Does springtime have you jumping and running to keep up with all of your family’s needs?  Are you quite possibly yearning for a way to add a few extra hours to your day or maybe daydreaming about cloning yourself to keep up?  Although this is the reality of springtime for many of the busy moms I know, one thing seems to make their life much easier…the crock pot.

With afternoons chalked full of work, ferrying kids to activities, supervising homework duties and a plethora of chores, many find the crock pot to be their best friend.  With a tad bit of preparation and foresight, a tasty dinner can be awaiting a family’s return home at the end of a busy day.

After a little bit of brainstorming a few days back, we settled on Scalloped Potatoes and Ham as our dish of choice for our delicious dinner making machine.  With comfort food at its best, this great recipe gives one a bountiful fork full of creamy, cheesy, goodness that is sure to stick to your ribs and satisfy the whole family.  If you are having trouble deciding “What’s for dinner tonight at your house, take a gander at this easy and satisfying one pot dinner.”  Creamy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, that’s what for dinner tonight at our house.

Ingredients:

1 ½-2  cups cooked sliced ham, cubed

7-11 thinly sliced medium potatoes, peeled

1 large onion, diced

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup shredded smoked gouda cheese

1 Family size can of Cream of mushroom soup

Directions:

1.  Layer ¼ of the ham, potatoes, onions and cheeses in the pot.  Spread ¼ of the mushroom soup  over the mixture.
2. Repeat this process until all of the ingredients have been used.
3. Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 6-8 hour.
4. Adjust ingredients and amounts to fit your tastes and size of the crock pot.

Simple, easy and delicious, this dish can be started in the calm of the morning or before work leading to a great home cooked meal in the evening.  Sure to be a crowd pleaser this delightful meal  is what’s for dinner at our house.

When funding was cut to all of the athletic programs at Crook County High School a few years back, Head Track Coach Ernie Brooks and his team came up with a creative solution to keep them on the track.  A fun run and walk, the event sports a 5K and 10K for the adults and a 2K Fun Run for the kids this Saturday May 5^th at the CCHS Track in Prineville.   Aptly named the CCHS Keep On Track Fund Run and Walk, the event not only sports the great fun runs, but also a tasty lunch and benefit auction later in the day.

People interested in supporting the event can choose from a wide range of selections.  From participating in the fun runs and walk to just coming for lunch and the auction any and all support will ultimately benefit the program.  Expecting a crowd of 150 or more people, registration takes place from 9 to 10:30 AM (pre-registration is suggested).  The first 100 people to register will receive a race shirt.  The kids 2K fun run will start 10:30 with the adult runs scheduled to start at 11 AM.  Race and lunch tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 8^th grade and under.

A wonderful lunch celebrating Cinco De Mayo is set for noon at the CCMS gym.  The menu includes flavorful Carne Asada, Pork Chile Verde, Grilled Chicken, rice and beans with homemade tortillas and a special dessert.  Adult lunches are only $7 and kid’s lunches are $5.

In addition to offering a great activity to kick off everyone’s day as well as a terrific lunch Coach Brooks and his supporters have put together a ton of fantastic items to be auctioned off following lunch.  Business sponsors from throughout the community have kicked in to donate items for the auction ranging from gift certificates to some great merchandise.  In addition, supporters can bid on track team members in a labor auction to provide work crews around your house.  For Beaver and Duck fans the highlight of the auction might be the school color clad fire hydrants that are sure to be hit.  Auction items can be viewed at the event’s Facebook site  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-on-Track-Fund-Run-2k5k10k-Lunch-and-Auction/108647409154856 .

When speaking about the event, Coach Brooks praised not only the community’s generosity, but also the support of the entire track team, the staff and their parents that have made this day a fun and great event.  He also pointed out this event benefits the entire Track and Field program from middle school on up to high school.  Looking for a fun family event to fill in your Saturday, check out this one!  Do your part to keep our CCHS students on track!

