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APRIL

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook.

F E AT U R E S

D E PA RT M E N T S

6 | Throwback Photo

4 |

Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. celebrates 80 years with another vintage photo of former electric co-op leadership.

6 |

12 | Kansas Pecans

8 | 10 |

The U.S. is the world’s leading supplier of pecans, considered the only nut tree native to the U.S. Three Kansas pecan growers share their unique stories of this “original supernut.”

16 |

20 | Nuclear Energy Technology

16A |

Interest in building large-scale nuclear power plants likely won’t return. However, there is an alternative form of nuclear energy that takes up much less space, reduces construction costs and could even be safer.

18 |

22 | Over or Under?

hen a natural weather disaster causes widespread electrical W outages, a question often asked is: Why don’t they put the lines underground? The debate over “undergrounding” power lines comes with lists of pros and cons on each side.

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Our future is in good hands A RO U N D K A N S A S

Art, exhibits and outdoor activities CO M M E N TA RY

Co-op members’ well-being a priority E N E RGY W I S E

3 home cooling options T H E P R E S I D E N T ’S P E N

Year of the mighty oak

YO U R LO C A L CO - O P N E W S

What’s new at your electric co-op YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

Wild about zinnias

Consider growing the hardest working flower.

21 |

C RO S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

Tornado preparedness

Test your tornado terminology.

24 |

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Those hams ...

The center of attention for special occasions.

26 | 28 | 29 |

M A R K E T P L AC E

Barns, chicks, fast-growing trees SAFETY

Kick severe weather complacency M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Did someone say doughnuts? Easter lemony lusciousness.

GARRETT HUBBARD

PROTHE’S PECANS

ON THE COVER Kansas pecan growers share their unique stories. PHOTO CREDIT: AMERICAN PECAN COUNCIL AND AMERICANPECAN.COM

JUST PLA

NUTSIN APRIL 2021 | BROUG HT

APRIL 2021

Kan Growers sell sas Pecans harvest yearround New Nucle ar Techno SMRs on the logy horizon? The economic Over or Un der s of power line place ?

TO YOU BY ROLLIN G

HILLS ELECTR IC CO-OP | WWW. KEC.CO

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

ment

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Revisiting the Adage ‘Kids These Days’

(ISSN 0091-9586) APRIL 2021 VOL. 71, NO. 4 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC. 2021 WWW.KEC.COOP

Lee Tafanelli

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes

Director of Communications, Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Shaylee Arpin OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS. Never mind the

overused adage about “kids these days” being lazy or entitled or immature. If my recent review of scholarship applications is any indication of this country’s future, I hope I’m around long enough to see these young adults’ contributions to their communities, Kansas, the country and the world. I had the wonderful opportunity to assist in judging essays to help determine winners of several trade school and college scholarships. After reading the first applicant’s packet, I realized I would walk away from the assignment rich in knowledge, better understanding today’s youth and the difficulties faced and exacerbated by the pandemic. Their dreams are diverse — completing certification in plumbing/heating and air conditioning, becoming a veterinarian, nurse or special education teacher or pursuing one of the various engineering disciplines. Each explained the niche in the world they plan to fill and how they plan to fill it. Their volunteer work has connected them with generations of neighbors, from spending summers as camp counselors to creating care packages for

nursing home residents disconnected from family during the pandemic. All worked several jobs in addition to mastering homework, completing expected chores and competing in a multitude of high school activities. The eloquently written personal essays told stories of strength, hardships, triumphs and challenges ahead. I was mostly touched by the youths’ experiences during the pandemic year. I imagined my senior year in high school and how difficult it would have been to be isolated from friends, forced to give up sports and shy away from socializing at a time when you should be socializing. Mostly, I was struck by the optimism each one of the essays conveyed. An overwhelming sense of determination kept pushing each of them forward in life, on to the next goal. Kids these days, like every generation before us, are misunderstood and often mislabeled by previous generations. The truth is, kids these days are amazing. KCL

Multimedia Communications Specialist Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Terry Hobbs

President

Teresa Miller Vice President

Kirk Thompson

Secretary

Jim Christopher Treasurer

You receive Kansas C ountry Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: 4 Rivers, Lebo Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DSO, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington TCEC, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.58 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554. Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.

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APRIL 2021

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THROUGH APRIL 25 Crossroads: Change in

Rural America Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition, Alma. T he Volland Store will build on the exhibit telling the history and culture of Wabaunsee County. Reservations are required. 913-522-6270, thevollandfoundation.org. THROUGH MAY 2 Run! Jump! Fly!

Adventures in Action Exhibit, Manhattan. T he Flint Hills Discovery Center’s new exhibit encourages visitors to get physically active, trying activities that may be new. Adventure scenes include surfing/ snowboarding, kung fu, a climbing canyon, fly cycles and more. 315 S. Third St., 785-587-2742, flinthillsdiscovery.com.

KEC CELEBRATES 80 YEARS WITH THROWBACK PHOTOS This month, we celebrate Kansas Electric Cooperative’s, Inc. (KEC) 80th anniversary with another throwback photo.

THROUGH OCT. 31 Flying Free: 25 Years

of Grassroots Art Exhibit, Lucas. T he Grassroots Art Center in Lucas is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an exhibit featuring unique and original works by 121 Kansas artists and 19 artists from around the country. The Art Center, 213 S. Main, 785-525-6118, grassrootsart.net. APRIL 1-MAY 13 Student Art Exhibit,

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

APRIL 9-25 Tulips at Twilight Luminary Event, Topeka. L arger than life, botanicallycorrect lighted displays in Ward-Meade’s Old Prairie Town and Botanical Garden. Safe, one-way lighted paths from 7-10 p.m. 124 N.W. Fillmore. APRIL 10 Wilson County 7th-12th Grade Art Show Open House, Fredonia. 1-3 p.m. Fredonia Arts Council. APRIL 15 Red Hot Country Showdown,

Fredonia. 7 p.m. Fredonia High School.

APRIL 16-23 Art is Ageless™ Competition,

Topeka. T opeka Presbyterian Manor will host its annual Art is Ageless exhibit and competition. Entry deadline is April 16 with a virtual exhibit for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page. Competition open to all area seniors age 65 and over. Danica Loftin 785-272-6510, search Topeka Presbyterian Manor on Facebook. APRIL 17-18 Auditions for Theatre at the

Ellsworth. A rt exhibit featuring art from Ellsworth county schools, preschools, daycare and heartland programs. Ellsworth Area Art Centers, 223 N. Douglas Ave., 785-472-5658.

Ruin, Alma. T his play is based on interviews and real-life experiences of the people of Wabaunsee County. Audition in April for the live June production. Beth Wunstra, bwynstra@ babson.edu.

APRIL 6-MAY 7 Art is Ageless™

APRIL 17-MAY 22 Big Slam 8 Ball

Competition, Emporia. E mporia Presbyterian Manor hosts this exhibit and competition. Entry deadline is April 6 with virtual exhibits for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page. Competition open to area seniors age 65 and over. Crystal Stock 620-343-2613, search Emporia Presbyterian Manor PMMA on Facebook. TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: 19971998 KEC Board Officers: Secretary Ted Wiebe, Butler; Treasurer Don Schultz, Western; Vice President Walker Parris, Ninnescah; President Perry Rubart, Pioneer; and Lester Murphy Jr., KEC Executive Vice President.

extension/info-center/k-state-garden-hourwebinar-series/k_state_garden_hour.html.

