The Pioneer-Republican of Iowa County from Marengo, Iowa • Page M4

4 10,2015 The Pioneer-Republican FAMILY NEWS SLOW COOKED CREAMY CHICKEN AND WILD RICE 2cans (10 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken soup C. water 4large carrots, thickly sliced (about 3 1pkg. (6 oz.) uncooked seasoned long grain and wild rice mix 8skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds) Stir the soup, water, carrots, rice and seasoning acket in a 3 qt. slow cooker.

Add the chicken and urn to coat. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. May also be cooked on high for 4 to 5 hours. For oven preparation: prepare as above, except reduce the water to 1C. and slice the carrots inch thick.

Stir soup, water, rice and carrots in a 4-quart baking dish. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 1hour or until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender. POTATO CASSEROLE 2lb. bag frozen hash brown potatoes 10.75 can cream of chicken soup 8oz.

sour cream onion, chopped C. green bell pepper, chopped C. red bell pepper, chopped 4T. butter, melted salt pepper 2C. sharp cheddar cheese, grated Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 3-quart or equivalent size casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine potatoes, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped onion, chopped peppers, butter, salt and pepper in a large bowl until mixed well. Place in casserole dish and top with cheese. Bake for 1hour, checking at 45 minutes. LAYERED TACO SALAD lbs.

lean ground beef onion, chopped 1C. green bell pepper, chopped 16 oz. can hot chili beans, undrained 10 oz. can mild enchilada sauce 8oz. can mild taco sauce About 10 oz.

tortilla chips 1C. shredded mozzarella cheese 4C. shredded lettuce 2C. chopped tomatoes Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper in a skillet until no pink appears, stirring constantly. rain well.

Add chili beans and heat until hot. Cover a nd keep warm. ombine all sauces in a 2-quart casserole. Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Using a 2-quart or equivalent casserole dish or alad bowl, layer tortilla chips, meat mixture, one half of the cheese, lettuce, then tomatoes.

Pour auce over entire dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Toss lightly and serve immediately. GRILLED LEMON GARLIC SHRIMP 1lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined olive oil 4gloves garlic, minced lemon juice 1T. snipped fresh parsley Fresh spinach leaves Grated Parmesan cheese Combine olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and parsley in a large zippered bag or container with a cover.

Place shrimp in mixture and let marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes to 1hour. Thread shrimp onto skewers and discard mari- ade. rill over medium heat for about 6 minutes until pink and opaque. Serve over spinach leaves and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. TASTE OF IOWA I auled an- ther cat the vet a few weeks ago for an extreme makeover.

He showed up at our place in January a ragtag black and white tom cat with a big draining abscess on his neck. He as a mess. He riendly. One of my dogs ated him on sight and the other one wanted to lay with him. He want to play back.

Of course he stayed. Inamed him Freeloader Cat. It got shortened to Free Cat (although he lost any status after his trip to the vet). He joined Wild Cat and Bonus Cat as one of my the ones who just showed up and stayed. The the ones acquired on purpose, were not impressed with Free.

He was a rough customer. Ispent most of January and February watching his tail disappearing out of sight when I fed the cats. He would approach the pan only after given the other six ats their daily rations and pats and walked a way. By March, he had tarted holding his ground when I approached. I talked to him.

He talked back. If had been human, have had one of those igarettes-and-whiskey- for-breakfast voices. His neck had healed and gained a little weight but was not a poster cat or cuddling. I early April, there was a low cost spay neuter clinic at our local vet. Iwas itching to make an appointment for Free ut thought better of it.

ur relationship had rogressed to tentative back stroking but I was pretty sure trying to pick him up and put him in a cat carrier would not end ell. They say bad deci- ions make great stories ut for once I erred on the side of caution. May arrived and Free had condescended to allow me to pick him up. I know if he liked it but he allowed it. Nobody got hurt, anyway.

Free and I were becoming buddies but the ther felines at our ouse having a ny of it. There was a great deal of yowling a nd hissing wherever the newcomer was involved. Most of it seemed to happen right under our bedroom window at 2 a.m. Wherever Free went, fur flew. There was dissention in the ranks.

