LEC CAPITAL REGION PICNIC MARKS END OF AUGUST SESSION

One student in this entry has asked in 2012 that his identity be hidden for Internet security reasons. We are using his initials instead.
Negley Park in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, opposite the City of Harrisburg, overlooks the city and the wide Susquehanna River. LEC Capital Region sponsored a picnic there last night for the three students visiting our area in August.

Antoine Bardonnet, E.A., and Vincent Rolea were the stars of the show.  They enjoyed comparing notes and taking a little ride on the pavilion's big swing.

All three host families (and some of their friends) were present, and there were special guests, too.

Alex, Josie, and Andrea, who had hosted last year and in July of this year, helped to arrange for use of the large picnic pavilion at the park and joined us for the fun.

Paul and Ellen Seymour, whom you met in an earlier blog entry, attended, too. Paul and Ellen are strong supporters of the LEC program and were delighted to meet the three young visitors and their families.

David Volkman, retired Susquehanna Twp. educator, and Jim Dearden, in his last year of teaching at the Hershey School, also joined in the fun. Both men had served as van drivers for the July Discovery Group excursions.

The boys and their hosts gathered as American flags were presented (a LEC Capital Region tradition), and the boys were given a chance to say good-bye.

Everyone enjoyed the fun and fellowship, as well as the beauty of the setting, and we all enjoyed one last visit before the boys prepare to leave for the airport and the return trip home in two days.

 Antoine Bardonnet and his host family enjoy the meal.

 

E.A.'s host mom and dad relax after dinner.

The three LEC students crowd

around the LECmobile.

Alex, Josie, and Andrea were hosts last 

summer and in July this year.

Antoine, E., and Vincent hold the Stars and Stripes

as their host parents look on.

Some of the picnickers asked about recipes for two of the desserts at the picnic. Here they are:

 

Madame Albert's Cream Puff Pie

Boil together one cup of water and 1/2 pound margarine or butter. When boiling, remove from heat and add 1 cup of flour. Stir.

Add 4 eggs, one at a time. Blend thoroughly after each one.

Spread dough in a 8x12 greased pan and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Mix together:

8 ounces of softened cream cheese

2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding

2 1/2 cups of milk

Spread on top of cooled crust. Complete with a layer of whipped topping.

(You could also use chocolate or pistachio pudding for variety.)

Shoofly Crumb Cake
 

4 cups flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

1 cup table molasses (light or dark)

2 cups boiling water

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

Mix the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and butter to crumbs, using a pastry blender or your fingers. Reserve one cup of the crumbs for topping.

Mix the molasses, boiling water, and baking soda, and gradually add to the major part of the crumbs until well blended. Pour this mixture into a greased 9 1/2 x 12 3/4-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of crumbs on top, distributing evenly. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 55 minutes. (If you use layer-cake pans, decrease baking time to 40 minutes.)