I hate the wind.
I hate it even more when it is combined with cold and we have to say windchill!
And so it was awhile back when I was off to the medical clinic to stock up on high blood pressure medication. I am walking down the street with that nasty wind blowing at me. My scarf was flapping about, my hat was askew, my old eyes were watery and I was using words an old lady should not use in public. All would have been fine if I had not spoken aloud. I realized in a hurry that a woman older than I was right behind me. I apologized and carried on. You know I think she was using me as a windbreak.
Later as I hurried too much to get to the grocery store, I took a nasty fall. Al was there to help and along came Arthur. Between both of them I was set to rights and carried on with the task at hand.
All this happening on a cold Monday made me feel the need for comfort food. Just a little something to calm my agitated spirit. I was thinking about warm and fuzzy dishes like macaroni and cheese, stew and dumplings, or a big pot of curried soup.
Later that day as I looked through a 1953 Edith Adam’s cook book I was surprised at how much of the food was just what I needed. Comforting. Back in those days before cholesterol was a concern we ate what we had on hand. Meat was often a cut below what we would eat today. Tongue, kidneys, liver, pigs feet, blood sausage and tripe.
I did think to make a shepherd’s pie. No beef. So I went with a recipe for leftover ham loaf. Simple, cheap and just what the doctor ordered.
You will need: 2 cups ground cooked ham. 1 cup dried bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons catsup, 1 cup ground raw carrot. 1 egg beaten and 3/4 cup of milk. Combine all ingredients and pack into a buttered casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. It said it would serve six. Only two people here so that is what it served.
I somehow wish I had more room to share some of those old recipes with you but for now I will leave you hoping you have some comfort in your life. As the snow falls and the dogs and cats soak up the heat from the wood stove, classical music plays and I am indeed comforted.
Once more I thank you for the calls to 250-846-5095 and the e-mail notes to mallory@bulkley.net.
Brenda Mallory writes a weekly community column, A Spice of Life.
