Saturday, October 18, 2008

Sunday Dinner, October 19, 2008

It's a gorgeous Fall day here in Northeast Arkansas. It's 67F, the sun is shining and there's a refreshing breeze blowing. My windows are all open and Lamar is out taking Emmy for a walk in her stroller.

We have Emmy this afternoon/evening because Jessica is working some extra hours to accommodate her employers and Jason is doing some work on the side for extra money. He's helping out with the harvesting on a farm. One of his friends works there full time and got Jason the job. If I heard Jessica correctly, I believe she said Jason is driving a tractor today.

Don't worry, he still has his other job, this is just temporary and he'll still be working his regular hours at his main job. But the windfall of extra money this temporary job will provide is a Godsend, and we're very thankful for His provision.

So, Grandpa and I have the pleasure of Miss Emmy's company today.

Because Emmy loves MY TEXAS HASH, that's what we're having for supper tonight, along with some frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots from a bagged mix.

But you dropped by to see what I'm cooking for Sunday Dinner this week, didn't you?

All righty then. The crisp Fall weather just begs for warm comfort food, in my opinion, and I'm not going to fight the inclination to gather at home with family and enjoy some Southern home cookin'.

I'm going to cook up a big pot of pinto beans with a little hog jowl bacon thrown in for some smoky seasoning, and I'm also going to fry a big skillet of potatoes and make some of MY HOMEMADE CORNBREAD in a cast iron skillet. Cornbread is just better when it's baked in a cast iron skillet in my opinion.

My sister Ducky has been craving turnip greens and I happen to have some in the freezer, so I'm gonna surprise her and cook up some greens with some more of that bacon for seasoning. She rarely reads my blog so it should be a surprise to her when she gets here for dinner tomorrow afternoon.

And that's my menu for Sunday Dinner this week:

Pinto beans and bacon.
Fried taters.
Turnip greens and bacon.
Cornbread.

That's it unless somebody else brings a dessert or something else to add to the meal.

What's for Sunday Dinner at your place this week? Goin' to Grandma's or out to eat? Share your menu/plans in the comments if you'd like to participate this week.Now this is for MIGHTY MOM....Sarah, you'll be glad to know that Lamar and I had fried squirrel, fried taters and cream gravy for supper last night. (Sarah has asked me a couple of times lately if we'd eaten all the squirrel I had in my freezer. I think she's a little fascinated/disbelieving that we'd actually eat squirrel.)

I grew up eating squirrel, wild rabbit, turtle, deer, dove, duck and goose, several kinds of fish caught from our rivers and lakes, and I've even had fried blackbird, though I was pretty young and barely remember it. When you grow up poor in rural Arkansas, you eat what Mama and Daddy put on the table and you're glad to get it.

The squirrel sure was good, too! It's the first squirrel we've had this season and it came to us courtesy of my nephew Danny. He also gave us some catfish a couple of weeks ago and I fried it up for our supper about a week ago. Delicious!Lamar and Emmy should be back anytime and I need to get supper started. I also need to study my Sunday School lesson, but I'm sure that will have to wait until Emmy goes home later this evening.

For some reason, I don't find having an active toddler in the house conducive to effective Bible study. I'll gladly make the necessary adjustments to my routine though. These early years with Emmy will pass all too soon and I want to savor the sweetness and make lasting memories while I have the opportunity.I'm off to make supper and good memories. I hope you're making good memories this weekend as well.

May God meet all your needs and may you have enough to share.

54 comments:

Donna. W said...

Woo-hoooo!!!! that's what I'm talkin' about. My kind of Sunday dinner.

Dick said...

I don't know what our dinner tomorrow will be but tonight we are going to the Eagles Club for prime rib. They do it there monthly and it is very good.

Barb said...

I grew up eating those things too, Diane. And frogs. Or rather, their legs. I'm sure you've had fried frog legs and agree they really do taste like fried chicken.

Our weather is very typical fall weather too - sunny but on the cold side - so like you I'm making comfort food. I'm making a big pot of chili. Perfect for this weather and Sunday football.

