Everything is better with Bacon!

I love recipes.
I love bacon.
I search Pinterest for recipes that I want to try "someday."
I subscribe to an email that offers cookbooks for my Kindle.
My friends post recipes on their Facebook walls that I share on my timeline.

I ran across this recipe on Linda Parker's blog - parkersgeneral.blogspot.com last night and I just had to share it.


BACON-WRAPPED ONION RINGS

Today is National Onion Ring Day, so I thought I'd share a sinfully delicious onion ring recipe.
1 lg. onion
I cut this into kind of thick rings.
Wrap each ring with a slice of bacon. You can even use turkey bacon if you want, but why would you? Put them on a baking sheet and freeze for at least an hour.

Remove from freezer and dredge through this mix:
3 c. bread crumbs
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. corn meal
1 T. garlic powder
1 T. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Beat 1 egg with 1 c. ranch dressing.
Dip dredged rings through this and again through the crumb mix, making sure the rings are completely covered. You can gently press flour mix to any bare spots.
Heat oil to 375'-400'. Fry rings for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove to paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Serve with BBQ sauce or additional ranch dressing.

Mobile Ap Available for Allied Clients

Allied has launched a mobile ap for their clients.
Allied’s Mobile App is available free of charge on the Apple App Store^SM (for iPhone®, iPod touch^TM) and Google Play^TM for Android^TM devices*. Once the App is downloaded, users will utilize the same username and password information currently used to access the Member Center on alliedinsurance.com for easy access.

Recreational Use - Farm Liability Update

From the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa -
The Iowa Legislature recently passed House File 649 which addressed the landowner recreational use liability issue in Code 461C, whose purpose is to encourage private owners (farmers) of land to make their land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting the landowners' liability. The bill makes the entire Code chapter applicable to holders of land (including tenants and others in control), not just landowners. The bill basically overturns the recent decision rendered by the Iowa Supreme Court in Sallee v. Stewart , (No. 11-0892) (Iowa 2013).

This is GREAT news for Iowa!

The bill modifies the definition of "land", "recreational purpose", and "urban deer control" and includes immunity from liability for land holders with respect to specified ancillary activities or persons. It also broadens the definition of land and water areas included in the limitation of liability and provides that such land does not have to be open to the general public to be subject to the protections of Code 461C. The bill defines "land" to include private land within a municipality used for urban deer control. It also defines activities that constitute "recreational purpose" to include educational activities; including the accompanying of another person who is engaged in a recreational purpose. "Recreational purpose" and "urban deer control" are not limited to active engagement in such activities but also include entry onto, use of, passage over, and presence on any part of the land in connection with or during the course of such activities. The bill provides that the holder of land does not owe or assume a duty of care to others solely because the holder is guiding, directing, supervising or participating in any recreational purpose or urban deer control undertaken by others on the holder's land.
The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law.
To read the bill: http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=HF649&ga=85

Iowa Supreme Court Ruling - a Sad Day for Iowa Landowners

We are members of the Independant Insurance Agents of Iowa (The BigI.) A few days ago I received an email alert about a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling regarding Iowa's Statute on Recreational Immunity. I did read all 72 pages of the ruling on Sallee vs Stewart and much of it was gobbledegoop to me since they cited various statutes and other cases. Quite frankly, it mad me ANGRY!!! I was hoping I had interpretted the ruling incorrectly since I have been the granter and reciever of access.
I grew up on a farm, I remember people knocking on our kitchen door during pheasant season asking if they could hunt the ditches, or a fence row. My dad always planted several acres of sweet corn that was free to anyone that wanted to come out and pick it. Folks would run their snomobiles across our fields. We had our friends over; we rode the horses, played in the hay mow, or drove the dune buggy, go cart, trail bike, snowmobiles, shot dad's guns at cans, clay pidgeons, birds, squirrels, we were kids on a farm.
In recent years, my husband has taken me to several farm ponds to fish and we have hunted mushrooms and deer on various properties. These wonderful people, out of the goodness of their hearts have allowed us access to their property and asked for NOTHING in return.
We have in turn invited people to our property to hunt and fish and our tenant has allowed hunters (when the bird population is large enough.)

Today I received another email from The BigI. There was a link to the 75 page ruling - I am NOT going there, but more importantly, there was a link to a bulletin from the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. Follow this link ISU CALT  to read the 9 page document.

The following statement summerizes the opion of the authors.

"Landowners should take steps to protect themselves by preventing entry by any persons upon their property, within their structures, or upon their farms. The promised liability protection for opening agricultural land to others for recreational purposes no longer exists. The risks of continuing the practice are great with limited opportunities to guard against liability."

 

For me, a sad, sad, sad, sad day to be an Iowan and a landowner.

Food for thought

Did you know, on average for every dollar spent on food - cereal, hamburger, fresh fruit or what ever,  the farmer receives five cents? Out of this five cents they have to pay for their land (either purchasing or renting), equipment, seed/animals, fuel, ferilizers/herbacides, labor, insurance and their own living expenses.


Did you know America's farmers support 24 million jobs? Or that U.S. farmers supply 41.56% of the world's corn? How about that one acre of soybeans can create 82,368 crayons?
America's farmers produce many products for not only the U.S., but also the world. Take a look at the impact America's farmers have. (Americas Farmers - Some Food For Thought)
Video from Americas Farmers

Beautiful Snow

I looked out my front door this morning to see big snowflakes falling. It had been snowing several hours by this time & well, I happen to love snow covered trees and bushes so I grabbed my phone & walked out onto the front porch, barefoot mind you and took a few quick snaps.

Talk About Us

I am always thrilled when a prospective clients calls and says "Joe Jones" told me to give you a call to talk about my insurance.

• This means Joe is happy with the service we have provided him.
• Joe is confident that we will work hard to make his friend happy.
• His friend trusts Joe's opinion.
• We have made a difference to Joe.

Customer referals are the highest compliment you can give anyone in the insurance profession.

Go ahead, make our day, talk about us.