GRANDMA’S KITCHEN

Grandma’s

Kitchen

Sylvia Hughes with her grandmother, Bertie Dameron.

Do you love all the seasons of the year? There are pluses for every one of them.

During the cold months of winter, I find comfort in coming in from the cold to a cozy warm home. When night falls early, it seems to enclose your home with peace and quiet. The foods we tend to cook in winter are what we call comfort foods. Beef stew, chili and vegetable beef soup are my favorites. Do you have favorite recipes for winter? If you do, I would love to know about them. They could expand my list.

At the time I am writing, this winter has been mild and mostly warm. That could change quickly. In North Carolina we can have all four seasons in one week. It keeps things interesting.

My beef stew is a result of trial and error over many years. I sought for a taste that suited my

palette. Maybe it will suit yours too. I like it served with warm buttered rolls. They can come from the deli counter in your local grocery or from the many varieties of frozen breads.

A nice green salad is always good with something a little heavy. You can make your own or grab one of your choice while at the grocery store.

And what is comfort food without a dessert? These can also be made at home or picked up already prepared.

My wish for you this winter is that you stay safe, warm and enjoy cooking and eating all your favorite comfort foods. If your New Year’s Resolution was to lose weight, I have found that almost any recipe can be changed to diet friendly ingredients.

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Sylvia Hughes is a retired newspaper editor and columnist residing in Windsor. In addition to three sons, she has a gaggle of grandchildren, many of whom love cooking with her just as she did with her mother and grandmother.

Beef Stew About one pound of stew beef from grocery store (I cut each piece into Then add small carrots, diced potatoes, tomato juice and bouillon smaller bite sized pieces) Small onion Package of small baby carrots Three potatoes, diced Small can of tomato or V8 juice Two beef bouillon cubes Cornstarch Cook the beef and onion in water to cover well for about an hour cubes. Cook on lowest temperature to reach just a slow boil and cook for an additional hour. Place about a tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl and add enough water to make a paste. Add to stew slowly while stirring. Cook long enough to thicken slightly.

Buttermilk Coconut Pies This is a recipe I got from my mama. Don’t know where she got it from, but it is so easy and quick. 6 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1 ½ sticks butter melted 2 ¾ cups sugar 3 teaspoons vanilla 1 ½ cups or 3 ½ oz. coconut Blend ingredients one at a time in the order listed

Pour in 3 pie shells

Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees

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