Bastrop Town & Country Winter Issue 2022

BASTROP TOWN & COUNTRY

Winter Vegetable Gardening GAME NIGHT REVISITED EXPLORING

DARK

SKIES

A LOCAL STOP ON THE HISTORIC CHITLIN CIRCUIT

Wi nte r Jou rna l

I S S U E

N O . 6

J A N U A R Y

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F E B R U A R Y

2 0 2 2

CONTENTS

07 Plant this Now

11 Winter Game Nights

15 The Best Thing I Ever Ate

19 Dark Skies

27

04 Note from the Editor

09 A History of Kissing

13 What to Drink Now

18 Reader Snow Photo Submission

24 Master the Master Stock

Rooted in the Blues

BASTROP TOWN & COUNTRY

PHOTO BY JAN KUCHEL

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

o Helln ,

agai

Welcome to our Winter Journal!

Can you believe we're celebrating our first anniversary here at Bastrop Town and Country Magazine? As we bring to you our sixth journal, we would be remiss if we didn't say thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who got us here. Some of them you see in our ads each month and some encourage us behind the scenes as advisors, resources, and cheerleaders.

This issue we called on you to help us remember the almost unfathomable snow days of last February. And because we're committed to getting out to enjoy the natural beauty of Central Texas with each season, we dig deep into stargazing and dark skies. Since it's February we present to you a brief history of kissing and a link to some tips for finessing your smooch. In honor of Black History Month, we pay homage to Bastrop County's rich blues and jazz heritage.

Email us at BastropMagazine@gmail.com or look for us on Facebook

We rounded out this journal with our regularly featured columns, recipes, reviews, and calendar of events to make sure these last grey months of winter are anything but boring. Need to have your event added to the spring issue calendar? Drop us a line at BastropMagazine@gmail.com. Now that you've had a chance to see what we're all about, maybe you'll want to contribute or suggest a story.

Wishing you a great start to 2022, Karen Derr & Jonathan Ryan Publishers & Editors

512.619.5322

1015 MAIN ST. BASTROP

By Appointment

Design Services

Desiree Laux – Founder/Designer

Home Furnishings

Desiree@BlackandWhiteInteriors.com

Window Treatments

Plant This Now...

For January and February Planting in Bastrop County Leaf Lettuce Spinach Cauliflower Arugula Cabbage Bok Choy Romaine Collard Greens English, sugar snap, and snow peas Sow seeds for beets, carrots, radish, and turnips by the last week in January

FRESH AT A FARMERS' MARKET NEAR YOU The Bastrop 1832 Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Bastrop1832FarmersMarket.org Lost Pines Farmers Market open Sunday - 12-4 Community Gardens Bastrop 1067 Hwy 71 W - Follow them on Facebook Elgin's Farmers Market open Thursday - 4pm to 7pm Veterans' Memorial Park. ElginFarmersMarket.com The East Eden Farm Stand at 1910 Main Street Bastrop, Open 4-7 PM Wednesdays, 9-1 Saturdays. edeneastaustin.com/farm/

Protect very young tender plants from freezes with cold caps or garden fabric designed to shield plants from frost.

Source: Master Gardner Dolores Leeper, editor of the Garden Guide for Austin & Vicinity and the Secretary/Treasurer for the Bastrop 1832 Farmers' Market. Used with permission.

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A UNIQUE STYLE

Bastrop has a style all its own and those who make their home here take advantage of being a small town, near the big city, in the middle of Texas big country. Bastropians are dark skywatchers, golfers, ranchers, a little horsey, artsy, outdoorsy, Main Street dreamers, who love local. If you'd like to reach Bastrop County residents, try an ad in Bastrop Town & Country magazine. It's mailed to owner-occupied homes and ranches across Bastrop

County. Call Advertising Sales at 512-720-8290 or email BastropMagazine@gmail.com.

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V A L E N T I N E ' S

D A Y , M O N D A Y ,

F E B

1 4 T H

The History of Kissing Covid isn't the first plague to deal a blow to kissing. In this season of romance and Covid variants, kissing can be serious business.

Throughout history, kisses have gone from casual and prolific, to legally binding and even life-threatening. Most cultures had a gesture akin to kissing and even animals give each other smooches. Dogs lick our faces and each others, elephants put trunks in each other's mouths and chimpanzees kiss.

