Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Brain Block

I think brain block affects everyone at one time or another. And it can be very frustrating. Like when you’re introducing a close friend to someone and forget that someone’s name There’s no easy way out of it.  Except prayer.
One of my biggies occurs when I’m watching a movie on TV. I’m totally absorbed in the story line, when suddenly a familiar face appears on the screen and I’m stopped cold. What is his or her name? I know it as well as I know my own, but WHAT IS IT? So I spend the rest of the movie concentrating on who the actor is, rather than keeping up with the story.    
I try the old memory tricks, what movie were they in? I try going through the alphabet from A to Z Was it a common name…Adam, Benjamin, Charles, David? I get all the way to Z and still have no clue. By this time the movie is over and I am at a loss as to what it was all about.
An hour or so later, the name of the actor pops into my head. Of course! It’s SEAN CONNERY!
I could never be a contestant on Jeopardy.  I don’t have instant recall. Much like the two elderly ladies who had played bridge together for years.
One night during their usual game of bridge, one of the ladies said to the other, “I’m terribly sorry, but I’ve forgotten your name. Can you tell me what it is?”
The other lady paused, thought for a spell, then said, “Can you give me a moment?”
Have you ever needed to call home when you’re away and forgotten your phone number? Happens to me.
A sign of the times:  We are so used to getting a message machine when we make a phone call that we don’t know what to say when we get an answer from a real person. Our brain goes dead and all we can think of is “duh.”
But sometimes memory loss can be selective. As was the case with a long retired schoolteacher named Paula.
 Visiting Doctor Ross last month Paula explained in some detail her problems while he listened very patiently.
‘Now, Paula,’ said Doctor Ross, ‘you say you have shooting pains in your neck, aching knees, frequent dizzy spells, and constant nausea. Just for the record, how old are you?’
‘Ah, yes,’ Paula spoke brightly, ‘I’ll be 49 on my next birthday.’
‘Really?’ commented the doctor quietly,  ‘I see you have slight memory loss, too.’

This is an excellent side dish for your Easter meal. This asparagus casserole is baked with white sauce made with cheese and a topping of buttered bread crumbs.

Aparagus Casserole

2 to 3 pounds of asparagus, or 18 to 20 ounces frozen asparagus
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup grated mild Cheddar cheese
2 ounces drained pimiento, 1/4 cup chopped

Wash asparagus, remove woody part of stalks and cut into 2 1/2-inch pieces. Cook in boiling salted water until just tender. Drain and place in a shallow baking dish or casserole. Melt butter in saucepan. Mix 2 tablespoons of the butter with the soft bread crumbs; set aside for topping casserole later.
Blend flour, salt, and pepper into remaining butter in saucepan. Continue cooking and stirring over low heat. Gradually add milk, stirring until thickened. Add Worcestershire sauce, pimiento, and cheese; stir until cheese is melted. Pour sauce over asparagus in casserole; top with buttered crumbs.
Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
Asparagus casserole recipe serves 4 to 6.