Let them eat toast

Back in the late 60's and the very early 70's I worked at the Red Carpet in Hutchinson, Kansas.  I think I was there a total of 6 or 7 years.  My mind does not retain dates well at all.  The point was that I was not married to Duane any more and needed to work to feed 5 kids.  I was cook, kitchen manager and baker.  I decorated cakes as a side job for extra money.  I also worked in the Bakery down on South Main.  I did that at night.

Any way, if you know anything about restaurant work, you know that it all revolves around the cook.  If the cook does not like you, the orders are slow coming out of the kitchen and might not look quite as neat as other orders, so it is a good idea to stay on the good side of the cook.  My waitresses loved me.  Any excuse for a holiday was reason to shower gifts on Lou.  One birthday I was sent to Wichita to the Charlie Pride concert because I loved that man!  Also that entailed a plethora of 8 track tapes being bought and delivered to my hand by my workers.  I miss the 8 track players.

This morning I lay in my bed remembering those days.  And I remembered that one birthday they gave me a 4 slice toaster because I had mentioned that my toaster no longer worked.  It was a very nice toaster, all shiny and clean.  As luck would have it I kept my empty freezer full of bread because that was more efficient than running an empty freezer.  And bread was cheap.  I think it was 5 loaves for $1.00.

I also had a live in babysitter.  Her name was Janice and she was married to the boss's son who was in Viet Nam at the time.  That is a whole 'nuther story.  She was not the most ambitious person I had encountered, but she did keep the kids off the streets at night.

My regular shift was 5:00 AM-2:00 PM.  Then I came home and had a nap and went to work at the bakery at 10:00PM-till the bread was all sliced and sacked.  On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday I came back to the restaurant and was back up cook, dish washer, salad girl, or whatever needed to be done.  This one particular night, after I received the toaster, I worked backup.  So I was there from 5-10 and then at the bakery until 11:30.

When I drug myself home, it was almost midnight.  The house was dark and everyone asleep.  I let myself in the back door  and flipped on the light over the kitchen sink.  My eyes fell on a plate full of toast on the counter.  And then another!  The whole counter on both sides of the sink was filled with plates full of toast.  So was the kitchen table!  And the stove!  And the wash machine!

I was still staring at the piles of toast when Sammy came out of the bedroom rubbing his eyes.  He came over and hugged me.  Then the mystery was solved when he said,

"I made you supper!  I ran out of butter, but I thought you could get some more tomorrow."

It is 50 some odd years later and I still remember the look on his face.  He had made supper for him momma.  He was so proud.  I am not sure just how much toast he thought I could hold, but this was a bonding moment.  He and I were alone in the half lit kitchen while his sisters slept and we ate dry toast in the middle of the night.  Probably the best mid night snack I have ever had.

I do not remember what became of all that toast, but I am sure some where there were birds that enjoyed a feast.  (At that time we did not know that commercial bread was not good for ducks, and crows and other feathered things.)

I kind of miss the good old days with the kids, but I rather imagine they are glad those days are behind them.  But just for old time sake I think I will go make a piece of toast for my breakfast.  I actually have butter!

Eating cereal is a scientific process?

This morning I walked in on a scientific process is the kitchen. Never knew that to happen before, but apparently I was just not that observant. Bret took the cereal out of the box, rolled it down and carefully weighed it with his left hand  and eyeballed it carefully. In his right hand was the gallon of milk which was undergoing the same process. After a few moments, the cereal bag went back into the box and the milk into the refrigerator.

The deduction was this, there was not enough milk to cover all the cereal. Rather then fill a bowl with cereal and pour milk over it, he decided not to eat breakfast. Now this is a case of all, all, or nothing at all. What if the cereal box had been full and a new gallon of milk? I'm thinking the whole box would have gotten eaten!

Teenagers are bottomless pits, as we all know. I just did not know so much thought went into eating cereal in the morning. I did fix him a bacon and egg sandwich. That is another one that requires thought. Can not eat just an egg sandwich, it has to have bacon diced and fried, then drained (my rule; not his) and blotted with a paper towel. The eggs (2) are then whipped and fried with the bacon bits. Immediately slap that between two slices of toast covered with mayonaisse (Not to be confused with Miracle Whip.). Do not cool it first. By having it hot it causes the toast to become limp, thereby negating the whole idea of "toast".

I am having a piece of toast with a glass of orange juice. The toast is Oregon Western Hazel Nut, available only at Safeway and not available in Kansas. Best bread on the planet. It has to be toasted in a toaster oven and slathered with real butter while it is piping hot. That way it becomes limp thereby negating the whole idea of "toast."

And there you have our breakfast habits. Or some of our habits. Humans are creatures of habit and that is just the way it is!