APRIL 7 Raised Bed and Container Gardening Webinar, Virtual. J oin a K-State Extension horticulture agent as he shares how to successfully grow flowers and veggies in a raised bed or container garden. Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/

Tournament, Fredonia. D oors open at 1 p.m., registration ends at 1:45 p.m. Weekly prizes are guaranteed with the grand prize awarded May 22 to the player with the highest accumulated points. Fredonia VFW. APRIL 21 Gardening in the Shade Webinar, Virtual. L earn how to grow plants successfully in limited light. Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/ info-center/k-state-garden-hour-webinarseries/k_state_garden_hour.html. APRIL 24 Capper Foundation’s Evening

for a Child, Virtual. T he 20th annual

evening for a child will be held at 6:30 p.m. virtually. capper.org/events. APRIL 24 Citywide Trash and Treasure

Day, Meade. F ood, sales and more. Starts at 8 a.m., rain or shine! meadechamber@gmail. com or search Meade Chamber on Facebook. APRIL 24 Cruisin’ Into Summer Car, Bike

and Buggy Show, Syracuse. C lassic/ antique car and motorcycle show, also showing sand buggys and off-road vehicles. Starts at 8 a.m. MST. Main Street, Search Syracuse Kansas Car, Bike & Buggy Show on Facebook. APRIL 24 Morning Grit Market, Rose

Hill. V endor market, craft fair and fun show from 2-8 p.m. Crafts, décor, gifts, live entertainment, concessions and more. Search Morning Grit Farm, LLC Parties on Facebook.

APRIL 24 Sand Dunes Spring Poker Run,

Syracuse. 7 p.m. MST. Syracuse Sand Dunes Park, 620-384-2480, syracusesanddunespark. com or search Syracuse Sand Dunes on Facebook.

APRIL 24-25 Shoot like a Girl Home of the Brave Tour, Wichita. W omen ages 16 and older will have the opportunity to shoot inside Shoot Like A Girl’s semitractor-trailer mobile range. Attendees gain experience in handling and shooting handguns, long guns and compound bows using state-of-the-art technology. Cabela’s, shootlikeagirl.com. APRIL 26 Junior High Band and Choir Concert, Fredonia. 7 p.m. Fredonia High School. MAY 1 May Day Celebration, Derby.

Veteran’s fundraiser hosted by the Kansas

Veteran’s Family Reunion. Activities include all day rock ‘n’ roll show, live auction and mounted-horseback shooting exhibition. Bring your chairs and coolers to set up your site. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch, 3750 S. Dusty Rd., Gary 316-733-1887. MAY 5 Herbs — From Seed to

Seasoning Webinar, Virtual. L earn how to grow and care for herbs and how to add them to your favorite recipes! Webinar from noon-1 p.m. hnr.k-state.edu/extension/infocenter/k-state-garden-hour-webinar-series/k_ state_garden_hour.html. KCL Kansas Country Living publishes events free as space allows. Send event information by the fifth of the month prior to publication to events@ kansascountryliving.com. Acceptance of events and advertising does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.

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C O M M E N TA RY

Well-Being of Co-op Members Paramount on Heels of Polar Vortex Event BY L E E TA FA N E L L I

Kansas electric cooperative consumer-members had no idea who or what the Southwest Power Pool, or SPP, is and its relation to electric utilities until some of us, myself included, experienced controlled outages during the polar vortex event in February. Continuous Energy Emergency Alerts, altering between levels 1 and 3 during the extreme cold, were issued by the SPP between Feb. 14-16. As temperatures dangerously dipped well below zero for a large section of the Midwest affecting about 220 million people, the SPP issued Energy Emergency Alerts, from level 1 urging consumers to curtail their electric use, to Level 3, which signaled the SPP’s operating reserves were below the required minimum and its member utilities were instructed to “shed load.” In other words, controlled outages were necessary to prevent widespread and costly blackouts. The SPP is a not-for-profit corporation mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices on behalf of its members. It is charged with managing the electric grid across a 14-state region, which includes Kansas. SPP member utilities are responsible for generating the power your electric cooperative distributes to you, the electric co-op consumer-member. SPP’s interconnected grid improves electric reliability for consumers served by its members — when one region is short of generating capacity, power can flow from other areas to keep the lights on. In collaboration with its member utilities and neighboring grid operators, SPP required two periods of controlled outages: one on Feb. 15 to reduce regional energy use by 1.5% and one on Feb. 16 to reduce energy use by 6.5%. According to the SPP, their actions prevented “longer, uncontrolled, more widespread and more costly blackouts” across Kansas and the region SPP serves. When we review what unfolded in Texas, a state with its own power grid independent of other grids, we are thankful things here were not any worse. That does not say we got off easy. Ranchers, ODDS ARE MOST

Lee Tafanelli

When we review what unfolded in Texas, a state with its own power grid independent of other grids, we are thankful things here were not any worse.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

suddenly without power, performed yeoman’s work to save cattle and livestock during the unparalleled weather event; some successful, some not. Fighting frozen electric water heaters and worrying about pregnant cows just days away from delivery dates, ranchers braved unbelievably harsh conditions to provide safe and life-saving environments for the animals in their care. From chickens and goats to bees, Kansas agriculturalists of all kinds were negatively affected by the polar vortex. All Midwesterners, no matter our ZIP code, will experience increased heating costs related to the polar vortex event. Even when many of us heeded the call to conserve energy, the mere fact that temperatures were well below zero for extended time periods forced furnaces to run overtime. The prolonged stretch of extremely cold temperatures increased demand, created supply constraints, and pushed wholesale prices of natural gas used to generate electricity up to 200 times more than normal, increasing the wholesale price of electricity. Electric cooperatives, which are charged these wholesale prices as a straight pass-through from their power supplier, are working with their consumer-members to lessen the strain of these increased costs. Depending on their financial situation, some co-ops are offering payment arrangements to spread the impact of the cost increases over several months rather than collecting it all in the month it is due. Others are offering extended payment plans on the amount that is above the consumer-member’s average total power bill. Many co-ops offer level payment plans and are encouraging their consumer-members to sign up. On the heels of a record-setting cold weather event, the well-being of electric cooperative consumer-members is paramount. Most importantly, “concern for community” is more than just one of the seven cooperative principles. In action, it means the co-ops focus on members’ needs and work for the sustainable development of their communities. KCL LEE TAFANELLI is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.

