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Martin Mitchell Mansion commemorative plate continues its journey

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UPDATE Dec. 11, 2014 / At 7AM today, Eric Jozwiak arrived at the Administration Building for the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 to attend the Naperville Education Foundation (NEF) meeting and to pass the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate.  Jozwiak chose the early morning hour  to celebrate the NEF at a time when he hoped all of the trustees and the Superintendent of schools likely would be present.

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Eric Jozwiak passed the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate to Dennise Vaughn, president of the Naperville Education Foundation, in anticipation that it would be filled with Sweet Snack Mix.

Throughout the year, NEF raises funds to benefit grants for programs “that enhance and enrich the educational experience” of District 203 students. Among its fundraising initiatives, NEF is known for its popular YUKS for Youth benefit, now planned for Feb. 28, 2015, at Wentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College.

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Sweet Snack Mix

With gratitude for the NEF and its dedicated mission for the students, Jozwiak of Keystone Business Services shared a special recipe, “Sweet Snack Mix,” a tasty treat that came from the kitchen of Susan Stuckey.

PN thanks Jen Hannon, Media Specialist of School District 203, who stepped up to take a bunch of memorable photos to capture the essence of the plate’s 13th stop around town on its yearlong journey to commemorate the 130th birthday of the Martin Mitchell Mansion, the stately Victorian home currently decked out for the holidays and tours at Naper Settlement.

Follow the travels of the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate in the print edition of Positively Naperville and online at www.napersettlement.org.

If all goes according to schedule, the Naperville Education Foundation will pass the friendship plate to celebrate another group or individual within the next two weeks.  Where will it go?

UPDATE Nov. 12, 2014 / Pass the Friendship Plate Celebrates 12th Recipient

Today Eric Jozwiak, Jessica Mock and Bruce Weaver of Keystone Business Services became the 12th organization to receive the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate during its yearlong journey to spread camaraderie and good tastes throughout the community.

Heidi Stone, Family Room Manager, at the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital presented the plate filed with Crackle Brownies baked by an “amazing volunteer,” Kim Depoister of McDonald’s Corporation, to Jozwiak, president of KBS.  She said they wanted to celebrate their connection with KBS for the company’s help in recent months that has benefited the place where families can rest and regroup while a child is receiving care at Edward.

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When Heidi Stone passed the MMM Friendship Plate, Joe Bard, Sandy Bard, Eric Jozwiak, Jessica Mock and Bruce Weaver sampled Crackle Brownies baked by volunteer Kim Depoister.

Stone noted that since last July, KBS has provided the Thursday evening meal once a month for RMFR. In addition, the company that focuses on cloud computing solutions has created a “streamlined” online registration process that will benefit all families who come to stay in the family room.

“We’re celebrating Keystone for the efficiency the company has brought to the staff and the families we serve.  Their solution is online registration that’s green, efficient and paperless,” said Stone. “We’re so thankful for this amazing donor.”

UPDATE / Pass the Friendship Plate Celebrates 11th Recipient

When 2PM rolled around on Oct. 28, the Aurelio’s Pizza Man met up with Ronald McDonald as he waited on the bench near the entrance of the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital.

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For the first time ever, Aurelio’s Pizza Man, Ronald McDonald, Celeste Wagner, Jessica Jozwiak and Katie Allabough gathered together to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Martin Mitchell Mansion.

The special time and place had been arranged by Celeste Wagner, owner of Aurelio’s Pizza, to Pass the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate to the folks at the Ronald McDonald Family Room.

Celeste arrived with an enormous pan of baked lasagna, recipe included, and passed the commemorative plate to Jessica Jozwiak, Chairwoman of the House Council, and Katie Allabough, Director of the Ronald McDonald Family Room.

Celeste wanted to celebrate and raise awareness for the Ronald McDonald Family Room, a place where families can rest, regroup and experience a positive environment, while staying close to their critically ill child. She also noted a new Ronald McDonald House is now under construction in Winfield.

Next up, the staff from the Ronald McDonald Family Room will select a delicious recipe and determine where to pass the plate, marking the 12th occasion to celebrate a community of friendship while commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Martin Mitchell Mansion at Naper Settlement.

Original Post, Oct. 17, 2014 / In an effort to spread good cheer, tasty recipes and friendship throughout the community, Martin Mitchell Mansion “Pass the Plate” Project Organizer Nancy Smith at Naper Settlement has encouraged recipients to share their experiences via photos, Facebook and Twitter.

