By ALICE BRANDAU
Our oldest grandchild, Amy (Brandau) Sharpe, was a Valentine baby, and we were invited to a Valentine breakfast on Saturday morning at their home to celebrate with family. It was a good way to start the day with this special lady, and, like always, the food was good, especially the dish made with French bread. Because it’s a long cold winter and people are hunkered down more than usual, here is the recipe. It is made and left overnight in the fridge. There is a simple sauce to add before eating. You start a new diet the next day.
Slice a one-pound loaf of French bread in 1 ½ inch slices and place in 13-by-9-inch pan. Beat six eggs and add 1 ½ cups of milk, one-third cup of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla. Pour over the bread. Peel and slice six apples. Mix with 1½ tsp. of cinnamon, one-half tsp. of nutmeg and 2 tbsp. of sugar and spread over the French bread. The next morning, you bake it one hour at 350 degrees.
Sauce: Mix one-half cup of sugar, one-fourth cup of flour, one-half cup of melted butter or margarine. Add one-half cup of brown sugar, one-half cup of milk and 2 tsp. vanilla, and cook until thick.
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We ended up spending the rest of the day at Joe and Joan Belsky’s home. Their son Mark and his wife Joy are moving to Wisconsin from Montrose, Colo., and are temporarily staying with his folks before moving into a place of their own. It was good to see them and good to know they are closer to family once again. A good number of euchre games were played, and recalling some great memories made it an extra-special day.
Laurie Waltemath invited her mom Hazel Pasch and brother John to a birthday party honoring husband Tom on Saturday. Daughters Sheila and Pauline spent time visiting their mom this weekend, too.
Those from the ridge who attended the visitation for Eleanor Thompson on Friday evening were Hazel Pasch, Frank and Darlene Martalock and my husband Bob and I. Eleanor was blessed with a family that was devoted to her, and as I talked with family, I heard the words “kind,” “never judging,” and “the very best mother-in-law in the world.” What a legacy for all those who were part of her life.
Frank and Darlene Martalock were in Westby last evening, attending a girls basketball game. Hailey Collins of Black River Falls is a member of the Black River Falls High School team and is a granddaughter of Joe and Marge Collins.
Doctors have advised that David Brandau have little contact with the public while he receives chemo treatments. However, he has appreciated the many cards of encouragement and phone calls.
And that’s it for Feb. 17, 2015.