By Sheri Hopkins,
Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! We have had a gulley washer here in the River Valley. Supposed to be storms today, and I already have a huge tree limb down in my front yard from Wednesday’s winds.
We had the Culpepper Merriweather Circus in town on Saturday. To say I had fun is an understatement. Since I am the Chamber of Commerce President, they asked me to speak to the crowd and welcome everyone. I asked the Ringmaster if I could say “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages” when I announced. She said, “of course you can, this is your day to shine.” So, in my loud voice with microphone in hand, I yelled “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, welcome to the circus!” I have wanted to do that for as long as I can remember. Mark that off my bucket list.
We had a customer come to the drive thru this week and ask Teresa, “who are y’all going to get to replace Sheri?” Teresa is confused wondering what’s going on. He says, “I heard she left with the circus. He heard I was announcing at the circus. If I joined the circus there are three jobs I could do: bearded lady, fat lady and clown. I qualify for all three. Enough about the circus, I run a a three-ring circus at my house.
My friend, Joy, made these cherry bars and brought to the Chamber of Commerce fundraiser and they were delicious and everyone bragged on them, including me. They are easy and good. Y’all have a great week, and if you see me doing a side gig at the circus, don’t be surporised.
CHERRY BARS
1 cup butter
1 ¼ cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 can cherry pie filing
Frosting: 1/3 cup powdered sugar and milk
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour, baking powder, and the rest of ingredients gradually, beating well after each addition. Take out 1 ½ cup of batter. Pour the rest of the batter into a 12 x 16 or 9 x 13 greased pan. Spread cherry filling on top of batter. Drop the rest of the batter by teaspoonfuls over the top of the cherries. Bake for 30 min at 350° or done. Mix powdered sugar with milk into thin icing and drizzle over still warm bars.
