Freezing Corn, Canning Beans - And Mama Crowder's Squash Casserole

The July garden starts the cycle of freezing corn and canning beans. And lots and lots of squash.

Corn Freezing Days are drop everything else for corn days. We are all about the corn. The two main things are 1) Silver Queen and only Silver Queen 2) Daddy oversees all aspects of corn. Daddy has a special relationship with corn which includes whispering in it's ears. There are many details to corn freezing the Hunt way which you can read about on the July 7, 2010 post.

So mid July we gathered in Lattimore to freeze corn. This starts with picking and shucking. The shuckers sit in a circle under a tree in the yard to shuck and silk before bringing the sweet tender corn inside. When it was all said and done about 500 ears were picked, shucked, silked, washed, blanched, cut, and bagged into 65 pints that were carefully carried to Mama's basement freezor. A few days later about 200 more ears of corn appeared at my house in Shelby and so now there are 25 pints in my own freezor. Nothing feels better than knowing there is silver queen in the freezor.

Canning beans followed close on the heels of corn freezing. This process starts with planting little white half runners and then picking them at the exact right moment.

Like on corn days, a group gathers outside in the yard to start the process. Beans are looked, strung and snapped into bite sized pieces. Snappers and stringers are careful to remember Mama Crowder's advice "not to include any tough shucky ones". Nobody wants to bite down on a shucky bean.

The day we canned beans, we had several helpers outside in the circle including Casey, Connie, Dad, Ivan, Gustavo and me. The conversation is always interesting and includes English, Spanish, and Spanglish. There's something really relaxing about conversation in a circle, under a tree with a cool breeze, smelling the fresh beans while everybody methodically strings and snaps.

Inside the house the beans are washed, blanched, and packed into mason jars which are then filled with hot water. Mama adds about a tsp of salt to each jar, then runs a knife into the jar to make sure all the bubbles come to the top before she tightens the lids. Then she measures exactly two inches of water in her huge pressure cookers and puts 7 quarts into each cooker. She always makes sure the jars aren't touching which is pretty tricky. The other tricky thing is cooking the jars of beans under pressure which includes hissing and timing and other things that I don't really like to do. But I do like Mama's fresh canned green beans.

Daddy helps by making lunch for everybody which is sometimes fried livermush sandwiches and sometimes the best pimiento cheese you ever ate. (recipe on June 26, 2010 post). Or one of my favorite summer meals - a homemade biscuit with a fresh slice of tomato and a little piece of bacon. With a fresh picked ear of corn and cold juicy canteloupe. Day law as Mama Crowder would say!

And speaking of Mama Crowder. Squash is plentiful this time of year and we eat it all kinds of ways - fried, stewed, sauteed with boneless chicken. (Recipes on July 4, 2010 and July 7, 2010 posts) But something I was hungry for recently was Mama Crowder's Squash Casserole.

Mama Crowder's Squash Casserole

Mama Crowder's Squash Casserole will remind you of Thanksgiving Dressing because it includes cornbread and onions. It's almost a meal in itself because it also includes sausage. Mama Crowder liked using pork for seasoning. She always did like pig better than cow.

So I found Mama Crowder's Squash Casserole recipe which I wrote down years ago on 2 index cards while she gave me her directions. And I quote:

1 lb Jenkins Hot Sausage
3 Cups Cooked squash (cooked in salted water till tender - save juice)
3 Cups course cornbread crumbs - toasted good
(while cornbread is hot, crumble into big mixing bowl and mash in a 1/4 stick butter)
1 1/3 cup chopped onion
2 eggs, slightly beaten with fork

Fry sausage well done. Add enough squash juice to wet the cornbread good. Add squash, onions and sausage to cornbread. Add dash of salt and pepper. When sausage mixture is fairly cool add the two beaten eggs.

Mix together with hands using enough squash juice to make a print when you press on it with the back of a spoon. You don't want it too soupy or two dry.

Pour mixture into a greased casserole dish. Start at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes and then reduce to 350 for 15-20 minutes.

When it's half done, you can crumble cracker crumbs on top.

Independence Day

People from all over were at Lake Lure cooling off and letting freedom ring for the 4th of July. Most every house around the lake was full of family and friends.

People started arriving Friday afternoon and were still arriving late Friday night. And Saturday. And Sunday. And Monday. Thank heavens for the Panini press. Sister had been over for a Panini in Shelby and suggested I take it to the lake. That was a great idea because as long as we kept bread, meat and cheese around, hungry people could just make their own masterpiece. Many a panini was made over the next several days.

We did cook one big meal a day which always included Steve Royster's organic potatoes and fresh cold watermelon. You can fill up a lot of hungry twenty year olds with potatoes and watermelon. At one time or another we fried about everything you can fry - bacon, squash, jalapenos, pickles. Of course David did some grilling including beef and hot dogs or it wouldn't have been 4th of July.

