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 The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
November, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 7
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| Upcoming Area Events |
12/1 - Kids 4 Kids Holiday Gift Drive, CASA, Mr. Gatti's
12/2 - Carol of Lights, 7pm Texas Tech
12/2 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Texas State, 8pm
12/4 - Hobbs Christmas Nite Lite Parade
12/4 - "Babes in Toyland," Lubbock Community Theater
12/5 - Old Mill Trade Days. Post, TX
12/5 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. New Mexico, 2pm
12/8 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Lamar, 7pm
12/10 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 7:30pm
12/11 - Holiday of Hope for Kids, CASA, 11:30am
12/13 - Texas Tech Basketball vs. Washington, 6pm
12/21 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Mercer, 7pm
12/22 - Texas Tech Basketball vs. Stanford, 7pm
12/25 - Christmas
12/28 - Hobbs Holiday Tournament
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| Milestones |
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Kyle Levy joined the CTSI team on 11/2. He comes to us from Brink Suzuki in Lubbock. Please join us in welcoming him to the family!
Donna Beavers' 19th anniversary with the company was on 11/10.
Bobby Cude celebrated his first year with CTSI on 11/17.
11/20 marked Helen Burns' 9th year with the company.
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| HP Special |
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| From David's Desk... |
 Having Problems? CTSI is Here to Help
Communication is a key part of solving any problem, no matter how large or small. With that in mind, let me tell you about the best ways to contact our team. We have established several methods that you can use to get our attention. Choose the one that works best for you to let us know you need our assistance or have a problem:
Email us at help@ctsinet.com! We have a great new avenue for you to submit requests for assistance for business-hours support. You can simply e-mail your support requests to us at: help@ctsinet.com. This is a quick and easy way to make us aware of your support needs. By emailing help@ctsinet.com, your request is automatically entered into our system and the appropriate people here are notified. Emailing is a great way to send us screenshots, error messages or file attachments that will help communicate the issue. CTSI's system will automatically identify you by email address and put your request under your company in our records.
Log into our customer portal and create a new support request. Browse to www.ctsinet.com/support and enter your login credentials. (If you haven't used this before, you can call or email us to setup your login credentials.) We have established this web page to be used by our customers to view and add information on any service request associated with your company.
Give us a call! Obviously, you can always call with any request! If you've got a technical, software or hardware issue of any kind, dial our main number at (806) 793-8961 (or 800-687-2874 outside of Lubbock) and press option 3 for support services. This will direct you to our service advocates who will be eager to assist you. They will get all the pertinent information on the problem and find the next available technician with the skills appropriate to your issue. I realize that in years past, many of you called your favorite technician directly, but since they are out of the office helping other clients so frequently, this is one of the slowest ways to get help. When CTSI's technicians are at your place of business, we don't want them stopping to check on messages left for them at the office. We want them focused on the issue at hand. When you dial in and choose option "3" for support, you'll get through to our service advocates, whose responsibility is to answer your call and get your issue on the road to resolution as quickly as possible.
However you communicate with us to request support, we'll work to resolve your issue as quickly as possible, either by connecting up to your server remotely or by asking you to allow us to temporarily take control of your workstation. We have invested a great deal over the years in resources that help us diagnose and resolve issues quickly so that we can help you be as productive as possible and get you home on time.
At CTSI we pride ourselves on the outstanding service we provide to each of you, our valued clients. We strive to handle your requests efficiently and completely. If you feel we are not exceeding your expectations or if you have suggestions on ways that we can improve our service, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
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| Texas Mission of Mercy |
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TMOM is a large multi-day dental mission that brings hundreds of dentists, dental professionals and other volunteers from across Texas together to donate their professional services. Their goal is to relieve immediate pain and restore smiles.
Without volunteers, Texas Mission of Mercy would not be able to provide dental care to so many patients who cannot access oral health care on their own.
The most recent event was held in Lubbock on November 13-14. Dr. Kathleen Nichols, CTSI client and Chair of the Lubbock Mission of Mercy, informed us of this worthwhile organization and their plans. CTSI was pleased to be able to take part in the event by providing computers and networking equipment, helping hundreds of individuals without insurance get the dental care they need.
