MVEC - Magic Valley Electric Cooperative

jan 14 local covers custom 12/11/13 6:00 PM Page 4
MAGIC VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION
Fence-Cutters War
The Texas Giants
JANUARY 2014
Mushroom Recipes
STUFF of
LEGENDS
The best kolach? Why, it’s
at every stop along the trail
trail.
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BY JEFF SIEGEL
At every Czech bakery along
the way, esteemed pastry
leads to conversations
filled with heritage and
pride—and apricot
and cream cheese
Eating only one takes some willpower,
but if you do, you’ve eaten a kolach.
That is the proper singular noun.
Kolache is the plural word, though
most people call them kolaches.
The
KT
olach
The billboard rises above State
Highway 71 outside of Ellinger, reminding drivers they can stop at Weikel’s Bakery, some 10 minutes farther west in La
Grange, to buy kolache. The billboard is
little different from thousands of others
advertising roadside stops in Texas, save
for one thing. The Weikel’s billboard
almost towers over Hruska’s Store &
Bakery on Highway 71. Hruska’s sells
kolache, too, that are equally as famous
as Weikel’s.
Think barbecue is taken seriously in
Texas? Wait until you hear about
kolache.
8
Texas Co-op Power January 2014
“Kolache is a symbol,” says Denise
Mazel, a Czech native and chef who
owns the Little Gretel restaurant in
Boerne. “Kolache is a small pastry, but to
every Czech, it represents family. So
everyone is going to say their kolache is
the best and their recipe is the best.”
Kolache, plural for the Czech word
kolach, are one part sweet roll and one
part tradition, and have been a Central
Texas staple since Czech-speaking immigrants brought them with them in the
19th century. They might not be as
famous statewide as barbecue or chili, but
partisans are just as loyal, just as opinion-
rail
ated and just as ferocious in their sympathies. Want to start an argument in Hallettsville, home to the annual Kolache
Fest each fall? Say something nice about
kolache from West or Ellinger or La
Grange or Wharton.
Call it a kolache state of mind.
“You can travel across the United
States, and at every exit you’ll see
McDonald’s and Jack in the Box and
Taco Bell,” says Imran Meer, who owns
the Kolache Depot in Ennis, about 40
minutes south of Dallas. “Even in Ennis,
a small town, we have five Subways. But
you don’t find kolache on every corner.
TexasCoopPower.com
That’s what makes it unique, and that it’s
unique is why it’s still popular, even after
all these years.”
A Long Tradition
Anyone who has driven Interstate 35 more
than once knows about West, 15 minutes
north of Waco and home to three kolache
bakeries—impressive for a town of just
2,800 people. But kolache are about more
than geography; there are kolache bakeries as far east as Corpus Christi and as
far west as Lubbock, and even in the four
big cities—anywhere, apparently, where
someone has a recipe, often handed down
from the old country, and the wherewithal
to use it. Still, if there is a focal point for
Texas kolache, based on the concentration
of bakeries and Czech communities, it’s
probably the area between Austin and
Houston that includes Hallettsville,
Ellinger, La Grange and Wharton. Yet residents around Caldwell, near College Station and home to a kolach festival of its
own, almost certainly will take issue with
that in the finest kolache tradition.
“We eat a lot of kolache here,” says
Sharee Rainosek of the Hallettsville
Chamber of Commerce, who oversees
the 19-year-old kolach festival and the
chamber’s kolache sales (about 500
dozen a year), kolache queen pageant,
kolache-eating contest and, for the last
two years, the baking of a 6-foot-long
kolach. “This is an area with a long history of Czech and German immigrants,
and that means we have a long history of
kolache.”
The pastry can trace its Texas roots to
Czechs who settled in Central Texas
before and after the Civil War. By the
beginning of the 20th century, there
were 250 Czech communities in the state,
according to the “Texas Almanac.” Traditionally, kolache were made at home,
with bakery-made pastries unheard of
(still true in the Czech Republic). They
were made with a sweet yeast dough, hollowed in the center, filled with fruit and
eaten as an afternoon snack. Fillings were
simple—apricots, poppy seeds, prunes
and cherries, all available locally in Eastern Europe. Kolache were similar to
other Eastern European pastries such as
the Polish piernik and a Ukrainian sweet
where filling was placed inside rolled
dough.
A century later, much has changed,
except for the basic recipe. Finding
TexasCoopPower.com
Twin sisters Jude’ Routh, left, and Jody Powers are especially proud of the kolache they serve at Zamykal Gourmet
Kolaches in Calvert. Routh holds up a peach kolach, a variety named grand champion at Westfest in 2010.
homemade kolache is becoming more
and more difficult, says Rainosek,
thanks to the usual 21st century reasons—more women in the workplace, an
emphasis on convenience foods and
generations further removed from the
idea that kolache should be homemade.
