Columbus Indiana Hash

[Babs]

Hi EC,
I can remember the smell coming from Lucas Brothers when we were all kids! You could smell it a long way from the actual shop; guess it was all those yummy onions frying. Yes, there is still one around and we have eaten out there. They do remind me of
the ones we ate years ago. As far as the price I have no idea what they used to be. I have heard my dad speak of buying two hamburgers for a quarter someplace, so perhaps it was at Lucas Brothers.

Babs

[nancs]

Hi, to all, and was gone over the weekend, and have a lot of message board catching up to do!!!!

Babs, on the "loose sandwiches," I think that in the midwest, mainly, there was, and still is, in some places, a restaurant that serves them-----called "Made Rights" or perhaps spelled " Maid Rites." Know there is one in Colorado Springs, and in Iowa. Very popular, and very good. I watched them made not too long ago, and the process is so simple, so it must be some seasoning that makes them special!!!!

On the "sloppy joes," we (I) call them "soup-er burgers" mainly, I guess, because I add a can of French onion soup, some ketchup and mustard, and cook it down.

JK, I couldn't help but think that to deliver sandwiches today, as you did, one would become mighty involved in city licenses and the like. Ah, a simplier time.

Nanc

[David Sechrest]

My dad was also a fan of Lucas Brothers, and on occasion, he'd take me there, but like EC, I don't remember the prices of their burgers.
Nanc--glad to see you back. I myself haven't posted for a few days.
Been trying to stay cool in all this heat here in Indiana!
One of the greatest things about summer are all the fruit and vegetable stands that pop up all over the county.
After I got out of the VA hospital a couple of years back, I craved fruit (probably because it was the only thing I could eat, after going for 6 weeks being bag fed and having to learn how to eat all over again).
That was the summer that Hackman's was discovered. For those of you who may not be familiar with Hackman's, go on out State Street (is that SR 7 or 9? I always get them confused), and before you get to 31, you'll see Hackman's on the left.
For about a month during that long, homebound summer of 2003, I lived on watermelons from Hackmans. They had the sweetest taste, and ever since, I've become a fan of the place.
Drove out to see what they had last Sunday, and besides picking up some really tasty corn on the cob, they had their first supply of home grown watermelons available. Well, I just had to get one.
And all that got me to thinking about how special summer is, and was, back when I was a kid.
Even when we lived on Center Street, and especially once we moved out to Rosstown, mom and dad always had a garden. While I wasn't a huge fan of tomatos (you say tomato; I say tomahto) when I was a kid, they were always a canning staple. But, there was one thing I did enjoy. When the tomatos came on, it was a real treat to grab a salt shaker, head out to the garden, grab the juiciest looking tomato, wipe it off on my shirt (if I was wearing one; if not a shirt, wipe it off on my shorts), bite into it just enough to pull off a piece of the skin, add salt, and devour the warm fruit (or vegetable).
They always tasted the best eating them that way, and I preferred this method instead of having them sliced and sitting on a plate on the dinner table.
Green beans--helping mom break them into little green beans, and that sound they made when you got a really fresh one.
We canned and ate what came from the garden. I don't ever recall eating asparagus, or broccoli, probably because we didn't grow them.
Besides eating those tomatos straight from the garden, they were also a great weapon (there's nothing quite like getting hit in the back with a rotten one!)
Hope all enjoy this special time of year, and take advantage of all those fresh, homegrown treats. They'll be gone before we know it...

[Ricky_Berkey]

Maid-Rites seem to be an Iowa thing: they have an interesting website:

www.maidrite.com/

[LouiseMaple]

Babs, Thanks for thinking of me when you mentioned the cucumbers and onions. I didn't tell you that I have some in the frig right now. Actually the cucmbers are gone, waiting for a resupply to the simple and marvelous dressing. Equal parts water, vinegar and sugar with desired (available) onions. Add cucumbers and enjoy. reserve the liquid until there isn't enough to take care of the next batch.
Hash was the right name for this thread David. We have been covering a lot of recipes and food memories, haven't we?

[Babs]

Louise,
My mom never used any sugar in her onions and cucumbers, but I will try it sometime. She just used (and it is the recipe I follow) vinegar and water (equal parts) and salt and pepper. I make the onions even if I am out of cucumbers. I have to have onions with my green beans and oh yes, those were really good I cooked the other day. My next door neighbor decided to pull all his bean plants and went around our neighborhood passing out the end of his beans. I thought they looked a little big but when I cooked them, they were delicious. Just nothing like fresh beans and homegrown tomatoes!!!! :-)

Babs

[nancs]

Thanks, Ricky, for the heads-up on MaidRites. Just forwarded that info on to some Iowa "transplants," and know they will be thrilled, and would be willing to bet that some of those sandwiches will soon be headed to CA. ;D

Babs and Louise----my cukes and onions are in the 'frig, too!!!! ;D Louise, I use the same 'recipe' that you do. And today, being Wednesday, is my trip to the fruit and veggie place!!! But, trust me, there won't be Indiana tomatoes available, and no garden for me, as the gophers gobble any and all of my efforts!!!

