The Joy of Peeling Spuds

As soon as I viewed the famous “potato peeling video,” I was ready to peel me some potatoes. Happily, my opportunity to peel boiled pots appeared a few days later in the form of making potato salad for the church bar-b-que. All Sunday School members who contributed potato salad used the same recipe for the sake of consistency.

Implementing the peeling trick, and trying out a new potato salad recipe was fun, especially since the potato salad turned out so good that I wanted to eat the whole bowl myself. And I needn’t have worried about the poppy seeds—they might just be the “secret” ingredient. The recipe is from a 1950s Austin Heritage cookbook.

POTATO SALAD ALMONDINE

4 medium potatoes
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 large white onion, chopped
2 stalks celery,chopped
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 cup mayonaise
1/2 cup sour cream

Steam or boil potatoes in peelings until tender. Peel and slice thinly. Sprinkle with vinegar while still warm. Let cool or refrigerate over night. Add other ingredients in order and toss lightly. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Serves 8.

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Dear Little Maud

This page is all that remains of an autograph book that belonged to Great-Grandma Young, Maude Lee Stout. Perhaps she kept this particular page, and stored it in the bookcase because the inspiring verse was inscribed by her mother, Frances Rebecca Lavina (Smith) Stout. Maude was 12 years old, and her mother was age 36.

March 12.th 1888
Dear Little Maud
Within this book so pure and
white let none but friends presume
to write; and may each line
with friendship given direct the
readers thoughts to heaven.

Your Mother Rebecca F. Stout

The other side of the page seems to be a farewell from a friend.

To my dear Maud
Jan 6/89
Kittie Frazier
Above all be patient whith those that love
When many miles from here your rove
Remember your friend at Cedar Grove

Semper ? P ?

The 1880 census shows both the Stout and Frazier families living in Cedar Grove, Walker County, Georgia. Most likely, Maude and her family were preparing to leave Georgia in 1889, and move to Howe, Grayson County, Texas.

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Holy Smokers

Some really great bar-b-que was available on the parking lot of Second Baptist Katy last Saturday. The community was invited to sample brisket, sides, and deserts prepared by individual Sunday School classes, and vote for their favorites. I don’t know which class ended up with the most votes but a couple of Aggies in my class, Under Construction, have obviously honed their meat smoking skills into an art. I voted my class’s potato salad not only the side winner, but the best potato salad ever.

Serious Aggies cook up seriously good bar-b-que

Dedicated to feeding hungry people during emergencies

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Circuit City

Hannah’s physics class studied electrical circuits last month. To illustrate their newly acquired knowledge, the students were required to design and construct two-story, four-bedroom houses, wired for lights and a door bell, using series, parallel, and complex circuits. Here’s a sample of some creatively embellished houses. Click on individual pictures to enlarge.

Hannah’s Gingerbread House

Army Tank

Crafty Craftstick House

Hogwart’s Castle

Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

The White House

Summer Beach House

Candy and Cereal House

Igloo Sweet Igloo

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