The late Texas A&M University professor and anthropologist Vaughn Bryant studied the origins of kissing for over twenty years. His research found that some cultures didn’t kiss until they were introduced to it by invaders. While the true origin of kissing is uncertain, Bryant believed it was rooted in India. Vedic Sanskrit literature suggests an early form of kissing. Dating from 1500 B.C., they describe the custom of rubbing and pressing noses together.

About 500 years later, the epic poem Mahabharata contained references to lip kissing. Around 326 B.C., kissing began spreading from India, thanks to the conquering armies of Alexander the Great.

"They learned about kissing from the Indians. After the death of Alexander, his army split up and his generals went to various areas of the Middle East," Bryant said. "The Romans popularized kissing in most of Europe and parts of North Africa. They were devoted 'kissing' missionaries."

Kissing was so much a part of ancient Roman culture that related laws were passed. "One stated that if a virgin girl were kissed with passion in public, she could demand to be awarded full marriage rights from the man," Bryant said.

In the Middle Ages, all of Europe was kissing. Because many did not know how to read and write, a kiss was also used to seal contracts. People drew an "X" for their name on the document and kissed it to make it legal. Thus the origin of the X put on Valentines or letters to symbolize a kiss.

According to Bryant, the Great Plague of 1665 played a role in ending the “great age of kissing” in Europe. Kissing was largely replaced by bows, curtsies, and tipping one's hat.

Between 1760 and 1840, during the Industrial Revolution, the hand kiss became popular in England and eventually evolved into handshaking.

In 1896, a silent film called "The Kiss" showed for the first time two actors, May Irwin and John Rice, repeatedly kissing. The scene caused a scandal and one reviewer described it as “absolutely disgusting."

German neuroscientist Onur Güntürkün spent two years around airports, railway stations, parks, and beaches, documenting the different ways people kiss. He recorded 124 "scientifically valid” kinds of kisses. His research on kissing also revealed that most people turn their heads to the right when kissing and this propensity to turn to the right or left develops shortly after birth.

Do you need to add a little excitement to your kissing technique for Valentine’s Day? Try one of these moves from www.kissingday.com/beginners-guide.html

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Winter Game Nights These classic games paired with adult beverages and snacks will make Game Night the favorite night of the week.

Backgammon

is the oldest recorded game. Sure, ancient civilizations probably threw rocks at each other or something for sport but we're talking about a real board game. By most accounts, backgammon dates back some 5000 years to what is now the Middle East.

Plain or fancy, backgammon boards are offered from Walmart to Neiman's. Brush up on the rules at Backgammon-Rules.com.

Snacks: Anything Middle Eastern - hummus, falafel, pita, crunchy spiced chickpeas. Try CedarsMedGrill.com for fresh made Middle Eastern appetizers to go.

Drink: Like backgammon, wine dates back to the cradle of civilization and pairs well with hummus or lamb kabobs. Or you might enjoy that most Middle Eastern fruit, the pomegranate. Add Pama pomegranate flavored liqueur to your favorite Margarita recipe for tasty a Middle Eastern twist.

Rook

is a card game for 2 to 6 players, developed in 1906 by George and Grace Parker of Parker Bros. The deck was meant to be an alternative to the Jonathan Adler Game Set traditional card deck which some religious groups were opposed to NeimanMarcus.com $395 because of its association with gambling and tarot. The rook bird took the place of the joker. Like dominos' 42, it's a trick-taking game, with bidding and trumps.

Snacks: Since this game had its start in Massachusetts during the heyday of American manufactured games and candy, why not serve Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, and Boston Baked Bean candies? Or just go with the bird theme and serve wings. We like the selection at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard for wings to go.

Drink: Sticking with the Massachusetts theme, Samuel Adams beer would pair well with hot wings. Or for Valentine- fun, prosecco and conversation Sweethearts can't be beat.

Q

wixx is a game for 2 to 5 players invented by Steffen Benndorf, in 2012. He is a famous German dice and card game author. It debuted at the Essen game fair in Germany.

Quixx is a Mensa Select winner and utilizes more critical thinking than most dice games. It's a newer family favorite for us and when a player looses badly, we declare they're "definitely not Mensa."

