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Wed
12
Dec

Hey, Let’s Talk! Baked Chicken Tenders

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By: Van Reech

A few years ago before I learned the “Thick Black Iron Pot” trick of frying Catfish up right I used to coat the fillets with Tabasco Sauce and dust them in the prepared cornmeal mixture and bake them in the oven. They were very close to the fried fish I loved and we ate them at least once a week so when I saw Alison Roman’s recipe for Baked Tenders I knew I had to try them.

Wed
05
Dec

Did You Know?

By Raymond Powell

During the Civil War there were spies on both sides in the North and the South. It has never been determined exactly why they risked their lives to spy on a certain side. Women were the most successful spies and today’s article is about a woman form New Orleans who spied for the Union. She was known as “Crazy Lou”, Lou Arness that is, who was from a wealthy family that had actually owned slaves but like many southern slave owners they were being given their freedom even before the war began.

During the war Lou’s home became a hiding place for escaping Union prisoners and runaway slaves. They were housed in the attic with a secret trap door for them to come out at night. Many of them were able to escape to freedom. Horses were confiscated by the freed slaves and convicts. Of course, both Union and Confederates went through town and the countryside looking for horses that were stolen.

 

 

Wed
05
Dec

Hey, Let’s Talk! The Highest & Best

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By: Van Reech

As I was reading Emily Weinstein’s blog on the NYT Cooking Section a portion of her talk on Thanksgiving leftovers struck me. I had been visiting with you about the same things but she said it so much better, “(…) but I feel in my soul that the highest and best use of Thanksgiving leftovers is in a sandwich.” AND I so agree! In my column towards the end of October I said something like the best use of turkey leftovers is a big ole sandwich with lots of mayo and a big slice of Swiss cheese. Emily and I both agree that this turkey sandwich should also have a slice of cornbread dressing in it and, she adds, “(…) Especially the cranberry sauce, which makes it sing.” I’m all hungry now ….

 

 

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Wed
05
Dec

Kennedy Decides Not to Run for LA Governor in 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor and Constituents:

Last month, three of my Senate colleagues, two of my House colleagues, and I met in Beijing with Premier Li Keqiang, the second ranking Chinese government official, and others to discuss several issues. The State Department asked us in particular to lobby China to stop Chinese citizens from exporting synthetic fentanyl and the ingredients to make it to Mexico, from which fentanyl enters the United States. We hammered hard. This weekend, President Xi Jinping, meeting with President Trump, announced that China would designate fentanyl a “controlled substance” subject to the maximum penalty under Chinese law. Fentanyl killed more Americans last year than we lost during the entirety of the Vietnam War. Much of it came to the United States from China. The credit for this breakthrough goes to Presidents Trump and Xi, but it sure made me feel like our trip to Beijing was worthwhile.

Wed
28
Nov

Hey, Let’s Talk! A Forest Interlude

It was such a pretty Saturday with temps in the 60’s a light breeze from the southwest and a partly cloudy sky. The perfect day to do some Autumn yard chores before the wet cold Winter arrived. I’ve been cutting up the four fallen trees and chopping them into firewood and after several loads I decided to take a break about midafternoon on the back patio and hydrate with a frosty adult beverage.

My remaining cat, an adolescent black and white male I call Mr. Tux, came around to visit and while we sat soaking up the warm sunshine I noticed that he’d become very still and had stopped purring. Slowly without turning my head I shifted my eyes to my left and into the edge of the woods behind my house. At first I didn’t notice anything but after a quick movement I made out two deer, a doe and a spike about 20 yards away and right at the forest boundary. Almost majestic and solemn - How quiet they’d been coming up.

 

Wed
28
Nov

Looking Up: Standing on the Edge!

I am standing on the edge as I form this column in my mind. Underneath my feet is wet sand mixed with millions of shells. Behind me are camps and cabins raised on stilts and on this day they all seem to be empty. The beach is empty also, unless you decide to count the hundreds of gulls and other birds that are around. Above me is a crystal clear, azure blue, sky. And in front of me, the reason for the trip, is the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Although it is not quiet, the solitude that I seek has been found. I am wrapped in the beauty of God’s creation and I am at peace. The sound of the waves rolling in is hypnotic. The cries of the birds become the background track to the waves. The beauty of the day fills my soul. All shall be well.

Wed
14
Nov

The Coin of the Realm

EDITORIAL

By Lee H. Hamilton

Debate in Congress has always been contentious. I can remember times on Capitol Hill when “debate” was actually more of a screaming match than a civil discussion.

Back then, we had a colleague who stepped forward at these times to remind each side that if we wanted to get anything done — rather than just shout at each other for the cameras — we had to have a measure of trust in one another. He was right.

 

 

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Wed
07
Nov

Did you Know?

By Raymond Powell

Through the years this writer has attempted to write about some of the great men and women of the past that have molded DeSoto Parish. Dr. Scott Tatum, died September 21, 2018 was such a person – probably one of the top ten men that  have encountered in my lifetime. However, the main emphasis of this article is about B.H. Carroll.

 

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Wed
07
Nov

Hey, Let’s Talk!

Leftovers – Can’t Get No Better!

By: Van Reech

Last Sunday I re-did the Bill Blass Meatloaf I told you about awhile back. I’d tried it but changed his recipe a little, tweaked some things and finally decided that it would be best making it as close to the original as possible. This time I did everything true to form except not finding any ground veal I doubled down on the ground pork. It was delicious! AND if you didn’t save that column in your archives of recipes I can get you a copy if you email me (reechjr@yahoo.com) with the title ‘Meatloaf ’, call to (318) 540-7500 or just come by the Mansfield Female College Museum at 101 Monroe St. The good thing about meatloaf is that it’s great leftover and superb on a sandwich just like the one I’m gonna have tonight

 

Wed
31
Oct

Hey, Let’s Talk!

By: Van Reech

Ole Gary I wanted to share a few memories with you of my friend Gary Canfield who recently passed away. He was a gentle, friendly, truly nice guy. When I first took over as Director at The Calhoun Center he told me one afternoon that if I needed any help on the sound or light boards to give him a call since The Back Alley Theatre had the same type. And I want to tell you that they are big, threatening looking, multi-switched and lite boards. Sure enough the first several events problems arose and try as I might I just couldn’t get the balky things to work. I would place a desperate call to Gary he would come right over push a button or flip a switch and everything would be all right again.

 

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