October 2008

Delta Dish
Volume 4 Issue 10

*** Random Thoughts

Let me ask you something: are you busy these days? I thought so.

Did you feel so busy when you were a child? Were you days this full? Mine weren’t, not that I remember.

My son plays soccer Tuesdays and Thursdays. He has children’s activities at church Wednesday nights. He begged to join Cub Scouts. I think Cub Scouts is a great thing. But Scouts meets on Mondays. That would have him not at home, busy with activities, FOUR weeknights out of five.

I told him maybe next year. What I didn’t tell him is that he would probably have to choose between soccer and scouting. He loves soccer. I think it’s great that he plays; he’s part of a team and is getting good exercise while he has fun.

A few weeks ago the school sent home something about art lessons offered after school, one or two afternoons a week. I briefly wondered if I could figure out a way to make that work. Then I came to my senses; I don’t want him over-scheduled.

As it is now, Monday night is pretty much the only night we have to sit down at the table and eat a meal.

The best I can remember when I was a child, we did that every single night, except Wednesdays when we ate at church. (It seems like it was spaghetti most Wednesdays. We’d also have salad with the spaghetti – iceburg lettuce dressed with Italian dressing in white Styrofoam bowls, which has nothing to do with anything. I just hadn’t thought about those salads in years. See what it’s like in my world? The most random things take me down memory lane.)

Maybe I didn’t have the opportunities kids these days have. Children today have so many options to be enriched and well-rounded. Then again, I was home with my family at least three nights out of the week. Which is more valuable?

Why are there no easy answers?

At least there’s this: Oh, happy day, fall has arrived. I’m looking forward to all this golden goodness ahead of us: brisk mornings, football games, the State Fair, trick or treating, and turning leaves that usher in Thanksgiving. Before we know it, it’s time for tree trimming and hall decking and then New Year’s Eve and then my birthday and then Valentine’s Day and then… Wait, we were talking about October, right?

Best,
Keetha


*** Great Quote

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
-- George Cooper, "October's Party"


*** Fun Food Idea

Now that temperatures are below 90 degrees (most days) I’ve enjoyed getting back to the kitchen, the one night during the school week that we’re at home, anyway.

We’re busy. We’ve covered that. If you need a little something to take to the office or to the tailgate or to the couch to munch on, this is just the thing.

Take some chocolate – whatever you have in the cabinet, such as milk or semi sweet or whatever – and melt it over low heat in a medium saucepan. You can do this in the microwave if you know your microwave very, very well and if the two of you are on very, very good terms.

When the chocolate is melted you can add a spoonful of peanut butter or Nutella if you’d like.

Remove from heat and stir in any or all or any combination thereof the following:

Pretzel sticks
Crisped rice cereal
-- Note: this is an ideal way to use up those sorry, broken pieces left in the bottom of a bag of cereal or pretzels.
Nuts – I prefer peanuts but any kind at all will do
Chow mein noodles
Dried fruit, you know, if you’re just that healthy

Add these things a handful at a time and stir after each addition. The melted chocolate will take on more than you can think it can. When you think you have enough doodads in there, drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or in miniature cupcake papers, if you’d rather.

They’ll harden up at room temperature or if you’re in a hurry, stick them in the refrigerator for a bit.

Step by step instructions and photos are here (scroll down a bit past the home tailgating photos):



*** Pass It On

If there’s someone who you think would enjoy this newsletter, please forward this issue in its entirety. If there’s someone who you think would enjoy this newsletter, please forward this issue in its entirety. You’re welcome to comment here with your email address or send an email with "subscribe" in the subject line to kudzuuu at gmail dot com.


*** Hit the Highlights

A few choice blog posts from this past month:

Three cheers for fall

Are you ready for some football

How The Fiancé and I met

Check the blog often!


*** Shameless Bid for Commerce

To see what people, who I didn’t pay (really!), say about More Culinary Kudzu, visit here.



*** Recommended Reading

Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines. Sixth in a series about private investigator, Sarah Booth, Bones to Pick opens with a young woman’s body discovered in a cotton field; she was drowned in a mug bog. The victim had recently written and published a racy, scandalous tell-all book where she dragged many prominent Delta families – including her own – names in the mud.

Cornbread Nation 4: Best of Southern Food Writing. With essays about boudin, low country cooking, Frank Stitt, red velvet cake, New Orleans before, during, and after Katrina, the Waffle House, poke salad, and barbecue, it’s one of the better reads – about anything – I’ve come across in a while.

My take on all the books I read last month:



*** Mississippi Writers Guild

The Mississippi Writers Guild is a non-profit association of writers from all over the state and is a growing part of Mississippi’s literary art landscape. Membership dues are only $40.00 per year.


*** Calendar of Events

October 1-12 – Mississippi State Fair, Jackson, Mississippi

October 11 – Miss. State v. Vanderbilt, 1:30 in Starkville, Miss.

October 25 – Miss. State v. Middle Tenn. State, Homecoming


*** Reminders and Unsubscribe Info.
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