Mom always said she was the height of an average 7th grader since we all outsized her that year. Though she was only 5 foot 1 she always stood out. She was comfortable playing bridge, golfing, bowling, or preparing church dinners or school chili suppers among her many other talents and interests. She always seemed…
Chicken Breast Poached in Tomato Sauce for 2
Camping out was almost a way of life in my neighborhood. It seems like we camped out 2 or 3 times a week all summer long. I may be exaggerating a bit but it was definitely a regular activity. All we needed were sleeping bags and flashlights. We unrolled our sleeping bags and our campsite…
Citrus Shrimp Stir Fry
I’ve spent the last few posts talking about the pasture, a 6-acre field north of my childhood home. It had been my great grandparents’ horse pasture but by my time it had been unused for decades. The pasture itself was a rolling field with a single apple tree off in the corner and a marshy…
Lemon Chicken with Orzo
The pasture, my great grandparents’ 6 acre horse field, was the center of many entertainments and distractions for us kids. Our yard bordered the pasture as did as my great grandparents’ and my grandparents’ yards. Mrs. Ormsby’s wooded property next to my grandparents’ and also bordered the pasture. This was another property that kept us…
Roasted Asparagus
I grew up in a small, Illinois town on the Mississippi River. Hamilton was about 2000 people when I was a kid. I remember when they changed the population sign to 2200 and I thought we were on the way to cityhood. I think they’re up to 3000 now, maybe 3200. Rush hour isn’t much…
Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches (BPT) for 4
This sandwich is and will probably always be the center of a feud between Indiana and Iowa. Both claim to be the home of the best breaded pork tenderloin. I have no intention to get into this debate. Although I went to college in Indiana (Wabash College), I don’t remember ever eating or even…
Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant: Is it an egg? Is it a plant? I think that was a Seinfeld comment. Though I may be wrong on that, but it illustrates the love/hate history of the eggplant. I vaguely remember Mom making eggplant very occasionally. I suspect it was a Lenten meal and pretty basic. I’m picturing broiled lengthwise planks…
Stuffed Green Peppers
Green peppers are generally a welcome addition to a dish. I will admit that there are times when I’m not a fan but it’s a phase and I come around in a few weeks. Kris has always liked green peppers but prefers red ones; milder and sweeter. This is a dish where the green peppers…
Tilapia with Veggie Salsa
Kris and I were vegetarians for maybe a year and a half. As I recall it started about the time we moved to Willow Springs and it ended when Liza began eating and clearly preferred meat. Kids have a way of doing that. I don’t recall why we decided to stop eating meat; it was…
Chicken Fingers
I suspect this will be my next post, primarily because I have a photo for it. Mind you, it won’t be a very great photo but it will be nicely composed. Kris does the composing. Being only my third post it miiiiiiiiight be a bit early to reminisce but I’m going to anyway. I’ve toyed with…
Reflections in a Skillet 