Looking for a quick and easy healthy recipe for a dinner this week I dug deep into to my recipe basket for one of my favorites, Beef and Broccoli stir-fry.  I can’t say I have always cooked this dish, but after trying this recipe and putting my own spin on it I became hooked.

Growing up I always preferred being outside on the farm to spending time in the kitchen with my Mom.  So suffice it to say my husband didn’t get a “Golden Spatula” wielding wife when we were married.  On top of that my Dad is a steak and potatoes type of fellow so the menu around our house was paired down to the important things…meat, potatoes, and an occasional vegetable thrown in for decoration, primarily ketchupJ   With that said, Asian food was what we went out to occasionally eat on a special occasion and then it was the same family dinner my Mom always ordered from the Empire Room or Gee’s resturaunt.

After meeting my husband, who loves Asian cuisine, I was led to explore a wider range of menu items.  Stumbling across Beef and Broccoli in a restaurant in Hood River one evening I fell in love with the dish.  I later even learned that I could purchase seasoning packets in the grocery store, but somehow the final product always fell short of that initial dish I fell in love with in Hood River, that was until I came across this recipe about a year back.  With some creative amendments I finally found it and that’s “What’s For Dinner Wednesday” at our house!

Ingredients

2 ½ T. Cornstarch, divided

Dash of Salt

1 lb. tenderized and thinly sliced beef sirloin or top round steak

2-3 T of oil

1-1   ¼  cups Chicken Broth

4-5 cups fresh cut up Broccoli florets

2 small cans of sliced Water Chesnuts

1 medium can of Baby Corn (cut into ¾ inch pieces)

1 T.  Ginger powder or minced fresh Ginger

2-3 t. minced garlic

¼ t. red pepper flakes

¼ cup Soy Sauce

½ cup Water

Instructions

Toss sliced beef in the corn starch.  Place into a pan with the heated oil to brown.  Cook until done, remove cooked beef from the pan and set aside.  Add in the chicken broth, broccoli, water chestnuts and baby corn.  Cover and cook until near your preference of tenderness.  Uncover the pan and add ginger, garlic and the red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute.

In a cup, mix soy sauce, remaining ½ cup broth and the other half of the cornstarch and water until blended.  Add to the mixture in the pan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes to thicken.  Once thickened add the beef to the mixture and toss to cover the all of the ingredients.  Enjoy!

Although I initially gleaned this recipe from Weight Watchers, I have added on to make this home-made, full flavor Beef and Broccoli dish work for our family.  Best served over steamed rice it is sure to tickle the senses and please the family.  Enjoy!

Although the theme of this year’s Crook County High School prom is Neon Nights, the hustle and bustle around town could quite possibly indicate it could be called a “Positively Prineville Prom”.  One might think this sentiment odd until you look around town at the many small businesses gearing up to make the community’s teenagers night out one to remember.  From Prineville Men’s Wear renting out tuxedos for the boys to the many salons helping our girls look their best, one thing is very evident, the whole town is involved in the process.

In just a short tour of our little burg I was able to find three small businesses that have ramped up efforts this week to ensure the needs of our young people are met.

A quick stop by The Posie Shoppe ( http://www.theposieshoppe.com) to visit with Michelle McMichael about flower trends for the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday led me on a fashion escapade exploring the latest trends in prom corsages.  With fancy bracelets made of rhinestones, pearls and beautiful bobbles and beads topped off by vibrant flowers and feathers, the extravagant wrist décor is sure to make any girl feel like a princess.

Down the street at Urban Girl, brightly colored accessories adorned the walls and display tables in a variety of trendy trinkets made to accent anyone’s favorite outfit.   From fashionable little evening bags to hair accessories there were a number of options for the upcoming event.  However it appeared to be the luminously colored neon eye glitter in bright blue, pink and yellow that has been in vogue for this year’s prom.

