We recently enjoyed a train ride from Stettler to Big Valley, Alta., on
an Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion. After hearing about this
excursion from others who had made the trip, we decided to drive out to
Stettler for the one-day trip.
On our particular excursion, there were 11 cars pulled by a steam
engine. The steam from the engine billowed down around the cars as it
made its way along the 68 kilometre round trip.
On board were 342 passengers – grandpas and grandmas, moms and dads,
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and all sizes of boys and girls. It was a family picnic day. One
grandma jokingly said she expected a nice quiet and relaxing ride on
the train. With all the children on board, the level of excitement was
high and the train was alive and buzzing.
Everyone moved around the train, taking in the entertainment at the
Lone Star Saloon, standing in the open air car to feel the wind and
smell the prairie air, and walking through the train to see all the
different kinds of rail cars – sleeper cars, berths, plush lounges,
dining car and coaches. One could feel the romance that once was part
of rail travel in times past.
The highlight for our grandkids was when bandits on horseback stopped
the train and held us up. They took loose change from those wanting to
hand it over. On our train they collected $340 for children’s hospitals
in Calgary and Edmonton. Thankfully, Gabriel Dumont was on board and
saved us from the bandits.
On our arrival in Big Valley, we stepped onto the wooden plank platform
of the train station. It was like stepping back in time to a real
working station. A stroll down Big Valley’s main street to the town
hall brought us to a barbecued chicken dinner and more entertainment.
There were games set up outside of the hall for the children. Down the
street and on our way back to the train, we stopped at Jimmy Jock
Boardwalk, built to look like it was right out of the Old West,
featuring an interesting array of gift shops and services.
The journey back to Stettler was a little quieter, as some sat back in
their seats to relax and to take in the view through the car windows.
It was a delightful day. For our grandkids, it was the excitement of
their first train ride and for the rest of us it was a trip down memory
lane.
For information about this train excursion you can contact Alberta
Prairie Railway Excursions, 403-742-2811 (Stettler) or 403-290-0980
(Calgary), e-mail: info@absteamtrain.com, on the web at
www.absteamtrain.com or by writing to: Box 1600, Stettler, Alta. T0C
2L0.
Apple strudel bar
This tasty apple bar recipe has been spreading around our town. In
apple season my neighbour makes up several batches of this strudel,
cuts it into squares, and freezes it away for future use.
Pastry crust
Blend together:
21/2 cups flour 625 mL
1 tablespoon sugar 15 mL
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
1 cup lard or shortening 250 mL
Add:
1 egg yolk (save the white)
2/3 cup milk 150 mL
Roll out half of the pastry until approximately 9 x 13 inches (22 x 33
cm). Place on baking sheet or jelly roll pan that is larger than the
pastry and has a raised edge to hold in any juices that might run out
of the strudel.
Filling:
Put a layer of corn flakes, slightly crushed, onto the pastry. Use
enough to cover the pastry, staying a half inch (1.2 cm) from the edges.
Mix together:
41/2-5 cups apples 1.125-1.25 L
11/2 cups sugar 375 mL
1 teaspoon cinnamon 5 mL
Place on the pastry, over the corn flakes.
Top crust:
Roll out the second half of the pastry and lay it over the apples. Trim
and pinch the edges together. Whip egg white until stiff and brush on
top.
Bake at 350 F (180C) for one hour.
Icing:
Blend 11/2 cups (375 mL) icing sugar with three tablespoons (45 mL)
lemon juice. Drizzle on top while hot.
You could substitute your own favourite pastry recipe for the one given
in this bar.
Chocolate banana cake
Dear TEAM: Please send me a banana chocolate cake recipe or else put it
in The Western Producer for others to enjoy. Also, have you any good
raspberry recipes? The raspberries are in season now. -J.R.,
Arborfield, Sask.
Dear J.R.: I found this mix in the pan chocolate banana cake recipe
that I thought was good.
Cake:
1/3 cup vegetable oil 75 mL
2 squares Baker’s sweet
chocolate
3/4 cup water 175 mL
1/2 cup mashed banana 125 mL
1 cup sugar 250 mL
1 egg
11/4 cups all-purpose flour 300 mL
1/2 teaspoon salt 2 mL
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 mL
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
Topping:
1/3 cup firmly packed 75 mL
brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or 25 mL
margarine
2 tablespoons milk 25 mL
3/4 cup coconut 175 mL
1/3 cup pecans 75 mL
Method: Heat oil and chocolate in 8-inch (20 cm) square pan, in 350 F
(180 C) oven for about five minutes or until the chocolate is soft. Add
water, bananas, sugar, egg, flour, salt, baking soda and vanilla. Beat
with fork until smooth and creamy, about two minutes. Spread evenly in
pan. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 40 to 45 minutes, or until toothpick
inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Topping: Combine brown sugar, butter or margarine, milk, coconut and
pecans. Mix well. Spread evenly over the baked cake. Broil six inches
(15 cm) from preheated broiler until golden brown.
Source: Baker’s Chocolate Celebration Cookbook, General Foods Inc. l987.
Raspberry vinaigrette
This is one raspberry recipe for you. It is my favourite dressing for
lettuce salads.
1/2 cup fresh or frozen 125 mL
raspberries
1/2 cup vinegar 125 mL
1/2 cup canola oil 125 mL
1/2 cup honey 125 mL
1/4 teaspoon cumin 1 mL
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend
until smooth.
Source: Adapted from a recipe developed by chef Gerard Dakeniewich.
Separator parts
For M.B., Regina, who was looking for separator parts, S.B. of Gull
Lake, Sask., suggests going to a John Deere garage for O rings. Take
the old one to compare for size. Other garages may be able to help with
rebuilding some of the other parts.
Alma Copeland 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.