Fillings have become almost exotic—
pecan pie and chocolate coconut cream
among the 30 varieties at Zamykal Gourmet Kolaches in Calvert, for example.
The modern bakery, whether the traditional Village Bakery in West, with its
lace decor and its claim to be the oldest
Czech bakery in the state, or the truck
stop-like Hruska’s and Weikel’s, is now
where most people, Czech heritage or
not, get their kolache.
Always Evolving
This is part of what Jamie Allnutt, the
marketing manager at the Village Bakery, calls the kolach’s resurgence in popularity. It’s not so much that the pastry
ever went out of favor; rather, she says,
“people are going back to their roots, and
they want to experience other people’s
ethnic roots. It makes them happy when
they do that, and they can do that with
kolache.”
She divides the postmodern kolache
world into three parts:
• Gourmet, where bakeries focus on
nontraditional fillings and attempt to
update the pastry for the 21st century.
Kolache, in fact, have been embraced by
the artisan food movement, and trendy
takes on kolache are popular in Austin
and Houston.
• Bigger is better, where bakeries focus
on size.
• Tried and true, where bakers make
traditional kolache as they were made in
the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Which brings up the question that
everyone has an answer for, and which is
different for everyone who has an
answer: What are the best kolache?
The question can’t be answered
because, as Jude’ Routh, who owns
Zamykal with twin sister Jody Powers,
notes, “The thing about kolach recipes is
January 2014 Texas Co-op Power
9
FORT WORTH
DALLAS
20
20
Kolache Depot Bakery
ENNIS
The
K olach Trail
Village Bakery
WEST
LOCATIONS MENTIONED IN
OUR STORY
WACO
77
Zamykal Gourmet Kolaches
CALVERT
45
35
AUSTIN
10
69
6
290
36
71
Weikel’s Bakery
LA GRANGE
Little Gretel
BOERNE
10
Kolache Fest
HALLETTSVILLE
SAN ANTONIO
s
59
Kolache Festival
CALDWELL
79
HOUSTON
Hruska’s
ELLINGER
71
59
37
Junior’s Smokehouse
WHARTON
77
NORTH
that every family recipe is different, like
every family has a different recipe for
meatloaf.”
Each region—no, each bakery—has
its partisans, and none of the others
measure up, in the same way that two
people will argue about whether
mesquite and direct heat barbecue is
better than pecan and indirect heat barbecue as long as either can take a breath.
One bakery’s dough is too soft or too
yeasty while another’s fillings are too
sweet or too fruity. Or it may come down
to the kolach not being round enough,
because shape matters. Besides, is that
The Halko family from Georgetown—mom Celeste,
dad David and sons Christopher, left, and Ryan—
eyeball their options at Village Bakery in West.
Ruby Kotch is ready to serve their selections.
10
Texas Co-op Power January 2014
TexasCoopPower.com
other recipe really that authentic? And
none of this takes into account the
sausage-filled kolach, which isn’t really
a kolach at all and often brings on
another round of argument (see sidebar
below).
And don’t even bring up kolache sold
at chain doughnut shops.
The irony is that many of the kolache
in Texas have one important thing in
common—most of the recipes are
authentic, handed down from generation
to generation. Routh talks about the
family recipe that took three years to
perfect. Teresa Jones, who owns
Hruska’s, talks about her bakery’s passion for what she calls its original style of
kolache. Kalan Besetsny, whose family
owns five Besetsny’s Kountry Bakeries in
Central Texas, credits his grandmother’s
recipe for the business’ success. James
Dornak, who bakes kolache at Junior’s
Smokehouse in Wharton, uses a recipe
from his family, Czech on both sides.
The other irony? Many bakeries,
even those that offer exotic fillings,
report that their best-selling kolache are
the most traditional—apricot, poppy
seed and cream cheese.
Regardless of style or niche, everyone
sells lots and lots of kolache. Some sell so
many that, in the finest competitive tradition, they don’t want to talk about how
many. Zamykal, though, which is located
in a town with one stoplight on the way
to towns not much bigger, will sell as
many as 300 a day. At its Hallettsville
location, Besetsny’s will sell some 8,000
a week, and Junior’s Smokehouse sells a
couple thousand each week.
This, ultimately, is why kolache have
Mike Sulak, left, and Bill Klaus chat with Mimi Montgomery Irwin, owner of the Village Bakery, which claims to be the oldest Czech bakery in Texas. Her parents, Wendel and Georgia
Montgomery, opened the business in West in 1952.
endured and evolved over the past 160
years.
“It’s about our German and Czech
heritage,” says Besetsny. “It’s still out
there, and here in the country; it’s still in
the blood. People remember their grandmother making kolache, and they want
to relive that. They want to remember
what that was like.”
Which is a fine thing for any pastry to
be ableto do—even if no one agrees what
it’s supposed to taste like.
