NIAGARA, Wis. — My husband and I met in college, and we soon learned that we had come from very different backgrounds. While we both had grown up in blue collar families and each had three siblings, our mothers were very different from each other. His was the typical ’50s homemaker and most definitely a stay-at-home mom. She was a wonderful, caring woman with a very traditional role. Growing up, she had taken over running the household for her mother who was busy keeping the books and helping her husband run their dairy business.

My mother was anything but traditional. She could not stay home, as she was both mom and breadwinner for our family. Thankfully, she had attended business college after high school, so had secretarial skills that came in very handy after our father’s untimely death. While my mother-in-law had all day to cook, my mom was queen of the quick and easy meal. And many of those were hit and miss. She had grown up on a farm and spent her time helping her father work the fields, learning to drive a tractor at the age of 10. She spent her time in the barn with her dad rather than in the kitchen with her mom.

I never really learned to cook from anyone and could make only one really nice meal when we got married. My specialty back then was stuffed pork chops; a meal I had made my husband in the dorm when we were still students. So, I believe he thought I knew how to cook. Surprise! I couldn’t, and we certainly could not afford pork chops every night. I learned a variety of hamburger dishes, and there were many meals of canned Dinty Moore stew and free pizza because he worked at the Pizza Hut back then. He lost 15 pounds the first year we were married. His folks had us over for supper a couple of nights a week; I think his mom was really worried about her son. Eventually, after many mistakes, I became a very good cook; a healthy grocery budget helps greatly.

The culinary world, along with my learning curve in the kitchen, is full of happy mistakes. Whether thanks to unusual weather or broken machinery, some foods that are now commonplace were invented by complete chance. Read on to learn about five tasty accidental treats.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

As co-proprietor, Ruth Graves Wakefield was known for baking delectable desserts for her guests at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass. One night in 1930, Wakefield was baking a popular Colonial-era recipe for Butter Drop Do cookies and decided to improvise by adding chocolate. Realizing she had run out of baker’s chocolate, she chopped up a block of Nestle chocolate gifted to her by a representative from the Nestle company. Instead of the chocolate dispersing while baking and creating a solid chocolate cookie, it remained in the form of gooey globs. The result was a hit with her guests, and Wakefield dubbed her new invention the “Chocolate Crunch Cookie.”

The new cookie grew in popularity and its recipe was later published. Wakefield went on to strike a deal with Nestle, providing them with the rights to the recipe in exchange for a lifetime of free chocolate. The recipe first appeared on the back of Nestle packaging in 1939.

Corn Flakes

John H. Kellogg may be best known for his patented Corn Flakes. Kellogg was a doctor, nutritionist, and health advocate who became superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a popular health resort in Michigan, in 1876. While there, Kellogg experimented with various foods to promote wellness for his guests. He believed that simple, bland foods would improve digestion. While working on a new kind of wheat meal, Kellogg rolled it out, but forgot about it overnight. Instead of loaves of bread when baked, it produced thin flakes that proved popular with guests.

John’s brother, William Keith Kellogg, saw an opportunity to broadly market the product by adding sugar to make the flakes more flavorful, and went on to found the Kellogg Company with its initial offering being Frosted Flakes. A former patient of John Kellogg’s, C.W. Post, was also inspired by this accidental invention, and created Grape Nuts.

Worcestershire sauce

Despite its difficult name, the invention of Worcestershire sauce was an easy, although accidental process — one that just took a “little” time. This condiment was created in Worcester, England, in 1835, when a former governor of India was looking for sauces that reminded him of his favorite flavors from the Asian subcontinent. He asked drugstore owners John Lea and William Perrins to come up with a product. The owners tested a fish-and-vegetable mixture that produced a very strong odor. So, they stored the sauce in the cellar of their store — and promptly forgot about it — for two years. By the time they came upon it while cleaning the basement, it had fermented and obtained an appealing flavor. It eventually became popular as a condiment throughout the United Kingdom. Named after the town where it was invented, Worcestershire sauce was first exported to America in 1839.

Nachos

Nachos originated in the border town of Piedra Negas, Texas. The dish was invented in the early 1940s in a frantic effort to please customers. Ignacio Anaya, who went by the nickname Nacho, was the maître d’hotel of the Victory Club when a group of women arrived at the restaurant outside of business hours and after the cooks had gone home. Not wanting the customers to leave, Anaya ran to the kitchen and gathered up a few ingredients that he had lying around — fried tortilla chips, Colby cheese, and jalapenos — which he combined and baked until the cheese melted. The diners loved the concoction and requested seconds, so the restaurant added it to the menu.

