Bena Mae’s Kitchen; Make it short and sweet

Make it short and sweet
 

In other words, say it and get it over with.

I’m sure you know people who can’t say anything in just a few words. Ask them what time it is and they begin by telling you how the clock was made.

And whatever you do don’t ask them about their health. Chances are you’ll get a rundown on their maladies that would fill the Guiness Book of World Records. By the time they get through and they tell you how many doctors are baffled by their condition and all the different medicines they have taken, your arm has fallen asleep from holding the telephone receiver to your ear.
Ask yourself if you’ve ever experienced the following scenario. I’m sure you have.

You’re in the supermarket and you are in a hurry. Suddenly you spot a person a few aisles over who is a a ‘talker.’ Trying to avoid her at all costs, you steer your cart in the opposite direction. You think you’re home free when bang, she turns the corner and runs smack dab into you. There is no escape. You try to feign a look of surprise but you are a dead duck. This is called karma, my friend, or kismet, or just plain rotten luck.

I’ve even tried to retaliate by giving them a dose of their own medicine but it hasn’t worked. They don’t listen. For example:
I have a friend who is a generous soul and would give you the shirt off her back. But when she calls I can count on an hour of listening to her go on and on about what she or her family are doing, mostly stuff that is boring and repetitive and has nothing to do with what is going on with my life.

I listen politely as long as I can stand it with a lot of uh huhs and huh uhs coming from my end of the conversation. So I try to turn the subject around. In desperation, I make the bizarre statement that a herd of elephants camped in my backyard the night before.

Her reply: “What kind of curtains do you think would look good in my kitchen?”

I want to tell her what to do with the curtains but propriety doesn’t allow me to answer in a civilized manner.
Brevity. What a wonderful word, but one that is rarely used. It means quick, short, and sweet.

FRITO PIE CASSEROLE

…this is one of those recipes you make when you need to make people happy. 
 
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 package taco seasoning
1 bag Frito style chips
1 16 oz.can corn
1 (16 oz) can chili no beans
3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Sour cream to garnish
 
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Over medium-high heat, cook beef in skillet until browned and crumbly.  Add in onions and seasoning and saute a few minutes.
In a 9 x 13 dish, layer the ingredients two times, in this order: Fritos, corn, chili, seasoned meat and cheese, repeat.
Cover and bake about 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and hot in the center.
Garnish with sour cream.