Guest Author | eatprayreadlife.com

A Penny for Your Candy

Sweet memories come back despite quarantine and pandemic realities thanks to Zoom and a slowed down world. One of our free-wheeling conversations among 10 best friends came around to the subject of candy. The important distinction between ‘Buckeyes’ and ‘Bullseyes’ was initially paramount. After that, the memories of buying candy from the penny candy counter came back in sweet little bits. Please share yours.

“I fondly recall the original caramel bullseye candies. And the childhood candy stores, some of which were true blue ‘Mom and Pop’ shops. My fondest memory is of Nate’s on Montrose between Ashland and Paulina, 1/2 block from my grammar school. Our lunch was an hour long at home. After wolfing down pancakes or grilled cheese ‘samiches’ or fried bologna I would head to Nate’s before school continued at 1pm. The line of kids was out the door. Sy and Marianne owned a tiny little store that had a penny candy counter. Marianne had a small change box and watched the candy counter like a hawk. She bossed us to pick fast because kids were waiting. My mom used to tease Nate. One time, she asked Nate for a dozen button holes. He looked all over his store trying to please mom. She told that story a hundred times.”
Larry E.

“There was a small store, (and I mean really small) called The Lee Street Store. It was about 2 blocks from my house. I think it was like a 7 Eleven, but all I really remember was the penny candy. They had everything, Pixie Sticks, black and red licorice, jaw breakers, candy dots on paper, tootsie rolls, Mary Janes, waxed lips, those little bottles that were filled with colored sweetened liquid, Bazooka bubblegum and I’m sure there was much more. I would take my allowance of 10 cents up there and come home with a “big” bag of candy. The owners lived above the store.”
Janet B.

My favorite penny candy store was appropriately called Ma & Pa Candies in downtown La Grange. When you walked in, you could smell the sugar. It was a narrow storefront with counters that seemed to made of planks on sawhorses. There was red gingham fabric tacked around the counters and tilted glass jars of candy with scoops. It was always bustling especially because it was a few doors away from the La Grange movie theater. We’d stock up before the show. I loved rock candy, gum drops and candy dots and nonpareils (aka Snowcaps).
Ann A.

Brazilian Fish Stew ~ Moqueca de Peixe

Cooking Light May 2002 yield 6 servings

Jan fondly recalls great memories of making this special dish for her Aunt Joan and Uncle Dick during their visit to Peachtree City, Georgia on one of their many road trips. She also advises, it is best enjoyed if you have a great sous chef on hand to share it with, of course! From the state of Bahia in northern Brazil, moqueca de peixe (moo-kay-ka da pay-sha) is a tropical fish stew fragrant with garlic, peppers and enriched with coconut milk. Serve with crusty baguette and a favorite green salad. Bon appetite!

Ingredients

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

½ tsp salt

½ tsp fresh ground pepper

2 garlic cloves minced

1 to 1.5 lbs of sea bass, or halibut fillet cut into ½ inch strips

1 to 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and de-veined

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups finely chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

¾ cup minced green onions

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 bay leaf

2 cups chopped tomatoes (2 large, or 5 roma)

½ cup minced fresh cilantro – divided

1 14 oz can chicken broth

2 8 oz bottles of clam juice

1 cup coconut milk (light if desired)

¼ tsp ground red pepper

Instructions

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; toss to coat. Marinate in fridge for 30 mins.
Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, bell peppers, green onions, garlic and bay leaf…cook 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to med high, add tomatoes, and cook 2 minutes. Add ¼ cup cilantro, the clam juice and the broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
Place one third of vegetable mixture in a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour pureed veg mixture into pan. Repeat procedure with remaining veggie mixture (adding to pan when smooth). Add coconut milk and red ground pepper to veggie mixture. Bring to boil over med high heat and cook 3 minutes. Add fish mixture, cook 3 minutes or until fish is done. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve. Enjoy!

Things We Learned From Our Moms

L.G. Emerson, guest author

Years ago, my mother requested me to write down 7 things I learned from her. Apparently the Ladies Guild at her church in upstate New York were inspired by the pastor to take on this project. I thought about it for weeks, jotting down ideas in an old grammar school composition book. And then it slowly evolved into a poem. I share this with you for several reasons. It not only brought a lot of joy to my mother but it synthesized thoughts and emotions that otherwise were muddled and lost in one’s mind. I believe writing is complimentary therapy to reading and talking. It helps organize thoughts and experiences, establishes cause and effects, resolves lingering issues and heals old wounds. I encourage you to try it. Even if your mother has passed away, it still is a lovely way to cherish her life. Happy Mother’s Day!

