Bena Mae’s Kitchen: All Cooped Up

Cabin fever is a term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, excessive sleeping, and an urge to hit somebody. 

The disease has already reached epidemic proportions in my area. I have it and so does most everyone I know. The only cure is sunshine and a long stretch of moderate temperatures. In the meantime I have already hid all the guns and knives in the house–no sense tempting fate. And going to Florida is no solution. I hear It’s cold down there, too. Maybe Alaska.

Among the many school closings, we see that in Minnesota where 38 below zero is normal, the TV runs its public service announcement: 500 degrees below zero: Hell freezes over. Minnesota public schools open 2 hours late.

As boring as this week’s confinement has been, my daughter-in-law reminds me of how lucky I really am considering the  pictures of pileups, stalled cars and wrecks on TV, grim reminders of  “there but for the grace of God go I.” On the other hand there are isolated cases that, true or not, provide us with a glimpse of humor if only for a moment, Read on:

It was snowing heavily and blowing to the point that visibility was almost zero when the little blond got off work. She made her way to her car and wondered how she was going to make it home. She sat in her car while it warmed up and thought about her situation.

She finally remembered her daddy’s advice that if she got caught in a blizzard she should wait for a snow plow to come by and follow it. That way she would not get stuck in a snow drift. That made her feel much better and sure enough in a little while a snow plow went by and she started to follow it.

As she followed the snow plow she was feeling very smug as they continued and she was not having any problems with the blizzard conditions. After quite sometime had passed she was somewhat surprised when the snowplow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car and signaled for her to roll her window down.

The driver wanted to know if she was alright as she had been following him for a long time. She said that she was fine and told him of her daddy’s advice to follow a snow plow when caught in a blizzard.

The driver said that it was OK with him and she could continue if she wanted, but he was done with the Walmart parking lot and was going over to K-mart next.

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Proof that life goes on: I just ventured outside to get today’s mail and it included the forms for filling out my 09 tax returns for the IRS. Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor hail…..you know the rest.

This recipe received a 5 star rating for taste and ease in making.

White Chocolate Key Lime Pie

1  cup  whipping cream

1  (11-ounce) package white chocolate morsels

1  tablespoon  sour cream

1  teaspoon  grated lime rind

1/3  cup  fresh Key lime or lime juice

1  (9-inch) ready-made graham cracker crust or your favorite prepared recipe

Garnish: lime slices

Combine cream and white chocolate morsels in a medium saucepan over low heat. 

Cook 5 minutes or until morsels melt, stirring constantly. 

Remove from heat. 

Add sour cream, lime rind, and juice; stir well. 

Pour into crust. 

Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Garnish, if desired.