Nona knows how to deal with the winter blues!

Nona:

How are you dealing with the winter blues?

Baffled in Boyd

Dear Sad:

The key to dealing with this frozen season is to keep your- self busy. I've got a little secret for you. I always latch on to a new guy just after the Christ- mas doldrums hit, and then I trade up to a better model when spring hits.

Anyhow, I've been on a couple dates with Piston Pete, who works down at Ed's Ga – rage. I brought my Nova in for a tune up, and he said I could pay him for the work he did on the car with an order of my fa- mous snickerdoodle cookies. I said, "Not so fast, Pete. I don't bake snickerdoodles for just anybody. But I have a nice pot roast in the oven, if you want to come over for supper." The romance was building nicely. He's got a few quirks, but let's face it ladies, what guy doesn't? He drinks choc – olate milk like it's going out of style, but he showers every day and has his own chompers and a full head of hair. He says "scuze me" when he belches, and he let me pick which Lazy Boy to sit in when we watched the Murder She Wrote mara thon on cable over the weekend.

He even let's me handle the TV's remote control. I was kind of toying with him. I kept it within his reach for about two hours. He was twitching something fierce, but he never made a grab for it.

Anyway, on Friday, Pete gave me a call and asked me to get ready for a weekend of winter fun. I was heading into the beauty parlor that afternoon anyway to get a little of the blue taken out of my hair and to catch up on what's really going on in town, so I told the gals I had to look my best this weekend.

I splurged and had my hair washed and set, too. I went for the Uptown Package. It goes for $19.95 these days, and Henna the Hairdresser said that only the doctor's wife orders that. I told Henna I had a big weekend coming up, so she cleared her afternoon schedule and went to work.

She didn't really have to clear it, because the next ap –

pointment was Dreams Dry zbiski. She got her nickname because she always was falling asleep in class growing up.

So, Henna real quick washed her hair, and got her under the dryer. She set the heat to low, and let Dreams sleep for a couple hours. I'm telling you what, I looked like something else when I walked out onto the main drag that afternoon. I thought there was going to be an accident the way the fellas were rubbernecking to catch a glimpse of the New and Im – proved Nona. I'm thinking of getting the Uptown Package a couple times a year. Henna says she puts it on special during the slow months. It's a few bucks more, but sometimes you have to use a little better bait to reel in a good catch. I even slept in the recliner

Friday night, so I'd be ready to go first thing Saturday morn ing. Pete hadn't said what kind= of winter fun we'd be enjoy – ing, but I figured I'd dress nice in case we went to the show house or to the supper club for the pork chop plate.

I was all primped and put – ting on my lipstick when I heard the racket out in my yard. I looked out the window, and there's Pete hopping off a snowmobile in the front yard.

I did what any self-respect – ing woman would do. I locked the door and turned out the lights quick so he wouldn't think I was home. This Up – town Package wasn't getting in a helmet.

This is going to sound a little kooky, but I'm going to share a couple recipes that I remember my mother making during the winter months.

"They'll warm your heart," she told us.

I hope they warm yours!

Cream Cheese Potato Soup Ingredients 4 cups chicken broth 4 cups potatoes, peeled and

cubed 1/4 cup onion, minced 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into chunks Directions

Combine broth, potatoes, onion, and spices. Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.

Smash a few of the potatoes to release their starch for thickening.

Reduce to low heat.

Add cream cheese. Heat, stirring frequently, until

cheese melts. Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients 1 cup potato, diced 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup celery, diced 1 cup chopped carrot 1/3 cup melted margarine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups chicken broth 1 cup half-and-half 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 cups chopped cooked chicken 2 pie crusts (either store bought or your own recipe) Directions Preheat oven to 400° F. Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in butter for 10 minutes.

Add flour to sauteed mix –

ture, stirring well Cook one minute stirring constantly. Combine broth and half and half Gradually stir into vegetable mixture Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly Stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well Pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with pie shells Cut slits to allow steam to escape. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.

GRANDMA

NONA

Knows!

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