Cook’s Question (Contlnuad from P«B* B») ANSWER A Pennsdale reader wanted instructions on canning potatoes. Thanks to Joyce Hoffman, East Berlin, for sending the following recipe. Wash, scrape, and rinse freshly dug potatoes. Dice or slice potatoes and pack into clean jars. Add water to rim and add y 2 -teaspoon salt to each pint or 1 teaspoon to each quart. Put lid and band on and process 45 minutes in boiling water bath. Nellie Strite writes that she processes them for three hours. These are greatfor soups, scalloped potatoes, or breakfast Just rinse off when you open the jar and they are ready to use. Correction Nellie Strite said that the recipe for Christmas Pickles should have read that the pickles can be used two days after preparing and not 21 days. For those who missed the recipe, here is one from Dee Dee Myer’s, a well-known cook. Thanks to many other readers for sending recipes. Christmas Pickles 3 cups vinegar 3 cups sugar V 3 cup salt 1 tablespoon turmeric 1 tablespoon whole celery seed 1 tablespoon mustard seed Let set until sugar dissolves, slice, and layer into a gallon jar: 6 large cucumbers 3 onions 2 green peppers Pour cold liquid over the pickles and put in refrigerator. It is not necessary to process them. They are called Christmas pickles because they keep well in the refrigerator until Christmas. Here is an entirely different recipe which results in red pick les. Mary Davis, Ebensburg, writes that she has used the recipe for 10 years and people can not believe they are eating cucumbers. Christmas Pickles 8 or 9 large, ripe cucumbers 7 cups white vinegar 2 cups granulated sugar y 2 teaspoon oil of cloves 'k teaspoon oil of cloves 3 jars maraschino cherries Peel cucumbers. Remove seeds, cut into 1-inch pieces, pul into large enameled or stainless steel kettle. Add water to cov er, simmer until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove, drain well, put into large glass or crockery bowl. Combine sugar, vinegar, oils, and bring to a boil. Pour Over cucumbers. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature. Second day: drain off syrup and bring to a boil. Pour over cucumbers and let stand overnight. Third day: Put cucumbers and syrup in large kettle. Bring to a boil. Add 3 jars of maraschino cherries and their juice (add more if you want a redder color pickle or add red food coloring). Return to a boil. Ladle into hot pint jars, leaving Vs -inch head space. Seal and process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes after water is boiling. Yields: 7 pints. Gutters Clogged and Overflowing? Not Looking Forward To Cleaning Them Out? Have Gutter Pro Tech™ Installed. Rain Gets In, Leaves and Debris Stay Out r M r Ei\rsEr<riG ’S-, L- FOUTIIVG ' Call today for a Free Estimate 265 E. Meadow Valley Rd., Litltz. PA 17543 717-733-7160 • 717-627-6886 1-800-247-2107 ss in Financing Available W -MAC Canned Potatoes Brain Development: Parents And The Neuron Connection When babies are bom they ap pear so helpless, yet thousands of brain cells are already connected. These early connections involve all the basic body functions, re cognition of sound, light, and touch, and the groundwork for the development of a physical, ment al, and social human being. Through new brain-imaging technology, scientists have given parents the opportunity to under stand how the brain functions and how important a child’s environ ment is especially during the first three years. We have only begun to understand the complexities of the growing brain but the research can begin to answer the age old question of nature versus nurture? Only about 20 years ago, neuro scientists believed that the genes we are bom with determine the structure of our brains and how in dividuals interact with the world. Today we know that heredity may determine the basic number of neurons (brain cells) children are We watch over every step in the manufacture, assembly and construction of your building Morton operates five manufacturing facilities, strategically located to serve you efficiently. Our high-volume buying power enables us to purchase the finest raw materials at the lowest possible price Components for your structure are manufactured, fabricated and assembled under the watchful eyes of quality control experts We maintain a fleet of company-owned and operated trucks, enabling our drivers to unload your building materials quickly and safely From that point, a crew of company-trained, company-employed, and company-insured construction professionals takes over They are trained to follow the most efficient and safe construction methods possible, and are supplied with state-of-the-art equipment and quality materials to make your facility something to be proud of for years to come Family Living Focus Jane Mecum Perry Co. Extension ANSWER A Shippensburg reader wanted a recipe for stromboli. Thanks to Elam Ebersol, Bird-in-Hand, for sending a recipe. 1 tablespoon yeast 1 cup warm yvater 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons oil 3 cups bread flour Dissolve yeast in warm water, slowly add flour and remain ing ingredients. Let rise for 30 minutes. Roll in three long strips, wide enough so you can overlap each side. Pour pizza sauce in middle then layers slices of ham, cheese, bologna, and cheese again. You can use any kind of meat. Or you can add peppers, onions, and mushrooms or whatever suits your taste. Overlap one side then the other side and press ends to dose. Rub with vegetable oil on top and sprinkle with seasoned salt Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until it tests done. Happy Eating! bom with and their initial arrange ment; however, this is merely a framework. A child’s environ ment has enormous impact on how the circuits of the brain will be laid. Nature and nurture to gether not either alone, deter mines the outcome of our lives. When a child is bom, the brain produces trillions more neurons and synapses (connections) than ultimately needed. Positive inter actions with caring adults simulate a child’s brain profoundly, caus ing synapses to grow and existing connections to be strengthened. Those being used become per manent fixtures; those that are not used tend to be eliminated. If a child receives little stimulation early on, synapses will not sprout or develop, and the brain will make fewer connections. During the early months of life, the brain connections grow quick ly in response to outside stimula tion. Scientists have determined that the neurons for vision begin sending messages back and forth rapidly at two to four months; Stromboli Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 26, 1998-B9 Research has also found that children who are emotionally ne glected or abandoned early in life are more likely to have difficulty in learning. It is also suggested that these children may have more trouble experiencing empathy, at tachment, and emotional expres sion in general. This emphasizes the importance of providing car ing, interactive caregiving for young children. flfk MORTON W BUILDINGS 717/624-3331 3368 York Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325 800-447-7436 therefore, it is important to pro vide vivid and varied images for young children. Language is also an important connection made during the first six months. Chil dren will respond with equal inter est to the sounds of all languages, but soon develop “perceptual maps” that direct them toward the sounds of the language they hear most frequently. This perceptual map eventually accounts for regional accents as the first sounds focus on vowels. Studies show talking to an infant increases the number of words that will be re cognized and eventually come to understand. A word of warning, research does not suggest drilling children in alphabet songs from different languages or using flash cards to promote rote memorization of let ters and numbers. Children leant any language best in the context of meaningful, day-to-day interac tions. While scientists have found that the early years may be even more important than anticipated, human development continues tnrough out the life span. Be aware and take advantage of these critical periods of development that na ture has provided. As parents, grandparents, and caring adults, it is critical that op portunities are created for children to reach their potential by helping them make all the connections possible. Take time to talk, listen, and be with children in a nurturing environment. These early connec tions have lasting impacts for everyone. For more information on par enting young children, call your local county Cooperative Exten sion office. 908/454-7900 P.O. Box 126, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Illinois only, call 1-800-426-6686
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