You know I agree with you aboug these special early years with our grandbabies. They grow up too fast, so although it means having to kind of work around them, it's worth it, to have this special time with them. I can't imaing living so far away from mine that I couldn't see them more than once or twice a year. An occasional break is nice, but I know you agree, we're lucky grandmas.

Enjoy your Sunday with family and here's wishing you a really nice new week.

xo
Barb

Barb said...

Let's see if I can fit THREE typos into my next comment. LOL

Susie said...

Hi Diane,
Your Sunday dinner sounds much like the type my KY grandma used to make. We're still not really feeling too fallish yet, but I do enjoy cooking and eating the comfort foods when it's cool.
Dinner tomorrow? Roast beef, restuffed potatoes, green beans and salad.
Have a wonderful week!
xo

the voice of melody said...

Hope you enjoy your Sunday dinner surrounded with love and lots of full bellies!

MJ

Mim said...

Diane
Yes precious memories with your grandbaby!
Your food sounds good.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you are feeling well these days.
Mim

Unknown said...

Cornbread and Fall goes together so nicely, Dianne! You are a great cook!

Lots of Luv!!!:D)

Lucy Stern said...

Diane, I have a big pot of chicken soup in the crockpot right now. TF is sick with fever, coughing and hurting all over. This flu has gone to his chest and he is hacking all over the place. I made the soup and last night just added some broth to it to make it last. I still have a little bit of turkey broth in the freezer from last thanksgiving and now I'm using it up.....

I'm tired tonight and trying to stay awake and watch the ballgame. I hope the Rays win it tonight and then we can see the Rays and the Phillies in the World Series....

I found a good bargain on 90/10 ground beef yesterday at the store, it was $1.09 a pound. I bought 30 pounds and put it in the freezer. I was down to 1 lb. and desperately needed ground beef. I put it up in 1 lb. quart sized freezer bags, flattened down with the air sucked out. It is amazing how little space it takes up when you do it that way.

Enjoy your beans, potatoes, cornbread and greens. It does sound like a wonderful dinner for a cold day. Have a fun day with Miss Emily and have a great week.

Dawn said...

So we just now got home from the airport and I haven't a clue what we'll have for dinner tomorrow! Most likely it'll be some fast foodie kind of thing with the kiddoes. They can't wait to see what we brought them.

Hey, you have to go over and check out Kristen's latest post on her disastrous morning yesterday. She's too funny.

Aunt Jenny said...

Yummmmm..that is exactly the kind of Sunday dinner my grandma always made..my favorite things!!
(I have never eaten squirrel either...grew up on Calif on the coast and our squirrels were the size of chipmunks..no one eats them...but I have eaten all the rest on your list and more..my daddy loved to hunt and fish and we were for sure poor!
Okay...we are having roast chicken (am doing two so I have leftovers..my favorite meat I think) with herbs and homemade stuffing (cornbread stuffing of course), cooked carrots and broccoli and I havn't decided what else. Maybe something baked with bananas as I have a few that I need to use up.
Have a wonderful Sunday with your family.

auntpearl said...

I remember my dad telling me all the different things his mother had served them. He grew up on a farm and always had vegetables but not meat. They got quite creative in their kitchen.

Your Sunday dinner sounds yummy.

Hope you are feeling good.
Hugs,

Lib said...

Hi Diane,
Hope you had a good time with Princess Emmy!:o)
Here in E.Tn. we were poor and ate all the things you talked about. But so glad we were taught the ways we were we know how to make it in hard times! :o)
Your dinner sounds good. Went to my sisters last night, she sent left overs Chicken, broc. cass, mac. salad so no cookin' today just left overs. My left over from dinner yesterday will become veggie soup for tomorrow with a pone of cornbread.I too use a cast iron .Thats mostly what I cook everything in. Love it.
Hope ya'll have a great gathering and a Blessed Sun.!
Love,Hugs,Blessins',Lib

Linda said...

