Valentine’s Day is coming and Nona has the perfect treat

GRANDMA NONA

Dear Nona,

Valentine’s Day is just a week or so away. How are your plans shaping up? Maybe you could come over. Ma is frying up some side pork. We could double date maybe.

Lonely in Lublin Dear Lonely!

Get in my line my friend! I put the word out at card night that I didn’t have plans for Valentine’s Day, and I’m beating them back with my rolling pin now. Actually, I only beat one of them, and he had it coming. Turns out he was married! I should have known not to go out with Terry the Two-Timer.

Otherwise, I’ve had a good week. I’ve been out for pork chops three of the last five nights, and I’m having a hard time narrowing down the eligible men.

I’m leaning toward Wally the Widower, because he was already married once before, and he says he didn’t have anything to do with his wife’s passing. Since he was already married, I’m pretty sure that means he knows how to toe the line. To put this in words some of you who still live on the farm may understand, let’s say he’s already been broken. He may not always put the seat back down, but he knows he was supposed to, and he responds to being hollered at. When you ask for help clearing the dishes he doesn’t belch and head for the Lazy Boy like bachelors do. He does what he’s told, and that’s a good quality in a man.

I’m not completely sure of his training during his married years, but this guy has a chance.

I will say that a widower makes a better boyfriend than a guy who’s divorced. I don’t want some guy who already got sent packing by someone else. Once I found out that I was about to go on a blind date with Dolores Doorknocker’s ex. Now if you remember Dolores from back in school, you know why I was nervous. She dated all seven of the Larsenkowski posse, even though two of them she had to pick up at the county jail to take them to work spreading liquid manure for a living. You gotta figure if a guy is divorced, at least one woman must think he’s a good for nothing and has kicked him to the curb.

Don’t get me wrong. Lots of good guys get divorced too. I just never ran into you yet. Send me a note, telling me why Nona should be the one to give you a second chance. Otherwise, I can pass on Dolores’ number to you.

Only one guy who has expressed an interest in me during the last week makes me a little nervous. He goes by the name of Ben in Abbotsford. What makes me a little leery is that when I asked him what his idea of a romantic getaway was, he told me that he’d take me ice fishing.

“All the ladies love to go ice fish," he said. "Dress in three or four layers of clothes, and I’ll pick you up at 5 a.m. We’ll drill a few holes, set our tipups, and catch our own dinner. Then, we’ll head to the tavern for four or five hours before we

go back to your place so you can clean the fish and make me supper.” make me supper.”

Did you hear that noise Ben? Nona just flushed your phone number. Oops! Guess you're fishing alone this Valen tine’s Day!

Marvelous Marbled Cheese Cake

1 1/2 c. crushed chocolate graham crackers 6 T butter, softened 2, 1 oz. squares semisweet chocolate, chopped 2, 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 c sugar 1/2 t. vanilla extract 2 eggs Directions

Preheat oven to 350º. In a medium bowl, combine graham crackers and butter. Mix well and press in to bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth.

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until creamy and smooth. Blend in eggs, one at a time. Remove 1 c. of cream cheese mixture and combine with melted chocolate.

Spread plain batter into the crust. Drop the chocolate mixture randomly over the top. With the tip of a knife, swirl the batter to create a marble effect.

Bake in the preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until center is set. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.

WEEKLY ADVICE AND SO MUCH MORE!