By the end of May, I called the vet and made the appointment. Free went into the cat carrier without a fuss and was transported to the vet. I picked him up that afternoon after been neutered, wormed, vaccinated and treated for ear mites. He was not happy. Iset the cat carrier on the floor of the shed and opened the door.

He did not come out. I gave it a ittle shake. He did not come out. I bent over and ooked at him. He glared at me.

I left him alone. I see Free for three days after that. The charge on my credit card even cleared a nd I figured put our place in his rear view irror. Well, spent money in worse ways. At least any female cats he encountered would be afe from his advances.

the fourth day, he howed up. He yowled at me. He jumped up on the shelf in the garage, yowled at me and ate some breakfast from the comm unal pan. He turned a nd looked at me again a nd yowled some more. Ihave never been so thoroughly cussed by a cat.

No such thing as a free cat CRYSTAL BALL MELINDA WICHMANN DeMeulenaere One-hundred-nineteen relatives and guests attended the 124th family reunion of the descendants of Charles and Eugenia DeMeule- naere on May 24 at the American Legion Hall, Victor. There were representatives from the families of August, Clem, Emil and Minnie in attendance and no one from the families of Bert, Clara, Henry, Mary and Peter. Prior to the reunion, Father Jeffrey Stirni- man was the main con- celebrant for the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, ictor.

He is the son of John and Margaret DeMeule- naere Stirniman. The following attended: Descendants of August: Molly and Mike Argo and family, Belle Plaine; Joe and Becky Edelen, Brooklyn; Gene and Maria Edelen family and guest, Dena Baethke and guest, Kathryn and Shawn Walsh family, Jared and Janelle DeMeu- lenaere family, Ashlee and Matt Fandel family, Dan and Barb DeMeule- naere, Scott Arens, Steve and Betty DeMeu- lenaere, Emily and Sophia DeMeulenaere, Carrie Wilson family of Cedar Rapids; Karen DeMeule- naere Dunlap and guest of Central City; Nick and Amy Arens family, Diane and Nathan Arens, Amy Arens and guest, Gary and Collleen DeMeulenaere, Sarah and Jeff Timm family of Hartwick; Robin and Rob Hinrichs, Marion; Dave and Bre Arens family Marshalltown; Therese and Danny Anderson, Montezuma; Kevin Arens and guest of Pleasant Hill; Neill Dunlap and guest of Robins; Ruth DeMeule- naere, Rose Sullivan and guest, Victor; Nancy Newman, Decatur, Ill. Descendants of Clem: Margaret and John Stiri- man, Cedar Rapids; Lynda anT omme, Cathy DeMeulenaere, John K. DeMeulenaere, Grinnell; Denise and Mark Anderson, Sioux City; Dave DeMeulenaere, Aspen, Ann De- Meulenaere, Chicago, Fr. Jeff Stirniman, Princeton, Ill.

Descendants of Emil: Betty DeBrower, Cedar Rapids; Joan Wahl, Jefferson; Stephanie Allison and family, Marengo; Mary Sindelar, Robert Sindelar, Vicki and Bob Bauman, Marion; Tom Wahl, Marshalltown; John Wahl and guests, Rockwell City; Pat DeMeulenaere Bott, ictor; Ed DeMeule- naere and guest, Racine, Wis. Descendants of Minnie: Berniece and Ron Kleppe, Cedar Rapids; Kathryn and Don Brush, Urbandale; Dave and Joann Beran, Victor; Lucille Beran Laing, Cathy Brace, Waterloo; Linda and Voldemars (W ally) Narins, Rice Lake, and Ken and Pat Beran, Wichita, Kan. Special guest was Father Philip Ryan of Brooklyn. REUNION Grand View University Evan Schultz, Williamsburg, graduated Saturday, April 25, from Grand View University, Des Moines. Allen College Rachel Osweiler, Williamsburg, and Gina Svare, arengo, received bachelor of science in nursing degrees from Allen College, Waterloo, Friday, May 8.