David and I had a fairly spontaneous combustion idea to host a Sunday morning brunch down on the dock for whoever was around. We had a houseful ourselves and some others dropped in. Linda brought over some fresh fruit and something she calls Bramble - eggs, bacon, and some other good stuff on a toasted English Muffin. A real crowd pleaser for sure. Vickie brought sweet homegrown blueberries and homemade bread. Since I burned the muffins that morning, Carol picked her own blueberries and arrived with fresh blueberry muffins. Beth and John arrived with plenty of orange juice to help kick things off. Mimosas helped kick things off too. Rhett made Steve's potatoes into fresh hash browns including lots of garlic, peppers and onions. I made breakfast casserole and Mama's country ham biscuits. As if that weren't enough Cindy decided we needed pigs in a blanket.

Since the twenty somethings had their days and nights mixed up, we warned them several times that Sunday Morning would come early so Saturday night should end early. Somewhere around 7 am on Sunday Morning, Aretha Franklin helped them wake up and THINK about FREEDOM and RESPECT. There's nothing like waking up early on a Sunday Morning to Aretha's testimony.

The twenty somethings were really helpful and carried many things down to the dock. Since the house is built on a hillside, there are a good many steps down to the dock and I was very grateful to have so many young arms and legs to help with that part.

We had the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing playing as people arrived by boat, car and on foot. It was a little bit like watching a parade as folks waved while walking across the bridge.

And speaking of parades, I missed the Lattimore parade this 4th of July but reports were that they had the biggest crowd ever. And that the Mooresboro fireworks were worth driving home for. We did enjoy the Lake Lure fireworks on Monday night.

We also enjoyed seeing people in the house, on the dock and on the lake celebrating Independence. And we had a poignant opportunity to remember something else about the 4th of July.

Several of us were heading out on the boat with little American flags to wave. We were all caught up in the fun and celebration. A pontoon boat floated up and on board was Suzy and her son, Kyle. We hadn't seen them in several years and as they stopped to catch up, Suzy said she wished she had brought a flag to wave.

Then, we learned that Kyle would soon be shipping out to the Middle East. That was one of those stand still moments. When you remember that Freedom comes with Responsibility. And Sacrifice. So we handed over a flag to thank Kyle. And Suzy. And all of the others.

Anniversaries

The last part of June is filled with Wedding Anniversaries. Lots of Anniversaries. MaMa and Pop Ick, Kathie and Bobby, Julia and Braxton, Beth and John, Dawn and Mike.

David and Me. Mom and Dad.

We have spent our anniversaries in a variety of ways. Sometimes not together. One year I was with fun high schoolers and friends in Paris floating down the Seine River to the Eiffel Tower. When we climbed to the top of the Tower, I called David on the cell phone to say Happy Anniversary. There was a beautiful view of the moon from the Eiffel Tower and it brought Kathie's production of "Big River" to mind. I could hear Big Jim singing, "I see the same moon that you see, but we're miles apart."

Another year when traveling with the high schoolers, another mom Dawn, was also celebrating her anniversary away from home. Dawn and I had a picture taken in front of the Roman Coliseum with two burly Roman Guards and emailed it home with the caption - "Wish you were here!"

But this year - our 24th - we spent our anniversary together. And with some other folks too.

Tap Dance Teaching Neighbor Beth and her sweet John were married on the same day, on the same year as we were. Our rehearsal dinners were on the same night and at the same place. Their party was in one room at North Lake and ours was in another. We probably should have just held these events together.

Beth's family and mine go back many years but at the time, Beth and John were in show biz living in Los Angeles. Never did we dream we would be backyard neighbors 24 years later. What a blessing and a joy to have such good and talented friends so close to home.

So, we decided to celebrate a portion of our 24th anniversary by going to the Lake for a quiet boat ride and dinner. Well, the dinner was quiet and wonderful. We had John and Jessica's Salmon wrapped in Foil, Steve Royster's Organic Potatoes, David's Tenderloin, Salad with Carol's French Dressing. Seemed like alot of our friends were there. But it was just the four of us.

In honor of the recent movie making in town, John brought Francis Ford Coppola wine to share. They also brought an apron with a funny slogan. Beth and I have several funny stories about aprons.

But the funniest part of our shared anniversary evening at the Lake was before dinner when John and David went tree fishin'. A tree had become lodged down at the extra dock - Cindy's boathole as David Martin calls it. There is a similar dock called Sally's Boathole at the Martin house. But I digress.

David decided it was a good time to try and move the lodged tree out of the way. Using the boat - and ropes - and a lot of ingenuity, John and David worked to free the dock of the huge tree. It wasn't going as planned. In fact, things looked rather dire. John recalled his time working lighting in the movie industry. "How would a film crew do this job? -- Just like this."

Eventually, both John and David ended up in the water, slowly fishin' the tree to the bank and then tying it so it wouldn't float back into the lake.

As Beth and I observed all this from the boat, Beth delivered her own great line, "What would Katniss do?" Followed by, "If I just had a bow and arrow, I could take care of this."