With still another fun twist on prom, local veteran photographer Kathy Hayes from Kathy Hayes Photography ( http://www.kathy-hayesphotography.blogspot.com )  is offering fun pre-festivity photos to the young people of our community.  Prom goers can stop by the amphitheater by the Les Schwab fields to have fun and creative photos taken with their friends and dates.

In its second year, the event is sure to be a popular one again this year as it drew over fifty kids in its kick-off season.  With unique poses chosen by the young people, Hayes snaps away as the kids laugh and celebrate their evening out.  When ask about creating the event, she fondly noted, “I love the fun stuff.  I just wanted the kids to have something fun to remember their night.”

Hayes noted she will be at the amphitheater to start her first photos about 4:30-4:45 and will stay as long as the kids want their pictures taken.  There is no need to make an appointment and the photos  are on a first come first serve basis.  She also mentioned there is no cost for the photo session itself, but she does charge $15 for a CD with the session’s photos.  She explained she tried to keep the price low so the students could afford it.  For more information Kathy can be reached at 541-410-7379 or you can check out some of her great work at her blog address above.

With excitement for the event building throughout the day, this evening’s event is sure to be amazing.  Thankfully for the young people of Crook County they have a number of resources that are going out of their way to make their special day just a little bit brighter.   A huge salute from all of us at Prineville Territory to all the businesses and patrons out there making this a Positively Prineville Prom!

The people of Prineville never cease to amaze me when it comes to generosity and supporting kids.  This weekend is no exception with the Crook County Bowl for Kids’ Sake taking place at Rimrock Lanes Bowling Alley in Prineville this Saturday April 28^, 2012 from noon-2 PM.  The event which benefits the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Crook County is in its seventh year and tailored after the organization’s national model to raise funds for this valuable community based program.

Crook County Program Coordinator Sonia Hill took a moment to talk about the value of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program here in Crook County.  As a community based one to one mentoring program this organization teams up boys and girls with adults in the community who are willing to donate their time to these youngsters.  From fishing and ice cream dates to a variety of group events, the mentors generally spend up to twelve hours a month with their newly found little friends.

Paired with mentors and kids of similar interests, the duos will generally stay together for a couple of years, however Sonia noted, “Our average time together for our bigs and littles far exceeds the national goal, with the oldest match in Crook County at five years.”  Although Hill explained through continued recruitment our local program is thriving, she is always on the look-out for new volunteers.

When ask about the qualifications needed to become a big brother or big sister, she explained although the process is thorough to put the kids safety first it is actually quite simple.  A mentor must be at least 18 years of age and be able to pass a criminal background check as well as supply three personal letters of reference.  After this step mentors are then interviewed by Hill who asks a number of questions to try to match the mentors up with the perfect “little” as the kids are referred to.

Funds from this weekend’s event go to help cover a variety of expenses ranging from background checks to program activities throughout the year.  One popular activity Hill mentioned was the annual Trees for Kids program where the mentors are teamed with their littles for an expedition to the forest to have a bon fire, hot chocolate and cut down a Christmas tree.

Hill credits her board and the many fine teams and sponsors with making this event happen.  She explained each team, which can be made up of individuals or businesses is encouraged to raise $250 for the event and most teams are made up of 4-6 people.  She noted that this year, board chairman and the Prineville Bank of the Cascades branch manager Craig Hunt helped build support for the program by challenging other banks around town to a fundraising contest to see who could raise the most funds for the event.  Hunt and his staff buffed up their chance of winning with a fun bowl for a buck game located inside the bank.

Participants from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Crook County recently came together to decorate bowling pins to promote the event this weekend. The pins can be seen at a number of merchants in downtown Prineville.

Even the kids were able to get involved in the fun to help promote the cause by meeting earlier this spring to decorate bowling pins to be displayed by a variety of businesses around town including the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce, Home Federal Bank, and South Valley Bank.

