I just finished with lunch and I was waxing nostalgically about my youth. I had earlier gone to the Post Orifice, (notice the spelling), and then took a small ride up the hill to Russell’s Vegetables and got more fresh tomatoes (11) and fresh broccoli (a big head) and fresh green beans and a huge, I mean freakin huge head of cabbage (about 4-6 pounds. All for seven bucks.

I washed everything, cut up the beans and started cooking the beans. Then I cut up the cabbage, taking one quarter of it and making a big bowl of Cole slaw. Then took out the big pot and put what was left of the cabbage in the pot and filled with water to cook. When the beans were cooked, I took some and put just some butter, salt and pepper on them and chowed down. I had enough for two or three more meals, so I put them in a container for later. After the cabbage was done, I had some and put the rest in containers for several other meals. Now I know it’s not that great of a lunch, but when they are as fresh as just picked, and cleaned and cooked up quickly, they taste just incredible.

Now back to my waxing nostalgically. When I was a kid, mom and I would have just cucumbers for lunch. Right out of the garden, They would be really weird shaped and funny looking, but they tasted really good. We’d just peal then and salt them and munch down. Two to three cucumbers a piece. We’d go out pick our daily veggies and then throw out the bad or yucky lookin stuff. It was always a surprise to see how big the zucchini were. The day before they would be just a blossom, the next they would be a foot long. Ma always had this way of fixing green beans. She’d cook up the beans and then in a frying pan, she would cook some bacon. Then take out the bacon and leave the rendered bacon fat in the pan. She’d next put in some flour and make rue. Then put in the green beans and ad a little milk, just to loosen up the rue. Let it cook a little while then and salt and pepper. Sometimes she’d crumble up the bacon in it, if it were still there. That is if mom or I could keep from eating it. There is something about bacon. It never lasted in one place to lung in our house. Then it was time to eat, yum, yum. I didn’t have any bacon, so I couldn’t have any. I’ll just have to make sure I get some this
Weekend when I go shopping. I miss the garden. It was a lot of work when I was younger, but I think I would love to have one know. Even if just for the fresh tomatoes. I love tomatoes. Dad and I would get out the spade and pitch forks and dig up the garden and fertilized it, then plant it. Weed it, take care of it. But once it got to be producing it’s goodies, everyone at home would be out there when it was time to pick and eat the fruits of our labors. And it was Good…….. I miss it…. Just had to post about it.