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E N E R GY W I S E

Three Options for Home Cooling

BY PAT K E E G A N A N D B R A D T H I E S S E N

and I have been in our 1,500 squarefoot home with no air conditioning for 10 years now, and we’re tired of it! What options should we look into so we can stay cool this summer? – Kyle D E AR K YLE : It’s the right time of year to think about how to stay cool this summer. There are a few low- and no-cost cooling strategies, like using ceiling fans to keep air moving, turning off unused electrical devices and appliances, and blocking direct sunlight with window coverings. If you live in a climate with cool summer evenings, you can let cool air in late at night or early in the morning, then seal up the home to keep that air from leaking out. The condenser unit for a mini-split heat pump system is usually mounted on an exterior wall. If that’s not enough, you can install air conditioning (A/C). Below are three common options for home cooling, and we’ve included approximate cost estimates for each. opening and cool one room. The efficiency of But please be aware that costs are highly variable. portable and window units has improved over the years, but none of them are as efficient as most Window Units/Portable Cooling central A/C units or a mini-split heat pump. Window A/C units or portable A/C units are the If you live in a hot, dry climate, you could conlowest cost approach. Portable units can be moved sider an evaporative cooler (sometimes referred from room to room and come equipped with to as a swamp cooler). Window units have been a length of duct to exhaust hot air out a nearby around for a while, but now there are portable window. Window units are mounted in a window options available. Evaporative cooling units can be less expensive than traditional A/C, but don’t buy one until you do the research to determine how well evaporative cooling works in your local area. Whatever you choose, make sure it is rated for the size of the space you are cooling. COST: $149 to $1,000 per new unit (depending on your climate and how many square feet you’re trying to cool)

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps

A ductless mini-split heat pump has a compressor outside the home that’s connected to air handler units in as many as four rooms. Each

A window A/C can be an effective way to cool a single room.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

G A RY C Z I KO

D E AR PAT AN D B R AD : My wife

room’s temperature can be controlled separately. Ductless mini-splits are an especially good choice for homes without forced air ducting systems or with leaky or undersized ductwork. Heat pumps can also be a supplemental source of heat in the winter. COST: approximately $3,000 to $10,000 (including installation)

Central Cooling

Central A/C systems typically have a compressor unit located outside the home.

If your home has forced air heating ductwork, it can be used for an A/C or heat pump unit. This is a good option if the ductwork is sized properly and doesn’t leak, and if ducts are in unheated attics or crawlspaces that are insulated. In some locations in the U.S., contractors can install evaporative cooling as a whole house system. COST: approximately $3,000 to $7,000 (not including repairs to ductwork)

As always, you can save energy and money by purchasing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances and collecting a few quotes from licensed contractors. We hope this information on home cooling options will start you on the path to a more comfortable home this summer. KCL This column was co-written by PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on surprise energy hogs, please visit: www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

BY M E L I N D A S C H N Y D E R

Neighbors started to notice a change in Leland Prothe in his fifties. “When you were younger, you cut all the trees down and now you’re trying to raise ’em,” they told him.

It’s true, the Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative member says. He either ignored or cleared out native pecan trees on his farm near Paola, the first 80 acres of which his great grandfather bought in 1879. Leland and his wife, Slina, were the fourth generation of Prothes to grow crops on the northeast Kansas land, and they purchased the farm in 1960 from Leland’s aunts. By 1987, he had quit growing crops and one day he was working on clearing brush and a few young pecan trees from a pasture with his chain saw. His wife asked him to leave some of the trees because she’d heard there was a local workshop scheduled soon on grafting pecan trees. “So that’s what we did,” Leland says. “We went to the meeting, the guy had brought some pecan graft wood that I took home, and that’s how we got into it. We started by grafting about 20 acres of trees and we loved it, so we planted more trees until we finally got up to 2,200 trees.” Leland is sharing this story while standing in his favorite place: his pecan orchard. He loves working with the trees, he says, from trimming them in the early spring (like he was doing before stopping to take this telephone call to talk about Prothe’s Pecans) to grafting the trees, watering and mowing the orchard and harvesting the nuts, which happens in the late fall. To harvest the crop, the Prothes use a shaker that clamps to each tree trunk and shakes nuts to the ground, a harvester that gathers nuts and a cleaner that blows air to separate nuts from sticks and debris. Then, the couple and a few friends and

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

THE AMERICAN PECAN COUNCIL AND AMERICANPECAN.COM

Pecans in Kansas IN A UTSHELL

D R . W I L L I A M R E I D , N O R T H E R N P E C A N S . B L O G S P O T. C O M

P ROT H E ' S P E C A N S

family will inspect the nuts by hand before storing them in breathable bags in the freezer until they are ready to be cracked for sale. Selling pecans is a year-round enterprise. The whole pecans are taken from the freezer as needed throughout the year and placed in an air-operated cracker that can process up to 400 pounds per hour, delivering full halves without damaging them. Leland turns 88 this June, and he and his wife are still doing the majority of the work themselves. He’s been Leland Prothe harvests pecans on his farm near Paola. The Prothes, with the help of friends and family, inspect the nuts by hand before storing them. a pecan grower for more than three decades now and says he wishes he’d embraced the trees earlier in life. Snacking on a handful of pecans — about “My wife and I travel a lot with motorcycles 15-20 pecan halves — delivers 19 vitamins and and we have for 40-something years, but I always minerals. Industry groups cite nearly two decades think ‘I would rather be in my orchard,’” he says. “I of research documenting the heart-health benefits just love working with these trees.” of pecans, which are lower in carbohydrates and Leland has inspired others, including Brad and higher in dietary fiber compared to other nuts Lila Carter. A few years after Leland established and are among the highest in “good” monounProthe’s Pecans near Paola, the Carters created saturated fats. Jake Creek Pecans a few miles east near LouisThe National Pecan Shellers Association even burg, Kansas. promotes National Pecan Month to consumers “Leland’s a great guy, he’s been my mentor for each April, a reminder that pecans are just as tasty years,” says Brad Carter, who also started growing now as they are at Thanksgiving. pecans later in life, after a career in computer The United States is the world’s leading supprogramming. plier of pecans, considered the only tree nut that If you think you’ve been hearing about pecans is native to the U.S. We produce 80% of the global more often lately, there’s a good chance you have. pecan crop, and three-fourths of that supply is harThe American Pecan Council launched a branding vested in Georgia, New Mexico and Texas though campaign in 2018 to promote American Pecans, 12 additional states grow pecans commercially. The Original Supernut™. The group’s goal is to get Kansas and neighboring Missouri are the most us to think of pecans as a nut with many uses, not northern of that group. Neither are considered just a baking ingredient found on the dessert table. major producers, but local growers provide us with fresh pecans that we can purchase year-round. To grow a tree of “There’s just no comparison between the flavor a specific variety, of a fresh pecan and a store-bought pecan,” Carter pecan tree farmers must graft the says. “If you buy a package of pecans from the buds or shoots of grocery store or Sam’s, either the oil has been the parent tree boiled out of them — along with all the flavor — onto a seedling or they have a preservative put on them so they rootstock. don’t go rancid. We’ll harvest our pecans in late October and November, and then we store them in freezers to keep them fresh so you can enjoy them all summer long.” Prothe’s and Jake Creek are two of the northernmost pecan growers in Kansas. Pecans have grown wild for centuries in the state, mostly along major rivers and streams in the

APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

D R . W I L L I A M R E I D , N O R T H E R N P E C A N S . B L O G S P O T. C O M

Pecan growing takes immense patience considering it takes nearly 10 years before a pecan tree is in full production of nuts. The largest member of the hickory family, pecan trees produce nuts for 100 years or more.

A mechanical tree shaker clamps onto a tree and shakes the pecans to the orchard floor.

southeastern part of the state, though there are few improved variety orchards with retail operations. Consumers generally prefer these varieties over the natives because they are a larger, thinner shelled nut that is more easily cracked. Getting information about pecans in the state is tougher since the 2018 retirement of William Reid, former Pecan Research and Extension specialist who was the go-to source for pecan growing in Kansas and Missouri for nearly four decades. There’s no longer an organized group of Kansas’ pecan growers (also a good source for consumers to find where to buy pecans). K-State’s pecan experiment field in Chetopa, near the Oklahoma border in southeast Kansas, retired alongside Reid, its long-time director. The industry can still benefit from his expertise, though, through his oft-updated blog northernpecans.blogspot.com. His posts share knowledge gathered from years of research at the field as well as his ongoing observations on pecan tree culture and management on his own 30-acre pecan orchard near Chetopa. Reid and the work done at the experiment station identified new varieties that grow successfully in Kansas, cultivated by grafting the variety to the root stock of a native or established variety. Among the most popular, and what you’ll widely find for sale from local growers: Pawnee, a large, rich tasting nut, and Kanza, a great tasting nut that is typically smaller than the Pawnee but holds together well during cracking, resulting in an attractive finished nut.