Snacks: A board of brats and sausages, with cheeses and pretzel bread (Tough Cookie bakery at the Crossing makes a good one.)

Drink: A tasting of assorted German beers would add to game night fun but so would a warm Glühwein (mulled spiced wine or glow wine) spiked with amaretto just before serving.

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B T & C

L E N D I N G

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R E C O M M E N D S

B A S T R O P

C O U N T Y

Homeowners Finacial Group A A R O N

B R A N C H

P A G E

M A N A G E R ,

N M L S

2 2 2 1 5 9

L I C E N S E D

M O R T G A G E

P R O F E S S I O N A L

O F F I C E : ( 7 3 7 )

2 3 9 - 7 5 2 2 C E L L : ( 5 1 2 )

9 2 4 - 3 1 3 8

P A G E T E A M @ H O M E O W N E R S F G . C O M

C

COLAT O H

E

AR

CHO-CH

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NEW ORLEANS BOMBAY CLUB SIGNATURE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Makes Two Martinis 2 oz Cruzan Black Strap Rum 1/2 oz Demerara Syrup

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass or coup. Top with shaved chocolate or a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

2 oz Sandeman Tawny Port 2 oz Half & Half or cream 1 tsp Cocoa

Not your ordinary chocolate martini, well worth sourcing the ingredients.

W H A T

T O

The Bombay Club at the Prince Conti Hotel 830 Conti St New Orleans. Our go-to for dinner and jazz in an intimate setting.

D R I N K

N O W

B T & C

R E C O M M E N D S

ALTATUDES U P S C A L E

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

F A S H I O N

&

A C C E S O R I E S

OWNER ALTA Y. ALEXANDER/ SHOP ONLINE AT ALTATUDES.COM/ CELEBRATING THREE YEARS

The Best Thing I Ever Ate... Lately Carne Lenta Are you wishing you had a metric ton of nachos in front of you at this very moment? Carne Lenta has the cure for what ails ya. Smoked steak, griddled onions, refried black beans, house-made queso, guacamole, & fresh pico de gallo mounded on crisp tortilla chips. Some call it a hot mess; the pit master calls it Dirty Nachos.

Austin's popular chain Taco Flats opened its first rural faction in Smithville in the summer of 2020.

Serving the same quality ingredients but with an emphasis on low and slow BBQing, it's become a lunch spot staple for us at Bastrop Town & Country.

The Dirty Nachos is enough to feed four but I'm not gonna lie, I've tackled it by myself.

EDITOR/BASTROP COUNTY FOOD EXPLORER,

Jonathan Ryan

B T & C

R E C O M M E N D S

Jan 8, Saturday

Jan 1, Saturday Happy New Year

Jan 7-9 Gathering and Job Fair at Sherwood Forest SherwoodForestFaire.com

Art After Dark

Jan 13, Thursday

6-8pm Lost Pines Art Center in downtown Bastrop, Art, wine and live music.

Admission is FREE! LostPinesArtCenter.org Meet Featured Artist, Sonja Kever.

Live music with Reggie Carter from 6-7

Sip, Shop & Stroll 2nd Thursday of every month, 5PM-8PM in Downtown Elgin

Live Music Jan 6, Phil Hurley Acoustic - Copper Shot Distillery 6pm

Jan 17th, Monday Martin Luther King Day

Jan 7, Hannah Wright & Midnight Revelry - Copper Shot 7pm Jan 8, Ben Zuniga Band - Carne Lenta Garage Bar 7pm Jan 8, Mike Gallow - Copper Shot Distillery 2pm Jan 8, Chasing Gypsy - Copper Shot Distillery 8pm Jan 13, Open Mic -Copper Shot Distillery 6pm Jan 14, Johnny McGowen’s Rugged Gents - Copper Shot 6:30pm Jan 15, Jeremy Parsons -Copper Shot Distillery 2pm Jan 15, Xavier Joseph/Wayward Wranglers -Copper Shot 7pm Jan 15, Belldiver Live - Fat Cat Lounge 7pm Jan 21, X Factory - Copper Shot Distillery 7pm Jan 22, Cody Freeman -Copper Shot Distillery 2pm Jan 22, Djester Brother -Copper Shot Distillery 7pm Jan 28, Larry Wilson Band - Copper Shot Distillery 6:30pm Jan 29, Birdlegg Live at the Fat Cat Lounge 7pm Jan 29, James Hearne -Copper Shot Distillery 2pm

