Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I Gave Up Sweets For Lent

....and was doing quite well until today. Now I am obsessed with the thought of cookies or cake or something with real sugar. I like the idea of self deprevation - I believe it builds character. When I was a young bride I lived in a crappy house and had hand-me-down furniture. Now I see very young people in furniture stores starting out with nice stuff all on credit. In those days my cooking seemed to always include a cheap dish made with cream of mushroom soup like green bean casserole or pork chops & rice-not much eating out in those days except for special occassions. Sorry, I am rambling due to sugar withdrawl so I will get to the point....


My husband bought me this cookbook for Christmas about twenty years ago. Truthfully, I didn't know if I should laugh or be offended. I have to admit that I am a little touchy about the terms white trash, hillbilly, redneck, hick, etc. having been born and raised (partially) in Arkansas. I loved the photographs and many of the photos and stories brought back memories of the south. The funny thing is, my yanky husband has been crazy about every recipe I've ever made from this book! Every holiday he asked if I am going to make that sweet potato pone - he prefers it over those ghastly sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows. Here's the recipe direct from the book:

FANCY SWEET POTATO PONE

4 C raw grated sweet potato, 1 C syrup, 1/2 C sugar, 1 C milk, 1/2 C butter, 1/2 C chopped nuts, 1 C raisins, 3 well-beaten eggs, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp salt

Add well beaten eggs, sugar, spices, and nuts to grated sweet potato. Melt butter in heavy iron frying pan; add potato mixture; stir on top of stove until very hot. Cook in same pan in moderate oven for 45 minutes, stirring from bottom several times. Serve with whipped cream. Whipped cream? I never did that!

6 comments:

Browndirtcottage said...

I love this!!...but, I'm with you...the term 'white trash' kinda
makes me kringe when I hear it....
The flowers in your previous posts are outrageous!!!

Julie said...

OMG...you must be having a real withrawl attack! I love to go for the sweet potato casserole at Boston Market when I want a sweet thing...all sweet potato casseroles are devine creations! You are actually making me think of the pies at Wheelers in Arcadia for some reason!!! We got a place over here that has as good of pies and cakes as Wheelers, but it is not helping me RIGHT NOW, at 10:30pm, after reading your yummy post here!!! LOL!!!

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about the white trash label, I wonder who started that saying? I know my sister is touchy about the term trailer park, she says she lives in a mobile home community. ???
As far as the crappy house and hand me down funiture. I still have that. My kids have far better furnishings than I do but mine although not nice, are at least paid for. Give up sweets? Not me!
I tend to live each day as it is given to me.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

That cookbook is a real treasure! We are rednecks here too. So I can laugh right?(-:
When we got married 25 years ago everything we had was hand me downs. My grandma bought us our first couch and diningroom set when were married for a year. It was on clearance of course. That was the only nice furniture we had until my son was born then my grandma again bought a crib and changing table for him! My dishes pots and pans etc were all from garage sales etc. I thought we were doing fine! Now days kids want all brand new. And not from Wal Mart. They want top of the line. It took me 25 years to get a nice set of pots and pans! I think that is what is wrong with this country today. No one wants to "start out" They want to have it all the day they move out on their own.

Zoya, Patrick, Nora and Stuart said...

I'd much prefer the pone over the stuff with marshmellows - yech! That looks like an awesome cook book. Patrick

Renna said...

That cookbook cover is hysterical!

I know what you mean about starting out with nothing. My first apartment was made up of garage sale finds, and hand me downs from my folks. I was right proud of everything in it.

These days, credit card companies are pushing cards on teenagers, and they have no idea what it means to deprive themselves. We are a nation of people living on credit! I'm so glad not to be in that trap.