Jeff Siegel is a Dallas writer.
Web Extra on TexasCoopPower.com
Watch the sisters at Zamykal serve their
kolache with a smile—and sometimes with
a song. Check out their ditties online.
A Kolach By Any Other Name
Arguments flare over what is and isn’t a kolach
Starting an argument among Texas kolach aficionados is easy, but what really gets people
worked up is when someone calls the sausagefilled pastry sold in Czech bakeries a kolach.
It isn’t a kolach and never has been. The classic Czech recipe is for a pastry with a fruit-filled
center, and no one in Prague would recognize
the so-called sausage kolach from a milkshake.
It’s a Texas invention called a klobasnek—plural
klobasniky—which is Czech for little sausages.
The Village Bakery in West takes credit for it, but
others would no doubt disagree.
But that’s only the beginning of the contro-
TexasCoopPower.com
versy. How you fill klobasniky is another story. Is
it OK to use a hotdog-style sausage, or should it
be smoked sausage? Or even ground sausage?
Is it OK to add cheese? If so, what kind of
cheese? Talking about this with James Dornak,
who bakes kolache at Junior’s Smokehouse in
Wharton, seemed to make his head hurt.
Regardless, klobasnek is an amazingly popular product, no matter how it’s made. Besetsny’s Kountry Bakery sells 5,000 a week,
sausage, cheese and all, at its Hallettsville
location.
Jeff Siegel
We’ll end our feature the way we started, with a little
lesson. Kolache are traditionally baked with fillings
such as fruit, poppy seed or cream cheese. When bakers put meat or sausage in the dough, they have made
a klobasnek—plural klobasniky.
January 2014 Texas Co-op Power
11
Magic Valley
Electric Cooperative
MVEC Journal
Keeping a Secure Electric Grid
P.O. Box 267
1 3/4 Mi. W. Hwy 83
Mercedes, TX 78570
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
Several months ago, a piece of speculative fiction was shown on
cable television depicting events that could happen should an
electricity grid failure cause a national blackout.
JOHN W. HERRERA
In the yarn spun by the show’s writers, a cyberattack causes a lengthy national grid
failure, and life without electricity is difficult, as you can imagine.
The program’s theoretical plot is, of course, a worst-case scenario with far-reaching
consequences that we don’t want to experience in real life. This is why electric
cooperatives have worked diligently with the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation and federal agencies over the past several years to strengthen reliability
and cybersecurity standards for the nation’s bulk power infrastructure system, known
collectively as the grid.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is working with its member
cooperatives, including Magic Valley, to help ensure that co-ops comply with NERC
reliability and cybersecurity standards. Cooperatives are also working on the cutting
edge of research into cybersecurity.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded $3.6 million to the NRECA’s
Cooperative Research Network to develop cybersecurity management tools for small
utilities. NRECA and Honeywell Corp. plan to provide additional funding for a total of
$4.7 million.
NRECA will collaborate with researchers to create a simple, automated network
device that will enable small utilities, such as cooperatives, to manage system security
more reliably and cost-effectively, according to Craig Miller, chief scientist at NRECA.
“The system will simplify cybersecurity management for small utilities with limited IT
resources,” Miller said, adding that improved security for small systems supplements
the security of larger utilities.
No one can guarantee that a large-scale blackout caused by cyberterrorists can’t
happen. Even small electric cooperatives are part of a national effort to protect the
reliability and security of our power grid.
Respectfully,
G EN ERA L MANAGER
John W. Herrera
BOA RD O F DIR ECTOR S
Dr. Martin E. Garcia,
President
Reynaldo L. Lopez,
Vice President
Barbara S. Miller,
Secretary-Treasurer
M.G. Dyer,
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
Doug Martin,
Board Member
Rolando Alaniz,
Board Member
Nila T. Wipf,
Board Member
Payment Options
• Online bill payment
• Average payment plan
• Bank draft
• Visa, Discover and
Master Card accepted
• Numerous local paystations
District Offices
2910 W. Monte Cristo Road
Edinburg, 78541
1825 N. Indiana Road
Brownsville, 78521
1311 S. Cage Blvd
Pharr, 78577
CONTACT US
For outages and all customer
service inquiries
John W. Herrera
General Manager
magicvalley.coop
Texas_Coop_pages_JanV1.indd 19
CALL US
1-866-225-5683 toll-free
FIND US ON THE WEB
magicvalley.coop
FOLLOW US ON
January 2014 MAGIC VALLEY EC Texas Co-op Power
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MVEC Journal
AACT 2013 Post-Election Report
The Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas is proud to announce that the overall electorate in Hidalgo County increased
by 4 ½ times during the November 2013 Constitutional Election as compared to the 2011 election and more than
doubled when compared to the 2009 election. During Early Voting, 12,391 people made their voice heard by casting
their votes; and on Election Day, an additional 6,439 people exercised their right to vote. According to the Hidalgo
County Elections Department, a total of 18,830 residents of Hidalgo County casted their vote out of the 305,269
registered to vote, yielding a 6.17% voter turnout.
