Tamale Casserole without the guilt~

Confession. I still crave the food of the 70s. All those calorie laden casseroles, so much cheese, cream, butter, even lard. Yum. Don’t judge. And these old recipes were not about convenience, they were a lot of work. I don’t eat that way now, darn it. Plus who wants to spends even more time in the kitchen? Not me. And I like to cook.


Fortunately you can now find updates on old favorites easily. Take classic Tamale Pie, dicing, simmering, cooking the corn meal until smooth, then baking, probably 1 1/2 hours all together. I have 1 hour tops on a weeknight. I've found versions that use cornbread mix, and chicken, lighter and faster. YAY. Sounds good. Right? Probably half the calories of the original too! Cooking Light had my top version but I still added a couple of tweaks ~


1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
15 oz Del Monte can cream corn
4.5 oz Ortega green chiles
1 cup Tillamook Mexican 4 cheese shred
1 egg white
1/3 cup fat free milk
10 oz enchilada sauce
1/4 tsp cayenne ( I like it kinda spicy, you can dial this back if you don’t )
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
2 of Hope’s most FABulous baked chicken breasts, deboned, skinned and shredded.
3 sliced green onions
Optional, fat free sour cream and John’s FrEsH house made Pico de Gallo which has quite a cult following!


Oven 400*
In a medium bowl combine cornbread mix, corn, egg, chiles, milk, 1/2 cup cheese, spices. Mix well. Spray a 13x9 pan with Pam for baking. Pour mix in pan. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven, poke holes all over cornbread, pour enchilada sauce over, top with chicken, cheese and onions. Return to oven for 15 minutes or until completely set.


Serve with pico and sour cream. Rick tops his with Chipotle Tabasco, it adds a nice smokiness.




Have a HaPpY, Healthy, Hometown Cinco de Mayo!

Team Uni-Crohns

Thanksgiving of 2014 was terrifying. Our youngest granddaughter, Nikki, was exhausted and seemed like she had a bad virus, by Christmas she could barely get off the couch. Food was scary for her, it caused so much pain in her belly. She was taken to doctors and on occasion emergency rooms. As we watched her condition deteriorate and doctors ran test after test all we could do was hope. Hope it would just pass or that help was right around the corner. Truly terrifying. Especially for our kids.


Come January, I could not believe how thin and weak this usually vivacious, active, athletic 8 (yes, only 8) year old had become. You could see all her little ribs. Nik now had a Gastroenterologist, Dr Peterson, and he scheduled a colonoscopy and endoscopy. After the tests he showed all of us how her large intestine was riddled with ulcers. She was diagnosed with Crohns disease. I didn’t even understand what that was at the time but it was clear our daughter, Cyndi, did.


Dr Peterson placed Nikki in the hospital that day. Our family made sure someone was in the room with her 24/7, usually right in the bed with her snuggling. Recovery has been a long road. Nik says it was about 6 months before she started feeling good again. Every 6 weeks she checks into the hospital for several hours to get an infusion. Thankfully it works. But what we really need is a cure.


I believe a cure is on the horizon and thanks to all our LoCaL Hometown Heroes for the support you always give us as we fight! Our Team Uni-Crohns will once walk to raise funds and awareness for digestive diseases led by our hero Nik! You have raised over $700 at this writing!! Thank you!!!! xoxox


We hope you will all continue to fight with us!
Here is our Team Uni-Crohns link if you'd like to join, share or donate!
http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/TakeSteps/Chapter-NorthernCalifornia?team_id=202514&pg=team&fr_id=7421

Winners!!!

Winner, winner Chicken Dinner! Or whatever Mike Trumbull wants to buy with his prize of free groceries for 10 weeks! His wife took the call and told Jessica “bless your heart” through some happy tears!
Ken Benner couldn’t believe he won the Webber Grill!
Scott and Toni Merrill are ready for some outdoor fun with their new Yeti!
Heath Chaffin took home the colorful and cool Monster helmet!
Connie Thompson will be high desert surfing on her new iPad!
PLUS SO MANY grocery give aways; bread, milk, eggs, Halo oranges and ice cream!! However, you know who the biggest winner was? Us of course! The support we received from our community, including our customers, friends, family, vendors, suppliers, Lassen County Times, the Chamber and all the local dignitaries made this Grand Opening the best ever! Thank you all so much.
Special Susanville Super thanks to all that sponsored this event~


C&S Wholesale
Foster Farms Dairy
Flowers Bakery
Bimbo Bakery
NuCal Eggs
General Produce
Frozen Gourmet


Your prizes created such energy and excitement!


