Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Laugh in peace

Many of us shudder at the mention of death and dying. But hey, we start dying from the moment we are born. Since we will all face it sooner or later it may be helpful to look at the lighter side of this equal opportunity event because one day we are all going to get our turn.

The closer I get to departing this mortal coil (thank you Mrs. Pope for all those assignments of memorizing the dead poets who wrote about death constantly), I’m convinced that the subject should not always be grim and the infusion of humor has a place in there somewhere. For when, at any other time do we need a lift of our spirits more?

Having said that, I would like to share parts of one of the most colorful and downright funny obituaries I ever read in the newspaper. It was written by a columnist in a Knoxville newspaper who had a wicked and wonderful way with words when he wrote about the death of his 94-year-old grandmother.

“Social life on Chamber’s Creek consisted of going to the Baptist Church and to baptizing in the creek. She and her slightly older sister decided to baptize their mother’s chickens in the spring branch. ‘We baptized all we could catch,’ she said. If you lived in Chamber’s Creek and weren’t Baptist, you were ‘quare turned.”

After many accounts of hilarious tales about the family, the writer continues:
“A long list of survivors includes children, cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, one of whom teaches at the University of New Orleans when it is not under water and a slew of great-grandchildren, two of which are fondly known as the ‘hell imps’. Many of the survivors live close by, while others are scattered from ‘hell to breakfast’.”

The writer closes by saying, “Memorial services with bible verses, music, singing (no dancing), laughing, crying, Baptist wine, casseroles, ham biscuits, and unbaptized chicken, will be announced later when the tribe can be rounded up”.
I would give my eye-teeth to have been there.

Also good for Sunday night supper.

Easy Ranch Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients
10 oz pkg frozen spinach
10 oz pkg frozen broccoli
1 1/4 cup cottage cheese
4 eggs
1 can of asparagus
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 14 oz package of crumbled sausage
1 packet of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Seasoning Mix

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 13×9 baking pan with cooking spray.
Defrost and strain any excess water out of spinach and broccoli.
In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients except sausage and shredded cheese. Mix well.
Pour into the baking pan.
Top with sausage and shredded cheese.
Bake on 350 for 30 min.
Let it cool and then put it in the fridge for 2 hours or enjoy the next morning.