On green beans, rarely, as in hardly ever, can I get them to taste like what I remember in Indiana. Still and yet, a family favorite here, just not quite as tasty. Altho' I have never added in tomatoes. Will do that. I always add bacon to them-----thus also known in my family as "slimey green beans!" ;D

David, et al, have you ever listened to the Garrison Keeler's Lake Woebegone tapes-----there is a wonderful tale where he relates throwing tomatoes. Gotta just love his stories!!!!

Nanc

[David Sechrest]

And...speaking of your cucumber and onion salad.

If you really want to kick it up a notch (and this is the only way I make it these days), don't add any water to the vinegar. Mix sugar with the vinegar until you get a sweet/sour taste. I only use no more than a 1/4 cup of vinegar, then dump in the sugar (maybe a cup), mix it until it gets thick, then place it in the frig and let it chill (it should have a sweet/sour taste). If I'm not in a hurry, I'll let it chill for about a half-hour, then stir it again.

Most of the time (unless I'm real lazy), I'll deseed my cucumbers as those little things have a tendency to do strange things to me.

Slice your cucumbers and onions. Then, according to how spicy you like your food, dice up two to three red cayenne peppers. Any pepper will do. Sometimes if I don't have cayennes from the garden, I'll buy those green ones in the supermarket, and if I'm real desperate, I'll even use jalapenos, but I prefer the cayenne for taste and spicyness. Be sure to get those pepper seeds in as well, as that's what really puts the kick in it).

Put all these contents into a bowl, and pour the vinegar/sugar concoction over, stir, put back in the frig, and let the sugar dissolve.

Stir again before serving (and try to allow enough time to let the sugar dissolve).

This goes with just about anything, and, believe it or not, my kids even like it!

Nanc--I used to listen to Garrison, but it's been several years since. I caught him a few times on PBS(?), I think...funny guy. I never heard the bit about throwing tomatos, but I bet it's funny.

[Babs]

David,
When I was reading your recipe for the "liquid" to cover the onions and cucumbers, it made me think. That is just what my mom used to wilt lettuce!! Did you ever eat that? Using sugar that she put into vinegar, with just a small amount of bacon grease; heat till the sugar melts and then just before your meal, pour over leaf lettuce. Boy was that good.

Babs

[JamesK]

HI ALL.....ANOTHER MISSING INGREDIENT TO YOUR CUCUMBER AND ONIONS WOULD BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF LIGHT OIL. MIX ALL AND COVER THE BOWL AND REFRIGERATE OVER NIGHT. GOOD EATIN!!!

[nancs]

HI to all, and goodness gracious August is almost over, and I am in a panic count down mode---1-4-3, no, no, it is 5-4-3-2-1!!!! Have been in the midst of some major home projects, plus trying to get ready to head north to Seattle and Alaska for a couple of weeks.

Have a ton of things from my mom's just waiting for me to have the time to continue to sort through and get back to regularly posting on the message boards.

To one and all, take care, and will be looking forward to reading all your posts when I get back in mid-September.

Nanc

[Brian]

Ok, with all of the "local foods" discussions, I can't help but bring up one that I grew up with... Right around mid-July, when the first homegrown tomatoes get ripe, in our house, there's nothing better than a peanut butter and tomato sandwich.
Two slices of white bread, each spread with peanut butter (I prefer crunchy), put a couple slices of tomato on (just one if you grew the monstrous ones), sprinkle on just a little bit of salt, close it up and enjoy!

Brian Smith

[David Sechrest]

Hello Brian...and Welcome! I've never tried a peanut butter and tomato sandwich, but before this coming week is out, I'm going to give it a try!

By any chance...you're not related to Elvis Presley, are you ;D?

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Brian,
That's a new one for me also. But I think I'll try one, just to taste the flavors together. Did you ever make a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich ?? Now ,that is a treat as good as a s'more!! Blessings, Margo

[Deleted]

Would anyone have any information on this postcard?.

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

What a great postcard! However, dated from 1926 I have no idea where this was located. Give me some time and I'll see what I can find out. Have a friend in Walesboro that may know. Blessings, Margo

[David Sechrest]

George--glad to see you can post pictures!
I've never heard of Simpson's gardens either. I'll ask Tamara Iorio about it the next time I see her. I don't think that this card is in her collection of Columbus Indiana postcards, as I don't ever recall seeing it. My next trip to the library will include a visit to the Indiana Room, and a gander through the 1928 directory, if they have one...

[Deleted]

David, Thank you, I did hear of a Simpson nursery here in Columbus back in the 1920 and 30's, a connection maybe?. The picture on the card looks west of town, the terrain and trees. Thank you Margo for your support on this. I found this card at the 76 Antique Mall along with other Columbus cards which are in the new postcard book, I might add a good book it is. George

[JamesK]

Hi George....I remember the Bob Simpson Nursery back in the 40's. It was west of town, I believe on Youth Camp road. He and his wife went to the First Methodist Church where he led the congegation in hymns and his wife played the piano and organ. I think his nursery was one of only a few in Columbus at time. Another was the Mauzy Nursery on north U.S. 31. That was Curt Mauzy's dads nursery.

[Deleted]

Hi Jim, Thanks for the information, Simpson's Garden could have very well been at the nursery. The picture on the postcard looks like it may have been west of town, the terrain and trees.