Later, Frank Liberto took Anaya’s concept and made a few changes so they did not need refrigeration. The revised version was introduced at a Texas Rangers game in 1976, and today nachos are a staple at sporting arenas across the country.

Popsicles

Frank Epperson is certainly not a household name, but he’s credited with developing a popular summertime treat when he was just 11-years-old: the Popsicle. In 1905, Epperson absentmindedly left his cup of soda with a stirring stick on the porch overnight; that night temperatures dropped below freezing. The next day, Epperson discovered his drink had frozen over and transformed into a delicious treat, which he dubbed the “Epsicle.” Epperson brought the idea to his schoolmates, who loved the frozen treat, and he later introduced it to his own children. They referred to the treat as “Pop’s ‘sicle,” a name that Epperson patented in 1923. That same year, Epperson extended his sales beyond his hometown by selling the Popsicle at Neptune Beach in the San Francisco area, and it soon grew in popularity.

Sometimes, happy accidents do, indeed, have surprising outcomes and lead to amazing inventions… or the tastiest of treats.

Source: Bennett Kleinman for Food & Drink magazine

——

NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

The center welcomes anyone who would like to entertain residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

The third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. has a Memory Cafe – a fun hour to spend with others. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program runs on donations.

Sunday: Play games in dining room, 10 a.m.; work on weekend packets, 7 p.m.

Monday: Room visits, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; card club, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Nail spa, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Mission Covenant Church, 10 a.m.

Thursday: Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.; bunny/dog visit, 2 p.m.

Friday: Chitter chatter group, 10 a.m.; LCR game, 10:30 a.m.; Golden K bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzle packet, 10 a.m.; “The Wall” on Game Show Network channel, 7 p.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; reminisce, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; afternoon matinee with popcorn, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.; jokes and coffee, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Just friends, 9 a.m.; book club, 9:30 a.m.; balloon toss, 10:45 a.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; beer tasting, 2 p.m.; action movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Sunshine Club, 9 a.m.; Travel Club, 9:30 a.m.; Norway Senior Center, 9:45 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; Christ United, 2 p.m.; balloon toss, 2:45 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour with Gayle, 2 p.m.

Friday: Memory books, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; Oktoberfest party with Jan and Gino, 2 p.m.; romance movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: “Price Is Right”/”Pictionary,” 9:30 a.m.; geri-gym, 10:45 a.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

Sunday: Sunday devotional, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; movie/games, 1 p.m.

Monday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; national apple month, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; after dinner reminiscing, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; national book month, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; autumn tea party, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee time, 9 a.m.; Hope Church, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; music by Bob Larson, 1:30 p.m.; after dinner reminiscing, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; National Leif Erikson Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Golden K bingo, 2 p.m.

Friday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; World Mental Health Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; popcorn balls, 2 pm.

Saturday: Manicures, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; craft or games, 1:30 p.m.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and encouraged to join in.

Sunday: Spelling bee, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; movie and popcorn, 1:30 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; resident council meeting, 1 p.m.; painting pumpkins, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; you be the judge, 10 a.m.; music with Bob Larson, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; baking: apple crisp, 10 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary, 9 a.m.; Catholic Mass, 9:30 a.m.; short stories, 10 a.m.; derby day, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: Matching phrases, 10 a.m.; happy hour with Jim on the piano, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; prize bingo, 2 p.m.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

No information was available.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a. m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday funday, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday night football, 7 p.m.; coloring pages; daily chronicles.

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; cranium crunch, 11 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.; Bible studies, 3 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; “Monday Night Football,” 6:45 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; juice hour/who-what-where, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; rummy, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles, fall ride.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; Resident Council and food talk, a10:30 a.m.; what’s in the bag, 11 a.m.; crafty Wednesday, 2 p.m.; kings n’ corner, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bingo, 10:30 a.m.; trivia/Bunco, 2 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; Thursday night football, 7 p.m.; daily chronicles; fall ride.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; sing along, 11:15 a. m.; crafts, 2 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; Friday night movie “The Life List”, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Saturday: Morning visits and reality orientation; kick ball, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 11 a.m.; juice hour, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 3 p.m.; daily chronicles, activity packets.

SENIOR CENTERS

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Hearty pork stew, pickled beets, dinner roll, pudding.

Wednesday: Italian cheddar bake with noodles, Italian vegetables, fruit cup.

