Wandering into the Hodgepodge

 

 It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond, asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs. As is often the case, this week's Hodgepodge questions are kind of all over the place.   Here goes:

1. What's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

I have seen more bizarre stuff in the past few years than I ever thought I could possibly see in my lifetime.   The bizarre turn taken by children's story hours is only one of them.

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

I used to love lemon drops, but I don't really love sour candies.  In fact, I think things like sour patch kids are disgusting.   But I have helped to unbox candy for a sweet shop and I am aware that sour flavors are a favorite with many kids.

As for other sour flavors, I might be hard pressed to choose between rhubarb, dill pickles, cranberries, or grapefruit.  Probably I would pick rhubarb.  (Which sounds like I am headed for the rhubarb patch. But one pulls rhubarb when harvesting it; it is not "picked" so I'm safe in using that word.)

If you should be interested in some of my favorite rhubarb recipes, you can find them at the link.  For more, click "rhubarb" in the label cloud in the sidebar.

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

Well, the "sour" thought segues perfectly into this question.  Not because these folks were sour, but because my aunt Dot made the most wonderful sour pickles on the planet.  I have her recipe and will add it here.  She used tiny gherkin cucumbers, salt, vinegar,  and dry mustard, and I think that was all.  But they were amazing!  These pickles do not need to be processed, but they do have to set for awhile before you can use them.

Dot and her husband, Howard, were close with my parents and so even though they lived an hour away, I clearly recall  her kitchen.  I remember a small table and chairs near the back door, where drop-in guests might be treated to a piece of pie.  At the other end of the very long room (created during a renovation) was a large dining area with a bigger table and more chairs.  This area had a bank of windows looking out on a gorgeous view of Vermont farm country just across the Connecticut River that separates New Hampshire from Vermont. 

Dot’s kitchen stove was 1950s vintage (maybe a bit older) and quite beautiful as appliances go.  It was large (I think it had 5 burners) and was gleaming white porcelain.  From that oven came some of the best pies, cookies, rolls and other baked goods imaginable.  Dot’s daughter, Sandy, tells the story of how her dad might say, on any given day at lunchtime, “Only two desserts, Dot?”

I personally loved Dot’s pies and her oatmeal rolls the best.  Her butterscotch pie was probably my favorite, 

 

but she also made a fabulous date pie which was wonderful at holiday time.  Her oatmeal rolls were outstanding and we always loved it when she would bring a batch at Thanksgiving or some other occasion.  Served warm and with butter melting inside, they were amazing!

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

If I rely on God and take B-complex regularly, I handle it fairly well.   I always say that if I miss B-complex for a couple days, I notice it.  A couple days more and my family notices it.  If I miss it for longer than a week, everyone will know.

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

It usually wanders to things I have to do and tasks that need to be completed. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We've had a lot of these air quality alerts this summer.  Mostly due to fires in Canada, I believe.  I am here to tell you that there is something to this air quality stuff.  My friend and I have found we just can't take a walk on those days.  It's debilitating.  My hubby and I came out of a store Tuesday afternoon and it felt literally like walking into a wall.  Very hard to breathe.

And there's the Hodgepodge for today!