When I was growing up, my parents planted acres of potatoes. Not a patch. Not a garden. Acres. We had what seemed to be the largest potato kingdom in the known world (at least it seemed like that to us), and, fortunately for management, a ready supply of child power. My siblings and I were the workforce; unpaid, easily supervised, and motivated almost entirely by the hope that, if we finished quickly enough, we might be released into the wild to do something fun. In spring

On Sept. 3, 1921, a fire broke out in an unoccupied blacksmith shop in Vermilion at 2 a.m. Since no one was there, the fire quickly began to spread out of control. Two buildings on either side of the structure, one belonging to the real estate agent A.G. Moore and the other a Chinese laundry belonging to Joe Chow, were completely destroyed in the fire. One reason the fire did not spread through the town was thanks to Chow. He was finishing up washing when he stepped out

Thanksgiving entertaining is just around the corner, and Roasted Pepper and Garlic Dip is a lovely light orange colour that is perfect for fall entertaining. It is great served with vegetables for dipping, taco chips or crackers. It is full of nutrition. For a lower fat version, skip the cream cheese, and increase the sour cream to 1 cup. You could also substitute the cream cheese for Greek yogurt. Roasted red pepper is an excellent source of vitamin C, to support a healthy i

Harvest season is upon us. The farmers are out in the field, working long hours, during a window that no one knows how long it will be. It is also goose hunting season. Frying goose in a pan, with bacon or butter, can have good flavour, but it is often a bit tough and dry. This is because wild Canadian goose is a very lean meat, compared to farm raised goose. Wild goose is very high in protein, iron, riboflavin, Vitamin 6, and Vitamin B12. Wild Canadian goose tastes similar t

During the Second World War, quick communication nationwide was of paramount importance. There also needed to be a way for the many aircraft around the nation to make their destinations safely. For all of that, radio was the most important technology and that meant a lot of radio towers being built across Canada. In September 1944, a radio loop network was being built from Winnipeg to Edmonton and that meant the building of a radio beam station at Vermilion. Located about fiv

I have always loved the adventure of exploring old houses; the kind with creaky stairs, mysterious corners, and at least one cupboard you are absolutely sure leads to buried treasure or a ghost. Some children dreamed of castles. I dreamed of doors that blended into walls and rooms nobody else seemed to notice. When I was a kid, Mom would visit her sister in Edmonton, near the University of Alberta, where my uncle Tom was the caretaker of the Garneau Community League sports fa

It's zucchini season, which aligns with back-to-school and harvest time. Currently, we are waiting for the sun to dry the crops and wondering if it will freeze tonight. I hope there are still lots of sunny days ahead. Chocolate zucchini cake is very moist and delicious. It is always a fall favorite with fresh zucchini in season. I remember the first time I tasted a chocolate zucchini cake, and what a surprise it was to find a cake with such a rich texture. The fat in the cake

Things began on Sept. 1 when J.W.G. Morrison was chosen to be the representative for the Conservatives in the upcoming federal election. Unfortunately, when the election happened later in the year, Morrison finished with only 26 per cent of the vote and lost to the United Farmers of Alberta candidate Henry Spencer. A day later on Sept. 2 when Lord Clarendon and his party arrived in Vermilion to look over the new Clan Donald settlement and interview the homesteaders for the Br

Summer and Fall are the perfect time to enjoy lots of salads. It’s especially nice when you can make them ahead and just pull them out of the refrigerator. This one is also great to take to pot lucks, barbeques, out to harvesters in the field and any outdoor entertaining that is on your list. If you study the blue zones of the world, which have the highest percentage of healthy centurions, people that live to be 100 and over, and are healthy, what most of them have in common

Our river valley is one of those places that looks like nature got halfway through building a normal landscape, and then added secret passageways, surprise hills, hidden coulees, and enough dips and hollows that a person could disappear without anyone ever knowing, unless, of course, they left behind a good hat. One day, many years ago, a fellow was walking down the main road that leads to another main road, (because out here even the roads need connections before they commit

