ILLINOIS VALLEY
Boomers
TODAY June 2022
FLYING HIGH
TBM Avengers Reunion serves up nostalgia
Also: n
Mendota man’s role in honoring the LST 325
n Meet
the Spring Valley man who makes guitars
n Recipes
publication
to help you reduce your sodium intake
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Simple joys T
here’s something magical about this time of the year. As a newto-the-game gardening enthusiast, I’m always thrilled to see my chives sprouting up with no effort on my part, my lilies poking up through the ground, my irises blooming, and smelling the basil and rosemary when I walk into my backyard. Gardening has become one of the simple joys in my life. Simple joys are all around us, but they’re often only fully appreciated by young children and those who have reached middle age and older. Young children are thrilled by the things many of us take for granted because they’re so new to them. It’s so much fun to see the unadulterated joy in a child’s face when they’re taking their first steps, riding a bike without training wheels, or eating a
small ice cream cone. Older people appreciate their simple joys for a much deeper reason – they know how fleeting these moments are. Whether it’s a slow walk on a gorgeous spring day or quietly sipping a glass of wine on their deck as the sun goes down, they’re mindful of the moment and appreciative that they get to experience it. These days, I’m much closer to being a senior citizen than I am to my childhood years, and my recent birthday might be the reason I’ve given so much thought to simple joys lately. It’s so easy to overlook simple joys with our often overpacked schedules and our seemingly never-ending list of chores or errands. But they’re important – it’s those quiet moments when we can reflect on our lives, exhale, and just simply
be. So, I’m constantly reminding myself to slow down and enjoy being in the moment rather than thinking about my next one. Every time I head to my backyard to break off a sprig of mint to throw in my homemade limeade or grab some oregano to add to the spaghetti sauce I’m making, I take a moment to fully enjoy the sanctuary I’ve created in my backyard. I’m always amazed that I can plant small seeds and that they reliably sprout up into something useful, with very little work on my part. For me, gardening is a constant reminder that there’s so much beauty in this world and that wondrous things are happening all around us, even when we’re not paying attention.
Best wishes, Shannon Serpette, Niche Editor
Boomers Today
Contents
426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com
‘I wonder if I can make that’ 4
Spring Valley man goes to a concert and decides to make guitars.
Publisher Dan Goetz Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
“Bringing Home a Hero” 9 Mendota native crews a true battle hero.
Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Bombs Away! 12
Writers David Cook Brandon LaChance Shannon Serpette
The TBM Avengers Reunion was successful despite rain.
Easing Off The Saltshaker 18
Don’t take your doctor’s advice to reduce sodium with a grain of salt.
Photographers David Cook Brandon LaChance Designer Liz Klein
On the cover: The Avenger Torpedo Bomber was an important part of the Pacific War. Armaments include a bomb bay capable of holding one torpedo, one 2,000-pound bomb, or up to four 500-pound bombs, and three .30-caliber machine guns. It has a top speed of 267 miles per hour and a range of 1,130 miles. PHOTO BY DAVID COOK
Published by: est. 1851
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 3
Story and photos by Brandon LaChance
Spring Valley man goes to a concert and decides to make guitars I t seemed simple. It would be fun and a creative project. It looked like something Jim Klein could do. So, he did. On a whim, Jim Klein started creating and building cigar box guitars and telecaster electric guitars. “I saw a guy playing one of the cigar box guitars. They have a really cool sound to them,” said Klein, 59, who was born, raised, and still resides in Spring Valley. “I saw them on a YouTube video. I thought, ‘I wonder if I can make that.’ So, I made one. Then I started making teles (telecasters). I just got into it.” There was some trial and error involved, though. “I watched a lot of videos and did a lot of reading on how to make guitars. I messed up a bunch of them,” he said. “I’ve made necks before and took them out to the fire pit to use them for kindling because I screwed them up. But you learn, and next time you don’t do it that way and you try something else.”
