Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Rambling Thoughts

It would be remiss of me not to mention Pat Head Summit, coach of the Lady Vols who ended her brilliant career this week as head coach for 30 some years. Tennessee, as well as the rest of the nation is saddened by her departure as the winningest coach in girls’ college basketball. She is admired and respected by all sports lovers everywhere and it is entirely fitting that she be awarded the Medal of Freedom by the president of the United States. She takes with her the best wishes of loyal fans who followed her throughout her magnificent career. Best wishes, Pat. You set a high standard that will probably never be matched.
Yesterday I spotted a bluebird in my front yard. Not the common bluejay, but a beautiful bluebird. I was so excited I called to my grandson to come and see that I wasn’t hallucinating. I hadn’t seen one in at least fifteen years. At my former residence, they would spend the season in my back yard. My husband had a way of attracting them each spring and we were always rewarded with their return each year. But one year they failed to return and we never saw them again.
Hopefully, this one will stay and bring its friends. A yard full of bluebirds would be Heaven.
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Have you ever noticed you can learn a lot about a family by looking at what’s on the front of their refrigerator door?
If there are drawings of animals, stick people, family members or things of that nature, you know there are children of kindergarten age in the house. The frigerator door serves as an art gallery for their brilliant drawings and must be displayed for all to see.
If the door is plastered with notices of appointments to business meetings, luncheon dates, hair appointments, or conferences with their child’s teacher, you will know its a busy household, totally involved with the business and social world. These are busy people who need reminders to keep up with their commitments and find it necessary to use the door of the frig as a file cabinet.
You’ll know there is a senior citizen in the house by the change in tone of the messages on the door…doctor appointments, county health nurse, pharmacist, Life Alert (I’ve fallen and I can’t get up), notice of current obituaries, poison control, restaurant menu, doctor appointments. It has become their connection to the outside world.
So there you have it. Your family’s life cycle on the door of your refrigerator.

Stawberry-Spinach Salad

2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced onion
10 ounces fresh spinach – rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
1 quart strawberries – cleaned, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover, and chill for one hour.
In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes before serving.