
Sunny
Sunny
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
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57° | 36°
Partly Cloudy
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MONDAY
TUESDAY
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58° | 39°
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3473 of
Cottage Grove will hold a celebration honoring our
Veterans, including those on active duty.
Lincoln Middle School Choir will be
performing several numbers.
Speakers will include Mayor Jeff Gowing and
Special Guest.
All are invited to enjoy this event!
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Dr. Buttercup is in: Offi ce Open
Jeanne entered a barn and a dozen sKIT-tish feral cats and
kittens sCAT-tered. Amazingly, one kitten walked right up to
her and telepathically said to Jeanne, “I belong with you. Adopt
me and take me home.”
Always one to oblige a talking kitten, Jeanne picked up the
chatty feline and took it home.
“I am so glad that she adopted the fur-baby because that kit-
ten transformed our house into a home with her ‘presents’” said
Dr. Carl.
Like most talking cats, Buttercup is unique.
“Th is is the most fantastic, intelligent and astute cat I have
ever met,” said Dr. Carl. “When she was little she must have
been attacked by a small dog. Today, big dogs don’t bother her,
but look out if you are a small dog because this cat has an in-
credible memory. If she sees a small dog, it is like she detonates.
She explodes and chases aft er the dog. Big dogs have no such
worries because Buttercup loves them.
“One day, a rough-looking couple walked by our home with
their massive pit bull. I had trepidation about the three of them
but not our cat. Buttercup runs towards the dog and stops 10
feet from it. Th ey looked each other in the eyes as if commu-
nicating. I was scared thinking that my cat was about to be
the dog's breakfast. Aft er the pets communicated, our crazy
cat walked right up to the pit, they sniff ed noses and bumped
heads like long lost friends. Th e dog happily waved his tail and
then Buttercup casually strolls off for the rest of her morning
walk.”
Th ree days a week, Dr. Carl, Jeanne and, of course, Butter-
cup head to work. Th e cat’s jobs include holding the offi ce’s rug
down to nap on and the offi cial offi ce greeter.
“Everyone benefi ts with a therapy cat,” said Dr. Carl’s offi ce
manager, Bobbie. “She helps anxious clients relax. Children
Dr. Carl and Dr. Buttercup love their patients
weather forecast
THURSDAY
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at 942-1317 or
email bchatty@bettykaiser.
com
Dennis Twite
VFW Post 3473 Commander
-day
Pet tips
‘N’ tales
CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE
• Melt 4 ounces melted
semisweet chocolate.
• Decrease sugar to 1/3
cup.
• Prepare and bake as
above.
Sunday, November 11th at 11:00am
(541) 942-0185
123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove
5A
know instantly that having a cat in a doctor’s offi ce means that
this is not the same kind of doctor they are used to visiting. She
also helps clients pass time by opening them up, petting her
and chatting and sharing cat stories amongst themselves.
“We have had no problems with anyone allergic to the cat.
Th ey just don’t touch her. Actually, we have clients that won’t
book appointments if they know the cat is not ‘working’ that
day. Buttercup is part of their social life and wonderful for
those who no longer have a pet. She also makes my hectic days
calmer.”
At 6 p.m. the trio head home in Buttercup’s Lexus. People
are appalled that she has scratched the vehicle's upholstery. “I
don’t mind,” confesses a proud Dr. Carl. “I love her. She is a
hard-working cat and aft er all, it is her car.”
Th e cat commuter knows her way home. When she sees that
they are almost there, she meows and paces excitedly in recog-
nition of their destination — and her dinner.
Like clockwork at 10 p.m., she announces that it is time for
her 1/4 tsp. mayonnaise snack and time to head to bed. Like
well-trained parents, they treat Buttercup to her favorite snack
and head for bed — so she has someone to curl up next too.
On her days off work, Buttercup has a lengthy cat nap — un-
til 4:45 p.m. She then springs awake up as if an alarm clock has
sounded and goes outside where the squirrels are waiting for
her. Th ey are fully aware of her daily 'time to chase the squirrels'
ritual as she joyfully chases the teasing, chatting rodents up a
tree.
Th ankfully, she has never caught one, it's just a game be-
tween them.
TIPS:
“Years ago, my new dog chewed off the Jeep’s seat belts,” said
Sonja in North Carolina. “We enrolled in dog obedience and he
learned to trust me and become obedient. People think ‘obedi-
ence’ is a class of dogs with humans yelling SIT! STAY! DOWN!
Instead, these classes bond you and help you understand each
other.”
Adrienne in Connecticut adds, “Never get rid of a dog when
obedience class is the solution.”
WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN WE WORK IN
“WE MAKE SHIFT HAPPEN!”
www.automotivespecialties.biz
PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove
DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at an-
gelscribe@msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales. Adopt loving pets online at
www.PetFinder.com. For spay or neutering, call the Humane So-
ciety at 541-942-2789.