Three Kansas Pecan Growers Who Sell Online JAKE CREEK PECANS

The growers we talked to are expecting a large pecan crop this fall, barring unforeseen weather complications that might impede nut set and growth this spring and summer.

Once harvested from the orchard floor, the pecans are cleaned and inspected before cracking or storing.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

PROTHE’S PECANS, NEAR PAOLA – Leland and Slina Prothe have dedicated about 70 acres of their farm near Paola to pecan trees that now

THE AMERICAN PECAN COUNCIL AND AMERICANPECAN.COM

TIPS FOR BUYING AND STORING PECANS

U.S. pecan production has steadily increased over the years, from 2.2 million pounds in 1920 to between 250 and 300 million pounds today. You’ll have the best chance of finding pecans for sale during and immediately after the fall harvest, but pecan growers freeze and sell pecans year-round. Look for them at farmers markets, farm stores and directly from growers (online or in-person). f When buying pecans, look for plump pecans that

number about 2,200. They did little with the native pecan trees on the farm that’s been in the family since 1879 until Leland started grafting improved varieties onto the trees in 1987. The Prothes sell whole, cracked and shelled pecans (halves and pieces) online (prothespecans.com), on their farm by appointment (call 913-8493358 or 913-449-1719) and at the farmers market in Overland Park from April to November. JAKE CREEK PECANS, NEAR LOUISBURG – Brad and Lila Carter started their

are uniform in color and size. f Shelled pecans can be kept in the refrigerator for about nine

months and for up to two years in the freezer. f Pecans can be thawed and refrozen repeatedly during the

two-year freezing period without loss of flavor or texture. f Airtight containers, such as glass jars with lids, are best for

storing pecans in the refrigerator. f Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. f In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for six to 12 months. f After removal from cold storage, pecans will stay good for an additional

two months. SOURCE: NATIONAL PECAN SHELLERS ASSOCIATION

pecan orchard as a hobby in 1994 by planting 200 saplings in a former cornfield along the banks of Jake Creek near Louisburg in northeast Kansas. They added about 100 trees each year until 2001, when they purchased adjoining property and began growing their own saplings through a process of stratifying the pecan nut. Today, the hobby has evolved into a 1,900-tree orchard and a full-time operation for the Carters. They grow improved varieties including Pawnee, Kanza, Goosepond, Peruque and Gardner. You can buy whole, cracked and shelled pecans online (jakecreekpecans.com), on their farm by appointment (call 913-406-2501 or 913-849-3654) and at farmers markets in Lawrence and Lenexa, generally from April to November. CIRCLE’S PECANS & COUNTRY STORE, MCCUNE –

Thomas and Linda Circle bought an existing pecan orchard in the early 1990s and sold pecans from a small roadside market. Today their son Tom and his wife, Barbara, run the business, which includes about 2,500 trees in a 150-acre orchard in the Neosho River Valley of southeast Kansas, the state’s largest shelling operation and a country store.

Tom’s grandfather, Edmund Circle, is credited with devising a better way to monitor and trap the pecan weevil, one of the most destructive insects pecan growers must manage. Edmund’s Circle Trap design is still used throughout the industry today. They sell pecans shelled, cracked and blown or completely shelled as halves and pieces. In addition to natives, the main varieties in their orchard are Pawnee, Kanza, Lakota, Faith, Green River and Peruque. The operation has grown to include more than nuts. The family sells their pecans at Circle’s Pecans & Country Store, which has operated for 27 years about 1 mile from the orchard. It’s a favorite stop for bus tours and families on road trips, Tom says, and is known for deli sandwiches, homemade pies (yes, pecan of course!) and other baked goods and treats. Their store at 2499 U.S. Hwy 400 in McCune and is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of major holidays. An e-commerce site is coming too (kansaspecans.com) and you can also order pecans to be shipped by phone (620-6324382) during store hours. KCL

APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

THE PRESIDENT ’S PEN

Year of the Mighty Oak

Terry Hobbs

... I could not be any prouder to be a small part of this 80-year oak.

BY T E R RY H O B B S

THE SECOND YEAR of my term as the president of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC) has begun as well as year number two of writing this column in Kansas Country Living. I remain humbled to have the opportunity to do both. In writing this monthly article I’ve tried to stay out of politics and the pandemic. Frankly, there is already an overload of discussion on both topics. I try and make my writings a fun read with a little reminiscing and relativity along the way. This year marks the 80-year anniversary of KEC. Googling what the symbol for 80 years of service would be, resulted in oak as the common theme. Very fitting as a representative of strength and service. The KEC has certainly reached a milestone in the electric cooperative framework, representing members and customers not only statewide but also on a national level. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, rural electric cooperatives were busy securing charters, signing on customers, and stringing conductor. Even as these small cooperatives were busy developing rural America, they saw a demand for

a statewide organization to represent all cooperatives in needed areas. Some of these needs, such as governmental issue representation, safety, and communication, have not changed. However, the biggest change through the years has definitely been technology. Eighty years ago television was barely a thought. TV shows such as “The Lone Ranger” and “Howdy Doody” wouldn’t debut until later that decade. A radio was a special-order item on any new automobile. Today we have social media, cybernetics, and storing data on the cloud. We become irritable if power is momentarily interrupted during “Dancing with the Stars.” Even with all the exposure to storms, reliability of service has become a mainstay of power providers. With the history, leadership, and commitment to excellence that all the electric cooperatives bring, I could not be any prouder to be a small part of this 80-year oak. KCL TERRY HOBBS is the board president for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. He is also a member of Western Cooperative Electric’s Board of Trustees in WaKeeney.

Take measures to ensure your cleaning products are used and stored safely. Always read and follow the directions on the label of cleaning products and disinfectants to ensure safe and effective use and storage. Proper Cleaning Procedures f Read product instructions before using any cleaning products. f Always wear gloves. If using more harsh chemicals, consider safety glasses or goggles to reduce splash hazards. f Ensure proper ventilation. Open a window and turn on fans in the area. f Do not mix products or chemicals. f Clean visibly dirty surfaces with water and soap before using a cleaning solution. f Wash hands immediately following cleaning.

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APRIL 2021

Proper Cleaner and Disinfectant Storage  Keep cleaners in their original container to ensure labels are visible.  Keep product lids tightly closed and store products in a locking cabinet, away from children or pets.  When cleaning, never leave products unattended. Use what you need and place products back in a storage cabinet.  Periodically check products for expiration. If expired, products should be disposed of according to product instructions.

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YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N

Wild About Zinnias

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

If you’re looking for a place to start your cut flower garden, zinnia elegans makes a great addition.

BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

ARGUABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING flowers in the garden, zinnias (Zinnia sp.), pull their weight in terms of the length of blooming season, required care, and sheer beauty. Zinnias are available in hundreds of different varieties ranging from the size of a quarter to a grapefruit. With minimal attention, zinnias will bloom from late spring through early fall and are sure to brighten up your landscape. Native to Mexico, zinnias are annuals that prefer warm to hot weather. When selecting zinnias for your landscape, make a note of the growth habits of each variety. Mature plant heights range from less than 1 foot up to 4 feet with equal spread. Low-growing zinnias do well in containers and as a garden border. Powdery mildew is a common problem among zinnias grown in humid climates. Proper spacing allows adequate air flow which is one of the best defenses against powdery mildew. You can also choose a variety of zinnia that is resistant to powdery mildew. Zinnias thrive in full sun without much concern for soil type though well-drained soil is ideal. Seeds can be started directly in the ground, but zinnia seedlings can be transplanted successfully once the danger of frost has passed. While the plants tolerate dry conditions, the number and quality of blooms may be negatively impacted, so it is beneficial to provide regular water, especially during droughts. While the plants are young, supplemental water every two to three days keeps them from becoming stressed. Mature plants may only require a weekly watering. Zinnias make outstanding cut flowers and will last over a week in a vase when clean water is provided. Cutting flowers from your plants regularly encourages them to continue to send out blooms throughout the growing season and promotes stronger, healthier stems. If you are growing zinnias for cut flowers, consider staking the plants. Without support the stems of the taller varieties can bend under the weight of the many blooms. The bends are difficult to incorporate into a floral arrangement but also can cause the stem to snap at the node. Due to the relatively large seed size and the quick growth, zinnias are a great option for young

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

gardeners. Zinnias also attract butterflies. The blooms can be single, double or somewhere in between. Single blooms have a row of petals surrounding a visible center. Semi-double flowers have the visible center but also multiple rows of petals surrounding it. The blooms with the visible center tend to attract more butterflies than the double blooms, which have many rows of petals with no visible circular center to the flower. Some varieties have flowers that look similar to a dahlia. Others have a resemblance to cactus blossoms while some varieties have stacked rows of petals that create a beehive appearance. If you’re looking for a place to start your cut flower garden, zinnia elegans makes a great addition. It is a timeless classic with showy flowers. For the border or container plantings, zinnia angustifolia, is a good choice. Beyond these two common varieties, there is a world of zinnias to explore. Though variable in color, texture and size, none of the blooms will disappoint. KCL CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

While harvesting zinnias in the summer, I always harvest in the morning and have a bucket ready to place cut stems directly into clean water.

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NEW

Nuclear Energy

Technology BY M A R I A K A N E V S K Y

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT renewable energy, solar energy and wind energy typically come to mind. However, there is one type of renewable energy that has seen less attention in recent years, which is nuclear energy. While solar and wind energy both depend on weather conditions, nuclear energy can be generated at any time, making it a reliable and steady source of energy. Even though nuclear energy is one of the safest forms of energy generation, many people immediately question its safety, thinking back to events like Chernobyl, Fukushima and the Three Mile Island accidents. Along with poor public image, high upfront costs and lengthy construction times have also made it less attractive to build new nuclear plants in the U.S. over the last several decades. Interest in building large-scale nuclear power plants likely won’t return. However, there is an alternative form of nuclear energy that takes up much less space, reduces construction costs and time, and could be even safer: small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs are nuclear reactors that only generate up to a certain amount of energy and are designed with a modular functionality. As the name suggests, they are also smaller in size, and each module can be linked together to create a larger nuclear plant. SMR technology could solve many of the issues that have been holding back nuclear energy, and it has the greatest potential out of any technology to bring back the nuclear energy industry. The size of SMRs allows them to be small enough to fit in trucks for transportation, making it much easier to mass produce the modules in one location, and then to ship them to different areas nationwide. Their small size also means they can be located in areas that otherwise wouldn’t be able to support an entire nuclear power plant, like a remote town or a mining area. By stacking or placing several SMRs side by side, the total energy output can be customized depending on the needs of the surrounding community. They can even be used alone or combined with other renewable energies, making them more flexible. A huge benefit of SMRs is that they have much lower upfront costs compared to a large nuclear power plant. Accord-

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

Paul Zurawski, a senior resident inspector at D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant, conducts onsite safety inspections.

ing to one study, SMRs could be somewhere between 15% to 40% cheaper than a traditional nuclear power plant that provides the same amount of electricity. While costs for nuclear energy have remained steady over the last few decades, costs for other renewable energies such as solar and wind have significantly decreased. SMRs could be a game-changer in making nuclear energy more affordable and competitive. NuScale Power is one of the most prominent U.S. companies currently developing SMR technology. The company is planning to build the first SMR complex in the U.S. by the end of this decade. Before that happens, there are still several issues the company needs to address on safety and design after having their technology reviewed by the Nuclear Energy Commission. Several other companies are also developing their own SMR technology, such as TerraPower, X-Energy, Hyperion Power Generation and Terrestrial. These companies are also still in development stages, hoping to deploy projects in the next decade or so. With all this in mind, it's important to note that SMRs are not yet fully operational. A great deal of the current technology only exists as a computer model and hasn’t been built into a physical project. More testing and certifications must be done before we will see any commonplace SMR technology. Despite this, there’s great promise in the flexibility and affordability that SMRs can bring to the electric grid. There’s no way to know how viable SMR technology will be once it is fully developed, but with potential to revitalize nuclear energy, this technology will be something to watch. KCL writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

MARIA KANEVSKY

Tornado Preparedness Across 1

Great Plains area including eastern Kansas and Oklahoma and some surrounding states, 2 words

Shape of a tornado

Whirling mass

Building support

The boom after the lightning flash

Item on a dog collar

Practice exercise carrying out all the actions to get safe during a test tornado alert

Audio visual, abbr.

___ and fro

One time

Have property

Coffeemaker

People who watch for and closely track tornadoes and severe storms, 2 words

What a tornado causes in its path (extreme damage and confusion) A place to take refuge during a tornado warning

Down

__ board

Zodiac sign

Have a hotdog

It’s always wise to take ___ precautions

Scale for rating tornado intensity Dashed

Operating

Public warning of severe weather

Lightning action

Web address, abbr.

Hospital professional, abbr.

Manage to avoid

Generators

National Weather Service: they coordinate test alerts to ensure people are ready in case of a tornado

Pull along

Quantico initials

Seat of Shawnee County

It’s __ to follow safety procedures when EAS announces a tornado warning

Weather radio used to issue tornado warnings and other severe weather events

Plastic for pipes

ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 26 APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

Overhead & Underground Power Lines BY PA U L W E S S L U N D

Whenever a hurricane, wildfire or other natural disaster causes a widespread power outage, people tend to ask a logical question: Why don’t they put the power lines underground? It’s one of those questions that seems to have an easy answer — until you start looking at the details.

