Dinner Time!

Reading finished, the kitchen garden called. Weeding always needed to be done and of course, the watering. The chicken wire fencing kept the chickens out, but not the moles! Raised beds were the only answer to the moles and the clay soil pervasive in the area. It helped her keep the soil lighter too, especially for the carrots that grew longer and deeper in loose soil. After weeding and picking a few bright red tomatoes, Abigail's afternoon was nearly over and it was dinner preparation time.




Opening the wood-framed screen door and stepping up onto the enclosed porch, Sasha jumped from the wicker chair pad where she'd had her afternoon nap and began to purr while brushing the side of Abby's leg. Abby set the tomatoes on the sideboard and sat for a moment to cool off. Sasha jumped immediately to the newly formed lap and curled up, still purring. Looking over at the little table beside her chair, Abby noticed a foil covered package shaped like a loaf. It was still warm. Remembering that Suzanne promised to bring over some cornbread, she looked up to see her daughter returning to her house, across the plot between their homes. She waved as she entered her back door. While stroking Sasha's back, Abby thought about dinner: Hamburger pie, fresh tomato slices and, now, homemade from scratch Sweet Corn Bread!



Suzanne's Sweet Corn Bread

1 c. milk

1/4 c. stick butter, melted

1 lg egg

1 1/4 c. cornmeal

1 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt



Beat milk, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients all at once just until moistened. Pour into a greased square or round baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with butter.