Kitchen Time
Several decades ago, I would be in the kitchen preparing for a noon courthouse luncheon. The custodians at the courthouse would clean out the garage where the county vehicles were parked. There were tables made up with plywood and sawhorses. All the departments of Watonwan County would be invited during their noon hour for a get-together. It could well be 100 employees coming together to visit and share a meal.
Perry, in the auditor’s office at that time, was in charge of the pop machine monies. With the blessings of the county commissioners we funded a lunch every year. Goodwill within employees never hurts. As it was, I was in charge of the menu and the food prep. Dennis was right there in the kitchen with me preparing food. Most of my office staff was given permission to help me pull it off on the day of the lunch. It was fun and it was rewarding to see people from different departments get to know each other. Of course the highway fellows always looked forward to a hearty hot lunch and passing on brown bagging it. The last noon lunch I prepared was in 2008 as I retired in February of 2009. I did host the county’s Secret Pal luncheon in 2009 on our patio, patio porch and garages as my last picnic going into retirement. Good memories.
Today, I am in the kitchen working on getting a noon lunch put together for this coming Sunday. Maybe not a 100 guests, but perhaps 25. Dennis’ son will be flying in from Arizona on Saturday. With us having a cozy, comfy small home, Dennis wanted he and me to have his entire family here on Stauffer for a family picnic utilizing the patios, the patio porch and the garages. Why not! With Dennis being on the phone and personally inviting his kids and his grandkids over the last several weeks, I trust that they will honor his invitation. There are always a few that can do or do not give a definite response. It matters not. We do know that with 8 great grandkids it will be a lively bunch.
As we had first talked between the two of us, Dennis asked that I would fix all of the food. With many families, many hands, one source for all the food would be the best. I had to agree with him. Dennis has been on top of cleaning the luncheon areas, which included all the cleaning he has been doing in said garages. We have it covered.
Today was my day to begin the baked beans. The molasses, the brown sugar, the Lipton Onion dry soup mix, a lb. of seasoned pork sausage, pre-cooked chopped bacon . . . and last but not least the huge can of Bush’s beans, plus one smaller can, all co-mingling in the refrigerator, ready for a crock-pot Sunday morning.
It is going to be another warm day on Sunday. But . . . we have coolers, we have crock-pots, we have pans that will hold ice to have the cold dishes sit on. Dennis is out in the drive this afternoon, cleaning off a rather large squirrel cage fan to move air across the floor of the serving area, aka: the little red pickup garage. As I said, we have it covered. As I mentioned, this is not Dennis’ or my first rodeo fixing a picnic. One day prep at a time. It works well not to leave too much for the last day. Nobody wants to be wore out and not enjoy the day.
Tomorrow will be potato salad day and the ring macaroni salad day, the latter being Dennis’ favorite. Some use ham in ring macaroni salad, but Dennis and my kids have always liked Spam in it. Dishes with multiple ingredients need time to co-mingle. Mom, Lena, was a great picnic fare teacher. Somewhere in the days ahead will be Bar-B-Q fixings. We are not grillers.
Take care everyone. Today is a bit more desirable outside, but having the yard work done yesterday, I am content making lists and having kitchen time.