Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Bizzaro Politics

Bizzaro Politics

In the wake of the tsunami regarding the nominees in the run for the presidential race in 2016, the TV stations have held its viewers hostage daily, hourly, on who is the most credible. Or who is the most trustworthy, who is most concerned about women’s issues, and which one is carrying the most baggage, and on and on and on. It’s put the Washington pols in a diarrhea-like frenzy.

It has forced me to turn to cable TV for refuge. Suddenly, Gilligan’s Island make sense.

Anything to protect my ears and senses from the kerfluffle of inane stuff that’s coming out of the mouths of the would-be candidates for the nomination. Help me God!

Having said that, I cite the following story that, when I read it a few years ago, it was only a funny story. But now it’s beginning to make sense.

The story goes that one fine evening a Mrs. George Wood called a Dr. Martin Satterfield, a veterinarian, from her home. It was about her mule, Horace. After asking a few questions and hearing the answers. Dr. Satterfield said, “ Give him a dose of mineral oil and if he ain’t alright in the morning, call me and I’ll come out and take a look at your mule.”

She wanted to know how to give the mule the mineral oil and the Dr. said “Give it through a funnel.”

She protested that the mule might bite her and the Dr., becoming exasperated said, “You’re a farm woman and you know about those things. Give it to him in the other end”

So she went down to the barn and there stood Horace moaning and groaning. She searched for a funnel and in desperation saw Uncle Bill’s hunting horn hanging on the wall. She took the horn and afixed it properly. Then she reached up on the shelf and instead of picking up the mineral oil, she unwittingly grabbed a bottle of linament and poured a liberal dose into the horn.
Horace raised his head with a sudden jerk and stood dead still for maybe three seconds. Then he let out a squeal that could be heard a mile down the road and reared up on his hind legs and off he went at a mad gallop. Since he was in pain, every few jumps he made, the horn would blow. All the hound dogs in the neighborhood knew it meant that Uncle Bill was going fox hunting so out in the road they went, joyously following Uncle Bill. Witnesses said they’d never seen anything like it.
By this time it was good and dark. Horace and the dogs were coming to the Inland Waterway. The bridge-tender heard the horn blowing erratically and figured a fast boat was approaching. He hurriedly went out and cranked up the bridge. Horace went kerplunk into the water and unfortunately drowned. But the pack of dogs that went into the water all swam out okay.
And now for the end of the story:

The bridge tender was also the sheriff of the county and was running for re-election at the time. But he managed to get only seven votes and they were from kinfolks. Those who took the time to analyze the election figured that any man who didn’t know the difference between a mule with a horn up its caboose and a boat coming down the river wasn’t fit to hold any public office in the county.

Now back to Gilligan’s Island.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Who doesn’t love lasagna?

EASY TACO LASAGNA
 
Ingredients
12 oven ready lasagna noodles
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (1-oz.) package Old El Paso taco seasoning
1 egg
1 (15-oz.) carton ricotta cheese
4 cups (1 lb.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 (24-oz.) jar chunky salsa
Optional toppings: sour cream,
    green onions, diced tomatoes

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large skillet, brown beef until no longer pink. Drain meat and add the taco seasoning. Stir until combined and set aside.
In a small bowl, add the egg and ricotta and stir until combined.
In a 9×13 baking dish, start by layering 4 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan. Next, layer of the ricotta, the beef mixture, the salsa, and the cheese. Repeat the layers two more times.
Bake covered for 30-40 minutes or until the casserole has heated through and is bubbly. Let casserole stand 10 minutes before cutting. Top with sour cream, sliced green onions, and diced tomatoes if desired.