Grandmama's Vegetable Soup

My maternal grandmother made the best vegetable soup I've ever had. Grandmama used whatever vegetables were available from the garden. Boy, did they have a garden!

I've never been able to exactly replicate her soup but here's a good approximation. Or you can use whatever you have available. Since I don't garden, I use a mixture of fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables.

1 ham bone with attached meat
or
country ham pieces, chopped

Simmer the ham in 2 quarts of water for at least 2 hours. Remove the bone and reserve the broth. Allow the meat to cool. Remove a meat from the bone and chop fine. Return the meat to the pot.

12 oz Corn
12 oz Green Beans
12 oz Butterbeans
2 15 oz cans of Tomatoes, chopped
1 can Rotel
12 oz Carrots, sliced
12 oz Okra, sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium cabbage, cored and chopped
Hot sauce to taste (My favorite is Marie Sharps Fiery Hot.)
Salt to taste (Be careful! The country ham provides a lot of salt.)
Pepper to taste

Add all ingredients up to the onions to the stock and ham. Add enough water or stock to cover all ingredients by 1 inch. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer at least 2 hours. Adjust seasoning. Add the cabbage and simmer another 30 minutes. Add the hot sauce and adjust seasoning a final time.

Serve with cornbread.

This makes a rather large batch of soup. Even the starving horde composed of myself and my cousins could never eat it all. Thankfully, it freezes well!

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Well, where do you stand?

Where do you see yourself? On the Enterprise or the Millenium Falcon?

I grew up during the age of Star Trek. But I don't remember watching it as a kid. I don't think my parents allowed me to watch it. When it appeared in reruns, I watched it whenever I could.

But, I vividly remember sitting Star Wars in an almost empty theater opening week. And then sitting through a second showing!

If I had to choose one over the other I guess it would be Star Trek. I don't consider myself a Trekkie, but I find the Star Trek universe more complete.

Again I ask the question. Where do you stand?

Italian Cream Cake

One of my favorite cakes made by my paternal grandmother was the Italian Cream cake. It's a cake I don't see much anymore. So I present it here.

Cake Layers

1 stick butter
1/2 C of shortening
2 C sugar
2 C flour
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 C buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp lemon extract
1 C coconut (packed)
5 eggs, separated
1 C pecans, chopped

Cream butter, shortening, and sugar until fluffy. Add egg yolks, flour, soda, salt, and buttermilk and cream well. Add nuts, coconut, and flavorings. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake in 3 layers at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/2 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1/2 stick margarine
1 1/2 boxes 10 X sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C pecans, chopped

Cream the cream cheese and margarine. Add sugar and vanilla. Cream well.  Added pecans and mix well.

Frost the cake layers and the top.

Source: Taste and See that the Lord is Good, "ABC" Senior Adults, First Baptist Chruch, Sylvester, GA. 2008 Morris Press Cookbooks.

My Two Cents - Boycotting the Companies that do Business with the NRA

As I write this over a dozen companies have announced that they will be discontinuing their relationships with the NRA. It seems that most of these companies are stating that "consumer complaints" were the reason for these decisions.

If I understand correctly, these companies were providing discounts on products or services that were offered to the NRA membership.

Did the NRA membership attack a school? Have they harmed schoolchildren? What has the NRA membership done to harm others? Nothing. But if these companies feel that they cannot be associated in any way with the NRA, that is their right.

The anti-gun movement must "do" something. Even if what they are doing has no effect on gun violence or the safety of schools.

Now I see that some retailers are refusing to sell non-firearm products from companies that have subsidiaries that manufacture firearms. This I can understand. If these retailers feel that they will be better served by forgoing the possible profits to be made from these products, that is their right.

I hear that Dick's Sporting Goods has decided to stop selling AR-15 pattern rifles (for the second time). Dick's stopped selling AR-15 pattern rifles in 2012. But, it seems that their subsidiary Field and Stream was still selling these rifles. That seems rather hypocritical.

I can respect those companies that try to live up to their values. Even if I don't agree with them. But the flip-flop nature of Dick's and its subsidiary upset me.

Cats and their antics

When growing up my family always had either cats, dogs, or both. I have had occasion to curse at them, play with them, and be loved by them. They are both a burden and a joy. Thankfully the balance has always fallen on the side of joy.

Meet Flash and Tuffy. They are the current feline residents of the Bear's Den. The energy they bestow to our home takes some of the stings out of life.

Flash and Tuffy in a quiet moment

A Blast from the Past

Many years ago, when I was just beginning my career in Information Technology, I was introduced to The Bastard Operator from Hell. This minion of the devil has tortured computer users for years. (Thankfully it's fiction!) Enjoy the schadenfreude.

Uncle DF's BBQ Sauce

I recently shared my grandmother's BBQ sauce recipe. Her brother also had a good one. In the name of variety and equal time here it is.

• 1 large lemon
• ½ C water

Half and squeeze the lemon and add to water in a saucepan. Boil until tender. Strain.

• ½ C Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tbls Hot Sauce (I use Marie Sharp's Fiery Hot)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 Tbls A1 Steak Sauce
• 2 C ketchup

Add all ingredients to the strained lemon water. Bring to a low boil. Bottle when cool.

Add 6 oz of horseradish for cocktail sauce.