Stephanie told me a few years ago that she mentioned to someone in New England she was making a sugar cream pie and they asked what was in it. Her reply? "Ummm... sugar... and cream." :)

As with many old Midwest recipes, one realizes what we consider expensive these days (especially cream and butter) were quite ordinary to those on farms with milk cows. The frozen Wick's pies are made in Indiana but I've seen recipes for sugar cream pies in various Midwest and Amish cookbooks. They are much richer than an ordinary custard pie but not as tangy as a lemon chess pie.

A friend from the bookstore called this morning, asking if I could make an emergency dessert for her. She'd completely forgotten that she had signed up to bring a cake to a sports banquet tonight. I had the ingredients for a quick Chocolate Cherry Cake that I was able to make in between errands and drop off at the bookstore just before she left for the day. As I've said before, I consider baking a ministry and I was happy to help her.

Our economy here is interesting as we have two completely different sources of income for many people... no, make that three. Agriculture is okay so long as the weather holds out (we who live in farm lands are obsessed with weather). Manufacturing is in a terrible condition with another three hundred or more jobs lost just this past week in one of the plants. There are now thousands out of work from what I've heard. The University is going strong but one wonders what will happen in coming years.

The Mall is often packed when I drive by but I've noticed a lot more people shopping at Goodwill and the thrift shop.

I had to drive to the town close to us to run an errand for my husband. I decided to take the scenic route home since snow and ice were no longer an issue. All of nature seems to be waiting the coming of warm weather and the opportunity to bloom and blossom even if our view is winter without the snow.

I passed a ranch fairly close to home and slowed down to view the horses through the trees (one can only see them clearly in winter). Horses are among the most regal of all God's creation and these are particularly beautiful.

I had been listening to talk radio earlier but I decided for the sake of my mental health to switch to the NPR station and listen to classical music. Their selection at the time was a little too slow for my taste so I switched again to K-Love... that's more like it. K-Love is the Three Bears station in our family... to contemporary for my husband, not contemporary enough for my son... just right for Mama Bear. :)

Oh, before you ask. I have added recipes for Cousin Idell's sugar cream pie (Kentucky version), Chocolate Cherry Cake, and two Midwest sugar cream pies to the recipe blog... just click on the picture of the vintage kitchen & cook on the sidebar.