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The Martin Mitchell Mansion commemorative plate, designed by Cheri Tompkins, is on a yearlong journey to spread friendship throughout the community.

Since June 29 during the first pass, Positively Naperville has been trying to keep up with the yearlong journey as the pretty platter makes its way throughout the city.

The borrowed friendship plate

As folks have been embracing the “pass the plate” idea, one reader asked to “borrow” the empty Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate that was designed by graphic artist Cheri Tompkins from Naper Settlement’s marketing department.

Marilyn Krueger, longtime member of the Naperville Garden Club, requested to use the commemorative plate to display along with scrumptious little cookies at Cup of Cheer™ Holiday Market and Tea as a way to help promote the 150th birthday of the Martin Mitchell Mansion. Krueger recalled the time several years ago when the Naperville Garden Club decorated the grand historic mansion as part of the house walk.

Smith, Director of Learning Experiences at the outdoor history museum, seized the opportunity to assist the garden club since Naper Settlement had ordered a number of extra plates in the event of breakage. And one idea led to another.

Next thing on October 9, Smith arrived outside the Larrance Academic Center, located at 309 E. School Street, on the campus of North Central College to present members of the Naperville Garden Club with a Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate to use during the club’s major fundraiser on December 4 and 5.

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Naperville Garden Club Social Chairpersons, Bernice Shaffer and Deb Tritt, joined Nancy Smith outside the Larrance Academic Center where the Holiday Market and Tea will be held this year on Dec. 4 and 5.

Longtime attendees of the Cup of Cheer™ Holiday Market and Tea are reminded that this year’s event at the Larrance Academic Center is at a new location.

Pass the Friendship Plate Celebrates 10th Recipient

Readers who have been following the Martin Mitchell Mansion Friendship Plate journey likely know it’s time for the 10th special occasion to pass the plate.

Last time, Janet Derrick of Naperville CARES passed a plate of toll house cookies to Melissa Garcia at BMO Harris Bank on October 3.

This time, on behalf of Garcia and BMO, Assistant VP/Bank Manager Nicki McIntyre presented a freshly-baked homemade Greek Walnut Cake to Celeste Wagner, owner of Aurelio’s Pizza, at the family restaurant located in Springbrook Square.

Garcia said they “presented to Celeste for her wonderful support of BMO Harris Bank and many other agencies and businesses within our community.”

McIntyre credited the delicious dessert, among the tastiest yet, to Maria Macris who works in the downtown Naperville location of BMO Harris.

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Aurelio’s Manager Tom Moberg, Aurelio’s owner Celeste Wagner and cook Jorge Blancan accepted a delicious cake from BMO Harris Assistant VP Nicki McIntyre.

Now Wagner has up to 15 days to pass the plate in friendship to somebody else. She appointed cook Jorge Blancan to select the recipe and write it up for the Naper Settlement Recipe Book so organizers also could post the recipe at www.napersettlement.org. The museum plans to follow the friendship plate on its journey until the end of June 2015.

When Aurelio’s pizza was suggested as an option that would be well received to fill any platter to be passed along, Wagner said that idea could create a challenge. She didn’t think she’d be able to share Aurelio’s family recipe.

Greek Walnut Cake from the kitchen of Maria Macris / BMO Harris

Ingredients for cake: 4 eggs, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup milk, 1 oz. Cognac, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 oz. lemon juice, grated peel from one orange, 1 tsp. baking power, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp. ground gloves,  2 cups flour and 2 cups chopped walnuts.

Ingredients for syrup: 3/4 cups sugar, 2 cups water and 1 tsp. lemon juice.

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs with sugar until light and fluffy.  Add oil and continue beating at medium speed.

2. While mixer is beating, add milk, 1 oz. Cognac, baking soda and lemon juice, grated orange peel, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, flour and chopped walnuts.

3. Spoon batter into a 13 x 9 baking pan that has been greased and floured.

4. Bake cake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. While cake is baking in the oven, prepare syrup. Boil water with the sugar and lemon juice for about five (5) minutes; syrup should be light to pour, not too thick.

6. Pour syrup over cake as soon as the cake is removed from the oven. Let the syrup soak through the cake before serving.

PN Editor’s Note: This delicious Greek Walnut Cake with its rich spicy flavor and aroma of oranges and cloves just has to be healthful for you!

 

 

 

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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