Red Velvet Wisdom

Tomorrow would have been my grandfather’s birthday. Maybe. He was one of those kids taken from Indian reservations in the early 1900’s to thin them out. He and his sister were taken and to be placed with a lovely couple in Arkansas. (our great-grandparents) They were thrilled at having both a boy and girl and were told a story of poverty and birth mother dying. They arrived at the train station to find their son, locked in a small building, covered in filth and hungry. His sister was long gone on that train. The woman who took her was the worker who suggested the name Joy to my great-grandparents. They never stopped thinking of their little girl, Joy, and her name as been  handed down each generation since. My grandfather named my mother Joy, and mom named my sister Joy, and I gave my daughter the middle name of Joy.

Today would have been my grandfather’s anniversary to my grandmother. That I am certain of. They were married 53 years when she passed suddenly. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of her. Even in his scattered thoughts while suffering from dementia, he thought he was talking to her. Maybe that was worth it.

He died three years ago today. On his anniversary, as I was about to make a cake with sprinkles for the alzheimers ward to share. He was found and we were called. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him. It  might be when we remember fishing trips, or junk auctions, or silly practical jokes. We also laugh about his fondness for food. He loved pittsburg hotlinks ( another fire setting adventure for Joy. This time a microwave was involved) He hated garlic with a passion. He swore his stove didn’t work right after my aunt cooked with it.

He also loved peanut butter cookies. He liked them better than any chocolate and I have a recipe that was one of his favorites. I’ll make this and remember him. His birth, his life with my grandmother, and his passing. Wish he was here to celebrate with us.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 Cup of sugar
• 1 Cup of Peanut Butter
• 1 egg

Mix well and roll into balls. Mash slightly with a fork. Bake at 350º for 12 minutes.

For months we’ve been trying to get to the Green Tomato in Texarkana. They boast that they are “home of the greatest burger that ever lived.”  We had to see about that.  In addition to being intrigued about that claim, one of my good friends happens to be the aunt of the owner.

Janelle, wearing their motto.

We ordered the special, and with that comes an appetizer.  We couldn’t decide so we got fried pickles and fried green tomatoes.  Both were a very good decision.  They were light and crispy, which is not always an easy thing to accomplish when you are frying veggies.

I ordered a salad with grilled chicken.  It was perfect.  I hesitated because I am very very very picky about the chicken that goes on chicken salads.  All too often restaurants use some sort of rubbery mess that comes frozen out of a bag, but this was fresh and delicious.

Rod pretty much always gets a chicken fried steak or a burger, but he surprised everybody by ordering a chicken breast smothered in ham, cheese, and onions; a sort of deconstructed chicken cordon bleu if you will.  And again to everybody’s surprise Rod enjoyed his meal.

Boo was the only one to order a burger at the place that claims to have the best, and she chose the Green Tomato Burger, which places a fried green tomato in place of a raw red one.

Not only was it delicious according to her, it was so big that Rod had to take up the slack and finish the other half of it.

Did I mention that our special came with dessert?   Boo got her usual ice cream (not part of the special) and we split a homemade sopapilla cheesecake.  It was delicious.

The special was an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert for $12.99.  We think that’s a steal, especially considering the great taste and portion sizes.  This restaurant is the kind of place that has a friendly diner atmosphere and eclectic clientele that give it a unique ambiance to match the food.  Visit their Facebook and then visit them in person!

Every so often I get a call from my mother-in-law, Ninny. She tells me that she is making our supper and will bring it over when we get off work. People I work with are jealous, as well they should be. Last week she called and was making a favorite of ours and it was one that I never make: Salmon Patties.

She also brought cabbage.

The meal wouldn't be complete without her beans and cornbread.

I realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing moth-in-law. A friend said I was spoiled but I like to say that I am blessed. I asked Ninny for her salmon recipe. My aversion to it is the process of picking out the bones. I obsess about it and never feel I get them all out, aside from it turning my stomach. But here is how she does it.

• 1 can of salmon
• 2 eggs
• sleeve of crackers
• onion
• corn meal for rolling them in

The first thing she does is debone the salmon. The more expensive kind you buy, the less bones you have. Then she adds the eggs, about half an onion, and crushed crackers until it is firm enough to roll into patties. Then the patties are dredged in corn meal and fried in hot oil until browned. Sounds easy?

I’m just thankful to have Ninny.

I think that the day Joy was born is one of the most fantastic days of the year. I celebrate this occasion whether she can make the three hour trek home or not. This year, we got some beautiful cupcakes from the Bakerman and hit the road. Joy’s cupcake was special, with a heart and some bling bling. It was safe in the posession of Joy’s namesake. (Boo is named after her aunt, who is named after her mother, who is named after her aunt)

Boo, meet cupcake.

Our first stop was for a diet vanilla coke and a cherry sprite.

Joy loves all beauty shops, but Peggy's is high on her list.

Rah Rah Ree!

I'm not touching it!

Somehow we ended up far away from the mall.

Our mission: Herding donkeys.

Dad and Mason, both unsure of what they were doing.

More family to celebrate Joy's birthday and herd donkeys.

The keeper of the cupcake neglected his duties, playing instead

Sadly, it was the end of cupcake.  It wasn’t the end of our fun though. We continued to celebrate Joy’s birthday with our cupcakes and a quick trip to the mall. It could have only been better if Joy had been here herself.