Hidalgo County Voter Turnout
20000
15000
AACT Voters
Early Vote
Overall
10000
COMMUNITY
5000
General Election 2009
General Election 2011
18830
12391
4832
4241
2205
8159
2760
0
General Election 2013
AACT affiliated partners in the 2013 Constitutional Election alone turned out to vote at a higher percentage
than the overall County percentage turnout in 2011 and was about half the number that participated in
2009.
AACT’s year round efforts are a commitment to the communities of South Texas. The collaborations it has built
with community organizations have begun to create meaningful civic participation. In this past election, more
than a quarter of the voters that participated pertain to organizations that AACT has directly been involved in to
promote voter awareness and build an understanding of the relationship between voting and the issues that directly
affect citizens’ daily lives.
The Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization established to
educate, engage, and empower the community on
the importance of voting. It is our hope that our
communities will continue to increase voter turnout
so we can secure the attention of National and State
leaders and improve the quality of life in South Texas.
AACT would like to thank all of its partners, the
voters, the local election departments, and anyone
and everyone that worked on the "Get Out The Vote"
campaign.
General Public 74%
AACT Voters 26%
For more information regarding AACT, please call
956.664.2228 or visit www.aactnow.org.
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MVEC Journal
Advancing the common good
What is United Way?
United Way is more than “another charity” and more than a fundraising drive. It is our
community’s volunteer network helping to fund critical human service needs in Hidalgo &
Starr Counties. United Way mobilizes a cross-section of volunteers and agencies, to help
people needing assistance with today’s challenges. It raises funds for many agencies which are
providing a broad spectrum of health & human services.
Learn How United Way Created Results by investing in Education, Income, & Health
“In Style” Shopping Spree
Transportation Vouchers
Education Council
120 Middle School students from 18
local districts participate in an annual
shopping event. Each student receives
$150 for school attire. School supplies
and haircuts are also provided. Over
175 Volunteer Shopping Buddies assist
the children in making their selections.
Youth return to school with improved
self-esteem and are prepared to focus
on learning.
Free bus vouchers are distributed
through 40 non-profit agencies, school
districts, health providers and other
groups. Approximately 15,000 vouchers
are used by clients with transportation
needs for medical appointments,
prescription pick-up, job interviews/
training, and emergency transportation
to work.
Projects are developed to help add
value to existing programs that address
drop-out recovery efforts. Volunteers
join school personnel on home-visits,
to encourage students to graduate. Net
books are allocated to some districts,
which are checked-out to complete
homework assignments. Financial grants
address students’ emerging needs.
Familywize
United Way partners with Familywize, an
agency that offers discount prescription
cards. United Way distributes the cards,
which may be used at participating
pharmacies. Families in our area have
saved approximately $515,483.
V.I.T.A.
Day of Caring
3,000 Freshmen receive school supplies.
We mobilize hundreds of volunteers
to assist in improving the learning
environment for disadvantaged children,
by providing basic school supplies.
(Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
Volunteers are I.R.S. trained and certified
to offer free income tax preparation
for families who earn $51,000 or less.
1,802 families received the service. Their
returns were $3,792,819, which will be
reinvested in our community.
FREE TAX PREPARATION &
ELECTRONIC FILING
Free Income Tax Assistance
and Preparation in Hidalgo
and Starr Counties for families
earning $51,000 or less.
Earn it! Keep it! Save it!
www.unitedwayofsotx.org or call “211”
A collaborative effort led by:
United Way of South Texas • United Way of Northern Cameron County • United Way of Southern Cameron County
magicvalley.coop
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January 2014 MAGIC VALLEY EC Texas Co-op Power
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MVEC Journal
Moving?
Ask an Energy Expert
Abraham Quiroga, Energy Advisor
Plan to manage higher energy bills in a larger home.
So you’re moving from an apartment into your first new home: Congratulations. Now brace yourself for
higher energy bills.
Houses typically are larger than apartments, so your bill for lighting, appliance use and heating and air
conditioning is bound to be higher.
The good news: You can do a lot to lower your home’s energy costs.
For starters:
Ask your real-estate agent to provide you with a tally of the home’s utility bills for the last 12 months. This will give you a
realistic idea of how much you’ll have to pay and give you a baseline.
ENERGY SAVING TIP
Have a qualified HVAC technician or electrician install a programmable thermostat in your new home. The device will
automatically lower the temperature a little bit on winter days after everyone leaves for school and work—and ease it back up
before the family gets home. (And, of course, it works the opposite in summer.)
