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1  All Around Vermilion County / News Around Vermilion County & Illinois / Re: School Raises on: December 18, 2009, 12:51:13 pm
Thanks jeffc...
I'm not taking it personal, and I am continuing to volunteer.  The mayor and the police chief are so ticked over this that they are fighting the union.  Not sure how it will turn out, but until I'm told to stop, I will give my 12 hours a week.  Times are tough in our small city, we are mostly a bedroom community of a much larger city and as such have almost no retail sales tax coming in.  Several people have been laid off,  and services have been cut to try to avoid increases in taxes.  It just makes no sense to me that the union would fight for something that actually makes life tougher for it's members.  It seems the union is fighting for a  principal not it's people.  How is that benefiting anyone?
2  All Around Vermilion County / News Around Vermilion County & Illinois / Re: School Raises on: December 17, 2009, 12:15:13 pm
I want to share an experience that I'm involved in right now regarding government-union issues.  

Some background:  My community has a population of approximately 12.000,  19 police officers, (2 officers per thousand is average) and until recent budget cuts the department had 4 (also lower than average) support staff. The city laid off 2 support staff members.  The remaining 2 are struggling to keep up with the work load, with no end in sight!  The department has to comply with state and federal rules regarding evidence and records, so the work just can't be left undone.

I have been volunteering 12 hours a week, to help them with mundane things like filing and mandated audits of records.  My security clearance restricts my access to some things.

A grievance has been filed by a member (not one of the ones I help, they are very appreciative) of the teamsters union against the city for allowing me to volunteer my time to help lighten the work load of two of it's own members.  

I wonder how winning this grievance can benefit anyone?  It seems ridiculous to me.  The city will not be able to hire anyone for these positions for probably a year or more.  So I'm not taking a union job, and I don't get paid!  
3  All Around Vermilion County / The Virtual Guest Book / Re: Happy Thanksgiving on: November 27, 2009, 09:28:24 pm
I make cornbread stuffing too.  I don't use the cream soup or the sage, but pretty much everything else you've listed GA.  I also add some chopped apple or a few dried cranberries.

I hope you can talk Evey into sharing her secret family recipe Tuck.  If it's the best in the world I just have to know how to make it!!   

Did you know that it's called stuffing if it's cooked in the bird, and dressing if it isn't?
4  All Around Vermilion County / The Virtual Guest Book / Re: Happy Thanksgiving on: November 27, 2009, 12:16:31 pm
 Hi Tuck...How about getting Evey to post her recipe for "the best stuffing in the world" on the recipe thread.  I think stuffing is the best part of a holiday meal.  Right?
5  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Candy on: November 21, 2009, 11:32:48 am
Sour Cream Pecans


1 cup sour cream
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter
4 cups pecan halves

Combine sour cream and sugar in a large saucepan.  Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until mixture reaches 245 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, add vanilla, baking soda and butter.  Beat for 2-3 minutes.  Add pecans, stirring to coat.  Turn onto lightly butter baking sheet.  Cool and separate pecan halves.

Also good using walnuts or almonds.

6  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Vegetables and Side Dishes on: November 21, 2009, 11:18:01 am
Mushroom and Wine Casserole


2 pounds fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon ground marjoram
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 & 1/2 tablespoons green onions, finely chopped
3/4 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine (increase the chicken broth if you don't want to use wine)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Clean and trim mushrooms, cut in half if large.  Place mushrooms in a  2 quart glass baking dish.  Combine all other ingredients and pour over mushrooms.  Bake, uncovered for 45-60 minutes.
7  All Around Vermilion County / News Around Vermilion County & Illinois / Re: Danville budget on: November 20, 2009, 06:00:56 pm
I'm from a community that until about ten years ago had a paid City Manager.  It was not a good thing.  A hired manager answers to essentially no one.  If he is devious and crooked, he can do major long term harm, and he is almost impossible to get rid of.  At least with an elected leader the people of the community can get rid of him if he isn't doing the job the way the community wants.  City Managers (in my experience) usually make a lot more money than an elected Mayor too.