UNDERGROUND PROS f Less susceptible to vehicle collisions f Not impacted by trees, wind, ice and snow f Less vulnerable to blinks caused by animals CONS

The debate over “undergrounding” power lines comes with lists of pros and cons on each side. But one of those cons tends to drown out the others — cost. When people hear that burying power lines could more than double their electric bill, well, that tends to end the discussion. When a state experiences a major power outage, it often appoints a commission to study ways to reduce the chances of another major outage. And the results of those studies are often the same, citing undergrounding lines as prohibitively expensive.

f More expensive to build

and repair f Susceptible to flooding f Difficult to locate faults/damage f Vulnerable to damage from digging

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

It can cost three times as much to build new underground service compared with overhead lines. But states keep studying whether to bury power lines, and people keep asking about it because power outages are expensive too. In fact, they’re estimated to cost the U.S. $150 billion annually. Wouldn’t burying power lines save some of that money? It’s true that undergrounding lines would protect them from wind, fire, ice and tree branches. But there are more reasons. There wouldn’t be poles for cars to crash into or overhead lines for squirrels to chew up. It would also keep poles and wires from getting in the way of the natural scenery. But overhead lines have their own advantages. While underground lines are less prone to damage, when something goes wrong, finding and repairing a problem up in the air can be a lot easier (and faster) than locating and digging up the exact spot of an underground malfunction. Also, underground power lines aren’t completely safe from natural disasters. They’ve been known to get overwhelmed with flooding, and digging or other construction can slice into underground service. But again, it really all boils down to cost. A 2012 study by the Edison Electric Institute estimated that burying existing power lines would cost between $93,000 and $5 million per mile of line, depending on the type of service and the terrain. The study also included a survey that found 60% of respondents said they would be willing to pay up to 10% more on their energy bills to have their power lines buried. The actual cost, however, would be more than 100% higher, and with that information, more than 75% of the survey respondents said “no.” Converting to underground lines could also mean higher expense to homeowners who might have to install different electrical equipment to accommodate the new connections. Some people do have underground service. One estimate places that number at two out of every five utility customers. In some cases, utilities are placing new electric service underground, even though that cost is more expensive as well. It can

cost three times as much to build new underground service compared with overhead lines. About 20% of the money spent on new electric service construction of distribution lines goes for underground projects. While underground service is often impractical, utilities are finding other ways to increase reliability, by using modern smart grid technology and drone patrols, as well as more old-fashioned tree trimming. KCL writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

PAUL WESSLUND

OVERHEAD PROS f Less expensive to build and repair f Easier to spot faults/damage f Can be built on any terrain CONS f Susceptible to wind, ice and snow f More vulnerable to damage from trees and vegetation f More vulnerable to blinks caused by animals f Susceptible to damage from vehicle collisions APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Those Hams … Always the Center of Attention — the smoky, salty kind that is the plattered center attraction at many a special occasion. When I was growing up, getting the ham itself was also something of an event. The decision to purchase a ham was not entered into lightly. Grocery flyers were consulted and cross-referenced for weeks in advance. Recon was done in the pork section of the meat department at more than one grocery store — sometimes in more than one town — contemplating price and quality. Ham was much-loved and much-revered by my people (I still associate the smell of baked ham and lemon Joy dishwashing soap with my

BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

grandma), but it was an expense for a large cut of salty smoked pork, at times in double-digit poundage that would mean it would also take up considerable real estate in the fridge or freezer. My parents seemed to understand the meaning of that old quip: “Eternity is a ham and two people.” The right ham — with a possible stay extending beyond the holiday table in the form of everything from fried slices at breakfast to the last pieces melting off the bone in a pot of beans Rebecca Howard or greens — was an important selection. My father, in particular, in tune and enamored of most salted meats, spent extensive time poring over the supermarket circulars, weighing out the options — brined or dry-cured, cooked or partially cooked, bone-in or boneless, center-cut or picnic, fatty or lean, hickory or maple-smoked. The research paid off, with rarely a miss (infrequent but memorably disappointing hams were either too salty, too dry or too tough). In the South, deviled ham is also known as “ham paste,” according to The care put into the search reflected Damon Lee Fowler in his book “Ham: A Savor the South Cookbook” (The not only a respect for the intended University of North Carolina Press, Inc.: 2017). Many variations of chopped purchase, but for the intended party or ham mixed with mayo, mustard, spices and other ingredients exist and are parties to whom it would be served. also known as ham salad. With its pinkish tone, the ham salad served up “We got a ham,” my mother would in sandwiches at the school cafeterias of my youth was “affectionately” known as “band-aid salad.” But these same sandwiches (along with the giant announce to me on the phone in chocolate chip cookies), sold at the K-State Union kept me alive in college. a hushed, but enthusiastic tone to Ham salad is a great recipe to make use of leftover ham. In his book, Fowler impress just how much it meant that I offers a few different recipes for ham salad. I’ve adapted one here. was coming home to visit. f 2 1/2 cups trimmed, diced, cooked ham f 1/2 cup mayonnaise The hams my parents bought for f 1/2 cup finely minced celery f freshly ground pepper Easter and other special occasions f 1/2 cup finely minced shallot, f pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce were prepared simply, tenderly roasted red onion or scallions f lettuce leaves for cups to serve in the oven at a low temperature for a f 1/2 cup diced sweet pickles f chopped parsley, pickles, olives, lengthy enough time that the smoky or sweet pickle relish scallions, sliced tomatoes, hardaromas permeated the entire house cooked egg, etc., for garnish f 2 Tbs. Dijon or honey mustard and drove us crazy. They were neither glazed, pineapple-adorned nor spiral Place ham in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until it is coarsely but evenly chopped (you may want to pulse it more finely if making this as a spread). sliced, but picked so selectively that the flavor they brought with them Turn the ham into a mixing bowl and mix in the shallot/onions, pickles/pickle relish and was usually enough, enhanced by the mustard. Fold in the mayonnaise until the salad is a desired consistency and season with pepper, cayenne pepper or hot sauce. Cover and refrigerate until needed. It will keep, well-covered and heat of the oven and a shallow bath refrigerated, for up to four days. of water and sliced onions. From this ham-infused broth, a holy grail of Serve mounded in lettuce cups and garnished with parsley, sweet pickles, olives, scallions, hard-cooked eggs, etc., and crackers or buttered toast. This can also be used as a spread for gravy was brought forth to be delivsandwiches. Serves 4 to 6. ered in a salty, smoky river over A DA P T E D F RO M “ H A M : A S AVO R T H E SO U T H CO O K B O O K ” ( U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O RT H C A RO L I N A P R ESS ; 2 0 1 7 ) creamy whipped potatoes. NEARLY EVERYONE LOVES A HAM

Ham Salad

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

I still crave ham in the spring, buying it with less preparatory research and in far more diminutive quantities than my parents, who nearly always made enough food to fill the bellies of more than one household. Sometimes my ham comes in the form of merely a couple of thick steaks, but they are similarly roasted with onions, just long enough to get the house “hammy” and give me enough pan juices for gravy. Beyond that roasted celebratory version, leftover ham can find its way into other incarnations, making it even more “eternal.” Here are some possibilities: SANDWICHES: Of course, ham is meant for sandwiches, but try a new take by making ham biscuits, a Southern springtime tradition, often served around the Kentucky Derby in May. Have a brunch table set up with fluffy buttermilk biscuits, thin slices of ham and an array of jams, mustards, pimiento cheese spread or other condiments. SEASONINGS: Use ham, particularly those with the bone in, to add flavor to soups and stews (like split pea), crockpots of beans and baked beans and kettles of turnip, mustard or collard greens or stewed or sautéed Swiss chard and kale. STIR-INS: Tumble chopped ham into omelets or frittatas to bolster up breakfast menus, or add cubed ham to your macaroni and cheese or other cheesy pasta, rice or potato dishes. SALADS: Ham salad at its simplest is finely minced ham, sweet pickle relish and mayo mixed together and used as a spread on sandwiches, crackers or in lettuce cups. While a friend of my mother’s used to run ham through a handcranked grinder and mix up giant bowls of ham salad with

her bare hands (it was a sight to behold), one can use more modern implements and smaller proportions to stir up a tasty version (see recipe) of this classic cafeteria favorite. KCL REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