Upper Iowa University Angela McDowell, Williamsburg, graduated from Upper Iowa University, Fayette, with an associate of arts in liberal arts in December 2014. Mount Mercy University The following students received degrees from Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, in May: Amana: Melissa Faul, bachelor of science in nursing, nursing AP, summa cum laude; Ruth Gerst, bachelor of science, elementary education, summa cum laude. Conroy: Electra Miller, bachelor of science, outdoor conservation: law enforcement, cum laude. Marengo Misty Moy, bachelor of business administration, accounting, summa cum laude. North English: Bradley Nachtman, bachelor of business administration, marketing.

Central College The following students were awarded degrees at Central College, Pella, May 16: orth English: Gideon Kluge, sociologyial science. Victor: Carlin Michalek, biochemistry, cum laude. ellman: Matthew James, accounting and Spanish. Iowa State University The following students were awarded degrees rom Iowa State University, Ames, during spring ommencement ceremonies: A mana: Austin Hinrichs, bachelor of science, agricultural systems technology; Hannah McGrath, bachelor of science, industrial engineering; Christian Setzer, bachelor of science, aerospace engineering, summa cum laude; Christian Setzer, bachelor of cience, mathematics, summa cum laude; Christian etzer, bachelor of science, physics, summa cum aude. Marengo: bachelor of arts, world languaes and cultures, international studies, magna cum laude; Madison Lacina, bachelor of science, animal sci- nce.

illersburg: Dwight Shaull, bachelor of science, a gricultural systems technology. Williamsburg: Brandyn Chapman, bachelor of science, agricultural studies; Mindy Driscoll, master of education, education; Raychael Garringer, aster of education, education; Samuel McGuire, bachelor of science, mechanical engineering; Zack- a ry Miller, bachelor of science, industrial technology, agricultural systems technology; Elizabeth Veldboom, bachelor of science, mathematics, summa cum laude, honors program member. COLLEGE NEWS Area tudents a warded egrees Cardona Luis and Lauren Cardona, Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas, are the parents of a daughter, Elise Alexis, born April 24, 2015. She eighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and is the irst child.

randparents are Lynda Van Bennekom and Ken Cote, both of alesburg, and Carmen Rojas, Florida. Great-grandparents are lla Van Bennekom, Marengo; Doug Van Bennek om, Saranac, and Teresa Rojas, Florida. BIRTHS Carol Uhlmann, a delegate from Chapter CN, Williamsburg, attended the 123rd annual convent ion of the Iowa State Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood held May 30 to 31in Des Moines. With the theme Renaissance Liz Bunnell, Chapter OO, Fairfield, presided over 700 delegates and visitors.

Twenty chapters from southeast Iowa served as the hostess group for the convention. This committee was headed by Annette Scieszinski, Albia; Jean Ann Ross, HR, Ottumwa, and Mindi ees, OC, Washington. he latter is the former Mindi Blythe, from Williamsburg. P.E.O. is a philanthrop- i organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College, and motivate each other to achieve their highest aspirations.

There are approximately 6,000 chapters in the United States and Canada with nearly 250,000 members. Iowa is the second largest state chapter with 383 chapters and early 18,000 members. Uhlmann attends P.E.O. Convention Iowa State University Iowa State University, Ames, announced the continuing students who will receive scholarships from the College of Human Scie nces for the 2015-16 academic year. Local students include: arengo: Chelsea Blake will receive the Benjamin Mericle Scholarship.

She is a sen- i or studying apparel, merchandising and design. Parnell: Lindsey Spratt will receive the Jud Hintzman Furgason Scholarship. She is a senior studying elementary education. Williamsburg: Kira Savage will receive the athryn Bell Seidel Scholarship. She is a senior studying child, adult and family services.

Goshen College Laura Hochstetler, Wellman, a sophomore interdisciplinary major at Goshen College, Goshen, is serving at Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Washington. She is the daughter of Edie and Bruce Hochstetler and attends West Union Mennonite Church. rooked mission is to serve the spiritual development of children and adults in the Midwest by providing Christ-centered programs, facilities and hospitality in a setting that celebrates creation. University of Iowa Marisa Henze, Oxford, was one of approximately 140 students to participate in the University of 11th annual Spring Undergraduate Research Festival. The annual festival celebrates student contributions to research, scholarly and creative work at the University of Iowa.

Utilizing posters or other visual displays, undergraduates showcased their work, either as an i ndependent project or with a faculty mentor. COLLEGE NEWS.