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Show Page 5A South Edition Lakeside Review Wednesday, December 28, 1983 From Weeds to Pies Rain or Shine Crafty Lady Creates Enjoyment Christmas T ree Deserve Better JUDY JENSEN Review Correspondent BOUNTIFUL It all started That was the explanation offered by Ella May Rasmussen when asked how she began her thriving craft business. Though she does no advertising and operates out of her Bountiful home, her ability to create delightful treasures out of the most unusual building material is well known. Satisfied owners of Ella, as she prefers to be called, can be found all along the Wasatch front and beyond. Seated among a beautiful array of a variety of her creations, Mrs. Rasmussen lovingly recalled how she and her husband, I vo, who passed away in 1977, had come upon some beautiful weeds while on one of their many nature hikes. They were so gorgeous I just had to take them home and try to do something with them. Soon, lovely bouquets of a variety of weeds were arranged and displayed all over her home. Friends began asking for duplicates, word spread, and the crafty lady was bom. From these first weed bouquets, Mrs. Rasmussens designs have expanded to include a variety of crafts. Almost any scrap material becomes her sculpturing with weeds Why are you undressing our Christmas tree? my son Michael asked, as I unwound a shiny loop of from tinsel the weary branches of our fading ever- green. Im not undressing it, little Im taking it down. guy; Down? Downstairs and out the front door." Then youre going to plant it in the yard? His eyes grew large with hope. No--it hasnt any roots. But you could leave it in some water til it grew some. Like your Philodendron, Mikey. But, no, it wouldnt work. A Christmas tree is a one time THE CRAFT LADY of Bountiful, Ella May Rasmussen, sits among some of the things she has created for others to enjoy. Her hobby of making things all Utah opera soprano Emma Lucy Gates Bowen, who then resided in Salt Lake City. An audition was arranged for her with Ms. Bowen. Ms. Bowen was so imclay. Five gallon plastic pails have pressed she asked her to stay in been magically transformed into Salt Lake City and become her toddlers chairs. Old wire hangers protege. Mrs. Rasmussen recalls provide the base for charming she agreed to move to Salt Lake into the huge mansion on South yam poodles and the tiniest fabric scrap can be arranged to beTemple, a far cry from her humcome part of an intricately ble three room home in Cache designed quilt top. Valley. She remembers the Her favorite creations have mammoth dining room and the been her lamp dolls. Beginning basement bowling alley. After staying as the only house with an empty bleach bottle, shes created a delightful variety guest in the immense rooms for of dolls for every occasion. She only one week, she was so overBetsy Ross for the come by loneliness and homeBicentennial celebration. She has sickness that she called her father and asked to come home. made dolls depicting nearly evThat, she said, ended my ery country and every era. Mrs. Rasmussen has also opera career. Mrs. Rasmussens creativity crafted many special order dolls. One bride doll was dressed in an doesnt end with crafts. Her culiexact copy of the brides wedding nary arts have been enjoyed not dress. only by her family, but by friends and neighbors too. RuShe says she loves the challenge of creating just the right mor has it that some neighbors The worst part she have even feigned illness in look. claims, is when the doll sells. hopes of receiving one of her homemade delicious delicacies. Its like losing a friend. Making silk purses out of And she has never failed to desows ears, has always come to liver. ' There is a lot of healing powMrs. Rasmussen naturally. Born er in an apple pie, according to in Cache Valley during the depression, the oldest daughter in a Mrs. Rasmussen and she admits family of 10 children, she soon she has one pie plate out in the learned that nearly everything community at all times. It no sooner gets returned than its had more than one use. She recalls muslin flour sacks filled and delivered to another friend in need. were dyed black and fashioned She credits her cooking ability into bloomers for the girls. High lots of practice. Being raised to and old shoes were cut off tops then shaped and tacked to form in a large family gave her hours of training. She has also raised new soles for the younger childrens shoes. Soap was made four children of her own, two from the fat off butchered hogs. daughters, and twin boys. If Mrs. Rasmussen laughingly re- you havent cooked for twin teenage boys, you havent members, even the Sears catacooked, she exclaimed. logue served as a dual purpose. A tour through her spotlessly Mrs. Rasmussen is a multi-talented lady. She has a beautiful clean home and visitors soon rehigh soprano voice. When she alize Mrs. Rasmussen is not was 6 years old, news of her your typical Betty Crocker. In singing ability reached the great her den she proudly displays the , . -. 