With sponsorship anchored by King Pin sponsor Facebook a number of other partners have also came together to make this event possible including the Lucky Strike sponsor, the Prineville Les Schwab Store and Spare Sponsors including the Rotary Club of Crook County, Home Federal Bank, Oregonians Credit Union, and the Prineville Kiwanis Club.

With excitement building for the event, Hill explained the goal for this weekend is to raise $9,000 to help aide the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in building strong young people in our community.  She was quick to note, “All of the money raised in our community stays in our community.”  Hats off to Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinator Sonia Hill, Board Chairman Craig Hunt and the many other fine participants, board members, and partners that are coming together to make this event a great one!

The Prineville Police Department sported a team for the 2011 Bowl For Kids' Sake event.

Sizzling Fajitas served with warm tortillas, refried beans, rice, salad, avocados and sour cream.

I have to admit I am a sucker for Mexican food.  From enchiladas to chile rellenos, short of Menudo I love most types of Mexican food.  This week as I contemplated which recipe to use for “What’s For Dinner Wednesday” I thought back to my early days at college ultimately digging up one of my favorite meals.

Working at a family-owned Mexican food restaurant in Bend in the late 1980’s afforded me the opportunity to not only gain a bit of extra spending money, but also learn to cook my favorite cuisine.  As with many of the family members, as one of the few outside employees I was expected to do a myriad of duties from washing dishes to serving as a hostess  however one of my favorite jobs was working in the kitchen with the matriarch of the family learning how to cook all of the delicious savory meals they offered.

With that said, one of my favorite dishes was the Fajita.  I always loved the rich and enticing aroma of the green peppers and onions mixed with the Southwest spices as it was served sizzling hot to table.  Teamed with fresh warm tortillas, rice and beans this dish always tantalized my senses and left me ready to dig in.

Since that time I have learned a bit more about cooking and over the years I have expanded my recipe collection, but Fajitas still remain one of my favorites.  As I share this recipe with you, it brings back fond memories of a more carefree time and an extended family that took me under their wing to show me the ropes of cooking. Steak Fajitas , that’s “What’s For Dinner Wednesday” at our house.  Mmmm…..

Steak Fajitas

1/4c-½ c. butter

About 1 lb. steak (thinly sliced cross-cut round steak, flank steak or another mid-priced cut of beef)

½ c-1c. Worcestershire Sauce

2 medium to large onions (thinly sliced)

2 medium to large bell peppers (thinly sliced)

1-2 Medium Tomatoes (cut into quarters or use multiple cherry tomatoes)

1-2 T. Cumin

1-2 T. Garlic Powder

1-2 T. Salt

Marinate the steak in the Worcestershire sauce for 15 minutes.  Add butter to a deeper sided frying pan and melt.  Once the butter is melted, add the steak and Worcestershire to the pan.  Add the cumin, garlic powder, and salt.  Cook the meat until the meat is almost cooked through.  Add the sliced peppers and onions and cook until desired crispness is reached.  Add the tomatoes about 3-5 minutes before the end of the cooking process.

Serving

Serve the sizzling Fajita mixture with warm flour tortillas, refried beans, salad, sour cream, guacamole or sliced avocados, shredded cheese and fresh salsa.  One can also substitute chicken in place of the steak.  Warning, this mixture will be messy, but so well worth it.

The elegant grandeur of the beautiful weeping willow budding out on McKay Road in Prineville caught my eye on Monday.

Although I enjoy spring for many reasons, it is perhaps Mother Nature’s canvas that impresses me the most. It is her brilliant brush strokes filling our world with vibrant colors that make one’s everyday life just a little brighter. Whether it is the sun emerging from behind a thunder cloud to highlight an emerald green pasture that has just been freshly bathed in rain droplets or a favorite tree budding out for the first time this year, the beautiful moments have been plentiful this spring.

I like to call these precious breathtaking views, Forrest Gump moments. They are the little things that make one hesitate for just a moment longer to soak in the beauty and wonderment of the scene. A place where time seems to stand still and one can drop the hustle and bustle of everyday life to commit to memory that one magical moment in every day.