Bastrop County Celebration Walk starts at 10:00 am Location - To Be Announced

Jan 29, 3 Chord Rodeo - Copper Shot Distillery 6:30 PM Feb 4, Austin Nights- Copper Shot Distillery 7pm Feb 5, Tyler Jordan -Copper Shot Distillery 2pm Feb 5, The Clutch Kings - Copper Shot Distillery 7pm Feb 5, The Selfless Lovers Live at the Fat Cat Lounge 7pm Feb 12, The Chris Duarte Group Live at the Fat Cat Lounge 7pm Feb 12, JM Stevens - Copper Shot Distillery 2pm Feb19, Mike Gallo - Copper Shot Distillery 2pm

January 17th, Saturday Full Moon (Wolf Moon)

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Jan 22nd, Sat. Family Crisis Center Dinner and Dance Gala Family-CrisisCenter.org

February is Black History Month

February 1, Tuesday Lunar New Year

February 3rd First Thursday

Farm Street Opry Farm Street Band and guest perform great country music

Bastrop Convention center Admission - $7.50 Doors open 5:30pm Show starts at 7pm.

Weekends Feb 4-20

Crowns a Musical at the Bastrop Opera House BastropOperaHouse.org for schedule Tickets $15

www.FarmStreetOpry.com

February 10, Thursday February 5th,Saturday Art After Dark Lost Pines Art Center in downtown Bastrop, Art, wine and live music.

Admission is FREE!

Sip, Shop & Stroll Downtown Elgin 5pm to 8pm

February 14th Monday Valentine's Day

February 13th

6-8pm LostPinesArtCenter.org

Super Bowl Sunday

February 19, Saturday

February 16 Full Moon Snow Moon

2-6pm Cowgirls and Clutches Designer Purse Bingo $75 Admission Bastrop Convention Center benefitting Child Advocacy Center https://childrensadvoca cycenter.salsalabs.org/ bastropcountypursebin go2022/index.html

February 21st, Monday

BT&C REMEMBERS THE SNOWS OF FEBRUARY 2021.

THANKS TO ALL OUR READERS WHO SHARED THEIR PICS.

LARRY & PEGGY YOUNG

MARY ANN FINN FULLER

GAYE LEE

NANA BOU

MARY ANN FINN FULLER

STEPHEN KROTOFIL

WILLIE PIÑA

LINDA MEADOWS

CYNDEE WHITE

R E A D E R

S U B M I T T E D

P H O T O S

BASTROP SNOWPACOLYPSE A

V A L E N T I N E ' S D A Y B A S T R O P C O U N T Y W I L L N E V E R F O R G E T .

D A R K S K I E S EXPLORING THE HOBBY OF STARGAZING COSMIC EVENTS TO LOOK FOR THIS WINTER APPS AND GEAR TO ENHANCE YOUR DARK SKY EXPERIENCE

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It's estimated that 80 percent of Americans have never seen the Milky Way according to Texas Parks & Wildlife. With the growing glow of artificial lights around cities, towns, factories, and oil and gas facilities, dark skies are harder and harder to find.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has partnered with McDonald Observatory, and the International Dark Sky Association(IDA) to promote stargazing in our state parks with star parties, selfguided constellation tours, and light pollution education programs. Unfortunately, Bastrop and Buscher State Parks are adversely impacted by artificial lights from nearby Bastrop and Smithville.

Comet NEOWISE -Matt Dieterich

For now, Big Bend Ranch, Enchanted Rock, Copper Breaks and South Llano River state parks are the only IDA Dark Sky Parks. Devils River State Natural Area and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area are IDA Dark Sky Sanctuaries.

However, there are some areas of Bastrop County where we have notably dark skies, although none rated excellent. A quick survey of light pollution maps online (www.lightpollutionmap.info) shows the very darkest skies in the county are southeast of Rosanky, with the area north of Bastrop State Park a close second. Though our skies aren't as dark as the skies our grandparents dreamed under, Bastropians have proven to be passionate about keeping our skies dark enough for stargazing. Light pollution has been sited by citizens protesting new developments and the city's nuisance ordinance controls lighting which encroaches onto neighboring properties.

