“Make plenty, Lou!” If my childhood had a mantra, it would be “Make plenty, Lou!” Just reading those words make me smile. I heard my daddy say that to mom hundreds of times. He was a big man, in size, in spirit, in appetite; mom would be cooking and the familiar refrain “Make plenty, Lou” would ring through the house. Mind you, there was ALWAYS plenty, but still, the call would ring out.
Plenty to nurture our family, plenty for an expected guest, plenty to snack on the leftovers another day. Funny how people’s attitudes about food reflect who they really are. Daddy was hospitable, generous, the life of the party, always. That was apparent in his love of breaking bread. “Make plenty, Lou!”
Clearly, I have inherited the “Make plenty, Lou!” gene. Supermarket clerks will peer into my cart and ask “are you having a party?” Well, no, it’s just the weekend. On another day a clerk ponders, as she scans and she scans and she scans my selections “how many kids do you have?” None, we just really cook in our house, every day. “Make plenty, Lou.”
With this embedded in me as surely as my DNA, I have to cook. I have to feed people and, quite naturally, I must make plenty. “Make plenty, Lou.” Indeed.
8 comments:
It is really neat when we can link something we love to do with a word, action or deed from our parents. I grew up in upstate New York where my grandparent’s generation was mostly all immigrants. My maternal grandparents came over from Poland and my paternal grandparents from Italy. I was blessed to have family’s that loved to cook and like your dad, loved to serve the food they happily prepared. In fact, if you dropped in for a visit and did not partake in the offerings, they were offended. What I remember the most is my paternal grandmother’s exhortation after the food was put on the table. “Mangia, mangia!” And, trust me she meant it! I have buried my desire to shout the same thing to my family and guests when it’s time to dig in because the truth be known, my grandmother really scared me!
Please "make plenty" more posts. Love it! There was plenty, wasn't there? - plenty of food, laughter, & love. Sister
Please "make plenty" more posts. Love it! There was plenty, wasn't there? - plenty of food, laughter & love. Sister
Quite the appropriate topic as I re-read your blog over this July
4th weekend. We too had enough barbecue ribs and wings to feed a village! The phone calls went out inviting people over, but still there was plenty! I'm happy to hear what your thoughts are for leftovers. I'm not against freezing for a rainy day, then pulling it out for a barbecue dinner when its too wet to fire up the grill. Any other ideas???
I would pull the rib meat off the bone, warm it slightly, then stuff it into a big, buttery baked potato with cheddar cheese!
Another tasty option would be serving the warmed up rib meat on miniature buttered cornbread muffins.
For the wings, I would warm them slightly & drizzle with honey.
LOU LOU-GIRL YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD WRITER(AUTHOR) ...LETS GET SOME BOOKS WRITTEN...JUST BE SURE TO PUT MY NAME IN YOUR FIRST BIG BEST SELLER ...HA ..
RUTH
Did we make plenty Lou?
Plenty and then some, each bite was even more delicious than the last! I've told everyone I've talked to today about your grilled sweet potatoes!
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