EXLINE — The heat this week sure has been very uncomfortable, but at least in Iowa we are not having wild fires like out west or severe flooding like in the southeast.

Here is the recipe for this week.



Brochetta Tomato Mixture



Ingredients

3 large fully ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped

3 Tb. of extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic

2-3 tsp. sea salt

½ c. basil leaves

Freshly ground black pepper.

 1 loaf of crusty French style bread

2 Tb. extra virgin olive oil

 1 small pkg. of mozzarella cheese, cut into pieces

 

Directions

In a large bowl, pour in the olive oil and add the chopped tomatoes and toss to distribute the oil. Chop the garlic and mix it with the salt. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the garlic to a paste, or on the cutting board, use the side of a chef’s knife to mash the garlic, dragging the knife back and forth. Add the garlic and salt to the tomatoes. Either tear the basil into small pieces or roll the leaves and cut across to into thin slices; mix with tomatoes. Grind pepper to taste and add more salt if needed.

Slice crusty French style bread into eight pieces. Brush the tops of the slices of bread with the extra virgin olive oil. Then place the bread in the oven under the broiler to slightly toast the bread. Remove the lightly toasted bread slices from the oven.

Place a tablespoon of the chopped tomato, mixture on top of the toasted bread slice. Then add one tablespoon of the chopped mozzarella cheese, on top of the tomato mixture, on the bread.  

Place under the broiler, until cheese melts. Remove from the oven and serve immediately while still warm.

 

Recently on Flag Day, June 14, a commemoration of the historic battle of the War of 1812 took place at the harbor in Baltimore, Md.   

There was a flotilla of U.S. Navy ships on hand for the event, which even included the ship, the USS Fort McHenry.

It was at this famous battle on Sept. 13, 1814, during the night that British war ships fired upon the star shaped Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Harbor for 25 hours.       Francis Scott Key, who was a lawyer,  had been sent to help negotiate the release of American hostages that were held by the British forces. He found himself on the deck of a British ship in Baltimore Harbor, the next morning following the all night bombardment.

As dawn rose over the harbor, he saw the American Flag was still waving over the beleaguered fort. This inspired him to write the poem that became our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.

This was the war that is remembered by the heroic effort of the first lady. Dolly Madison, the wife of President James Madison, who had to flee her home in the White House in Washington, D.C. The British troops attacked the city and burned the U.S. Capital, the Washington Navy Yard and the White House.

As she fled the White House, she grabbed the famous portrait of George Washington that had been painted by Gilbert Stuart, as she left.

Also during that war, Andrew Jackson, a U.S. Army General and his men defeated the British troops at the Battle of New Orleans. Plus, the famous naval hero, Capt. James Lawrence while commanding the U.S. frigate, Chesapeake, as he was overtaken by the British ship, HMS Shannon, proclaimed his famous battle cry, “Don’t give up the ship.”

The commemoration recently in Baltimore, was to honor Old Glory and to also celebrate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. The assemblage of ships in the harbor at this event, were composed of  10 U.S. Navy ships, as well as 18 tall sailing ships, many of which included ships from different parts of the world that came to participate in what was called the “Star Spangled Sailabration.” This marked the beginning of a week long list of events in Baltimore Harbor and the surrounding area.

They noted the occasion, by having a parade of tall ships, as well as a Navy Blue Angel aerial demonstration, and a parachute jump into the Baltimore Orioles baseball park Camden Yard. An array of fireworks were also set off to commemorate the rockets’ red glare that inspired Francis Scott Key to immortalize the battle that was held there, 200 years ago.

Just to let you know that because of the holiday this coming Wednesday, the July birthday gathering will not be held this week in Exline. It will be held the following Wednesday, on July 11, at the Exline Old Country Store at 10 a.m. Cake, ice cream and coffee will be served that morning. Everyone is welcome to attend.  

Since the 4th of July, is going to be on Wednesday, here are a few reminders, regarding the all day Exline Celebration that is going to be held here.

The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the flag raising ceremony and the firing of the Civil War era cannon that some lucky winner will get to set off, if they win the raffle that is being held to do so. Tickets for that opportunity are still available at the Exline Old Country Store.  

There is going to be a Cutie Contest that will be held at 10 a.m. for babies and children under 5 years of age. To enter your child into the contest, you need to register at the shelter house in Hero’s Park, just southeast of the country store by 9:30 a.m. Also, there will be children’s games that will be held, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

If you plan to enter a pie into the pie contest, either a one crust or a two crust pie, you need to have your pie to the community center by 10:30 a.m. The pie judging will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the winners to be announced sometime around noon.

The prizes for this year’s pie contest for first place will be $25 and $15 for second place. Both prizes will be given to the top two winners, in both the one crust and two crust categories.

The overall Grand Prize Pie winner will receive $100, which will be donated by the Lange Funeral Home. The Reserve Grand Prize Pie winner will receive $50, donated by the Thomas Funeral Home, both from Centerville.

Just a reminder that if you are planning on baking cakes for the Cake Walk, you need to also have your cakes to the community center that morning by 10:30 a.m. If you would like, you can use one cake mix and make two 9 inch round cakes and submit those two cakes with frosting on them, instead of having to make two large cakes. The Cake Walk will be held in the community center at the conclusion of the pie contest.

Do not forget they are also having a Bike Show that will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the judging to follow at 12:45 p.m.

At 1 p.m. the Motorcycle Poker Run will begin at the Exline Old Country Store that afternoon, with the motorcycles being on display throughout the day.

The tickets are still available for the print from the painting called the “Old Fishin’ Hole” by the late Thomas Kinkade at the Exline Old Country Store, where you may see the framed picture. The print is being donated by Michael and Jean Leach of rural Exline. The tickets for the drawing are available at the store.

During the day, there is also gong to be a gas engine display and a flea market. Plus the Hose Company No. 1 Museum will be open for touring that day also.

Throughout the afternoon there is going to be live music, so if you would like to perform, bring your band and come on down. At 6:45 p.m. the Citizen of the Year Award will be announced. That is also when the winner will be announced for the Thomas Kinkade print. That will be followed by the Fine Line Blue Grass band that will entertain beginning at 7 p.m. The fireworks will be begin at dusk to end the day’s activities.

If you would like further information regarding any of the holiday festivities, you may call the president of the Exline Recreation Committee, Mary Ann Hurley at (641) 658-2691 or Penny Sharp, the manager of the Exline Old Country Store for further details at (641) 658-2399.

There is going to be drinks and food available all day at the food court that will be set up that day, so bring your lawn chairs and plan to spend the day enjoying all of the activities, as we celebrate the 4th of July here in Exline.