Rolling Hills Casino

Congratulations to Leslie Lohse on being named 2012 Woman of the Year for the 2^nd District. She was honored at a ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday.

"Leslie is a passionate and dedicated citizen who ably serves her revered and historic Nomlaki tribe, her community and her state through her selfless leadership," said Assemblyman Jim Nielsen. "Her energy and abilities have ensured a bright future for generations now and yet to be born in the north state."

Leslie, as Treasurer of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Band of Indians, participated in putting together the Tribe’s purchase of over 2,000 acres near Corning, and was instrumental in bringing about the construction of the 70,000-square-foot Rolling Hills Casino that includes three restaurants. She also played an active role in the tribe's success in bringing about two new hotels next to the casino, the John Daly Signature link-style Sevillano Golf Course, and a private hunting club to the tribal lands. The Tribe recently opened the Rolling Hills Clinic, on in Corning and one in Red Bluff, to provide medical and dental services for the county.

The Health Clinic is especially important to Leslie, who is an active community advocate dedicated to making Tehama County a safer, healthier, and more prosperous community. 

Leslie also serves on the California Native American Heritage Commission, National Indian Health Services Budget Committee, Tehama County Girls, Inc. and as the chairwoman for California Tribal Business Alliance.

Leslie and her husband, Larry, live in Willows. They have two sons, Erik and Kyle, and four grandchildren.

Held every March during Women's History Month, the Woman of the Year ceremony recognizes one woman from each of the 80 Assembly districts. It started in 1987. The 2nd Assembly District is comprised of all or parts of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties.

Local favorite, Chad Bushnell returns to Rolling Hills Casino this Saturday night!  The young cowboy from Red Bluff is releasing an album soon, and we expect him to become a huge star after its release.

Bruce Turgon of Foreigner is helping Chad produce the album, which features mostly original songs and a couple of covers. We expect Chad will play a few of those tunes at the Rolling Hills gig.

Chad doesn’t just wear the cowboy hat for style, he is a true country boy who grew up on the rodeo scene. His mom is a barrel racer.  His dad is a Farrier used to ride bulls and bareback horses. Chad himself competes in steer wrestling and team roping.

Chad’s been playing guitar since he was five, and he credits his dad for teaching him how to play.  Chad has performed the enthusiastic crowds at venues and events throughout Northern California and has opened for big name acts including Mark Wills, James Otto (two times), Billy Currington, Joni Morris, Frank Hannon, and the Crist Family

As busy as Chad is making a musical name for himself, he takes education seriously, which we applaud. Chad is a student at Chico State University majoring in Business Marketing. 

Hot Tip: Like his page on Facebook to hear some of his songs. 

Sometimes the best things in life happen by chance — and often just when you start feeling hopeless.

After the 27^th publisher rejected his first manuscript, a dejected Dr. Seuss walked along the sidewalks of New York, planning to burn the book in his apartment incinerator. On Madison Avenue, however, he bumped into a friend who that very morning had started a job as an editor in the Vanguard Press children’s section. Within hours, the men signed a contract, and in 1937 Vanguard Press published “And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street.” 

The artist Wayne Theibauld has a similar story. After rejections by almost every gallery in New York, Wayne lost both hope and confidence.  At the door of Alan Stone’s gallery, he lost his nerve to go in and leaned on the outdoor wall. Alan saw Wayne and beckoned him inside. “I thought the guy was nuts … he had all these paintings of cakes and pies,” recalls Alan. However, Alan gave Wayne a show anyway, which was an immediate sensation.  Even the Museum of Modern Art bought a painting at that show.  One of those early paintings sold at an auction a few years ago for a record price of 1.7 million.

Nothing ever happens if you stay home and do nothing.  Get off the couch and go somewhere, do something.  You never know who you might run into that can change the course of your life for the better.  Who knows that person might be at Rolling Hills Casino right now.

It’s been raining for days and rain is in the forecast for six of the next ten days. Is the gloomy weather starting to get you down?  Here are eight ideas to brighten up your day.

1. Meet a friend for coffee.
Aromas Coffee Shop is my favorite place for a caramel macchiato.

2. Take a bubble bath. 
There’s nothing better than a bubble bath in a Jacuzzi in your room at the Lodge.

Here’s a recipe for a wonderful bath with long lasting fluffy bubbles that will help you retain moisture in your skin : Mix ½ cup mild body soap, 1 tablespoon of honey, and one egg white. Pour the mixture under the water as you draw your bath.

3. Play a new game.
There’s a new Yahtzee game at Rolling Hills.

4. Try a new recipe.
You’ll find a great recipe for our Artichoke Encrusted Halibut on our blog, “Recipes made easy at the Corning, Wine, Food, and Art Festival.”  It’s a favorite at Timber’s Steakhouse.

