JUNE, 2017 LUNCHEON

June 1st found the Novelty Senior Citizens' at the Center for the monthly luncheon. A good group of people were in attendance today.  Jeff gave the blessing then Kathryn led in the pledge to the American flag.  Happy Birthday was sung to Judith whose birthday is toward the end of the month.

              
The cake was baked by Diana with the recipe below.
Present were Judith Rhoades, Diana Cheatum, Dorothy and Denis Howard, Mildred Bragg, Sue Ahern, Helen Pulse, Karen Lumley and granddaughter Allie Hemme, Jim and Marsha Pinson, Jeff and Leah Otto, Kathryn Wilkerson, and Freda Bradley.  Sherry Goodwin was there to do health checkups with the seniors.  Thank you to all who helped with the clean-up:  there were several!  

At 1:30, Kathryn brought the business meeting to order.  Marsha read the minutes to last month's meeting which were approved as corrected.    Judith then gave the treasurer's report which was also approved as presented (Helen moved to accept them, Dorothy seconded that motion.)

As there was no old business, we began with the new business.
1.  Hurdland 4th of July celebration 
 No motion had been made last month regarding being in the parade.  We did not have official approval to use the wreath that we did last year, but Diana said she would not be opposed to us doing that.  Kent was not present to say if he had secured the use of the Snoopy costume.  Diana made a motion that we participate in the parade, Judith seconded.  Motion passed.  Will need to get a trailer and a truck to use with the wreath for the parade.  
2.  A work schedule was passed around to work at the booth on the 4th.  Shifts will be for 2 hours each.  Everyone needs to work a shift, ride in the parade, or donate candy to be thrown at either the 4th, or the Cornfest in September.   Kathryn will contact some other citizens to see if they will help man the booth.  
 3.  Marsha asked about a small Christmas tree to be used at the booth for the Remembrance Tree.  Judith has already copied off several copies of the form to be sent in for this free Veterans' remembrance program.  
4.  Marsha has already sent in the first wreaths to WAA--we are on our way.  We hope to cover some different cemeteries this year.  But paperwork has not yet been sent in by our location chairperson, so that needs to be done pronto.  Interest has been shown to cover the Edina cemetery veterans and also Bee Ridge.  
5.  If you look online on the www.marktwain.net website, you will see an article pertaining to Wreaths Across America, and the ceremony to be held December 16, 2017.  Marsha has also put it on her facebook page that we are accepting money for sponsorships for wreaths.  Donation boots are placed in Lucky's Cafe in Edina and The Blue Room in Edina.  We thank those owners for allowing us to do this.

Marsha will make the birthday cake for next month's meeting which will be July 6th.  Coffee makers for the month were assigned.  

2:30 p.m.--Helen moved to adjourn, Judith seconded.  Meeting adjourned. 

Diana's cake:
                                    HONEY BUN CAKE
1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
8 oz. sour cream or cream cheese
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Mix first four ingredients.  pour half of batter in 9x13" pan
Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over batter.
Pour remaining batter on top.
Swirl with spoon.
Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

Topping:
      2 cups confectioner's sugar
     4 Tbsp. milk or water
     1 Tbsp vanilla

Pour over cake while hot.  

"May the 4th be with you!".......... :)

Novelty Senior Citizens' met Thursday May 4th for the monthly carry in luncheon.  Many  had other things to do as only 6 people attended the luncheon/meeting.  President Kathryn led the pledge and also gave the blessing for the food before we sang Happy Birthday to Marsha.  No cake this month, as Carolyn had made a cherry pie per request!  :)

Present were Kathryn Wilkerson, Marsha Pinson, Diana Cheatum, Judith Rhoades, Jim Pinson, Helen Pulse, and nurse Sherry Goodwin.
  After cleanup, Kathryn brought the business meeting to order. Marsha read the minutes from last month's meeting which were accepted as presented. Judith gave the treasurer's report which was also accepted as presented.
Old Business:
A wrap-up of the April 15^th sausage/biscuit/gravy fundraiser. 40 people attended the breakfast.

New Business:
Most new business pertained to the WAA project.
1.  We will open a separate checking account for this project instead of incorporating it with the Center's finances.
2. Kent Franke came in to the meeting. He will be in charge of the ceremony for WAA in December.
3.  It was decided to have a stand at the Hurdland 4^th of July celebration and also at the Cornfest in September to share information about WAA and take donations for wreath sponsorships at local cemeteries. The group tabled the issue regarding participation in the parades at both those events.
4.  It was decided to NOT set at cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend for donations for wreaths for those particular cemeteries. We will accept all donations and can designate them to go to the cemetery of the donor's choice, if not grave-specific.
Diana will provide the birthday cake for next month's luncheon. Marsha, Judith, Diana, and Kathryn will all make coffee on Tuesdays this month.
Meeting adjourned.


This month's recipe:  Good for sharing with friends for coffee or tea!

