When a cold west wind is swirling snow around the yard, I think of "Chicken Soup". You may think of skiing at Gatlinburg; I think of soup. There is no way I am leaving the house unless it’s going to church or I need groceries. If it can wait, I’ll get my groceries after church. I'll open the door only to feed the birds. Anne will drive down to the mailbox to get the mail rather than walk. That is more than I will do on a cold snowy day; but I will make soup. I have lots of soup recipes. Some take a while to make. Some are quick.

I remember my Grandma’s chicken noodle soup. It was delicious. I have made noodles all my married life. I think I’m pretty good at it, but Grandma had me beat by a country mile. Let me tell you about her noodles.
As a child, I would watch in awe as she performed her magic with the rolling pin and dough. I never saw her stir a batch together, just the rolling out and cutting process.

I grew up poor during the Great Depression. Other than the Bible, I don’t remember seeing a book at our house, not even a newspaper. Yes, Dad did have his pulp Westerns. They would have a glossy bright colored cover. The actual pages were the same as newspaper. They called them pulp fiction books. I couldn’t read them. The words were too big.

Here is a different way to prepare sweet potatoes. Cook and serve vanilla pudding mix is the mystery ingredient. Just add the dry mix to the hot mashed sweet potatoes. Top with the marshmallows. Your family will think this is the usual sweet potato casserole. That is until they take their first bite. Surprise 'em. Try it.

Automatic dishwashers now do the work we used to do by hand. With some models you don’t even have to rinse the dishes. Everything comes out clean as a whistle. That’s not the way it used to be.
I remember as a small child growing up on that tenant farm during the Great Depression. I watched my mother do the dishes every day. Our old cook stove was kept hot all day from morning breakfast to evening dish washing. The stove’s reservoir held a good supply of hot water. There was also a pail of cold water, with a dipper, nearby as well.

I wonder where this recipe got its name? Calling it ham, rice and bean casserole doesn't have the charm that the name "Hopping John" has. It tastes good. That is all that matters.

Here we go again with cabbage. Have you ever added curry powder to your cream sauce for cabbage? I like curry powder, but not too much of it. Just enough to flavor is my style. This recipe is so good.

“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Those are words you don’t hear anymore. Newsboys aren’t standing on downtown corners hawking newspapers. A thing of the past, like running boards on automobiles.

My two brothers, Rodney and Russell, sold the Sunday edition that way. Not everyone subscribed to the Sunday paper. Often, they picked up a copy on their way home from church. It was an opportunity for kids to earn a little spending money.

You don't usually thick of buttermilk and potatoes together. You don't need any flour to thicken this dish. The potatoes do that tick themselves. An electric skillet will make the preparation easier. Yes, there are so many ways to fix potatoes. Add this to your recipe box. The recipe doubles easily..

I remember when every home had a little house out back. It was placed close to a back door. Of course, it was. When someone was in a hurry, the shortest route was best. If the little house were in a nicer neighborhood, it might be painted to match the house. In our farming community, it was a weather-beaten necessity, not to be celebrated with a fresh coat of paint.