As you make initial renovations and decorating changes that will turn a house into your home sweet home, inspect the attic
insulation. Reattach insulation that has fallen away from the attic ceiling or floor (it should touch, not droop) or replace
missing or worn insulation.
If you have to buy a washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator or HVAC system shortly after you move in,
choose a model with the Energy Star label.
Energy Efficiency Tips
LEDs: A DECADE OF CHANGE
By 2014, lightbulbs using between 40 watts and 100
watts must consume at least 28 percent less energy
than traditional incandescents, saving Americans an
estimated $6 billion to $10 billion in lighting costs
annually. The federal Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 also mandated that lightbulbs
become 70 percent more efficient by 2020. Lightemitting diodes, LEDs, are quickly evolving to meet
this challenge. Learn more at energysavers.gov/
lighting.
December 2013
Residential Rate Comparison
$130.00
$110.00
$90.00
$70.00
$73
$76
$77
$84
$94
Reliant
TXU Energy
$94
$100
$104
MVEC
YEP
$105
$106
$50.00
$30.00
$10.00
Gexa
Green
Amigo Energy Mountain
Enery
Brownsville
PUB
Ambit
CPL Retail
Energy
Source: powertochoose.org and brownsville-pub.com
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MVEC Journal
Red Pepper
Soup
WHAT YOU NEED:
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 large red bell peppers, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
2 shallots, sliced
1 quart chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash ground red pepper
RECIPES
Source image: OCKRA | THINKSTOCK
INSTRUCTIONS:
Melt butter with oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell peppers,
carrots and shallots and sauté 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in
chicken broth and spices. Bring to boil and cover.
Reduce heat to low and simmer 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and
allow to cool 20 minutes. Process soup in batches in food processor until
smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Return to Dutch oven and keep
warm until ready to serve.
Happy
NewYear
FROM MAGIC VALLEY
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
The directors and employees
of Magic Valley hope that 2014
brings peace, prosperity and
happiness to all of
our members.
As on all holidays, crews will
be on standby in case of a
power interruption.
Call our outage hotline at
1-866-225-5683 if you
need assistance.
Send Your Ideas!
Got interesting recipes,
photos, or stories about your
community? Send them to us!
Email us at info@magicvalley.
coop or write to us at P.O.
Box 267 Mercedes, TX 78570
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Magic Valley
Electric Cooperative
MVEC Journal
MVEC Español
Propósitos de Año Nuevo Para Ahorrar
Energía y Dinero
P.O. Box 267
1 3/4 Mi. W. Hwy 83
Mercedes, TX 78570
Al inicio de cada año, muchas personas hacen una lista
de propósitos que sirve de guía para el año nuevo. Debo
confesar que, por lo regular, rompo mi propósito de dieta
a fines de enero. Pero hoy quiero invitarlos para que junto
con su familia, aprovechen estas fechas para hacer una lista
de cómo ahorrar energía y dinero en su hogar.
JOHN W. HERRERA
Director General
Los aparatos eléctricos que utilizamos en casa
consumen diferentes cantidades de energía,
dependiendo de la eficiencia energética y de
cuánto tiempo los utilicemos. Ya sabemos
que cada vez se vuelve más importante el
término de “eficiencia energética” ya que
esto nos ayuda a ahorrar energía eléctrica
en nuestro hogar y nos permite ahorrar en la
factura eléctrica. Por ejemplo, el tostador de
pan y la plancha funcionan con resistencias
que convierten la electricidad en calor y
consumen mucha energía; sin embargo,
el tostador se utiliza solo durante algunos
minutos, mientras que la plancha se usa
más tiempo y, por lo mismo, consume más
energía eléctrica.
Cabe señalar que la iluminación representa
la cuarta parte del consumo de energía
eléctrica en el hogar. A continuación, le
recomiendo cinco tips para ahorrar energía
eléctrica en casa:
Aire acondicionado y calefacción:
Representa el 46% de su recibo de luz;
Magic Valley recomienda que ajuste el
termostato a 78° F durante el verano y
a 68° F durante el invierno. Asegúrese
que los ventiladores de techo funcionen a
media velocidad durante el verano y a baja
velocidad en posición opuesta durante el
invierno. No olvide remplazar los filtros del
sistema de aire central mensualmente.
Calentador de agua: Representa el 14% de
su recibo de luz. Mantenga la temperatura
del calentador de agua a no más de 1200
F. Para familias de 1 o 2 personas, la
temperatura de 1150 F podría ser suficiente.
Vacíe 1 o 2 galones de agua anualmente,
le ayuda a reducir la acumulación de
sedimentos.
Electrodomésticos: Representa el 13% de
su recibo de luz. Desconecte todo lo que
no ocupe. La televisión, radio, la batería del
celular al terminar de cargarlo, licuadoras,
microondas, etc. Evitar dejar estos aparatos
en modo de espera, significará eliminar
el “consumo fantasma” en casa, que
representa un 5% del consumo promedio.
