Bena Mae’s Kitchen: And then there was one

Ever since it’s debut in the 1980’s, The Golden Girls showed a different Miami than the cop show Miami Vice. In other words, no drugs, no murder — just four women of a certain age spending their golden years in the sun. Like the theme song, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” the sitcom was about friendship, not crime.

As for the girls, they were sharp-tongued Dorothy, former farm girl, Rose, Southern Belle, Blanche, and Dorothy’s salty-talking but perky mother, Sophia. All were widows with the exception of divorced Dorothy.  They had nothing in common which laid the groundwork for tons of laughs from their audience.  

Now, all of them are gone with the exception of Betty White (Rose) who is 88 and still going like the Energizer Rabbit. Rue McClanahan’s recent death at 76 from a brain hemorrhage was a shocker to those closest to her. Betty White, bless her, is quoted as saying, “This hurt far more than I thought it would.”

The Emmy-award winning show had a big chunk of viewers that still remain loyal through reruns. My mother was among them. Durlng her last days, she would point a finger at Blanche and describe her character in a word that she would never use in polite company. (Prozac opened up a whole new vocabulary for my mother in her later years.) Rue (Blanche) played her part well and provided her share of highly amusing situations that kept the viewers tuning in for more. 

Thank you and RIP, Rue McClananhan.  You were truly loved by many. And Blanche, let’s keep in touch.

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Most of my heroes are writers, more specifically English mystery writers and even more specifically, P.D. James, the best and most acclaimed current mystery writer of them all.  My interest in this genre started when I was in high school by my dog-earing every Agatha Christie novel — the queen of the genre — I could get my hands on. From then on I was hooked.

About every two years I wait impatiently for a  new P.D. James book to come out. I realize that I have to face the reality that she may be slowing down, because, face it, she is 90 years old. Such a bright mind. No one capable of taking her place. Her writings are still as suspenseful and exciting as the first one she penned.

One critic wrote: “Some writers ‘write’…P.D. James paints her story with her words.” The Michelangelo of  mystery novels, no less. 

Be ready for peach season with this no-bake dessert.

Fresh Peach Dessert

16 whole graham crackers, crushed

3/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup white sugar

4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup milk

1 pint heavy cream

1/3 cup white sugar

6 large fresh peaches – peeled, pitted and sliced

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1/2 cup sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix until evenly moistened, reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Heat marshmallows and milk in a large saucepan over low heat and stir until the marshmallows are completely melted. Remove from heat and cool.

Whip cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/3 cup sugar until the cream forms stiff peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cooled marshmallow mixture.

Spread 1/2 the cream mixture over the crust, arrange the peaches on top of the cream, then spread the remaining cream mixture over the peaches. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the cream. Refrigerate until serving.