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| Windows 7 . . . It's Here! |
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Windows 7 has some great new features that enhance its ease of use, and CTSI can help you get started. Below is a listing of some of the cool new features and some info on the different versions available. Pricing may vary according to what you're currently running and the number of licenses you wish to order. As always, contact your CTSI sales consultant for specific quoting information.
Windows Live Essentials:
It's free software that puts tools right at your fingertips. Instead of having to click on several different icons to load programs you'd use every day, Windows Live Essentials consolidates many of them into a single location. The free download includes:
- Messenger: Chat instantly with friends and family on your PC or mobile phone.
- Photo Gallery: Find, fix, and share your photos.
- Mail: Manage multiple e-mail accounts (like Hotmail) in one place.
- Writer: Compose your blog, add photos and video, then post it on the web.
- Movie Maker: Turn your photos and videos into greatlooking movies and slide shows.
- Family Safety: Manage and monitor online activities so your kids stay safe.
- Toolbar: Search instantly from any webpage.
Aero Shake, Aero Peek, and Aero Snap:
- Aero Shake: with the convenience of multiple tabs and windows, it's easy to get overloaded with open documents of all types. Aero Shake allows you to find the one you want to work on and minimize the rest with only a shake of the mouse. Here's how it works: Click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window aside from the one you selected will disappear. Give your mouse another shake and the other windows return.
- Aero Peek: this is another way to see through the clutter of multiple programs and documents. Peek gives you the ability to see through your open windows directly to your desktop-giving you quick access to shortcuts you have stored on your desktop. Peek is included in the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
- Aero Snap: is a tool for resizing windows. All you do is drag them to the edge of the screen. Depending on where you drag a window, you can make it expand vertically, take up the entire screen, or appear side-by-side with another window. You can use snap to easily read, organize, and compare different windows.
Jump Lists: think of this as a personal storage space for programs, documents, websites, and other items you use most often. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player lists commonly-played songs. You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files; they also give you easy access to commands for things like composing new e-mail messages.
Windows Search: This is essentially a powerful search engine that is specific to your workstation and its peripherals. Click in the start menu search box and start typing and you'll see appropriate documents, pictures, music, and e-mail on your workstation. Results are now grouped by category and contain highlighted keywords and text snippets to make them easier to scan. Few people store all their files in one place these days. So Windows 7 is also designed to search external hard drives, networked PCs, and libraries. Overwhelmed by your search results? You can instantly narrow them by date, file type, and other useful categories.
Finally, here's some information on the different versions of the product. Microsoft has chosen to initiate a program enabling Windows XP or Vista users to upgrade to Windows 7 for a discounted price. Microsoft is also offering a regular business package for those that don't currently have Windows XP or Vista, and a package for the home user. Contact your CTSI sales associate to determine the software offering that best fits your needs.
CTSI will continue to investigate Windows 7 along with many other new products, giving our clients access to cutting edge technology to aid in your business endeavors. Any questions about Windows 7 can be directed to our sales team at (806) 793-8961, option 1.
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Tips of the Month
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 Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
To quickly remove all formatting and return text to normal, select it (in Word or PowerPoint) and hit Ctrl+Spacebar. Goodbye ugly fonts!
Sometimes you want to reload a page in your browser. (Say, for example, you're reading a news site and want to see the latest headlines). You can hit the F5 function key, or you can press Ctrl+R.
In most Microsoft Office apps (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), tap F7 to begin the spellcheck process.
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| Staff Spotlight |
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What is your title and what do you do at CTSI?
- My title is Service Advocate. It's my privilege to work with our staff to be sure our clients see our Corporate Shared Values in action. Some of those include: we must be sure that everything we do reflects exceptional levels of quality, we must foster a close relationship with our clients that will result in a better understanding of what they are experiencing, and everything we promise, we do. I also work extensively with our billing system, warranty processes, and technical resource assignments.
How long have you been at CTSI?
Tell us about your family, and pets.