HAM LANGUAGE – TERMS AND TYPES f DRY-CURED – Ham that has been rubbed with dry salt (as well

f PICNIC HAM – Most hams are from the hindquarters of the animal,

as sometimes sugar and spices) and hung to dry for most of its moisture to be drawn out. This type of ham is sometimes finished with cold-smoking. f BRINE/WET-CURED – Ham is submerged in a heavy (wet) brine and finished with smoke or smoke flavoring. Most supermarket and deli hams are brine-cured (and are sometimes referred to as “city ham”). f COUNTRY HAM – A heavily salted, dry-cured, sometimes smoked ham from the South, often the type used for “red-eye gravy,” where black coffee is reduced in the skillet in which country ham slices have been fried.

but a picnic ham comes from the shoulder and forelegs of the pig. f HAM STEAK – At least a half-inch thick, center-cut perpendicular to the bone, bone-in slab. f HAM HOCK – A bony cut from the lower front leg, used in seasoning. f SPECIALTY/IMPORTED – Prosciutto is an Italian, dry-cured, thinly sliced ham. Serrano is a similar type Spanish ham. Tasso, popular in Louisiana cooking in such dishes as red beans and rice and gumbo, is a cut from the pig shoulder that is briefly cured and hot-smoked to cook.

Sources: “Ham: A Savor the South Cookbook” by Damon Lee Fowler (The University of North Carolina Press, Inc.; 2017), “Joy of Cooking” by Irma S. Rombauer (Simon & Schuster Inc.; 1997) and www.seriouseats.com. APRIL 2021

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SAFETY

Storm Watch: Kick Your Severe Weather Complacency TWO SHORT MONTHS AGO we saw record low temperatures, snow and ice, and now we face severe storm season. Welcome to spring in Kansas! Living in the Sunflower State for any length of time can make it easy to be complacent concerning the spring storm season, which peaks between March and June. The inevitable storm watches over the next several weeks can become easy to tune out — heard it and seen it before, right? But now is the time to tune up your preparedness and put plans in place before severe weather potentially affects your community, your home and your family.

Before a Storm Strikes f FOLLOW YOUR CO-OP’S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

– This is often the first place your co-ops will post information as it’s immediate and can reach a large audience at one time.

(FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE)

f SIGN UP FOR EMAILS – If your co-ops offers e-newsletters

in addition to their monthly local pages in Kansas County Living, make sure you sign up to stay informed.

f LIFE SUPPORT – If you or any member of your family

requires life support equipment such as a respirator, notify your co-op and plan for a back-up power source in case the power goes out.

f TALK WITH YOUR KIDS – On a “blue-sky day” spend time

teaching your children storm safety basics and what to do when the weather turns bad. Be sure to explain the difference between watches and warning (for severe storms, tornadoes, and floods) and the precautions to take for each. Have a designated “safe” room for sheltering from tornadoes and severe storms.

f Below ground is best f Interior hallway, room or closet without windows

if there is no basement, safe room or underground tornado shelter

f KNOW THE COUNTY YOU LIVE IN AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES to better understand

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

APRIL 2021

your proximity to the storm. Consider posting a Kansas county map in your home’s designated storm shelter so you can track any storm warnings issued.

f AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, kids will be playing outside

more often. Make sure your children understand that storms can move quickly, and lightening can strike 10 miles in advance of a storm. Teach them the National Weather Service’s advice: When thunder roars go indoors.

f It’s never safe to shelter under a tree or other tall object

— get indoors as soon as possible. Lightening typically hits the tallest object available.

f It’s not safe in numbers during a lightening event. If

you are with a group and stuck outside do not stand close together. f If you can’t find indoor shelter, move to a low area away from water and trees and get low to the ground. f BECAUSE STORMS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME and develop quickly, communicate in advance where the family should seek shelter and practice emergency evacuation plans. Have a plan if the family becomes separated including a safe meet-up spot. f CHARGE YOUR PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL NECESSI-

TIES — phone, laptops, tablets — to ensure connectivity to family and access to important weather information should your power go out.

f ORGANIZE A STORM KIT with enough disaster supplies for

two weeks for everyone in your family (family pets, too!). Keep items in air- and water-tight plastic bags. Rotate out the food and water every six months. Replace batteries and update clothes, shoes, etc. Check for proper storage (length, temperature) of any prescriptions.

Restoring power after a major outage involves more than throwing a switch or removing downed trees from power lines. While power restoration priorities may differ from co-op to co-op, repairs generally follow a plan that restores power safely to the greatest number of members in the shortest time possible. Visit https://kec.coop/safety to learn more about how electric co-ops restore power after storm damage. Your electric cooperative wants to ensure the safety of everyone during and after severe storms. Please prepare, please practice, and once the storm passes stay away from downed power lines — they could be deadly. KCL

APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Spring Vegetable Beef Stir-Fry

Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, APRIL 2021

Celebrate soy-foods month with a delicious and nutritious stir-fry incorporating a variety of spring vegetables.

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, APRIL 2021

Easter breakfast just got an upgrade! Make these doughnuts ahead of time to speed up the morning routine.

Carolina Country Style Ribs

Pecan Spinach Artichoke Dip

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, APRIL 2021

Spring is coming and so is grilling season. Warm up your grilling skills with country style ribs.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, APRIL 2021

Get a little nutty with this popular appetizer and try it with pecans from a local Kansas grower.

f 1 3/4 cups sugar, divided f 2 Tbs. baking powder f 1/4 tsp. salt

butter, softened

f 1 stick unsalted

f 1 1/2 cups sugar

f 2 large eggs

f 2 egg yolks

and juice only

f 4 lemons, zest

f 1/8 tsp. salt

f 1 lb. sirloin steak, thinly sliced

f 1 cup asparagus cut into 1-inch pieces

f ½ cup onion thinly cut wedges

f ½ cup sweet red pepper strips

COURTESY DOM INO SUG AR

TO MAKE LEMON CURD, IF DESIRED: In large bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook at low-medium heat until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool before serving with doughnuts.

Use ice cream scoop to scoop small amounts dough into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time. Fry each batch until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep oil at or near 350 F. Remove from oil and drain in paper towel. Repeat with remaining dough. While still hot, toss doughnuts with remaining sugar.

TO MAKE DOUGHNUTS: In large saucepan, preheat oil to 350 F. Prepare cookie sheet with paper towel to drain doughnuts once out of hot oil. In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add lemon zest, eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.

f 2 Tbs. lemon zest

f 5 large eggs f 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese f 1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract Lemon Curd (optional)

Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts Doughnuts

thawed and squeezed

f 10 oz. frozen spinach, f 2 cups all-purpose flour

f 1/4 tsp. black pepper f 1 cup raw pecan pieces

f vegetable oil, for frying

f 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Pecan Spinach Artichoke Dip f 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese f 1 (14-oz.) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained f 1 cup reduced fat Greek yogurt f 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded f 3/4 cup part skim mozzarella, shredded, divided

In the bowl of a food processor, add cream cheese and artichokes. Pulse several times or until artichokes are chopped and mixed evenly with the cream cheese. Transfer to a large bowl. Add Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella, spinach, kosher salt and black pepper. Mix well to combine. Spread mixture into an ovenproof skillet or small casserole dish. Sprinkle dip with pecan pieces and reserved mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 375 F for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and dip is bubbling. Serve with chips, crackers or vegetables.