As Mother Nature unfolds her art work in front of us, I challenge each and every one of you to take a moment out of your busy day to stop and admire the beauty in front of you. It is one moment, on one day that will never be presented before you again. As the famous writer and poet Goethe once noted, “Nothing is worth more than this day.”

Fifteen year old FFA member Dusti Elliot from Prineville enjoys working with her new pigs.

The feed stores are filled with expectant new parents and enthusiastic  kids jockeying for position to buy the  perfect feed and best new equipment for their projects.  In addition, stories of their new charges abound as families share their experiences and enthusiasm for their new adventure. However more importantly it is a time for bonding and growth, not only between the young person and their new project animal, but also between other club members, their mentors and support system that is ever-growing around them.

Although many may think it is a seemingly easy process to raise and show a project animal for county fair and while it is relatively simple, to be exceptional at it takes a lot of hard work and dedication on not only the part of the student, but their parents and the rest of the support system around them.

One case in point is Cathy Bartels, a local Crook County Shepherd who is hosting her very first project lamb sale this weekend in Prineville. Bartels, who is a veteran show parent, 4-H leader, and dedicated agricultural enthusiast is excited by the opportunity.  Born of a number of years of hard work and dedication to improving her flock, Bartels finally decided it was time to open up her barn to the community and offer about twenty head of blue ribbon quality lambs to kids from around the area.

Although Bartels and her family have sold out of their high quality lambs for years, she finally decided it was time to launch her own sale as it is getting harder to determine which kid gets which lamb. As she noted, “Even though we would sell out each year, I really struggle with the process of who gets what lamb.”

To help anchor her inaugural sale, Cathy needed a few extra lambs so she brought in her long time friend and fellow club lamb producer Harry Sampson from Yreka, California. Sampson, an agriculture instructor in the area is one of the most competitive producers of club lambs on the west coast winning a number of major shows throughout the West. In addition, she has brought in another friend and fellow cattle breeder Stan Deupree from Eagle Point to call the sale.

Based on a simple live lot system, youngsters will have a chance to bid on their favorite lambs one by one as they cross the stage jockeying for the chance to take home their favorite. Cathy noted that the preview starts at 10 AM this Sunday April 22nd with a free lunch to follow at noon and the sale is scheduled to start at 1 PM. The sale is scheduled to take place at Bartels farm located at 2175 NE Sunrise Lane in Prineville.

With all of the  fan fare one might think it is all about the money to Bartels and her family, but as Cathy notes the most important part to her is creating the relationships with the families and the kids. To help bolster this theory, Bartels is planning a summer lamb clinic for anyone buying a lamb for her sale. Although the date has yet to be determined she will be bringing in a number of successful young people from throughout the West Coast to teach the youngsters with their new lambs how to raise and show their lambs to the best of their abilities. To find out more about the sale, Cathy can be contacted at 541-420-2470 or 4bartels@prinetime.net.

Come out and support the Bartels family with their first ever Secret To Success Club Lamb Sale this weekend.

On the other end of the spectrum, fifteen year old Dusti Elliot and her mom Chera have embarked on an amazing journey.  One that led them to Idaho and two new project pigs.  Although Dusti has shown pigs in 4-H for the past five years, she recently became a freshman at Crook County High School and joined FFA. With this jump into FFA Elliot decided she wanted to try her hand at raising pigs in addition showing a market hog at county fair. With her goals set, the mother /daughter duo along with another youngster made a trip over the border to a producer in Southern Idaho who specializes in selling show pigs to youngsters. It was on that visit last month that Dusti was able to not only pick out her 2012 Crook County Fair market pig, but also a beautiful little red Duroc gilt that she will ultimately use to raise baby pigs to sell to other 4-H and FFA members.

