you say tomato, i say supper

 

 

 

 

 

 



i wasn't kidding when i said we've been eating tomato sandwiches every evening here lately.

last night, after a long walk, where the ground was cool and the clouds hung as shade,

i noticed our garden needed to be picked.

also, we were a bit hungry.

so we took our supper outside, eating them right off the vine.

the winds and heavy storms that have pestered the carolinas have caused our little stakes to lean

the garden needs to be weeded,

and the squash has seen better days.

but last night, lying on our backs looking up at the pin oaks,

i was thankful for this little 10x10 square of dirt and seeds

for simple suppers and old quilts

a happy life do make.

a southern girl meets soul food

 via

there were a few times i thought we'd found it.

there was that little mexican diner on the outskirts of town, with the pineapple pork sopes. that time we ate in the rain after work, pablo waiting in the car. then there was that pizza joint right by the house, with the lotto machine against the dark back wall. the dim lights and the waitress with the ruby lipstick. after a horrendous day at work, the greasy dough went down like manna.

but two weeks ago, we finally found that little hole in the wall we've so desperately sought for so long.

it's called becky's and mary's. there is no sign out front and the only way you wouldn't just drive right past it is by word of mouth. oh, and this article. becky and mary are sisters and together, along with their brother dennis, they have been dishing up soul food in high point since 1961.

the first time we went, we discovered the fried chicken, with its crispy golden crust and buttery meat. there were black-eyed peas and collard greens. homemade potato salad and rice with a deep brown gravy. on saturday, we went back, for candied yams and more rice. moist cornbread. sweet tea with a splash of lemonade. robert tried the juicy porkchop.

the sisters write orders on post-it notes and the food comes out on styrofoam plates with plastic utensils.

it's become a weekend tradition, our new little spot. where people say bless your heart and there's no such thing as an empty cup. i think we found our little soul nook beside the worn out church. it's not fancy, but then again, neither are we.

lobster tacos and people watching

robert and i have a little game we like to play called "it's a day that ends in y, wanna get mexican food?"

it's quite a fun game, really.

we found ourselves deep in the city on saturday night. with a sleepy pup at home and nowhere to be for hours. we sat in deep booths and ate lobster tacos, lapping up a long supper. then we got coffee and sat outside and people watched. i used to think the airport was the best place to do this. but really, anywhere with a bench and a close proximity to wal-mart is a sure bet as well.

there's something about mexican restaurants that makes me never want to leave. i can't tell if its the spunky decor, with the sombreros on the walls and the vibrant tiled floors, or the divinely decadent food. the guacamole is the deciding factor for me. i once loved a mexican restaurant until i was served a bowl of entirely creamy, totally smooth guacamole. no thank you.

we ended the night driving through back roads all the way home, sinking into the couch to catch up on E! news before bed.

a man who loves salsa and lets me indulge in celebrity gossip? did i make a good choice or what?

b-a-n-a-n-a-s

one of the upsides to being miserably sick with the most awful head cold to end all head colds?

i have rediscovered my love-nix that- my absolute obsession with, banana popsicles.

by themselves, bananas are a bit odd and not one of my favorite foods. but things that taste like bananas? perfection. the banana-shaped runts candy? i dare say it is the best runt of all. i also adore banana bread, not to mention banana bread cereal from post selects.

then, just yesterday, i saw an advertisement for this. a machine that turns bananas into ice cream with the push of a button? the concept alone sells me!

here's to wishing your weekend is filled with warm sunshine, grass between toes, and your favorite fruit variation, even if it's just a strawberry slurpee from 7-11. as long as you're getting your fruit in, i say.

a casserole with canned goods and cheez-its

in order to make most vegetables fit to eat, you must cover up the basic taste of vitamins with calories.

-peg bracken, the i hate to cook book

let it be known that the above quote does not entirely sum up my philosophy on healthy eating. i like to eat healthy, i really do. i like the snap of a good apple, the delightful grittiness of almond butter and the colorful display of a pretty salad. and i do like vegetables, and to cook. i'm leaning in the kitchen, and i love it.

but truth be told, i also really like cheez-its. and butter. melted butter, to be exact. and i love a good bargain. thus, this casserole is perfect. made almost entirely of canned vegetables, with fanciful toppings like sliced almonds and four-blend cheeses, it's a perfect go-to weeknight meal on a budget. and hey, it's chock-full of veggies, so the guilt is minimal.

a shout-out and thank you to my sweet neighbor suzanne, for pointing this recipe out to me from, what else, a church cookbook.

suzanne's favorite veggie casserole

you will need:

one 15 oz. can of mixed vegetables

one can of pinto beans

one can french-style green beans

one can of veg-all mixed vegetables

one can of gold and white corn (i could only find gold)

one 15 oz. can chicken broth (i only needed about 9 oz.)

one package dry onion soup mix

one 10.75 oz. can of cream of celery soup

two cups of four-cheese (mexican) blend

1/2 a box of cheez-its

1/2 cup melted margarine (jackpot)

one cup sliced almonds

what to do:

drain the pinto beans, green beans, mixed vegetables and corn. pour drained veggies in a 9x13-inch dish.

mix the chicken broth, onion soup mix and cream of celery soup over the vegetables.

pour cheese over casserole mixture.

lightly crush crackers and mix with melted margarine. pour over casserole mixture. cover cracker crumbs with sliced almonds.

 bake 20 to 30 minutes or until topping is browned.

serve with crusty bread, salad or just a glass of ice water, because this bad boy is a meal in and of itself.

robert and i ate this last night, the carolina sun beaming through the windows. and like most decadently perfect things in life, this kind of meal has to be had in moderation. but when the time calls for it, this type of meal is sublime. it's comfort food at its core, and everybody, even the most dedicated health nut, needs to be comforted every once in a while.