Hometown Proud thanks to all for our Susanville SUPERmarket Grand Opening!!

Hometown Heritage!

 


It’s a small world. I wanted to share some pictures of the gorgeous stained glass inside the Susanville United Methodist Church so I started talking to Katy Dockery, Administrative Assistant at the church for 30 years. She is entertaining and knowledgable on many subjects. Turns out Katy came here from Thorn Bay, Alaska. I happen to know Ronnie Chandler owner of Critter Keepers came from Alaska 49 years ago, maybe they know each other. I know it’s a big state but maybe. Right? Katy didn’t know Ronnie but she did know that the man who officiated her marriage in Alaska was one of Ronnie’s relatives! I called Ronnie to ask if she minded my printing that. Ronnie is always so open, she loved the idea AND told me her Granddad had built the framing on the pipe organ in the SUMC almost 40 years ago. Small town. Small world.


Back to the church. The current Susanville United Methodist Church celebrated their 100th anniversary January 1917! This was the 3rd church on this site having lost the first two to fires. The stained glass is indeed spectacular. Each window is a memorial. The church is currently connecting all the old organ pipes to a new organ. SUMC is a beautiful piece of our history!
       

Hometown Heritage!

                                 

Mrs. E.B. Couso

Sometimes things just work out perfectly.


Recently, like the last couple of years, Marshel Couso was looking for a community event to sponsor. Marshel and husband Jeremy ARE Susanvillestuff.com the “home of all things Susanville”. You see them at every community event but you might not recognize either one without a camera :) Jeremy’s family moved here when he was 1 and Marshel is as Hometown as it gets, since she’s 4th generation of now 6 generation LoCaL family! When the Couso’s found out our Easter egg hunt needed someone to HOP up and take over. Well. She couldn’t resist. Marshel has been taking her children, and now grandchildren, to this event for 28 years. It is very dear to her heart.


Match made in heaven.


So now her living room has 7000 eggs in it and 7200 pieces of candy, she’s hopping around in a bunny suit and our community couldn’t be luckier to have the Easter hunt in the Couso’s caring and capable hands. Just as Marshel expected the local organizations and businesses have rallied round to help. Soroptimists are sponsoring the prize basket that’s awarded for finding the golden egg in each age category. There is a HUGE egg stuffing party at the Couso home on March 28, so far FFA, Police Explorers, Miss Lassen County and her Court and the High School Cadets are helping stuff eggs BUT they could sure use more volunteers! Volunteers can be any age and help is needed all the way through the event. Just give Marshel a call at 249-3972


Thank you to Marshel and Jeremy for always making us Hometown Proud!

E. Clampus Vitus

From our local historian Tim Purdy~
"On August 4, 1984 some 500 members of the fraternal organization known as E Clampus Vitus descended upon Susanville. The occasion was the chartering of the Neversweat Chapter #1863 of the E Clampus Vitus and the dedication of the Pioneer, the oldest establishment in Northeastern California. The organization has been around since days of the California gold rush, and was a spoof on the more refined fraternal organizations of the day. In the 1930s it went through a revival and focused on marking historical sites and having a good time while doing so. The Neversweat Chapter was not the first for Susanville, as a lodge existed in 1868. In the early 1880s there were several lodges in Modoc County.”

         


ECV calls themselves a Historical Drinking Society or a Drinking Historical Society. They are certainly known for having a good time. Once Rick saw a man with shaving cream on his face, wearing women’s underwear, doing the breaststroke on the sidewalk! He was told this was a ‘Clamper’ initiation. Fun!
                            

I so appreciate the markers they are responsible for all up and down our beautiful state. Wherever I see one I want to stop and read the history of that spot on the highway or structure. Lassen County Courthouse, Pioneer Saloon, Grand Cafe, Viewland on 395, the Chimney in Goodrich Valley just to name a few close to home. History preserved, what a huge service to our community!


