7 minute read
From My Farmhouse Kitchen
At least once a week I find myself in ers to enjoy. town. It’s a feat that surprises me as I claim to be a homebody who despises shopping. Well, I don’t think that there is an ounce of truth in those claims. But my purpose is to make sure I have a steady supply of their delectable meats. I keep at least one package of smoked cured beef (aka dried beef) in the freezer
In fact, I have been finding myself look- (so handy for many reasons), side pork ing forward to having an errand which for breakfasts, and of course, their many brings me to town. I think it must have different kinds of sausages. something to do with a sense of belonging. When I am at a store, I usually am greeted by the store owner or employee FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN Recently I purchased a lamb roast to serve to my Sunday dinner guests. It was a hit and so simple to fix, just season with — often by my name. Isn’t that special? By Renae B. the usual salt and pepper, fennel and It is when you think about it. Vander Schaaf rosemary, and a few garlic cloves before Usually when in a store I bump into someone who I haven’t see for a while. It’s a good putting in the oven. This may just be my go-to meat when I know company is coming. time to catch up on The lamb at the mareach other’s lives. We ket is raised by Travis all have joys we want to and Kaylene Hawkins, tell others, and burdens who live over by Akron. that lie heavy on hearts They were kind enough that need sharing. After to show us their farm all, shared joy is a dou- on a lovely spring day. ble joy, and shared sor- It was so good to see row is half (Swedish their young sons learnproverb). ing to work by just Many times our conversation ends with “You know, we should get together for a cup of coffee.” Thankfully we being out there with dad and mom. I think Don and Myra Nelson should do a bit more matchmaking! can spontaneously do this as there are several plac- The Craft Central store exceeds my craftiness es which offer good hot coffee and irresistible treats gene with all their offerings. The store shelves are that aren’t found in any other hometown. filled with many items useful in our cooking, living I am learning that going out for breakfast occasionally in my hometown is another good place to reconnect with members of our community. After breakfast, it is the perfect time to do a little shopping. and for gift giving. All this shopping and crafting takes energy, and since energy comes from food, I’m happy to see popped popcorn on their shelves made by the De Witt family from Sioux Falls. Each store offers its own unique item that appeals to me and is needful. At Woudstra Meat Market, I am first amazed at the owners’ green thumbs. All winter long, outdoor plants they took in before last fall’s first frost have remained picture perfect. Throughout the year, lilies, gladiolus by the bushel, Will and Heidi De Witt, along with their sons Carter and Camden, plus daughter Morgan, came up with the idea about five years ago while vacationing on the beach. They couldn’t find two of their favorite foods — namely popcorn and saltwater taffy — that met their healthy lifestyle, and other floral bouquets are often given to custom- Instead of just talking about the idea, they actually turned it into a business: Salty Pop Popcorn. Their slogan, “A Wave of Flavor,” was inspired by ocean waves and the logo and packaging were inspired by the sunset over the water. No wonder we like the popcorn so much. It takes us on a relaxing beach vacation.
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My favorite at this time happens to be their creamy caramel. But by the time you read this, it may have changed to Stroopwafel popcorn. I wonder with their name as De Witt, how much Dutch Bingo we would have to play before we found a mutual relative?
Going into Centrum Foto Studio is like walking into an art gallery. Proprietor Ken Fry excels in the art of photography. Thankfully he shares his work with the rest of us, who marvel at God’s creation. He has made many of his photos into wall hangings or cards which are appropriate for sending to others no matter the occasion.
He also sells cards hand-crafted by expatriate women prisoners in Quito, Ecuador. My understanding is that if you are in prison there, you have to somehow provide for your basic needs such as food, soap and toilet paper. These cards are a source of honest employment for these women.
There are many more places to shop at in my hometown. I’m thankful stores are close by when most anything is needed.
While I enjoy shopping in my hometown I also enjoy shopping in yours. When my farmer locates a piece of machinery in an advertisement he has read, we often go together to have a looksee. A knitting project and my camera are the first things I pack for this excursion. Because one never knows what one will find along the way.
One of my favorite buildings to photograph in any community is the church. These buildings were built by people who needed a place to worship God, to hear the word of God preached, to help and/or be helped by other members. It’s where that real sense of belonging happens as we draw near to Christ, repenting of our sins, believing in our Lord Jesus Christ and striving to live a life that pleases Him.
Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v
City Nature Challenge begins April 30
ST. PAUL — Backyard naturalists can share their nature observations with an international community of researchers, academics and conservationists starting April 30 in a ten-day project called City Nature Challenge.
City Nature Challenge 2021 invites members of the public to observe nature locally — whether it’s birds, insects, animals, fungi, plants or tree species — then post their photos and observations to a website, iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org). Their observations go into an international database used by scientists and land managers across the globe to study and preserve nature and wildlife.
City Nature Challenge continues through May 3. From May 4 to 9, anyone can go to iNaturalist.org to help identify what was found.
This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v
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