Dean Growing Up

Dean Hanson at 2127 Pioneer Dr, Jackson MI

Dean in Kindergarten, Harrington, '71-'72

Dean 1976

1977

1982

Pearl, Rudy and Dean July 1983

Abt 1969 Hamster Tracks?

Our home partially burned one day and the entire home was filled with soot. What a mess. When the fire department left and we were able to wander through the house, we noticed hamster tracks in a long trail. We ran to the top of the upstairs to find Puffy #?? still wired in his cage.

The funny thing about these tracks were that they were on the ceiling. It was clear that little feet with a touch of the little tail dragging behind them made the tracks, but we to this day do not know how they got there? Maybe one of the previous Puffy’s came to visit?

From Dean~

Rudy Groucho in a Ski Hat

Where do I start in describing the impact the famous "Egor" experience (a.k.a. "Turn out the lights") had on my childhood?  Oh man, my friend Jamie, niece Heather, obviously Ethan, and numerous others to this day talk about that feeling of loving the game but petrified by the anxiety of potentially getting found and "tortured" by "Egor"....  I think about all of the time Dad took out of his evening of relaxation to make us all laugh, scream and run.  I know his back was hurting so much at that time of his life, so I appreciate the sacrifice even more. (And Damn, Dar--that's why he always found me in my favorite hiding spot--cuz it was the same as yours!)  To date, still one of my greatest memories.  Better than ANY Haunted House!

Pearl's Green Beans Caesar

Pearl and Dean in Moms Kitchen

FROM DAR HANSON

This recipe was really from Betty Crocker Cookbook circa 1957- Mom tweaked it a little and we don't mind a bit sharing it with "Betty"- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mom's Green Beans Caesar
serves 4 - 6

Green Beans,1 1/2 lb fresh, cut into 1 inch pieces (or 3 cans cut green beans, drained)Olive Oil, 2 TVinegar, 1 TMinced Onion, 1 T , or finely chopped fresh onionSalt, 1/4 t Garlic, 2 cloves, crushedPepper, 1/4 t Dry Bread Crumbs, 2 T Parsley, 1/4 C fresh chop Parmesan Cheese, 3 T grated  (Dean & I use 'Pecorino Romano' from the great ROMA DELI)
Butter, 1 T, melted
paprika

1. Heat beans and 1 inch of salted water to boiling. Cook uncovered for about 5 minutes. Cover and cook until tender, 10-15 minutes, on medium heat. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Drain beans when done. (or drain canned beans)
2. Toss beans, oil, vinegar, onion, salt, garlic, and pepper. Pour into ungreased 1 quart casserole dish.
3. Mix bread crumbs, cheese, parsley and butter. sprinkle over beans. Sprinkle with paprika.
4. Cook uncovered in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

MOMS NOTE IN THE COOKBOOK: "IT'S NICE IF YOU LET IT SIT A LITTLE -GOOD W/ TURKEY"

Thanksgiving on Pioneer Drive

Our front yard in winter

Our backyard in winter 

FROM DAR HANSON, daughter and 2nd child of Rudy and Pearl Hanson)

(Pioneer Drive Thanksgivings included Rudy, Pearl, Dave, Dar, Doug,
Darrell and later Dean Hanson/Uncle Phil, Aunt Alma, cousins Tim, April
& Bridget Kelly- PEARL & ALMA are sisters...)

MY MEMORIES:

-Us kids sledding at the "canyon" before dinner...(back when it snowed big in November!)

-Those toasty hugs from mom coming in from the cold...

-Dad wiggling the turkey legs to test for doneness.. he always said "just how I like it- falling apart!" (yah swede)

-Mom scouring the house into oblivion the week before (das German).

-The 'kids table' that you never seem to graduate from..."maybe next year" Aunt Alma sympathized...

-The chairs all matched with a piano bench here, & a phone book there....

-"Helping" mom pick out the linens from the linen closet...

-Dad hauling out the extra "table leaves" from the front hall closet...

-Mom's "golden wheat" pattern on the good dishes...

-Itchy sweaters....

-Aunt Alma & cousins Ape and Brigee bringing the DEE- licious pies made all the way from scratch...

-Uncle Phil's cool car where the doors opened like a limosine!

-The roasting bird driving us nuts...how the adults tortured us kids by "visiting" for what seem like HOURS before we could dig in...(if we had it our way, we'd just knock each other on the shoulder, show off any new toys and EAT..)

What are YOUR childhood memories?? 

