11/07/2025
🍂 Meet Our Team – Thanksgiving Edition! 🍁
🍁 Meet Ben Mangus! 🍂
Ben has been part of the North Platte family for over 15 years — and we couldn’t be more thankful for him!
What Ben’s most thankful for:
“My family and their health.” ❤️
It’s no surprise that Thanksgiving is Ben’s favorite holiday — and he’s got some delicious favorite dishes to go with it:
Sweet: Snicker Salad 🍏🍫
Savory: Green Bean Casserole 🥘
We’re so grateful for Ben’s dedication, positivity, and the joy he brings to our team every day. Here’s to many more years (and many more helpings of Snicker Salad)!
And if you’re looking to add something extra to your Thanksgiving table, Ben recommends Marie Callender’s Yeast Rolls — you can’t go wrong with warm, buttery rolls! 🥖
Ingredients:
• 2 cups warm water (around 110°F/45°C)
• 1/2 cup white sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or melted butter/shortening)
• 5-6 cups all-purpose or bread flour
Instructions:
1 Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the warm water. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, until it becomes creamy and foamy.
2 Mix Ingredients: Mix the remaining sugar, salt, and oil into the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in the flour, one cup at a time, until the dough is tacky but cleans the sides of the bowl.
3 Knead: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 7-10 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic.
4 Rise: Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it over to coat. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
5 Shape into 2-3 in rolls and place on greased baking sheets
6 Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown. An instant-read thermometer should register 195-200°F when inserted into the center.
7 Cool: Remove from pans immediately after baking and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Brushing the top with a little melted butter after removing from the oven is a common practice for a softer crust.