25th Annual Christmas PaRtY

25 years! Can you imagine? This was our 25th annual Christmas party and I couldn’t help but reflect on all our past parties. We bounced around for a few years but landed squarely at the SuPeR historic Elks Lodge 18 years ago. What a terrific job they do, decorations, food and always smiling faces. Thank you to the Elks for always taking excellent care of us!

When Rick asked at the party how many have been there for all 25 parties we had several stand. Many more have been with us for a decade or two and some brand new. It’s like that old Scout song “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold”. All precious. Thank you to all who serve our community shoulder to shoulder with us.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to our customers. Your continued support make it possible for us to continue to do what we love, where we love.

I wish all a prosperous, joyous and blessed New Year!

Christmas Memories

This time of year stirs up memories for many. Me included. My Mom always told the story of my brother and I sneaking down the hall when we were little with a (crudely) wrapped gift, giggling every few steps. John and I had pooled our money earned from chores to buy Mom a Nativity scene in a dome, when you wound it up Silent Night would tink out in music box fashion. That’s why we were giggling, it kept playing a note no matter how still we tried to hold it. Fond, warm Christmas glow settles on me when I recall this.

I asked my husband to share one of my favorite stories of his.

Susanville Super Owner Rick Stewart~
"I was about 7 or 8 visiting my Grandma in Chico. I had done some chores for her and had earned exactly one dollar. I wanted to get her a Christmas present so I took my dollar down to the 5 and dime. I found a red velvet reindeer that I thought was just right. The problem was I didn't have enough cash. After some serious negotiations with the shopkeeper, this seven year old walked out of the shop with the reindeer.

My Grandma put that reindeer out every Christmas until she passed away. It was old and tattered then, much of the velvet having long since rubbed off. But the love it represented for my Grandma was just as new and perfect as they day I gave it to her.

53 years late, but thanks to the shopkeeper who made it possible.”

From Rick, me and all our Susanville Super family: May your Christmas be filled with joy and fond memories of loved ones far and near!
God Bless!

Kailie’s Overnight Oats

 You know those recipes someone passes on that will be favorites for ever? Well overnight oats is definitely one for me. It makes such a satisfying breakfast. I toss them in my bag when I leave for work and almost can’t wait to eat them. Today I tossed Persimmon and walnuts in half of them and mixed fresh Driscoll berries in the others.  BUT the really big news is McCormick breakfast seasoning to sprinkle on top.
     
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup almond milk
Fresh fruit topping
McCormick breakfast topping

Cake in a jar

My Mom would don a starched apron and start 
cooking the day before Thanksgiving, that would continue through New Year's Day. Every day there were more goodies: cookies, peanut butter balls, marzipan colored and shaped into miniature fruits and veggies, popcorn balls, peanut brittle, candy apples…. you get the idea. When I was dating Rick she insisted on sending a tray filled with all these delightsto his family. Rolling my eyes only when Mom couldn’t see I would head out the door like a dutiful daughter. What I wouldn’t give to have her hand me a tray today.

Since last year’s attempt at Mom’s Candy Apples landed me in the emergency room when the stick broke, apple landed in HARD CRACK stage candy and splashed back on my hand. As a side note my family made me take the picture off Facebook. It kept freaking them out :). Anyway. I’m sticking to baking this year. I came across recipes a customer gave me years ago for cakes baked in a canning jar to give as gifts. Love it! After baking, the article suggests cutting fabric out with pinking shears to decorate each jar. Haha! I have my Mom’s shears and the memory of her using them to cut my bangs for a more ‘natural’ look. It kinda works…


I read a little about these cakes, they used to call them Pirate Cakes because the jars are capped hot from the oven and seal to keep for about a year. I chose to make the Apple and the Pumpkin sticking mostly to the recipe except I added dark chocolate chips to the pumpkin.Like bacon there isn’t much dark chocolate doesn’t make even better! They are moist and delish! Great gift idea and something the kids would really enjoy decorating too!


Apple Cake
2/3 cup shortening
2 2/3 cup sugar
4 eggs
3 cups pealed, grated apples (I used Honeycrisp)
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup water
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
8 pint size wide mouth canning jars (aisle 9)


Sterilize jars, lids and rings (I did it in the dishwasher). Keep lids warm on top of oven. Spray non stick in each jar. Preheat oven to 325*, place jars on cookie sheet (or my super cool jelly roll pan I got on aisle 9).
Cream together shortening and sugar, add eggs, mix thoroughly. Add apples, raisins and water. In another bowl sift together, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add to apple mixture, mix well, add nuts.
Fill jars half full with batter. Bake for 55 minutes. Since ovens vary, test with a toothpick. Remove jars one at a time, sealing as you go with lids and rings tightened down. As they cool each will seal with a pop. Decorate. BAM.


I may never attain my Momma’s mad cooking skills but I try to channel her enthusiasm for the Holidays and jest for life each day! Ha! Jest for life :) I meant to say ZEST but that works too.


Hometown Holidays~
As promised, here's the pumpkin and brownie recipe:

                 

Hometown Helping Hands...

Somebody can’t do everything but everybody can do something.~ IDK who said this, or if I just have the quote wrong. Either way it’s true. When we all do just a little it is astounding what we can accomplish!

When wildfire ripped through Paradise it created need. Lassen County-ians were there to help. Displaced pets, large and small, needed to be housed and fed. Ronnie Chandler, Shelby Lewis and Kami Chandler Prater called a “cowboy 911”, in no time they had $1000 and 1400lbs of hay donated! The money was used to purchase dog and cat food and whatever else they could. Then they delivered all of this to Chico where the animals are being cared for until someone claims or rescues them. Thanks to a whole lotta people these cowgirls got the job done!

                  
Terra Avila and Shannon Cook hopped in the car and headed down to Chico’s tent cities just to see what they could do. They offered their time, attention and hard work. There is much work to be done. They fed people, sorted donations (mountains of donations) and sometimes just listened. And they didn’t just do it once.
                                 

Rod Chambers, owner of KSUE/KJDX wanted to help in a big way. He did some research to see what Camp Fire victims needed most, the answer was MONEY. Rod called us and asked if he could host a live remote in our parking lot, Rick was delighted to help. Then Rod enlisted Fire Chief James Moore and several Firefighters for a Boot Drive. This event raised $6000 in 5 hours! The amount of generosity from one small community to another blows me away.
                               

There are many more stories to be told of so much kindness and goodness. THAT makes it feel like Christmas time. As usual I am bursting with Hometown Pride for all our Hometown Heroes freely lending a helping hand.