It sounds like a loving, warm weekend at your house Diane. Enjoy that sweet little girl.
When I was reading about the different things you've eaten, I thought about the Little House books when they had blackbird pies after the mean birds had decimated their corn crop. Ma said, "There's no great loss without some small gain." Those pies had to have been delicious.
Have a wonderful weekend Diane.

kansasrose said...

Happy Blessed Sunday hon!

Wooooo those beans n' bacon are my kinda meal. ( the after affects I can do without, if ya know what I mean) Your skillet cornbread rocks. I agree, cast iron all the way. Sounds like you have a perfect autumn Sunday goin'....lovin' on your sweet grandbabe today. Miss Emmy has good taste...your Texas Hash is THE best.

I've got a rump roast in the crock pot, carrots, onions, potatoes, onion soup seasoning. Should be fork tender by dinner time.

I have never had squirrel. Dh has... Frog legs, pheasant, deer, mountain oysters is the most exotic meats I've tried. We have lots of wild turkeys around here. I've always wanted to try one. I saw a big ole Tom wild turkey in our milo a few years back, spreading his "turkey fan" showin' off. He was huge! The wild turkeys love the milo, just like the pheasants. Which reminds me pheasant hunting begins here in a few weeks. I don't like the taste of pheasants. Too gamey. Some have seen packs of feral pigs in south KS. Heard they are great in sausage. They are dangerous to hunt, those tusks are deadly. Do ya have wild boar in Arkansas?

Have a peaceful, blessed day Diane. Loveya, Jen

MightyMom said...

nah, it's just plain old fashioned JEALOUSY!!

I wanna try squirrel too!!

Cajuns eat the same way friend. Funny thing too. Now eating "Cajun food" these things are delicacies. crawfish, turtle soup, gator tail, frog legs....back in the day the Cajuns were just eating whatever crawled through their backyard that day!!

Still wanna try me some fried squirrel though. ;-)

Brenda said...

"Taste's Like Chicken"! ok, I don't know about the squirrel! I had one last year eating my petunias and if'd I'd had a gun I would've shot it for sure, made me so mad! BUT, I don't think I would've ate it. But I have had a bite of fried turtle. And catfish is yummy!
We had enchiladas with regular old ground beef today for lunch along with spanish rice and home made salsa.
God bless, Diane!
Brenda :)

Mary said...

Diane,

How lovely that Emmy and Grandpa are out bonding with each other. That is fantastic.

Love your dinner menu. Good ol' down home country cooking. I've also eaten squirrel as a kid. We also hunted and ate rabbit, deer, wild turkey, moose and when Mom was little she ate bear. I have never tasted bear, but she said it was what was put on the table and they ate it. We took whatever Dad and us kids could shoot to supplement our groceries. I was once offered raccoon and porcupine but passed on both counts. LOL

Enjoy Miss Emmy's company and have a great week. How nice that Jason was blessed with extra work.

Blessings,
Mary

Cecil said...

Hmmm... Busted!!!! I know you went to Cracker Barrel!!! LOL.... I had a wonderful time with Hubby.. at Lazzari's.. and then we went shopping... A perfect day! See ya tomorrow.. Love ya more.. Cecil

kkryno said...

Hey, Diane. Hope you had a beautiful Sunday. Beans and corn bread are so good! I'm not sure people realize how special they are unless someone doesn't know how to make them. My nephew had quite the experience with them last week. The recipe called for a can of pinto beans; he only had dry beans. A can of beans is about a pound. A small bag of dry beans is about a pound, right? Oh, what a mess of beans! ;) Have a good week.
Love, Vikki.

The Old Gray Mare said...

I just wanted to thank you for your concern and your prayers! I was very touched that you were thinking of me.

I have read your blog for a long time and always enjoy the things you have to share, especially watching your Emmy grow.

Honestly, though, I don't know how you keep up with all the comments. You sure have a lot of friends, and I can easily see why!

Blessings to you!

Anonymous said...

Hey I noticed that you call it cream gravy. When I was growing up that's what we called it, now a days they call it white gravy...probably because the milk has so very little butter fat.

