Memory check No. 1 - Fried Bologna/Boloney Sandwich

Back when we were still in Akron, we were talking with folks at dinner aabout foods of childhood that we no longer eat. I mentioned that one of the ones that fell off my list of things to eat years ago is the fried bologna, pronounced boloney, sandwich. The primary reason for that is that Del wouldn't eat bologna if you paid him, well, maybe if you paid him a lot! Early in our marriage, he explined that he had taken a bologna sandwich to school every day for twelve years, and that's enough punishment for any one person, no matter how cheap it was and how poor we were. My comment that his lunch sandwiches were not fried, and back then when no was concerned that children's lunches be kept cold and schools were not air conditioned, his bologna was room temperature by lunchtime, whatever temperature the room was, did not sway him. (Digressing, as I am apt to do, why is it we didn't all die from food poisoning?) I commented to those at the table that Del had taken me to a little hole in the wall place where he and friend Mark ate occasionally so Mark could have a bologna sandwich. I was surprised when the sandwich came on toasted Texas Toast, which should be redundant, but apparently isn't. Why isn't Texas Toast in its untoasted state called Texas bread or some such thing, but I digress, yet again. The meat itself was cut about a half inch and while warm through, was barely browned. It did come with mustard and lettuce as I had requested. People began to talk about the bologna sandwiches of their memories, and I was surprised to find that there were almost as many ways to skin that particular cat as there were people at the table. Everyone except me agreed with friend Mark that the bologna should be sliced thick, and one couple even agreed with his habit of making it with mayonnaise. The others made theirs with yellow mustard. No one remembered lettuce. One person asked why only lettuce, no tomato. Just because, is the only answer I could come up with. I was the only one who remembered making them in the Robinson way. Robinson Fried Bologna Sandwich 2 slices squishy white bread yellow mustard 2 thin slices bologna iceberg lettuce Place two slices of bologna/boloney in a skillet and cook until brown on each side. It doesn't hurt to let it get a little crunchy if you are so inclined. If you want the slices to lie flat, make cuts around the edges a little more than 1/4 inch or so in toward the center. Otherwise, just hold it down with your spatula so it won't cup and will brown pretty evenly.. Place on UNTOASTED squishy white bread that has been liberally spread with plain yellow mustard. None of that fancy stuff. Add a couple of pieces of iceberg lettuce. Again, none of that fancy stuff. The beverage of choice with a bologna sandwich, if I recall correctly, was what little girl Rosa used to call "coldfreshmilk." For once, my running together of words is not a typing error, she always said it as though it were one word. I decided after that dinner that I would try some of the foods I enjoyed as a child but no longer eat, to see if I'm missing anything. One afternoon when Del was not going to be home for dinner, I stopped after school to buy two slices of bologna and some iceberg lettuce. Once home, I set about to almost recreate the sandwich of my childhood. Almost, because I decided to use the whole wheat bread we already had instead of squishy white bread. Maybe that influenced the results, or maybe my tastes have changed, because as I ate my bologna sandwich I could not decide why it tasted so great in my memory and just okay that night. Results of first memory check: Memory: 1 Reality 0 Maybe the next food down memory lane will be potted meat. No one else mentioned that at the dinner, and I hesitated to, being a Southern country girl who will, to quote the young David, "eat things the dog won't eat." Did you ever eat potted meat?