A simple measure of dark sky quality is the ability to view the Milky Way with the naked eye, especially in winter when it is fainter. Even if you don't see a meteor shower or identify any planets, seeing the Milky Way on a dark night is worth turning off all the lights on the farm or throwing a blanket in the truck, and driving towards Paige or Rosanky.

The Large Magellanic Cloud -Matt Dieterich

Winter 2022 Cosmic Events to View Jan 1-12 Quadrantids meteor showers with peak viewing on Jan 3rd and 4th.

Jan 7 and Jan 10 Mercury bright and visible in evening sky.

Jan 17 Wolf Moon - First Full Moon of 2022 Jan 19 Peak γ-Ursae Minorid meteor shower (10:16pm) Feb 1 New moon - a great time to stargaze with a dark sky.

Feb 9 Venus reached it's brightest in the dawn sky.

Feb 16 Snow Moon - Full moon. (www.In-the-Sky.org) Dark Skies Festival at McDonald Observatory in the Marfa / Fort Davis Area April 29-30, 2022 Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, 2022 A celebration of the night sky! This family-friendly weekend will feature activities both day and night, including food and music, tours of facilities, telescope viewing, educational activities, photography workshops, guest speakers, and more. Learn more at mcdonaldobservatory.org/dark-skiesfestival Gaze like the pros at McDonald Observatory On select nights throughout the year, the Visitors Center offers special viewing programs on the large research telescopes. These programs have limited capacity and offer amazing views in an intimate and historic setting.

Night Sky From West Texas -Matt Dieterich

Photographed at the McDonald Observatory -Matt Dieterich

Special Viewing Nights on the 36-inch provide fabulous views in a small group setting. Located a few steps from the Astronomer's Lodge on Mount Locke, the 36-inch Telescope is a staff and visitor favorite. Passes are $100/person.

Public viewing on the Otto Struve 82-inch (2.1m) telescope: The original McDonald telescope is, arguably, one of the largest and finest telescopes in the world through which routine public viewing is allowed. Passes are $150/person.

Go to McDonaldObservatory.org for more info.

Sky Guide for smart phones - Bring the beauty of the stars down to Earth. Hold Sky Guide overhead to automatically identify any star, constellation, planet, or satellite. $1.99 at app store.

Celestron - SkyMaster 25x70 Binocular Large Aperture Binoculars with 70mm Objective Lens - 25x Magnification High Powered Binoculars. $109.95 www.Celestron.com

Orion XT8 Dobsonian Telescope Regarded by many as the best intermediate telescope you can buy. The Orion 8 inch Dobsionian is a telescope you can learn from for a lifetime. www.Telescope.com Priced around $450

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME?

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER MATT DIETERICH OFFERS IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS WHERE YOU CAN WORK HANDS ON WITH PROFESSIONAL SHOOTING TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE YOUR CREATIVITY AND COMPOSITIONAL SKILLS!

"FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE CAPTURED PHOTOGRAPHS AROUND THE WORLD AND ACROSS 5 CONTINENTS. I LOVE TEACHING, SO DURING WORKSHOPS YOUR LEARNING AND GROWTH ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES." MORE INFORMATION AND 2022 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE CAN BE FOUND ON HIS WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.MATTDIETERICH.COM

Prime Show Properties

FOR SALETBD Swiss Alp Hall Rd, La Grange - $326,080 16.304 acres located in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Fayette county just off U.S. Highway 77 between La Grange and Schulenburg. The views of the surrounding countryside from this location are outstanding!

JUST PENDED1003 Spring St, Bastrop $399,000 Historic Home on a prize corner lot in Downtown Bastrop - walkable, bikeable, lovable.

Paula Collins Hartland Real Estate Phone 713-594-5295 Paula.Collins@gmail.com

FOR SALE- 143 Deep Woods, Cedar Creek $129,000 1.7 Acres Deep woods indeed. All kinds of trees. All kinds of green. All kinds of possibilities.

