Dear Sun Spots: Could Sun Spots find out if Curran bean sprouts are still produced and if so where they can be purchased? If not, does anyone have the recipe for chop suey that was on the back of the package. Thank you. – S. Chadwick, Livermore Falls.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, Sun Spots located the company. Contact Curran Co. Inc., 86 Industrial Park Road, Saco, ME 04072-1840, 1-800-287-8803, 282-7723, or via e-mail at [email protected].

Sun Spots also had the pleasure of chatting with Therese Roberge, former owner of Curran Bean Sprouts, who says her three sons are now running the business. She and her husband ran the company for 17 years, five to six of which were from their cellar. They purchased it from the original Mr. Curran. Roberge remembers those days well. She says bean sprouts are difficult to grow and need to be watered four times a day. They can also go off very quickly. Roberge’s husband would make the early morning deliveries while Therese stayed up at night to water them! Watering would then continue into the day.

Her sons have now been running the company some 20 years.

Roberge was delighted to share this recipe which she says Mr. Curran, former owner of Curran Bean Sprouts, provided to them. The family then ensured it was printed on the bags. It’s been some years since they’ve produced bean sprouts. She says any in the stores now come from Boston.

The Curran Family’s Chop Suey: Ingredients: 1 lb beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or lobster, 3 Tbls olive oil, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1 tsp ground ginger, 2 cups chopped onions, 1½ cups of chopped celery. Method: Cook all of these then add in 3 Tbls. soy sauce, 1 cup of beef or chicken stock, 1 Tbls molasses, 2 packs of bean sprouts. Don’t cook the sprouts for too long. They cook quickly! Add some salt and pepper to taste. Mix 4 Tbls cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water together. You can also mix molasses with this mixture if you’d like. Once it’s thickened, serve and enjoy! This would be good with some rice.

Dear Sun Spots: The season of giving is upon us. As you approach the holiday season, please take time to consider the children in our community who can use the community’s support in having a happy and meaningful holiday season.

Dirigo Place is looking for businesses and individuals to provide contributions toward our Christmas celebration.

We are a transitional mental health program for adolescents ages 12 to 17. Many of our residents find the holidays to be a difficult time of the year, and you can be a part of making this Christmas a positive experience they will always remember.

Any donation is appreciated.

In the past we have received contributions ranging from full sponsorship of a resident’s holiday wish list, to monetary donations (from individuals or through work place donation programs) or presents (such as CDs, board games, video games and even decorations or food for our holiday party). Think of what might make a teenager’s Christmas meaningful and get creative. Every little bit is greatly appreciated and goes a long way.

As a program of the nonprofit organization NFI North Inc., Dirigo Place can provide you with documentation of your fully tax-deductible donation.

We would also like to thank you all for the community support we receive throughout the year that helps to uphold our mission of creating a safe, positive and happy home for our clients.

For more information or suggestions on how you can help, contact Denise Melanson at 784-7144. Thank you and happy holidays! – Denise in Lewiston.



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