Abstinence… and Menus

I don’t have to serve wine with dinner. But when it comes to summer meat marinades I tend to use the following for pork: garlic/thyme/wine; grainy mustard and beer; or with hard apple cider.

What happens when the preacher comes to town? I’ve lived in a dry town for years, except I was off at college. My husband grew up in a dry county and has never imbibed, but he appreciates his wife’s cooking and likes the flavor of each of the dishes above.

His church forbade alcohol, dancing and solo singing. Ask him. He taught me the Texas Two-Step in his closet as I was helping him move away from me less than a month after we met. Don’t worry, he came back for me a few weeks later and the rest is history.

Now his and his brothers’ great high school friend is visiting us and staying over a night with wife and toddler daughter. He teaches school and preaches at his local church.

Jim’s been out of the church for some time so I asked my brother-in-law if it was OK to marinate meat in beer or wine or cider, dry the meat then grill it. He said if I gave the baby a jigger of whisky (here’s to the Scots for their spelling) that would be against the rules but there’s nothing against marinating.

I’ll hold him to that but came up with a new idea. This family will have been on the road for a few days eating restaurant food. We will provide them a place to stay en route and a family meal. I’m thinking of roast chicken, mashed potatoes and they liked my corn on the cob at Memorial Day so I’ll stick with that, plus a dessert. I want them to enjoy their vacation but make it feel like home. I’ll give them a chance to relax, take a walk, do a load of laundry and have a good night’s sleep before my breakfast… Cheers, Dee