Only occasionally do I find a
spare moment-either very early
in the morning or very late in
the evening-to peruse the pages
of what are commonly referred
to as “women’s magazines.”
These are the somewhat do
mesticated publications offering
advice and tips on marriage,
children, health, finances, crafts
and beauty, with the occasional
humor or inspirational piece,
obligatory cents-off coupons, and
always recipes. Depending on
their prime content, some of
these publications get a jump on
the recipe part with a cover pic
turing such a gorgeous dessert
that you can almost smell the
calories.
Such was one I began reading
to pass time during an enforced
waiting period one recent after
noon. The glossy cover of this
beautiful home publication drip
ped with whipped cream and
candybar bits to headline arecipe
CALL YOUH LOCAL AREA MORTON BUILDINGS
Gettysburg, PA 717-624-3331 Meadville, PA 814-336-5083
Mt. Pleasant, PA 724-542-7930 Phillipsburg, NJ 908-454-7900
Centre Hall, PA 814-364-9500
feature inside dedicated to choco
late.
Chocoholic that I am, I
thought I might find some new
tasty treat I could whip up to
showcase my favorite flavor.
Especially with Valentine’s Day
just ahead, chocolate is in the
forefront of many people’s
minds. But after a quick look at
the recipes that followed, I could
only wonder.
Does anybody every make
those glamorous recipes?
And, when do they find the
time?
Spare me, please, from recipes
that start with three separate
lists of ingredients. Especially if
among those lists are the likes of
cognac, heavy whipping cream,
almond paste, or more exotic
pantry items such as capers,
anchovies or pimentos.
If the ingredient list isn’t too
oppressive, I might at least
make it as far as the directions.
Unless I get hung up on
instructions like “roll out and
cut with a 1” cookie cutter
makes 12 dozen.” Or, “cook and
stir constantly, over medium
heat, until bubbly.” Or, until
smooth. Or, until gelatin is dis
solved. Or, “slowly stir heated
mix into beaten eggs.” Or, “take
a springform pan.” Or, one that
glibly suggests “in a large skil
let, cook the sugar until it melts
and turns golden.”
I don’t think so.
One friend of ours absolutely
cringes at even seeing the direc
tions for pie dough. “Using a
pastry blender, cut shortening
into flour until mixture is the
texture of cornmeal.” In fact, she
declares she would rather make
ANYTHING than bake a pie. I
don’t mind doing pies and, if I
actually get into that mode, will
roll out several pie shells at one
time. Making six is no more time
and mess than making one.
On the other hand, they have
very nice and handy ones in the
freezer section of your local
supermarket. No pastry blend
ing to the texture of commeal,
no rolling, no falling apart. No
clean up.
Indeed, give recipes that
include directions like “scrub
and bake in moderate oven”
(baked potatoes), “stir-fry veg
etables for five minutes,” or
“place ingredients into greased
casserole and bake” (macaroni
and cheese, the grandsons’
favorite).
DETAILS.
Not far from us lives a fellow
farm wife who has won regional
acclaim and top prizes at
numerous baking contests. Not
only are her confections deli
cious, they are beautiful as
well-cakes with painted scenery
and sculpted pie dough. I am
positively in awe of her talent.
As for me, the lifestyle of
milking cows is time consuming
to the point that I have happily
re-thought many of my one-time
Youth Safety Course Set
GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.)-
Youth 14 or 15 years old who
plan to be employed by a farmer
to drive tractor and/or operate
farm machinery must complete
a safety course.
To successfully complete the
course, youth must attend seven
consecutive Monday night meet
ings 7-9 p.m., demonstrate the
ability to safely drive a tractor,
and pass a written exam.
The first meeting will be
Monday, March 6 from 7-9 p.m.
at the Adams County Extension
Office, two miles west of Gettys
burg on Rt. 30 across from
Doersom airport. A $lO registra
tion fee covers a personal copy of
the instruction manual. Advance
registration is required and
enrollment is limited to twenty
youth. Any youth 14 years by
March 1 or older are welcome to
attend the course, which is
offered only one time this year.
Topics for the course and
meeting places are:
•Mach 6-Safety Is No Acci
dent, Extension Office.
•March 13-Maintenance and
Safety Checks and Instruments
and Controls, Biglerville High
School Ag Room.
• March 20-Starting and Stop-
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 12, 2000-B3
hangups about cooking from
scratch. For instance, instant
mashed potatoes (which in
youthful idealism I once vowed I
would never resort to making)
are one of my favorite conve
nience foods. Espeeially'when
they’re made, of course, with
only real milk and real butter.
And absolutely no real lumps.
So I’ll admit it. My favorite
cooking directions begin with a
simple admonishment.
Open box.
ping Tractors and Tractor Batety
on the Farm, Gettysburg High
School Ag Room.
•March 27-Tractor Hitches,
PTO, and Hydraulics and Trac
tor Safety on the Road, Fairfield
High School Ag Room
•April 3-Why Farm Machinery
Accidents Occur and Farm Mach
inery Accident Situations, Littles
town High School Ag Room.
•April 10-Farm Machinery
Field Night, Larry Wilkinson
Farm Shop, Rentzel Rd., Gettys
burg.
•April 17-Safety Standards
For Agricultural Tractors and
Implements and Farmstead Safe
ty, Bermudian Springs Ag Room.
•April 20 will be the tractor
driving skills test for each par
ticipant to demonstrate their
ability to safely drive a tractor
at Bermudian Springs High
School.
The training course is offered
jointly by Adams County High
School Vo-Ag Departments and
the Adams County 4-H Program/
Penn State Cooperative Exten
sion. Additional information
may be obtained from your high
school ag teacher or from
Darlene M. Resh, extension
agent 4-H, at (717) 334-6271 or
(717) 624-4525.