Wildcats 2019

The #3Wildcats advanced to the SoDak16 with a hard-fought win over 49-55 win over #2Warner on March 2. 

Unfortunately, their season ended with a narrow 3-point loss to #8Viborg-Hurley (NW was #9) in the SoDak16 the following Tuesday. It was tough--so close to the State Tournament, and my heart hurt for the boys who played their hearts out game after game. Our home gym bleachers were filled every game and the fans followed them all over, too, with some opposing fans wondering why we were cheering so loudly even in not-so-close games.

We were just that excited about every single basket and every good play. 

Excited to see that the hard work these boys put it year after year, and after experiencing so many losses in their younger years, was now paying off and coming together.

There are many different ways to measure success--and it can't always be found on a scoreboard or even in a state tournament. I believe this is just the start of successful years, and what a great start it was.

It was a fun, nail-biting, exciting season that gave all of us fans plenty to cheer about and the younger players plenty to work hard to accomplish in coming years. 

Confirmation

Landen was Confirmed on March 3. Although the day was different from what we thought it would be, it was still a very blessed day. It is appropriate that wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as we experienced record lows and plenty of wind all day.

Due to weather and health concerns, Bishop Swain was not able to be at the Confirmation mass. Fr. Tom confirmed the Confirmandi, with Fr. Axtmann con-celebrating.

Landen's sponsor was his aunt Amanda. He chose St. Joseph as his patron saint.

The All Saints class with their teachers.

Grandma and Grandpa Melius were able to join us for dinner following Confirmation. We are still waiting for have their reception at All Saints, as another blizzard rolled through yesterday.

February

Look at that! February is over halfway through. There was a time when my kids were little, I remember looking at the calendar this time of year and thinking it must be at least April or May. The first two months of the year took forever. 

Well, they don't anymore!

Lately, when the frequent cold snaps and winter storms allow me to leave the farm, people ask what I've been up to. My answer is always the same, "Church, calving and basketball." We are nearing the end of regular season ball. Landen played his first year of JV and C team this year. Our Varsity team has realized many of their goals this year, which has been such a fun season for this high school basketball fan to watch. As I have said to my great friend and "bleacher buddy" several times, up until last year, there were plenty of games that we still commented, "Well, at least we only lost by 20," or "We won the 4th quarter." This year they are outright winning (with just 3 losses) and we are talking about power points and region standings. They are co-Lake Region Champions for the first time in 12 years and have beaten teams they haven't in 10-12 years. Think about that. That is the entire time many of these boys have been in school! The best part is they show up to work hard every single game

Is there anything better than a 3-pointer going in at just the right time?

This time of year there isn't. 

Go Wildcats!

The Cookies

Oh, the Eureka School chocolate chip cookies. 

Let it be known that I have never met a chocolate chip cookie that I didn't like. However, it seemed the cookies that we had at the Eureka school were especially unique because no matter how many different recipes I tried, they never turned out like those did. 

It was about 5 years ago, maybe more, and probably after a conversation with fellow Eureka alumni, that I put out a request on Facebook if anyone had a similar recipe. I didn't get a response. After trying several different recipes, I eventually just gave up on finding it. (Yes, I suppose I could have put a bit more effort into something that had been one of my life's unanswered questions, but I can't devote my entire life to baking cookies. I had basketball games to go to, and probably at that time, diapers to change.) 

After I found the Peanut Butter Bars earlier this month, I was inspired to find the cookie recipe, too. I decided I would try one more time. After putting out the request on Facebook, I received a very similar recipe and later that day . . . the jackpot. The actual recipe.  The actual recipe makes 290 cookies. Here is 1/4 of that recipe--

Eureka School Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 7/8 cup oil

scant 1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

1 7/8 tsp soda

1 7/8 tsp vanilla

scant 4 1/2 cups flour

2 cups mini chocolate chips

(Tina's Tip--7/8 cups is 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons)

Bake at 375 for 10-12 min. A small scoop makes them Eureka School sized. :)

Both recipes that were shared with me are very similar, but I've found that whichever one you use, you need to follow the amounts exactly or they won't turn out quite right--still a delicious cookie--but just not the same.

Maybe you will be like some who have tried these and wondered where they have been all their lives. Maybe you will be like my kids who liked them, but wondered what the fuss was all about.

It was a fun week of reliving memories of good times in the Eureka School lunchroom. The hunt and discovery were just as memorable as taking that first pan of cookies out of the oven that finally, finally resembled the ones I had been searching for. 

And the peanut butter I mentioned yesterday? I'm quite certain that was government-issued peanut butter and syrup mixed together to stretch it farther. You should try that, too. And fold your bread over top to bottom--because that is the right way to do it. :) 

The Bars

If you ever overhear two Eureka alumni, who are probably within a decade either way of 40, catching up, the conversation will probably go something like this:

"How's your family?"
"Great!"
"Wow--it doesn't seem like we graduated that long ago."
"I know!"
"Hey. . . remember the peanut butter bars we used to have at school?"
"And the cookies!"
"And the peanut butter!"

. . . wistful sighs . . .

I have had several conversations like this over the past . . . um . . . 21 years. In fact, the hardest things to leave behind after graduation for many of us were the peanut butter bars, cookies and the peanut butter at school. It wasn't like the recipe was under lock and key or anything; I just got busy with life and forgot about it . . . until those conversations would arise.

I was looking through cookbooks a few months back and saw a recipe (in a book that I've had since college) that looked like it might be THE peanut butter bars. First I didn't have corn flakes, then I didn't have corn syrup. (I generally can't be trusted with Scotcheroo ingredients in the house.) I finally got my ingredients together and made them on January 6. Even after I made them, I still wasn't sure if it was IT. It sure tasted like them, but it had been so long that I didn't know for sure. Thankfully, I know the cook who submitted the recipe quite well. She confirmed that, yes, it was the same recipe. I was SO excited. It was a true EUREKA moment. Ha!

Unbaked Peanut Butter Brownies (Eureka School Peanut Butter Bars)

1 3/4 c. peanut butter

1 1/3 c. sugar

1 c. corn syrup

1/2 c. corn flakes

1 c. ground peanuts (can be chunky if you want)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and heat peanut butter, syrup, salt and vanilla in a kettle and heat until lukewarm, stirring constantly. Mix corn flakes (crush slightly) and peanuts in large mixing bowl. Pour peanut butter syrup mixture over corn flakes/peanut mixture and mix together. (You can save on sticky dishes by pouring the flakes/peanuts into the warm kettle.) Press into a grease 9x13 pan.

Top with chocolate frosting. 

I mix 1/2 stick butter, about 2 cups powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and about 1/2 cup cocoa to make mine. You can also use melted chocolate or peanut butter chips. I wouldn't recommend a can frosting though, if you want the true effect. 

Tomorrow . . . the Cookies.