The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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The Brazilians don't trade many presents during Christmas, preferring to have family/friends gatherings centered around "churrascos," or meat roasted on a spit. Some will offer huge churrascos, like Sr. Joaquim Miranda, one of the old coronels who took possession of thousands of acres of land around Barra do Bugres back in the late 1940's and early 50's. Sr. Joaquim had two churrascos a year – Christmas and Easter. At one of his Easter parties, his help came to him to say that...
Work and pray, live on hay, You'll get a pie in the sky when you die. - Joe Hill (Joseph Hillstrom) The Preacher and the Slave I've written a number of times about the changes in ranching that I've seen. The most dramatic is the sophistication of the mechanics involved in putting up the hay. The introduction of the round and big square balers, plus the swathers changed the summer ritual of haying from 30 – 60 days of frenetic activity by eight men or more to just a few w...
Dear Dietitian, This past weekend, a friend encouraged me to try a meatless burger. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was delicious and tasted like meat! Are these meatless substitutes healthier than meat? Thanks, Josh Dear Josh, When it comes to consumer satisfaction, burgers made with meat substitutes taste like meat, look like meat, and have a similar texture. An increased number of consumers are switching to plant-based diets for many reasons, including...
An important portion of The Corps of Discovery's journey occurred in southwest Montana. On July 19, 1805, Lewis and his men were struggling up the Missouri between present-day Upper and Lower Holter lakes. "from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains." The next day, searching for "the three forks of the Missouri," they entered the first of southwest Montana's big valleys – Helena's Prickly Pear Valley. Arriving at the meeting of t...
Defining a province like Southwest Montana is subjective. For us, an imaginary line commences at Lolo Pass west of Missoula and moves east along Interstate 90 and the Clark Fork River to Garrison Junction. Then it follows Highway 12 over McDonald Pass to Helena. From there, our boundary extends slightly in a southeasterly direction, taking in the Big Belt Mountains before heading to Bozeman and then along the Gallatin Range crest to West Yellowstone. The south and west line of...
As I think back about the way Congress has failed to address some major issues, I cannot help but scratch my head and wonder “What do they think their job is?” I mean we have put up with some of the most unproductive politicians I can remember. We have a large segment trying to legislate with no regard for the Constitution. They want us to become as destitute as Venezuela in fiscal and social integrity. We have some who think fiscal restraint is only spending say 4 per...
Dear Dietitian, I have irritable bowel syndrome and appreciated your column on a high fiber diet to manage IBS. My symptoms are usually pretty well-controlled, thank goodness. I've been reading about the low FODMAP diet, and it seems pretty detailed. Should I try it? Thanks, Katie Dear Katie, The low FODMAP diet was created by a research team at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia as a treatment for irritable bowel disease (IBS) (1). As you know, IBS is an...
God never send'th mouth but he sendeth meat. John Heywood c.1497 - c.1580 Via cell video calling I visited with some friends in Brazil this week. They were at a churrasco (shur-has'-ko), the ubiquitous weekend pastime of American picnics with roasted meat and drinks. They often include rice and beans with the meal, and it's not rare to see boiled mandioca. But it's just the meat, roasted on a spit over an open hardwood fire, that is the mandatory fare. And cold beer - there...
Dear Readers, Soon we will be celebrating one of America's favorite holidays, a day our ancestors set aside to give thanks for a plentiful harvest. It's a time to reconnect with friends and family we haven't seen in a while, with lots of food, fun, and football. Many of us will settle in for a big meal with turkey and dressing, and pumpkin pie. We may eat more than usual, become a bit drowsy, take a nap, wake up and eat some more! There has been an age-old tale that it's the...
Bless me father for I have sinned. My last elk hunt was several years ago. In Montana, elk hunting is akin to religion. You don't have to be a true believer, but a day spent chasing elk, following tracks in the snow, or even sitting in the woods and watching the natural world unfold can be as beautiful as time spent in a cathedral. Why, then, would someone renounce that? Good question. This is not to belittle anyone's beliefs in an afterlife, a Creator or sacred writings. Rath...
A man said to the Universe: "Sir, I exist!" "However," replied the Universe, "the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." (Steven Crane, WAR IS KIND) COW A digestive tract, pierced at both ends. Rarely gives birth or milk. BULL 1,800 pounds of dubious genetic potential. $6,000 of sterility and lameness. CALF 80 pounds of hope when born; 500 pounds of disappointment when sold. DOG, (yours) An intelligent and loyal marvel, worth more than three people when working...
Dear Dietitian, I was recently hospitalized overnight for irritable bowel syndrome. The abdominal pain was treated, then I was released the next morning. I was not given any information on what diet I should follow. Can you help? Julie Dear Julie, A flare-up of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be very painful, but the good news is it can be well-managed with diet and lifestyle changes. IBS is a common intestinal disorder that affects 25-45 million Americans. It requires a...
