Big Book AA: Peace Lutheran Church, door 5, New London, 6 p.m.
Monday Hand & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, noon
Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.
Parkinson’s Disease support group: CCM Health Wellness Center, Montevideo, 3:30 p.m., 320-3218240
TOPS: Assembly of God Church Encore, 3821 Abbott Drive, 6:15 p.m., 320-796-2280
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.
Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Bingo: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.
Caregivers Support Group: Bethesda North Pointe, New London, 2:30 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Country Quilters: Willmar Community Center, 7 p.m.
Wednesday Coffee and conversation: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Hand, Knee & Foot Cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
Mahjong: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9:30 a.m.
Walking club: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
Group Respite: Faith Lutheran Church, Spicer, 10 a.m. Contact 866-787-9802 to register.
Rotary: The Oaks, noon
Cribbage corner cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Whist: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
Willmar Area Senior Citizens Club: Willmar Community Center, 2 p.m. entertainment by Gig Noonan, 3 p.m. meeting.
Women’s A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 6:45 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Thursday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Mexican Train: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 9 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Atwater Community Center, 9:45 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Willmar Community Center, 10:15 a.m.
SAIL exercise: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 10:15 a.m.
Hand & Foot Cards: Willmar Community Center, 12:30 p.m.
500 cards: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, noon
LSS Caregiver: Willmar Community Center, 2 p.m.
Dementia Support Group: Bethesda North Pointe, New London, 2:30 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Friday
Alanon: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 11 a.m.
Whist: Dethlefs Community Center, Spicer, 1 p.m.
Senior Dance: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4 p.m., $3 non-dancers, $8 dancers, both includes lunch; music by Leroy and Jerry.
Farkle Fridays: Willmar Community Center, 1 to 4 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 2 p.m.
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
Recovery Church: 516 4th Ave SW, New London, 7 p.m. Child care provided.
Saturday
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 10 a.m.
Multiple Myeloma support group: Willmar Fire Department training room, 10 a.m. to noon
A.A.: 1805 E. Hwy. 12, 7 p.m.
This calendar will run each week in the Sunday Reminder and as space permits in the West Central Tribune e-edition, Monday through Saturday. To have your event included please email news@wctrib.com or mail it to Kit Grode, West Central Tribune, PO Box 839, Willmar, MN 56201. Include all information and the name and phone number of the person submitting it. You will be called to confirm the information.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2025
Batch cooking ground beef —
BY PATTI DIAMOND
Imagine spending just a few minutes preparing ground beef, stepping away, then returning to find perfectly cooked, flavorful meat ready to use. Batch-cooking hamburger in a slow cooker saves time, money and sanity, giving you tender, readyto-season beef without hours in the kitchen.
Skeptical? You’re not alone. You might wonder, “It won’t be browned — will it taste good?” Trust me, you’re in for a tasty surprise! The beef emerges juicy and fully cooked. If browning matters, simply crisp it quickly in a skillet before using. But honestly, once mixed into soups or casseroles, no one can tell — it just tastes great and saves so much time. Try it once, and you’ll wonder why you waited so long!
SLOW COOKER BATCH-COOKED GROUND BEEF
excess fat and liquid. Break meat into crumbles.
Cool before portioning into airtight containers or freezer bags. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Now that you’ve got all this delicious, precooked beef, you might be wondering — what tasty meals can I create with it? Here are some easy, crowd-pleasing recipes to get you started.
2 cups cooked ground beef 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning Salt and pepper, to taste 1 jar (24 ounce) marinara sauce
Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
drained and rinsed 1 cup salsa 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste Sour cream and chopped cilantro, for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, rice, black beans, salsa, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and chopped cilantro.
Place ground beef in slow cooker, breaking into chunks. Pour broth or water over meat, sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper and seasonings. You can adjust the seasoning later when using the beef in specific recipes to suit your taste preferences.
Cover; cook on high 2 1/2 to 3 hours or on low 4 to 5 hours. Once cooked through, carefully drain
Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onion for 3 minutes, add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Saute mushrooms with the onion mixture. Add cooked ground beef to the skillet; heat through. Season with salt and pepper and Italian seasoning. Pour in marinara sauce; stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Toss the cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.
MEXICAN BEEF AND RICE
CASSEROLE
Yield: 4 servings
Total Time: 25 minutes
2 cups cooked ground beef
3 cups cooked rice
1 can (15 ounce) black beans,
What else can you make? Use precooked beef in tacos, sloppy Joes, chili, pizza toppings, quesadillas or hearty salads. Quick meals just became effortless! Enjoy your extra free time. Until next time — keep it fabulous, keep it frugal and savor every bite.
of miniature marshmallows. Blend with a spoon. Let set a couple minutes before starting to shape into balls. Makes about 10 balls, depending on size preference. Very, very good! Pour over three quarts of popped popcorn. 2
SALTED PRETZEL CHURCH WINDOW COOKIES
40
1
5
1 1/2 Cups pretzels,
Coarsely chop 1 1/2 cups nuts. Finely chop remaining 3/4 cup nuts. Melt butter in a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl set over simmering water, stirring occasionally. Add semisweet and dark chocolate chips. Heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Remove from heat; let cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, put 2 (15x18-inch) pieces of parchment paper on a work surface. Add marshmallows and coarsely chopped nuts to chocolate mixture; stir gently to coat. Spoon half of chocolate mixture onto center of each piece of parchment paper.
