Marilyn Hagerty
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Let's talk turkey. This week, the Eatbeat leads me to conversations with people who sell turkey, cook turkey, eat turkey. Take Ryan Holland, for instance. He's the meat manager at Hugo's on South Washington Street. And he says the turkeys he sells often are about 14 to 16 pounds. Some go up to 24 pounds. He figures for eight to 10 people, you need an 18 to 20 pound turkey. That gives you leftovers. And then there are some who prefer to buy boneless turkey breast. "A lot of people nowadays deep fry their turkeys. There are all sorts of options," he said.
The weekend at hand brings fluffy snow, hockey and a bunch of lawyers to Grand Forks. For cheerful souls among us, the first snow of the season is beautiful. For grouchy folks, the response is, "Bah humbug." For jolly youngsters with sleds, it's a chance to slide down the hill along Lincoln Park golf course. The class that graduated 40 years ago from the UND School of Law is holding a reunion this weekend. If there are any legal problems that come up at the hockey games against Western Michigan, those lawyers should be able to help out.
Don't walk with your hands in your pockets. This reduces your balance if you slip on the ice. Take short to medium steps or shuffle your feet in very icy areas. When walking on icy surfaces, curl your toes under and walk as flat footed as possible. The time has come to bring out my list of suggestions for walking on ice. It comes from advice given over the years at Altru Hospital and UND. And I have saved it. • Wear boots or overshoes with grip soles. Slick leather or rubbery soles on dress shoes are unsafe on ice.
The goodness of the gardens and the skill of area chefs combine to create a memorable November dinner. It was held at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. And it was one of the finest meals ever experienced on the Eatbeat. Students talks were featured between courses. Caleb Rempe, a senior at UMC, says this year's tomato crop was great. Carrots were good. There were a lot of onions. He was overseer of the gardens in the greenhouse during the summer. His group took vegetables to the Crookston farmer market.
We've heard what the politicians have to say. We, the public, are finishing up the task of telling them what we think at the polls. And a spirit of thankfulness falls over the land. Here in Grand Forks, the organ transplant group LifeSource is beginning its meetings at 7 p.m. Wednesday in St. Jude's room with an entrance on the west side of St. Michael's Church. Sally Jacobson, who is LifeSource Ambassador, was 61 years old when she received her liver from an 82-year-old donor. Now, at 74, she says her liver has celebrated its 95th birthday.
It's the special touches — such as ice and lemon wedges in the water glasses and a mint with the check—that bring me back to Mamma Maria's. This restaurant with a main entrance at 211 DeMers Ave. in East Grand Forks is near movie theaters. It's part of the East Side eating scene and busier during dinner hours than at lunchtime. Chad Thomas, who has operated Mamma Maria's for 10 years, loves this time of year. He says sales of pasta go up as the weather grows cold. There are more orders for lasagna and cranberry tortellini.
Chicken gnocchi, Cajun sausage, zuppo Toscana, Manhattan clam chowder ... There were more than 40 different versions of soup for tasting when the 12th annual Soup Supper was held Thursday evening at Grand Forks Air Force Base. There was a chill in the air with cold drizzling rain. There was talk all around about the cold weather approaching. Most of the Air Force members and their mates agreed that soup weather is here. And soup is welcome.
There is joy and there is sadness at the last weekend of October rolls in around Grand Forks. The joy is in finding gloves and mittens long languishing in baskets. Sadness is saying farewell to Philip the Fly who was last seen down by Sioux Falls on his way south for the winter. The question of the day is, "What will you be on Halloween?" Costumes range from elaborate goblins to ghosts wearing a sheet from the linen closet. And all around the Forks there are special events this weekend.
Dear Clarabell Demers, Your friends around Grafton tell me you will be marking your 108th birthday Nov. 3. And I want to be among the first to congratulate you. I've been riffling through my baskets of notes. And the only person I know of older than you in our area is Iris Westman over at Northwood. She turned 113 in August. Your friends around Grafton admire you — your zest for living. And I remember visiting with you in your apartment when you were 103 — and still bowling. I know you find plenty to do these days at Sunset Lutheran Home in Grafton.
The salad was adequate. Fresh and crisp lettuce. The 10-ounce ribeye steak served with a baked potato was just right. And I was pleased with the Wednesday evening dinner special for $9.95 at the Aroma Restaurant in the Ramada. This recently refurbished lounge in the Ramada has been drawing a variety of customers with its weekly offerings. The place is dark—but not too dark. Seating is comfortable and there is a friendly ambience. The lounge brings customers in early on other weeknights with free incentives. But my goal was to try the Wednesday ribeye.