Month: November 2016

Thanksgiving — Turkey Dressing Through the Generations

Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s time for a very special side dish — my mother’s turkey dressing! I only treat myself to this guilty pleasure at Thanksgiving (and of course for leftovers) for very obvious reasons. However, among the many blessings I have to be thankful for, this is one I’d like to share for all to enjoy.

Recipe

Modifications to the original recipe were made to reduce the saturated fat and salt content while retaining its delicious flavor. This has always been my favorite…

Ingredients:
  • 1 package cubed seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 loaf bread (whole wheat or bran bread – “stale”).

    Thanksgiving, basket, autumn, bread, recipe
    Thanksgiving Basket
  • 1 container of chicken livers
  • 1 cooked turkey liver
  • Broth (boil the neck to make fresh broth, or use already prepared broth)
  • 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning.
  • 4 cups chopped celery
  • 4 cups chopped onion
  • 6 large eggs (beaten slightly).
  • pepper
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
Directions:
  • Sautee onions and celery in olive oil, cook until soft then set aside.
  • Sautee chicken livers and turkey liver, cook until soft then set aside.

Advance timeline:

  • 3 days before — onion and celery
  • 2 days before — cook liver, neck, innards in chicken broth, low salt.
  • Dice the liver and add to the onion mixture in refrigerator. Save flavored broth for stuffing.
recipe, turkey, dressing, Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Turkey — Dressing Through the Generations

Day of Meal:

  • Place bread in a large pan (Take 1/2 loaf of bread out a couple of days before and dry out.)
  • Wet bread with broth, add beaten eggs, butter/oil, liver, onions & celery. If done in advance, you will need to lightly heat mixture before adding to bread mixture (not too hot though or the eggs will cook).
  • If you stuff your turkey, do it just before baking and place it in a mesh stuffing bag. Bake according to the directions. Please note, it is critical to maintain proper internal safe cooking temperatures.

Certain foods or particular meals bring us “home” in tradition. This is one of mine… . What family recipe is one of yours that you would like to share?

Thanksgiving, recipe, turkey, dressing
Thanksgiving Day
                      Thankful for Every Blessing

 

As Veteran’s Day Approaches – A Look at Military Service Dogs

Veteran's Day, Military Service Dogs, Soldier
As Veteran’s Day Approaches — A Look at                    Military Service Dogs

As Veteran’s Day approaches, this article will give an overview of the important contributions made by military service dogs. Their keen sense of smell, hearing, and eyesight have made them particularly useful, not to mention their devotion and innate ability to be a team member and take commands.

Historically
Military Service Dogs, ancients, World War II, WWII, Belgian-Malinois
Military Service Dogs through the Centuries
Belgian-Malinois

Used by the ancients in warfare, dogs have served various purposes that have progressively changed throughout history. In the United States, they were first used during the Seminole Wars. Over the centuries, military service dogs took on various roles and duties. Although used in the past for a myriad of dangerous activities, such as drawing enemy fire or catching rats, modern day service dogs take on humane tasks that allows them to put their unique skills to their ultimate use.

Military Working Dogs

The Quartermaster Corps started to train dogs for the Army’s K-9 Corps in the early part of World War II. After accepting more than thirty breeds, they narrowed their list to the five most effective for

Veteran's Day, Military Service Dogs, German Shepherd
Military Service Dogs
German Shepherd

their purposes. These breeds include the Giant Schnauzers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Sheep dogs, and Farm Collies (short coat). Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are still trained as sled dogs for Arctic duty.

Modern Day Duties

Modern day military dogs are used in quite a few roles, including patrol or scout, sentry, mine, messenger, tunnel, explosives detection, and casualty.

Sentry Duty
  • Ten thousand, four hundred and twenty-five dogs were trained in WWII. Approximately 9,300 of these dogs were placed on sentry duty. Hundreds of military organizations including harbor defenses, coastal fortifications, ammunition dumps, arsenals, depots, industrial plants, and depots benefited from sentry dogs.
  • Sentry dogs work on a short leash and are taught to provide warnings
    Soldier, Military Service Dog, Veteran's Day
    Soldier and Military Service Dog

    through alerting, growling, or barking. They are particularly useful for dark conditions when an attack from the rear or from cover is likely. These dogs are trained to warn their handlers of the presence or approach of strange individuals. They are also used to guard airports, war plants, supply dumps, and other vital military installations. These dogs are incredibly valuable in any location where security must be maintained against intruders.

Military service dogs provide an amazing and necessary service to our country and those who have served our country — our veterans. The next article will focus on other duties military service dogs provide — patrol or scout, mine, messenger, casualty, tunnel, and explosives detection. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

(C) 2016 Karen Van Den Heuvel Fischer

References:
Newton, Tom. “K-9 History: The Dogs of War!”. Hahn’s 50th AP K-9.
“Dogs of War in European Conflict; Egyptians and Romans Employed Them in Early Warfare — Battle Dogs in 4000 B.C”. New York Times. February 21, 1915. p. S3.
http://www.uswardogs.org/war-dog-history/types-war-dogs/, US War Dog Association | National Headquarters, Types of War Dogs