Casseroles

My mother, Pat Bullock, was a casserole queen. She started married life as someone who didn't know how to cook. Lucky for her, she was so gorgeous and smart, Dad didn't mind. #hemarriedahottie

My parents, so young! and Dad's parents

Then she popped out four daughters in eleven years. Dad started traveling the state of Iowa Monday through Friday, repping Lorraine Lingerie. Mom learned to cook the basics. Susi, Cindy, Betsy and I laugh about the things she served us. I don't know how she stayed sane, cranking out meals every night, week after week. No wonder Mom came up with exotic delights like open face hot dog buns with hot dogs and cheese - broiled in the oven. Toasted ham salad sandwiches - ugh! We'd usually also have a salad offering like a canned pear slice on a bed of lettuce with grated cheese. The lunch menu was a peanut butter sandwich that includes a crisp piece of iceberg lettuce on white bread. Campbell's soup - chicken noodle or bean with bacon.

Mom at the stove

Dressed up to cook! 

You know I didn't really pay attention to my mother's needs when I was a kid. Most kids don't. Moms are service providers, right? I feel so fortunate that she worked hard to provide for all of our needs, raising us in our ranch house in small town Iowa. It was an idyllic childhood - one I remember fondly. Our parents didn't need to arrange play dates, the neighborhood was full of kids - families of four to seven running loose on foot and on bikes. At meal time she hollered for us or rang the bell by the back door. We came running.

My Mom didn't have aspirations to be a short order cook. Like many in the post-WWII era, she was a stay at home Mom. In her later years, I learned how much that took a toll on her own ambitions. She graduated from the University of Iowa, tops in her program - Political Science. Mom was busy in our little town - a valued Red Cross swim instructor in my younger years, a Cass County Hospital Board member, and she was active in the Republican Party. But she must have had that "woulda/shoulda/coulda" feeling - if only she'd been born later.

Mom's Thanksgiving dinner

My own years of meal planning and cooking - with the equal partnership of my spouse, increased by admiration of the job Mom did keeping us fed. Even if I do look back laughingly at the menu. In her later years Mom became a good cook. She worked at it! And Dad was the grillmeister. My sisters are all good cooks. I prefer cleanup duty - but can put together a recipe when pressed into service.

Of course, Mom cooked AND took the photo! 

Some people don't like leftovers. I thank Mom for my love of leftovers and the marvelous concoctions we call casseroles. She was especially good with Thanksgiving leftovers. Yummo!

I've never had the magical ability to combine the ingredients to end up with a meal. Thank you, Hamburger Helper! (Amy and Jud may not agree). This work outside the home mom needed all the help I could get to put meals on the table after a long day. We didn't always eat meals out of a box. There were jars (Prego) and cans (Cream of soups) included too. Spaghetti, chops, parmesan chicken, enchiladas and everyone's favorite (okay Paul's and mine) hamloaf. Not a lot of good fish available in SW Iowa back then. We did make a lot of soup - in the Crock Pot and clay cooker. I did have a few fave casserole recipes.

Casseroles mean more to me than food. They mean mealtime - togetherness. That's the best part. It isn't always easy to get the family together for meals once the kids hit sports practice age. Mom would keep a plate warm for me. We did that for our kids. Paul and I still try to eat at the table each night. Unless the Cyclones are playing. We do have our priorities!