4 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
The YouTube videos and reading led him to find a process that worked for him and his skill set. Klein had worked in construction for most of his life until a couple of back surgeries led him to drive a semi-truck for the last 12 years. The construction background makes it easy for Klein to create and build, and the truck driving job gives him time to make guitars in his garage. “The first thing you have to do is have a template,” said Klein. “You take the template, put it on the wood, and then route out all of the cavities. Then you put on whatever kind of finish you want, whether you want to paint or stain and varnish. “The neck is the same way. You have to use a template to copy it. You use double-stick tape and put it on a piece of wood to cut the
See KLEIN page 6
Jim Klein, born and raised in Spring Valley, saw a band eight years ago, and one of the guitarists was playing a cigar box guitar. Klein thought he’d try to make one. Now, he makes those and any other type of guitar on request or simply for fun.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 5
“It is satisfying when someone buys a guitar I make, and they play it. That’s the part that I like the best. If it’s a local guy, I always go watch them play with a guitar I made. When you see them playing, it’s pretty neat.” Jim Klein
Klein
FROM PAGE 4
neck out. You put the fretboard on, and then you have to put all of the frets in. Then comes the pickups, and you have to wire them all and add the volume and tones,” he said. Klein made his first guitar (a three-string cigar box guitar) eight years ago and sold it to Chris Cowell, a musician out of Nashville. Since then, he has made 30 guitars, with all of them taking 6 to 8 weeks to perfect. Klein said if he didn’t have a full-time job, he could have a guitar done in two weeks. The craft started with him making a few pieces for fun. Now, he has orders, and as soon as he gets one guitar done, it’s time for the next. On the rare chance a musician doesn’t have a request, Klein goes back to making one for fun that he’ll eventually sell anyway. “I did give one guitar as a gift to Garrett Arwood. He was only 15 years old, and I saw him playing at Jamie’s Outpost in Utica. It was a guitar I made for myself. I was taking lessons and I couldn’t learn how to play. The guitar was in a case underneath my bed for a couple of years,” Klein said. “I saw him playing there that day, and I approached him and his dad to ask him if he wanted it. I just gave it to him. He uses it all the time in his band, Nutzy Mac.” Instead of pretending he could play the instrument he’s infatuated with, it became a better idea to make guitars for people who had the talent to play them. Klein is also the architect behind guitars played by Chris Farrell, the lead singer of Nutzy Mac; Craig Gerdes, who has the first telecaster guitar Klein made; musicians in Nashville and Mississippi; and guitars auctioned off by the Toy Run to help it raise money. “For me, it’s a good pastime because I’m doing something I want to do,” Klein said. “It’s relaxing. I’d rather do this than my job. It is satisfying when someone buys a guitar I make, and they play it. That’s the part that I like the best. If it’s a local guy, I always go watch them play with a guitar I made. When you see them playing, it’s pretty neat.”
This is one of Jim Klein’s finished three-string cigar box guitars. Klein saw a musician play a three-string cigar box guitar in person and decided he’d like to try to make one. Eight years later, after some trial and error, he makes them for musicians from all over the country.
6 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
Jim Klein uses templates to make guitars.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 7
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Five Sunscreen Facts that You Didn’t Know
The summer sun is upon us, and we thought it would be interesting to pick the brain of our local cosmetic dermatology expert to see what we could learn about sunscreen and the effects of sun on our skin. We asked Dr. Norris at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, Illinois to answer our “burning” questions.
