Historymaker Chuck Lakin

Enjoying the Sun Circuit Quarter Horse show this week at Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ and I realized that Historymaker Chuck Lakin was a BIG part of that event also. His influence into the horse world is evident in this Award given to him and the tributes he has received are very worthy. He will be honored as a 2014 Arizona Historymaker at the Historymakers Gala, Feb 8 at Westin Kierland Resort. Maxine Lakin will also be honored and will accept the award for her husband who passed away in 2013.


More info at www.HistoricalLeague.org and junkmoyle@aol.com.

Cindy Tidwell-Shelton and Claire Nullmeyer promote books

Thanks to Cindy Tidwell-Shelton and Claire Nullmeyer for taking boxes of books and promoting Tastes & Treasures cookbook and Arizona Recollections and Reflections at their AZ National Livestock/Ranching events. It's so good to see new members get involved in the Historical League and these two have a lot of talent. Thanks also for being Historians and creating the 2013-2014 photograph album of HL events.

Tour with Lunch at Mining Camp Restaurant and Trading Post

A hidden gem in Apache Junction at the base of the majestic Superstition Mt, you'll find Mining Camp Restaurant and Trading Post. We had a fabulous lunch and entertainment by the McNasty Boys. The Historical League tour included Superstition Mt Museum and just down the road is another piece of history. The owner started working there as a dish washer at age 13 (he lied about his age to get a job). Buying the place years later, he does everything from manage it to taking guests to their tables to (when someone calls in sick) washing dishes.

Thanks to Historical League tour chairs Linda Fritsch and Lindy Isaksen. They outdid themselves organizing this event.

The restaurant has an extensive gift shop which is now home to Tastes & Treasures cookbook. Love that Ann displayed it on the old player piano. Get your copy when you visit Mining Camp Restaurant and Trading Post in Apache Junction.

Tour to Superstition Mountain Museum

Dee Steen and Judy Blackwell outside the entrance.

50 Historical League members enjoyed the day at the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction. With the mountain and Weavers Needle as the backdrop, five docents gave us personalized tours that were very informative and interesting. Such a busy place with so much history . . .
They were impressed with Tastes & Treasures cookbook and now carry it in their gift shop.

Fruited Chicken Salad

Ruth McLeod brought this to the January meeting.

Lunches at Historical League meetings are so-o-o yummy. This dish makes a beautiful presentation and easy to prepare hours ahead. It can be doubled/tripled to feed a larger group. The fun part is getting fresh fruit in season to garnish. This time I used Kiwi.

Fruited Chicken Salad

Ingredients for the chicken salad:
2 chicken breasts or 2 (12.5 ounce) cans chicken
1 tablespoon lemon pepper

20 green grapes, cut in half
½ cup dried cranberries, slightly chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 cup chopped cucumbers

½ red bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Mustard Vinaigrette

Argula
*Note: Adding other fruits makes a more flavorful salad: add 1/2 cup dried apricots, 1/2 cup dried blueberries, 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup chopped fresh oranges, and/or 1/2 cup chopped fresh apple.

Directions for the chicken salad:
Dust the chicken with the lemon pepper and sear or grill until cooked through. Let cool, then chop into ½ inch cubes. In a bowl, mix the chicken with grapes, cranberries, celery, pepper and mayonnaise. Add the vinaigrette and mix.

Ingredients for the mustard vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey
salt and pepper

½ cup salad oil
Directions for the mustard vinaigrette:
Place the mustard, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk together. Add the oil in a slow stream while whisking, until fully incorporated.
Prepare in large bowl adding argula just before serving. Arrange sliced strawberries, sliced avocados and/or sliced oranges in circle on top. Sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds.

Pleasant Valley Wars

Jinx entertained us with Western songs and stories.

Book signing after his talk

Feuds, cattle rustlers, honest ranchers and horse thiefs . . . interesting days in the Old West.

January’s speaker was Jinx Pyle from Payson. He took our members on a historical adventure when sheepherders and cattlemen were in such conflict they ended up in a bloody war! Mr. Pyle, a seventh-generation Arizona rancher, told us the story of The Pleasant Valley War. 

As Pyle grew up, he committed often repeated stories to memory. These stories, handed down from great-grandparents, conveyed dates, places, events, and local and state history. He is a walking history book of Payson and the Mogollon Rim Country. Over the years, Pyle and his wife have written 14 books, including The Pleasant Valley War.

Historymakers Gala meeting

Everything is coming together for the Historymakers Gala XI Turquoise and Tuxedos. It will be held Saturday, Feb 8 at Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale with 9 wonderful new inductees. Chairs Jeannine Moyle and Mary Parker presided over yesterdays Gala meeting.