All posts by George Walters

George Walters is a Canadian columnist and author with more than forty years of writing experience. For over twenty years he has written a weekly column for Postmedia Network — Canada's largest newspaper chain — never missing a single week, publishing fifty-two stories a year. Combined with his work in Reader's Digest Community Voices, World News, Country Living, The Country Register, and farm and rural lifestyle magazines across Canada, he has published well over two thousand stories drawn from everyday life. He writes about farm work, fishing, old trucks, and the kind of people you only find in small towns — but just as likely he'll hand a voice to a weathered telephone pole, or turn his eye on something happening in the world today and tell you exactly what he thinks about it. No subject is off limits. If there's a story in it, George will find it. He has been called a philosopher of everyday life, a description that came up more than once during his television appearances over the years — and it's not hard to see why. His writing has a way of making the ordinary feel worth sitting with. He is the author of eleven books, including yearly short story collections and the Clay Moretti Files mystery series. Clay is a fifty-year-old private investigator who drives a 1967 Ford Galaxie, smokes cigars, and operates by a code the modern world gave up on a long time ago. The cases are present day. The man handling them is not. All titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Together, George and his wife Ruth have also created Elmer Finds His Way, the first in what he hopes will be a long series of children's books. Ruth did all the illustrations, as she has for every one of George's books — and beyond that she designed and painted the covers as well. Her work is woven into every page of everything he has published. A few words from readers: "I pulled up a kitchen chair and read your story three times." "You have a way of making a person homesick for a place they haven't been to." "Thank you for writing things that make old people and kids feel the same way at the same time." All my titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.ca here.

Farmers Wife Mushroom Sauce:

Here’s an old farm recipe for mushroom sauce:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until they are tender and lightly browned.
  3. Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and stir until the flour is completely incorporated.
  4. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
  5. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Serve hot over your favorite dish.

This mushroom sauce is perfect for serving over chicken, beef, or pork. It’s also great for using as a dip for bread or vegetables. Enjoy!

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Ham Souffle

Pretty Tasty

An old Recipe for making Ham Soufflé:

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, chopped
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Grease a 2-quart dish with butter and sprinkle with flour.
  2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until smooth. Gradually add the milk, salt, and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and boils. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually stir in about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan and stir well.
  4. Stir in the chopped ham and mix well. Set aside.
  5. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
  6. Gently fold the egg whites into the ham mixture until well combined. Be careful not to over mix.
  7. Pour the mixture into the prepared soufflé dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the soufflé is puffed and golden brown.
  8. Serve immediately while still hot.

Enjoy your delicious Ham Soufflé!

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Sugar Alternative

Do you use a sweetener called Sucralose to sweeten your foods and drinks?

Now, I know some of you might be thinking that sucralose is a good alternative to sugar, but I’m here to tell you that consuming too much of it can be a real problem for your immune system.

You see, sucralose can decrease the activation of T-cells, which are a crucial part of your immune system. T-cells are like the sheriffs of your body, they’re responsible for finding and destroying harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria.

But if you’re consuming a lot of sucralose, those T-cells might not be able to do their job as well as they should. That means you could be more susceptible to getting sick and having a harder time fighting off infections.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking that you only use a little bit of sucralose here and there, but even small amounts can add up over time. So, it’s important to be mindful of how much you’re consuming.

Instead of using sucralose, try using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. They might have a few more calories, but they won’t mess with your immune system like sucralose can.

In conclusion, it’s important to be mindful of what we’re putting into our bodies. Consuming too much sucralose can have a negative impact on our immune system, which is crucial for our overall health. So, let’s try to limit our use of sucralose and stick to natural sweeteners instead. Stay healthy, GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Supper Time!

Baked Potato, Noodles & Cheese, Some Veggies alongside some chicken strips. Again … simple but very tasty.

Click on Image to Enlarge!

Here’s a classic recipe for Baked Potato, Noodles & Cheese, Veggies and Chicken Strips that you can try at home:

Baked Potato: Ingredients:

  • 4 medium-sized potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
  2. Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry with a paper towel.
  3. Pierce each potato several times with a fork.
  4. Rub olive oil over the potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  5. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for 45–60 minutes, or until tender.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow cooling for a few minutes before serving.

Noodles & Cheese: Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. elbow macaroni
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions.
  2. In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  3. Whisk in the flour until smooth.
  4. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, or until thickened.
  6. Add the cheese and stir until melted.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Drain the macaroni and stir it into the cheese sauce.
  9. Serve immediately.

Veggies: Ingredients:

  • 2 cups mixed veggies (e.g. carrots, green beans, broccoli)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
  2. Add the veggies and blanch for 2–3 minutes, or until tender-crisp.
  3. Drain the veggies and rinse with cold water.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
  5. Add the veggies and sauté for 2–3 minutes, or until heated through.
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Serve immediately.

Chicken Strips: Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. chicken breast, cut into strips
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
  2. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. In a separate dish, beat the eggs.
  4. In a third dish, place the breadcrumbs.
  5. Dip each chicken strip first in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, and finally in the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the chicken to help them adhere.
  6. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
  7. Add the chicken strips and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
  8. Transfer the chicken strips to a baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until cooked through.
  9. Serve immediately with the baked potato, noodles & cheese, and veggies.
  10. Enjoy, I know I am!! GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

Septic Cleaning Time

If you’re living out in the country like my lovely wife and I do here in Northern Ontario, then chances are you’ve got yourself a septic tank. And let me tell you, it’s mighty important to keep that thing clean and well-maintained if you want to avoid any nasty surprises!

Now, I don’t mean to sound like your momma, but you really shouldn’t be dumpin’ any old thing down that septic tank. Sure, it might seem like an easy way to get rid of stuff, but trust me, it ain’t worth the trouble in the long run. You don’t want to be dealin’ with a backed-up septic tank, believe me.

So what kind of things should you avoid dumping down there? Well, for starters, anything that’s not biodegradable. That means no plastics, no chemicals, like bleach and no non-organic materials. Those things won’t break down like the good ol’ natural stuff, and they’ll just clog up your system faster than you can say, “holy crap!”

And speaking of crap, you should also avoid putting any non-human waste down there. No, I ain’t talking about your dog’s poop (although you should really be picking that up anyway!). I’m talkin’ about stuff like , baby wipes, and other personal hygiene products. Those things don’t break down like toilet paper does, and they’ll just build up over time.

Now, if you’re like me, you might be thinkin’, “but why should I bother getting my septic tank cleaned out if I’m not puttin’ anything bad in there?” Well, let me tell you, even if you’re doing everything right, your septic tank is still gonna fill up eventually. And when it does, you’re going to have yourself a mess on your hands. Trust me, you don’t want that.

So how often should you be getting that septic tank cleaned out, you ask? Well, that really depends on a few factors, like how big your tank is, how many people are using it, and how much water you’re using. As a general rule of thumb, though, most folks should be gettin’ their septic tanks pumped every 3-5 years or so. If you’re not sure when the last time yours was pumped, it’s probably a good idea to get it checked out.

And speaking of getting your septic tank pumped, guess what? I just had ours done today! Yup, I called up the local septic tank pumpin’ guy and had ’em come on out. It didn’t take ’em too long, and now I can rest easy knowin’ my septic tank is good as new.

So there you have it, folks. Take it from me, a country boy who’s been dealing with septic tanks his whole life – it’s important to keep that thing clean and well-maintained if you want to avoid any messy problems. So don’t go dumping anything down there that shouldn’t be, and make sure to get it pumped out every few years or so. Trust me, your nose (and your wallet) will thank you in the long run!

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]