While we were at my MIL's this past weekend she made three pots of pinto beans...lol We devoured them all. No matter how many times I've tried, I still cannot get my beans to taste like hers do.

moreofhim said...

Hey, Diane!!

I'm so glad you're feeling better!! I have to watch my sugar levels all the time, too, but have been doing much better and eating better, so they are doing well. Thank goodness! Nothing worse than not feeling good!

As always, your Sunday dinner sounds delicious!! Even the squirrel you had the other night sounds good! LOL

Take care and will be praying for you!

God bless you ~ Julie

momteacherfriend said...

Do y'all fight over the squirrels skull like that other southerner I know?

Naturegirl said...

Diane it was so good to hear from
you!Thank you for the birthday greeting! Each time I come by you are cooking up a storm and man do I wish I could reach into the PC and grab a piece of that cornbread..smothered in butter!!Yummo!!
Now Diane ...(((eating squirrel!)))
EEK!
Oh my word...don't you remember my little Patches!!You loved my wee
Patches.

Naturegirl said...

Diane:
I forgot to say ((WooHoo)) to you for standing on SOLID GROUND with me!!hugs

violetlady said...

Oh, Diane, how I love when you write about your Sunday dinners. I am writing this on Tuesday -- can't remember what I had for dinner on Sunday --I think we had spaghetti. Well, I have never eaten squirrel, but after the squirrel incident in my attic (still ongoing), if I had a gun that is what I might cook. Ha, ha.
My husband loves your southern cooking - something like what his mother cooked from country Delaware.

Lucy Stern said...

Diane, any news on Emily?

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear Diane:-)

I'm back from my trip and now catching up with everyone. Your dinners always sound so good and so unusual for me! lol I'm just fascinated with the foods that are so popular over there...I've never had cornbread, turnip greens, pinto beans, etc. I'll just have to go visit you and taste all that! hehe

Glad to hear that Jason has a regular job now and that he's also making a bit of extra money on the side. Every little bit helps, that's for sure!!

I've no doubt you enjoyed having the company of Miss Emmy but as you say, having a toddler around doesn't give you much chance to get anything done!

Fried squirrel???? I can't say I've ever tasted that! lol I guess if people can eat rabbit and such, then why not squirrel! Some people eat bear meat around here...no thank you!!

Hope you're feeling better every day now! xoxo

someone else said...

I must say my eyes opened wide when you mentioned eating squirrel. I'm not sure I could do it.

Emmy gets cuter and cuter all the time!!

Naturegirl said...

Diane it's me again! You know I love ya!! hugs

Merle said...

Hi Diane ~~ Just a note to wish you a very Happy Birthday on Thursday, 23rd October. I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy every minute. I often read about your Sunday dinners and the best thing about them is you always seem to have company. Your meals sound yummy also. I am going to look in your recipe blog for your Hash recipe. Little Emmy is
growing more cute every day. Take care;
Love and Hugs, Merle.

Anonymous said...

MMM. Slurp.

Girl Raised in the South said...

I have a quilting friend who always fascinates me with what's in her fridge and freezer. Groundhog, possum, squirrel, etc. etc. etc. All of which would make me go vegetarian, but then if she didnt tell me what I was eating I might like it just dandy!

Hootin Anni said...

Good, Happy Wednesday Diane....I didn't have a cable modem over the weekend [Sunday] - it just wasn't cooperating with me, so I opted out of even being online after a while. But I had "Manny" come out and he found the problem. Now, I'm back, and raring to catch up.

The pinto beans and bacon sounds so scrumptious. I'm sorry I missed it. But the corn bread...only dear man of mine would appreciate that...I'm one who loves homemade flour tortillas with my pintos. So, I make both. Cornbread for him, and tortillas for me.

That Emmy is such a doll!! Makes me wanna hug and squeeze her. Bet she's such a delight for you!!

Sam said...

Hi Diane!

Sounds like you had a delicious Sunday dinner! (I know, it's halfway through the week by now--I'm a bit behind the times!)