Dr. Norris, what is the ideal SPF for the best sunscreen protection? “The ideal sunscreen SPF is between SPF 30 and SPF 45. Less than that is not enough and more than that does not add significant protection. Most make-up that has SPF in it is less than SPF 30 and therefore is not enough by itself. Sunscreens sold with SPF over 50 are just a marketing gimmick to get you to pay more because you assume you are getting double the sun protection. The amount a person trying to have fewer age spots or you are of added sun protection between SPF 45 and SPF 100 afflicted with a condition called melasma, you should is 1%.” avoid self-tanner products and the sun. I often tell my patients that being tan is over-rated and skin that is How long does sunscreen last and what else protects free of brown spots and wrinkles, whatever the color, us from harmful UVA and UVB radiation? “Once is always in style.” applied, sunscreen is active on the skin about 2 hours and then it needs to be reapplied, especially if you are Are there some sunscreens that are better for our in the water or sweating. Topical skin care products skin and the ocean reefs than others? “There are 2 types that contain higher concentrations of Vitamin C or E of sunscreens. They are classified as chemical-defense (antioxidants) can afford additional protection as they or physical defense. Chemical defense sunscreens can last up to 6 hours in the skin reversing the damage work by absorbing UVA/UVB rays like a sponge. from UVA/UVB radiation. UVA/UVB radiation causes They, however, can be irritating to people who have skin cancer and signs of skin aging. Most sunscreen sensitive skin, and they are not good to wear in the does not contain antioxidants, but you can apply ocean as there is evidence that they are contributing these topical antioxidants for added protection prior to destroying the reefs and the sea life that depend on to sunscreen if yours does not contain antioxidants.” reefs. Physical defense sunscreens, which include zinc When should we wear sunscreen? “I educate my oxide and titanium dioxide, sit on the skin and act patients to wear sunscreen on their face daily. Even as a barrier to prevent UVA/UVB absorption. These on cloudy days, we are absorbing UVA and UVB mineral-based sunscreens are considered reef safe and radiation through windows, when outside and from are the least irritating to sensitive skin so are better for lightbulbs! Many of my patients are surprised to learn children’s skin, patients with rosacea or melasma, and that we get just as much UVA/UVB radiation from anyone concerned with ocean reef preservation.” LED lights in our homes and work environments Dr. Norris went on to tell us that she and her as from the sun. A SPF 30 sunscreen mixed with a team have researched many sunscreens and have what moisturizer is a good everyday sunscreen when we are in temperature-controlled environments. When we are they consider the “best” in their office for purchase. exposed to hot temps or working outside, sunscreen Dr. Norris goes on, “Sunscreen prevents signs of skin moisturizers melt right off, so then it is important that aging and all forms of skin cancer. It is really the skin care product that you should invest the most money the label says waterproof sunscreen.” and time applying. It should be something that feels Are self-tanner products safe? “Self-tanning lotions good on your skin and that you put on as soon as you are lotions with chemicals that irritate our cells in our wash your face in the morning. If you don’t have a skin that produce brown pigment called melanosomes. sunscreen that you love and can’t wait to apply each When we get a tan from the sun, it is because we have day, call us and we can introduce you to sunscreen that sufficiently irritated our melanosomes. Whether it is doesn’t feel like sunscreen!” Call 815-780-8264 for more a chemical irritation or a UVA/UVB irritation, both information on sunscreen and to schedule your antiforms of insult create pigment in our skin. If you are aging consultation with Dr. Norris today! SM-LA1986192
8 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
Ken Olson of Mendota stands near the LST 325. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“Bringing Home a Hero” Mendota native crews a true battle hero Story by Brandon LaChance It wasn’t his stint with the Navy during the Vietnam War. It wasn’t his love for water or being on a ship. Ken Olson wanted to join the LST 325 because of a book, “Bringing Home a Hero.” “The ship was on loan to the Greek Navy. Greece had parked the ship and was going to scrap it,” Olson recalled from his reading.
“There was a group in the United States that wanted to bring ships back and make museums out of them. They went over there and picked one ship out of three of them because they thought it was in the best shape. “They took some parts off of one of the other ones and got it running. With a lot of luck, they were able to bring it back. I read the book, and that’s what got me interested
in being a part of the LST 325, a true battle hero.” LST stands for Landing Ship Tank, which was conceptualized by Winston Churchill when he sketched it on a napkin. The tank is designed to go to shore, open the door, and lower a ramp for tanks and other military vehicles to leave the ship. The LST 325 was used during D-Day (June See HERO page 10
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 9
The LST 325, which was used on D-Day during World War II, started a journey on the Ohio River in 2021, but it had to end because of a Covid-19 outbreak. This fall, the LST 325 — the only WWII combat ship able to move through the water on its own power — will restart its Ohio River trip. Until then, visitors can board the ship at its museum dock in Evansville, Indiana. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Hero
“In three days, we had 11,000 visitors, but we ended the trip early because of a Covid-19 FROM PAGE 9 outbreak. We are going to finish the cruise this fall. We 6, 1944) as it brought supplies wanted to take a trip down the Mississippi River, but we and troops and transported decided we needed to finish the wounded back to safety. the Ohio River journey first. With the ship docked in “If you go to the museum in Evansville, Indiana, Olson felt it was an honor to be part Evansville, you’ll get a guided tour. When we pull up to the of the crew that spends two ports and we let the public weeks a year – one in the spring and one in the fall – for aboard, it’s self-guided, and we have a path sort of mapped maintenance purposes and out to help people get through part of the 40-man crew who cruises the LST 325 on special and not get lost. We also tell them historical things and runs docking here and there explain parts of the ship along along rivers such as the Ohio the way.” or the Mississippi. Olson, who has lived in “In 2021, we started a cruise Mendota for 30 years with from Evansville, Indiana, where the ship is homeported, his wife Ellen, enjoys the company while he is on the toward Charleston, West ship. In his five years aboard, Virginia, on the Ohio River,” he has heard sailor tales said Olson, who mans the from all over the sea. He has only WWII combat ship able conversed with non-military to power itself across waters volunteers who simply enjoy when he is on the LST 325.
