Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Idle Chatter

 What an innovation the internet is. It allows you to log onto any newspaper, either local, national  or foreign, and read the news from all over the world.

This morning I clicked on the News Journal to see what was happening around the Corbin area, this before the newspaper had time to arrive in the mail. It was as easy as 1-2-3. But easy as it was, it will never take the place of holding the newspaper in your hand and browsing through the pages at your leisure. Newspapers are a vital part of our lives and will never be replaced. 

Now for my take on Big Brother 11. It’s like watching 8th graders skirmishing for top position. There are only a couple of people in the Big Brother house that show any maturity at all and they are outnumbered by a foul-mouthed neanderthal. A body-builder with a small head and outsized muscles that make him look like a cartoon character, and a tattooed lady who has a foot fetish. Not an ounce of brains among the lot. My kids, who abhor the show, asked me why I watch such an inane program. "For its cultural enlightenment," I told them.   

Note to CBS: We’re not in high school any more. Get a grip.

I never miss listening to Garrison Keilor’s Prairie Home Companion on NPR on Sunday afternoons. Last week he told about a man who received a toilet bowl brush as a present. The man said he used it until it wore out and then he had to go back to using toilet paper again………..ouch.

Same song, second verse:

I can’t say it enough. People in small towns have big hearts. For the past month or so, I’ve been battling high blood pressure among other things. Three of my doctors have been working in tandem with trying to stabilize it so they can treat other problems that have invaded my body. It’s a slow procedure that has inhibited my comings and goings.

Through it all, my friends and neighbors have shown such an outpouring of kindness by bringing me home-cooked meals and fresh produce from their gardens. Only this morning a friend called and asked if she could bring me chicken and dumplings and fresh green beans for my supper. This is not the first time this has happened, and it only goes to show the charity that exists among good people who "love their neighbor as themselves." My cup truly runneth over. 

‘Til next time.

Nice and airy with no overwhelming peanut butter taste.

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

15 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Mix the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and peanut butter together until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping. Spoon the mixture into the graham cracker crust.

Place the remaining whipped topping over the top of the peanut butter mixture and garnish with the peanut butter cups. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.