Thank you E Clampus Vitus and historian Tim Purdy, who just happens to be a member!

Rick's Hometown Proud Photography

When we expanded and remodeled the Bakery/Deli kitchen we ended up with a very long hallway to our bathrooms. This looked like a blank canvas just screaming to have some of my favorite, uber talented, photographer’s art displayed! He has such an eye for beauty it is incredibly hard to choose but hopefully by the time you read this I’ll have both sides of the hall completed. 

The plan was local beauty and events BUT what about all the sights from our National Parks? We must share those! I played a little fast and loose with ‘local’ too. I consider Highway 395 ours, all the way to Lone Pine. Sacramento Valley, well yeah, that feels like home to me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy Rick’s art as much as I do, we are indeed fortunate  to be surrounded by such majesty.

                         
Ansel Adams said “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” I have been blessed to be right there when every photograph was made and the one of Rick in Bryce Canyon National Park I even made.

                        

Lots of new additions!

Sheriff Dean Growdon

Exactly what anyone would want in a community leader. That’s what I think as I look at Lassen County Sheriff Dean Growdon’s Facebook page. Dean, wife Carol and their two sons pictured, hiking Lassen Park or competing in cycling and/or running events (at the Courage Run, Dean and his sons even took 2nd place!). Doing the Rocky pose at the finish of the Police Unity Tour. Volunteering with Rotarians to line our Main st with American Flags. Coaching JV Basketball at the High School.


One of my favorite pics was taken last December when Dean graduated with a Master of Justice Management degree from UNR, of course the family was there, looking as proud as can be. This had to be a lot of added stress, full time job, family and pursuing a Masters. Why? He said it was for personal and professional growth but also to show his kids it can be done.

I wanted to know what makes our Sheriff’s department such a stand out. I can feel the respect and concern they all have for each other. Sheriff Growdon says it’s their culture. They look at what they CAN do, not what difficulties they face. When a position needs to be filled they hire LoCaLs that care about our community, a person that will make their team better.


Sheriff Growdon is definitely part of the team. More than willing to get goofy and have fun but never give up who he is at the core.


What can we do to help? There is a lot of misinformation out there, Dean encourages you to check it out for yourself, learn what’s really happening from the Deputies, and get this, you can go on a ride along! Even cooler, I can go on a ride along!! Applications are available at the Sheriff’s Department.


We are so Hometown Proud to have Sheriff Dean Growdon! Thanks for all you and your entire department do for all of us every, single day!

Grand Opening!

50 year anniversary

In May of 1968 this market opened as Eagle Thrifty. Since then it has been, Raleys, Shop ’n Save, Susan Village Market and best of all, Susanville Supermarket! Located right in the heart of town, wisely chosen location. But let’s face it. Brick and mortar (or in this case cement block) and a name don’t make a business. Our shoppers and the dedicated staff that take ownership are the heart of our store. As a side note, Ken Loflin was hired in 1968 before the doors even opened.
     



25 year anniversary
In 1993 we came to Susanville Supermarket and have been blessed to remain. I was just talking to a friend who’s career has moved her frequently to many exciting cities, she shared that while moving was exciting she missed having a sense of community like we have here after 25 years. Isn’t that the truth. I just heard the USDA Secretary speak and express his gratitude to independent grocers for being the last step in actually getting food to the people. We are proud to be part of such an awesome task. Thankfully, Ken Loflin was still here when we arrived.
             

Grand Opening!
As I’ve said before, the old girl really needed a facelift and boy did she get one! NEW Bakery/Deli Kitchen with their own walk in freezer and walk in cooler, new oven, which is about as big as a walk in freezer, new proof box, new bathrooms, energy efficient lighting, entry ways that no longer open right to traffic, covered cart area just to name a few, AND she is beautiful! PLUS we reclaimed our name, we’re still IGA but we belong to Susanville first and really believe our market is SUPER. Oh, and Kenny? He’s still here, and many others that have served our market for decades.


Special thanks:
Hannah Satica for her support since the beginning!
Holland and Corder,

LoCaL Historian Tim Purdy for the logos, he had original ads in his collection!

All our faithful customers,
Our dedicated staff,
and our whole community!


Susanville Supermarket is Hometown Proud!