Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Love is the antidote for hate

Love is the antidote for hate

The bluster of the naysayers who tell us our nation is going to H… in a hand basket, is ringing in our ears hourly, daily. The crescendo of hate they espouse has become as loud as a sonic boom and is intended to send us hiding under our beds in fear.

As for me, I don’t buy their hateful rhetoric. I prefer to spend my days focusing on this season of peace, light, and goodwill for which it is intended.

That said, I’d like to share with you a story from a Vintage article that has been lying around my house for years. It warmed my heart, as I’m sure it will warm yours, as it tells the story of the true meaning of Christmas. I hope it will make your Christmas more joyful as it did mine.

As written by Abigail Bradshaw, 1898:

A Child’s Christmas

My neighbor’s daughter is an invalid and rarely able to come out of her room. Even as we pass by her house, she often waves to us and we wave back. Yet this Christmas I discovered that Alexa has experienced more joy than most of us have through childhood and well into our adult years.

My family received an invitation to participate in a special Christmas born of her inspiration while sitting in the window of her room. You see, she has had time to sit and watch the world around her while the rest of us march on by ignorantly.

She noticed the eight little Tuttle children living across the street, their widowed mother working as cook for the Hamilton family. Most of us walked obliviously on by while Alexa watched the Tuttle children playing happily about the yard. They saw her too, and asked if she could come out and play with them. Rather than feel sorry for herself because she could not participate, Alexa encouraged the children to come over and play in her big lawn where she could watch them and enjoy their little games.

In so doing, Alexa soon discovered that although they were a happy bunch, the Tuttle children were often barefoot and wore tattered clothes. They had no toys, musical tops, or balls. In fact, as the weather got colder, they had no mittens or hats and two had no coats.

As Christmas approached, Alexa was asked by her parents what she wanted for Christmas. To their surprise, she told them she wanted nothing for herself. But she wanted to give a grand Christmas dinner in her room for the Tuttle children, to purchase gifts for them with the money they would have spent on her .

I will never forget the grand Christmas in Alexa’s room. After turkey, plum pudding, mince pie and more food than the Tuttles had ever seen on their plates before, the table was cleared. Then a door was opened to the next room.

There in the corner next to Alexa’s bed was a brilliant Christmas tree with Alexa’s presents to the Tuttle children carefully laid out. Every child received a warm coat of just the right size. Then after the useful presents, Alexa gleefully watched as dolls, books and a magnificent Noah’s Ark and a tiny tool chest were opened by the spellbound children.

May we all keep a child-like Christmas in our hearts this year and spread the joy around us.
 
Happy Christmas Everyone!

– – – – – –

Eat this for Breakfast on Christmas Morning.
 
CRUSTLESS QUICHE

Ingredients
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped
    spinach, thawed and well drained
2/3 cup finely chopped fully cooked ham
5 large eggs
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded
    Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions
In a large skillet, saute onion and mushrooms in oil until tender. Add spinach and ham; cook and stir until the excess moisture is evaporated. Cool slightly.

Beat eggs; add cheese and mix well. Stir in spinach mixture and pepper; blend well. Spread evenly into a greased 9-in. pie plate or quiche dish.

Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Yield: 6-8 servings.