My favorite recipes by Linda Marler

May 20, 20150

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Watkins family

Jalayna and Rob Watkins moved to Colfax about five years ago after living in Garfield for eight years. Rob grew up in Palouse and was in the first class to graduate from Garfield-Palouse High School. When the two school districts began their cooperative, Rob knew other athletes with whom he competed, but the other students were new to him.

A native of Wilbur, Jalayna graduated from Wilbur High School and had competed in Wilbur-Creston sports. She took some classes at Creston High School, as there was crossover between the two schools.

Jalayna’s grandparents homesteaded near Wilbur, with her father continuing to farm until he had a heart attack. He transitioned to being the golf course superintendent then.

After two years at Walla Walla Community College, Jalayna transferred to Washington State University, where she graduated in criminal justice and sociology. She worked for the Whitman County Juvenile Court for 14 years, starting the Monday after her college graduation. Since mid-February 2014, she has been employed as a social worker with the State of Washington.

Jalayna works with children who are in the foster care system. Along with working with the children, she helps parents do what is needed for a healthy home. Every decision she makes is important.

With a high-pressure career, it is very important for Jalayna to leave work at work and enjoy life at home. She has become very good at compartmentalizing now. Rob has driven ambulance for about 20 years and is a fire fighter and emergency medical technician, and they know they can vent to each other when stress gets high.

Although responding to accidents can be traumatic, Rob thinks that if one remembers that being there for people and helping them is important and what you would want someone to do for your family members, it puts the focus where it should be. The unpleasant details are less troubling if your focus is on helping.

Rob worked in Fairfield for the John Deere dealership. He studied diesel mechanics at Spokane Community College and then worked in agriculture at the US Department of Agriculture experiment station, Wilbur Ellis in Tekoa, McGregor Company, Cash Hardware and Arrow Machinery in parts. He is now working at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

Rob’s position at Schweitzer is receiving and warehouse supervisor, including the mailroom, secured warehouse and warrantee products receiving. Four or five of Rob’s high school classmates work there, and several of their kids and relatives work there as well.

Rob and Jalayna’s daughter Addison Belle is seven. Both Jalayna and Rob’s grandmothers had Belle in their names, and Jalayna’s grandmother’s best friend was Addison, so there is lots of history in her name. Addi is in first grade at Jennings Elementary and plays T-ball as well as every other sport. Soccer and T-ball are probably her favorites.

The Watkins are impressed with the talent in Colfax soccer teams. Addi will graduate from T-ball next year, and she is looking forward to softball.

When Rob worked nights for the first two years at Schweitzer, he realized that he was missing lots of family time, so spending weekends together became a priority. No more shopping and lunch with friends on Saturdays for Jalayna or hanging with the guys for Rob; this was their time to be together. Although he is working days again, they enjoy their time together on weekends, so they continue the practice.

On weekends they ride Harleys, go to movies, travel together or just hang out at home. Rob did not want to take the motorcycle safety course when he got his bike eight years ago, but Jalayna insisted. When she got her license three years ago, she took the course. When they ride, Addi rides behind Rob and chats in his ear constantly. He loves it, but Jalayna is more comfortable riding alone.

They took local motorcycle trips as far away as Walla Walla with her new bike last year. Riding with cousins Tony and Kim Kopf is fun. Cross-state rides are much more tiring on motorcycles than in cars, so they don’t go that far in a day. At present, they are planning their summer rides, and they do plan a trip to the ocean in nice weather. Riding to Leavenworth is a favorite trip, too.

Jalayna learned to cook from her mother and grandmothers, both farm wives, and participated in 4-H, too. Harvest meals were a specialty in her home, and living fifteen miles from the grocery store taught them all to be well-prepared. The Watkins family uses the crock pot frequently for meals that are ready when they arrive home.

Recipes

Crock Pot Lasagna

Addison’s favorite

spaghetti sauce

oven-ready lasagna noodles

cooked ground beef or your preferred mix of meat for lasagna

ricotta cheese

parmesan cheese

fresh spinach

Italian-blend cheese

Spray the inside of the crock pot with Pam or similar spray. Start layering ingredients in this order: spaghetti sauce; oven ready lasagna noodles; meat; mixture of ricotta, parmesan and spinach stirred together and Italian-blend cheese.

Continue layering until crock pot is full or you have as many layers as desired. Cook on low setting all day.

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

4-5 frozen chicken breasts

12-ounce container of salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can corn, rinsed and drained

8 ounces cream cheese

Place chicken breasts, salsa, black beans and corn in crock pot. Cook on low all day. 30 minutes before serving, stir in cream cheese.

French Toast Casserole

Rob's specialty, and very rich!

1 loaf raisin-cinnamon bread, cubed

8 ounces cream cheese, cubed