| OCR Text |
Show Thursday, November 10, 2011 The Gunnison Valley Gazette Page 5 The Santa Exclusive: A Christmas Novella Local author Brent Boswell writes about Ran Anderson, a self-destructive, thirty-something journalist who believes gift giving at Christmas is a massive waste of resources. Ran loathes Santa for spearheading such widespread fiscal irresponsibility, especially considering the dismal state of the world's economy. So when invited to conduct an exclusive, face-toface interview with Claus just before the Holidays, Ran is eager to stump Santa by asking some very hard-hitting and even unpopular questions—but it turns out—Santa has plenty to say. Author Brent Boswell has spent much of his life in Utah, but he has also lived in Minnesota, Nevada, and three Canadian Proveniences. He currently resides in a rustic (non-Unabomber-like) log cabin nestled high in Utah's Rocky Mountains, which is a perfectly inspiring place for a novelist. When he's not writing he enjoys hunting and fishing with his Labrador Retriev- er named Deets, and spending cherished time with family and friends. Other available titles by Brent Boswell include two for pre-teens, BIG! MEAN! PIG! and Mission: Invisible, The Magician's Curse. The Gazette was fortunate enough to have Boswell write their football articles this past fall season. I n The Santa Exclusive, Ran, t h e main protagonist, battles a serious and debilitating alcohol problem. "As with most Americans," says Boswell, "alcoholism and other chemical addictions has sorely compli- cated the lives of many people I love. "Because the Salvation Army Adult Rehab Center has done so much for my family and friends, I have included a link to their website that can be accessed directly from the e-book version of The Santa Exclusive. Read- I'm Just Saying... ers are encouraged to seek help for someone they love and/or make a much needed donation to one of the Salvation Army ARCs throughout the country, including right here in Utah." Boswell will be donating 10% of The Santa Exclusive's royalties towards this worthy and highly personal cause. "My hope is that while traveling to promote my book, that I will also be granted time to discuss the Salvation Army ARC program, and the ways in which we as a community can get involved," say Boswell. "Hopefully, after hearing about their programs, none of us will ever pass a Salvation Army Santa without dropping a few bills into one of their glossy-red pots." The Santa Exclusive is available at Barnes & Nobel, Smashwords, and Amazon. corn, and is priced at only .99 cents until November 15th, then it will be raised to $2.99. The book will also be available in paperback come early December. by JANIS SAURIC Making mud pies is a wonderful part of childhood. Don't you remember making them when you were a kid? I'm just a little worried that it is becoming a lost art. We worry too much about our kids getting dirty and perhaps we don't allow them enough time to just play in the dirt. We are a regimented society with lessons and schedules and not very much down-time. So for the sake of those who've forgotten how, here are some instructions for making good old fashioned mud pies. 1. Find good dirt. This is essential. Look for dirt that is not too sandy. It can't be clay either. It should be loose, smooth dirt. Make sure that the rocks are sifted out. 2. Mix the dirt with water. Dig a small hole in the center of the dirt. Slowly pour small amounts of water into the dirt. Mix it carefully with your hands. No spoons are allowed but if making lots of mud pies, you can use a stick. 3. Thoroughly knead the mud. Doing this will make it much easier to form the actual pies. This may take several minutes and this is really the fun part. Mud up to your elbows shows you are doing a good job. 4. Mold the mud into pies. This is best done by rolling into balls and then flattening them. You can make your pies as thick or as thin as you like. 5. Garnish your mud pies. You can use pretty USDA announces disaster assistance sign up for 2010 crop losses Utah USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Arthur Douglas today announced that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses begins November 14, 2011. "The SURE program provides a safety net of assistance to producers when disaster strikes, so I encourage Utah farmers and ranchers with 2010 crop losses to contact their county FSA office to learn more about the program," said Douglas. greater than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to any qualifying natural disaster. The following counties received a disaster designation during 2010: Grand and San Juan. Further eligibility requirements include the stipulation that producers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. For crops without insurance programs, Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program There are two basic qualification methods for a SURE payment. In the first method, the producer's operation must be located in a county that was declared a 2010 disaster county by the USDA Secretary or in a contiguous county and the natural disaster must have caused at least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance in the operation. In the second method, all producers in all counties are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss equal to or (NAP) coverage must have been obtained from FSA. Eligible farmers and ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet this riskmanagement requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits. For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements contact your nearest county FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda. gov/sure. stones, flowers or leaves. Be creative as you add a little flair to your pies, and identify them as your own. Mud pies can be dried in the sun or "eaten" right away. 6. Serve with whimsical tea, which is best served in pretend cups and saucers. It is best to serve the mud pies using your imagination. I also have a great recipe for Mud Pie that adults can serve to children and even to real guests (not the imaginary kind who like mud pies made of dirt.) Mud Pies 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 1/3 cup flour 1/3 cup baking cocoa 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup chopped nuts (I like peanuts) 1/4 cup hot fudge sauce or topping 1 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons hot fudge sauce Additional nuts, if desired Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bottom and side of round cake pan ( 8 x 1 1/2 inches) or a pie plate. Stir together granulated sugar, butter, flour, cocoa, vanilla, salt and eggs in medium bowl. Stir in nuts. Pour into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until edge appears dry. Immediately prick holes in pie with a fork. Spread 1/4 cup fudge sauce over top. Cool completely. Beat whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff. Spread over fudge sauce, Drizzle with additional fudge sauce and garnish with nuts. Ready to serve! Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie. Serves 8 Happy Mud Pies! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• r I (11111 aird 0 11 11 . Prices effective through November 15, 2011 Pharmacy Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9:30 am to 6:30 pm Fri. 9:30 am to 3 pm Closed Sat. Et Sun. ChristmasNPre-View! Thursday November 10 4 - 9 pm Drawing for a $100 Shopping Spree at 9 pm! ear S 12 oz. pkg. Chilean Ripe Super Saver pack Boneless Pork Country Style Ribs $1.991b. Ground Beef 4.991b. Cup Fresh Juicy Texas Pink Small Avocados Grapefruit 3for$1 2for$1 Tangerines 01.291b. 35.99. Super Saver Pack 80% Lean Sliced Dacon It& Juicy Sweet Satsuma Jumbo Raw Shrimp Half Ham 1.991b. Turkey Breast $1291b. Limit Oven Roast 02.991b. Nauitilus 1 lb. pkg. 26/30 ct. Western Family Honey Glazed Spiral Sliced Norbest 8one-In Frozen Holiday pk 12 oz. Cans Coke Products 2for$9 Fresh Scratch Bakery Apple or Cherry Cobbler - 2 for 5 Delicious Custard Filled Eclairs - 199 pkg. Dozen Fresh Asked Onion Dinner Rolls - 489 •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 Blueberries 1991b. Western Family 6 oz. Asst. Yogurt 10for$4 Western Family Grade AA Dozen Large Eggs 4forl Fresh Service Deli Hot 6 Ready Chicken renders - 4.49 lb. Mild Cheddar Cheese - 4.99 lb. Fresh Made 12" Deli Pizzas - 2 for t9 •••••••••••••••••••••••• |
