Wow! What a day. Partially what made it so special was that it was so spontaneous, so completely different than any of us had planned. Originally it was to have been a Sanders special gathering to replace our usual family camping trip. Details had changed and we were having trouble setting a suitable weekend. The day that was picked by our host and hostess ran into too many complications so it was cancelled. The landscaping project at my home to replace the swimming pool ran into the same problems and my daughter who was managing the project of removing stones issued an invitation to anyone who was available to come here and work on the project with the promise of food to tempt anyone who was available.
Now here is the “rest of the story”. My daughter was the only one who showed up and I was busy planning a bit of food without starting too much of it. Late in the morning I received a phone call from another daughter who had planned a major project at her home. Guess what? She, her husband and one of her brothers were at the Montpelier fair grounds participating in the Welcome Home Vietnam Vets at the War Memorial celebrating the fifty year anniversary. My nephew, Steve Jennings and my son Jim were there with four other Edgerton, Vietnam vets—Ed Kimpel, Randy Sutton, Bob Witsaman, and Tom Trausch. Would I like to come over? How could I go with Becky working so diligently in my back yard? The next thing I knew, family members were picking me up and Becky had departed for home, a shower and she and her sister beat me to the fairgrounds.
There was a helicopter which had been used in Vietnam giving rides to anyone who cared to go. Six of Jim’s siblings agreed to go. When they asked me if I were going, I quickly replied, “I do not even like riding in an elevator!” Now after the fact, I think maybe it would have been a thrill, but why take a chance. The Edgerton Vets asked about a possibility of flying over Edgerton. They were told that if they waited until the last flight they would allow that privilege. There were at least eleven flights carrying six passengers at once. So the afternoon was well on its way out when they left Montpelier to refuel and on to Edgerton. All Jennings and Sanders relatives formed a line to wave them off and then we started home. As I was unlocking my back door we heard a familiar sound and they were flying very low over my house! A number of people saw it over St. Mary’s Church. A great day with many magic moments. Thanks to all veterans who gave of their time to serve our great country.
I better write down my original plans for this week because by next week I will only remember that I did have plans! Let’s just go to food. I received several requests for directions for last week’s onion and corn recipe. Since they were conspicuous by their absence, I said I would repeat the recipe in case they did not save it.
CORN ONION SHORTCAKE
¼ cup butter
1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
1 ½ cups corn muffin mix
1 egg,
1/3 cup milk
1 cup cream style corn
1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Melt butter over medium heat. Saute onion until tender. Remove from heat, Set aside. Combine muffin mix, egg, milk and corn. Spread into a 9 inch baking pan. Combine sour cream, sautéed onion, salt and half of the cheese. Spread over the batter. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into squares. Serve warm.
MANDARIN CAKE
1 package yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 can (11oz.) mandarin oranges, reserve juice
¾ cup vegetable oil
Pour I cup liquid from oranges into measuring cup. If there is not enough to make one cup add water. Chop oranges. Mix all remaining ingredients with mandarin liquid. Pour into three greased pans lined with wax paper. Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
MANDARIN FROSTING
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple
1 package (3.5 oz.) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 carton (12 oz.) whipped topping.
Mix all ingredients and frost cake. Refrigerate.
Remember many magic moments and memories are found in unplanned and unexpected places.
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