Memories & Recipes
So much to be thankful for as 2006 comes to end

Cindy Garrick

It was the best of years, it was the worst of years. My son and his wife welcomed their new son, Lee McGee, the youngest member of our family, into the world. My family buried my beloved Uncle Dennis, the oldest member of our family. Time comes and time goes by, but it never stands still, does it? When you can help people out in some small way, life seems to be the best at that time.

Libby Bradford needed some time to help move her mom and dad, Mary and John Rowell. I went from doing the taxes to doing the water system more than my one day a week. But you don't really notice it when you're honestly doing it to help someone else who is helping someone else. We are thankful to have John and Mary in our county and they are thankful to have a daughter like Libby to help care for them. Bingo! A double blessing, now how about that?

Our store was robbed and it almost robbed us of our Thanksgiving. Then I realized how much I had to be thankful about. No one was hurt in the robbery. My grandkids could have been there, but they weren't. The gun could have gone off and hit Micheal Turner or Laura Newton, but it didn't. The robbers could have gotten away with the crime, but they didn't. We know who they are. All in all I'd say that our Thanksgiving was probably the most thankful one we've had in a long time.

Christmas came and we thought things were looking up but then our fireplace caught fire. There was no fire damage but a lot of smoke damage. That could have been a lot worse too, but it wasn't. Servpro came in and cleaned the house. The girls had their annual Christmas party and it was the best yet. The insurance paid for the damages and we then had a very thankful Christmas.

I can truthfully say that this year has been one in which we had so much more to thank God for! I wish a Happy New Year for each of you and I hope you can truly look back on 2006 and say the same thing about your year.

Here are some traditional recipes to help you get started on a great 2007.
Sweet Baked Ham
    1 half smoked ham
        (any weight)
  1 jar Hawaiian punch

Score the top of the ham diagonally across in both directions to make crisscross sections. Place ham in large roasting pan lined with aluminum foil and with enough foil laid in the pan to fully wrap the ham. Pour half the punch over the ham and bake at 300 for 1 hour; pour remaining punch and baste ham then cook for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and baste again. Let the ham rest before cutting.
  Blackeyed Peas
  1 bag blackeyed peas
  2 smoked ham hocks
    water to cover peas
      salt, pepper and
  garlic powder to taste
      1 onion, chopped
1/4 c chopped bell pepper

Place beans in bowl and soak for about 1 hour. Wash the beans carefully. Place all ingredients into the crock pot and cook overnight on medium. Check peas the next morning; if needed turn crock to high and cook until peas are tender.
    Braised Cabbage
          1 head cabbage,
    cleaned and quartered
        1 onion, chopped
        2 pieces salt pork
      salt and red pepper
            flakes to taste
water to cover the bottom of
corningware saucepan large
enough to braise the cabbage.

Bring water to boil and add remaining ingredients. Steam on low heat until tender, stirring as needed to keep ingredients from sticking to pan.

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