Tags
You can learn a lot about people by looking inside their refrigerators.
Today mine holds a large pot of spaghetti sauce full of meatballs, telling of tomorrow’s birthday dinner for my soon-to-be eleven year old granddaughter. But other than this, there’s very little going on within the main stage. Hardly no leftovers. I’ve had such little interest in cooking, we’ve been eating out more than in.
This morning, it was the contents within our refrigerator door that captured my attention. It began with the two bottles of fruit juice. Bosom buddies of the elderly — Grapefruit and cranberry juice — sure signs that the house is inhabited by people entering their so-called ‘golden years.’ Back in the day of my youth, it was orange banana strawberry for me. Or something else on the order of sweet.
These days, buttermilk is a staple in our fridge. My husband uses it for his biscuits. I use it for my chicken fry steak. And tomorrow morning, I’m going to try to make Miss Tayler a Red Velvet Cake with it.
My mother was famous for her Red Velvet Cake, which she frosted with a short-hand version of German Chocolate Cake Frosting, holding back the pecans and coconut.
My grandchildren must believe that all grandmothers are created equal — that if Grandma Carol could bake red cake, that surely their Nana can as well. And though my version looks like red cake, I can’t ever seem to get it out of the oven at just the right time.
As it approaches being done, I check it faithfully. Toothpick in. Wet. Toothpick in. Gooey. Toothpick in. Dry as a bone.
But God bless their little bones — their little hearts and especially their tummies. Chock full of youthful bliss, as ones who surely believe in the goodness of orange strawberry banana or some other concoction of sweet juice, they consider this Nana’s red cake simply divine.
If you looked inside mine today, it would say: “Impulsive. Given to over-commitment. Energetic. Sometimes procrastinates, but had better get over that really, really quickly.”
What’s saying that? The three flats – yes, ma’am, FLATS – of strawberries I picked up at the Farmer’s Market Saturday. I have about 24 hours before they start going south.
Should I start now, or later? Maybe I’ll have me some of your grapefruit juice and think about doing it tonight 😉
Linda,
Locally grown strawberries sound wonderful. I totally understand your impulse buy.
There was a farm near Alvin — or was it Danbury? — just off the state highway (no longer remember the number) that use to sell fresh strawberries about this time of the year. Naturally sweet, they were just right for popping in the mouth.
But 3 flats? Are you making jam? Whatever you’re up to, sounds like fun. And work!
Janell
That’s where I got my strawberries – Froberg Farms in Alvin. They’re off highway 6 on a country road. Pick your own or buy already boxed up. And I’m sitting here popping them in my mouth like popcorn right now!
I just took the biggest, fattest strawberry pie down to mom’s. With whipped cream. And then there will be shortcakes, and berries on top of ice cream and cereal. The Very Best is a combo of strawberries and HaagenDaz lemon ice cream 😉
The rest I’m washing and freezing whole. No sugar, no nothing, the same way I do blackberries and blueberries in their seasons.
Linda,
Sounds like you’re in strawberry heaven.
Maybe your place and my place are the same place. I woke up remembering that the farm I frequented was located right off Highway 36.
I love locally grown fruit. Your serving suggestions makes me want to check the status of our own “pick-your-own” orchards. I especially look forward to trying the HaagenDaz lemon ice cream combination — sounds right up my husband’s alley.
Janell