March, the month for wearing green and thinking Spring forward thoughts.  This year, a month to celebrate my grandmother’s 97th birthday. Reflecting on the days when she lived alone and could still hear well.  Recalling our standing date—the Saturday morning call. 

I’d share a little about my week and she’d share details of hers with me. Mine took the form of a news bulletin straight off the wire. Where we’d been. What we’d done. Direct and without added flavor. No sparks of rising action, no point of climax, void of resolution.

In contrast, Gramma’s was always a story. Twisting and turning, before taking shape. Sideways sometimes, but always upwards. Often peppered with, “Susan, you’ll never guess what happened next!” Ended abruptly in her signature–raspy laughter.

Inevitably, I hung up the phone with a caution to keep me safe and an accompanying piece of wisdom. Leaving me with a perspective that required further consideration. A perspective that lingered long after our call.

Not too unlike the vivid descriptions of recipes she was making. Those motivating her to prepare meals even when cooking for just one.  Before ending our call I’d ask, “Gramma, can you share that one with me?”.

My Gramma has never owned a cell phone or used a computer to e-mail.  Instead, her faithful communication was penned in permanent ink on a white index card. Without fail and within about a week her recipe would come. And when room allowed, with messages like:

“Have a great day!”

or “Hope you can read my handwriting”,

and “Love You Always”. 

Cards with yellow sticky notes that encourage no longer come my way. Gladly, her sweet tooth is as large as ever. What joy to recall those humorous calls with my father. And share his mom’s correspondence and my collection of her handwritten recipe cards.

Her favorite version of any recipe was the easiest one. Recently I taught my dad how to make her Stuffed Pepper Soup. We shared a bowl and sent the rest along her way.  On ice, catching a ride with my uncle.  How happy it made us all when she ate it right up with no trouble at all! 

Simple gifts make impacts that last. The two-dollar bill sweetening a Valentine’s Day wish. Those saving bonds stuffed within birthday cards setting young minds on college. Too many fudgy squares of Texas sheet cake freely shared on hot days in summer. More so, people who yell “Yoohoo” to get attention. And folks who earn their nickname, Captain. Never afraid to speak up, or repeat something loud to get a job done.

Stuffed Pepper SoUP

(My Gramma’s Quick & Easy Version)

You’ll Need:

• 2 pounds Ground Beef (I like ground chuck 80/20)
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped
• 1 28-ounce can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 28-ounce can Tomato Sauce
• 1 can Water (use the empty tomato sauce can from above)
• 2 cups precooked White Rice (good use of left-over Chinese Take-out Rice)
• 2 cups Green Bell Pepper, chopped
• 2 each Beef Bouillon Cubes
• 1/4 cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Diamond Kosher Salt

Directions:

In large pan, brown beef and onion. Drain if needed. Add the rest of the ingredients except for rice. Stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add rice the last 15 minutes of cooking time. Soup is even better the second day or after standing for a bit. Makes a lot of soup. Recipe is easily halved.

Tips:

To keep soup from getting too thick do not add rice directly to the soup. Instead, add warmed rice to bowl just before serving. Then ladle hot soup over top of the rice.

OR

If soup gets too thick, add beef stock or chicken stock to thin before reheating.