LET'S COOK: 'Dodge'ing the great snow drifts
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Blow, blow, snow, snow. Does this sound familiar? This winter is, in fact, an old-fashioned North Dakota winter. We should be proud of our snow. After all, it truly raises us up -- right to our roof tops, with shovels! As you know, harsh winter winds have frequented the Great Plains. Vivid in my memory is the winter of 1966.
By 1966, my parents were "blessed" with five red-headed boys. We resided Underwood, and most of our medical services were provided at the Turtle Lake Community Clinic.
I recall with detail one snowy afternoon ride home from the clinic in our 1960 gumdrop green Dodge car. Piles of snow were everywhere and the skies were laden again with snowflakes. Because of the impending weather, mom chose to take the short cut home west of Turtle Lake. This ribbon of gravel road usually connected us to Highway 200 with little effort.
Before we knew it, the wheels of our car had a glitch with an icy spot. We found ourselves spinning and whirling out of control. Our mission of adventure soon turned to misfortune. Blurred were our views and before we knew it, we were propelled into an entrenched ditch. There we were greeted by billowy drifts piled high like whipped cream. Startled and astonished by the swirl and twirl, we all sat in complete silence. Mom was thankful for two things: one, we were all safe, and two, we had slid backward into the ditch.
Now mom, the captain of our shuttle mission, knew that sliding backward into the ditch meant hope. After all, we could possibly drive out of the ditch. It was at this moment that she reminded us that motherhood is an art of attitudes -- especially when dealing with a difficult task. Within seconds, she devised a plan for our release from these plump and capacious marshmallows.
First, she opened the trunk. For help and support, she discovered a good supply of cardboard and a large, heavy wool blanket -- just what you need to remove yourself from the ditch.
Next, while still being full of hope, she removed as much snow as possible around the tires with the cardboard. This task was completed with mom wearing fawn beige, semi-fitted soft finished wool dress coat that featured a slightly flared hemline, Eton collar, and large rotund buttons. Also enlisted in her arsenal of practical snow removal clothing were dressy snow boots and a dress. When she had fashionably addressed the snow, we gave it another try. Thank goodness she was not one to take offense when this did not work.
She then revised her plan. She continued to remove more snow with the cardboard. Between this effort, my two older brothers helping push, the other three of us trying to be dead weight in the back seat, and mom rocking the car back and forth, we did make a little progress, but certainly not enough to launch us back on the road.
Time for a new game plan. This time we removed even more snow, and she placed the wool blanket, now split in two, under both tires for resistance. (This would have been a great new category in the 4-H manual "Make it with Wool" contest.) We were all commanded to get into the back seat for added weight. As mom gently rocked the car back and forth, we could feel the tires trying to take grip. Her ginger-colored, cable gloves gripped the steering wheel firmly as she instructed us boys to "hang on." The energy in her hands was quickly transferred to her feet where her foot ignited the accelerator like never before.
In an instant the car began to rock, shake and vibrate. The roaring of the revved engine jammed our ears as we tried to re-enter the road. (Apollo 11 did not land on the moon until 1969. But believe me, when it did land, we could relate to its trembling re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere.)
At that very moment I witnessed every inch of my mother's womanhood. She, as a mother, wanting to protect her children; she, as a delivery room nurse, knowing the power of staying focused; and she, as a wife, knowing her husband would go into orbit once he discovered she had landed the family car in the ditch.
Our car lunged forward in great velocity as we abraded the impacted ground beneath us. With a cloud of gray smoke coming from the tires, it looked as if we were ready for take off, and we would propel ourselves upon the road. Our hopes were nipped, however, when we rolled back into the ditch.
Quiet was the tone as we sat, defeated. Mother's voice broke that silence as she turned to us and said, "Boys put your hands together; we are going to pray." In our broken hope and with the smell of burnt rubber, she led five bowed red-headed boys in prayer. She had given her all, with no avail, to this difficult task. After our prayer, my mom calmly put the car into drive and this time her ginger-colored cabled gloves caressed the steering wheel. I kid you not: We drove out of that ditch with grace and ease. Upon reaching the road, the five of us broke in a salvo chorus, praising our cool mom. On the hill stood a gentleman in bewilderment with tow chain in hand and a dropped jaw. He stopped our car and said, "Lady, I don't know how you managed to climb out of that ditch. Let me check your car over." In this kind gesture, he discovered a snow-packed motor minus one fan belt.
My dad came with another vehicle to take us home. By the time we left the repair garage it was past twilight. The pale blue sky had yielded to a profound amethyst and sapphire palette. It was with perfect harmony that the silver moonlight and mantle of snow created a consoling evening symphony that I enjoyed observing outside my window on the way home. As an adult, I have reflected back on this moment. I realize that once again, my mom taught us when things seem impossible and challenges loom, we should seek the most powerful catalyst on this earth ... prayer. Thank you, mom.
I share with you two treasured recipes from my mom's collection.
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Barbecued Spareribs
By Marian Repnow
Tried and true. We often had spareribs in our home. These are easy and have excellent flavor.
2 to 3 pounds spareribs
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 real apple juice
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
2 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons mild molasses
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups of sauerkraut which has been simmered with 1/4-cup chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of butter
8 small potatoes, pared
Cut spareribs in serving-size pieces. Brown slowly in a large heavy saucepan. In another skillet, melt butter; add onion and cook until light brown. Add next ten ingredients; simmer 20 minutes. Pour the hot sauerkraut-onion mixture over spareribs and add sauce. Cover and bake in a 350 F oven for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Add potatoes and bake until tender -- usually an additional 40 minutes.
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Stuffed Baked Oranges
By Marian Repnow
Vivid in color and taste. I call this recipe magic because it looks great and takes little time. It is impressive and nutritious all at the same time. I cannot recall a time in our home when we did not have walnuts, dates and oranges.
6 oranges
18 to 20 pitted dates
3 tablespoons of coconut
4 tablespoons of orange marmalade
1 cup shopped walnuts
6 large marshmallows
Pour boiling water over the oranges. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, turning frequently. Then drain. Cut a cap off the top of the orange and scoop out pulp. Chop the dates and mix with orange pulp. Add coconut, orange marmalade and walnuts. Refill oranges with mixture and top each with a marshmallow. Bake in a 350 F oven for about 30 minutes. Place a large walnut on the top of each marshmallow when removed from oven. You may want to slice a bit off the bottom of the orange as this will make it stand more easily. Serves 6.
