EXLINE — With the weather continuing off and on, to feel like springtime, the various trees and bushes in our yard, have new buds on them. That will not be good because once it does freeze and more winter like temperatures occur, it will cause those blossoms to freeze and fall off and that will mean there will be no blooms on those plants this spring.

The recipe for this week is a twist on an old favorite cookie recipe. It uses malted milk in the ingredients. They sound like they would be really good.

 

Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. golden brown sugar

3/4 c. granulated sugar

2 whole eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. (rounded) malted milk powder

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 tsp. salt

One 12 oz. bag milk chocolate chips

 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium size bowl, cream the butter, then add both sugars and cream until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat slightly, then add the vanilla and beat until combined. Add the malted milk powder and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture, beating gently until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir in gently.

Drop by teaspoonfuls (or use a cookie scoop) on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between the cookies. They spread out quite a bit. Bake for nine to 11 minutes. The cookies will be very flat and very chewy. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan with a spatula.

For something different, you may allow to cool completely, then use two cookies to make an ice cream sandwich. Place your choice of the flavor of ice cream, between two of the cookies, then roll the sides of the ice cream between the two cookies, in chocolate chips to coat the sides and wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in the freezer.

 

It has been reported that a former Exline resident, Velma (Wessel) Vivian of Rockford, Ill. has passed away at the age of 75 years old. She also lived at one time in the town of Belvidere, Ill. She passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. She was the last one left, of her Exline High School graduating class of 1933. She is survived by her sister, Bonnie (Wessel) Sparks, of Centerville.

Today is Friday the 13th. A lot of  people have a fear of the number 13. It is known as triskaidekaphobia. Some people even believe the number 13 is unlucky. Throughout numerous centuries of history, many different nationalities had their own reasons for believing myths about the number 13 in many various forms.

In high rise buildings some buildings do not have a 13th floor. They go right from number 12 to number 14. Then there are others that do not even give it a thought and just treat it as you would, any other number or day.

To help dispel these fears, about the number 13 and other superstitions, a group was formed in New York in 1881. This influential group formed the Thirteen Club. They held their first meeting on Friday, the 13th, in January of 1881 at 8:13 p.m., which was 131 years ago today!

They walked into room number 13, by entering under a ladder and were all seated near piles of spilled salt.

The Thirteen Club became quite the rage, with groups of them springing up all over the country. These groups continued meeting for 40 years. They could claim five future presidents as members, including Chester A. Arthur and Theodore Roosevelt. Their continued activities were reported in leading newspapers for years until they eventually faded away and people‘s superstitions subsided.

There is a project going on here in Exline. As has been reported, they are in the process of erecting a pedestal in the Hero’s Park, that is located on the corner of East Wall Street and South First in Exline. It will eventually hold the original church bell that used to be housed in the belfry of the old Methodist Church. It was rung every Sunday when services were held there. The church stood on the site where the park is now located.

The bell is being donated by Larry and Carol Drake, in memory of their parents.

This memorial brick pedestal will be a permanent structure in the park when it is completed and will consist of at least 100 bricks.  

To help raise money for the construction of this project, bricks are going to be sold for the price of $50 each. The money will be used to buy the brick and you may have any information put on the  brick that you would like. If you would like to honor your parents, grandparents or any other relative either living or deceased, you may do so. A maximum number of 17 letters, characters, numbers or spaces may be placed on each line, with up to two lines of information on each brick. You may also put your own names or your family’s name on a brick, to be included in the pedestal that will support the church bell.

This project is open to anyone, either a past or current resident or someone who has an interest in our town. You also do not need to have been a member of the old Methodist Church to have your information placed on a brick. Everyone is welcome to participate and donate a brick for this worthy project.

When enough bricks are purchased the project will proceed, once the nice weather arrives. To have a permanent representation on one of these bricks will preserve it in the park. Once the project is complete, there will be no more bricks available to be sold. So, get your order in as soon as you can.

This project is being sponsored  by the Royal Neighbors of America, Exline Chapter 3000. For further information to participate in purchasing a brick, you may pick up a form at the Exline Old Country Store. Fill out the form and turn it in with a check for $50 for each brick you would like to purchase.  

If you would like further information, you may call the Project Chairman, Mary Ann (Campbell) Hurley at 315 E. Second St. South, Exline, Iowa 52555. The phone number is (641) 658-2691 or you may e-mail her at:   mahurley@sirisonline.com.

You may also contact the Royal Neighbors of America Chapter 3000 president, Jean (Traxler) Leach at 28636 Highway T30, Exline, Iowa 52555, by calling (641) 658-2623 or e-mailing her at:   mjleach@sirisonline.com.

If you have a form that you filled out for your brick, you may also just mail it in to one of those two ladies along with your check. If you do not want to drop it back by, at the Exline Old Country Store.

This past Sunday, Mary Ann Hurley and her son Aaron, went to a gun show in Columbia, Mo. From there, they picked up Aaron’s son Ethan, who is Mary Ann’s grandson, and they all went out to eat at Chuckie Cheese.

On March 25, there will be a spring dinner sponsored by the Exline Recreation Committee at the community center. This will also be their annual Easter Egg sale, where Easter Eggs will be sold with various prizes included in each egg.  The Easter Egg sale will be a project sponsored by the Royal Neighbors of America, Chapter 3000. When further information is available, I will put it in this column.