10 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
being part of American history. Oh, and he likes to tell his own stories. Olson joined the Navy in January of 1971 and left in April of 1975. His first tour took place on the AO-106 USS Navasota where he was for three years during two deployments to Southeast Asia during Vietnam. He was then transferred to Guam. He had a four-year obligation, but as a commissioned officer, the Navy was able to keep him for an extra three months. “We received 12-month’s combat pay, but it was nothing like the guys that were on land or on the coast battling,” Olson remembers. “We just sailed up and down along the coast providing supplies. We carried ammunition, fuel, and food for the Destroyers and the ships that were providing support along the coast. See HERO page 17
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BOMBS AWAY!
TBM Avengers Reunion Successful Despite Rain Story and photos by David Cook
Since the first TBM Avengers Reunion was held in 2016 at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, the event has evolved into one of the area’s most popular events. Thousands of spectators from throughout the Illinois Valley visit each year to see the ever-changing line-up of vintage war planes that always includes the rare gathering of several of the famous torpedo bombers. Other attractions include aerobatic shows, flying
demonstrations, plane rides, veteran recognitions, music, food, and more. This year’s air show, held May 20-21, attracted good crowds during Friday’s day and evening events, but inclement weather canceled Saturday’s opportunity to take off into the skies above. For those who weren’t able to attend, or who just want to see and learn more, this collection of photos will help until the 2023 event lands.
The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team was in attendance with their AT-6 Texans. This plane is also known as The Pilot Maker because it was used to train so many pilots of the era. It features a maximum speed of 212 miles per hour in level flight and a range of 870 miles. Safety is always an important part of flying, and this photo shows a safety briefing between the Aeroshell team and ground personnel before an aerial performance began.
Top: The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team on approach.
12 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
The folding wings of the Avengers allowed for easier transport on aircraft carriers.
Fans enjoyed walking along the flight line to inspect the many Avengers on display.
Before taking flight, pilots made sure everything was running properly as their engines warmed. Though the engine was only at idling speed, the propeller can still be seen flexing as it rapidly cuts through the air.
Flight crews remained busy ensuring their aircraft remained ready to take to the skies.
Jim Howard of the Yankee Air Museum in Michigan is shown putting the final touch on the B-17’s necessary maintenance.
More photos on pages 14 & 15 A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 13
Nose art is another part of wartime nostalgia that’s popular with fans. Along with the Yankee Lady, the show also included the Placid Lassie, the Yankee Doodle, and Ida Red.
The B-17 in attendance, the Yankee Lady, was a massive plane and arguably the most popular one of the show because there was always a crowd inspecting it. People were also allowed to experience the interior where a crew of 10 served.
The B-25 medium bomber was used in every theater of World War II and remained in service for four decades. It had a crew of five and could carry 3,000 pounds of bombs, and it had a range of 1,350 miles and a top speed of 272 mph.
Families from across the Illinois Valley enjoyed attending the May 20th show of the TBM Avengers Reunion and Air Show at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, and many enjoyed exploring this B-25.
14 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
This Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor was one of the most stylish of the vintage aircraft on display. Roughly 4,500 of these were built between 1939-1945 for the war. Different variations were used for bombing and navigation training, aerial photography and mapping, and light transport and cargo duty.