It was while on this trek that the duo realized that they had ran into not only a new set of friends, but also a new set of mentors. With the help of the producers, Dusti’s pigs were delivered to Central Oregon last weekend and she has been having a blast pampering her new charges ever since. Excited and ready to look forward to her first county fair as an FFA member, Dusti is primed and ready to dive into the 2012 show season which t starts soon with a number of open junior shows around Central Oregon.

Although these are only two of the many fine families involved in the 4-H and FFA process, the stories of quality young people gaining not only skills, but networking capabilities from their projects are endless. I think perhaps Cathy Bartels might have summed it up best when she pointed out, “It is not as much about the raising the lambs as it is about raising and developing the kids.”   Hats off to all of the hard working young individuals  that are doing their best with their new livestock projects.   Prineville Territory wishes all of them the best of luck in their endeavors!

When searching for a recipe to kick off our “What’s For Dinner Wednesday” series I decided the perfect match was my mother-in-law’s Swedish Meatball Recipe.  The versatile dish can be prepped ahead of time and then easily thrown in a crockpot to finish up or it can be slimmed down for the more calorie conscious diner.  Any way you make this delicious dish, it is the perfect warm meal to eat after a chilly evening spent watching spring sports or working in the yard.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

2 TBS Minced Onion

1 TBS Chopped Parsley

1 Egg

1/3 cup Tomato Juice

1 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

1 cup Oatmeal

1/8 tsp Nutmeg

1 can Mushroom Soup

1/2 can Buttermilk

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except the soup and buttermilk.   Shape the mixture into meatballs and place on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil.  Broil the meatballs approximately 25-30 minutes (or until brown and cooked through) at about 425*F.  Remove meatballs from the oven and let rest.  When slightly cooled place the meatballs in a baking dish.  Combine the mushroom soup and buttermilk together and pour over the meatballs.  Bake the meatballs and sauce at 300 *F for approximtely 1 hour.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving over egg noodles or rice.

This dish will serve between four to six average people.  To stretch it to serve a heartier appetite or more people use bread crumbs and an extra egg.  You can also create extra sauce by adding a second can of soup and another half of a can of buttermilk.  In addition to lean up this dish substitute half of the hamburger with turkey burger and low fat mushroom soup. One can also substitute store bought meatballs or make the meatballs ahead of time in large quanitities and freeze them for quick use.

Swedish Meatballs….Mmmm.  Now that’s What’s For Dinner Wednesday at our house.

           

Contact: Lisa Goodman

Phone: 541.706.6997

Cell: 541.419.2381     

lmgoodman@stcharleshealthcare.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 12, 2012

Pioneer Memorial Hospice kicks off raffle for 2012 Ford F-150 Crew Cab

Prineville, Ore. — Pioneer Memorial Hospice invites the community to join its staff and volunteers April 24 to kick off its raffle for a 2012 Ford F-150 Crew Cab.

The raffle, which will take place Dec. 1 as part of Pioneer Memorial Hospice’s 21^st Annual Hospice Christmas Auction, is a fundraiser to support hospice patients.

“Our census for hospice and transitions is running an average of 75 patients per month,” said Kay Kludt, Pioneer Memorial Hospice volunteer coordinator. “In order for us to provide the care that is necessary for our community, we need to raise more money.”

Kludt said funds raised this year will not only support uninsured patients, but also will allow Pioneer Memorial Hospice to hire two massage therapists to enhance patient care.

The April 24 kick-off event will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the front entrance of Pioneer Memorial Hospital, where tickets will be sold for $50 each and refreshments will be provided.

The Ford F-150 will be on display at the kick off, as well as at major events this summer including the Crooked River Roundup, the U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle and the Old Mill’s free summer concert series.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates the St. Charles medical centers in Bend and Redmond, leases and operates Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville and provides management services forMountain View Hospital in Madras. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 3,000 caregivers in Bend, Redmond and Prineville. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with St. Charles to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

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