Iluminación: Representa el 12% de su
recibo de luz. Aproveche la luz natural al
máximo, durante el día, evite encender
focos en habitaciones iluminadas por el sol.
Cambie todos los focos por unos de bajo
consumo, pues consumen cuatro veces
menos energía y duran hasta diez veces
más.
Computadoras: Al trabajar con su
computadora, tablet o laptop, desconéctela
por completo cuando termine de utilizarla.
Si va hacer una pausa, cierre la laptop/
tablet o apague el monitor. No olvide
configurarlas en modo de ahorro de energía
automático.
JU N TA D IR ECT IVA
John W. Herrera
M ES A D IR ECTIVA
Dr. Martin E. Garcia,
Presidente
Reynaldo L. Lopez,
Vicepresidente
Barbara S. Miller,
Secretaria-Tesorera
M.G. Dyer,
Asistente Secretario-Tesorero
Doug Martin,
Source image: Salud Today
Director
Rolando Alaniz,
Director
Nila T. Wipf,
Directora
Opción de Pago
• Pago en Línea
• Plan de Pago Promedio
• Giro Bancario Automático
• Aceptamos tarjetas de crédito y
debito de Visa, Discover y Master
Card.
• Numerosos Centros de Pago
Oficinas de Distrito
2910 W. Monte Cristo Road
Edinburg, 78541
1825 N. Indiana Road
Brownsville, 78521
1311 S. Cage Blvd
Pharr, 78577
CONTACTO
Servicio al ciente y
reportar apagones
LLAMENOS AL
1-866-225-5683 Llamada gratis
VISÍTENOS EN INTERNET
magicvalley.coop
SÍGANOS EN
magicvalley.coop
Texas_Coop_pages_JanV1.indd 25
January 2014 MAGIC VALLEY EC Texas Co-op Power
25
12/6/13 3:37 PM
MVEC Journal
MVEC Español
Manipulación de Medidor Eléctrico
Abraham Quiroga, Asesor de Energía
No vale la pena
manipular el
medidor eléctrico.
Desafortunadamente, a menudo
los empleados de Magic Valley se
enfrentan con un problema causado por
personas que piensan que no deberían
tener que pagar por luz eléctrica.
Es demasiado tentador para algunas
personas ahorrar algunos dólares en
la factura eléctrica. Pero manipular el
medidor eléctrico puede ser demasiado
costoso.
Puede ser mortal
La personas que manipulan el medidor
se exponen a graves accidentes. Los
medidores han sido creados en forma
clandestina, ante cualquier fenómeno
climático como lluvias, inundaciones,
huracanes entre otros. Sin contar
que puede sobrecargar las líneas de
distribución, lo que puede causar
daños en sus electrodomésticos, hasta
incendios y graves accidentes.
Al abrirlo, el medidor se convierte en
una trampa que puede ser mortal. No
vale la pena manipular el medidor ya
que expone su vida, la de sus familiares,
amigos y vecinos.
Puede destruir sus bienes
La misma corriente que plantea un
riesgo de muerte hacia las persona,
s también puede poner su hogar en
peligro. Los cables que transportan
electricidad están aisladas no solo para
proteger su vida, sino también para
prevenir incendios.
Manipular un medidor también significa
evitar la protección que el medidor
proporciona.
Lo puede llevar a la cárcel
Manipular un medidor eléctrico es un
delito en Texas, con una condena de
hasta dos años de cárcel. Además, la
Cooperativa hace un cargo de $250 si
el medidor muestra pruebas de haber
sido manipulado por cualquier persona,
empresa o corporación distinta a la
cooperativa. Hay un cargo de $500 al
segundo evento. También, el miembro
tendrá que pagar por la reparación o
reemplazo de los equipos dañados y
por el uso de electricidad no registrada.
Nuestro personal está entrenado para
detectar el robo de electricidad, ya que
contamos con un equipo de tecnología
que nos ayuda a detectar anomalías en
las facturas. Incluso nos damos cuenta
cuando hay electricidad en casas donde
el servicio ha sido desconectado. La
Cooperativa recibe informes de sus
miembros, quienes se dan cuenta de
que el robo de electricidad sale de sus
bolsillos. Puesto que las cooperativas
eléctricas son organizaciones sin fines
de lucro, los ladrones no solo están
robando a la empresa, sino también a
sus miembros. Magic Valley tiene que
pagar por toda la electricidad generada
y distribuida en nuestras líneas. Cuando
alguien no paga por la electricidad,
el costo se transfiere a todos los
miembros.
Si usted sabe de alguna persona que
esté robando electricidad, no dude en
llamarnos al 1-866 -225-5683. No solo
evita un robo, también puede salvar
una vida.
