In the mid 19th century, if you wanted to get a letter or package to California you're options were limited and lengthy. The Pony Express option took an average of just 10 days but was a very expensive $5 per ounce, about $130 in today's value.
It operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California in the United States of America.
In order to achieve this remarkable speed, company owners William H. Russell, William B. Waddell and Alexander Majors set up a string of nearly 200 relief stations across the Midwest and California. Riders would go in between stations as fast as possible, changing horses for fresh ones every 10-15 miles. Every seventy five to one hundred miles, a new rider would take over.
In March of 1861, Pony Express riders carried the inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln from Nebraska to California in just seven days and 17 hours, the company’s record.
Despite the legend and folk tales, the company never made a profit during the year and a half it operated, if fact it lost an estimated $200,000.
Pony Express riding was not the safest job around, at the time the official newspaper advertising was “Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” However, according to the National Park Service six riders died in the line of duty during the entire history of the Pony Express, in fact more employees died at the transfer stations, mostly due to Indian attack.
The riders were paid $100-150 a month, equivalent to about $1,900-$2,750 in today’s money.
Angela, in Texas, has two boys with big appetites for casseroles, so she came up with this recipe for Two Boys Casserole. It combines all of their favorites into one meaty and hearty dish. We bet everyone at the table will be pleased to find the creamy, beefy goodness underneath that layer of crispy potato tots!
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (12-ounce) package frozen peas
- 1 (10-3/4-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
- 1 (30-ounce) package frozen potato tots, thawed
- Preheat oven to 375º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef, onion, salt, and pepper until meat is browned. Add peas and stir. Add soup, milk, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheese; stir to combine.
- Place half the potato tots in baking dish, top with meat mixture, then remaining potato tops. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until the potato tots are cooked through and golden.
1932 – Petula Clark, English singer
1940 – Sam Waterston, American actor
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day on November 15th encourages us to prepare for the upcoming holidays. Get together a soap and hot water-filled bucket, disinfectant, a sponge, and a garbage bag. Then you will be ready for the day!
With family gathering and a large turkey waiting to be roasted, cleaning out the refrigerator makes sense. Not only will we need room before the meals, but we also need space for all of the upcoming leftovers. Many dread this job. However, it is an important task nonetheless.
Due to our hectic and busy lifestyles, the cleaning of the refrigerator gets neglected. Hence the creation of National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. There may be a surprise or two found at the back of the shelves. Things are often pushed back as new food is put in the front and gets forgotten.
Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International found that the meat and vegetable drawers were the dirtiest spots in our kitchens – well with regards to causing disease.
However, those who clean their fridges more often tend to waste more food. There’s plenty of advice available on the frequency of fridge cleaning. Understanding food labels and the meanings behind “sell by” and “best by” dates are also important. These labels don’t necessarily mean a product has gone bad, but that the quality is best by the date on the label. However, “use by” leaves some of us wondering.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Some suggestions for your refrigeration cleaning are:
- Empty each shelf.
- Completely wipe down the inside of the refrigerator.
- Wash drawers and underneath the drawers.
- Throw away all expired food.
- Throw away any moldy food.
- Get rid of anything that you do not use.
- Vacuum condenser coils.
- Vacuum out under the refrigerator.
- Restock shelves and drawers with good food.
- Enjoy your nice, clean, organized refrigerator.
NATIONAL CLEAN OUT YOUR REFRIGERATOR DAY HISTORY
The home economists at Whirlpool Home Appliances created National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day in 1999 to encourage people to clean out their refrigerators in advance of the upcoming holidays. At that time, the company even had a toll-free hotline that people could call into for cleaning tips.
Refrigerator FAQ
Q. How often should I clean out my fridge?
A. Clean your fridge every week or two. A good rule of thumb is to clean the fridge before you go grocery shopping. This habit not only makes room for the new groceries but prevents you from over shopping. While you’re disposing of any science projects, take a hot soapy rag and wipe down the shelves and doors. Take stock of the cheese, eggs, and butter. That ranch dressing should last another week and the mayo, too.
Q. Things are always getting lost in my fridge. How do I fix that?
A. Those items that get shoved to the back are easy to forget. Did you know that many of the shelves on today’s models slide forward for easy inspection? That’s right. Just lift up and pull forward. Other tricks include see-through, labeled containers, lazy Susans, and dividers.
Q. What temperature should I set my refrigerator?
A. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 40°F or below is the ideal temperature to keep food safe and chilled.