We’ve also posted some recipes on YouTube.  Here’s one on how to cook a salmon filet in minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAjDHvgaVnI.

5. Play a round of golf at Sevillano Links. 
It’s no drearier right now than it is on a summer day in Scottland where the game was invented. Start your game after noon for the best rates and warmest temperatures.

6. Go out for breakfast or lunch at Timber’s or the Rolling Hills Buffet.
If you are 50 or over, enjoy a 50% discount on your Buffet meal on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

7. Get a new look.
There’s a hair stylist at the Traveler’s Center at Rolling Hills.

8. Have a party. 
Invite your friends and make a day — or night — of it. Rolling Hills has everything you need for a fun time including fun and games, and food and drinks. Plan your party for Saturday night, and treat your guests to free live music and dancing in Carlinos. Best part is you don’t have to clean your house before the party starts. 

Rolling Hills Casino chefs demonstrated how to make artichoke-encrusted halibut, bananas foster, wild mushroom beurre blanc, and other delicious dishes at the recent Wine, Food and Art Festival.  After the demonstrations, attendees sampled the food they had just learned to make. 

The food was as beautiful as it was delicious.  Don’t take my word for it.  Check out this two-minute YouTube video with highlights of the demonstrations and entertainment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r7lyWiB0XA&feature=youtu.be

More than 1,000 people attended the event, which raised over $10,000 for the Corning Rotary Foundation. After expenses are paid, the profits will go towards scholarships and local charities.

Here’s a few of the recipes our chefs made for you to try:

Timbers Artichoke Crusted Halibut

Ingredients:

6 ounces drained, marinated artichoke hearts
1 tbsp. lemon juice
½ tbsp. lemon zest
1 tsp. chopped peeled garlic
6 ounces extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
4-6 fillets of halibut weighing 6 to 7 ounces each
4 ounces of Japanese Panko breadcrumbs

Preparation:

In a stainless steel mixing bowl combine your artichoke hearts, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic, and blend together. Then add your Parmesan cheese, panko, and a nice drizzle of olive oil.

Once your crust is well blended, take spread the crust evenly and not too thick on one side of the filet.

Heat your skillet with the remaining olive oil and place the fish, crusted side down, into the pan and cook until golden brown. Flip the halibut over and place in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes

Bananas Foster

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons rum
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 pint vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas and walnuts in pan. Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla ice cream.

Pan Seared True Cod with Wild Mushroom Beurre Blanc

The Cod

Ingredients:

2  six ounce cod fillets
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tb. olive oil
¼ cup all purpose flour

Preparation:

Trim, rinse and portion cod fillets. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat olive oil in heavy frying pan. Lightly coat fish with flour and shake off excess. Place fish in pan skin side up and cook until the fish releases easily from the pan. Turn fish over and finish cooking other side.

The Wild Mushroom Beurre Blanc

Ingredients:

3 Cloves Garlic (Chopped)
1 Shallot (Chopped)
½ Onion (Chopped)
1 Thyme Sprig
½ Carrot (Chopped)
White Wine
3 Tb. Butter
3 Tb. Lemon Juice
1 Tb. Capers
1 Cup Wild Mushrooms
¼ Cup Tomatoes (Chopped)
¼ cup Fish Stock
Parsley Garnish

Preparation:

With the same pan used to cook the fish, add garlic, shallots, onion, carrots, thyme and a splash of wine.  Let cook until carrots are soft.  Add butter, lemon juice, capers, mushrooms, tomatoes and stock. Let cook until mushrooms are soft.

Rice Medley

Ingredients:

¼ cup Wild Rice
1 cup Stock
1 cup Assorted mixture of  other hardy rice
2 cup Stock

Preparation:

Cook the wild rice and assorted other rice separately. Add rice and stock together, and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 50 minutes.

Once cooked, mix the two rices together.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Milk
2 cups Heavy Cream
1 cup Granulated Sugar, divided in half
Pinch Salt
1 Whole Vanilla Bean, Halved and Seeds Scraped
5 Large Egg Yolks
11/2 Teaspoons pure Vanilla Extract

Preparation:

In a medium pan over medium low heat, whisk together the milk, cream, half of the sugar, salt and the vanilla bean.  Bring mixture to a boil. While the milk mixture is heating, combine the yolks and remaining sugar in a medium bowl.  Using a hand mixer on low speed or whisk until mixture is pale and thick. Once the milk mixture comes to a slight boil, whisk about 1/3 of the hot mixture into the yolk mixture.  Add another 1/3 and return to the sauce pan.  Using a wooden spoon stir the mixture constantly over low heat until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon.  Do not boil or the yolks will overcook. Pour the mixture through a sieve, cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Add to ice cream maker until ice cream is achieved.