Kerry Fossler Keller Williams Phone 713-882-7218 KFossler@KW.com

JUST SOLD-Buyer Rep. 108 Asa Walker, Bastrop Large and like new, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. This David Weekly home is on an extra large lot.

List Price $495,000 Kerry Fossler Keller Williams Phone 713-882-7218 KFossler@KW.com

Karen Derr Karen Derr Realtors Phone 512-720-8290 Karen@KarenDerr.com

JUST PENDED121 Lumberjack Ln, Bastrop $510,000 This tidy home is so comfortable and charming.

No carpet!

5.5 acres is like a park with lots of mature trees for shade.

Jonathan Ryan Karen Derr Realtors Phone 512-701-3642 KarenDerrRealtors@gmail.com

JUST SOLD9007 FM 153, Winchester $575,00 Own a piece of Texas History! This charming historic building was originally built as the Winchester school in the 1930s. Beloved by local families in Winchester Texas.

Paula Collings Hartland Real Estate Phone713-594-5295 Paula.Collins@gmail.com

Brought to you by your local Bastrop REALTORS® For Prime Show Properties Advertising Call 512-701-3642.

BastropMagazine@gmail.com

ONE STOCK RECIPE FOR ALL YOUR SOUPS THIS WINTER You may have heard your favorite food magazine or celebrity chef reference their go-to master stock.

Essentially a neutral yet highly flavorful soup stock, the master stock can be used in a wide variety of applications and different cuisines. Our recipe with smoked ham hock and oven-roasted turkey wings is full of hardy ingredients which, once simmered for hours, develops deep rich flavors that will get you through the cold winter months. Be sure to make plenty and freeze the stock to have 30 minute soups available anytime.

Ingredients: 2 turkey wings or thighs 1 package of chicken legs or thighs 1 smoked ham hock 1 head of garlic (halved, skin on) 1 large yellow onion (halved, skin on) 3 large carrots washed and quartered 4-5 stocks celery halved (leave tops on) 1 small handful of black peppercorns 1 medium shallot (halved, skin on) 3-4 dry bay leaves Two gallons of water Salt to taste (Remember to keep sodium low so you can adjust for different applications)

MASTER THE MASTER STOCK AND NEVER GO BACK TO STORE BOUGHT BROTH AGAIN Start by roasting your turkey and chicken in a 400-degree oven until brown, it does not need to be fully cooked at this stage. In a large soup pot add a few tablespoons of olive oil and saute the vegetables, careful not to burn, until you achieve some good color on all surfaces. Add the meats, including ham hock and 2 gallons of water. Add peppercorns, bay leaves, and salt at this time. Simmer everything with the lid on over medium heat for approximately 3-5 hours.

If you're reducing too fast add extra water.

Once the soup has been reduced by about half, strain and put into containers for storage or use right away.

The final yield should be about 1 gallon of stock.

Simmer longer for a more concentrated flavor and easier storage, or dilute this batch for more of a lighter, but still excellent stock.

Stock will freeze for up to a year.

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FRENCH ONION 3 lbs of a mixture of yellow and red onions cooked down until caramelized. Deglaze with 1/4 cup of sherry, then add 2 quarts of stock.

Add a sachet of thyme, rosemary, and oregano and simmer for 20 min. Ladle into ramekins, float a slice of baguette and top with grated swiss/fontina cheese. Broil in the oven until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

TURKEY & SAUSAGE GUMBO NEXT LEVEL POTATO SOUP Saute one leek, a few cloves of garlic, and the zest of one lemon in 2 tablespoons of butter.

Add 1 quart of stock, cubed potatoes and cook until soft, add half a cup of cream, finish with fresh lemon juice and serve in a warm bowl. Top with grated cheese & diced cooked bacon

VIETNAMESE PHO Saute 1 inch of sliced ginger and 3-4 cloves garlic in a neutral oil until fragrant. Add 1 quart master stock, 2 star anise, 1/2 lb thinly sliced beef brisket, rice noodles, basil, cilantro, fresh sliced serrano/jalapeno peppers for garnish.

