The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Pat Pfeiffer
Correspondent

(Hiles News) - The calendar say that winter begins on Dec. 21, but we who live in Wisconsin, and that’s the entire state, will have a different idea about that. It is already here, with bells on! Most of the heavier snow amounts have gone south of us, but the cold has been with us for quite a while, and now more snow is arriving, too.

This must be a result of “Global Warming.” Or is this the return of the “Ice Age?” I hope you have the pantry stocked and a big wood pile! Bundle up well if you’re going to brave the elements. I know many of you will be doing that, ice fishing, cross country skiing, paying holiday visits to or partying with friends, neighbors and family, and so forth. Be careful out there on the ice and the icy roads.

Ladies Gathered

Last Thursday night Paul and Terri’s Pine Lake Pub was the scene of a cheerful gathering of ladies from the Hiles Hattitude Red Hat group and the Hiles Ladies Pool League. A lot of those memberships overlap, and a nice group of 17 ladies were there for the lovely dinner, a lot of visiting and a nice gift exchange. There was a happy little white Christmas tree, borrowed from one member’s husband’s office, adorned with purple and red ornaments. Terri Jenkins was ill that evening but had baked her famous rum cake dessert for the ladies the day before, making their annual dinner complete. They all enjoyed the cake, as usual, and wish Terri better health.

The date for the start of pool season has yet to be announced, but it is usually sometime around the middle of January. The Red Hatters will gather again on Jan. 14 at the town hall, where they will have a planned pot luck luncheon and work on updating their scrapbook. Hostesses Darlene Wolf and Leigh Travis will contact members to discuss what they should bring to the luncheon and confirm the time with them. There will be no regular meeting in January. The names of monthly hostesses for 2009 were drawn at the December meeting, and if anyone would like to know when their turn is coming up they can call Pat at 649-3568.

Fisheree Coming Up

Each year the highlight of the winter season for residents and visitors alike is the Fisheree. Many of you who live in other parts plan on being here each year for the Pine Lake Fisheree sponsored by the Hiles Fire Department. The date for that is the first Saturday in February, the 7th in 2009. Members of the Fire Department have raffle tickets they would be very happy to sell to you; just ask any one of them; and make your plans to be there. There’s fishing action on the lake and food, fun and prizes in the town hall.

Calendar and Almanac

Dec. 16 — National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. Funny how there are so many days to celebrate chocolate! And rightly so!

Dec. 17 — Clean Air Day — Aren’t we glad we have so much of it up north?

Dec. 21 — Winter begins and the days will start to get longer.

Dec. 22 — Hanukkah, festival of lights, begins.

Dec. 25 — Christmas Day. Are you getting ready?

What Can We Cover in Chocolate?

Get yourself some melting chocolate or chocolate chips and start looking for things to cover.

Pretzel rods and twists are good. Dip them in chocolate, white or milk or dark and roll them in Christmas sprinkles or drizzle with contrasting chocolate. Peanuts, cashews, or mixed nuts are great in chocolate coatings. Dip half of plain white cookies in chocolate or top them with a dollop of melted chocolate.

Chocolate can be melted in the microwave or in a double boiler. Stir often and watch to see that it doesn’t overheat. Never let water get into your melted chocolate; it will seize up. Be certain that anything you dip in melted chocolate, such as strawberries, apples or cherries are completely dry. Caramel apples can be dipped in chocolate, too for a triple treat. Let’s just not mention calorie counts! Make chocolate covered spoons to stir coffee or cocoa.

Chocolate Covered Spoons

These chocolate covered spoons make an excellent accompaniment to "gift in a jar" recipes for cocoa, hot chocolate or coffee. Simple plastic spoons coated in chocolate are also a nice added touch with a gift of coffee beans.

Craft supplies you will need:

12 ounce package of chocolate chips. You may use semi-sweet, white chocolate, raspberry flavored, or any other kind of baking chip of your choice.

40 heavy plastic spoons

Shortening

Deep glass measuring cup

Colored cellophane or Saran Wrap

Waxed paper

Thin Ribbon

Chocolate Spoons Instructions

Pour the chips into a heatproof container, such as a measuring cup. A deep cup is the best for this project.

Microwave the cup of chips at half power for one minute. Stir. Repeat in 30 second bursts until chocolate is smooth and fully melted, but do not over cook.

Add to the melted chocolate one teaspoon of shortening for each cup of chips. Stir lightly until just blended.

Dip plastic spoons into the chocolate to coat the bowl and about one inch of the handle. If the chocolate starts to harden, microwave 30 seconds at half power.

Lay spoons on wax paper to set. When chocolate spoons have set, put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. This makes them easier to handle when you start to wrap them.

Take squares of colored cellophane or plastic wrap and wrap the coated spoons. Tie with a pretty ribbon.

Once you have mastered the basic technique, you can experiment! Try drizzling streaks of white chocolate over dipped spoons to create a design. Sprinkle colored sugar or various sprinkles on chocolate before it sets for a holiday look.

A bundle of chocolate spoons in a coffee mug makes a nice gift. Tie a few spoons to a bag of gourmet coffee beans for a coffee loving friend. Keep spoons on hand during the holidays to use when serving cocoa and coffee to your visitors.

If you have any other favorite things to cover in chocolate, let all of us chocolate lovers know about it! Call me at 649-3568 or e-mail me at pj04@newnorth.net.

Favorite Chocolate Quotes

“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles." Anonymous

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put 'eat chocolate.’ Now, you'll get at least one thing done today."

"The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!" Terry Moore

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!" Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

"I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?" Unknown

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