Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Sometimes you feel like a nut

Living alone as I do (Lord knows how many times I’ve said that), I am constantly having to second-guess almost everything I do. Did I turn off the coffee pot? Did I forget to pay that bill…take that pill? Did I forget my appointment with the doctor…beauty shop?
Ordinary stuff that makes you wonder if senility is setting in. Or is it proof that when you lose your spouse or significant other, you lose half of your memory? I’ve said this often and I still stick to that belief..excuse. When you have no backup to remind you where you left your car keys, book, eye glasses, you only have yourself to find out where you put them.
I had one of those “some times you feel like a nut” moments this week. I had broken up a mess of fresh green beans to cook for supper. After rinsing them several times, I put them on the stove to cook. As they began to strike a boil, I added the right amount of salt and a good measure of vegetable oil for seasoning. When they reached a low boil, I put the lid on the pot and set the timer. But something in my head told me something was wrong.
So  in my mind I retraced my steps and thought about what I had done. And then it hit me!
Underneath my sink I have one cabinet that holds cleaning supplies. In another cabinet, which is also under the sink, I keep my baking supplies. Inadvertently, I had reached down and  without looking at the label, poured the proper amount of what I thought was vegetable oil. Only it wasn’t vegetable oil. It was dishwashing liquid! I had reached into the wrong cabinet. More proof of creeping senility.
I quickly took the beans off the stove and washed and rinsed them to a fare-thee-well.
I even washed them with more dishwashing liquid to get rid of the first round of dishwashing liquid. After several more rinses, I seasoned them again and put them back on the stove.
I had misgivings about eating them that night but they tasted fine.
I leave you with this thought for the day by Michael J. Fox:  “We are all here because we are not all there.” Think about it.
Now what was I going to do again?

Apple Butterscotch Brownies
From Southern Living, the Bible of all cooks

1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples (about 1 1/2 lb.)

Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
Stir together brown sugar and next 3 ingredients.
Stir together flour and next 2 ingredients; add to brown sugar mixture, and stir until blended. Stir in apples and pecans. Pour mixture into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan; spread in an even layer.
Bake at 350º for 35 to 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely (about 1 hour). Cut into bars.
Yields about 2 dozen.