Summer time favorites

I have always lived near railroad tracks, giving me the privilege to see a lot of hobos. The children loved to hear stories about hobos. Sometimes on a pretty summer day we would practice something that scouts adopted from hobos and we adopted from scouts: Dig a small pit, half-round in shape, in the ground and line with bricks or rocks. Place the rocks in the bottom and stack onto the sides, extending up at least one row of brick above the ground. After we had a good bed of coals from burning small limbs and twigs, we would put an old grill rack on top of the bricks or rocks. On it can be cooked corn in the shuck, hotdogs and hamburgers. The kids liked to see what they could find in the orchard, garden or Mama’s pantry and freezer and, of course, Davidson’s Grocery was just across the road. However, their favorite was the following:

Hobo Vegetables

For each person, tear a large square of heavy-duty foil (I usually used two pieces just in case one got a hole in it). In the center place the following in order given:

Rub a little butter to grease the foil

Place meat (if using). Chicken thighs, boneless pork chops or hamburger patties are suggested.

1 carrot, scraped

1 medium onion, peeled

1 medium potato, scrubbed clean

1 tbsp butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Wrap foil snuggly, folding ends to secure. Place over hot coals and cook for 45-60 minutes or until vegetables are done, turning occasionally.

Cucumber, Yellow Squash. And Onion Salad

In a salad bowl put the following:

Slice equal portions of small fresh garden cucumbers and little yellow squash.

Slice about one half as much Vidalia onion or whatever is growing in garden.

Salt and black pepper to taste

Toss with a mild Olive Oil and vinegar or Italian Dressing. Serve as is or on a bed of fresh mild tasting greens. This is great with most any meal, cookout or picnic.

Sweet Potato and Sausage Meat Loaf

3 cups grated, raw sweet potatoes

1 ½ pounds (seasoned) hot sausage meat

1 tbsp minced onion

½ cup dry bread crumbs (can use leftover biscuit, saltines or bread ends).

½ cup whole milk

2 eggs

Soften crumbs in milk. In a large bowl put sausage meat, onions, eggs and soften crumbs. Mix. Grate potatoes and immediately add to the meat mixture. This will prevent the potatoes from turning dark. Using hands, mix well as you would a regular meat loaf. Shape into load in a baking dish that is larger than the loaf and has a little side to it. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving. This will make eight generous servings.

Brownies

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter, melted

3 cups white sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

4 eggs

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9×13 baking pan. Sift together the flour flour, cocoa powder and salt and set aside. Mix as follows: In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and vanilla. When thoroughly mixed, beat in eggs, one at a time. Be sure to mix well after adding each one. Gently stir in the cocoa/flour mixture until well mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans or walnuts. Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake in preheated oven until a baking straw comes out clean when cake is tested.

Fried Pies

Cook fruit or sweet potatoes. Season and sweeten to desired taste and refrigerate overnight. Make dough as follows, cover and refrigerate overnight.

4 cups plain flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup Crisco

2 whole eggs

1 large can evaporated milk

Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in Crisco until it resembles coarse meal. Mix together eggs and milk and work into to the flour mixture. Beat until stretchy. Refrigerate overnight. Roll out thin and use a saucer as a guide to cut out circles. Fill with cold cooked sweetened fruit that is very thick. Dampen edges of pastry, fold over in half moon shape and press edges with a fork. When finished, fry in deep oil or put on baking sheets and freeze. When frozen, remove and package each individually and return to freezer. When ready to fry, carefully place frozen pies in hot oil. They will thaw as they cook. Try to turn only once.

Recipe for Laughter: Why No Sunday Paper? (From Bob Greene)

This is dedicated to all of us who are and to all of you who will become seniors. *** “WHERE is my SUNDAY paper?” loudly demanded the irate customer calling the newspaper office.

“Madam,” said the newspaper employee, “today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on SUNDAY!”

There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as she was heard to mutter. “Well, heck, that explains why no one was at church either.”

*** P.S. Until you retire, you cannot truly appreciate this! Take care and I’ll be seeing you around…Agnes

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