PASTA FAGIOLI Saute ground beef with Italian seasonings, dried fennel seed, diced onion, celery, diced carrot, garlic, and some tomato paste until beef browns and fond forms on the bottom of your pot, add 2 quarts of stock, and a can of diced tomatoes to deglaze, add a can of white beans. bring to a boil and add 1 cup of macaroni noodles. cook until noodles are tender.

Add 3 tablespoons each of flour and butter into a dutch oven and cook over medium-low heat until roux is desired color. While the roux is hot add diced onion, celery, green bell pepper, garlic and saute until soft and fragrant. Add stock and bring to a boil. Add smoked turkey meat and andouille sausage.

Serve over rice.

B T & C

R e n e

R E C O M M E N D S

I b a r r a ,

D i r e c t o r

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ROOTED IN THE BLUES At a 2021 performance by Gene "Birdlegg" Pittman at the Fat Cat Lounge in Smithville, the Austin-based bluesman mentioned it was the first time he'd played Smithville. He gave guests a lively evening of blues harmonica but he was definitely late to the party. Smithville has a long history with jazz and the blues, as witnessed for over a hundred years by the West End Park at 242 Highway 95 on the south side of town. Unassuming in appearance, it's one of only three remaining venues that were sited on the historic "Chitlin Circuit" in Texas. West End Park is hallowed ground to many, including composer and jazz trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe. According to the Smithville Heritage Society, Lokumbe played there during its last days and remembers growing up one block away. Read more about jazz great Mr. Lokumbe at www.HannibalLokumbe.com.

"B.B. KING, LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS, HANNIBAL LOKUMBE, T-BONE WALKER, JOE TEX, ETTA JAMES..."

...and The Grey Ghost Born in Bastrop in 1903, Roosevelt Thomas Williams started studying and playing piano as a teen and continued to perform into his nineties. In an Austin Chronicle article, he explained why he was nicknamed Grey Ghost: "I liked riding the freights... I'd rather ride the freight cars than the passenger trains. It wasn't hard to get around if you knew the schedules. I'd hop a freight to Smithville to do a job. I'd wear my overalls over my stage clothes, and then take 'em off and stash 'em in the bushes. People would be down at the train depot or the bus station to meet me, but they wouldn't find me. I'd just appear at the gig. Then I'd slip away afterwards to catch a freight. People would ask me `Man, where'd you come from? We never see you arrive and we never see you leave.' And I'd say, `I'm just like a ghost. I come up out of the ground and then I go back in it.'"

Often described as a barrelhouse piano player, he actually incorporated many styles and was known for his improvisation. All existing recordings of Grey Ghost were recorded in the field and can be heard on Youtube.com.

Austin Chronicle readers voted Grey Ghost into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 1988.

The West End Park Club is currently home to Daisy's which is a dance club open Thursday through Sunday evenings.

Page 27

VETERANS' DAY 2022

HEROES AND HOT RODS BASTROPAREACRUISERS.COM

CRUISING

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Do one of these fine rides seen around Bastrop County belong to you?

Claim your cruiser and we'll give you a $10 gift card to Coffee Dog or Smithville General Store & Coffee.

Just text to 512-720-8290 or email BastropMagazine@gmail.com and tell us you saw it in Bastrop Town & Country Magazine!

1 per car please.

Jan/Feb Home "To Do"

Have your water heater drained, and serviced. Consider insulating jackets.

Have your chimney and fireplace professionally serviced.

Clean leaves from gutters and make sure they are secured.

In case we have power outages, have your emergency survival kit in order.

Blankets, candles, flashlights, portable phone chargers and nonperishable foods may need replenishing.

Clean your dryer vent and range hood filter to prevent fires.

Time to clean your refrigerator coils for better efficiency.

Have your roof inspected including flashings and fasteners. Satellite dishes are particularly prone to problems.

Remedy the number one item on resale home inspection report ... label your breakers so in case of an outage or tripping, you can easily know where the problem is.

Page 30

Winter is the perfect time for reorganizing and giving unneeded items to charity. Your home will be safer and easier to clean without the added clutter.

Even though we've had a mild winter so far, unexpected extremes can occur at anytime. Make sure your home is ready.

This home maintenance reminder is brought to you by Lori Tuggle Agency. www.lorituggleagency.com Your home is your largest investment. Make sure it's protected year round.

Not intended for solicitation of properites currently listed.