The best of men That e'er wore earth about him, was a sufferer, A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit, The first true gentleman that ever breathed. Thomas Dekker Growing up in a hunting household gave me a scale to judge how I was doing on my chronological path to adulthood. The scale was composed of regional animals, and the older I got, the bigger the animals I could hunt. I started with magpies when they were pests, then the next year I could hunt gophers on my...
As summer fades to fall many people start worrying about winter. I guess that is a natural thing for us to do. Each season brings about change, new responsibilities, and finding a new rhythm for life. For many people winter and the cold exacerbate physical problems like arthritis, or breathing issues due to the cold air. For some it is weight gain as depression hits and the junk food calls. You may have to get some over-due vehicle maintenance done to ensure there are no probl...
Dear Dietitian, I recently had surgery to correct a small bowel obstruction. I have been following a low fiber diet, but now I've been instructed to transition to a high fiber diet. My question is how much fiber do I need and should I increase it all at once? Betty Dear Betty, For readers who are not familiar, a small bowel obstruction (SBO) is just as it sounds; it's a blockage in the small intestine, and digested food cannot pass into the colon (large intestine). The...
Dear Readers, It is estimated that the common cold is responsible for 150 million missed workdays each year in the United States (1). With cold and flu season fast-approaching, many of us will be headed to the nutrition supplement aisle in an attempt to ward off these nasty viruses. But do these supplements really work? We investigated four of them, and this is what we found: Elderberry- In one small study, elderberry syrup given four times daily was found to improve symptoms...
"Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed" - Alexander Pope. It was during the mid 1960's. I was 17 or 18, and Dan, my hunting partner, was a couple years younger. There weren't many elk in those days. I had killed one or two, but Dan had never gotten lucky. He was getting desperate. The way we hunted when elk were scarce was to pick up a fresh track in the snow, then follow it out until we caught up with the elk. Sometimes we killed the elk,...
I must say that I have really enjoyed the World Series so far this year. Of course, I am rooting for the Houston Astros and by now they may well be the champions. If not, they and the Washington Nationals are playing tonight in game 7. Either way it will be some fantastic baseball, many will be ecstatic, and many will be disappointed. Of course, we are sitting here with low temperatures and lots of snow starting to pile up; not exactly baseball weather is it? Again, many will...
Dear Readers: Have you ever endured the unpleasant experience of someone criticizing or ridiculing your food choices? One day at lunch, the dietitians were enjoying a party and dining on cheesy foods and rich desserts. A coworker passed by and commented, "Maybe you all should take your name tags off so no one knows that you all are dietitians." She thought it was funny; I didn't. It was actually a reader who brought this idea for a column to my attention. After much thought,...
I had been in Barra do Bugres, Mato Grosso for six months when they had to kill Pedrão. He was one of the four professional assassins, or pistoleiros I got to know during my six years in Brazil. I was never formally introduced to Pedrão, but saw him often in our small town. Over the years, I got to know three other shooters. They were all soft-spoken gentlemen, but Pedrão was different. He drank and could be a bully. He was always armed, as were a lot of people during th...
Dear Dietitian, I have a friend who drinks raw, unpasteurized milk. She claims it has many health benefits, and that pasteurization of milk is unnecessary. What do you think? Jim Dear Jim, The consumption of raw milk has gained popularity in recent years, and many people believe it is a healthier alternative to pasteurized milk. Let's take a look at what science says. Most of us are familiar with the term pasteurization, which is the process of heating food products like...
In September 1887, the railroad arrived at Fort Benton, signaling the end of the era of river trade, and it seemed the town would die. But a Canadian trade boom opened, resulting in the establishment of the 240-mile-long Whoop Up Trail pointing north to Fort Macleod, Alberta. Although plenty of legitimate commerce was carried out, the trail became known for the illegal whiskey transported on this dangerous and adventure-filled route. Fort Benton is one of the most fascinating...
I watch a lot of baseball during the season, which runs from April to the end of November. I enjoy the other televised sports, but with the disinterest of a cat looking out a window; they're just figures moving around behind a pane of glass. But I take baseball seriously. As chess is to board games and bridge is to cards, baseball is the most sophisticated version of field sports. The other major sports are quite simplistic and unsophisticated, and in almost all of the other s...
Dear Dietitian, Please settle an argument between my wife and me. Our eleven-year-old son is about twenty pounds overweight. My wife, who has been thin all her life, wants to put him on a diet to get him on the right track. I am against the idea of a diet. What do you think? Concerned Dad Dear Dad, While your son may be overweight, it is wise to approach this problem with a lasting solution instead of a weight loss diet. For the main reason, a diet is likely to begin a yo-yo...
Dear Dietitian, My thirteen-year-old daughter started a new healthy eating program about six months ago. She seems obsessed with healthy eating and sometimes refuses to eat when she stays over at a friend's house. I am concerned about her behavior. Is this something serious or will she grow out of it? Sheila Dear Sheila, The desire to eat right is a healthy, but too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. New light is being shed on an obsessive pattern of eating known...