The Placid Lassie, a C-47, can be seen here in flight with its engine, Eager Eileen, hard at work. The other wing’s engine is known as Idling Ada.
A Douglas DC-3 was also seen circling the sky above the airport. This plane was also adapted for combat as the C-47.
It’s easy to see why jets captured the imagination of the public during the early days of the jet age. This is a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, and it has a top speed of nearly 600 mph. While it debuted late in WWII and saw limited combat, it was used extensively during the Korean War.
The Flying Fortress has a wingspan of nearly 104 feet and a length of almost 75 feet. With four 1,200 horsepower engines, a ceiling of more than 35,000 feet, a range of 3,750 miles and a 9,600-pound bomb load, the B-17 was an indispensable plane for the Allied efforts.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 15
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Hero
FROM PAGE 10
“The A stands for auxiliary. They’re all combat ships and were made to cruise at about 16 knots (18.4 miles per hour), which isn’t very fast, but it was faster than the older days. If the ship was empty, we could get it to 20 knots (23 mph).” When asked about his time with the Navy, he talks about how funding had decreased because of protests in the United States. The money that was once there was skimpy as the country had burned itself into a hole financially. This forced the ships to have only 80 percent of a normal warship’s company. Being shorthanded, Olson remembers long days and long nights with extra watches. “We would sail from the Philippines and load the ship with fuel,” Olson said. “Our decks were full of containers for fresh food, and we also had pallets and pallets of
5- and 8-inch ammunition stacked on the decks to send to other ships. We may be on the ship for a week, maybe a little longer, or maybe just four days. It was just however long it would take to unload everything from the ship. We then turned around and went back to the Philippines to load again. It was a constant stream back and forth. “We went right through the Seychelles, which is a contested area where China has since built an airfield. We would make just a slight dogleg to avoid running aground there as we sailed across. There was no sleep while you were on duty. There wasn’t any sleep while you were in the Philippines either because if you weren’t loading things up, you were partying. “The only sleep you got was the roughly two days it took to sail back and forth,” he said. Upon returning to the states, Olson married Ellen, a now-retired schoolteacher who taught in Ladd, and he became a mining engineer. They had two sons – Eric,
who is 44 and spent nine years in the Navy and now works at the Quad City Nuclear Plant, and Ryan, who is 42 and an attorney with Country Financial in Bloomington. He first came to Illinois because of a three-year opportunity to work in sand minds. He went back to Wisconsin to work for an engineering company but then returned to Illinois. Olson had a second career
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 17
RECIPES
Don’t take your doctor’s advice to reduce sodium with a grain of salt By Shannon Serpette
I
f you’re in your golden years or inching toward them, your doctor may have told you to reduce your sodium intake. Certain conditions like kidney disease and diabetes can make it difficult for your body to properly balance your sodium levels, so you’ll need to watch how much sodium you take in. And since excess sodium can be bad for your heart, you can help your health by reducing how much you use. The following recipes are a good place to start since they use little or no salt in them. If you keep experimenting with your recipes, you’ll learn that low sodium doesn’t have to mean tasteless. Recipes on pages 19-22
18 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
Balsamic Roast Chicken INGREDIENTS 1 whole chicken, about 4 pounds 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 garlic clove 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 8 sprigs of fresh rosemary 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon brown sugar Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mince the rosemary and garlic together. Loosen the chicken skin from the flesh, so you can rub the flesh with olive oil and then the herb mixture. Sprinkle with black pepper. Place two rosemary sprigs into the cavity of the chicken. Truss the chicken. Put the chicken into a roasting pan and roast for 20 to 25 minutes per pound, about 1 hour and 20 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Baste frequently with pan juices. When it’s browned and the juices run clear, transfer the chicken to a serving platter. In a small saucepan, combine the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Heat until it is warmed and the sugar dissolves, but don’t boil. Carve the chicken and remove the skin. Top the carved pieces with the vinegar mixture. Garnish with the remaining rosemary and serve immediately. A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 19
Healthy Penne INGREDIENTS 1/3 pound whole-wheat penne pasta 1 cup chopped asparagus, 1-inch pieces 1 tablespoon water 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus whole leaves for garnish 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 ounces goat cheese
Orange Roughy INGREDIENTS 2 orange roughy fillets, each 4 ounces (as an alternative, you may use flounder or tilapia) 1 lemon, cut into four wedges 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped DIRECTIONS Heat the oven to 400 degrees or heat the grill. Position the rack
four inches from the heat source. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray and place the fish on it. Squeeze the juice from two lemon wedges over the fillets. Sprinkle with thyme. Bake or grill until the fish is opaque throughout when tested with the tip of a knife, about 10 minutes or so. Remove from the oven and garnish with the remaining two lemon wedges.