"THE KID'S TABLE"  MY COUSINS BRIDGET KELLY, APRIL KELLY (ALMA'S GIRLS) & DAR HANSON- THANKSGIVING ABOUT 1968

 "THE MIESKE SISTERS" PEARL MIESKE HANSON & ALMA MIESKE KELLY- LATE 60'S

 MY FATHER RUDY DOING THE DISHES- PIONEER DRIVE

L to R STANDING: GRANDMA MIESKE, APRIL KELLY,  TIM KELLY, DAVE HANSON, MOM PEARL HANSON, DOUG HANSON, OUR UNCLE PHIL KELLY (ALMAS HUBBY)- BOTTOM SEATED L to R: BRIDGET KELLY, DEAN HANSON, AUNT ALMA KELLY &  DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING PIONEER DR. ABOUT 1967

L TO R: RUDY HANSON, OUR UNCLE ROBERT HANSON, OUR COUSIN TIM KELLY, HIS DAD OUR UNCLE PHIL KELLY- FRONT DOUG HANSON, DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING ABOUT 1965 ON PIONEER DRIVE.

 FROM BOTTOM TO LEFT: APRIL KELLY, BRIDGET KELLY, DAVE HANSON, DEAN HANSON (IN HIGH CHAIR), TIM KELLY & DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING ON PIONEER DRIVE ABOUT 1967..

Family Picnic RUDY BURGERS!

FROM DAR HANSON

(for Hanson eyes only!)

One Father's Day I surprised my dad with a new Weber Grill. Shortly after,  "RUDY BURGERS" were born.  Rudy Burgers are always served with "secret formula" potato salad. I tried in vain to peek over Dad's shoulder to find out how he made both- other than the opening and closing of alot of cupboards, the only thing he told me was "potatoes can take A LOT of salt"...ok Dad-  anyway they were killer and we miss Dad manning the grill...here's the recipes we deduced: (BROTHERS: please correct any of this I missed)

The SECRET INGREDIENT for RUDY BURGERS was this awful liver powder, but I swear it made those burgers tender and juicy and full of flavor...

DAD'S FAMOUS "RUDY BURGERS" 

  -Couple lbs (and a 1/2) of hamburger
  -1 raw egg
 - Dried Onion Flakes
 - Season Salt
 - Dried Parsley
 - Dash Kitchen Bouquet (liquid)
 - (THE SECRET) Couple tablespoons desiccated liver powder. 
- Lots onion & garlic powder
 - Celery Salt 
 - Pepper
 - Big blob of Ketchup
 - Squirt of Mustard 

- Mix together with a ** LIGHT HAND ** so meat doesn't get tough

-Shape into patties

-Poke an indentation in center of each

-Place patties between wax paper and leave in fridge on a plate for a few hours to blend flavors

-Bring to room temp before grillin' 'em up. 

DADS FAMOUS "SECRET FORMULA" POTATO SALAD

-Boil peeled, cut up  Idahos

While taters are still warm, BUT NOT COMPLETELY COOLED, add:
-*Lots* a onion and celery salt

-Garlic Powder

-Pepper

-Miracle Whip

-Mustard

-Dash of white Vinegar

-Dried Onion Flakes

-Bottle of Kraft French Dressing (old fashion bright orange kind -- NOT Red Russian)-Chopped hard boiled eggs

Salad will be kind of soupy, but will absorb flavors and some liquid as it cools. cover in fridge.  Decorate with rounds of hard boiled eggs, cover with paprika and dried parsley.  Stick in Mom's big serving spoon before talking it out to the table.

Put word out to family and friends, set the picnic table on the porch with Mom's red and white checkered tablecloth, her old Melmac "picnic" dishes and plastic glasses, set out a jar of sweet pickles, ketchup, mustard, a bag of super soft Holsum Ham "Burgler" Buns, (bread for the kids), a plate of hot buttered corn from Dad's garden, Frito's and pop.  

Pile the burgers up on the side of the black Weber on the outdoor patio.  Those guests who are new to the game will try to get recipes from Dad.  Dad smiles and repeats two words -- "Secret Formula".  Mom will push vanilla or chocolate ice cream from big round paper tubs (Clark the milkman delivered) for dessert.  

(LATER)..Man, I'm full! 

Dean, Gramma Pearl, Billy George (Doug's best bud), and Brian Hanson

 L to R: Karen & Darrell, Kathy, Doug, Brian, Sherri, Dean, Gramma Pearl, Grandpa Rudy on our porch in Jackson, Mich- about '87

Pearl in front, Dar (standing), the rest Dean's buddies..)

"My" 1967(?) Chevy convertible!

Dean driving at age 3. Rudy seems too relaxed!

The Rudy & Pearl Hanson Family

With spouses and grandchildren