Southern Pecan Pound Cake
Serves: 12 to 14
Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 65 mins
Total time: 2 hours 5 mins
Pan: One 10 inch Angel Food Pan Prep: Greased and Floured Oven Temp: 325° 

Storage: Covered, Room Temperature
Ingredients
Batter:
1 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1⅓ cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ cup sour cream

Topping:
¼ cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare one 10 inch Angel Food cake pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening and dust with flour.
Batter:
By hand, break the pecans for both the batter and the topping into ¼ inch pieces. Toast nuts, cool, and then toss with 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; sift or whisk together to mix. Set aside.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Tip: To cream, start by placing the butter in the bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed begin by beating the butter about 1 minute until it is smooth and light in color. With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add the sugar to the butter, either one tablespoon at a time, or in a very slow steady stream, taking from 4 to 8 minutes to add all of the sugar, and beating until the butter and sugar are fully incorporated and the mixture is a light, or pale yellow color, with a fluffy texture. While adding the sugar, stop the mixer occasionally to scrape the mixture off the paddle and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly.
Add eggs one at a time, beating until thoroughly mixed. Add the vanilla along with the last egg. Tip: For each egg, crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk with a fork to thoroughly break up the egg before adding to the creamed mixture. Start with the mixer on low speed so the liquid from the egg doesn’t splatter, once the egg is partially mixed increase the speed to medium. Each egg should be fully incorporated into the mixture before adding the next egg, taking about one minute to blend in each egg.
With the mixer on low speed, add about ½ of the flour mixture, mix just until the flour is almost completely blended. Scrape the bowl down, and add the sour cream, blending just until mixed. Scrape the bowl down again and then add the remaining ½ flour mixture, mix just until blended, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed.
Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold 1 cup toasted pecans into the batter.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with the back of a large spoon.
Topping:
Sprinkle ¼ cup toasted pecans over the top of the batter, and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Bake: Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until a long toothpick, wooden skewer, or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Place pan on a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes then remove cake from the pan and place the cake on the wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
(After cooling, can add a glaze or brown sugar glaze to the cake).

MMMMMM!!!!! COME FOR BREAKFAST (OR LUNCH)

                                 

      

We are hosting a fundraiser Saturday, April 15th.
Time is 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Serving  sausage patty, biscuit/gravy, along with fresh fruit, and coffee, tea, juices.
FREE WILL DONATION!
Location:  105 N. 3rd, Novelty, MO   (the blue Senior Center building!)

This is our spring fundraiser to help meet expenses on the building/insurance/etc.    (We did have to replace the water heater last summer, and air conditioner and refrigerator are really old as well.  Those expenses would be in addition to regular monthly expenses.)

COME JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST--OR LUNCH--OR CALL IT BRUNCH!

We will also have a bake sale in conjunction with this.  Cakes (one I know will be decorated as an Easter bunny), pies (including blackberry, strawberry rhubarb, and gooseberry), yeast breads, quick breads, most likely cookies, brownies, etc.  Plus some cute bunny buckets will also be for sale!

Hope you all can come!

APRIL LUNCHEON

 April 6^th found the Novelty Senior Citizens enjoying their monthly luncheon on a beautiful spring day—just a tad chilly, but not too bad. It was good to see the sun after days of rain, clouds, and gloomy weather.

President Kathryn Wilkerson led the pledges, then Paul Milliken gave the prayer. No birthday celebrants were present (Mildred and Helen celebrate in April, but were not present). Carolyn had brought a cake with strawberries for them. Present to enjoy the bountiful spread was Paul Milliken, Denis and Dorothy Howard, Carolyn Morgret, Kathryn Wilkerson, Diana Cheatum, Marsha Pinson, Judith Rhoades, Barbara Poor, Freda Bradley, Sue Ahern, and Helen Pulse.

Thanks to Freda for the cleanup. Kathryn brought the business meeting to order. Marsha read the minutes to last month's meeting which were approved as read. Judith gave the financial report for the month, which was also approved as presented.

Our sausage/biscuit fundraiser breakfast will be Saturday, April 15^th. Ad should be in this week's Sentinel, and it is also on the MarkTwain Website Homepage. We reviewed the items that are donated by each person:

We will be serving sausage, biscuits, gravy, (jellies provided), fresh fruit, coffee, hot tea, various juices, all for a  freewill donation.  

Flyers were distributed for various people to put up in businesses in Novelty, Edina, and several churches.

Updates on the WAA (Wreaths Across America) project were given.

Carolyn will make the cake for next month as well—we do have at least one to celebrate then.

Coffee makers for the Tuesday mornings between then and now were assigned.

     For the luncheon today, one dessert brought was delicious.  Judith had made
VANNA BANANA PUDDING, a recipe from her Wheel of Fortune Cookbook.  MMM!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2/3  cup flour
1/8 teaspooon salt
6 eggs, separated
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (11-ounce) box vanilla wafer cookies
3 ripe bananas, sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  in a large saucepan, combine 1/4 cup sugar, the flour and salt.  Whisk in egg yolks and heat over medium heat until a paste is formed, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat to low.  Slowly whisk in milk until smooth.  Cook about 10 minutes, or until thickened, whisking continuously.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Spreak a small amount of custard on the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish; cover with a layr of cookies, then top with a layer of sliced bananas.  Spoon 1/3 of the remaining custard over bananas and continue to layer ending with custard.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat egg whites gradually adding remaining sugar, unti soft peaks form.  Spoon over top layer, spreading it eveninly until the entire surface is covered and the edges are sealed.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until the meringue is golden.  Serve warm or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serves 8.
**********************************************************
Another recipe from that same cookbook which proved to be interesting for the Tuesday morning coffee ladies was  SURPRISE POTATO CHIP COOKIES

4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup crushed plain potato chips
1 cup finely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Mix in flour, potato chips and nuts until well combined.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets. 

Bake 10-15 minutes or to desired crispness.

Kitchen tip:  Feel free to cut this recipe in half.  You can add a little more potato chips if you like, and any nuts will work here--whatever you like.

Makes 50 cookies.                    from Christy Myers, Travel Coordinator, Wheel of Fortune