Recetas
Pastel Azteca
de Carne Molida
INSTRUCCIONES:
Source image: Vanidades
¡Nada más sabroso que este delicioso pastel azteca!
Tiempo Total: 55 minutos; Preparación: 20 minutos; Porciones: 8
INGREDIENTES:
1-1/2 libra de carne molida de res extramagra
1 cebolla grande, picada
2 pimientos (pimentones) verdes, picados
(chile morrón)
4 cucharaditas de chile en polvo
2-1/2 tazas de salsa roja mexicana estilo
"chunky"
2 paquetes (10 oz cada uno) de maíz (elote)
congelado
CALIENTA el horno a 375ºF.
DORA la carne con la cebolla y los pimientos en una sartén grande a fuego medio-alto.
Incorpora el chile en polvo; cocina 1 min. Añade la salsa y el elote; mezcla todo bien. Mantén
un hervor sauve 5 min.
ESPARCE 2 tazas de la salsa de carne sobre el fondo de una fuente para hornear de 13x9
pulgs.; pon encima capas de 2 tortillas, 1 taza de salsa de carne, la crema agria y 1/2 taza de
queso. Cubre esto con 2 tortillas, 2 tazas del resto de la salsa de carne y 1/2 taza de queso;
cubre esto con las tortillas y la salsa de carne restantes. Tapa esto con papel aluminio.
HORNÉALO 30 min. o hasta que se caliente por completo. Ponle el queso restante encima;
hornéalo destapado 5 min. o hasta que el queso se derrita. Decóralo con cilantro fresco
picado o cebollitas verdes justo antes de servir.
fuente:www.comidakraft.com
26
Texas Co-op Power MAGIC VALLEY EC January 2014
Texas_Coop_pages_JanV1.indd 26
6 tortillas de trigo entero con alto contenido
de fibra (8 pulgs.)
1 taza de crema agria reducida en grasa
BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat Sour Cream o
la de KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream
1-1/2 taza de queso cheddar fuerte con leche
al 2% KRAFT 2% Milk Sharp Cheddar Cheese,
cantidad dividida
Envíe Sus Ideas
¿ Tiene recetas interesantes,
fotos, o historias acerca de
su comunidad? Compártalas
con nosotros. Envíenos
un correo electrónico a
[email protected] o
escribanos a P.O. Box 267
Mercedes, TX 78570
magicvalley.coop
12/6/13 3:37 PM
Recipes
Healthy Mushrooms Mean Growing Demand
Since being founded
in 1988 near Gonzales, Kitchen Pride Farms has ridden a growing public awareness of nutrition research identifying the health benefits of eating mushrooms. People are also learning how good fresh mushrooms taste, says
Kitchen Pride founder Darrell McLain.
“With all the talk about nutritional benefits, people have realized that mushrooms are not only healthy, but
they add so much to recipes,” McLain says. “They just make things taste better.”
Fresh mushrooms are fat-free, low-calorie and a good source of B vitamins and selenium, essential for the production of antioxidants. With increased demand for this healthy food source, Kitchen Pride, served by Guadalupe
Valley Electric Cooperative, has gone through four major production expansions. Today, it grows more than
225,000 pounds of mushrooms a week that are shipped to major grocery store chains across Texas and sold in
numerous farmers markets. Because they are grown in climate-controlled rooms, the farm delivers fresh mushrooms year-round.
McLain says increased demand promises to continue: “Consumers are trying new things like substituting
mushrooms for meat or trying mushrooms in different things like breakfast tacos. Growing awareness means we
need to grow more to keep up.”
Visit kitchenpride.com to learn how mushrooms are grown. The site also lists farmers markets where you can
buy Kitchen Pride mushrooms and provides recipes, including the one below for a healthy dish with salmon and
mushrooms.
JEFF JOINER
S H I I TA K E M U S H R O O M : M AYA KOVA | B I G STO C K .CO M . OYST E R M U S H R O O M : E Z E E P I C S ST U D I O | B I G STO C K .CO M . B U T TO N M U S H R O O M : G I L A | B I G STO C K .CO M . P O RTO B E L LO : G A RY TO G N O N I | B I G STO C K .CO M
Mushroom, Edamame and Salmon Penne
4
2½
1
1
16
4
¼
¾
¾
1¼
1
›
›
›
›
›
cups uncooked penne pasta
tablespoons olive oil, divided
pound mushrooms, sliced
large onion, diced
ounces frozen shelled edamame (soybeans)
sundried tomatoes
cup all-purpose flour
teaspoon salt
cup white wine or water
cups vegetable broth
pound skinless salmon, cut into 6 strips
Some Mushrooms Grown at Kitchen Pride Farms
Shiitake
Woodsy, concentrated
flavor
Oyster
Graceful appearance with
a mild seafood taste
White Button
Juicy and tasty with
a mild flavor
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Heat 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over
medium-high heat. Add a single layer of mushrooms and
onion and cook, without stirring, for about 5 minutes or
until mushrooms become red-brown on one side. Flip
mixture and cook about 5 minutes more, until other side
is the same color.
