2
The Bakersfield Voice Sunday, May 1, 2011
www.bakersfieldvoice.com
Share stories, photos, blogs ■ Submitting your stories for The Bakersfield Voice is simple and FREE! Just go to: bakersfieldvoice.com and create a profile.
■ Choose what you’d like to contribute (an article, letter, picture or community event listing) and post it yourself. ■ Still need help getting your contributions onto our website? E-mail Sandra Molen at smolen@bakersfield.com ■ Circulation: If you would like to receive our weekly publication or cancel delivery, please e-mail: voicedelivery@bakersfield.com or call 392-5777. Be sure to include your request, contact information and address.
YOUR PETS
Shelter animals rely on kindness of strangers for a better life
I
f you are an animal lover, you’d have to have been living under a rock for the past month not to be aware of Patrick, the dog who was starved nearly to death and thrown down a garbage chute, only to be rescued at nearly the last possible moment. His story has dominated animal blogs, Facebook news feeds and discussions about animal maltreatment. People around the world are invested in his recovery and his fame has led to disagreements about everything from the use of his images to what happens to him when he’s ready for adoption. I’ve followed his case, too. Seeing the outpouring of support for him reminds me of the local case of Lacey, the small terrier-mix who was seized by animal control and placed in foster care pending the outcome of the criminal case against her alleged abuser. In both cases there was an enormous outpouring of support from people all over the world, including dozens of offers to adopt these dogs. It seems assured that regardless of their difficult beginning, both of these dogs will eventually be able
to live out their lives in safety and comfort, as is fitting. But what about the rest? How do we make every shelter animal as wanted as Patrick and Lacey? In the end, Patrick is a young male pit bull — one who, unlike the thousands of other young male pitties sitting in shelters across the country, has people lined up wanting to include him in their Pet columnist homes and lives. What about those pitties, and the thousands of other dogs and cats, waiting for a chance to have a safe, loving, forever home? Are their stories of abandonment less com-
VICKY THRASHER
pelling, their eyes less soulful, their hearts less loyal? Aren’t the companion animals in our shelters right this very minute worthy of a toy, a treat or a soft blanket upon which to rest their body? Of course they are. The shelter animals in our community are worth every photograph we can take and share, every treat we can buy, bake or bring for their enjoyment, every towel or blanket we can donate, and every effort we as a community can make to get them out of the shelters and into loving, forever homes. Because regardless of their size, shape, breed, species, age or circumstance, when it comes down to it, they are all Patrick, relying on the kindness of strangers to give them a better life. As we follow Patrick’s story and cheer for his recovery and eventual adoption, let's not forget that. Want more animal posts, news and notes? Join Paw Print City Times at our website: www.pawprintcitytimes.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pawprintcitytimes.
YOUR RECIPES
CALIFORNIAN FILE
Bakersfield Animal Shelter worker Janet Johnson returns a water hose after cleaning out kennels that will soon be upgraded to prevent the spread of disease. Now is an especially good time to adopt a pet, officials say.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Easy, delicioso recipes for Cinco de Mayo BY CANDICE ROGERS Community contributor
I
’ve been cooking a lot with tequila lately; it really brings a nice, bold flavor into the mix. Recently, I made some Tequila Citrus Pork Tacos and what I like to call Arroz De La Weda (White Girl Rice). The pork was great, although I was unhappy because I ran out of corn tortillas and had to use flour instead. I prefer the corn, although the taco was pretty tasty wrapped up in the flour tortilla. The whole thing, start to finish, took 30 minutes, but I was really dragging since I just got back from the gym — and it was a weeknight. Blah Blah. Next time I’m making some homemade tortillas on the weekend and freezing them raw until I need them. Homemade is ALWAYS better than store-bought. Here’s a few tips before you get started: * Freeze your pork chops for about 30 minutes before you start, they will be so much easier to cube! * Fry some cheese on your tortilla to make a nice crispy, cheesy crust on the inside of your tortilla. On high heat, sprinkle a nice layer of cheese on a non-stick skillet, place your tortilla on top of the melting cheese, let cheese melt and stick onto tortilla, then press down on your tortilla making sure it sticks and catches all the cheesy goodness. Let your cheese brown, if cheese is being stubborn, just use a spatula to un-stick it from the skillet, then lift it out with a wooden or plastic spatula and set aside. Then spread your pork and other toppings on top of
the cheese crust. Delicioso! * Don’t use a cast iron skillet to fry your cheese. Yes, I did this — which is why my cast iron skillet still hates me! Tequila Citrus Pork Tacos Serves 3-4 2 lbs boneless pork chops, cut in tiny pieces 1/4 cup of chopped pancetta or bacon 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1/4 cup tequila Juice from 1/2 of a lemon 1 clove garlic, smashed 2 tsp chili powder Salt and pepper to taste Add pancetta to pan on high heat and cook until juices start to run out. Add onion and tequila letting onions sweat for about 2 minutes. Add pork, garlic, lemon juice, and chili
powder and cook until pork is no longer pink in the middle. Add salt and pepper to taste. Make your fried cheese tortillas as explained above using whatever kind of cheese you prefer. I have tried just about everything but the best is Cheddar, mozzarella, or a “Mexican cheese blend.” Now add your toppings! I usually cut up some cabbage and top with sour cream and avocado. Enjoy! Arroz De La Weda (White Girl Rice) Serves 4 1 1/2 cup Jasmine rice 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, smashed 1 cup green tomato or tomatillo salsa 1 1/2 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup water 1 Tbsp chicken bullion or tomato/chicken bullion Add oil to skillet on high heat, add rice and brown until grains are nice and toasty on all sides. Avoid burning by stirring around every 30 seconds. Add the rest of your ingredients and stir around. Bring to a boil, then turn down to medium heat, you can throw a jalapeno in the middle of your cooking rice to add a little heat if desired. Cover, and simmer until rice is done. Check periodically and add water if needed. Don’t stir your rice around until it's done or it will get gummy. Like what you see? Wanna read more? Need more easy recipes? Follow me here: www.theoldladyatheart.blogspot.com.