- My husband, Paul, is a pool cue builder. I have three grown children. Kate is 26, married and works as an Asset Protection Manager for Home Depot. 20 year old twins - Gracie, a nurse on UMC's oncology floor, and Tory, political science major at University of North Texas in Denton. We live out in the country in the middle of someone else's cotton field. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
What do you do in your free time?
- I'm a CASA volunteer and also write a monthly post for my church's blog site.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
- Probably would still be working for a CPA firm, I did that for 8 years before coming to CTSI.
Tell us your favorite things about Lubbock.
- It was a wonderful place to raise my family. The overall value system we have in this area of faith, hard work, and decency are what make Lubbock such a great place to live.
Tell us one thing that co-workers and clients don't know about you.
- I'm a would-be writer. I have a couple of book ideas in development and an author friend who has encouraged me to pursue them.
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| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
| Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for almost nine years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you, here's a recipe--enjoy!
Apple French Toast Strata
1 1-lb loaf unsliced French bread
1 8oz cream cheese, cut into 1/2" cubes
2 crisp apples, peeled and chopped
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk or half & half
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
Apple cider syrup (recipe below)
Spray a 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish well with non-stick spray. Cut or tear French bread loaf into small pieces (makes about 12 cups of bread pieces.) Toss together the bread, apple bits, and cream cheese cubes and spread evenly in the sprayed baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, combine the milk (or half & half,) eggs, butter, cinnamon, and maple syrup and beat well. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread mixture and press lightly with a spatula to moisten everything evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 to 24 hours. Remove plastic wrap before baking in a 325 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Serve with Apple Cider Syrup (see below.)
Apple Cider Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup apple cider or juice
1 tblsp lemon juice
2 tblsp butter
In a small saucepan combine the first 3 ingredients and blend well. Add the apple cider and lemon juice and cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbly and slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the butter. Stir until melted.
This makes a wonderful brunch casserole for holiday guests.
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| Cisco and CTSI Tech Tailgate |
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Thank you for coming to the Cisco and CTSI Tech Tailgate. We had a great time with everyone. The food and fellowship were wonderful. We hope to see you again at next year's event!
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The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Business's IT Department
November, 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 7
|
|
| |
| Upcoming Area Events |
12/1 - Kids 4 Kids Holiday Gift Drive, CASA, Mr. Gatti's
12/2 - Carol of Lights, 7pm Texas Tech
12/2 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Texas State, 8pm
12/4 - Hobbs Christmas Nite Lite Parade
12/4 - "Babes in Toyland," Lubbock Community Theater
12/5 - Old Mill Trade Days. Post, TX
12/5 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. New Mexico, 2pm
12/8 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Lamar, 7pm
12/10 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 7:30pm
12/11 - Holiday of Hope for Kids, CASA, 11:30am
12/13 - Texas Tech Basketball vs. Washington, 6pm
12/21 - Lady Raider Basketball vs. Mercer, 7pm
12/22 - Texas Tech Basketball vs. Stanford, 7pm
12/25 - Christmas
12/28 - Hobbs Holiday Tournament
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| Milestones |
|
Kyle Levy joined the CTSI team on 11/2. He comes to us from Brink Suzuki in Lubbock. Please join us in welcoming him to the family!
Donna Beavers' 19th anniversary with the company was on 11/10.
Bobby Cude celebrated his first year with CTSI on 11/17.
11/20 marked Helen Burns' 9th year with the company.
|
| HP Special |
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| From David's Desk... |
Having Problems? CTSI is Here to Help
Communication is a key part of solving any problem, no matter how large or small. With that in mind, let me tell you about the best ways to contact our team. We have established several methods that you can use to get our attention. Choose the one that works best for you to let us know you need our assistance or have a problem:
Email us at help@ctsinet.com! We have a great new avenue for you to submit requests for assistance for business-hours support. You can simply e-mail your support requests to us at: help@ctsinet.com. This is a quick and easy way to make us aware of your support needs. By emailing help@ctsinet.com, your request is automatically entered into our system and the appropriate people here are notified. Emailing is a great way to send us screenshots, error messages or file attachments that will help communicate the issue. CTSI's system will automatically identify you by email address and put your request under your company in our records.
