History Lessons

Some of us grow where we're planted; others have to roam. I had to leave my home just to find somebody to kiss outside my gene pool.

My friends, Cally Krallman and Diane Gillenwater, wrote this song, "Prairie Glimpses," for the Kansas Song Project. They are remarkable women, "hearty pioneer stock," as we say. Listen to the words of this song, be courageous and stout of heart. Take out that recipe you clipped from a magazine years ago, that difficult, gourmet recipe that you're not sure if you can handle. If you have a bonnet like Caroline Ingalls would have worn, put that on. Think of our pioneer mothers and fathers who did not have air conditioning or hairspray. It makes me weep!


Now challenge yourself to create something wonderful, beyond what you thought possible.


If you don't have a recipe in mind, I'll share one. Since we had a peach orchard, I'm partial to fresh peaches. If you don't have an orchard go to the farmer's market and get as close as you can to right off the tree.

Peel and slice about 8 good sized peaches. Puree in a food processor. Soak about a tablespoonful of gelatin in 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Pour into the peaches and stir real good. Then let it chill for a while.


Put a tablespoonful of gelatin into three tablespoonsful of water and let it soak. After it has set a while, you'll want to heat it and make sure it's dissolved. Take off the heat. Take about a cup of cream cheese that has been softening and and beat with until it's light and soft. Then blend in the gelatin/water mixture and blend some more. For good measure and further decadence, whip a cup of cream and then fold it into the cream cheese mixture. Chill for a while.

Now just before the peaches and the cream cheese mixture have set, fold them together into a pretty mold. It may be cheating, but you can spray LIGHTLY with non-stick spray just make sure it slides out real purty. Make sure that it has set up well before taking out of the mold.


Now this dish may sound simple but think about the steps you have taken and the tools you have used: a food processor, a mixer, a stove, a refrigerator -- and the ingredients: cream cheese, gelatin, whipping cream, and FRESH peaches. Even 50 years ago some of these were just not to be had or were difficult to come by.

Serve this on a beautiful dish to someone you love. Hold hands and thank the Good Lord you were not born a day, or a century, before your time.


Visit the kansassongproject.com to get the CD and learn more about the songs and artists. The Georgiabelle peaches are from the actual HCHarold orchard on Willis Gap, Arart, Virginia. Visit them online at hcharoldorchard.com.