WEEK #9 MARCH 2nd, 2026
Dear Customers,
At the last census, McKean County reported almost 95% of our population as Caucasian. Is it any wonder then that we don’t have a lot of patience for those two troublemakers, El Niño and El Niña? At first glance, they seem harmless. After all, their names mean respectively, “little boy” and “little girl”. How much mayhem could they possibly cause?
Well, if you were held prisoner inside your home all last July and August because it was too hot to go outside . . . and again this past January into February because it was too cold to venture out, you’re probably as fed up with them as I am.
Simply explained, El Niño is when warm water in the Pacific Ocean is pushed towards California. This causes the Pacific jet stream to move south of its neutral position making areas in the Northern states, dryer and warmer than usual. As you might expect, the opposite is true when El Niña holds sway over our weather bringing with it cooler than normal temperatures in the Northern states.
Whatever the season or the reason for the weather, it’s still the perfect time of year for soup. This recipe for Corn Chowder is delicious, wholesome and filling:
| 1 pkg cooked bacon bits (aisle #1) | 4 stalks celery, diced |
| 1 large onion, diced | 4 carrots, diced |
| 1 tbs crushed garlic | 2-32oz chicken broth |
| 4 tbs margarine | 2 cans creamed corn |
| 2 cans whole kernel corn | 2-8oz heavy cream |
| 12 small potatoes, diced | 2lbs Costa’s sausage |
| Salt & pepper to taste | 4 tbs all purpose flour |
| 1lb Ditalini pasta |
Brown the sausage with the onion, add in the carrots, celery and garlic. Add the bacon and continue to cook until the sausage is browned. Add the corn, butter and chicken broth. Add the potatoes and cook for at least 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente. Make a paste from the flour and one of the 8oz heavy creams. Add slowly to the soup along with the 2nd heavy cream. Simmer until the vegetables are tender. Turn off the heat and add the cooked and drained pasta. Serve when ready!