Log into our customer portal and create a new support request. Browse to www.ctsinet.com/support and enter your login credentials. (If you haven't used this before, you can call or email us to setup your login credentials.) We have established this web page to be used by our customers to view and add information on any service request associated with your company.
Give us a call! Obviously, you can always call with any request! If you've got a technical, software or hardware issue of any kind, dial our main number at (806) 793-8961 (or 800-687-2874 outside of Lubbock) and press option 3 for support services. This will direct you to our service advocates who will be eager to assist you. They will get all the pertinent information on the problem and find the next available technician with the skills appropriate to your issue. I realize that in years past, many of you called your favorite technician directly, but since they are out of the office helping other clients so frequently, this is one of the slowest ways to get help. When CTSI's technicians are at your place of business, we don't want them stopping to check on messages left for them at the office. We want them focused on the issue at hand. When you dial in and choose option "3" for support, you'll get through to our service advocates, whose responsibility is to answer your call and get your issue on the road to resolution as quickly as possible.
However you communicate with us to request support, we'll work to resolve your issue as quickly as possible, either by connecting up to your server remotely or by asking you to allow us to temporarily take control of your workstation. We have invested a great deal over the years in resources that help us diagnose and resolve issues quickly so that we can help you be as productive as possible and get you home on time.
At CTSI we pride ourselves on the outstanding service we provide to each of you, our valued clients. We strive to handle your requests efficiently and completely. If you feel we are not exceeding your expectations or if you have suggestions on ways that we can improve our service, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President, CTSI
|
| Texas Mission of Mercy |
|
TMOM is a large multi-day dental mission that brings hundreds of dentists, dental professionals and other volunteers from across Texas together to donate their professional services. Their goal is to relieve immediate pain and restore smiles.
Without volunteers, Texas Mission of Mercy would not be able to provide dental care to so many patients who cannot access oral health care on their own.
The most recent event was held in Lubbock on November 13-14. Dr. Kathleen Nichols, CTSI client and Chair of the Lubbock Mission of Mercy, informed us of this worthwhile organization and their plans. CTSI was pleased to be able to take part in the event by providing computers and networking equipment, helping hundreds of individuals without insurance get the dental care they need.
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| Windows 7 . . . It's Here! |
|
Windows 7 has some great new features that enhance its ease of use, and CTSI can help you get started. Below is a listing of some of the cool new features and some info on the different versions available. Pricing may vary according to what you're currently running and the number of licenses you wish to order. As always, contact your CTSI sales consultant for specific quoting information.
Windows Live Essentials:
It's free software that puts tools right at your fingertips. Instead of having to click on several different icons to load programs you'd use every day, Windows Live Essentials consolidates many of them into a single location. The free download includes:
- Messenger: Chat instantly with friends and family on your PC or mobile phone.
- Photo Gallery: Find, fix, and share your photos.
- Mail: Manage multiple e-mail accounts (like Hotmail) in one place.
- Writer: Compose your blog, add photos and video, then post it on the web.
- Movie Maker: Turn your photos and videos into greatlooking movies and slide shows.
- Family Safety: Manage and monitor online activities so your kids stay safe.
- Toolbar: Search instantly from any webpage.
Aero Shake, Aero Peek, and Aero Snap:
- Aero Shake: with the convenience of multiple tabs and windows, it's easy to get overloaded with open documents of all types. Aero Shake allows you to find the one you want to work on and minimize the rest with only a shake of the mouse. Here's how it works: Click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window aside from the one you selected will disappear. Give your mouse another shake and the other windows return.
- Aero Peek: this is another way to see through the clutter of multiple programs and documents. Peek gives you the ability to see through your open windows directly to your desktop-giving you quick access to shortcuts you have stored on your desktop. Peek is included in the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
- Aero Snap: is a tool for resizing windows. All you do is drag them to the edge of the screen. Depending on where you drag a window, you can make it expand vertically, take up the entire screen, or appear side-by-side with another window. You can use snap to easily read, organize, and compare different windows.
Jump Lists: think of this as a personal storage space for programs, documents, websites, and other items you use most often. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player lists commonly-played songs. You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files; they also give you easy access to commands for things like composing new e-mail messages.