Almost Audrey's Democratic Party Party Brussel Sprouts

We didn't grow Brussels sprouts in our garden on the farm, so I never met one until I went off to college, and then only those that had had the life cooked out of them in a large quantity of water. They still held their shape, barely,but were mushy and waterlogged. I liked them, but never felt the need to cook them. That has changed. I've mentioned that the Democrats had their Christmas party here and that we Dems can cook! People brought all sorts of yummy food, but the thing I crave is the Brussels sprout dish Audrey brought. By the time I got around to eating that night, I was only able to scrape the bowl to get the very last sprout, but, let me tell you, I could have eaten a whole bowl! That Brussels sprout was the best thing I ever put in my mouth. I could say that this recipe would convert those with the most violent aversion to the sprout, but it won't. The opposed person really does have to want to change and be willing to unclench his/her teeth to accept the poor thing into his/her mouth. That has not yet happened at our house, but that's just more for me. Woo Hoo! Perhaps someone will read this post, prepare the dish and invite us to dinner. My sproutaphobic would eat them cheerfully at your house and be converted, I think. I have to say Almost Audrey's Democratic Party Party Brussels Sprouts because I can't find the recipe she sent me, and am embarrassed to ask again. When I made them, I sort of guessed, and they turned out great. That may be because if it has bacon it's got to be good. Our friends Mary Ann and Bill happily joined me in eating the results and enjoyed them. There were left overs that they may have been expecting at a later meal, but I ate them cold for breakfast the next day, and they were yummy! Turn up your noses if you like, but anyone who knows me well is already familiar with my peculiar breakfast habits. Almost Audrey's Democratic Party Party Brussels Sprouts 1 lb. Brussels sprouts 1 small onion, chopped 1 small clove garlic, minced 3 slices thick sliced bacon Trim sprouts and cut the larger ones in half. Chop bacon and fry until crisp. Remove from pan, leaving at least 3 T of fat in pan. If the bacon does not render that much, you may need to add a bit of oil. Turn eye to medium low. (The stove's, not yours) Add sprouts, onions and minced garlic and stir so all have contact with bacon fat. Cover and cook until sprouts are tender crisp, or as I would prefer, crisp tender, 10 minutes or more, stirring occcasionally. If everything begins to brown too much before the sprouts are tender, lower heat. You may need to add a few drops of water from time to time,to prevent sticking but be sure to let it evaporate so sprouts won't be soggy. Return bacon to pan, stir and pour into serving bowl. Delicious when served hot or at room temperature. (Or for those like me, cold) Makes enough for 4. Note: I only recently saw a Brussels sprout still on its stalk. They must be quite beautiful in the field. Friend Mary Ann tpld me that one reference to "green thumb" refers to the stain cooks get when they trim bunches and bunches of sprouts.

Not Quite Oatmeal Cookies Breakfast

We have quite a few friends who are really good cooks. The last time we were in Akron, two of them. friends Anita and Lynne each served us baked oatmeal. The dishes were slightly different, but each was good enough to qualify for "Best Thing I Ever Put In My Mouth" status. Perhaps I should start typing BTIEPIMM for sake of brevity, but would never be able to remember the acronym. Besides, brevity is not among my strengths. By the time I get around to saying "to make a long story short", that boat has already sailed. Anyway, both friends went to the trouble of printing off their recipes for me, and after all their trouble, I managed to lose them both. I only discovered the problem when I was preparing to make the dish for my pajama party guests, so I went to an expert, Chef Google. I used Google's basic recipe, substituting for ingredients I did not have on hand. After some mind tasting, I came up with my version of baked oatmeal ahd whipped it up for my guests. Thank you Lynne, Anita and Chef Google. For some reason, we P.J. Dems and one LWV neutral person, stood groggily around in the kitchen, eating oatmeal and drinking lots of coffee. Maybe we were too sleepy to find our way to the dining room, or maybe we just could not get that far from the coffee pot. The recipe was such a success that I made it again when our Akron friends, the Hendons, came to visit in January. In fact, by popular demand, I made it twice. If you come down this way, I'll make you some. Baked Oatmeal Serves 6-8 1/4 cup butter 3 cups old fashioned rolled oatmeal 1/2 -3/4 cup sugar (dependiing on sweetness of apple) 2 t. baking powder 1 t salt 1 1/4 cup milk 2 large eggs 2 t vanilla 1 small or 1/2 large apple 1/4 or more chopped nuts 1 T cinnamon You could substitute raisins for the appple, but I don't think it would be as good. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put butter in 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan and melt in oven. Watch carefully or it will burn. Combine dry ingredients into large bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a smaller bowl and grate in the peeled apple. Stir into the dry ingredients. Pour butter from baking dish into bowl and stir until all oatmeal is well moistened. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Edges will shrink from pan and appear brown and a bit crunchy. Serve with warm milk and additional cinnamon. Cookies in a bowl!