An Autumn Sunday Dinner 2008

Remember as you read this that I speak SandMountain and dinner is the mid-day meal – supper is eaten in the evening.

My patient has a bodacious appetite so I have to remove my nursing cap now and then and put on the chef’s hat.  I do seem to wear lots of different hats of late.  We could not have had this meal during the summer because the ingredients were not available.  Back then, I even had to buy bell peppers to make pepper relish.

The meal included stuffed peppers because we have so many in the garden.  Daughter # l even suggested that I chop 12 of them for the pepper relish next time – good idea – and freeze it (it would have to labeled, of course, and I don’t always label)  Next came the wonderful field peas.  Let me tell you about these peas.  Last fall we visited the Sand Mountain Farmers Market and bought a bushel of peas – not knowing what kind they were.  They were wonderful and we found enough dry ones in the bunch to save for seed.  John planted two or three short rows, but they didn’t do so well – it was too dry, but then it rained and the peas took second growth.  They have produced and we wanted to buy more; however, did not know the lady’s name we bought the first ones from.  I began to ask around, but with no luck; however, a vendor from another market told me they were called Pole Cats.  They are a large pea with reddish/purplish spots on them.  We thought that pea called Zipper was the very best, but now we’ve changed our minds. The Pole Cats are not the easiest things in the world to shell, but they are worth all the bother.  I’d advise waiting to pick them until they are a nice yellow (or white) – this makes them somewhat easier to get out of the shell.  I hope you have a chance to try this wonderful pea.

Peas

Next on the menu was slaw and sliced tomatoes.  Baked apples were there, too.  This is the first year our trees have produced apples and they are loaded.  We’ve canned and we’ve dried, but we still have fresh apples.  John loves them baked – so I bake.  Honeydew was another item on the table.

For dessert we had apple pie.  I tried so hard to make mine like my mother used to make, but mine would not hold hers a light.  One thing I did different from her is to use Apple Pie Spice.  I won’t do that again – Mother used Allspice and a little butter.  There is a big difference in the taste.  she cooked her apples, mashed them, seasoned them and allowed them to cool before making the pie and that’s just how I did it.  I never do very well with crusts; however, this time I did quite well – if I do say so myself.  Mother used Horse Apples in the spring to make her “plate” pies and I’m sure the apples make a difference in the taste, too.  She always made at least two on Saturday morning and they sat in the china cabinet – so I could see them every time I passed by; however, we were not allowed to cut them until Sunday.  “Somebody might come home with us from church and we’d need the pies.”  Okay!  Now I cut mine just as soon as it gets cool enough.  We might not live until the next day.  Ha!!

Other goodies I’ve baked this week is that wonderful pound cake recipe in our new Connected Magazine.  Connected Magazine for you folks who don’t know is put out by our telephone company (we have a private company – called Farmers Telecommunications).  Anyway the cake has five or six different flavorings and it is really good.  I sent half of mine to Atlanta on Saturday night.  The new Southern Living Magazine also came this week and it had bread recipes and you know how I enjoy making bread.  I tried the blueberry bread and it is some more good.  It could really be enhanced with a little cream cheese spread on it.  Too many calories – cholesterol and sugar have to be watched you know.  And then I made three loaves of sourdough bread this week.  I had not made it in a while and I needed to see if the starter was good.  The bread did not rise well – which tells me I have to doctor that starter a little before I make more.  I shared a loaf with a neighbor and she called to say how good the flavor was.  I sent the remaining loaf in the Atlanta package. I want to keep the starter up and going as I make communion bread when it’s needed for the church.

I would be remiss not to thank you for the cards, letters and calls John has received from my readers.  Thank you so much.  We are progressing well – or so it seems.  I try to find lots of things to entertain a fidgety man.  We have three baby guineas and we are always on the watch for them.  We were alarmed when we watched a hawk come rest in a shrub one day this past week.  The hummingbirds are very active and that’s entertaining.  They are tanking up for their trip south.  They usually leave here about October 1.  The jigsaw puzzle is just sitting there.  We are through all but the sky and it all looks the same color.  Don’t know what we’ll ever do with it. The Dear Jane quilt project has taken a back seat.  Maybe I’ll get to it some day.  With cooking, laundry and nursing duties – to say nothing about doctor visits we do stay busy.  Next week we’ll have Zipper peas to pick.  Maybe John will help shell; however, that is not his favorite thing to do.  Think we’ll have new radishes to eat in a few days, too.  Turnip greens are up and growing as well.  Country cookin’ and country eatin’ are all a part of our style of country living.