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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2021)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | JULY 8, 2021 | 3A Betty Kaiser: Cook’s Corner Sour Cream Blueberry Pie Betty Kaiser Blueberries are one of my favorite, easy to pre- pare fruits that grow in my husband’s garden. They come on fairly ear- ly in the summer sea- son. They’re easy to pick, wash, eat out of hand, freeze or cook up in a number of ways. They’re also good for you. A Tufts neuroscien- tist went so far as to call blueberries “the brain berry.” In another article, James Joseph said, “When it comes to brain protec- tion, there’s nothing quite like blueberries.” Wow! Others claim that blue- berries can improve vi- sion, enhance memory, clear arteries, strengthen blood vessels and pro- mote weight control; Well, if that’s true, I say, bring them on because they taste good too. A serving of just one-half cup of blueberries is only 40-fat free calories and a great source of fiber and vitamin C. Colorful blueberries re- ally know how to dress up a meal. Raw, we can eat them guilt free. We add a dollop of guilt when they’re mixed with a little sugar or whipped cream and turned into pies but sometimes that’s the only way you can get people to eat ‘healthy’ foods—in- cluding me! They are a great fruit to eat out of hand or freeze for later. I usually spread the fresh berries onto cookie sheets and pop them into the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, I portion them out into plastic baggies and put them back in the freezer to use as needed all win- ter long. Before we planted our own blueberries, I bought them at Eden Valley Farm from Laura. She gave me a Sweet Blueberry Sauce recipe that I have used for 30 years. In fact, I have two blueberry sauce rec- ipes that we particularly enjoy. One is sweet and the other is savory. See recipes below. The sweet sauce is great served on pancakes, waf- fles and even ice cream. However, I also enjoy the berries plain on my morning bowl of break- fast cereal or even on a quick green salad. The savory sauce reci- pe’s origins are a mystery, but it is particularly good on pork chops. So, give these three recipes a try and treat yourself to a to some fresh blueberries. Enjoy! Betty Kaiser’s Cook’s Corner says, “ Keep it sim- ple and keep it seasonal!” Contact her at betty@ bettykaiser.com. SOUR CREAM BLUEBERRY PIE $100 ͞A Passport to Culinary Adventures in The Grove͟ ¶ July 6 thru July 20 The BMD Food Feud Fundraiser brings together 14 participating Cottage Grove restaurants and food trucks to serve up a ͞BMD SPECIAL͟ dish for you to try, win prizes and vote on your top three favorite dishes. IT¶S EASY TO PLAY, WIN & PAY BMD 2021 PRODUCTION COSTS 1. Pick up a Passport to Culinary Adventures at participating restaurants and other locations around town. 2. Purchase one or all of the BMD Specials at participating eateries. (Participating eateries will substitute a dietary option when available) 3. Collect a unique BMD stamp at each location and affix it to your passport. PARTICIPAING EATERIES Axe & Fiddle, Bad Cat Wings & Things, Big Stuff BBQ, Brewstation, Buster's, Dark Side of the Q, El Quetzal, El Rincon Del Taco, Jack Sprats, Koffee Kup, Lucky Taco, Sanity Chocolate, Stacy's Covered Bridge, & Toreros PASSPORT RETURN LOCATIONS Participating Eateries The Sentinel Office (next to Safeway) Info Booth in Opal͛s Park (July 17-18) PRIZES Passports with 5 or more stickers turned in by July 20 th will be entered into one of three drawings for a delicious handcrafted chocolate ͞Golden Nugget͟ created especially for Bohemia Mining Days by Sanity Chocolate. Passports with 10 or more stickers turned in by July 20 th will be entered into a drawing for a $50 bag of gold dollar coins generously provided by Remco Gutter Service BMD ORGANIZERS ASK FOR YOUR HELP Visit www.BohemiaMiningDays.org for details on all L BMD 2021 events TO O MAKE E BMD D 2021 1 SUCCESSFUL 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg, beaten 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueber- ries 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell PIE FILLING: In a mixing bowl, beat together sour cream, 2 tablespoons flour, sugar, va- nilla, salt, and egg until smooth (about 4 to 5 minutes). Gently fold in blueber- ries. Pour into the piecrust and bake at 400° for 25 minutes. PECAN TOPPING: 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons soft butter or marga- rine 3 tablespoons chopped pecans Combine the 3 tablespoons of flour, margarine, and pecans, mixing well. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the top of the pie; return to oven and bake 10 minutes longer. Let cool. Chill before serving. Serves 8. P.S/ Double the topping recipe if you like more crunch! SWEET BLUEBERRY SAUCE 2 cups fresh blueberries 1 cup sugar 4 tablespoons flour, mixed with ¼ cup water Dash of salt 1-1/4 cups water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon zest Dash cinnamon Combine all ingredients except lem- on juice and let stand five minutes. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in lem- on juice, zest and cinnamon. Remove from heat and cool 20 minutes. Stir. Serve warm on ice cream, pudding, cake or pancakes. Cover and store left- overs in refrigerator. Savory Blueberry Sauce 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 2 tablespoons chopped shallots or onions 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme, crushed 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1/2 cup each dry red wine and water 1 1/2 cups blueberries Sauté shallots in butter. Add flour and herbs; cook and stir until mixture bubbles and thickens. Gradually add wine and water; stir in blueberries. Cook and stir until mixture thickens and boils; simmer 2 minutes. Makes 2 1/2 cups. Note: Red wine vinegar with water may be substituted for wine. Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS ϐ Deadly wildfires ravaged thousands upon thousands of acres of land across California in the summer of 2018. Officials at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said these combined fires comprised the largest wildlands fire in state history. Frightening images of blazes consuming landscapes dominated newscasts as thousands of people were forced to evacuate. Wildfires torch everything in their paths, devastating communities, businesses and natural resources. Outbreaks seems to come out of nowhere, and meteorologists are not yet able to forecast when wildfires may occur. It is important to note that wildfires are often started by humans. The National Park Service says as many as 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by negligence — whether it’s discarded cigarette butts or campfires left unattended. Some are intentional acts of arson. Nature also may be responsible, with lightning strikes causing torching of parched plants and trees. When combined with the perfect conditions, which can include dry weather, drought and strong winds, a mere spark can develop into a months-long blaze. The NPS has wildland fire managers who constantly assess the threat of human-caused fires and the threat of wildland fires to humans. Assessments are made as to whether the wildfire should be left to run its course (in rural areas) or it should be contained and extinguished in a human-dominated landscape. National Geographic states that, historically, wildfires are actually supposed to be beneficial to certain natural landscapes, clearing underbrush in forests and triggering the release of seeds in some plant species, such as the Jack pine. However, when they encroach on people, their danger intensifies. According to Cal Fire, Santa Ana Winds and Diablo Winds are stronger-than-normal wind conditions that occur in Southern and Northern California, respectively. These winds can push a fire the length of a football field in a minute. Embers also pushed in front of fires become small spot fires. Powerful winds can disrupt efforts to extinguish fires, dissipating fire retardants dropped by aircraft. Wildfires can wreak havoc on the environment and impact personal health. Worldwide, wildfire smoke kills 339,000 people per year according to estimates from Environmental Health Perspectives. Inhaling smoke can exacerbate asthma, and carbon monoxide can damage the respiratory system. Considering how difficult it can be to contain fires, prevention remains key. Remember Smokey Bear’s tips, which remain revelant for kids and adults today: • Never play with matches or lighters in the forest. • Always watch your campfire. • Always be careful with fire. • Make sure a campfire is completely extinguished before leaving it. • Observe posted fire-risk warnings. Wildfires remain a constant threat wherever the conditions are right for fires to ignite. People need to be diligent in their prevention of these potentially far-reaching hazards. Wildfires can wipe out communities and travel miles in mere minutes under the right conditions. Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster. • Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions. • Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home. • Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster. For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center. South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506 Twitter: @southlanefi re Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue
