MY FAVORITE RECIPES By Dee Bryson: Meet Erin Kroll

Erin and Adam Kroll plan to continue raising their children on the Palouse.

Chances are, if you have ever spent any time in Whitman Hospital & Medical Center, you will have met Erin Kroll at some point. Erin is the Surgical Nurse Manager that is often found with a big, warm smile, greeting people when she isn’t busily assisting other nurses, taking care of patients or diligently working in her managerial responsibilities. Erin has been a part of the Colfax community for the past six years.

Erin has had many opportunities to travel throughout the world while serving missions.

Some of her travels include Jamaica, Australia, Guatemala, Israel, Jordan, Mexico and Cuba.

Erin noted that she finds it somewhat amusing that one of the countries she has not yet visited is the one that is closest in proximity, Canada.

Erin reminisced of her many adventures with foreign foods, including the time she was served a special dish containing octopus while in Cuba.

Erin is always sure to accept any offers of food, no matter how exotic it may appear.

She recalls being taught through her travels, as well as growing up with foreign exchange students in her home, that too often Americans are perceived as being rude for not accepting food that is unfamiliar to them.

Without hesitation, Erin gratefully agreed to accept the octopus dish.

After returning to the home of her host family, it was explained to her that the particular dish was a traditional offer of marriage.

You can imagine her surprise!

It was much later, while in college, that Erin accepted a proposal of marriage from Adam Kroll.

Adam and Erin were married in 2003 and just three days after marriage, Erin began nursing school in Arizona, which proved to be a blessing to their marriage.

A short six months into marriage, while enthusiastically practicing taking blood pressure on Adam, Erin noticed that something was amiss.

After this realization, several tests were done and it was determined that Adam suffered from a kidney dysfunction.

Over the next several years, Adam’s kidneys went from 35 percent functional to 17 percent, which put him on a transplant list.

Erin’s choice of education and career was not only a passion that she had, but ended up being an incredible gift in their marriage and perhaps even a tool in saving Adam’s life.

It was during those trying years that the Krolls relocated to Colfax where Adam had grown up.

Happily, Adam was the recipient of a new kidney in 2013, very generously donated by Adam’s brother, and Erin reports he is doing very well.

Adam and Erin plan on continuing to raise their children on the Palouse, where at least four generations of Krolls have lived. While Erin still looks forward to traveling someday, for now she finds joy in opening their home to a foreign exchange student from South Korea, which helps her continue her quest for experiencing new places and cultures. Erin said she celebrates their differences and appreciates the balance that it brings in their family and relationship.

Erin is very grateful for the recipes that have been handed down and that she is in possession of family recipes that have been hand-written by her grandmother, dating back to 1927. The recipe that Erin chose to share is a cherished family recipe that belonged to her grandmother.

Recipes

Grandma's Mashed Potatoes

5 lbs. of potatoes, boiled and mashed

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. sour cream (add to taste)

Garlic Salt (optional, add to taste)

Mix all together and serve.