Eating with Grandparents

Check out the suit! 70's at it's finest!

This weekend is designated as Grandparent's Weekend.  When I was a kid, there was no such designated day.  Every weekend was designated as Grandparent's Day. Weekends were  when you visited.  That was when you shared a meal and spent time together. You helped around the house.  Hallmark didn't need to specify a day.  That's just the way it was.

This week's blog  is dedicated to my Grandfather Fleming.  I was so blessed to have him.  (All of my grandparent's were special.  I was so blessed to know and love them  There will be a blog for each one of them as it strikes me).  Bill Cosby says "The reason that grandparents and grandchildren are so close, is because they have a common enemy...the parents!"  My grandfather would chuckle over that quote every time.  He had a cupboard that had candy in it and when I would go down to help with chores, I would raid that cupboard.  Twix, Hershey, Reese's, Whoppers (YUMMY), Chunky bars, Baby Ruth, or Whatchamacallits, were all in there at one time or another.  I would raid the cupboard and before I would head home, Grandpa would check me to make sure I didn't have any chocolate on my face so we wouldn't get in trouble.   Wouldn't want to ruin dinner, you know.   The freezer usually had Klondike bars, and if I was scared of a thunderstorm, my fears were smoothed over with chocolate over vanilla ice cream. (Little did I know that my parents knew every time!)   God is getting even with me, however, as my son gets goodies EVERY time he visits ANY of his grandparents! 

My favorite "Grandpa meal" was Sunday afternoons.  God Bless a Farmer. Grandpa had farmed and worked with animals all his life. He was a widower and raised my father alone.    Grandpa  cooked good old fashioned food.   There was nothing light about the Sunday  meal.  It would sustain, hearten, and exhaust you.  We would get home from church and dinner would be cooking.  Grandpa  would get up early and put 3 loaves of bread on to "proof" on the heater in the kitchen.  His dog "Dummy" (sorry Mom..that was the dog's name) would be banished to the porch so that he would stay out of the dough.   The kitchen was red hot with steam and all burners and the oven were fired up. 

Sunday dinner was held between 11 and noon.  Supper was for evening.  When you farmed, you ate a big meal in the middle of the day so that you could get through afternoon work and evening chores.  Sunday's menu was heavier than during the week. 

Sunday dinner was steak, marinated and fried in a cast iron skillet.  Big slabs of perfect Angus beef, served with "A1 Sauce".  My teeth were wimpy when I was a kid and I couldn't chew the steak.  I got hot dogs." Ballpark Franks".    As an adult,  I think back on all the steak I missed out on.  Don't feel too sorry for me though.   The hot dogs were cooked in the steak pan ( that usually had bacon in it).  How bad can that  be?  Grandpa would also peel and soak pounds of potatoes in cold salt water.  Then he would cut  them into french fries.  He would  dry them so that they would be crispier,  and then cook them in a dutch oven filled with corn oil, or in later years in a "Fry Daddy".  Remember those?  The fries  would be crispy,  hot,  mealy, and delightfully salty.  I got to salt the fries.  That was my job.  Grandpa  would pull the fries out of the bubbling oil and put them on paper towels.  While they were hot, but not in the grease,  I would salt them.  One of my favorite memories is my Dad and I having french fry eating contests.  Dad beat me every time!!   

The meal would be rounded out with scalloped corn, piping hot fresh bread, and for dessert, chocolate cream pie with whipped cream.

Chocolate Dream Pie Recipe

2 Envelopes DREAM WHIP
Whipped Topping mix
2 3/4 c Cold milk
2 pk JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding
1 9-inch prepared pie shell
1 tsp Vanilla
Prepare whipped topping mix per package directions in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups milk and pudding mix.
Whip, then beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
Spoon into graham cracker pie shell. Chill at least 4 hours.
Oh my!  The meal would be enjoyed while we watched "Wrastlin".  (That was "WWF Wrestling", but pronounced "Wrastlin").  TV trays were set up in the living room, Dummy, the dog,  would be allowed in from the porch, and big glasses of milk and iced tea were poured.   Dinner was served and we would enjoy the meal while watching "Chief Jay Strongbow", "Ivan Putsky", and" George the Animal Steele." 

Grandpa gave me unconditional love and my son enjoys the unconditional love of his grandparent's.  My mother in law's ham and biscuits, and my own mother's cookies and  lemon meringue pie are already ingrained in his memories.  God bless them all.

Here's to you Grandparents of the world!  Pass the French Fries and Chocolate Pie!

Items with *** following them have recipes to follow.

Sunday 9/12

Steak

French fries (Our favorites are Ore Ida Fast Food French Fries)

Corn Pudding**

Chocolate pie

Monday

Slow Cooked Ribs**

Noodles

Carrots

Tuesday

Beef and broccoli (Made with left over steak)

Rice (Save 1 c for Friday)

Mandarin Oranges

Wednesday

Apricot Terriaki Chicken**

Couscous

Green Beans

Thursday

 Chicken Rice Frittata (Left over special!)***

Salad

Warm Garlic Bread

Friday

Go Out to Dinner!!!