Add edamame and stir. Add tomatoes and sprinkle with
flour and salt; stir for 3 to 4 minutes to slightly cook the
flour. Pour in wine or water and broth and stir to integrate flour into the liquid. Cook until sauce thickens,
about 5 to 10 minutes.
In a separate skillet, sear salmon in remaining olive oil
about 3 minutes on each side.
Add cooked pasta to mushroom mixture and gently stir
to combine. Heat until thoroughly warm and top with
salmon strips to serve.
Servings: 6. Serving size: ⅙ of dish plus 1 salmon strip. Per serving:
610 calories, 31.4 g protein, 15 g fat, 72.6 g carbohydrates, 12.6 g dietary
fiber, 571 mg sodium, 5.6 g sugars, 41 mg cholesterol
TexasCoopPower.com
Portobello
Hearty with a steak-like
taste when grilled
January 2014 Texas Co-op Power
35
Recipes
1 teaspoon sea salt
⅓ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
›
›
Cindy’s Marinated Mushrooms
›
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
¼
⅓
⅓
›
pound button mushrooms
large red bell peppers
bunch green onions
tablespoons minced fresh basil
tablespoon minced fresh parsley
large clove garlic, finely minced
teaspoon black pepper
cup olive oil
cup soy sauce
cup red wine vinegar
Chop mushrooms, bell peppers and green onions
(including tops) into 1-inch pieces. Place in large
bowl with a top that seals. Add basil, parsley, garlic
and pepper and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce
and vinegar. Pour over mushroom mixture. Seal
bowl. Turn over several times to coat vegetables.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours turning once or twice.
›
›
›
Servings: 8. Serving size: 1 pizza. Per serving: 253 calories, 16.8 g protein,
16 g fat, 6.5 g carbohydrates, 1.4 g dietary fiber, 669 mg sodium, 3.1 g
sugars, 30 mg cholesterol
BETSY KUEBLER | FARMERS EC
Mushroom Lasagna
¼ cup butter
1 pound mushrooms, sliced thin
Juice of half a small lemon, optional
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups milk
8 ounces lasagna noodles
1 pound ricotta cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Servings: 8. Serving size: about ⅜ cup. Per serving: 99 calories,
2.9 g protein, 6.7 g fat, 7.5 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g dietary fiber,
608 mg sodium, 3.3 g sugars
Portobello Pizzas Margherita
8
1
4
8
1
large portobello mushrooms, stems removed
clove garlic, mashed
tablespoons olive oil
slices mozzarella cheese, each approximately ¼ inch thick
large tomato, peeled and diced
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly coat surface of baking sheet with cooking spray. Arrange mushrooms, gill
side up, on baking sheet.
Saute garlic in olive oil in a small skillet over mediumhigh heat 3 minutes, or until garlic is golden brown.
Remove garlic and discard. Brush mushrooms with olive
oil.
Bake 5 minutes or until mushrooms are lightly browned
and slightly crisped on top.
Place a slice of cheese on top of each mushroom. Divide
diced tomatoes among mushrooms, mounding on top of
cheese. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and basil. Return to
oven 3 minutes more, or until cheese is melted and
bubbling.
›
›
›
›
›
›
Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add mushrooms and
lemon juice and sauté until softened.
Dissolve cornstarch in a small amount of water. With a
wire whisk, blend cornstarch and salt into mushroom
mixture.
Remove from heat and gradually stir in milk. Return to
heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Set
aside.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cook noodles according to
package instructions.
In an 11-by-7-inch baking dish, spread a layer of sauce,
top with a layer of noodles, then a layer of ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan, repeating layers until all ingredients are used, topping with remaining mushroom sauce.
Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to
stand about 15 minutes before serving.
Servings: 6. Serving size: ⅙ of dish. Per serving: 480 calories, 22.3 g protein, 23.7 g fat, 42.4 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber, 684 mg sodium,
6.5 g sugars, 80 mg cholesterol
GARY FEARS | MAGIC VALLEY EC
Cook’s Tip: The mushroom sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated until
ready for use.
36
Texas Co-op Power January 2014
TexasCoopPower.com
MUSH ROOM BASKET: G EORG I NA198 | BI GSTOCK.CO M
SANDRA JENNINGS | GUADALUPE VALLEY AND NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
Add Umami with Mushrooms Contest Winner
The mild flavor of bite-sized button mushrooms
makes them perfect for marinating. In Sandra
Jennings’ prizewinning recipe, fresh herbs and
green onion give the savory fungi a flavorful
punch, while red bell peppers add a sweet crunch.
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