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, biscuit.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Dine-in eating Monday through Thursday at noon, salad bar at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Menu for the week —

Monday: Liver or substitute, roasted garlic potatoes, biscuit, pudding.

Tuesday: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, fruit crumble.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, biscuit.

Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, garlic bread.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Easton Anderson

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalke (Mondays) and Jess Anderson (Tuesdays/Wednesdays)

906-875-6709

The center is serving meals for dine-in or takeout – call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or place an order. All food purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. – call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. Deliveries to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week —

Monday: Spaghetti, garlic bread.

Tuesday: Meatballs, cheesy potatoes.

Wednesday: New — Asian night. Mongolian beef with crab Rangoon.

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Bratwurst, macaroni and cheese, corn.

Tuesday: Italian cheddar bake with noodles, Italian vegetables, breadstick.

Wednesday: Boiled dinner, biscuit, applesauce.

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo over fettucine, broccoli, garlic bread, cookies.

Friday: Pancakes, sausage, hashbrowns, pears, yogurt.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes art club, noon to 3 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; board games, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.; chess, noon.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Head cook: Joan Wickman 906-246-3559

Program president: Lisa Casey 906-282-7899.

Salad bar opens at 11 a.m., with the meal at 11:30 a.m. and dessert to follow. Evening meal is served every third Wednesday of the month, with sponsored activities. Takeout meals are available. Delivery offered to homebound residents within Felch, West Branch and Breen townships.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Fried fish, tater tots, baked beans.

Tuesday: Pork loin chop, sweet potato bake.

Wednesday: Pasty pie, salad.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Menu for the week —

Monday: Cranberry chicken, baked potato, green beans, fruit.

Tuesday: Chef’s salad with white beans, bread sticks, cottage cheese with pears.

Wednesday: Oktoberfest! Brat and kraut on a bun, German potato salad, beet salad, Black Forest dump cake.

Thursday: Pasty, coleslaw, fruit, pumpkin poke cake.

Friday: Chicken strips, western beans, copper pennies, fruited Jell-O.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Aurora-Hillcrest Dining Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Florence Community Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Fence Town Hall

Serving at noon Wednesday only. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Tipler Town Hall

Serving at noon on second Thursday only. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals-On-Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, Capri vegetables, diced peaches, whole wheat bread.

Tuesday: Barbecue meatballs, brown rice, corn, five-way mixed vegetables, pineapple tidbits.

Wednesday: Penne chicken casserole, Italian vegetables, Brussel sprouts, fruited yogurt, whole wheat bread.

Thursday: Beef chili, sweet potato wedges, corn bread, warm cinnamon apples.

Friday: Baked macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, green beans, diced pears, whole wheat bread.

Milk available at all meals.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Salad bar opens at 11:30 a.m., with the meal served at noon a.m. No night meals are available. Meals can be prepared for carryout.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Brats, macaroni and cheese, corn.

Tuesday: Lemon chicken and rice, roast squash, applesauce.

Wednesday: Chili with beans, side salad, hard roll.

Thursday: Cheese tortellini with meat sauce, wax beans, garlic bread, pudding parfait.

All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Niagara Senior Center/Cafe

715-251-1603

Dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation for the meal is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Bingo is played on most Wednesdays. Transportation to the meal site is available.

Tuesday: Chili, corn bread, spinach salad, applesauce.

Wednesday: Oktoberfest! Brat, Bavarian sauerkraut, German potato salad, baked beans, apple crisp.

Thursday: Baked fish, baby baker potatoes, coleslaw, rye bread, Mandarin oranges.

Bingo on Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

Norway Center

Director: Alicia Rochon

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:30 a.m. Salad bar available from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. hose attending should let staff know in advance if planning to dine in or picking up the meal.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Lasagna, garlic bread, green beans.

Tuesday: Chicken cordon bleu, rice with broccoli, fruit crumble.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn.

Thursday: Pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas.

Birthdays and bingo on Thursday.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Dine-in meals served. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals also available. Dine-in meal is $5 and take-out meal is $6. Reservations are required. Call 906-542-3273 and specify if you want to dine in or takeout. All ages are welcome. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Pasties — celebrating October birthdays with birthday cake.

Wednesday: Chicken salad sliders, ham-bean soup.

Thursday: Baked parmesan encrusted fish, baby red potatoes.

The center will offer a fall color tour bus ride on Oct. 13. Those interested can call 906-221-1332 or see Nancy or Monica.