COURTESY AMERICAN PECAN COUNCIL

f 1 tsp. vegetable oil

f ¼ cup peanuts

Spring Vegetable Beef Stir-Fry f 1 clove garlic, minced

f stir-fry sauce

packed brown sugar

f 1 Tbs. kosher salt

f 1 cup broccoli florets

f 1 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

f ½ cup edamame

Garnish with soy nuts or peanuts.

COURTESY KANS AS SOYB E AN COMMI SSIO N

Stir-fry sirloin steak in skillet with vegetable oil and garlic. Add broccoli, edamame, carrots, red pepper, onion and asparagus; stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes. Add sauce.

f ½ cup carrot slices

f 1/2 tsp. cayenne

f 2 Tbs. molasses or 1/4 cup firmly

Carolina Country Style Ribs style pork ribs

f 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. boneless countryf 2 cups apple cider vinegar f 1 cup water cold f 2 Tbs. vegetable oil

Place ribs in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, set aside. In 4-cup glass measure, stir together vinegar, water, oil, molasses, salt, red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper until salt is dissolved. Remove 1/2 cup marinade; set aside. Add remaining marinade to ribs; seal bag and marinate for 4-6 hours in the refrigerator. Remove ribs from marinade; discard marinade. Prepare medium-hot fire; grill ribs over indirect heat for 50-60 minutes or until pork is tender and the internal temperature reaches 160 F. Baste ribs twice with reserved sauce mixture during last 15 minutes of grilling.

COURTESY E ATP ORK .ORG

APRIL 2021

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Scientists Target New Acid Buffer Pill for Anti-Aging Research

Surprisingly, the secret to slow the aging process may reside in a new acid buffering treatment; studies find the pill to help protect users from fatigue, cardiovascular issues, and serious conditions that accompany premature aging. Seattle, WA – A published study on a leading natural acid buffer shows that its key ingredient improves digestive health while supporting healthy inflammation response that slows down signs of premature aging in men and women. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product’s effectiveness, this ‘GI-tonic turned anti-aging phenomenon’ is nothing short of a miracle. Sold under the brand name AloeCure®, its ingredient was already backed by research showing its ability to neutralize acid levels and improve gastric discomfort. But soon doctors started reporting some incredible results... “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting, better sleep, more energy, stronger immune systems... even less stress and better skin, hair, and nails” explains Dr. Liza Leal; a leading integrative health specialist and company spokesperson. AloeCure contains an active ingredient that helps improve digestion by acting as a natural acid buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Scientists now believe that having optimal acid levels could be a major contributing factor to a healthy immune system. The daily allowance of AloeCure has shown to optimize the acid levels needed to manage healthy immune function which is why AloeCure is so effective. It relieves other stressful issues related to GI health like discomfort, excess gas and bloating, and bathroom stress. Now, backed with new scientific studies, AloeCure is being doctor recommended to help improve digestive function, help build better bones, support healthy joint function, and even help reduce the appearance of wrinkles - helping patients look and feel decades younger. FIX YOUR GUT & SUPPORT HEALTHY INFLAMMATION Since hitting the market, sales for AloeCure have taken off and there are some very good reasons why. To start, the clinical studies have been impressive. Virtually all participants taking it reported stunning improvement in digestive symptoms including gastric discomfort. Users can also experience higher energy levels and endurance, less discomfort and better sleep, healthier looking skin, hair, and nails. An unhealthy gut can wreak havoc on the hu-

man body. Doctors say this is why AloeCure works on so many aspects of your health. AloeCure’s active ingredient is made from the famous polysaccharide compound found in Aloe Vera. It is both safe and healthy. There are also no known side effects. Scientists believe that it helps improve digestive health by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach and helps the immune system maintain healthy functions. Research has shown that acid imbalance contributes to premature aging and is why AloeCure seems to be so effective. EXCITING RESULTS FROM PATIENTS To date millions of bottles of AloeCure have been sold, and the community seeking non-pharma therapy for their GI health continues to grow. According to Dr. Leal, her patients are absolutely thrilled with their results and are often shocked by how fast it works. “For the first time in years, they are free from concerns about their digestion and almost every other aspect of their health,” says Dr. Leal, “and I recommend it to everyone who wants to improve GI health before considering drugs, surgery, or OTC medications.” “All the problems with my stomach are gone. Completely gone. I can say AloeCure is a miracle. It’s a miracle.” Another user turned spokesperson said, “I started to notice a difference because I was sleeping through the night and that was great. AloeCure does work for me. It’s made a huge difference.” With so much positive feedback, it’s easy to see why the community of believers is growing and sales for the new pill are soaring. THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOECURE AloeCure is a gastric and digestive tonic. The pill is small. Easy to swallow. There are no harmful side effects and it does not require a prescription. The active ingredient is a rare Aloe Vera component known as acemannan. Millions spent in developing a proprietary process for extracting acemannan resulted in the highest quality, most bio-available levels of acemannan known to exist, and it’s made from organic aloe. According to Dr. Leal and leading experts, improving the pH balance of your stomach and restoring gut health is the key to revitalizing your entire body. When your digestive system isn’t healthy, it causes unwanted stress on your immune system

and that might lead to unhealthy inflammation. The recommended daily allowance of AloeCure has been proven to support digestive health, manage healthy immune function, and promote healthy inflammation response without side effects or drugs. This would explain why so many users are experiencing impressive results so quickly. REVITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY With daily use, AloeCure helps users look and feel decades younger and defend against premature aging that can make life hard. By helping acid levels stay optimal and promoting gut health, AloeCure’s ingredient supports joint health…helps skin appear smooth…maintains healthy cholesterol and oxidative stress…improves sleep and associated weight loss....and supports brain function by way of gut biome...without side effects or expense. Readers can now support their energy, vitality, and youth regardless of age.

AloeCure Taken Daily • Helps End Digestion Nightmares • Reduces appearance of Wrinkles & Increases Elasticity • Supports Healthy Immune System • Supports Joint Health • Promotes Healthy Inflammation Response • Supports Bowel Health & Regularity HOW TO CLAIM A FREE SUPPLY TODAY This is an exclusive offer for our readers. And so, AloeCure is offering up to 3 FREE bottles and FREE S&H with their order. While supplies last you may also receive a FREE book on Aloe Vera health benefits. A special hotline number has been created for all residents. This is the best way to try AloeCure with their 100% satisfaction guarantee, and any free gifts are yours to keep no matter what. Starting at 5:00 AM today the phone lines will be open for 48 hours. All you have to do is call TOLL- FREE 1-800-746-3210, the special promotion will automatically be applied. Important: Due to a surge in sales supplies are not guaranteed beyond the next 48 hours. Call now to not lose out on this offer.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. ALL DOCTORS MENTIONED ARE REMUNERATED FOR THEIR SERVICES. ALL CLINICAL STUDIES ON ALOECURE’S ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AND WERE NOT SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN GLOBAL HEALTH GROUP.

S T O R M P R E PA R E D N E S S April showers can bring severe storms. The electric cooperatives of Kansas remind you to prepare before storms hit. Learn more on Page 28.

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