Using the parchment or a silicone spatula, shape each portion into a 12-inch-long log. Wrap logs tightly in parchment; chill until surface of chocolate is slightly firm and pulls away from parchment (center will still be soft), 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine finely chopped nuts and pretzels in a small bowl. Put 2 more 15x18-inch pieces of parchment paper on work surface. Sprinkle each with half of pretzel mixture. Carefully transfer chilled logs (they will still be soft) to the parchment with pretzel mixture; roll, gently pressing to coat all sides. Wrap logs tightly in parchment paper; chill until firm, at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Cut each log into 1/2-inch-thick slices, trimming off uneven ends as needed. (To store, layer between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container and chill up to 3 weeks.)
Delicious pasta sauce comes together quickly with batch-cooked beef.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Professional relationships grow stronger, but you still might need to ease some problems with someone in your personal life. One way could be to try to be less rigid in your views.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might be too close to a perplexing personal situation to even attempt to make a rational decision about it right now. Stepping back could help you gain a wider perspective.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Being asked to choose between the positions of two friends is an unfair imposition on you. It’s best to reject the demand and insist that they try harder to work things out on their own.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A change of mind about a workplace decision might be called for, once you hear more arguments -- pro and con. A personal event suddenly takes an unexpected (but pleasant!) turn.
LEO (July 23 to August 22)
Romance once again looms large for single Leos and Leonas, with Cupid favoring Taurus and Libra to inspire those warm and fuzzy Leonine feelings.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A surprise gift with no strings attached could happily come just when you need it to avoid a delay in getting your project done. Expect education to dominate the week.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Someone close to you might ask for your support as they face a demanding personal challenge. Offer it, by all means, but be careful that you don’t neglect your own needs at this time.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An unexpected development could put your relationship with a partner or spouse to an emotionally demanding test.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A recent agreement appears to be coming apart over the surfacing of unexpected complications. You might need to get expert advice on how to resolve the situation.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your keen business sense helps you get to the truth about a suspicious business deal. Expect to have many colleagues rally to support your efforts in this important matter.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Someone who once moved in and out of your life through the years might now want to come back in on a more permanent basis.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Showing frustration over a delayed workplace decision might get someone’s attention -- but not necessarily make them move any sooner.
HOLLYWOOD -- Hollywood is still shocked by this year’s Oscars “In Memoriam” omissions. Excluding international star Alain Delon is inexcusable. He starred in “Purple Noon” (1960); “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960); and “The Leopard” (1963), co-starring Oscar winner Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale. Alain also starred in “The Yellow Rolls-Royce” (1964), with Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine, George C. Scott and Art Carney. In 1965 in New York, I met Alain, who was enroute to Hollywood to make “Once a Thief,” with Ann-Margret and Oscar winners Van Heflin and Jack Palance. His 1970 classic “Borsalino,” with Jean-Paul Belmondo, was voted one of the Top 20 greatest gangster movies of all time. He
passed away on Aug. 18, 2024, at 88 years old.
*** Another omission was Mitzi Gaynor, who starred opposite Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O’Connor and Marilyn Monroe in “There’s No Business Like Show Business” (1954). She starred alongside Oscar winner Bing Crosby in “Anything Goes” (1956), as well as Oscar winner Frank Sinatra in “The Joker Is Wild” (1957). In 1957, Mitzi starred in “Les Girls,” opposite Gene Kelly, as well as the 1958 classic “South Pacific,” with Rossano Brazzi. I was friends with Mitzi and her husband, Jack Bean, and they were like a newlyweds until the day he died. I sent a dozen roses to her dressing room once at her Riviera Hotel closing in Vegas. The next week, the editor of Photoplay
HOLLYWOOD
Magazine (where I was a columnist at) told me that Mitzi was calling all over town for my address. Sure enough, I received a thank-you
note the next day. Now, that’s class! She left us on Oct. 17, 2024, at 93 years old.
At Jennie-O, we believe that eating well doesn’t have to come at the cost of flavor.
Since 1940, we’ve been in the business of delivering on that message across the globe to more than 40 countries.
At Jennie-O, we believe that eating well doesn’t have to come at the cost of flavor.
At Jennie-O, we believe that eating well doesn’t have to come at the cost of flavor.
Since 1940, we’ve been in the business of delivering on that message across the globe to more than 40 countries.
From whole turkeys to deli meat to sausage and ground turkey, we offer hundreds of recipes and products that make it a snap to eat well
Since 1940, we’ve been in the business of delivering on that message across the globe to more than 40 countries.
At Jennie-O, we believe that eating well doesn’t have to come at the cost of flavor. Since 1940, we’ve been in the business of delivering on that message across the globe to more than 40 countries. From whole turkeys to deli meat to sausage and ground turkey, we offer hundreds of recipes and products that make it a snap to eat well. Our history, mission and ongoing commitment to innovation makes the JENNIE-O® Brand a leading name in turkey products worldwide and the only brand worthy of its title: the Queen of Protein.
From whole turkeys to deli meat to sausage and ground turkey, we offer hundreds of recipes and products that make it a snap to eat well
From whole turkeys to deli meat to sausage and ground turkey, we offer hundreds of recipes and products that make it a snap to eat well
Our history, mission and ongoing commitment to innovation makes the JENNIE-O® Brand a leading name in turkey products worldwide and the only brand worthy of its title: the Queen of Protein.
Our history, mission and ongoing commitment to innovation makes the JENNIE-O® Brand a leading name in turkey products worldwide and the only brand worthy of its title: the Queen of Protein.
Our history, mission and ongoing commitment to innovation makes the JENNIE-O® Brand a leading name in turkey products worldwide and the only brand worthy of its title: the Queen of Protein.
