Warm and pleasant greetings to all. We hope you are enjoying a good week as the month of May arrives. Of course, you are enjoying the warmth of sunshine. With longer days, you find there’s more you see to do inside and indoors. Doing these things are exercise, so it counts as good work.
It is always a pleasure greeting those not seen often. It makes my week! Perhaps we all feel good when we see one another, have a phone conversation or stop by just to say hello. Greetings cards mean much, too.
May is designated as Older Americans Month. This month recognizes the contributions of older adult Americans across the nation. The recognition raises awareness concerning elder abuse and neglect. As older adults age, the risk of abuse and neglect increases.
This time pays tribute to those who have and are still making contributions to their communities. Older Americans have given much of their lifetime. Yes, times have changed, but older people can still volunteer and serve in the community in their own may. They deserve the recognition for their commitment and affection they give to the community.
Take time during the month to do something, say something or be something positive in recognizing older Americans.
Thinking about a lemon icebox pie. No problem, of course, because the ingredients are few and probably in the cabinet. Why not stop and make a pie? Gathering the ingredients, I discovered the fat-free condensed milk was two years outdated, mainly because the can was mistakenly purchased for the regular condensed can, so the can kept getting the “push back.” No condensed milk meant no lemon pie. However, I could make the condensed milk, as I have done many times, as there is always dry (powder) milk on hand. I quickly made condensed milk, made the lemon icebox pie and it’s delicious!
The cooking experience carried me back to the Yalobusha County Extension Homemakers Cookbook, compiled by my friend and mentor, Mamie H. Shields, who yet resides in Yalobusha County with husband Coach Lincoln Shields. She was a coworker who introduced me to other opportunities we coordinated and shared while working together as Extension home economists. It was, as we say, back in the day when homemakers were taught how to use and manage their resources.
Commodity foods were available from a government program designed to help feed and nourish families. Dry milk was among the favorites, along with powdered eggs, pasteurized cheese, canned meat, dried fruit and other nutritious products. With powdered milk, homemakers made cocoa mix, biscuit mix and buttermilk. Homemade condensed milk was used to make lemon and sweet potato pies.
Here’s a story that meant a lot to me.
This was years ago, when the young lady moved to Chicago after graduating high school to start work. Back home on a visit, we met again and happily greeted each other. She was happy to tell me about her job at a cafe in Chicago. What was a fun story (to her) was when she asked the cafe owner one day to let her make a lemon pie like she had learned to make for their family in Mississippi. Now you have the rest of the story! The cafe began offering lemon icebox pie on the menu! Of course, I enjoyed the story and will always remember that one.
Enjoy life today, and be blessed.