Tasty Salad Greens INGREDIENTS 6 cups mixed salad greens 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced 2 medium pears, cored, quartered, and thinly sliced 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Freshly ground black pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS Divide the salad greens onto six plates, and scatter the fennel and pear slices over the greens. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and walnuts, and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Add black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
20 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
DIRECTIONS Fill a large pot with enough water to cook your pasta and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain the pasta. While the pasta is cooking, put the asparagus and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it on high power in the microwave until it is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. In a bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, and pepper. Add the asparagus, pasta, and goat cheese and toss until well mixed. Place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before eating.
BEEF STEW INGREDIENTS 1 pound beef round steak 2 teaspoons canola oil 2 cups diced yellow onions 1 cup diced celery 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes 1/2 cup diced sweet potato 1/2 cup diced white potato with skin 1/2 cup diced mushrooms 1 cup diced carrot 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 cup chopped kale 1/4 cup uncooked barley
1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 3 cups low-sodium vegetable or beef stock 1 teaspoon dried sage, crushed 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, minced Black pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS Heat a grill or broiler to medium heat. Trim the fat and gristle from
the steak. Grill or broil the steak for 12 to 14 minutes, turning once. Don’t overcook. Remove from heat and let rest while preparing vegetables. In a large pot, sauté the vegetables in oil over medium-high heat until lightly brown, about 10 minutes. Add barley and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Cut into half-inch pieces and add to pot. Then add the vinegars, stock, herbs, and spices. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour until the barley is cooked and the stew has thickened.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 21
APPLE-CRANBERRY TARTS INGREDIENTS For the filling: 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup apple juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons cornstarch 4 large tart apples, cored, peeled, and sliced For the crust: 1 and 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour 2 teaspoons sugar 1 and 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 and 1/2 tablespoons canola oil 1/4 cup ice water
DIRECTIONS In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the cranberries and apple juice. Cook on high for 1 minute, then stir. Continue to heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each time until the apple juice is very hot. Cover and set aside until the mixture is close to room temperature, about 1 hour. Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon. Set aside. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the cornstarch and apple slices. Toss well to coat evenly, and add the cranberries and juice mixture. Mix well and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour and sugar. Melt butter and add oil. Add butter and oil over dry ingredients. The mixture will be crumbly. Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time and mix
with a fork until the dough begins to form a rough mass. Set down a piece of foil on a countertop and roll the dough on top of it from the center to the edges, making a circle about 13 inches in diameter. Place the fruit filling in the center of the dough. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1- to 2-inch border. Fold the edges of the crust up and over the filling. The pastry won’t completely cover the filling, giving it a rustic look. Place another piece of foil over the tart to protect the exposed fruit. Slide tart, bottom and top foil included, onto a cookie sheet and bake about 30 minutes. Remove the top foil and continue baking until browned, about 10 minutes. Cut into 8 wedges and serve immediately.
Crispy Potato Skins INGREDIENTS 2 medium russet potatoes Butter-flavored cooking spray 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Wash the potatoes and pierce with a fork. Place
in the oven and bake until the skins are crisp, about 1 hour. Carefully — potatoes will be very hot — cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the pulp, leaving about 1/8 inch of the potato flesh attached to the skin. Save the pulp for another use if desired. Spray the inside of each potato skin with butterflavored cooking spray. Press in the rosemary and pepper. Return the skins to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
22 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
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Now Hiring Full and Part Time / EOE A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Boomers | June 2022 23
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24 June 2022 | Illinois Valley Boomers | A NewsTribune Publication
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