Definition of family: the people you say are your family (including the dog and cat)
The weekend before Thanksgiving, Ken and I drove to his daughter and my stepdaughter’s home for an early Thanksgiving. Due to what I call the “D” words– divorce, death, and don’t like you anymore– we have an extended step family. Despite that, Ken and I have maintained a pleasant relationship with his former wife’s family, Marcy’s maternal relatives, and their exes.
I was especially fond of Marcy’s grandmother, Evelyn McKenzie. At the time she had grandchildren at Paul Elementary, I had children there, too. We would warm the benches together through soccer games, school programs, and “the talk” program requiring parents or grandparents to attend. Just like every other family in the world last week, we spent some time remembering and reminiscing. For Marcy, Evelyn was most beloved. She says she only remembers being reprimanded once at Evelyn and Coy’s house.
Marcy and her cousins, Trina Smith (Yes, our Oakley, singing Trina), and Ginger Wright had been cautioned repetitively about the canal water when it was turned in. It was rapid and dangerous. They had been forbidden to go near it which made the canal as tantalizing as cheese to a mouse. Evelyn, of course, had her eye on them and caught them. She told them to go to the willow tree and pick out a switch and then promptly switched their legs. I don’t really believe in corporal punishment, but I remember this happening when I was a child to my sisters on only one occasion, and just as in this case, whatever they did never happened again.
On the way to the tree Trina told Marcy to pick a big switch because they didn’t hurt as badly. This didn’t sound right to Marcy so she picked out a smaller branch that left her with welts and pain for several hours from that switching. Marcy’s deep love for her grandparents engaged us as well. Ken frequently had coffee with Coy before he went to work into his 90’s. Evelyn’s premonition which she discussed with Marcy the night before her heart surgery which resulted in her death has left us all with a sad haunting.
The memories of Evelyn are the wonderful part, though. She maintained many long-standing friendships and was a wonderful grandmother. I still remember the wooden floors in her father’s grocery store—the Cravens on the square in Rupert. It would seem like I should be the least likely to memorialize the McKenzies, but because as a role model Evelyn made my stepdaughter the most admirable mother, step mother, aunt, and step grandmother any person could hope to have or inherit in a marriage, I hope readers and the McKenzies will know she was valued by so many. Next week the steps, but this week one of Evelyn’s go to quick recipes for unexpected company who plan to stay for dinner! cueva.ann@gmail.com
Evelyn’s Chicken and Rice
Spray a 7 by 11 inch casserole with Pam
Line with partially fried bacon (until limp and starting to curl) or the Hormel fully-cooked bacon strips which is what I did to try this and it went fast!).
Cover with 1 cup uncooked rice
Mix one can Cream of Chicken soup with a can of water or chicken broth.
Set aside momentarily. For creamier I also used half and half for the water.
Layer four chicken breasts on top, brush lightly with olive oil, and cover the casserole with the liquid.
Sprinkle with parsley flakes, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Cover and bake for 1-1 ½ hours at 350 degrees. Take the foil off for the last ten minutes and allow the chicken to brown slightly.
This can easily be doubled for a crowd in a 9 by 13 casserole dish. I timed myself on this—five minutes start to foil! I was finished before the oven was preheated.
