mycalicocat

I made this trifle, which will be the front page picture in the food section, with recipe and directions. Then I took this photo. Then Tina and I agreed it was entirely too much temptation to have around for days, so I decided to take it to the nurses at Perry Hospital as a thank you for being so nice to Wally when he was hospitalized.
I got it nicely wedged in on the front seat, and took off, imagining how surprised the nurses were going to be. Then I nearly missed Morningside (the street the hospital's on), made a quick left turn and the whole thing turned sideways with the top half sliding down between the carseat and the door. I turned around and drove back home. We are eating the bottom half all the same. I will spare you the details of cleaning all that whipped cream, pudding, cake, strawberries and blueberries out of my car. I do not mention the sad fate of the trifle in my story about it.

1. regarding food, has anybody got any special favorites for the Fourth of July?

2. sporcupine said something about its being in the 80s and her not having the air conditioning on. I find air conditioning non-negotiable, despite the fact that I grew up without it. No "good old days" for me! If I had to go back in a time machine to my growing-up days, I would miss my computer, e-mail, the microwave, and air conditioning and that's probably just the things that come to mind first. Also, since I grew up when and where I did, I grew up with an ice box instead of a refrigerator. No freezer. No ice cubes. And you could not wear ANYTHING without ironing it. (Well maybe underwear) Comments and reflections anyone?

3. Has anyone noticed the increasing inclination of the media to report on the media? For example, newspapers reporting on campaigns by reporting on the content of television commercials? TV stations reporting what the New York Times said, etc., or reporting what Ann Coulter said in her book and what somebody on television said about what Ann Coulter said.
Once a long time ago my sister Adrienne and I were watching some television news show, and the commentator addressed the audience as "You folks out in tv land." Adrienne said back, "WE'RE not in tv land, you idiot. You are."
I'm beginning to think that a hazardous amount of political news is actually newspeople reporting on what newsmakers said to other newspeople, or put in commercials.
End of ramble. Discussion open.

We were talking about cars with bumper stickers recently. Here's one I spotted in the Kroger parking lot that has bumperstickers all around, even on the hood, but I will spare you the entire thing! You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.
There's one on the back window that says, "What would Scooby Doo?"

I realized the other day that I have stopped watching anything but news, occasional Britcoms and, when I can stay up, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. I mean that I don't even know of any good dramatic series or good sitcoms. I'm out of the loop entirely. Anybody got any recommendations? Am I missing something good? I need to clear my head of CNN, at least until the hurricanes start. Also, does anybody have HBO and that sort of thing and is it worth the extra?

It is a little after noon on Saturday, and I am ready to blog again. Have just had a long stretch of too much to do, not even being able to do all the things I've said I'd do. A little later I've got to go to the Cathy Cox rally at the Fairgrounds, so may have some fun pictures from that.
In the meantime, I need help and suggestions. I am now responsible for a six page food section in the paper each week -- and am going to recycle some old things (like the famous "How to make a tomato sandwich" and the battle between mayo and miracle whip.
However, my real question is what makes a food section worth looking at? This isn't so much about "Would you cook it?" as "Would you read it?" In other words give me some ideas about what would make good reading from your point of view.
So please consider the list below, but also add your own thoughts. I've done three of these 800-lb gorilla sections already and I need tons of inspiration. And if you don't live here, just imagine that this would be in your paper. The assumption is that a good section needs a good range -- i.e. the latest mushroom soup invention all the way to show-offy company dishes.

Features on good local cooks with some of their recipes?
Features on local restaurants --what they've got and is it good?
Easy recipes (few ingredients, quick preparation)
Best of the Church Cookbooks.
Party sandwiches and party food generally.
Articles about cooking itself -- like "How to make a roux" or "How to make cream puffs" (I've done cream puffs 101 before)
Articles about seasonal fresh foods -- tomatoes, corn, peaches, etc.
Articles about regional classics - Brunswick stew, burgoo, gumbo, Boston baked beans, whatever. (We have people from all over the country here)
Articles giving both classic and new takes on certain key foods (potato salad, corn bread, yeast bread)
Articles on local restaurants.
Back of the Box recipes
Copycat recipes. (I've found a copy of the hot spinach dip that Applebee's and Longhorn's serve, for example. The base is Alfredo sauce. Also have recipes that approximate Red Lobster biscuits.
Nostalgia recipes. (Banana pudding, chicken and dumplings, creamed chipped beef on toast)
Show-off recipes -- things that persuade people you're a good cook.
Comfort food
Soul food
Nutrition stories
Do you care about vitamin content? Antioxidants?
Breakfast?
How to cook an 800-lb gorilla.
Etc.
Any ideas, comments, feedback would be welcome. PLEASE.

I cannot seem to download this picture without getting it twice, but it's so cute, maybe it needs to be doubled.
This is Hannah Grace Perkins with her daddy, Steve. Picture taken by Gretchen. Hannah looks to me at this age like her dad when he was her age, but sometimes she looks just like her mom. I rember my sister Adrienne saying once that it would be fun to have a dozen children just to see how they'd all look!
Back to blogging now.