Sanguine Tenacious Tidings

Looking forward to summer picnics

What traditional ethnic food dishes from your culture does your family still enjoy? Tell us about how the recipe was passed down and what modifications were made over the years.

The word culture got me for a few minutes. I think I've got it now. Baked beans. This is one of my favorite dishes from family gatherings and my grandmother made them just for meals. Now, I cheat. There is a brand called, "Grandma Brown's Beans," that taste just like the ones I remember from childhood. So, we stock them on my pantry shelves, Open and heat. The lazy way. I buy bagged beans that have 7 or 8 varieties of beans in the same bag and make them the old fashioned way. Soak over night cook slowly all day. They taste scrumptious and it's worth the work.

Potato salad is another favorite. For summer, probably like any other potato salad I ate growing up.

A recipe I received from one of the Aunts, who was a part of my growing up years is special. She used to make homemade spaghetti sauce and fresh baked bread with spaghetti. She gave me the recipe for the sauce and I've used it for years. The only changes I made were whole wheat spaghetti. And when my children were growing up one of my sons would help me make home made egg noodles from an Amish recipe book I bought. Now, I have a bread machine so the homemade bread is also easy smeeshy.

My Sister-in-law taught me how to make home made chili. It is another recipe I appreciate from family. Her recipe is easy, quick, and special. This one I changed. Beside, using kidney beans I also add, crushed green beans to the recipe. And, besides pepper and chili Powder, I add a bit of ground cumin. I made some this week. I was out of green beans so I added ground spinach. Yes, good flavors and you get your daily veggie treat.

These recipes cannot be made too large because leftovers freeze and heat up well another day. Which, makes my work load lighter.

I'm happy to report I got my computer back. MY relief is extreme.

Spring is Springing. It is dancing the temperatures up and down. I can walk the dogs in the fields. Much happiness generated. Have a great day.

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