1 With Hor thing. You bring it in the house and enjoy it for a while, and then Christmas gets over, and the tree dies. Come help me carry it out now, so the city crews can pick it up." Oh Mom, he could hardthe words, theyll put say ly it in the garbage truck and take it to the dump! Couldnt I just bury it the lilac bush beside our old white dog? I tried hard not to smile at the straight line my sons eyebrows made across his earnest face. Youd have to dig a mighty hefty hole. Thats okay. The little boy reached out to touch a withered branch of evergreen. It was such a friendly tree. SHARON NAUTA STEELE four-poi- started when she brought home some weeds and arranged them into bou- quets. , rack of the big buck nt she dropped with one shot while deer hunting with her trusty 243 Sako Forester rifle. As the tour continues outside, into her groomed yard, visitors are again astonished at the capabilities of the energetic grandmother. She does all of her own k and she knows every flower and plant and lovingly remarks on the special care each needs. The tour ends at the site of her new garage, where she explained she barely got the footings dug before the men came with the cement. That was not her first experience with a shovel. She remembers with pride, and some disbelief, the 8xl0 basement room she and the twins dug for an addition to their old home. Mrs. Rasmussen has 16 grandchildren but she somehow doesnt conform to the grandmother stereotype. She has lead many family woodcutting expeditions driving her own four wheel drive Ford pickup and toting her own chain saw. The only problem with going with Mom, remarked her son Bill, is that you feel so guilty taking a rest break while your little old mother is still sawing and loading logs long after shes filled her pick-uand is helping you fill yours. The holidays are Mrs. Rasmussens busiest and favorite time of year. All of her unlimited energy can be directed toward creating her delightful holiday crafts. Her exciting lighted pinecone yard-wor- p, wreaths and Christmas trees adorn her home. Pinecones are also the base of a variety of impish looking elves. She uses many of natures building materials, this time of year. She arranges nuts and fruits into delightful centerpieces for holiday tables. The only problem with Christ instead--under-nea- Balboa Burgers Different or bread slices, toasted soft margarine 6 rye Hamburgers, served plain fancy, are a hearty meal for any occasion. Balboa Party Burgers are practically a meal in them- lettuce mas she says is her rooms are so filled with her crafts theres not selves. enough room for company. But company somehow manages to squeeze into Mrs. RasBalboa Party Burgers mussens during the holidays, Vi C. real mayonnaise and most of it ends up in the i C. sour cream kitchen. This is when she really Vi C.finely chopped onion gets cooking. 2 T. chopped parsley Every day is craft day in her 2 lbs. ground beef kitchen during the holidays, Salt and pepper where her creations are baked C. (4 ozs.) shredded sharp instead of together glued togethcheddar cheese natural er. 2 large tomatoes, sliced Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, onion and parsley; mix well. Shape meat into six oval patties. Broil on both sides to desired doneness. Season with salt and pepper. Top patties with sauce and cheese; broil until cheese is melted. Spread toast with margarine; top with lettuce, tomato and patties. 6 servings. 1 Fruit cakes, wreaths, Jello Christmas trees and candy cane cookies are just a few of Mrs. Rasmussens wonderful edible Christmas crafts. She becomes totally involved in all of her projects, paying attention to every last detail down to the most minute item. Sometimes, however, theres just not enough time to prepare a gourmet dish especially when she receives lots of unexpected holiday visitors. She keeps a few special recipes on hand for just such occasions. Three of her favorite easy recipes are Five Minute Fudge, Easy Fruit Cake, and Never Fail Banana Bread. They are all quick and delicious holiday treats, and she claims, they make great goodies for neighbors. And this is Mrs. Rasmussens main joy in her creations; to be able to share them with others. She shares not only her crafts and cooking abilities, but also her ready smile and willingness to help anyone in need. Two days of every week she works with the elderly at the Heritage Place retirement home. Always game for a new adventure, Mrs. Rasmussen has prepared for the ski season. Shes never skied before, but claims . shed like to try it just once. Besides, she remarked, there maybe some great pinecones at the top of those trails. th Visions of SugarTlums with Utah Symphony Artistic Marks Director-Bruc- e Choreography:Wiltam F. Christansan ..Clip and Mail.. Friday, January 6. 