all in
togetherness
protecting and watchful
sustains and nurtures unique life
endless
Cinquain by PamelaWLucas 10/18/17
Inspirational photo by Pixabay
Tag: family
Brodie learns about food rationing
It’s Thanksgiving soon and we are all consumed with the associated thoughts of feasting, family and friendship. How fortunate I feel. My peeps will have one familial event recorded on their many cell phones, iPads, 35mm cameras and Skype. Then they’ll post the stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on. The social aspects roll on. That’s todays fun and entertainment.
I want to take you back to two periods in our USA history…a time when we were at war, WWI and WWII. I bring this up because during those difficult years we as a nation buckled down. Food was scarce. Food went first to the troops. People bought limited amounts of certain commodities through rationing…ration stamps. So my golden mind took me to those times, thinking about what Thanksgiving was all about then…
Rationing came into place by our government and families were strongly encouraged to eat simply…meatless meals…and forget about sugar. What a prized commodity sugar became…and coffee…and flour…yes the very basics. I’m thinking everyone worked together, helped out and got involved in the war effort…while missing their stuff.
I feel golden sure that on Thanksgiving Day folks were even more grateful for whatever they had as they struggled. But then…the food was secondary for those who had loved ones serving in the war…those who had lost a loved one…and those who simply felt the unrest of not knowing what the future held.
Our country held together and came out on this side of freedom both times. This Thanksgiving season I’m going to say a special thanks to those serving our nation and especially to those away from home …and a special moment for those who we have lost…we will remain forever a grateful nation.
So this Thanksgiving, my grateful heart will enjoy watching all of the cell phone action, getting my many pets and walks and giving out my goldeness. Peace baby and paws Up!
P.S. Dogs don’t do coffee but…How fortunate that you can have as many Starbuck’s with all of the sugar possible…all of the cream…whenever…
What’s Your Daddy Food ?
When I saw my father take out the black cast-iron skillet, I knew that a favorite of mine was going to hit the table within 30 minutes. This morning food magic happened while the coffee pot was percolating cheap java with chicory and the cooked bacon sat waiting. Lard, white flour, salt & pepper, milk, in that order would be turned into white gravy. There was no recipe or cookbook. Skillet hit one of the four burners. First, a scoop of lard out of the lard-jar melted in the heated pan. Then the flour. His hands moved with purpose and confidence. His large, dented, stainless steel spoon with a wooden handle was part of his system. He’d stir the stuff using a smooth circular motion, blending and blending the grease with the flour until he saw the right consistency. Next, milk was slowly added while the stirring continued. Both of his hands were in action. Stirring with patience and watching for the right moment, he’d add the salt and pepper. And voila, there was the white gravy.
We’d eat it on white bread and beg for more. If we were really lucky, the gravy topped some of his homemade biscuits to complete this Virginia country beginning for the day. Chipped beef-gravy, red-eye gravy and sausage gravy made by him were also favorites.
Dang, I would love to have some of Daddy’s white gravy, but even more than that, I’d give anything for kitchen time with him and watch the magic he made for us.
What’s your Daddy food? Would enjoy you sharing about your Daddy Food as we approach Father’s Day.
Let the beets be with you
From red to purple to yellow to orange to gold, the beet is a sturdy vegetable that has come into its own. Beets are popular. Beets are adored by foodies and seen on menus in down home cooking spots and found on the finest haute tables.
If the beets can be with you they will.
When I was a kid growing up in Virginia, this cool weather crop was seasonal at best and not what you would call popular. They made me frown. However, beets were easy to grow and a healthy, hardy vegetable to feed to a family. Beets were often served at our familial table.
Today, my family members remain divided. You either let the beets be with you or not. We like to joke about “Who’s going to eat that?” The very sight of a newly prepared version of these lovely roots is enough to clear some of them from the room, while the rest of us gobble up the beets as a treat.
Simple to prepare, here’s one of our favorite beet recipes:
Roasted Beets with Garlic & Rosemary
For 4 of us:
Number of beets to roast vary based on size of the beets
Garlic cloves cut in half
Rosemary sprigs (for roasting & for garnish)
Your favorite olive oil
Salt and pepper
Crumbled Feta Cheese or Goat Cheese
Cut the greens off and thoroughly wash the beets, leaving little stems. (The greens are enjoyable, but we do not partake of them.) Put the whole beets on a large piece of foil along with the garlic, rosemary sprigs, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with olive oil. Top this with another piece of foil, sealing the edges. Place this sealed packet on a baking sheet/cookie sheet. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for about an hour or until just tender. Let cool for handling.
Peel and cut the beets into wedges. (I wear gloves to avoid staining my hands with the beet color.) Plate beets on a platter for a showy presentation, drizzle with olive oil, scatter with crumbles Feta or Goat Cheese, garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and let the beets be with you.
For Golden Brodie
Beets look so strong
Beets look so healthy
Beets can be a favorite
Beets can be despised
Beets are luscious beauties in disguise
By pamelawlucas 4/28/16
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