Bena Mae’s Kitchen: What is there to do in a small town?

Well…the same thing there is to do in a large city, only on a smaller scale. There are the same books, the same movies, the same sports. But what you often fail to find in the cities are down to earth friendly people.
My grandson who lives in the city and is accustomed to not being recognized in the large malls and super stores, is captivated by the friendly recognition he gets from the locals when he visits with me. Over the years he has been accepted as “one of us” and is treated with warm familiarity everywhere he goes. He loves this and I am hopeful it will give him a sense of stability throughout his adult life.
I am fortunate in having grown up in a small town and at long last have come to realize that my values were shaped by my family and the people around me. Where people were judged more by their actions than what they possessed. And where “Love Thy Neighbor” was literally taken for granted. It was innate with us, something we did.
But back to what is there to do in a small town? Is there anything more satisfying than rooting for the home team in local sports events? Where you know the players, the player’s parents, the coach, and practically everyone cheering them on?
“Going to town” becomes a social event where sometimes shopping is only secondary. I’ve told this story before but it bears repeating:
It was a dreary winter day and the walls were closing in on me, so I made a trip to the grocery store just to get out of the house. I bumped carts with an old friend and we began talking about the boredom of staying at home and the need for adult companionship.
“My daughter told me there was no need to get out in this weather, that she would shop for my groceries for me,” she said. “Oh no,” she said she protested, “I need to get out among people. I’m going mad staying in this house day after day.”   
You can get the best food in town at the local drive-in, the kind where you eat in your car. No need to dress up–you can go in your pajamas. Not only the place for teenagers to hang out, it can be a family affair. Greasy food, calorie laden, but no matter. The food is satisfying and delicious. A stomach pleaser as well as a memorable experience.
Visiting the small town hardware store is akin to going to a museum, a look back at history. Hand-Cranked ice cream freezers remind us of family reunions way back when. Enamel cookware, cast-iron skillets, hurricane lamps, meat grinders, Ball canning jars and Radio Flyer wagons are only a few items that evoke a feeling of nostalgia.
Hanging out with the self proclaimed philosophers at the barber shop or filling station where you will get the latest on politics, farming, what the town council is planning, or where the fish are biting. It’s small town tabloid news with a haircut or a fill-up. Nothing scandalous or spectacular. Brad and Angelina are not within their realm of what is important.
Organizing a game of stick ball. No age limit.
To sum it all up, living in a small town comes down to a feeling of contentment and belonging, something you won’t find in large cities. And that’s good enough for me.

Peach Crumble

Easy and delicious, this dessert will melt in your mouth. Goes great with ice cream.

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of salt
4 tbsp. butter
5 peaches, or 2 16-oz. cans of peach halves, drained and sliced

Make the topping by combining flour, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Cut in the butter and mix with your fingers until crumbly. Set aside.
Peel and slice peaches. Arrange the slices in a buttered 1-quart baking dish. Cover with the crumble topping and bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Makes 4 servings.