Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Musings off the top of my head

I woke up this morning to more of the same…breaking news of the earthquake in Chile. To be followed by a tsunami in Hawaii and parts of the west coast here in the U.S. This, after record-breaking snows in parts of the northeast, plus rain and mud slides in California, a chronic problem of that state that is also besieged by forest fires on a regular basis.

My mother and those of her generation would have given the cause of the wide-range calamities to “people just aren’t living right.” Skip the scientific explanations, global warming theories, biblical forecasts.  What it boils down to is ‘people just aren’t living right,’ at least in their view. Because it’s easier to get a handle on this kind of thinking than taxing our brains with scientific mumbo-jumbo. In the meantime, let the thinking heads figure it out. I’m just happy to live in a part of the country that has ordinary problems like fixing pot holes and containing rock slides.

Reading the BBC news from Britain, I see where researchers have scoured the telephone books for people who are tagged with unfortunate names that sound like a bad joke.  Like Justin Case, Barb Dwyer, and Stan Still, a 76 year-old retired airman who says his name had been a blooming millstone around his neck his entire life.

“When I was in the RAF my commanding officer used to shout, ‘Stan Still, get a move on!’ It got hugely boring after awhile.”  However,  51 year-old Rose Bush said she liked her name. But just imagine having to introduce yourself to a crowd as Doug Hole or Hazel Nutt. More unfortunate names were Pearl Button, Jo King, Barry Cade, Carrie Oakey, and Tim Burr.

Parents need to think carefully when naming a baby. What might sound cute and quirky to a toddler may be regretted when that person becomes a grandmother or grandfather.

In California an 80-year-old woman with a criminal record stretching back to 1955 has been sentenced to three years in state prison for ransacking and stealing cash from a Southern California medical office. Doris Thompson thanked a judge Wednesday for not sending her to Los Angeles County jail, which she doesn’t like, and said she deserved a longer sentence. She also told the judge, “God bless you.”

Thompson slipped into the medical office on Dec. 19 and stole money from drawers. She pleaded guilty to burglary and was ordered to pay about $1,400 in restitution. She will be eligible for parole in about 18 months.

This old gal knows how to use the system. She will get three squares a day, television,  and free medical care. No wonder she asked the judge for a longer sentence. 

From White Lily Kitchens comes this delicious compote.

Spicy Peach Compote

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup water

3 cups sliced fresh or frozen peaches

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Topping

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar

COMBINE sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Add water, stirring until smooth. Stir in peaches. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and peaches are tender. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and almond extract. Spoon over your favorite pound cake with a dollop of whipped cream.

BEAT whipping cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar until soft peaks form.