After the church service,the family will gather to share memories and a meal. The bucolic setting in which the home place is nestled will entice many to stay and visit just a little longer than originally planned, because it's hard to say goodbye.
The food will be brought in one or two dishes at a time. Each prepared with love. It will appear to be more food than the family could possibly eat, but there will be few leftovers. The cast of characters will include fried chicken, potato salad, fresh vegetables in a rainbow of colors, and desserts that will tempt everyone to just skip the "real food" altogether.
In an attempt to inject a bit of levity into this otherwise dismal day, I have decided to share with you the dish that I prepared. My mom has fixed this dish on such occasions for as long as I can remember. It's one of my favorites.
5 Bean Salad
Sorry the recipe ran together - I fought this thing one too many times, and I finally gave up!
1 can french cut green beans 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can LeSeur peas 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 can wax beans 1 1/2 cups sugar
1 can baby butter beans 1 cup vinegar
1 can wax beans 1/2 cup oil
1 can white shoe peg corn Salt & Pepper to taste
1 small jar pimentos
Drain canned ingredients and empty into a large bowl.
Stir in chopped onion and green pepper.
Add salt and pepper.
Combine sugar, vinegar and oil in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling.
Did I tell you how much I like this set of salt and pepper shakers?? Are you still reading this recipe?
Pour the heated mixture over the vegetables. Stir well. Season with additional salt and pepper. I use more pepper than salt.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This will give the flavors a chance to blend.
Serve cold. Perfect for an outside meal on a 95 degree day.
If you leave a comment today, please tell me what your go-to dish is when you need to prepare funeral food. I am curious to see if different foods are customary in different parts of the country, or, if it's mostly the same throughout. Thanks.
9 comments:
Bereavement food is always the best !
Looks good
#1
Sorry to hear about his cousin and Aunt Jean. I love bean salad but have never fixed it. Thanks for the recipe.
Aw, I'm sorry : ( SSG isn't too good at funerals. She is too busy CRYING HYSTERICALLY. It doesn't matter how well or not well I know the person, I enter into the church and start BAWLING my eyes out to the point where I can no longer see. I think that's why my family did a private scattering of my grandparents' ashes OUTSIDE with only a few of us there. I can't eat when I'm that sad : (
I am sooo sorry to hear about the loss in your family. I have an Aunt Jean - she's as crazy as a loon!!
If I'm taking food, it always going to lean toward starch (mac and cheese, etc) - 'cause that's what I lean toward when I'm upset.
I'll be thinking of you and your family!
I am sorry to hear about that double whammy.
Thanks for the recipe. It looks scrumptious.
I tend to make green bean casserole or mac and cheese.
My chicken noodle casserole is usually the default for a main dish. I also like to take brownies for dessert. I grew up in Texas, and the funeral food I remember clearly was always chocolate meringue pie. I haven't really mastered the meringue piece, so I don't do that one.
Sounds like an awesome recipe and a good thing for the triple digit heat we're having. I'm sorry to hear about all the departures you guys are having. I hope things are looking up around there soon.
Funerals are always tough - especially when they involve outdoor meals in 95 degrees.
Funeral meals (actually any gathering) here always involves cheesy potatoes, ham, and mostacholi. Desserts here are terrible. If you want a good dessert, die elsewhere :)
I'm sorry to hear about your second loss. Give my condolences to The Surveyor and family. The bean salad looks good, but I'm all about the potato salad :)
Beach this weekend, Cheerleader Girl and I will be thinking of you and Snow White- I'll even have Hillbilly Surprise for you!
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