Cook’s Question
(Continued from Pago M)
ANSWER J. Rouse wanted a recipe for maple syrup
pork chops. Thanks to Wendy Furie, Frederick, Md., for send
ing one with Canadian origin.
Maple Country Pork Chops
6-8 pork chops % -inch thick
1 cup maple syrup
% cup applesauce
’/« cup ketchup
3 tablespoons lemon juice
’/* teaspoon each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and
cinnamon
Saute chops in oil until lightly browned on both sides. Mix
maple syrup, applesauce, ketchup, lemon juice, and spices.
Arrange chops in a single layer in an ungreased baking dish,
and pour half the syrup mixtu re over them. Bake uncovered at
350 degrees for one hour or until tender; use the remaining
syrup mixture to baste the chops periodically as they bake.
ANSWER Thanks to June Hackenberger, Mifflintown,
for sending her “delicious” recipe for bread.
Delicious Whole Wheat Dough
Blend in a glass measuring cup in order given and allow to
stand 5 to 10 minutes until it bubbles up:
Vi cup very warm, but not hot. water
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
'/• teaspoon vitamin C powder (optional to assist rising)
Blend in mixing bowl:
2 cups hot, but not boiling, water
2 teaspoons salt
Vi cup honey
Vi cup vegetable oil
V 4 teaspoon vitamin C powder (optional, for rising)
Mix in order given:
3 cups whole wheat flour
Yeast mixture
Stir in remaining flour while easy to stir, then turn dough out
on a floured surface to knead in the remaining flour, about 3
cups whole wheat flour OR unbleached white flour
Knead 10 minutes, adding flour as needed to prevent stick
ing, using as little flour over the basic six cups as needed.
Place dough in lightly oiled bowl, oil top of dough lightly,
cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm place until double,
about 1 to VA hours.
, Punch down dough. Shape into 2 loaves and bake at 350
degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Think Through
Tree-Trirfiming Decisions
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) — Heavy weather—thun
derstorms, tornadoes and hurri
canes —can exact a brutal toll on
trees around homes, but an
urban forestry expert in Penn
State’s College of Agricultural
Sciences urges homeowners not
to make rash decisions about
cutting and pruning trees in the
wake of a storm.
“Any big storm brings down
trees that break power lines or
damage buildings and cars as
they fall,” says Vincent Cotrone,
Penn State Cooperative
Extension urban forester based
in Luzerne County. “But you
don’t want to inflict damage on
the remaining trees by severely
trimming them in a misguided
attempt to prevent them from
toppling in a future storm.
Following storms, there usu
ally is a dramatic increase in
tree-topping.
Homeowners believe topping
a tree will prevent it from hit
ting the house in a future storm.
In reality, topping and improper
pruning will lead to internal
decay and a weaker tree.
Cutting the central trunk and
tops of main branches severely
PUY.SEII.TRAOC OR RENT THROUGH THE
PHONE. 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047
FAX 717-733-6058
Mon.. Twer . Wed.. Frt. 8 AM to 5 PM: Thurs. 7 AM to 5 PM
LmeMter Farming, Saturday, October 16, 1999-B9
weakens a tree by removing
leaves and stored carbohy
drates. Topping reduces a tree’s
ability to generate food and
energy by photosynthesis and
promotes decay because branch
es are not removed at their point
of attachment, the branch collar.
Cotrone lists several condi
tions caused by topping trees.
•Unsafe Structure. Topping
trees leaves large wounds that
are open to decay and insects,
ultimately weakening the tree’s
structure. “The tree also will
develop ‘water sprouts,’ which
are weakly attached branches,”
Cotrone says.
• Decline in Health. In addi
tion to losing the leaves’ ability
to produce food, topping causes
the tree to use valuable food
stored in the trunk to regrow
limbs. Limb removal causes sun
scald of the remaining limbs as
well.
Cotrone offers tips on how to
clean up toppled or damaged
trees in the aftermath of a
storm,
• Safety first. Stay clear of
any downed power line. Never
try to clear tree damage from
any power line. “If you have a
tree or branch threatening a
power line, call the utility com
pany,” Cotrone says. “Also,
always check trees for broken
limbs that may be ready to fall.”
• For big jobs, call an
arborist. “If the tree is large, and
pruning cuts have to be made off
the ground, call a qualified
arborist,” he says. “Do not climb
into a damaged tree with a
chainsaw or other pruning gear.”
• Don’t rush into a decision.
Cotrone recommends checking
the credentials of any arborist.
He suggests asking for refer
ences, certificates of insurance
and whether they are members
of professional associations such
as the International Society of
Arborculture (which offers
arborist certification) or the
National Arborist Association.
“After a storm, many people
will claim to be a tree specialist,”
Cotrone warns. “Be patient. If
the tree is not an immediate
hazard, take your time to find a
professional who can explain
how to repair damage to your
tree or how to remove the tree
safely.”
Cotrone says homeowners
can get information on tree
pruning, repairing storm-dam
aged trees and how to hire a
qualified arborist at any Penn
State Cooperative Extension
office or any Department of
Conservation and Natural
Resources Bureau of Forestry
office.