1984-2:0- 0 Saturday, January 7, Austad Auditorium-Va- l 1984-2:0- 0 & 7:00 P.M. 7:00 & Browning Ctr. W.S.C. TICKET ORDER FORM doeuvres Remembering New Years T radition 2 medium-size- d der the furniture, digging in the ham hocks Vi onion, chopped mixed nuts for cashews and 1 g the remains of difIts interesting to grow up with teaspoon salt Vi kinds with ferent of certain family traditions and chip dip teaspoon maijoram Vt teaspoon black pepper then move from your surroundsoggy potato chips. Wed usually water ings to find that people in other wash it all down with fizzed-oIn a large pot, bring eight cups places do things completely dif- gingerale. What a culture shock it was to of water and two cups of dried ferent. to a boil. Boil at Take New Years Day, for ex- marry then move to Alabama. heat for two minThere not one person would medium-hig- h ample. In Kearns, we grew up looking have a New Years Day meal utes. forward to New Years Day. On other than and Remove from heat and let that day our traditional meal pork. Actually, it was supposed stand for at least an hour. Drain s was a casual, informal dinner of to be but nobody peas and add eight cups of fresh left over ham slices and hors d could stand those, so they ate water. Add two medium ham oeuvres. Accompanying that was pork roast or ham. It was just hocks, onion, salt, marjoram, sometimes, depending on the pure bad luck for the rest of and pepper. Cover and cook on a mediumsize of the crowd the night be- the year to do otherwise. 225 degree heat for eight The whole idea seemed rather -low fore, a relish tray with sweet pickle slices and olives. We espe- formal at first, but the adults hours. Serve with combread. cially liked the green stuffed ol- were certainly perkier. And since Variations: ives but they were picked over life had never seen a real abunBACON: Instead of ham most of the time so the tray dance of good luck, it started to hocks, add a half pound of bawould be supplemented with make sense. con slices cut into fourths. cocktail onions, which some of Now, superstitiously, our tradiOKRA: Add a cup of sliced us liked and others wouldnt tional New Years meal is one of and pork, just okra the last 30 minutes of cooktouch. ing time. Later, while the adults would in case. HOT PEPPERS: Add one or at sit quietly staring And two chopped jalepeno peppers the New Years Day football Ham Hocks when peas have cooked for four games on TV, we children would hours. 2 cups of dried entertain ourselves searching for MEATLESS: Substitute three fancy party hats and horns un- V' Y 1 CHERYL ARCHIBALD Review Correspondent - taste-testin- ut black-eyed-pe- black-eyed-pe- as hog-jaw- black-eyed-pe- red-eye- d, Black-eyed-Pe- as black-eyed-pe- tablespoons of bacon grease for the ham hocks. FRESH PEAS: cook two cups of fresh or frozen peas the same way as dried, eliminating preboiling. Roast Pork 1- -3 as pound pork shoulder or loin roast tip teaspoon salt teaspoon pepper V teaspoon garlic powder Trim all fat from roast. With a knife, slash a criss cross pattern on top of meat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic. After browning meat on both sides, sprinkle again with seasonings and cook in an electric skillet or dutch .oven at 325 to 350 degrees for two hours. Add enough water to keep meat from Vi Vt sticking. Variations: Add six medium, unpeeled, washed potatoes to the pot after the first hour of cooking. salPour xk cup ad dressing over the roast before sprinkling with seasonings. Substitute a V teaspoon of sage for the garlic salt. i -- -- -- wine-vineg- ar Name ' Address State . City Zip. Phone. Please send me .(Slumber) Tickets Please circle date, location and price. Amt. Enclosed Check for total amount of tickets and stamped envelope MUST ACCOMPANY self-address- ed ORDER MAIL TO: OGDEN BALLET ASSOC. 2580 Jefferson Ave., Ogden. UT 84401 SYMPHONY Clip and Mail GROUP DISCOUNTS O MASTERCARD A VISA Tickets Available thru Weimtocki Ogden Only, DatatixZCMI and at the Ogden Symphony Ballet Auoc. 4 2580 Jefferson Ogden Tapes of the Utah Symphonys 399-921- Recordings & Nutcracker also on sale at the office |
