Bena Mae’s Kitchen: The Socialite Cat

Cat lovers are a special breed. And cat owners treat them as the number one Royal in the household. I know this from experience with my own family. They are passionate and completely without reason when it comes to the feline member of the house.
My affinity for the little creatures began when I started reading James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Smalll” several years ago. Herriot was a country vet from the Yorkshire Dales in England. He treated all the farm animals in the Dales but my favorite stories were about the small animals…cats and dogs and even birds.
Herriot begins his story about Oscar the cat that appeared at his house from nowhere. He and his wife Helen, took Oscar in and grew to love him. One night Oscar disappeared which caused them great concern. The two of them made a foray through the whole town looking for him, but to no avail. Helen was beside herself with worry. In a few minutes there was a knock on their door. A lady stood there with Oscar in her arms.
“Here is your cat,” she said. “He was at the meeting of the Ladies Institute at the church. He sat through the entire meeting like he was interested in what was going on and left when the meeting was over.” This went on night after night, always between the hours of 8 and 10 o’clock. Then someone would appear at the Herriot’s door with Oscar in their arms. He had either been to prayer meeting at the church, choir practice, a social function in town, or anything where there was a group of people.
In time, Oscar was reclaimed by a farmer from 30 miles away and the Herriots sadly let him go. Later they decided to pay him a visit. The farmer and his wife gave them a warm welcome and asked them in. Looking around, they couldn’t see Oscar anywhere. When Helen asked where he was, the farmer’s wife replied, “Oh this is Thursday night. He’s at the yoga class in town.”
Leaving you with this heartwarming story, I wish all cat lovers and God’s little creatures a warm and fuzzy Christmas. 

This is a good way to use up those leftover sweet potatoes – if there are any…

Sweet Potato Biscuits

2 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons shortening
1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
6 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup butter and the shortening with a pastry blender or forks until mixture is crumbly. Add mashed sweet potato and milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead just a few times.
Roll dough out to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and brush with the melted butter. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes, or until nicely browned.
Makes about 15 to 18 biscuits.