Windows Search: This is essentially a powerful search engine that is specific to your workstation and its peripherals. Click in the start menu search box and start typing and you'll see appropriate documents, pictures, music, and e-mail on your workstation. Results are now grouped by category and contain highlighted keywords and text snippets to make them easier to scan. Few people store all their files in one place these days. So Windows 7 is also designed to search external hard drives, networked PCs, and libraries. Overwhelmed by your search results? You can instantly narrow them by date, file type, and other useful categories.
Finally, here's some information on the different versions of the product. Microsoft has chosen to initiate a program enabling Windows XP or Vista users to upgrade to Windows 7 for a discounted price. Microsoft is also offering a regular business package for those that don't currently have Windows XP or Vista, and a package for the home user. Contact your CTSI sales associate to determine the software offering that best fits your needs.
CTSI will continue to investigate Windows 7 along with many other new products, giving our clients access to cutting edge technology to aid in your business endeavors. Any questions about Windows 7 can be directed to our sales team at (806) 793-8961, option 1.
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Tips of the Month
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| Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
To quickly remove all formatting and return text to normal, select it (in Word or PowerPoint) and hit Ctrl+Spacebar. Goodbye ugly fonts!
Sometimes you want to reload a page in your browser. (Say, for example, you're reading a news site and want to see the latest headlines). You can hit the F5 function key, or you can press Ctrl+R.
In most Microsoft Office apps (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), tap F7 to begin the spellcheck process.
|
| Staff Spotlight |
|
What is your title and what do you do at CTSI?
- My title is Service Advocate. It's my privilege to work with our staff to be sure our clients see our Corporate Shared Values in action. Some of those include: we must be sure that everything we do reflects exceptional levels of quality, we must foster a close relationship with our clients that will result in a better understanding of what they are experiencing, and everything we promise, we do. I also work extensively with our billing system, warranty processes, and technical resource assignments.
How long have you been at CTSI?
Tell us about your family, and pets.
- My husband, Paul, is a pool cue builder. I have three grown children. Kate is 26, married and works as an Asset Protection Manager for Home Depot. 20 year old twins - Gracie, a nurse on UMC's oncology floor, and Tory, political science major at University of North Texas in Denton. We live out in the country in the middle of someone else's cotton field. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
What do you do in your free time?
- I'm a CASA volunteer and also write a monthly post for my church's blog site.
If you weren't working in the business technology sector, what would you be doing?
- Probably would still be working for a CPA firm, I did that for 8 years before coming to CTSI.
Tell us your favorite things about Lubbock.
- It was a wonderful place to raise my family. The overall value system we have in this area of faith, hard work, and decency are what make Lubbock such a great place to live.
Tell us one thing that co-workers and clients don't know about you.
- I'm a would-be writer. I have a couple of book ideas in development and an author friend who has encouraged me to pursue them.
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| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
| Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for almost nine years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you, here's a recipe--enjoy!
Apple French Toast Strata
1 1-lb loaf unsliced French bread
1 8oz cream cheese, cut into 1/2" cubes
2 crisp apples, peeled and chopped
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk or half & half
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
Apple cider syrup (recipe below)
Spray a 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish well with non-stick spray. Cut or tear French bread loaf into small pieces (makes about 12 cups of bread pieces.) Toss together the bread, apple bits, and cream cheese cubes and spread evenly in the sprayed baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, combine the milk (or half & half,) eggs, butter, cinnamon, and maple syrup and beat well. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread mixture and press lightly with a spatula to moisten everything evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 to 24 hours. Remove plastic wrap before baking in a 325 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Serve with Apple Cider Syrup (see below.)
Apple Cider Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup apple cider or juice
1 tblsp lemon juice
2 tblsp butter
In a small saucepan combine the first 3 ingredients and blend well. Add the apple cider and lemon juice and cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbly and slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the butter. Stir until melted.
This makes a wonderful brunch casserole for holiday guests.
|
| Cisco and CTSI Tech Tailgate |
|
Thank you for coming to the Cisco and CTSI Tech Tailgate. We had a great time with everyone. The food and fellowship were wonderful. We hope to see you again at next year's event!
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