Do YOU have a special recipe you enjoy making with friends and family? We’d love to try your recipes — and see photos of you and your favorite cooks stirring, chopping, dicing and baking. Share your favorite recipes at www.bakersfieldvoice.com today AND see your favorite recipe — and messy kitchen — featured in the next Bakersfield Voice!
EXTRA! EXTRA!
PROVIDED PHOTO
Viki Radden, a teacher at South High School, will compete with 14 other Jeopardy! contestants for $100,000 during the Teachers Tournament, which will recognize the importance of education. Good luck, Viki!
Teacher wins spot on ‘Jeopardy!’ COURTESY OF JEOPARDY PRODUCTIONS, INC. iki Radden, a teacher at South High School in Bakersfield, is one of 15 players selected to compete in the first-ever Teachers Tournament on “Jeopardy!” On March 28-29, Radden traveled to Sony Pictures Television in Culver City, Calif., for the taping.
V
The episodes will air May 2-13. This season, “Jeopardy!” will recognize the importance of education by hosting its first-ever Teachers Tournament. This is the first time a new competition has been introduced on the quiz show since Kids Week in 1999. The winner will receive $100,000 and a guaranteed spot in the Tournament of Champions later this year.
Graduation dresses collected for students in need BY MEGAN TACKITT Community contributor
T
he Give Love, Get Joy Foundation has collected new and gently used dresses for graduation and will be giving them to girls who cannot afford one. This will help them experience an opportunity to
attend their school graduation with confidence. If you need a dress or would like to nominate a student to receive a dress, please contact Noriega House at 633-9016. We will be giving the dresses out on Tuesday, May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.
CELEBRATIONS
PROVIDED PHOTO
Monica Nelson’s painting entitled “Joshua Tree.”
PROVIDED PHOTO
Monica Nelson’s painting entitled “Walk by the Kern.”
First Friday art opening at Juliana’s Art Studio BY JULIANA BERNIER DOOLEY Community contributor
J
uliana’s Art Studio and Gallery will feature Monica Nelson Recent Paintings in a Solo Exhibition Friday, May 6, at 501 18th St. An opening reception will be held at Juliana's as part of First Friday Art District from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. In the last few years Nelson’s art has been exhibited in prominent jury shows along with
the nation’s best representational painters. This past year she coordinated the first ever Arts Pavilion at the Bakersfield Business Conference with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Arts Council of Kern and The Bakersfield Museum of Art. Nelson combines techniques of the Renaissance, 19th century French Salon and Hudson River Painters, which has allowed her the free-
dom to explore the fine details of form and yet attain a feeling of light. Based on the complexity of the subject, each work averages between 30-80 hours to complete. Nelson’s paintings are in private collections nationwide. To see more of her work visit our web site a: JulianasArtStudioGallery.com or her web site at: MonicaNelsonart.com. The show will end May 31.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Libby Doolittle and Jose Maciel completed the Tour de Palm Springs Century Ride (102 miles) on Feb. 12.
A grueling, fun cycling milestone FROM WWW.MYBAKERSFIELDSPORTS.COM Community contributor
T
he Bakersfield Eastside Finishliners accomplished another cycling milestone. On February 12 members Libby Doolittle and Jose Maciel completed the Tour de Palm
Spring Century Ride (102 miles). It was, at times, fun, grueling and exciting. It elicited the “what was I thinking” reaction, but with perseverance and lots of training, the finish line was crossed with much relief, sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.