Reunions are fun. I recently attended our 1974 home economics class reunion held in Moose Jaw. Twenty-nine women were able to attend, almost 60 percent of our class.
When we graduated, we heard that we would need to create our own jobs, since district home economists looked like only a slim possibility in this province. Our conversations last weekend showed that. We discovered that home economists are versatile people, with many different occupations and experiences. I enjoyed hearing what everyone has done, what they are doing now and all about their families. Although almost all the women have been or are working, family and home tended to be a high priority for each. Like many farm women, working outside the home needs to be juggled with family and working on the farm.
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One of these women is Sheila, from Consul, Sask., who ranches with her husband and manages her own leather business, designing and making all kinds of vests, chaps and gloves. She has expanded into home décor and recently into making a Wonder Box. This box keeps food hot or cold longer than a cooler. She said you can start cooking food in your oven or on top of the stove and then move it to the Wonder Box for the last half of the cooking time, and it will finish cooking, keeping your meal hot for several hours.
It works great for taking meals to the field, which many of us did this year to keep the combines going. It also keeps cold food cold and frozen food frozen without ice, so it works well carrying ice cream home on a hot day. On those cold days in the winter, you can also keep fresh fruit and vegetables from freezing on the way home from the store.
Although it is called a box, it is really a set of two bags, partially filled with Styrofoam pellets, like a bean- bag chair, which you can place into a wooden, cardboard, or plastic box. Just the week before the reunion, I had taken an old beanbag chair to the dump. Isn’t that how it goes? Those Styrofoam pellets may have come in handy.
The larger bag goes on the bottom or in a box about 20 x 24 inches, and the small bag fits on top to cover your food. Sheila said it only takes as much room in your trunk or back seat as a couple of extra pillows. She makes the bags out of a variety of dark coloured nylon or polyester coated fabric for the outer shell. You can buy them for $50 per set. For more information, call Sheila at 306-299-4452.
Gift ideas
It seems early to even think of Christmas, but there are some people who seem to have everything they want, and repeatedly tell you not to buy anything for them. One of the ideas I have been thinking about for gifts for close family members is tickets that can be used for their enjoyment. It might be an airline ticket home, a ticket to a local activity or entertainment, or even a ticket to a family reunion or celebration next summer. Next year is Alberta and Saskatchewan’s centennial year, so many towns are having homecomings. Perhaps a bus, train or plane ticket is just the “ticket” for them.
Our town is having a 2005 homecoming. One of the events planned is a musical extravaganza called Rosetown Rewound that boasts of being both historical and comical, highlighting the last 100 years. Professionals have been hired to stage the play, but the cast and crew will all be local people.
The committee plans to sell gift certificates for tickets to the production, which would make an excellent Christmas present.
Plays such as this draw plenty of interest, as did the theatre production Pull of the Land that continues to be performed throughout Saskatchewan. It, too, is about rural life on the Prairies, but is a more current rendition of farming.
Waste reduction week
I have spent the last two weeks cleaning our garage, closets and basement, gathering items no longer useful to our family. It is often hard for me to part with articles that may come in handy at a later date, especially when we have the storage space on the farm. However, once the decision has been made, I like the new found space free of clutter.
Thrift shops can help recycle one person’s junk into another person’s treasure. Waste Reduction Week in Canada runs Oct. 18-24. This is an annual initiative designed to remind Canadians that we should focus on waste reduction every day, and every effort helps. Here are some tips to get started:
- Participate in recycling programs at home and work. Recovery of recyclable materials reduces energy consumed when new products have to be manufactured.
- Donate old computers, printers and other equipment to a local school or charity rather than throwing them away.
- Buy recycled and recyclable products such as paper products made with recycled paper.
- Sign up for on-line billing to eliminate unnecessary paper bills.
- Pack your lunch in reusable containers and carry a travel mug for drinks on the go.
- Let kids reuse old magazines, egg cartons and plastic tubs for arts and crafts projects.
For more information on Waste Reduction Week activities in your community or more ways to help you reduce waste and help the environment, visit www.producer.com and type “waste” in the go box.
Old machine wanted
Dear TEAM: I am looking for a used Bosch kitchen machine. I have all the attachments, and they are in good condition, but the motor went out of the machine. When I went to get it fixed, the salesperson tried to sell me a different kind of machine, and of course, new attachments to fit that machine. All I really want is a 20-year-old machine with a good motor. Can you help me locate this? – S.M., Elrose, Sask.
The service centres for your area are in British Columbia at the following addresses:
- Village Appliance,321 Lonsdale Ave., N. Vancouver, V7M 2G3, 604-980-9411
- Bosch Kitchen Centre, B-12-555 Ardersier Rd., Victoria, V8Z 1C8, 250475-1044.
Perhaps there is a reader who has a Bosch machine that is working well and not needed anymore.Ê
Pump up your fibre
Recently I bought organic hiker’s mix and added it to my regular banana muffin recipe, to a plate of salad greens and to our Red River cereal in the morning, topped with yogurt. I chew it slowly and enjoy every morsel.
To make your own trail mix, try a combination of the following ingredients, adding about one cup (250 mL) of each, depending on your personal taste preferences:
- Dried nuts, such as almonds, cashews, peanuts.
- Dried fruits, such as apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, dates, peaches, pineapples, prunes, raisins.
- Seeds, such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds.
- Optional addition for sweetness: chocolate chips, Smarties, M & Ms.
Pour the dried fruit, nuts and seeds of your choice into a large container, cover and shake. Then bag up for snacks or add to other foods as you see fit.
Another idea for a healthy snack or Christmas gift-giving is this recipe, introduced to me by a friend in a Christmas gift.
Nuts and bolts
1 cup butter 250 mL
1 tablespoon garlic 15 mL
powder
11/2 teaspoons onion salt 7 mL
4 cups Life cereal 1 L
4 cups pretzels 1 L
1 bag Bugles 150 g
2 tablespoons 30 mL
Worcestershire sauce
11/2 teaspoons celery salt 7 ml
4 cups Cheerios 1 L
4 cups Shreddies or Chex 1 L
2 cups unsalted 500 mL
peanuts
1 box small cheese crackers
Heat oven to 250 F (120 C). Place butter in large roaster and melt while oven is preheating. Add all ingredients, and stir or shake to coat evenly with butter. Bake 11/2 hours, stirring every 1/2 hour.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
