The Eltiste Family likes Meat and Potatoes when they get together

on the Eltiste farm near Crab Orchard.

Opal Eltiste said her family of three children and seven grandchildren also like green beans with cheese,

and apple pie, to name just a couple of other favorites.

Mrs. Eltiste bakes a lot, has always baked her own bread. 

In fact, she doubts she buys 10 loaves of bread a year

because she rarely runs out of homemade bread.

She bakes whole wheat bread, not white, and always relies on Pillsbury Bread Flour to make the loaves come out just right.

Her Cinnamon Rolls are not only delicious,

they are simple to make. 

The dough only needs to raise once for about 45 minutes.

Her Apple Stir About is another quick dish to fix for company or family.  She prefers having something that is easy to make and her vegetable soup is no exception.  Adding canned vegetable soup to noodles and hamburger makes it easy but good.

She also uses leftover meat in place of hamburger.

With this kind of meal, she likes to make extra so there are leftovers to freeze.  It's very convenient for a Sunday meal. she said.

Mrs. Eltiste's bread pudding takes on a different twist in that it's made in the top of a double boiler.  The topping is a

 brown sugar glaze.

For relaxation she enjoys playing the piano and organ, something she does strictly for her own enjoyment she added.

She enjoys quilting and helps with the quilting at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Sterling.

Mrs. Eltiste, a Johnson native and her husband Dale, an Overton Native, have been farming their entire married life.  During their early years of marriage, they raised turkeys, said Mrs. Eltiste.

Her husband has always enjoyed dabbling in poultry, she added.

While Eltiste is semi-retired, he sill manages his cattle

and puts up hay.

The Eltiste children are Gloria Durman of Beatrice, Wayne Eltiste and Russell Eltiste, both of Tecumseh.

Quick Vegetable Soup

1/2 lb. Hamburger Browned

1 Pkg. Oriental Beef flavored noodles

2 Cups Water

1 Can Vegetable Soup

1 Soup Can Water

Cook noodles according to package directions.  Add soup and hamburger and simmer.  Leftover meat can be used instead of hamburger.

Apple Stir About

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Flour

4 Cups Chopped Apples

1/2 Cup Nuts

1 Cup of Sugar

2 Tsp. Baking Powder

Salt to Taste

Beat Eggs. Add sugar and salt and mix well. Add flour and baking powder and beat until smooth.  Then add apples.  Pour into greased 9 by 9-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done.  Serve topped with whipped topping.

Two-Layer Salad

2 Pkgs. Lemon Gelatin

16 Marshmallows

2 and 1/2 Cups Boling Water

16 Ice Cubes

3 Tbsp. Vinegar

1 and 1/2 Cups Whipped Topping

1 Cup (7oz Can) Crushed Pineapple Un-Drained

Top Layer

1 Pkg. Orange Gelatin

Grated Cheese

1 Cup Hot Water

Dissolve lemon gelatin and marshmallows in 2-1/2 cups of boiling water. Add vinegar. When dissolved, add ice cubes (this is the fast method)

When it starts to gel, add crushed pineapple and whipped topping. Put into 9 by 13-inch pan.  Let stand until firm.  Sprinkle grated cheese over the top.  Cut in squares to serve.

Quick Cinnamon Rolls

1 Pkg. Yeast

2 Tbsp Sugar

1/4 Cup Warm Water

1/3 Cup Scaled Milk

1/2 Cup Melted Margarine

2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Egg Beaten

2 and 1/4 Cup of Flour

Salt to Taste

Soften yeast in warm water. Scald milk. After it is cooled, add beaten egg and remaining ingredients.

Roll out dough to 10 by 15-inch rectangle. Spread with soft margarine and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Roll up dough and cut into one-inch slices. Put into 9 by 12-inch pan and let raise about 45 minutes. Bake in a 375 degree oven until browned. While still warm, spread with powdered sugar frosting

Bread Pudding

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

3 Slices Buttered Bread

2 Cups Milk

3 Eggs

Raisins (Optional)

Salt to Taste

Put brown sugar into top portion of double boiler. Add bread cut into 1/4-inch cubes. Sprinkle with raisins. Beat eggs, milk, salt, and vanilla.

Pour over bread cubes. Cover. Keep water boiling i lower part of double boiler and cook for one hour or until done. Do NOT stir. The brown sugar makes the sauce for pudding.

Barbecue Steak

1 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup Water

1/4 Cup Vinegar

1/4 Cup Chopped Onions

1 and 1/2 Tbsp. Worchester Shire Sauce

1 Tbsp. Prepared Mustard salt & Pepper to Taste

Round Steak

3 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

Pound as much Round Steak as needed. Cut into serving size portions. Place pieces in a pan (Not necessary to brown meat) Pour barbecue sauce over the meat as desired. Bake in a moderate oven at 325 degrees for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender. Refrigerate any leftover sauce. It keeps in refrigerator for a long time