If granny1 is correct, and not many people attend city council meetings, that's a shame.  People need to go and voice their concerns and opinions to their elected officials.  They represent you, and if they aren't doing it the way you want, go tell them so!
8  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Soups & Salads on: November 19, 2009, 09:57:52 pm
Waldorf Salad


1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 apples, cored, and chopped
1 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.  Stir in the apples, celery, walnuts, and raisins.   Chill until ready to serve.  Makes 4 servings.
9  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Breads and Rolls on: November 13, 2009, 02:28:16 pm
Bacon-Onion Bread


6 slices bacon, cooked and coarsely diced
2 tablespoons reserved bacon grease
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Adjust oven rack to center position.  Coat a 9 x 5 x 3  inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a skillet over medium-low heat, sauté the onion in the bacon grease for 2-3 minutes until translucent.

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.  In another bowl, blend together the eggs, sour cream, and butter until smooth, stir in the bacon and onion.

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix together just until combined. (don't over mix)

Spoon batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top.  Bake for 50 minutes or until  tooth pick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Turn out onto wire rack to cool before slicing.

This is good for sandwiches to go with soup, or toasted  for breakfast with omelets or scrambled eggs.
10  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Crock Pot Recipes on: November 12, 2009, 07:26:02 pm
Crock Pot Chicken And Stuffing

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
4 slices swiss cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup milk
2 cups herb seasoned stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, place in the crock pot.  Put a slice of swiss cheese on each chicken breast.  Pour in the chicken broth.

Combine the soups and milk and cover chicken with the mixture.  Sprinkle on the stuffing mix and drizzle the melted butter on top.

Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. 




11  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Crock Pot Recipes on: November 12, 2009, 03:38:03 pm
GA... I hope the candy  turns out good.  I like to add a few pieces of several different kinds of candy in the gift packages.  I love to make candy, and usually am pretty good at it.  Guess it makes up for not being able to make pie crust.  I'm a miserable failure at it.  Have tried many different recipes over the years and have finally given up.

BTW... I found my walnut brittle recipe that is cooked on the stove.  Yea!  I think my microwave is too powerful, I usually end up burning nuke candy.  I like the old fashioned way using a candy thermometer.
12  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Crock Pot Recipes on: November 12, 2009, 02:12:18 pm
Hi granny 1...I have 3 chicken-stuffing crock pot recipes.  1 uses corn bread stuffing mix, one uses stove top stuffing and the 3rd uses herb seasoned mix and has swiss cheese slices in it!  Which one sounds the most like the one you are looking for?  Let me know and I'll be happy to post it, or if you would like to look at all three, I can do that too.

BTW, I hope you like the candy recipes I've posted.  I make tons of candy for Christmas gifts every year and have been going through my cook books deciding which kinds to make so that I can buy the supplies I'll need.
13  All Around Vermilion County / In My Humble Opinion / Re: Veteran's Day on: November 12, 2009, 12:27:29 pm
Today my community is honoring a local young man who was killed in Afghanistan just a few days ago.  He was only 22 years old and was the driver of a Stryker vehicle on routine patrol, that stuck a land mine near Kandahar.  There is a motorcade planned to escort his body from the local airport to the funeral home.  E-mails have been going around the community  with the information so I expect it to be a huge turn out.

What a horrible, senseless waste of a young life,  I didn't know him personally, but he was very active and well respected in this area.  My heart goes out to his family.
14  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Candy on: November 12, 2009, 11:03:26 am
Candy Cane Fudge


1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) bag milk chocolate chips
1 (12 ounce) bag mint chocolate chips
1/4 cup crushed candy cane (or crushed starlight mints)

Heat sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles.

Remove from heat, add chocolates, cover and let sit 5 minutes.  Stir until smooth and pour into a foil lined 8 inch pan.  Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.  Chill until firm and cut into squares.
15  Other Categories / Cooking and Recipes / Re: Main Dish Recipes on: November 12, 2009, 10:44:06 am
Turkey Tetrazzini


1 (7 ounce) package spaghetti, broken into 2 inch pieces
2 cup cubed cooked turkey
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (4 ounce) cans sliced mushrooms, drained
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 2 & 1/2 quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain and transfer to a large bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Spoon into prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with additional Cheddar cheese if desired.

Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.


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