MAIN COURSE DISHES/ WRAPPING IT UP!

                    BY JOAN RICKETTS LOCKE

We hope you have enjoyed the Main Course Dishes section.  

Years ago, Home Economics was a required course young women took in Junior and Senior High School.  We learned the artful crafts of cooking, sewing and taking care of a home.  Each time we would cook a recipe in class, I would come home and recreate the recipe at home for our family.  Thank goodness Momma was always peeking over my shoulder. I thought I had mastered at school the recipe but real soon I was in "way too far over my head" at home.  Momma encouraged me to keep trying that same recipe, like the old saying goes, "practice makes perfect."  That was so true for me with most everything except pie crusts. Definitely not going to get a blue ribbon on pie crusts.  

Today I continue the love of cooking, but most especially, the tried and true recipes of our family.  It is fun to try different seasonings, different oils and also to adjust the sugar levels in recipes to accommodate special diets.  

One thing is for certain today, almost every member of the 

family loves to cook.  Cooking, it seems, has become a national "hobby."  Our one brother, Buddy, loves to experiment
 with grilling.  He did not submit his recipe for 

"ribs on the grill," but he sure should have.  I must say, 

Bud's method of cooking on the grill, with in-direct heat, is definitely the key to success.

Brother Billy is a definite contender in the kitchen cooking fish, venison, and he enjoys grilling as well.  Our sister, Terry, has a cooking blog offering up some tasty recipes and weaves a story to 

go along with each dish.  Then there are the many grandchildren of Momma and Daddy who have picked up the torch and carried 

it on cooking old and new recipes.

Our Dad cooks, he may not admit it, but I've seen him at the stove several times over the years.  He proudly holds the title of "family judge" though.  Truly I think he should have become a "food critic" in his retiring years.  Listen, if you bring something home to The Farm and ask his opinion, well be prepared...he's gonna lay it out honest for you.  If you ever meet Dad, just ask him, 

he'll be happy to tell you he is the reason 

Momma became a master of the stove top!  

He was always her best critic!

Time to move on to SALADS!


In the next Salad Section, additional recipes have been added to the "online" version.