7 Things I Learned From My Mom

When I was just five, you kept me alive.
I lied still in an old cedar chest,
And I learned that I was blessed.
I needed you then- you were always my friend!
 
When I was just seventeen, it was a very sad year.
You showed me the way to shed a good tear.
You see, my father had died, I wanted to hide.
You showed me the way to find some good cheer.
 
When I was still very young, I acted the fool.
Yet, you guided me through school.
You lent me your strength to be a good man,
when your dear mom had passed away in my hand.
 
You taught me how to love my dear spouse,
And fill with love our own blessed house.
Now my wife was my life,
You loved us as one, as a mom loves a son.
 
When I was 31, we had a girl and a son.
I learned to be glad just to be a good dad.
It was a joyous good time.
It was a joyous good time.
 
When I was 35, I wasn’t quite alive.
There was a big void- I didn’t know why.
I still needed one friend until the very end.
You showed me the Word with your love for The Lord.
 
And now that I’m old, life isn’t so cold.
I find in your heart the warmth of a hearth.
When they lay me to rest in an old cedar chest,
I’ll know I was blessed with your love to the end.
You were always my friend!  You were always my friend!
 
L.G. Emerson
18 February 2006

The Cure Starts with Recognition of the Problem

It came to me while I was preparing my Christmas lasagna, that I may have an addiction. Possibly something which would require an intervention. As I was slicing up the onions I looked down and realized I was wearing my Superman apron. Pretty cool, right? While I don’t have the hairline of Clark Kent, buried beneath layers of pasta, beer, burritos and an occasional veggie is a six pack that’s the envy of every weightlifter. Then it dawned on me. After I wake up, I put on my favorite bathrobe which is colored in Superman Red and Blue, with his huge “S” emblem in the back. I’ll then dress for work and probably wear Stance socks decorated with superheroes. At my office, observant visitors will notice a Superman figurine guarding the entrance. On the bookshelf is Batman, ever watchful.

These days many of my client appointments are WebEx meetings. I’ll send out an invite for the meeting and after an introduction I’ll open to the homepage on my laptop. What image does the client immediately see? Batman, looking out on high, guarding over Gotham City.

Depending upon the day, I’ll hit the gym. If I’m lifting, and trying not to put the muscle men to shame, I’m wearing a Superman tank. Lucky for us we live in a beautiful town, not far from the beach. Dee and I often walk along the waterfront at sunset. I’ll grab my hoodie which has on the front; you guessed it, a big ‘S’ for the big guy. So that’s a normal day. I may have missed a reference or two to a superhero, but assuming not, that’s a wrap. We’ll eat, watch some TV and go to bed. I’m an early riser so I don’t use an alarm but occasionally if I might need a reminder I’ll set one. My wake-up tune? Superman’s Song by Crash Test Dummies.

So, do you think I have a problem? Should I seek help? If so, where? Heroes are an interesting study. They tell us who we are and what’s at the heart of our being. We all know about the ancient Greeks and the god’s they worshiped. With all respect to those still following Zeus, Hades and Athena, are they much different than today’s superheroes? According to Marvel I guess not, after all Thor has captured the hearts of many. Heroes in many ways are our guiding lights and set a standard we all should want to follow. As the above-mentioned song goes; “Even though he coulda smashed through any bank in the United States, he had the strength but he would not.” Heroes set an example of what we should strive to be. Do the right thing, take care of those who are vulnerable, think of yourself last, sacrifice for others. Those are the values we all were raised with and try to pass on to others.

In business is that so wrong? We really can do the right thing all the time and benefit our clients. Capitalism is a wonderful thing and if done correctly, many of us benefit from the gain. It does not have to be a dog-eat-dog world. I was raised in an industry by a mentor who preached, ‘take care of others first, it’s the right thing to do’. Don’t think of your compensation, put that out of your mind. Put your clients’ needs first, and good things will follow. This may sound foolish and naïve but it lets me sleep peacefully knowing we’re always doing the right thing.

Back to the original question; should I seek professional help? On second thought, no thank you. I’ll just take my heroes along wherever I go.