Pancakes Please

Since today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, yesterday was Shrove Tuesday, sometimes better known as Fat Tuesday. The latter name reflects the effort of soon-to-be Lenten fasters to cram into one day all the eating and fun that will be ecclesiastically frowned upon during the encroaching forty days and nights of Lent. Some communities, such as New Orleans and Venice, even stretch this magical day into a week-long mardi gras festival. Here, in my little corner of eastern Oregon, amid the wheat fields, foothills, and pea patches, however, we keep things simpler.

Tonight, our parish is hosting a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, replete with ham, pancakes, applesauce, and scrambled eggs. No masks, dancing, or debauchery here, just plain, down-home, clean-out-the-fridge type cooking with a side of ask-the-neighbors-over and visit-across-the-table hospitality. Much of the town filters in from work to plunk down a few dollars and fill up on the simple fare, the hall reverberating with chatter.

Frankly, I wonder every year why people come when it would seem easier to go home and flip their own flapjacks for free. But they keep coming anyway, people from other churches or no church at all, to support this little Catholic shindig. I suppose it is cheap enough that even large families can afford to give Mom a night off and basic enough that even the pickiest eaters will be content. And, too, it is a quick and easy outing for a school night.

I have also wondered why we put this dinner on, especially since there are so few of us to do the work. Who else, besides us, cares that Lent is approaching? Or is it to help pay our bills? The Octoberfest Dinner that we host in the fall is a larger money-maker, but maybe it isn’t enough.

Dorothy says that we host this dinner for the same reason that people come:  community. Our working together toward a common goal builds a sense of family among the people at church, and people come in order to acknowledge and support our place within the larger community of our town. She says we all NEED this dinner and I believe she’s right. It really isn’t about pancakes at all.

Pre- Pre-Christmas Shopping

This is what my friend, Betty, called me last week to suggest we do. Last year we went on a local pre-Christmas shopping trip before our annual weekend marathon in Portland. That way we could take some of the pressure off of filling our lists and maybe work in some fun or relaxing activities when we got to the big city with other friends and family. It actually was a huge help, and lots of fun, so this year she suggested that we had enough time for two preparation trips if we wanted; and, of course we “wanted.”

We didn’t bring home much, but we did officially get a start on Christmas and I am feeling much more organized. More importantly, we had fun, which is ultimately what shopping is all about! Getting lost on turnabouts, laughter and lunch, solving the world’s problems and thinking about what we can do for others, complaining and consoling, and then more laughter and dessert: how else would I want to prepare for the season of giving?

So, here are some images of our pre- pre-Christmas shopping trip. Our pre-Christmas trip will be in November and the official Christmas shopping spree, where we meet five others in Portland, will be in early December.

Aren’t the fall colors beautiful? We had a crisp, lovely day in which to get lost, as one tends to do in the Tri-Cities area.

This is what was left from our shrimp lunches at Red Lobster. It became a strengthening snack before we tackled Craft Warehouse. (Waste not, want not.) Later, Betty gave me a ride on a hand truck in Best Buy and then we met a woman our age at the mall who was a recent widow forcing herself to get out of the house for awhile because weekends were still hard. She had just come from a coffee date with a group of women who were usually depressing, but that day were fun, and was happy to tell us that her husband had had relatives in our neck of the woods. (I don’t know exactly how it happens, but Betty has an uncanny ability to draw information like that out of complete strangers just by asking for directions. It’s a gift. She can also squeeze the best deals out of the driest turnips with just one sad, little whimper. Truly awe inspiring, but not the only reason she is my friend.)

It took three stores for me to finally break through the ice of indecision and make my first purchase, albeit for myself. I came home with more than a calendar, though. Don’t you wish you knew what I got YOU? Time to send me your wish lists! (Betty said so.) You know who you are.

Spend time with a friend. It feels good.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon Treat

Remember the Reeses Peanutbutter Bars we used to make and eat right out of the freezer? Beth G. gave Jen the recipe when she babysat her boys. Well, I got hungry for them, but invented a lazier method. Instead of pressing the ingredients into a pan and spreading melted chocolate chips on top, I mixed my carob chips in with everything else and rolled them up into 1-inch balls. Yum! Much easier to store and eat. Wanna make some? They really do taste like Reeses Peanutbutter Cups...and the peanutbutter must have at least a little redeeming value.

With a wooden spoon, mix 1 pound powdered sugar with 28 ounces of the thickest, cheapest peanutbutter you can find. It takes a lot of arm muscle, but stay with it until it is all mixed in. Add 2 cups or 1 large package of your favorite chocolate chips, then mix and roll into 1-inch balls. Keep covered and refridgerated so they don't get too dried out or sticky.

Care For Dessert?

Here's the last of Don's birthday cobbler topped with some homemade raspberry ice cream. M-m-m-m-m.