Remember that friend, the one who you couldn’t wait to see every day, the one you told everything to, the one you knew you’d always be friends with? Friendships change as we grow and move through life, but you always remember that one childhood friend. Some of us are lucky enough to keep that friend near us for years but most of us lose track or find it hard to stay in touch. Our friends help mould who we become, times shared, secrets shared, loses and gains each marking a moment in our lives.
My friend and I are only days apart for our birthdays, as we moved through new chapters in our lives we did lose touch but each April if we didn’t talk or send off a card we always knew we would think of each other. We get together now and fill each other in on what we’re doing in years past. We try not to tell our children all our childhood stories (some pasts need not be repeated), but our kids like to hear tails of when we were kids. We like to share about holidays spent together, school experiences, spats with siblings and parents. We hope our children will have friendships that are special, they know we appreciate ours.
Friends accompany us through life adding spice and flavor. We keep friends we gain friends we lose friends but always we need them, adding a complement to our lives. For those friends out there, that wonder what happened to us, we remember you, we think of you and we hope you think of us.
Let our meals share, let’s add a complement to our dishes. The special side dish can add and complete a dinner. We are grilling so much this season…a compliment to a grilled steak can be a new sauce. A side dish of seasonal garnish can spice many meal starters, such as chicken, pork or fish. A hot buttery muffin can finish a hearty salad. And as always, a meal shared is a meal more enjoyed.
RECIPE:
Pirate Sauce For Steaks
• 1 can beer (two if the cook wants one),
• 1/2 cup chili sauce, ¼ cup salad oil,
• 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard,
• 1/2 tsp red pepper sauce (or favorite hot sauce),
• 1/8 tsp liquid smoke,
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion,
• 2 cloves garlic-crushed.
Mix all ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Brush meat with sauce. Grill meat basting frequently with sauce. Serve with remaining sauce.