Fall is upon us. The kids are heading back to school. The farmers are swathing and combining. The potatoes are ready in the garden. In the farm we often cook up a big pot of potatoes and use the leftovers in various ways. That is exactly what this recipe is. It is a new twist n using cooked and cooled potatoes. Cabbage is rich in antioxidants and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in our bodies. Cabbage juice aids in the healing of stomach ulcers and improves digestive hea

I was once invited to tag along to my friend’s family reunion because she didn’t want to make the long drive alone. She promised I wouldn’t be bored, which should have been my first warning. When someone says their family is “entertaining,” they usually mean there’s a strong chance of casseroles, confessions, and at least one person crying near the loo. At first glance, it all looks wholesome; hugs, potato salad, polite compliments, and people saying, “We really should get to

Apples are also in season in the stores right now. Here is another apple recipe that is perfect for school lunches or a crew of harvesters. When you are slicing the apples, be sure to leave on the peel, as that is where many of the beneficial nutrients are. They have also been shown to aid in weight loss and help balance blood sugar, so be sure to eat them raw as well. Apples have so many health benefits, that it is hard to detail them all, but here are a few. Apples contain

My love of movies began as a kid in the 1960s, when Dad took us older siblings to movie night at the PV Hall. The first theatre movie I remember seeing was “The Sundowners”, starring Robert Mitchum. As teenagers, we were excited to go to the Columbia Theater in Vermilion, where Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Walt Disney films, James Bond, and Elvis Presley lit up the silver screen. Who knew I would become a huge Elvis fan! I loved the cartoons that ran before the feature and the

Food research has proved how important fiber is to our bodies. It is what delays a high blood sugar response. Adding fiber to every meal, increases health benefits, and decreases blood sugar spikes. It is advised that we consume 30 grams of fiber a day. Start small and increase daily, until you hit your target.Flax is one of those foods that we seldom eat, yet it has a multitude of benefits including fiber. When eating flax, it is best to consume the ground flax seed. Whole

It was getting close to supper time, and the wind had died down. Around here, that is usually a blessing. The prairie wind is relentless. It seemed like the perfect evening to barbecue steaks for supper. I stood on the deck looking out over our countryside, feeling blessed. Beautiful green pastures rolled into hills, moderately treed with green poplar, and above it all stretched a blue sky so wide it made a person stand a little straighter. I reached for the handle on the bar

Coconut Haystacks are drop cookies that are fast to make, and they are gluten free as well, making them an excellent cookie when you need some treats for your summer gatherings. When it’s super hot outside, this is a cookie that does not require you to turn on the oven. In this recipe, there is a bit of lard used, and that helps keep the cookies soft and moist. If you like the drier and harder fudge cookie, then use all butter, and no lard. We just celebrated our farm being

Here is an easy work week day meal, it hearty, full of flavour and easy on the budget. The other bonus is that you can create this meal in one skillet. This dish is full of fiber and protein. When the cheese and beans are combined, they create the amino acid profile of a complete protein, plus there is extra complete protein from the ground beef. White beans are full of healthy fiber and antioxidants. Kidney beans are a protein fiber combo that helps stabilize blood sugar. Be

There may be a few of us who cannot sleep at night and sometimes find ourselves prowling around the house like barn cats with secret business. You lie there for a while, staring into the dark, solving absolutely none of life’s problems, and finally decide that perhaps a cup of tea and a piece of toast will restore order to the universe. The trouble is, the moment you try to be quiet, every object in the house joins a marching band. You reach for your sweater on the night tabl

Over the past few months, I have spent countless hours travelling Alberta’s highways while delivering newspapers to our outlying communities. Before taking on this route, I often wondered how so many serious collisions happened on roads that seemed straightforward enough to drive. My thinking was simple: stay on your side of the road, obey the rules, pay attention, and everyone gets home. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After thousands of kilometres behind the wheel, I have