It may have been funnier to the audience in the boat than the tree fishermen. But there's nothing like laughter to remind ourselves how we have stayed married for 24 years.

As proud as we are of our 24 years, it doesn't hold a candle to Mom and Dad's anniversary. They have now been married for 65 years. 65 years. No doubt a lot of laughter has been present.

For their anniversary, Mom mentioned that she would like to "go somewhere I have never been - like Cashiers". Dad authorized me to figure that out and so I did.

Dad, Mom, David and I struck out on a 30 hour adventure. Our destination was the Old Edwards Inn in Highlands which is a mighty fine place to be. Along the way we took Mom and Dad to our favorite lunch spot in those parts - Hot Dog World. There is no finer place for a Hot Dog. Anywhere. The dogs and chili are the best and so are the prices. And the service at Hot Dog World is quick and friendly. They love their customers and it shows.

Leaving Hot Dog World, we were on Laurel Park Highway when Mom and Dad mentioned that they had spent their honeymoon 65 years ago in a nearby inn. So, using the handy IPad we drove around until we arrived at the Echo Mountain Inn.

The Innkeeper and staff were more than happy to open up the Honeymoon Suite so Mom and Dad could see the amazing view from the three huge windows of the room where they had stayed 65 years before. Mom suggested they share their 75th anniversary there. It was a super sweet moment and they shared some stories and a kiss before we headed on our way to Highlands.

We had beautiful rooms with a porch to watch the activity on Main Street. They really pamper you at the Old Edwards Inn and they have the best Vidalia Onion soup ever. We all enjoyed meeting a lot of people from various places. It was interesting that many of these people were also sharing anniversaries - from one year to 24 years to 43 years. But Mom and Dad had everybody beat at 65 years.

On the way home, we spent some extra time in Cashiers and then as we drove toward Hendersonville it felt like lunchtime again. It was unanimous that we would do lunch at Hot Dog World.

Oh the simple things in life. Friends, family, stories, laughter. Hot dogs. Time.

The glue that keeps people together.

I couldn't help but think about Mitch Miller again. Singing along with Mitch in the old days in Lattimore. Just enjoying the simple things. And each other.

"You're the cream in my coffee
You're the salt in my stew
You will always be my necessity
I'd be lost without you"

Just Passin' Thru

So.

Many things have been happening in the last few weeks.

I heard a song the other day that I can't get out of my mind. It touched on one of life's greatest truths. The song is "We're All Just Passing Through," performed by Earl Scruggs, Don Henley and Johnny Cash. And you know that all three of those boys speak the truth.

We have all lost people from our lives and have felt the struggle between mourning the loss and going on.

Most recently we felt the loss of Martha, Bud, Mable Alice, Jack. Last year Kathie and Mike. And D, Peggy, Gina. Sweet little Annie. The list of people who have been a part of our lives, and our families and friends lives goes on and on. Each person so special and unique in their own ways.

It would be impossible to hear most showtunes without thinking of Kathie. It would be impossible to hear a train whistle blow without thinking of Annie. It would be impossible to hear "July, You're A Woman" without thinking of Bud.

The song I heard Earl, Don, and Johnny sing, helped me to remember that we should take nothing for granted. And that we should live in the present.

The song goes,

"I have seen the future in the present. Found the hope within a seed."

How can anyone see the bloom on a zinnia, an orchid, a rose of sharon, or a lily without finding hope. Those blooms may not last long, but they are beautiful and unique and they leave their mark. If we take time to notice.

And the song goes on, "It's a mighty world we live in, but the truth is, we're all just passing through."

When Johnny Cash's deep voice says this line and Earl's banjo is wailing, you know it's the gospel truth.

It's a good reminder to slow down while we're passin' thru. Pay attention to the people and things all around. Find the future in the present and consider our mark.


We're All Just Passin' Thru

Well I have stood upon the mountain
I have seen the other side
Wrestled with the devil
I have wrestled with my pride

Been down in the valley
I have stood out in the rain
Seen my love forsaken
Felt the pleasure and the pain

There's one thing that's for certain
One chord that rings true
Well it's a mighty world we live in
But the truth is we're only passin' thru

I have cried in tears of sadness
I have cried in tears of joy
I have found a life worth livin'
Found the peace within the noise

I have turned my back on hatred
Lyin', prejudice, and greed
Found the future in the present
Found hope within a seed

One thing that's for certain
One chord that rings true
It's a mighty world we live in
But the truth is we're only passin' thru

Passin' thru, passin' thru
It's a mighty world we live in but the truth is
We're only passin' thru

I have seen my bucket empty
Seen my well run dry
But there's water down the road
And I'm only goin' by

If I'm settin' on dead-ready
When my chances come to knock
I'll make it where I'm goin'
I'll be tall just like a rock

But there's one thing that's for certain
One chord that rings true
It's a wicked world we live in
But the truth is we're only passin' thru

Passin' thru, passin' thru
It's a mighty world we live in but the truth is
We're only passin' thru

Yeah, it's a mighty world we live in but the truth is
We're only passin' thru