Squirrel? Count me in with the people who are a bit surprised that people eat squirrel. I would imagine there's not much meat on a squirrel--they're so small. How do you cook it? What does it taste like? I just can't imagine. But your point about eating what your parents put on the table and being glad to get it really rings true. Food is food and you're so right, we should all be grateful for what we have.

Glad you're getting some extra time with sweet little Emmy these days. She's such a cutie-pie! But I can imagine things are not quiet and peaceful when she's visiting.

Enjoy the beautiful weather! I love fall!!

Love,
Sammy

Rachel said...

Now that's my kind of cooking Diane! We grew up eating lots of squirrels and rabbits too. Boy were they good!! I loved the squirrel brains. I haven't eaten squirrel in ages and don't desire too anymore. Like you said though, when we were growing up we were thankful for what we got, but we never ate a blackbird thankfully!! We ate a few groundhogs though.

Mary said...

Happy Birthday, my friend. I wish all the good things that a birthday brings - cake, ice cream and lots of gifts and of course I wish you many, many more happy birthdays.

Blessings,
Mary

Pyjama Diva said...

The very happiest of birthdays to you, my friend! May today be the start of a year that is absolutely splendid in all of the ways that matter most! :D

Linds said...

Happy Birthday, Diane! Have a wonderful day and take loads of photos so we can see you celebrating!
Hugs!!

Hootin Anni said...

A little PEA in a pod whispered to me today that it's your birthday!!!

Happy happy birthday to you. I'd sing to you, but I don't want to scare all the others away.

Celebrate in style Diane!!!!

Sharon said...

Diane
I just stopped by to wish you a Happy birthday.
Your little granddaughter is so cute.
I agree that you need to cherish their sweet memories while little as they don't stay that way for long.
After raising 3 sons I finally now have 2 granddaughters and they are now 15 & 13.It seemed like they grew so fast.
I really did enjoy reading your blog. I'd like to stop by again.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
GOD BLESS.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Diane!!!
I saw on Pea's blog it was your birthday!
Have a wonderful day!!
Diane

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

I always leave your blog hungry, Diane. Today I'm hungry for cornbread! I have my grandmother's cast iron skillet and I always make my cornbread in it...I agree...it's the very best when baked in a skillet.

Oh, looks like I need to be wishing you a happy birthday today!!! Blessings to you my friend!

Dawn said...

I came over from Pea's to wish you a happy birthday! Hope you're doing something fun. 45, right??

Jess said...

Happy Birthday Mom...Love you!

Dawn said...

So today is Kristen's BIG day in her life - the before/after kind of day. Check out her post, if you have a minute!

Anonymous said...

First of all I'm here to wish you a Happy Birthday dear blog friend - all the way from Norway.

Then: I do agree with you: The crisp Fall weather just begs for warm comfort food and my fave is Fårikål of course :-)

Btw: Sorry I haven't been around that much. Fall is a busy season at work.

Our Home Schooler and Jen said...

a beautiful lady told me it was your birthday
so Im here to say that I hope you have a very nice day
and
have a very happy birthday
lots of love and hugs
Jen

nancy said...

I'm not going to comment on your post right now. a little bird told me you were having a special day today and I didn't want to miss out on wishing you a very "Happy Birthday"! You deserve the best. Hope your day is filled with joy.
Love,
Nancy

Mountain Mama said...

You must be having a super great day!!! You haven't even had time to set yourself up a Birthday post yet.
I do want to wish you a wonderful day Diane and pray you have many-many more.
I also want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my niece Teresa. As I told your daughter, it's Christian friends like you who keep me blogging.
Lots of love, hugs and prayers!

Cecil said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! Love ya more.. Cecil

Gigi said...

Let me get in line to offer birthday wishes and hugs! May the Lord bless you with many, many more! (All the better to enjoy that precious grandbaby, right?!) Happy Birthday Diane! :)

Brenda said...

Happy Birthday, Diane!
God bless,
Brenda :)